Bee Bee Tree Info

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Bee Bee Tree Info

The Bee Bee Tree

The Bee Bee Tree was introduced to the beekeepers of the United States in two articles published in the bee journals in November and December, 1955, emphasizing its potential economic value in that branch of agriculture. The reasons given were that it is worked actively by honeybees at a time when there is a dearth of nectar yielding bloom (from about July 15th well into August) and that it bears a tremendous number of blossoms. Also that it grows readily from seed and reaches the blooming stage in a comparatively few years, from seed to first bloom being about eight years. Its tendency to reseed itself indicates that it is likely to become a permanent part of our flora.

Growing to about forty feet in the open, it is a handsome addition to any planting of lawn or shade trees. In fruit, the tree is particularly attractive. The seed-bearing female tree takes on a deep burgundy red coloring as the seed pods ripen.

Several large specimens of the Bee Bee Tree are located in the main Arboretum (Compton) directly below the Rose Garden and on into the woods. A smaller specimen is in the Langstroth Bee Garden in Bloomfield. See it in bloom about July 15th to August 5th or in fruit in September.

Birds

In our observation of the Bee Bee Tree, it was found that many species of birds are attracted to the tree as the seeds ripen in October. It is expected, therefore, that the Bee Bee Tree could become of great benefit to the birds along the lines of their fall migration. Ground feeding birds and small game, quail, grouse, doves should also benefit by the seed that falls as it ripens.

Planting

IMPORTANT! This seed should be planted outdoors in a seed bed of garden or prepared soil in the FALL or EARLY WINTER. Shallow planting is recommended. If seed is planted in the Spring some method of conditioning or stratification should be employed. One good method is to pack seed in moist sand and keep in freezing compartment of refrigerator for two to four weeks before planting. If you have a better method use that. Seedlings may be transported when one, two or three years old.

Some form of starting bed or cold frame should be used for best results in fall planting. A simple one can be made from an ordinary wooden box with top and bottom removed (beekeepers will use a full depth hive body). This should be set into the ground about six inches and partly filled with soil. Plant seed and cover with a mouse proof screen. Protection from rodents is most important.

To obtain seed from your trees plant several within a limited area as only the female tree will mature seed.

Jon Floyd T. Tyson
The Langstroth Bee Garden

Morris Arboretum
University of Pennsylvania
9414 Meadowbrook Ave.
Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia 19118

Evodia daniellii – Korean Evodia

FAMILY: Rutaceae

LEAVES: Opposite, pinnately compound leaflets 7 to 11, ovate to oblong-ovate, 2 to 5” long, acuminate with obtusish point, rounded at base, sometimes broad-cuneate or subcordate, finely crenulate, lustrous dark green, petiole 1 ½ to 2 ½” long.

BUDS: Solitary, sessile, ovoid, 1 pair of rather indistinct scales, terminal-puberulent, grey-brown; exposed and visible; differing from Phellodendron where the buds are hidden by the petiole base.

STEM: Round or somewhat 4-angled or wrinkled; pith-moderate, somewhat angular, firm, continuous; leaf scars broadly crescent-shaped, low; 3 bundle-traces.

SIZE: Will probably grow 25 to 30’ high under landscape conditions but can reach 50’; the spread is equal to or greater than the height.

HARDINESS: Zone 4 to 8; I have seen excellent specimens at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, which showed good vigor and abundant fruit.

RATE: Medium to fast, especially in youth; seedlings which I grew in containers reached 5 to 6’ in a single growing season.

TEXTURE: Medium in leaf and in winter

BARK: Older stems and branches develop a smooth gray appearance which is interrupted at irregular intervals by raised lenticels; reminds of beech bark.

LEAF COLOR: Dark lustrous green in summer; the foliage is quite free of pests and diseases and looks as good in August as it did when first maturing in May; fall color is of no consequence as the leaves usually drop green or yellowish green.

FLOWERS: Small, white, borne in the 4 to 6” broad, flattish corymbs on current season’s growth in June, July-August; the flowers are borne in great quantities and provide quite a show when few other plants are in flower; bees love them.

FRUIT: Capsule, composed of 4 or 5 carpels which split from the top; red to black in color and effective in late August through November; the fruits are very effective from an ornamental standpoint; seeds are lustrous brownish black.

CULTURE: I have found this species easy to transplant; seems to prefer a well drained, moist, fertile soil; pH adaptable; full sun; may be a bit tender when young and should be well sited and mulched; one authority noted that any soil is acceptable for culturing this plant.

DISEASE AND INSECTS: None of any consequence.

LANDSCAPE VALUE: A very interesting tree, but unfortunately little known and used; a lovely, small tree which can be used in the small landscape; excellent summer foliage, flower and fruit characters make this tree worthy of additional use; Wyman noted that the wood is comparatively weak and splits easily and the tree is short-lived (15 to 40 years); I have observed numerous Evodias throughout the Midwest, east and south and have not noticed any serious problems; this tree might warrant a close look especially for urban areas.

PROPAGATION: Seeds which were sent from the Morris Aboretum, Philadelphia, were direct sowed and germinated almost 100 percent.

RELATED SPECIES: Evodia hupehensis, Hupeh Evodia, is closely allied to E. daniellii and may be an ecotype. Supposedly it differs in larger stalked leaflets and the longer beak of the fruit.

FAMILY:	Rutaceae
LEAVES:	Opposite, pinnately compound leaflets 7 to 11, ovate to oblong-ovate, 2 to 5” long, acuminate with obtusish point, rounded at base, sometimes broad-cuneate or subcordate, finely crenulate, lustrous dark green, petiole 1 ½ to 2 ½” long.
BUDS:	Solitary, sessile, ovoid, 1 pair of rather indistinct scales, terminal-puberulent, grey-brown; exposed and visible; differing from Phellodendron where the buds are hidden by the petiole base.
STEM:	Round or somewhat 4-angled or wrinkled; pith-moderate, somewhat angular, firm, continuous; leaf scars broadly crescent-shaped, low; 3 bundle-traces.
SIZE:	Will probably grow 25 to 30’ high under landscape conditions but can reach 50’; the spread is equal to or greater than the height.
HARDINESS:	Zone 4 to 8; I have seen excellent specimens at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, which showed good vigor and abundant fruit.
RATE:	Medium to fast, especially in youth; seedlings which I grew in containers reached 5 to 6’ in a single growing season.
TEXTURE:	Medium in leaf and in winter
BARK:	Older stems and branches develop a smooth gray appearance which is interrupted at irregular intervals by raised lenticels; reminds of beech bark.
LEAF COLOR:	Dark lustrous green in summer; the foliage is quite free of pests and diseases and looks as good in August as it did when first maturing in May; fall color is of no consequence as the leaves usually drop green or yellowish green.
FLOWERS:	Small, white, borne in the 4 to 6” broad, flattish corymbs on current season’s growth in June, July-August; the flowers are borne in great quantities and provide quite a show when few other plants are in flower; bees love them.
FRUIT:	Capsule, composed of 4 or 5 carpels which split from the top; red to black in color and effective in late August through November; the fruits are very effective from an ornamental standpoint; seeds are lustrous brownish black.
CULTURE:	I have found this species easy to transplant; seems to prefer a well drained, moist, fertile soil; pH adaptable; full sun; may be a bit tender when young and should be well sited and mulched; one authority noted that any soil is acceptable for culturing this plant.
DISEASE AND INSECTS:	None of any consequence.
LANDSCAPE VALUE:	A very interesting tree, but unfortunately little known and used; a lovely, small tree which can be used in the small landscape; excellent summer foliage, flower and fruit characters make this tree worthy of additional use; Wyman noted that the wood is comparatively weak and splits easily and the tree is short-lived (15 to 40 years); I have observed numerous Evodias throughout the Midwest, east and south and have not noticed any serious problems; this tree might warrant a close look especially for urban areas.
PROPAGATION:	Seeds which were sent from the Morris Aboretum, Philadelphia, were direct sowed and germinated almost 100 percent.
RELATED SPECIES:	Evodia hupehensis, Hupeh Evodia, is closely allied to E. daniellii and may be an ecotype. Supposedly it differs in larger stalked leaflets and the longer beak of the fruit.