General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 40 feet to 50 feet
Plant Spread: 15 feet to 20 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Deciduous
Other: Leaves turn a bright yellow before dropping in the fall.
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: White
Other: Yellowish to creamy gray
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Street Tree
Uses: Provides winter interest
Shade Tree
Containers: Not suitable for containers
Miscellaneous: With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth

Image
Common names
  • Chinese Parasol Tree
  • Varnish Tree
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Firmiana simplex
  • Synonym: Sterculia platanifolia

Photo Gallery
Location: In a neighbor's garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: 2003-07-30
Firmiana simplex
Location: In a neighbor's garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: 2001-05-27
Firmiana simplex
Location: In a neighbor's garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: 2006-02-19
Location: In a neighbor's garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: 2006-10-29
Firmiana simplex
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2016-12-04
Location: In a neighbor's garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: 2006-02-19
Firmianna simplex
Location: In a neighbor's garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: 2006-12-01
Firmiana simplex
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Brussels)
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Brussels)
Date: 2018-06-24
Location: St Louis
Date: 2010-09-12
Location: In a neighbor's garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: 2006-02-19
Firmiana simplex
Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA
Date: 2014-06-28
Rescued 32 seedlings.

Photo Courtesy of Secret Garden Growers.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2016-05-30
Was a gift, turns out to be highly invasive in TX
Location: Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
photo credit: A. Barra

Photo Courtesy of Secret Garden Growers.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Plant Events from our members
greene On November 15, 2014 Obtained plant
As the weather turned cold the leaves turned a lovely yellow color to show off their fall foliage.
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