Mountain Gordlinia is an exceptionally beautiful ornamental tree that blooms profusely in the fall just before its leaves turn brilliant shades of red.
Its flowers are not only fragrant but large -- 3 to 6 inches -- and feature yellow centers resembling camellias. Its leaves are Magnolia-like, semi-evergreen and one of the best for fall foliage.
Why do we carry Mountain Gordlinia, a cultivar? Yes, our focus at Tree Talk Natives is to carry straight species natives. But then we noticed Crape Myrtle in every other yard in our neighborhood. It's so prevalent, people think it's native and will say so with certainty.
To combat Crape Myrtle, we looked for a native alternative and quickly learned there are not many native trees that bloom in the fall.
We decided it would be better to plant a native cultivar than a non-native that does not support the food web. (See "Ask the Expert: Doug Tallamy." Fine Gardening).
For more on Mountain Gordlinia, read our blog here
