Pterostyrax hispida is a choice tree native to shaded edges of forests in China and Japan. Growing at RBGE in the F beds it is now in full flower. Individual small, not pleasantly fragrant white flowers populate the pendulous panicles hanging down from the branches. These take many weeks to open having sat in bud as grey globules. Elongating on opening to merge from cream to pure white with the flower parts prominent from the petals. Well worth a walk to this area of the garden to appraise the fragrance, which a colleague who must rush breakfast, likened to “burnt toast and vinegar” and admire the form of the tree. Vigorous growing, the foliage is a light green and the ovate leaves end in a distinct point.

Pterostyrax hispida