Description:

An interesting small tree that can be pruned as a shrub; lovely panicles of white flowers rise in plumes above the foliage in early summer; prefers hot overhead sun to warm low sun, and tolerates some drought

Ornamental Features

Oldham's Meliosma features showy panicles of lightly-scented white flowers rising above the foliage in early summer. It has green deciduous foliage which emerges chartreuse in spring. The pointy pinnately compound leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color.

Landscape Attributes

Oldham's Meliosma is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Oldham's Meliosma is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Oldham's Meliosma will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.