Pinckneya bracteata 'Precocious'

Pinckneya bracteata 'Precocious' (Georgia bark, fevertree) is a small deciduous tree or large shrub with large, felted leaves and small pinkish flowers surrounded by white to pink bracts.  Pinckneya bracteata 'Precocious' is a remarkable selection of this southeast native found and named by Tony Avent (Plant Delights Nursery).  If differs from the normal species in being more cold hardy and its precocious blooming habit.  It blooms as a very young plant (commonly blooms while still in propagation!).  Pinckneya bracteata 'Precocious' has a very unusual checkerboard patterned, tubular flower surrounded by stunning white to pale pink to soft rose (not sure if color is controlled by temperature or soil pH but seems to vary from location to location).  Pinckneya bracteata 'Precocious' can be grown as a small tree or as a large shrub and grows best in a uniformly moist site (doesn't tolerate drought well) and appears best in fairly rich soil as well.  Pinckneya bracteata 'Precocious' starts blooming for us here in the Raleigh, NC area typically mid May and the bracts are showy for many weeks.  Pinckneya bracteata 'Precocious' makes a stunning addition to a lakeside planting or any moist area with ample sun and can be used in mass plantings or as a specimen.  

• HARDINESS:  zones (7)8-9+
• EXPOSURE:  part shade, sun (best)
• SIZE:   10-15'
• SHIPPING SIZE:  1/2 gallon plant.  10-12" plant.  See last photo for example.