Henry’s Emmenopterys

Named after Irish botanist Augustine Henry, Emmenopterys henryi is a medium to tall, deciduous tree with a spreading habit, quite rare in cultivation, and notoriously shy to flower. The pointed, oval leaves, up to 8”/20cm long emerge bronze-purple, turning deep green with pale undersides. The white, funnel-shaped flowers, 1”/2.5m across, some with a large white bract, appear in summer, but only on mature trees and after a hot summer – the tree seems to prefer colder winters and hotter summers than are usual in Ireland. Henry’s emmenopterys is hardy, but young growth may be damaged in frost-prone areas.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Spring to autumn
Hardiness: Hardy
Height: 26-40’ (8–12m) Spread: over 26’ (8m) in 20-50 years