Bee-bee tree

Bee-bee tree: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Broad, rounded crown on a short trunk; 10–12 m tall and 8–10 m wide.

Leaves

Pinnate, 20–40 cm long, with 5–11 glossy dark green leaflets; yellow in autumn.

Flowers

Small, creamy white flowers in large, flat heads 10–15 cm across, from July to September.

Fruit

Red to brown-black fruits that split open in autumn to show shiny black seeds.

Scent

The leaves smell aromatic when crushed; the flowers are lightly scented.

Flowering: July–September · Plants: March–April and October–December · Pruning: January–February

Why grow it?

• Flowers from July to September, when there is little other tree forage: a top plant for bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
• Handsome, glossy, pinnate foliage that smells aromatic.
• The autumn fruits are food for birds.
• Grows fast and gives shade within a few years, yet stays manageable at 10–12 m tall.
• Low maintenance: tolerates sun, drought and lime.

Bee-bee tree: where does it grow best?

• Full sun: in a warm, sunny spot it flowers most richly.
• Sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky; well drained is ideal.
• Dry to moderately moist: it tolerates drought, but not soil that is wet for long periods.
• Allow 8–10 m of space. A warm, sheltered spot promotes growth and flowering.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

12 m tall, 10 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Ice plant: Flowers in August–September and also attracts bees and butterflies.
• Verbena: Tall, airy flowers that attract butterflies, in a sunny spot.
• Coneflower: Flowers in summer and provides nectar for insects.
• Lavender: Likes the same warm, dry spot and attracts bees.
• Michaelmas daisy: Flowers in September–October, when the tree has finished.

Bee-bee tree: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and October–December.

1. Plant from October to December or in March–April, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Loosen the sides.
3. Plant at the same depth as in the nursery and backfill with the soil you dug out. Add a stake and tie loosely.
4. Water in at once with 15–20 litres.
5. Spread a 5–8 cm layer of compost or bark around the base, keeping it clear of the trunk.
6. Keep 8–10 m from buildings and other trees.

Care

Water

For the first two years, 10–15 litres a week in dry spells. After that it usually looks after itself.

Feeding

Usually not needed. On poor sandy soil, give a thin layer of compost in spring.

Mulching

A mulch in spring keeps the soil moist. Keep the circle free of grass.

Support

A stake for the first 2–3 years; remove it afterwards.

Fruit

Leave the fruits on the tree: birds eat the seeds in autumn.

Tip: Plant it in a sunny spot near a seat, so you can listen to the humming in August: it flowers when other trees finished long ago. Prune in winter, never in summer.

Bee-bee tree: when to prune it?

Pruning months: January–February.

When: Hardly necessary. Prune in January–February, in frost-free weather, while the tree is dormant.

How:

• Remove dead, diseased and crossing branches.
• Keep the crown open and light; do not remove too much at once.
• Heavy shortening causes many water shoots: remove whole branches rather than topping them.

Caution: Do not prune in summer: it flowers from July to September and you would remove the flowers.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Collect the ripe seeds in October and sow them in a tray that you leave outdoors over winter. They germinate in spring. Seedlings grow fast and can differ from one another; they flower after a few years.

Bee-bee tree: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Hardy to about −25 °C: no protection needed.
• On young trees, a layer of mulch protects the roots during hard frosts.
• Leave some of the fruits for the birds.

Diseases and pests

• Late frost: Young shoots that freeze in spring turn brown. Cut them away after regrowth; choose a sheltered spot.
• Aphids: Curled leaves and sticky shoots in May–June. Wash them off with water; ladybirds usually deal with them.
• Branch breakage: In a storm or under heavy snow, branches can break. Remove broken branches cleanly and keep the crown light.
• Seedlings: In warm spots, seeds may germinate. Pull out unwanted seedlings while young or move them.

Through the year

• January: Prune in dry, frost-free weather.
• February: Last chance to prune. Check stakes.
• March: Plant. Give a thin layer of compost.
• April: Plant. Mulch.
• May: Watch for late frost on young shoots. Water in dry weather.
• June: Watch for aphids. Water in dry weather.
• July: Flowering begins; full of bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
• August: Full flower. Water young trees in dry weather.
• September: Last flowers. The fruits colour up.
• October: Collect and sow seed. Plant. Autumn colour yellow.
• November: Plant. Clear fallen leaves.
• December: Plant. Leave some fruits on for the birds.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Butterflies

Nectar for butterflies.

Birds

Berries, seeds or insects as food, or a place to nest.

Did you know?

• In older books and at some nurseries you still find it as Euodia (or Evodia) hupehensis; Tetradium daniellii is the current name.
• It belongs to the rue family (Rutaceae), like citrus trees.
• It flowers into September, when most trees finished long ago.