Ehretia dicksonii
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'Ehretia dicksonii' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
A native of China, Formosa, etc., introduced by E. H. Wilson. It is a tree 30 to 35 ft high with slightly downy young shoots. Leaves elliptic, 4 to 8 in. long, rounded varying to slightly cordate or tapered at the base, shortly pointed, more or less downy on both surfaces. Flowers open in May and June in flattish panicles 2 to 4 in. long and broad; corolla white, 2⁄5 in. wide. Fruit subglobose, 1⁄2 in. wide, greenish yellow.
Ehretia dicksonii grows well at Kew. It is apt to suffer in high winds, but otherwise is hardy. It was at one time confused with the Himalayan E. macrophylla Wall. For an interesting account of it in earlier years, see Gard. Chron., 1914 ii, p. 150. One specimen reached over 20 ft high in Messrs Hillier’s nursery at Winchester – this nursery, on chalky soil, was a valuable proving ground for the lime-tolerance of new introductions. Other specimens: Kew, by King William’s Temple, pl. 1927–8, 31 × 41⁄2 ft and 33 × 31⁄2 ft (1981); Westonbirt, Glos., 35 × 21⁄4 ft (1980); Birr Castle, Co. Offaly, Eire, 56 × 31⁄2 ft (1985).
