Pinckneya bracteata 'Precocious'

(aka: Pinckneya pubens) Pinckneya bracteata 'Precocious', a 2020 Plant Delights/JLBG introduction is one of those rare woody plants that occasionally creep into our catalog thanks to a special connection. In 2015, Patrick McMillan of the SC Botanical Garden shared some extra seedlings of the Southeast (SC south to Florida) native small tree, Pinckneya bracteata. One of those seedlings began flowering at just over 1' tall, which is highly abnormal. This precocious flowering trait has continued, so we couldn't help but share this amazing selection. In late spring, the branch tips are adorned with floral clusters which feature the oversized, highly attractive, creamy pink bracts. Pinckneya is also host to a number of butterflies, moths, bees, and hummingbirds...as if you needed another reason to grow it. Although Pinckneya is native to acidic swampy soils, ours has fared well in typical woodland conditions with a pH of 6.5 and average moisture. Our 4-year-old specimen is 9' tall x 9' wide. The genus Pinckneya is named for a former SC governor and US constitution signer, Charles Pinckney.