At Caerhays Craibiodendron yunnenense has grown over 30 years into a new Record Tree height of some 30-40 feet. The seed of this new and unknown genus in Europe was originally given to us byRoy Lancaster from his 1981 expedition to China.
C. yunnanense is an evergreen tree which produces drooping clusters of white bell-like flowers which are very similar to those of Pieris. This makes it an attractive tree at Caerhays although probably more of a shrub in areas with lower rainfall than Cornwall. Unlike Pieris the urn shaped panicles of creamy-white flowers appear in the summer rather than the spring. Our tree has years off from flowering but can be a major spectacle when it does decide to perform.
The leaves are glossy and leathery (like Pieris) and the new growth is an attractive coppery-red.
Clearly this plant thrives in moist acidic soil. Initially the view was that Craibiodendron would be tender and require sheltered conditions. However we took a risk with a batch of home grown seedlings and planted them in a row as a windbreak in Forty Acre Wood in the teeth of salt laden westerly gales. To our surprise they have positively thrived and have now reached 10-15 feet in height.
