Tetradium daniellii
Bee-bee tree
Common names: Korean evodia
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Pruning
- Feb–Mar
- Flowering
- Jul–Aug
Photo: Chhe (talk) · Public Domain · Source
Description
The Bee tree, botanically Tetradium daniellii, is a small deciduous tree in the Rutaceae family with feathered, glossy foliage. Its cream‑white flower spikes open only from late July into August, filling a crucial nectar gap for bees and other insects in midsummer. After flowering, striking reddish fruit capsules develop, adding ornamental value. The fruits and sap can cause skin irritation or itching when exposed to sunlight on sensitive skin, so gloves are recommended when pruning.
Care instructions
Plant the Bee tree in a sunny to partially sheltered spot, as it needs ample warmth for abundant flowering. The soil should be well‑drained and fresh to moderately moist; it does not tolerate waterlogging. In the first years after planting, especially in spring (week 12 to 16), regular watering helps establishment. Pruning is usually unnecessary; occasionally remove dead or crossing branches in late winter. Young plants benefit from light winter protection such as leaf mulch around the root zone; mature trees are winter hardy.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringJul–Aug
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, nutrient-rich, loamy, moist
The bee-bee tree likes deep, nutrient-rich soil that holds moisture but does not allow waterlogging. It feels most at home on loamy, free-draining soils with enough humus. In warm, sheltered spots in full sun to partial shade, it rewards you with vigorous growth and abundant blossom.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar, May
A dose of mature compost in early spring supplies the bee-bee tree with nutrients for the whole season. A mulch layer of leaves or bark humus around the root zone keeps the soil moist and releases additional nutrients as it rots. You can fall back on a second, light dose of compost in May if the site is rather poor.
Pruning
In the first few years, formative pruning is worthwhile to give the bee-bee tree a stable, well-branched crown with a clear central leader. In late winter before new growth, cut out dead, diseased or crossing branches. Once the crown has taken shape, occasional corrections are enough; regular pruning is no longer needed after that.
Overwintering
As a mature woody plant, the bee-bee tree is hardy in most parts of Germany and needs no special protection. Young plants in their first years in place appreciate a layer of mulch at the base of the trunk, which protects the root zone from hard frost. In harsh, very wind-exposed spots, winter protection of horticultural fleece for the young crown is also worthwhile.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Cuttings
- Layering
The most reliable way to propagate it is by sowing the seeds in autumn. They need a cold period to germinate and are therefore best stratified directly outdoors or in the fridge. Semi-ripe cuttings in summer also root with some patience if you keep them warm and evenly moist. Layering from lower branches can also be rooted over one to two years, but it takes a lot of space and patience.
For your garden
Grow Bee-bee tree yourself
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