Jack Tree is a rare Chinese ornamental that brings springtime drama to temperate gardens with its stunning pendulum of white, star-shaped flowers framing golden stamens. Native only to Jiangsu Province in China and first discovered in the wild near Nanking in 1925, this deciduous small tree or large shrub grows 15 to 20 feet tall and equally wide, thriving in hardiness zones 7 through 10. Its combination of showy spring blooms, moderate care requirements, and ability to handle both drought and deer makes it an uncommon but rewarding addition for gardeners seeking something beyond the typical flowering tree.
Partial Sun
Moderate
7-10
240in H x 240in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
Pendulous clusters of pristine white flowers unfold across the canopy in April and May, each blossom measuring roughly an inch wide with a cheerful yellow center. The tree demonstrates genuine toughness once established, handling drought conditions and deer pressure that would topple more tender ornamentals. Its moderate size and spreading form allow it to anchor a garden without overwhelming the space, while the complete absence of serious pest or disease problems means you spend spring enjoying blooms rather than troubleshooting problems.
Jack Tree serves as a flowering ornamental tree, valued primarily for its spring display of showy white blooms that create a striking focal point in the landscape during May and early June.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
No care instructions available yet for this variety.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Jack Tree carries the thrill of botanical discovery in its very name. Chinese botanists first encountered Sinojackia xylocarpa growing wild in its native Jiangsu Province in 1925, and formally described the species just three years later in 1928. This relatively recent addition to Western horticulture represents a living bridge between China's temperate woodlands and gardens across North America, preserved and propagated by nurseries and botanical institutions that recognized its ornamental merit.”