Fauna
Plant

Franklin Tree

Franklinia alatamaha

Also known as Franklinia, Bartram's Tree

Franklin trees are celebrated deciduous small trees that produce fragrant, white, camellia-like blossoms with golden-orange stamens from late summer into autumn. Their glossy green foliage turns brilliant shades of fiery scarlet, orange, and plum, frequently framing late-season flowers on the branches simultaneously. Extinct in the wild since 1803, all living specimens descend from seeds collected along Georgia's Altamaha River by botanists John and William Bartram.

FloweringDeciduousOrnamental
Franklin Tree reference
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—observations
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Extinct in the WildConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinct in the WildRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotoautotrophic (sunlight, water, carbon dioxide)
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Japanese Beetle
ThreatsHistoric agricultural clearing, root rot pathogens, extremely narrow genetic bottleneck
HabitatsHistorical river floodplains and sandbars; currently gardens and arboretums
Life span50–100 years
Classification
  1. FamilyTheaceae
  2. SpeciesFranklinia alatamaha
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for glossy obovate leaves, smooth gray bark with vertical white stripes, and five-petaled white flowers surrounding golden-orange centers.
Support conservation
Refrain from taking cuttings or disturbing root zones on curated specimens, allowing conservation arboretums to safeguard living stock.
Responsible observation
  • Arboretum Visits: Seek out mature specimens in botanical collections from August to October when flowers and fall foliage coincide.
  • Cultivation Caution: Avoid planting in heavy, poorly drained clay soils because roots are exceptionally susceptible to fungal root rot.
  • Flower Appreciation: Gently inhale near the open cup-shaped blossoms to detect their sweet, honeysuckle-like fragrance.
Related species
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