Pinckneya

Description
Scientific Names: Pinckneya pubens, Pinckneya bracteata
Common Names: Pinckneya, Fever Tree, Fever-bark Tree, Georgia Fever-bark
Plant Type: Small deciduous tree.
Height: 10-20 feet
Native Habitat: Margins of swamps, bays and streams.
Native Range: Mainly southern Georgia and northern Florida.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Pinckneya pubens as Critically-Imperiled in South Carolina, and possibly Vulnerable in Georgia.
Cultivation: Pinckneya grows best in moist acidic soil in light shade. Good drainage is essential. The plant has a reputation for being difficult to grow, so you should be prepared to give it special attention.
Flowering Time: May , June , July , Augustus.

Pinckneya is a small deciduous tree native to the coastal plains of the southeastern United States. It is remarkable to wear for the very showy flowers at the tips of the branches in late spring. Their color is mostly pink, but the possible shades ranging from creamy white to rose-red. The flowers come in large clusters, and a tree in full bloom is a spectacular sight. In fact, the petals of each flower is small, and are inconspicuous. The size and color of the flower comes from the sepals, which can extend several centimeters. Since these sepals retain their color over a longer period of time before they fade, the show lasts for several weeks.

This is a plant from the deep South, and it can not be grown in the north, except in a greenhouse. Also in the south it is not common, either in gardens or in the wild. Your home is wet acidic soil at the edge of the bays, marshes and streams, often in the penumbra of scattered pines. Crops can grow on dry sites, but may need special attention during the drought. Root rot can be a problem, especially on poorly drained clay soils. But in the right conditions, the species can grow relatively quickly and begin blooming in early years. It needs a moist, acidic soil with good drainage and thrives best in light shade. Wild specimens often spread by producing root suckers, and crops usually have multiple trunks. Pinckneya can be grown just north of its native range. It can be killed on the ground when the temperature falls below zero (F), but usually resprout from the roots. The scientific name of this type is changed from Pinckneya bracteata to Pinckneya pubens. An old common name is Fever-tree bark, and the bitter bark of the plant was formerly used as home remedies to reduce fever used. The nature of the cinchona tree (Cinchona ledgerina) of South America, the original source of quinine is used.

Uses
Showy flowers make this a talking point in any garden. Use it as an accent in a sunny shrub border or as a specimen near the patio or deck. This is certainly a tree to consider when planning a yard due to the small size and pest resistance. In earlier days, malaria and other fevers were treated at home with a medicine made from the inner bark of this deciduous tree.