Carolingian snow Halesia carolina occurs naturally in the eastern and south-eastern states of North America, where it grows on the banks of rivers and in the mountains up to an altitude of 600 m above sea level. In gardens it forms tall shrubs or low trees up to 6 m tall with a loose, egg-shaped crown. The leaves are ovoid-elliptical, turning yellow in autumn. The bell-shaped flowers sit along the stems and develop along with the leaves.
The second species cultivated in Poland is the Carolingian halja mountain variety (Halesia carolina var. Monticola), which naturally grows in the higher parts of the mountains, even up to an altitude of 1,200 m above sea level.p.m., where it is a tall tree growing up to 20 m.In Wrocław's Szczytnicki Park, this specimen is about 12 m high and a trunk circumference of 140 cm.
Another species that grows in America is the Halesia dietera double-winged snowdrop with strongly hairy leaves and flowers gathered in short clusters. The last species is Halesia macgregorii, naturally found in Asia in eastern China. Unfortunately, this species cannot be cultivated in Poland because it is sensitive to low temperatures during winters and can freeze.
In the garden, bush trees grow best in a quiet position. They prefer slightly shaded or semi-shaded positions.Halezja grows best in moderately moist, slightly acidic and neutral soils, which should be covered with mulch in the crown radius, protecting against drying out and in winter against deep freezing of the soil.
Halezje should be planted well in an exposed place to present its flowers, and in summer woody drupes that turn brown in autumn.
Flowering takes longer in spring
At the turn of April and May, the Halezias develop beautiful white or slightly pink bell-shaped flowers gathered in bunches. The flowers are soleplate with visible yellow stamens. Flowering takes about 2 weeks, depending on the weather.During warm days it is short and very intense, and when spring is moderately warm and humid with temperature variations between day and night, it is much longer.
After flowering within the radius of the crown, the soil surface is covered with numerous white flowers.
