This old Davidia at Tregrehan must have been planted from amongst the very earliest in the country. The story of Wilson and Henry and the introduction into British horticulture, (but being pipped by the Frenchman Farges), of this unique plant is all part of plant hunting folklore now. The Tregrehan plant must have been planted in the first decade of the 20th Century but as there were none of the family living at Tregrehan at this time the planting date goes unrecorded. It was at one time a record tree for girth in the British Isles and was a widespreading tree often seen with the first plantings.

But as can be seen in the lower image several of the older stems have now collapsed leaving just one leaning off at a 45 degree angle. Next to this old stem at ground level there are many small basal shoots. These make good cuttings and several have been potted up and another one has been planted elsewhere in the garden. There is also a much larger vertical trunk now which I selected and left to grow on about 30 years ago. This part of the tree is taller than the original now and must be about 20 metres tall, and will become the tree in due course when the rest collapses. It is looking absolutely perfect this week and definitely worth a look if anyone is passing!