Tetradium daniellii

Tetradium daniellii, formerly known as Euodia danielli, better known as Honey Tree, is an extremely honey-producing tree from China and Korea, highly visited by bees. It offers a beautiful highly scented creamy white flowering from late spring. In temperate regions, it will continue until the end of summer. It is followed in autumn by clusters of small red capsules with a pointed beak. Its foliage is cut, dark green and glossy, with a velvety underside. This deciduous tree will thrive in any well-drained ordinary soil and tolerates drought once established.

The Honey Tree belongs to the Rutaceae family. It is native to the temperate deciduous forests of Southeast Asia (China, Korea), at high altitudes. This tree reaches a minimum height of 10m (32ft) and forms a crown of widely spread branches, pointing towards the sky. It reaches a diameter of 5 to 6m (19 to 8ft) at maturity. Its growth is quite fast. The young tomentose branches bear long deciduous leaves, which can reach a length of 30 to 40cm (15.7in), composed of 5 to 11 dark green ovate leaflets with a pointed tip. The upper side of the leaves is glossy, the underside is velvety and glaucous, and the leaflets are scattered with small translucent dots, releasing a light aroma when crushed. The foliage turns yellow in autumn. In late spring and until the end of summer, depending on the climate, numerous corymbs of small creamy white or butter-yellow flowers bloom, pleasantly scented. The flowering of this tree is one of the best sources of nectar for bees. At the end of flowering, the cluster of flowers turns red and is followed by small fruits, initially green-purple, then raspberry-red, then gray-beige, remaining on the tree for a long time. The seeds contained in the capsules are oily and highly sought after by birds.

Original, little known, very useful for garden wildlife, the Honey Tree will be highlighted when planted in isolation, not far from a pathway to enjoy the sweet scent of its flowers. Both exotic and hardy beyond -15°C, it is a precious asset for gardeners eager for something new. Edible oil can be extracted from its seeds.