Sinojackia xylocarpa

A rare flowering gem from the hills of eastern China, cloaked in springtime bells and old-world charm.

For the gardener who collects stories as much as plants, Sinojackia xylocarpa, or Jacktree, offers a tale worth telling. This deciduous shrub or small tree, native to a narrow region of eastern China, is a living heirloom from the old forests of Jiangsu, known only to a few discerning horticulturists and lovers of uncommon ornamentals.

A quiet cousin to the Styrax or Snowbell, Jacktree shares that same poetic language of spring—pendant, bell-shaped white blossoms that flutter beneath arching branches like antique lanterns in a breeze. Its elliptical, softly serrated leaves emerge fresh and green, offering an elegant canopy that spreads with age, creating dappled shade beneath.

What sets this tree apart is not just its rarity, but its gentle presence. It grows with dignity—never hurried, never brash—eventually reaching 10 to 20 feet in height and width. Planted in fertile, well-drained soil and given full sun to partial shade, it rewards patience with a form and flower that speak of quiet refinement. Few trees marry architectural grace with delicate bloom as this one does.

Photo courtesy of Jim Robbins.

Native Range: Eastern China
Notable Traits: Rare in cultivation, spring-flowering, elegant form, shade-tolerant
Landscape Uses: Specimen tree, woodland edge, collector’s garden, courtyard accent