Family Sterculiaceae
Originating from Vietnam to Japan

A round headed tree with smooth green bark and large dark green leaves. The leaves are deeply lobed and can reach 45 cm long, turning bright yellow in autumn. These contrast magnificently with the green bark, which remains smooth even when the tree is very mature and is yet another fine feature of this distinctive tree. Invasive in the USA Firmiana has proved to be unproblematic in UK gardens and this noble and exotic-looking tree should be grown more.
Grow in moist but well-drained soil in sun. Books will tell you that it is only half-hardy but it grows outside at the nursery. What’s more, Firmiana simplex is used as a street tree in Beijing where the climate is far harsher than the UK.

Eventual mature plant size :
Height 10m
Spread 10m