Firmiana simplex W.F.Wight

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This is the Phoenix Tree of legendary interest.  It makes an admirable street tree.  The bark yields a fiber obtained by retting.  According to Hosie the wood is used for making furniture in Szechuan.  The fruit contains a dark colored fluid which is liberated when the follicle opens.’  [Woon Young Chun – Chinese Economic Trees p.249/1921].

Introduced to Britain in 1757.  [PD].

History at Camden Park

Probably obtained from George Stevenson, South Australia, in 1844.  The only reference I have found is to this letter.  ‘We were so successful with the greater part of those you sent us last spring that I ask you with the same boldness to supply us again.  I here subjoin the list.  And now, having made such fine use of your catalogue for my own purposes, let me not omit to say how gratified I was to find that you have already made such progress in the introduction of plants of utility and ornament.  Such a collection of plants, in the possession of one individual, the age of the colony [of South Australia] being considered, affords the best evidence of successful energy and public spirit in the proprietor and I trust that he will not fail to meet his rewards.’  18 plants were included in the subjoined list.  [MP A2933-1, p.21]. 

Notes