The little stick on the right hand side is my Eucryphia nymansensis. I planted it in November 2015 and I have been nurturing it with attention ever since. It is one of the favoured plants that gets watered. It is privileged with extra water because I can’t imagine that it is that happy finding itself in sandy soil that dries out quickly. The Nepeta stalks covers most of its base and the Gaura does its best to protect it too.
That was why I was surprised to see what I thought could be a flower. When I saw the brown tip I thought I had missed the flower and it had already started to dry up. But no, the bud seems to burst its cap to flower.
As the flower opens the cap falls off. I would have been disappointed to miss my first flowers.
I was very excited to see my first flower open and smell the perfume. I was not disappointed.
We even had some rain and it did not destroy the flowers which dipped and let the rain run off.
Perhaps this is another reason that the bees love the Eucryphia flowers. They can act as natural umbrellas.
Apart from the beauty of the flowers and their perfume, the flowers also attract bees. This year I only had four flowers on my tree but I could see that it was going to be popular with the bees. I hope it does some growing next spring and produces some more flowers next summer.
a french garden 
Four flowers and it’s done? That seems strange, but then I don’t know the plant.
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It’s a measly little specimen but I have great hopes for it. They do grow and become covered in these beautiful, perfumed white flowers. I am just getting excited in anticipation. You can see I am easy to please 🙂 Amelia
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beautiful plant
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Hello Amelia,
We too love this tree, and planted one a few years ago, and we love its bee friendly flowers, and particularly the time of year they appear. What’s great as well is that unlike many trees they seem to flower very early in their life, as you’ve found. And this year we’ve even got a few seed pods forming – though these seem to take nearly a year to develop. So I’m sure it will delight in years to come. One thought though…if you get strong winds maybe keep an eye on it, ‘cos ours has been badly rocked – I think it’s root system isn’t maybe the strongest,
best wishes
Julian
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It is good to hear from someone with a mature plant. I am just imagining what it could look like when it is a bit bigger. Thank you for the tip about the roots. I have read that they like to be a bit sheltered and have the roots moist which tallies with a light root system. Luckily we do not get a lot of wind, however, when there are storms in France they tend to of a force that knock down trees and telegraph poles! Amelia
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How wonderful! The care and nurturing well rewarded and the tree clearly intending to thrive. I love the notion of a natural new umbrella! 🐝☔
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Sometimes you read about plants and their virtues but they do not live up to your expectations. This one seems to be true to all the good things I have read about it. Amelia
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Looks like this tree will be a wonderful addition to your garden. I am pondering if I could find a place for one in my garden, now that you have introduced me to it.
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I am always tempted by plants that are perfumed and I have a weakness for white flowers. It can grow to 8 metres but it is very easy to trim so could suit most gardens. I keep a “Wish List” of the plants I see in blogs and I find it handy to refer to from time to time. Amelia
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Oh yes, I have a weakness for the white and the perfumed too. Was I a bee in a former life? 😉
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They are beautiful flowers, Amelia. A mature tree must be stunning – hope it does well for you next year too!
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It is only little but now it has flowered I am expecting great things from it :). Amelia
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Such a pretty flower, and fragrance too?…. !
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It ticks all my boxes. I love perfumed plants. Amelia
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I used to have this tree in my garden in England. I also saw lots of them at The Garden House in Devon when I was there in July, they were in full flower. I’m sure you’ll be very pleased with your choice.
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I have never actually seen a mature specimen in flower. I do miss visiting gardens and enjoy very much the virtual ones I see online. Amelia
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Yes, not bring able to visit gardens dens whenever I want is the thing I miss most not living in England.
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I’ve never heard of it but it has pretty flowers.
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It is not one of your many natives that we now have garden plants but hales from South America. Amelia
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There are few pleasures in life to rival watching the first flower of plant you have nurtured unfold. Thank you for sharing it!
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It is so nice to know that others get a similar pleasure :). Amelia
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Once again you introduce me to something new. Thanks.
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I bet you are going to see some now! It always seems to happen like that. Amelia
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Looks stunning, I hope it prospers, and its good for the bees.
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It is always good to find another flower for the bees in the garden but this one has some growing to do ! Amelia
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We love this tree must try and get one never heard of it before it’s beautiful would it thrive in Berkshire?
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I think it grows fine in the U.K. I found this from the Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3336150/How-to-grow-Eucryphia.html. I have found their gardening articles very good. I used to cut them out when I lived in the U.K. and I was planning what I would like to grow (which has now completely changed.) Amelia
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