Poliothyrsis sinensis

Chinese pearlbloom is a small deciduous tree in the willow or Salicaceae family native to eastern and central China. It can reach up to 12 m tall and have a span of 7 m. It is the sole species contained in the genus Poliothyrsis.

• The tree is particularly noted for its fragrant flowers, late summer flowering period, and attractive foliage.
• Leaves are deciduous, simple, 8–18 cm long and 4–10 cm across, ovate or ovate-oblong, sometimes ovate-cordate, thickly papery, smooth-margined, emerging burgundy-bronze in spring, maturing to emerald green and finally turning yellow in fall.
• Trees are monoecious; flowers are tiny, fragrant, apetalous (without petals), creamy white, on many-branched conical panicles up to 20 cm long at the tips of new stems in late August-September. Flower buds only open slightly, and have a rounded pearl-shaped appearance, thus leading to the common name of “pearlbloom”.
• Fruit is downy capsule with a slight point, each containing numerous seeds. After seed is dispersed, dry capsules are flaring, 3-pointed.