Dove Tree

A few years ago we moved into a house with a dove tree. We waited patiently for it to bloom and just when I had given up hope, my husband found blooms on it this year. But there are only about 5 or 6 blooms on the very tip top branches, nothing at all below. Is this typical for the first year bloom on these trees?

Thanks,
Gwen

How big is it? And is it in full sun or shade? Sometimes trees take a few years to come into their own.

It is big. Big big big. In good sun with late afternoon shade. But we live in the PNW where it never gets too hot. It is a tree that normally takes 10 - 15 years to flower. It's just that we didn't expect it to only flower on top when it finally did flower so I was wondering if anyone has experience with this type of tree.

Gwen

I've kinda noticed some trees that are pampered do that whereas others that are grown a bit hard bloom better. Just an observation and maybe not correct but there's an abandoned house and the Dove tree did better this year without a house or water or anything from last summer.

We don't water it. And the house stood empty for 2 years, then spent the next 3 with an elderly couple where one had cancer and nothing was done to the yard. We have not given it any attention other than to go out and look at it from time to time. So I can't really say it's pampered.

Did that one tree you saw flower all over, as in photos I have seen of other dove trees? Have you ever seen it where only part of the tree bloomed?

Gwen

My co-worker bought a huge b&b tree and after it was delivered to the nursery there was even some blooms on it towards the top. The non-pampered tree is completely covered from top to bottom. There was 2 trees at the Seattle Arboretum - one in an open glade that was in full bloom and another surrounded by Cedars and Douglas Fir. The one surrounded had less blooms. How shaded is your tree? Is the soil acidic?

It could also be if this is the first year it's bloomed that it won't put on as good of a show as it will in subsequent years. Most of the pics I've seen of them the flowers are all over the tree, and if this one is just barely old enough to be thinking about blooming it wouldn't surprise me if it takes it a few years to get a really good display going.

It gets plenty of sun. Not sure how acidic the soil is right there but for the most part, most of our soil is acidic. The tree is planted smack in the middle of a very large lawn. Well, it probably was once lawn. Now it's sparse weeds. It's not in an area where the cedar and fir needles fall near it, tho.

Gwen

I'm not sure what to say. I'll keep my eyes on them and try and figure it out. Maybe it is age. The one my co-worker bought only had them at the top.

Looks like I will have to wait another year to find out!

I have been told that they now have a variety that blooms right away. Bummer for those of us who have waited 10-15 years! LOL

Gwen

I've read about that one, I don't think it blooms right away, it's just quicker than the 10-15 yrs you have to wait on the others.

Someone said there's a pink one out there too.

Pink flowers? Or leaves? There's one with burgundy colored leaves, name was 'Crimson Spring'. I bought a small one of it a few years ago, but we had a horrendous heat wave that summer while it was still in a container waiting to be planted, and it was one of several container plants that didn't make it through the week of 110+ temps. I may try it again one of these days though. But if there's a pink flowered one I must have it!

Also if anyone's interested, the name of the one that doesn't take as many years to bloom is 'Sonoma'

I'm still waiting patiently for my Dove tree to bloom. 10 years and counting.
It's a good-sized tree, so I presume it will eventually kick into gear.
Until then, I'll just keep waiting.

Well, I couldn't find the pink flower one online but I did find a new variegated one from Hines called 'Aya Nishiki'.