Lantern Tree: Latest Overview and FAQ
The lantern tree is a deciduous shrub plant. As its name suggests, its flowers are quite unusual, blooming in bell shapes and hanging densely at the tips of the branches, like little lanterns, and in autumn the leaves turn from green to red, making it excellent for ornamental viewing. Let's take a look at this unusual plant.
Morphological Characteristics
Also known as the hanging bell flower and "daughter red," it is a deciduous shrub with a plant height of 3-6 m, and a few can reach 10 m; the leaves are papery and mostly grow at the tips of the branches, oblong or elliptical, with slightly pointed tips and wedge-shaped bases, serrated edges, and smooth, hairless leaf surfaces. The flowering period is in May, the flowers hang downward, the flower color is flesh-red, and the corolla is broadly bell-shaped; the fruiting period is from June to October, and the capsule is ovate. Viewed from a distance, they look like lanterns hanging from the tips of the trees, and its leaves change color after entering autumn, just like maple leaves, making it excellent for ornamental viewing.
Growth Habits
It likes light, tolerates partial shade, and tolerates cold. It is drought-tolerant and has low soil requirements, though it prefers to grow in calcareous soil. It has strong vitality, few pests and diseases, and is easy to manage. The lantern tree mostly grows on arid mountain land at an altitude of 1000 m, and is widely distributed in Anhui, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan in China.
Main Value
Ornamental value: In addition to the ornamental value of its flowers and leaves, it also has a special ability. It has a strong ability to absorb phosphorus substances, so its leaves contain a large amount of phosphorus substances. At night, the leaves release a small amount of phosphine gas. These gases have an extremely low ignition point and will spontaneously ignite, emitting a pale blue flame. On clear, windless nights, viewed from a distance, it looks like a street lamp.
The above is an introduction to the lantern tree. Although the lantern tree is a good ornamental tree species, it is toxic. Chlorides can be extracted from its flowers and leaves, and they are highly toxic, so try to minimize contact.