FNPS Plant Database

Halesia carolina

little silverbell, Carolina silverbell
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

little silverbell, Carolina silverbell

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Halesia carolina

Family:

Styracaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

30-40 (40) ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Grow as an understory tree in a mixed or deciduous woodland. It blooms in early spring as the leaves appear and is more dainty than H. diptera. Does well when planted in association with Ericacious plants such as azaleas.

Considerations:

Availability:

Seed, Friends

Propagation:

Cuttings or seed. Said to be best transplanted with its roots balled.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Short very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars

Larval host for various moths including the Promethea Moth ( Callosamia promethea ),  Canadian Melanolophia ( Melanolophia canadaria ), and Stinging Rose Caterpillar ( Parasa indetermina ). 





Attracts primarily honeybees, bumblebees, and probably other long-tongued bees.

Larval host for various moths including the Promethea Moth (Callosamia promethea),  Canadian Melanolophia (Melanolophia canadaria), and Stinging Rose Caterpillar (Parasa indetermina).  Among vertebrate animals, tree squirrels occasionally eat the immature fruits and possibly  seeds.

Native Habitats:

Bluffs, hammocks, floodplain forests.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Grown less frequently than H. diptera but worthy of planting.

Citations:

Burns, Russell M., and Barbara H. Honkala [Technical coordinators]. (1990). Silvics of North America: Volume 2. Hardwoods. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 654. ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/1548 ). Accessed 2025.


Hilty, John. (2002-2018). Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Illinois: Carolina Silverbell. ( https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/car_silverbell.html ). Accessed 2026.

Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


University of Tennessee Extension Service. (2010). Desired pH Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants. ( https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/10/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf ). Accessed 2026. University of Tennessee Extension, Knoxville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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