Franklin Tree – 6/21/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein

Observation Date: 6/21/25

Observation Time: 6:00 p.m.

Observation Location: Sharon Historical Society museum building at 16 High St.

Common Name: Franklin Tree

Scientific Name:Franklinia alatamaha

Comments: The Franklin tree is native to the Altamaha River valley in Georgia. It has been extinct in the wild since the early 19th century, but survives as a cultivated ornamental tree.

Philadelphia botanists John and William Bartram first observed the tree growing along the Altamaha River near Fort Barrington in the British colony the Province of Georgia in October 1765. The tree was last verified in the wild in 1803 by the English plant collector John Lyon. The cause of its extinction in the wild is not known, but has been attributed to a number of causes including fire, flood, overcollection by plant collectors, and fungal disease introduced with the cultivation of cotton plants.

All the Franklin trees known to exist today are descended from seed collected by William Bartram and propagated at Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia. The John Bartram Association undertook a search for trees from 1998 to 2000 and located more than 2,000 specimens growing worldwide.

This specimen was blooming on June 21, the longest day of the year. The blossoms look like fried eggs.

More Information:  Wikipedia