The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Chinese parasol-tree

Family: Sterculiaceae (sterculia family)

Synonym: Firmiana platanifolia, Sterculia platanifolia

Distribution: e. Asia

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Hardiness: USDA Zone 7

Life form: Deciduous tree

Comments: Add a tropical appearance to your garden with this large deciduous shrub to small tree that has alternate, simple, 6-8" long leaves. On young, vigorous plants these maple-like leaves are sometimes up to 12" and have three, sometimes five lobes. In mild climates this can be a tree up to 40' tall and this plant's source is suspected stem hardy. Young stems are gray-green and smooth. Site in a protected area in moist, well-drained soil in sun or light shade.