Origin: North America.
Botanical characteristics: It is a cultivar that was selected in France by the baron de la Galissonière. It is an imposing and majestic evergreen tree with thick and broadly conical crown, branched from the ground, in which the main branches are well differentiated. The oval or oblong leaves are very large, entire, leathery, dark green and glossy above and rusty below. The large and fragrant pure white flowers are solitary and bloom all summer long until autumn. The ovoid reddish infructescenses, similar to a strobilus, release red seeds.
Agronomic and environmental characteristics: It was introduced in Europe as an ornamental plant. It prefers rich soil, from neutral to acid and well-drained. It tolerates dry and alkaline soils, too. It has a good resistance to air pollution.
Use: It is used as an ornamental plant. It can be found wherever in the parks and in the historic English gardens both as specimen plant and in groups; sometimes it is used in the avenues. It is used in large gardens and in green spaces as a single plant or in groups. If cultivated and conical pruned, it can be used in small gardens, too.
