Plant Details

Halesia carolina

Silver-bell tree

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Common names

13 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Carolina silverbell[1][2]
  • Silver-bell tree
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Sneeuwklokjesboom[2]
French
  • Halesia de Caroline
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 北美银钟花[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 北美銀鐘花[2]
Czech
  • halézie karolínská[2]
Finnish
  • carolinanlumikellopuu[2]
Japanese
  • アメリカアサガラ[2]
Russian
  • Халезия каролинская[2]
Slovak
  • halézia karolínska[2]
Spanish
  • Árbol de campanillas plateadas[2]
Swedish
  • snödroppsträd[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Halesia carolina L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Carolina silverbell — VernacularName.tsv, line 152733; taxon 6L9TV.
[2] Halesia carolina — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Carolina Silverbell — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.
  • halézie karolínská — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.
  • アメリカアサガラ — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.
  • 北美銀鐘花 — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.
  • 北美银钟花 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.
  • snödroppsträd — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.
  • Халезия каролинская — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.
  • Sneeuwklokjesboom — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.
  • Árbol de campanillas plateadas — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.
  • carolinanlumikellopuu — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.
  • halézia karolínska — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 157424; Halesia carolina.

General information

Scientific name: Halesia carolina
Accepted name (Kew): Halesia carolina L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [4] [5]
Botanical family: Styracaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Halesia (WCVP v16).

Sources [4]
Also known as: Silver-bell tree
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Small, Medium
Height: 3.05–12.19 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 7.62–10.67 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Irregular, Multi-trunked, Open, Pyramidal, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained

Preferred growing conditions. Moisture and drainage are different properties; well-drained soil is not necessarily dry.

Sources [1] [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)
Sources [2]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun, Partial shade
Sources [1] [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Fragrant, Wood

Description

Halesia carolina is a deciduous tree or shrub with pendent, white, bell-shaped flowers in spring and four-winged fruits in autumn. It prefers moist, well-drained soil.

Sources [1] [2] [3]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Irregular and spreading
Sources [2]
Crown density: Open
Sources [2]

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Horticultural Society Halesia carolina — RHS Plant Profile
    Supports: DescriptionLightSoil moisture
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Foliage; Cultivation; Potentially harmful, where applicable
    • Light: Position; Cultivation
    • Soil moisture: Growing conditions: Moisture; Cultivation

    Source checked on .

  2. North Carolina State University Halesia carolina — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionCrown shapeCrown densityHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Crown shape: Description: crown architecture
    • Crown density: Description: crown architecture
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  3. University of Connecticut Halesia carolina: Carolina Silverbell — Plant Database
    Supports: DescriptionLightSoil moisture
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Habit; growth; culture and ornamental characteristics
    • Light: Habit; growth; culture and ornamental characteristics
    • Soil moisture: Habit; growth; culture and ornamental characteristics

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1423620; name ID 2906278; Halesia J.Ellis ex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 810318; name ID 2838104; Halesia carolina L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  5. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Halesia carolina

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2212407, ID 6L9TV: Halesia carolina L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .