Dec 1, 6:14 PM

PlantFiles: Cancer Tree, Tree Of Life, Happy Tree, False Tupelo, Xi Shu
Camptotheca acuminata

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Family: Nyssaceae
Genus: Camptotheca
Species: acuminata (ah-kew-min-AY-tuh) (Info)

2 vendors have this plant for sale.

Category:
Trees

Height:
over 40 ft. (12 m)

Spacing:
over 40 ft. (12 m)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade

Danger:
N/A

Bloom Color:
White/Near White

Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall

Foliage:
Deciduous

Other details:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Suitable for growing in containers

Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)

Patent Information:
Unknown - Tell us

Propagation Methods:
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall

Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds

By JaxFlaGardener

By Kelli

Profile:

1 positive
1 neutral
No negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

Rating	Author	Comment
Neutral	germinater	On Nov 13, 2007, germinater from (Zone 9a) wrote: The "Propagation" and "Seed Collecting" information for C. acuminata is incorrect. The seeds should not be allowed to dry out and sowing in the fall would imply that the seeds need to have a dormancy broken. This is not true. It would probably be true if they were allowed to dry out though. If my last two seed trays (11/12/07) germinate as well as the previous ones I will have somewhere near fifty seedlings of this tree. This is from fresh, self-collected seed. Seeds were green, well cleaned, and sown indoors at around seventy degrees. They do give relatively low germination compared to Baobabs/palms/etc. :) , but other than the stained fingers from cleaning I would rate this tree as easy from seed. Probably too easy. I hope that it doesn't become noxious. "germinater"
Positive	jcalder	On Nov 9, 2007, jcalder from Bowling Green, OH wrote: I'd like to add something personal to the lore about this tree/plant. One of its derivatives used in the treatment of cancer is CPT-111. It is currently a major ingredient in the arsenal against a brain tumor a family member has and it has proved very effective in reducing it. So, the Happy Tree deserves its reputation.

Regional...

This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:

,
Spring, Texas

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