Choosing planting

7 rare trees

Discover magnificent collector's specimens

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Modified the 30 November 2025 by Sophie 5 min. Difficulty: Beginner

Living fossils once thought lost forever and rescued thanks to advances in plant technology, rare cultivated specimens and sole representatives of their genus, or subjects as remarkable in their natural habitat as in nurserymen’s collections: some trees are true rarities, a pleasure to discover and, why not, to grow in your garden, provided you can offer them optimal growing conditions.

Discover these originals, these unique trees, both to satisfy your curiosity and to consider adopting one for your garden: here is our selection of 7 rare and collector trees.

Difficulty

Quercus myrsinifolia: a marvellous myrsine-leaved oak

Somewhat resembling the camphor tree, Myrsine-leaved oak Quercus myrsinifolia is a small rare tree, native to Japan and China. Its common name, sometimes also ‘Bamboo-leaved oak’, comes from the shape of its leaves: elegant, lanceolate with pronounced veins, about 13 cm long by 4 cm wide. This slender tree has a pyramidal habit when young, eventually forming a rounded crown with age. While in its native range it very slowly becomes a small tree up to 15 m tall, in our climate it will not exceed 5 m in height with a 3 m spread.

Preferring mild conditions, it thrives in fresh, neutral to acid soil in full sun: give it a prominent place as a specimen in the garden, or in a seaside garden, as it tolerates sea spray very well! It also works wonderfully in a Japanese garden.

Quercus myrsinifolia

Wollemia nobilis: an Australian pine once thought extinct

A representative of the family Araucariaceae, one of the oldest botanically, the Wollemi pine Wollemia nobilis is a cousin of the Araucarias, the last survivors of a group of plants that thrived in the Jurassic. This species is the only extant representative of the genus. It was thought extinct until its rediscovery in 1994 in the depths of a small, secret valley in Australia. Botanists have since been able to propagate it, which not only aids its preservation but also makes it available to gardeners.

Il arbore la silhouette d’un grand sapin élancé à la ramure très particulière en double couronne : les branches basses sont pourvues d’un feuillage en grandes aiguilles souples et aplaties vert clair, disposées horizontalement, qui rappellent les frondes des fougères et la couronne terminale prend une forme de cône. Son écorce boursouflée a une belle couleur chocolat. Cet arbre faisant partie des plus rares au monde, préfère les sols humifères, acides et frais et redoute les fortes gelées (il serait rustique jusqu’à -12 °C) : on peut tenter sa culture sous un climat de type océanique doux. Les quelques Wollemia nobilis adultes atteignent 35 m de hauteur et présentent un port globalement étroit et pyramidal.

Wollemia nobilis

Tetracentron sinense: a rarity from Asia

Tetracentron sinense is originally found at forest edges and in the narrow, steep-sided valleys of Asia. This small deciduous tree is the sole representative of the genus Tetracentron. The name comes from the Greek “tetra” meaning “four” and “kentron” referring to a prickle, in reference to the four appendices shaped like darts that adorn its fruit. In its native range, where it is unfortunately threatened with extinction, this tree reaches 30 m in height, but it will reach about 12 m in height with a 6 m spread when planted in our climate.

Very graceful, Tetracentron sinense displays a generally upright, rounded habit and young heart-shaped red foliage, becoming pale green, before taking on beautiful shimmering tones again in autumn. Its spring and summer flowering takes the form of long, unusual pendulous aments, followed by decorative fruit. Quite hardy (down to -18°C), it prefers a sunny or semi-shaded position, in neutral to acidic soil.

Tetracentron sinense

Emmenopterys henryi: an exceptionally rare flowering

Protected species native to southern China, Emmenopterys henryi can, in its native range, reach 45 m in height and live for several centuries. Its rare flowering, on a specimen just as rare, is superb but unpredictable and delights enthusiasts. It consists of intensely scented cream-white tubular flowers, appearing on upper branches from June to August. This magnificent tree with an open spreading habit has attractive dark glossy foliage, with young shoots bronze-red, and a grey, fissured bark.

Emmenopterys henryi benefits from being planted in deep, rich, humus-bearing, fresh, well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade, sheltered from cold or drying winds. Fairly hardy, it tolerates temperatures down to −15 °C.

Emmenopterys henryi (Wikimedia)

Magnolia delavayi: a collector's magnolia

This magnolia variety provides a magnificent summer display with countless large creamy, deliciously scented flowers. Hardy to about -12 °C, Magnolia delavayi, also called Chinese magnolia, is an extremely rare species, a true collector’s tree. From July to September, it bears large creamy flowers that gradually turn purplish-pink, 10 to 20 cm in diameter, short-lived and solitary, with a cone at their centre. After flowering, the cone remains on the tree until ripening. Its evergreen foliage consists of large, leathery, glossy oval leaves of an elegant green.

It is a small evergreen tree with a rounded habit, reaching 10 to 12 m in height with an 8 m spread, ideal for confined spaces, where it will be focal point in rich, cool, even moist but well-drained and not alkaline soil. Protect it from prevailing winds and plant in sun or partial shade to see this beautiful rarity fully flourish!

Magnolia delavayi (Citron – Wikimedia)

Davidia involucrata 'Lady Sunshine': a variegated handkerchief tree to discover

Common name of this deciduous tree, handkerchief tree, perfectly evokes the shape of its flowers, surrounded by large, very distinctive pendulous bracts. This abundant white flowering unfolds from early May to late June, giving it a distinctive appeal. Branches of the handkerchief tree develop rapidly, spreading to reach up to 12 m in height and a spread of 10 m.

Speaking of rarities, let us mention here Davidia involucrata ‘Lady Sunshine’, a very rare form of the handkerchief tree, endowed with astonishing cordate, variegated foliage, green broadly edged with cream-yellow. This variety flowers from a young age, unlike the species, which flowers only after many years. With excellent hardiness (down to -15 °C, and often lower), this collector’s tree is grown in sun or partial shade, in deep, fertile, light, fresh soil.

Davidia involucrata ‘Lady Sunshine’

Eucryphia moorei: lovely rose wood

Generously in flower for almost two months in summer, Eucryphia moorei, also called Bois rose is a collection-worthy specimen to discover! A tree with a fastigiate habit reaching 25 m in its native moist, temperate habitat of south‑east Australia, it takes in our latitudes the appearance of a handsome small evergreen tree, not exceeding 8 m in height with a 4 m spread and is covered in graceful white cup-shaped flowers in July and August.

This fine tree, with its dazzling, very melliferous summer flowering, will find a place in partial shade in oceanic-climate gardens, in a shrub border or as a solitary specimen. It prefers fresh, acidic-to-neutral, well-drained soils and will not tolerate excessive heat or drought. Tender, Eucryphia moorei will withstand occasional temperatures down to -5°C once established, but its foliage will suffer from -2°C onwards.