Franklin tree

[ frangk-lin tree ]

noun

1. a deciduous tree, Franklinia alatamaha, the sole member of this genus, of the tea family, having large, white, fragrant flowers: one of the rarest trees in the world, native to the Altamaha River valley in Georgia and now known only in cultivation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Franklin tree¹

First recorded in 1765–75; named after Benjamin Franklin

Example Sentences

Why don’t we plant more red buckeyes, or the sweetbay magnolia, or the sometimes fickle Franklin tree?

From Washington Post

The nonprofit organization, founded by the singer and actress Bette Midler, is providing 1,400 trees - among them the Franklin tree, the  American persimmon and  the Southern Magnolia, although the types vary depending on the giveaway location -- for people to plant in their yards, on commercial property and in community gardens.

From New York Times