Franklinia alatamaha-a plant known as the Franklin tree, blooms with fragrant cup-shaped snow-white flowers and belongs to the tea family.
The plant was first discovered in 1765 by Philadelphia botanists John and William Bartram, who named it after their close friend Benjamin Franklin. Scientists have discovered a tree on the banks of the Altamaha River in the US state of Georgia, and since the 1800s this plant has been considered an endangered species. Today, only a few places on Earth grow the Franklin tree and is cultivated in the British nursery “Trewithen Estate”.
For the first time in 200 years, the tree has thrown out 3 flowers, and experts expect even more next year. The plant can withstand low temperatures, although it prefers warm weather, and grows up to 10 meters in height (32.3 feet).