Trochodendron aralioides

Trochodendron aralioides is the only species of its kind, with no relatives. Introduced from mountain woodlands in the Far East a century ago, it's relatively uncommon in gardens, but coveted once seen, especially when in flower. Although trees in the wild can reach 20m, they are much smaller in cultivation, and may be pruned as bushy shrubs. The older branches have fine brown aromatic bark, while the scalloped long-stalked leaves are a bright rich green, as are the flowers, borne in upright, disc-shaped clusters.