Tetradium daniellii, commonly called the bee-bee tree or Korean evodia, is a deciduous tree native to Korea and China that produces fragrant white flowers in late summer, highly attractive to bees. The species has extremely hard seeds requiring pre-treatment such as warm water soaking or cold stratification to achieve successful germination within 1-3 months.
Before sowing
Seeds have extremely hard seed coats requiring pre-treatment. Alternative strategies include 4 cycles of freezing (-18°C) and thawing at room temperature. Cold stratification of 6 weeks improves germination rates.
Sowing
What to expect
Tips
Sow seeds 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) deep and tamp the soil gently; apply mulch to the seed bed. Use heat mats and maintain 14 hours daily light exposure for indoor sowing. Stratification in moist sand for 3-6 weeks significantly improves germination rates. Maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging. Seedlings should be kept indoors in a greenhouse for their first winter before transplanting outdoors in late spring.
Sources: Plants for a Future (PFAF), North Carolina State University Extension, Missouri Botanical Garden, Sheffield's Seeds, Central Asian Journal of Medical and Natural Science (2025)
