Jim McKenney wrote,"About thirty years ago or so I planted a then small Franklinia here in the >garden. Shortly after I planted it, something gnawed the trunk about six >or eight inched above ground so much that the top of the plant fell over. It >was however still attached by a band of bark. Determined to save the plant >and not knowing what else to do, I put soil over the upper part of the plant >(which was then just about flat on the ground) leaving the tips of each of >the three branches exposed. > >Now fast forward about thirty years. The Franklinia is a multi-trunked >giant. I had the same experience with my Franklinia, although the damage was caused when the severe winter of 1990 froze the young plant to the ground. It also came back with multiple trunks which now reach about 18 feet -- not a giant but pretty good for a Franklinia in this climate, just the opposite (cool and dry) of what it presumably wants in summer. I do think, however, that a single-trunked Franklinia is a more attractive specimen. But mine is pretty in fall in the unusual years when it manages to color its leaves and flower at the same time; usually the frost that brings on the leaf color also blasts the flowers and makes the buds drop! I think it would work better if it got more summer heat. Jane McGary Northwestern Oregon, USA