About Pinckneya pubens Michx.
Pinckneya is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family, which contains only one species: Pinckneya pubens Michx. This species is native to the Southeastern United States, and is commonly called Georgia bark or fevertree. It grows as a small tree that closely resembles cinchona, also known as Peruvian bark. It produces attractive, large white flowers marked with longitudinal rose-colored stripes. Its wood is soft and unsuitable for use in craft or manufacturing. The inner bark of Pinckneya pubens is extremely bitter. In its native habitat, Pinckneya pubens grows on poorly drained acidic soils, most often along swamp margins. The soils it grows in can have fine, medium, or coarse texture. Good pest resistance and its distinctive flowers make this species interesting to gardeners. Gardeners growing this plant should provide it with occasional irrigation during dry summer periods.
