A medium to large, intolerant, bottomland tree native to the northern Mississippi valley regions and commonly planted and naturalized elsewhere. It is a common ornamental with showy white flowers and very durable wood. Leaves are deciduous, simple, opposite or in whorls of 3, broadly ovate with a more or less cordate base, and usually entire. Twigs are stout, glabrous, with large, round leaf scars and small sunken buds with imbricate scales. Fruit is a long (to 18"), terete, usually persistent capsule containing seeds with fringed wings at both ends. Bark has reddish-brown scales.