I grow it in SW Portland in a clay loam soil improved with sand and bark, in full sun, in a group of small trees with not much wind, with a deep watering every two weeks or so. It's about 20 years old now, about 12 feet tall, and very healthy. But it won't set viable seed, so I've purchased another one and planted it close by, for pollination. I don't know yet if it's going to work.

Thanks Lilydude,

David

Rare because it's a martyr to phytophthora root rot. Suggestion was even made at one time that it was nearly extinct in the wild when discovered and introduced into cultivation due to presence of cotton fields (and phytophthora) in the vicinity. But it seems more likely it was already being "obsoleted" by natural causes.

One at the Seattle arboretum, held together by cables was 17' tall a few years ago. Other publicly accessible places where these can be seen in Seattle are the Zoo and Seattle University. See Jacobson, TREES OF SEATTLE - SECOND EDITION for more information.

I'm a fan of the Ben Franklin tree. It can be planted close to houses and likes good drainage and no fertilizer.
They usually have white flowers now with yellow stamens that can be viewed at Wayside Gardens. No open flowers this year yet. Good fall foliage still.
This could be a good city tree under the right conditions. A small tree with minimal maintenance and an historical name. Perfect between city pavers.

As with any tree or other plant need for fertilizer depends on individual situation. All non-saprophytic terrestrial plants need access to adequate soil nutrients, there is no kind that categorically never needs fertilizer. If a Franklin tree is stuck into a soil that is deficient in something it needs then it will need to be fertilized (using a source that supplies the deficient nutrient in adequate amounts).

I've always avoided this species because for some reason I have the perception that they are poor performers without generous amounts of water, summer heat, and fertile, well drained soil. Even if I'm wrong about the fertility part there are plenty of easier things to grow, which may or may not be considered more rewarding depending on your interests.

The main barrier seems to be the phytophthora susceptibility. Otherwise it is a bit of an ugly duckling, sparse and clumsy until the swan appears in late summer and fall, when the combination of the pearly buds and large, cupped white flowers against the reddening leaves is unique.

Would likely benefit from a hot planting site in this climate, as the completion of the flowering seems to be affected by the frequent coolness here.

Great input, thanks everyone. I'll find a sunny place for it. After reading enough to be dangerous about the root rot I am hoping my well-drained sandy soil will make it less likely. I am originally from the SE and can't resist collecting unusual or even common plants from that area even though many want more heat and summer water. My American smoke and sassafras trees are growing like weeds. Sassafras actually is a weed there and seems to grow more tree-like here.

An American smoke tree that used to live at Lakewold Gardens was measured as being 49' tall in 1992.

Large sassafras trees have been known from Tacoma, including an impressive one visible from Interstate 5. One in Seattle was 88' tall a few years ago.

In Seattle it's rare. Considering how troublefree, attractive and intresting it is, perhaps the difficulty of propagation and transplanting is to blame

--Jacobson, TREES OF SEATTLE - SECOND EDITION

I live on Vashon Island, and planted one three years ago, purchased from Well Medina Nursery. The tree remains healthy on the north side of my two story house. It tells you when it needs water (drooping leaves) and it is a slow grower, but patience is rewarded with stunning fall color, subtle yet lovely blossoms and an interesting ornamental habit. Mine is about 7 feet tall, and I look forward to next year on the sleep, creep, leap cycle.

Here is a link that might be useful: home blog

The only cycle is that cutting the roots during transplanting dwarfs the top the following year. There is no general basis for a consistent three-year establishment sequence.

Does anyone know which species of Phytophthora is the one that you all are referring to as the one the Franklinia is particularly susceptible to?

Could be more than one species, and maybe also more than one genus - as has been found with Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. I'd surf "phytophthora franklinia" and so forth to see what came up.