Congratulations! The blossom reminds me of a Stewartia.

I had a Franklinia for a few years, and then it didn't survive the winter. It bloomed...a bit.

Mike

The "winter" might have been root rot due to water molds.

Could have, it was a long time ago. The plant never made it out of the nursery area.

Mike

Lovely! I just bought a cross between Franklinia and Gordonia called xGordlinia grandiflora with the hardiness of former and blooms of the latter. Mine is too young to bloom but you gotta love a tree that blooms this time of year!

My Hybrid Franklin Tree froze the first winter, the mildest winter on record. (But it was near the corner of the house, where it might have gotten dripped on). It also set flower buds which then stalled out and didn't open, again like the climate here isn't right for it at all.

I've seen the Gordonia parent growing wild and making dramatic specimens in a USDA 9 part of Florida, where it occurred on sand along with oaks, pines and native heaths that reminded me of manzanitas.

In the part of the preserve I visited where I saw these it looked like the plants were coming out of an ocean beach. Other kinds of trees native to that same park that were also species we see planted and succeeding here - such as sweet gum, sugar maple and sweet-bay magnolia - were living instead in a dark muck like soil that was slightly below the level of the sand, mostly right next to the pond.

Thanks all for the comments - and if you look down - close up and very personal you will see another of my favorites. This one came with us 10 years ago from Northern CA. Sunset 14 or so. It is late to emerge from dormancy so every spring I watch the spot where it is planted and hope that it is still alive and then...........

Looks like Fuchsia microphylla.