Halesia carolina is an understory tree that is native from West Virginia south to Florida and west to eastern Texas. It was named after Stephen Hales, 1677-1761 author of a famous work on plant physiology, "Vegetable Staticks." Mountain Silverbell, also known as Carolina Silverbell, was introduced into Great Britain in 1756 and was called Snowdrop or Silverbell Tree. In a letter to John W. Eppes dated March 6, 1817, Thomas Jefferson indicated ..."P.S. a Halesia sent. also purple and white figs."