How often to water dove tree in California
In July on the north-central coast, established dove tree in loam needs a deep watering about every 13 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 29 gallons a week. Dove tree, also called handkerchief tree, is a deciduous tree from south-central China that grows 20 to 60 feet tall. It is pyramidal when young and rounded with age. In spring, pairs of large, creamy-white bracts hang beneath each small flower head and flutter like doves or handkerchiefs. It needs moist, rich, well-drained soil and does not tolerate drying out.
How often to water dove tree, month by month
Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.
How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.
How to tell it needs water
- Leaves wilting or browning at the edges when the soil dries show stress, since this tree does not tolerate drought
- Soil dry a few inches down under the canopy in summer means a slow, deep watering is due
- Yellowing leaves over soil that stays waterlogged point to poor drainage, since it needs moist but well-drained ground
- A young tree with no bracts is normal, since dove trees can take up to 10 years to flower
- A mature tree skipping a year of bloom is also normal, since it may not flower every year
How to water it
- Water under the whole canopy with a soaker or drip ring, wetting the soil 12 to 18 inches deep
- Keep the soil evenly moist through dry spells, never letting the root zone dry out
- Plant in sun or part shade, with afternoon shade in hot spots, in rich, well-drained soil
- Mulch the root zone with compost or bark to hold moisture
- Choose a sheltered spot, or stake the tree where wind is strong
Through the seasons
Keep a young tree evenly moist through its first summers while roots spread. Bracts appear in spring, roughly April and May, followed by round greenish-brown fruits on long stalks. Fall color ranges from dull pastels to bright orange and red. Summer is when watering matters most, since the tree does not tolerate drying out. Winter rain usually covers the bare tree on the north-central coast. WUCOLS rates dove tree moderate water on the north-central coast. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the Central Valley, the south coast or South Inland. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the high desert or the low desert.
In pots
A young dove tree can live in a large container for a few years before it needs open ground. Use a rich, well-drained mix and a deep pot with drainage holes, in part shade. In summer, check the mix every day or two and water before the top inch dries, since it does not tolerate drying out. Let water drain through, then empty the saucer. After leaf drop, keep the mix just damp.
- A year
- no figure
- Reference
- Sacramento climate table
- Counts
- Plant need, before sprinkler losses
WUCOLS lists Dove Tree as not suited to this region for the Central Valley zone, so no monthly figure is computed here.
Monthly water need by climate zone
Dove Tree: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone
| Month | N. Coast | C. Valley | S. Coast | S. Inland | Hi Desert | Lo Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.37 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Feb | 0.53 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mar | 0.87 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Apr | 1.18 | – | – | – | – | – |
| May | 1.46 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jun | 1.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jul | 1.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Aug | 1.49 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sep | 1.24 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Oct | 0.87 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nov | 0.47 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dec | 0.31 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Year | 12 | – | – | – | – | – |
How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.
Plants with the same water needs 16
Rated not suited to this region in the Central Valley, like dove tree. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.
Sugar MapleAcer saccharumnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Queensland KauriAgathis robustanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
CherimoyaAnnona cherimolanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Purple Orchid TreeBauhinia variegata (purpurea)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
ToogBischofia javanicanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Clustered Fishtail PalmCaryota mitisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
White SapoteCasimiroa edulisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
FilbertCorylus maximanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Spotted GumCorymbia maculata (Eucalyptus maculata)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Royal PoincianaDelonix regianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Triangle PalmDypsis decaryinot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Mountain White GumEucalyptus dalrympleananot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Rainbow EucalyptusEucalyptus degluptanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Roxburgh FigFicus auriculatanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Indian BanyanFicus benghalensisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Weeping Chinese BanyanFicus benjaminanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingTurn this into minutes on your water days
Every city page has a calculator that takes dove tree, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.
Questions people ask
How much water does dove tree need per day?
In July on the north-central coast, established dove tree needs about 4.1 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 16 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.
Does watering for dove tree change across California?
Yes. WUCOLS rates dove tree separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, not suited to this region in the Central Valley zone, not suited to this region in the South Coastal zone, not suited to this region in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.
Why isn't my dove tree flowering?
Dove trees are slow to begin flowering and can take up to 10 years. Even mature trees may skip a year. Keep the soil evenly moist and be patient.
What are the white petals on a dove tree?
They are bracts, not petals. Two creamy-white bracts, one about 3 to 4 inches long and the other 6 to 7 inches, frame each small, rounded flower head.
Can dove tree handle drought?
No. It does not tolerate drying out, so it needs steady moisture through dry spells. Mulch and deep, regular watering help in summer.
Does dove tree need shade?
It grows in full sun to part shade and appreciates afternoon shade where summers are hot. A sheltered spot also protects it from strong wind.
How big does a dove tree get?
It reaches 20 to 60 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide over many years. Give it room as a specimen or shade tree.
More plant watering guides
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant water use classification for Davidia involucrata, the University of California survey California agencies use for landscape plan reviewRead August 23, 2026 on wucols.ucdavis.edu
- Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, adopted text and appendices, effective 2025-01-02 · monthly reference evapotranspiration per city, Appendix CRead August 23, 2026 on water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/MWELO-Rulemaking/Final-MWELO-Text-and-Appendices_20250103.pdf
- UC Statewide IPM Program, irrigation scheduling using evapotranspirationRead September 30, 2026 on ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/evap.html
- Shaw and Pittenger, Landscape Irrigation System Evaluation and Management, UC Cooperative Extension, 2009Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2013-02/160836.pdf
- Pittenger, Water Management in Gardens and Landscapes, UC Riverside, 2017Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-03/258022.pdf