One of the world's most famous endangered plants is blossoming at Wakehurst Place, near Ardingly.
Franklinia alatamaha, a small flowering tree, was discovered by John and William Bartram in 1765 close to the mouth of Altamaha River near Darien in Georgia in the United States.
At that time the Altamaha was sometimes mis-spelt Alatamaha, hence the name chosen by the Bartrams.
They carried some of the plants and seeds back to Philadelphia, where they named it Franklinia altamaha in honour of their friend Benjamin Franklin and the Georgia river where it was discovered.
The Franklin Tree has long been extinct in the wild.
All examples today trace from the plants and seeds taken from Georgia in 1765.
Trevor Butler, of Wakehurst Place, said: "The flowers are white, but the leaves start green, turn yellow and then go red.
"It's beautiful to see."
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