2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Cladrastis (lat. Cladrastis) - a genus of shrubs and trees of the legume family. The genus has five species (according to other sources, four). In nature, representatives of the genus are found in North America and East Asia. In Russia, only one species is cultivated - Cladrastis yellow (or American yellow acacia, or Virgilia). The name of the genus comes from a combination of two Greek words "klados" - branch, "thraustos" - fragile, which directly indicates the fragility of the cladrastis branches.
Characteristics of culture
Cladrastis is a deciduous shrub or tree up to 20 m high with a dense tent-shaped crown. The bark is smooth, light gray. Shoots at a young age are green, pubescent, later - brown, glabrous. The leaves are rather large, compound, pinnate, alternate, consisting of 7-11 leaves. The apical leaf has larger parameters. On the outside, the leaves are light green, on the inside, gray-green.
The flowers are very fragrant, white, of medium size, equipped with a yellow spot at the base, collected in multi-flowered drooping racemes. The fruit is a pod, tapering at both ends. Cladrastis blooms in May-June for 12-14 days. The fruits are tied in the middle lane, but the seeds do not have time to ripen.
Growing conditions
In general, cladrastis is undemanding to growing conditions. However, it develops better on loamy, slightly acidic, moderately moist soils. Neutral soils are also suitable. The location is sunny or semi-shaded, protected from the action of piercing winds.
Reproduction
The culture is propagated by seeds. The seeds need pre-treatment: first they are scalded, then soaked in warm water for 24 hours. To increase the percentage of germination, seeds must be scarified. Treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid is also recommended.
Stratification is not prohibited, for this the seeds are placed in wet sand mixed with peat for three months and stored at a temperature of 5C. Cuttings are acceptable for culture. The cuttings are rooted in special greenhouses. The optimal cutting length is 5-7 cm.
Care
Cladrastis is a drought tolerant crop, but watering is a must. It is not recommended to allow waterlogging. Pruning is desirable at the end of summer. For the winter, adult specimens do not need shelter. At temperatures below -30C, the shoots freeze too much.
Application
Cladrastis is used in garden design. It looks great in both single and group plantings. Flowering deciduous and coniferous shrubs and trees can be ideal allies. A yellow dye is obtained from cladrastis wood, which is used in industry.
