Robinia pseudoacacia

The Robinia pseudoacacia is a deciduous tree

Image - Flickr / Salomé Bielsa

La Robinia pseudoacacia It is a deciduous tree that is often planted in car parks, parks and also in gardens. If allowed to grow freely, it forms a rounded and wide canopy, capable of providing shade under which not only is it possible to protect yourself from the sun during the summer, but you will also feel how your thermal sensation drops a little, becoming more pleasant.

In spring a series of clusters of white flowers sprout from the branches, thus attracting the gaze of the curious. when she does, the garden beautifies considerably.

Origin and characteristics of Robinia pseudoacacia

The Robinia pseudoacacia is a large tree

Image - Flickr / Gilles Péris y Saborit

It is a deciduous tree native to the United States. medium to large in size, with a height of 25 meters and a trunk whose diameter does not exceed one meter. This trunk has a very fissured bark, and from it sprout branches with leaves 10 to 25 centimeters long, made up of 9 to 19 green leaflets. At the base of the stem from which the foliage sprouts, it has two thorns with a sharp point.

The flower clusters are peduncular, and measure between 8 and 20 centimeters long. Each of the flowers are bell-shaped, white, and deeply aromatic. The fruit is an almost flattened legume, with a size of 4 to 12 centimeters long by 1 centimeter wide. The seeds are similar in shape to a kidney, and measure about one centimeter.

It has a life expectancy of 120 years, although the normal thing is that it does not exceed 80 years.

It receives the common names of acacia, false acacia, white acacia, or bastard acacia, but care must be taken not to get confused, because it is not an Acacia at all, but a Robinia.

Cultivars

There are several cultivars of robinia, which are:

  • Casque Rouge: it is the same as the type species, but its flowers are pink.
  • Friesland: has golden leaves.
  • pyramidalis: it is easy to confuse it with a poplar, since its crown is narrow, and it has almost the same width throughout.
  • umbraculifera: its cup is spherical, compact.
  • unifolia: it is a tree with olive green leaves, between 15 and 25 centimeters long.

Is it invasive?

Since then, has invasive potential. It grows very fast and roots without problems. But it is not included in the Spanish Invasive Species Catalog. For this reason, it can be bought and cultivated.

Now, It should not be planted in natural spaces (not even if it is to reforest), nor throw the seeds in them since it would end up causing many problems to the native flora.

Uses of Robinia pseudoacacia

Robinia pseudoacacia produces white or pink flowers

Image - Flickr / Brenda Dobbs

The plant known as false acacia is a plant that has several uses, such as:

Ornamental

It is a tree that provides shade, color and scent to a garden. It resists drought well, high temperatures and moderate frosts. Undoubtedly, it is a highly recommended species for growing in the ground, but there is a problem: it takes root well and quickly, perhaps too much.

Also is capable of lifting floors and sidewalks, so it is important to plant it about ten meters from where there are these types of constructions and/or pipes.

Edible and medicinal

You didn't imagine it, did you? Well yes: the flowers of this plant are edible. They are known as bread and cheese, and with them an infusion with medicinal properties is prepared, such as: astringent, soothing, tonic and emollient.

What care should be given?

Would you like to have a false acacia in your garden? If so, you should keep in mind some tips:

Location

It is important that the plant receives direct sunlight., if possible throughout the day. If there are only places in your garden where the light only reaches for a few hours, don't worry: it can also grow well.

But yes: do not forget to plant it away from pipes, paved floors and others.

Earth

  • Flower potCultivation: while it is young, it can be cultivated in a pot, with a universal substrate. Although as soon as it measures at least 1 meter in height it will be better to plant it in the ground.
  • Garden: not demanding. It grows in almost any type of soil. You just need it to have good drainage.

Irrigation

It will depend on the season of the year more than anything: during the summer it will grow well if it is watered about 2 times a week. On the other hand, the rest of the year we will water once or twice a week depending on the rains and the temperatures in our area. For example: in dry and/or hot climates you will have to water more than in dry and/or cold ones.

Still, once it's been planted in the ground for a year or more, it won't be necessary to continue watering it more than once every week or two in the summer.

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If you have the Robinia pseudoacacia potted, you will have to pay it from spring to the end of summer with a little guano for example. In the event that it is in the garden, you can add manure or compost if you wish, although it is not essential to make it grow well.

Multiplication

Robinia pseudoacacia has legume-shaped fruits

Image – Wikimedia/Norbert Nagel, Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany

It multiplies very well by seeds in spring.. You just have to keep them in boiling water for a second (with the help of a small strainer) and then 24 hours in water at room temperature. After a few days, usually a week or less, they will sprout.

Another way to get new specimens is by multiplying it by semi-woody cuttings in spring.

Pruning

Pruning it will take place at the end of winter, and only the branches that are bad will be removed; that is: broken, dry, or diseased.

Management

When watering excessively, or the humidity is very high can be affected by various fungi, as the cause of the chancres (Nectria is the one that most affects the false acacia), root suffocation (Armillaria) or others.

Rusticity

Resists up to -25ºC.

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