Celtis lindheimeri
Celtis lindheimeri | |
Light: | |
Moisture: | |
Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
Height: | 33' |
Blooms: | Mid Spring |
Open Woods Forest | |
Native to: | |
Edible Rating: | |
Tea: | Yes |
Celtis lindheimeri (common name: palo blanco)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. Stored seed is best given 2 - 3 months cold stratification and then sown February/March in a greenhouse[2][1]. Germination rates are usually good, though the stored seed might take 12 months or more to germinate. The seed can be stored for up to 5 years[3]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. The leaves of seedlings often have a lot of white patches without chlorophyll, this is normal and older plants produce normal green leaves. Grow the seedlings on in a cold frame for their first winter, and plant them out in the following late spring or early summer[K]. Give them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings
Cultivation: We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Succeeds in any reasonably good soil, preferring a good fertile well-drained loamy soil[4][5][1]. Succeeds on dry gravels and on sandy soils[1]. Established plants are very drought resistant[1].
Trees prefer hotter summers and more sunlight than are normally experienced in Britain, they often do not fully ripen their wood when growing in this country and they are then very subject to die-back in winter[4][5][1].
Trees can be very long-lived, perhaps surviving for 1000 years[1].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[1].
Range: Southern N. America - Texas to Mexico.
Habitat: Rich bottom lands and on low adjacent hills of streams in Texas[6].
Edibility: Fruit - pounded into a mush and then eaten[7]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter, it has a thin flesh surrounding a large seed[6][K]. The seed is probably pounded along with the fruit[K].
Usage: Wood - not strong, not durable. Of little value though it is used locally as a fuel[6][8].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: C. helleri. Sm.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.