Colutea arborescens
| Colutea arborescens | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 12' |
| Width: | 10' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Early Fall |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Nitrogen Fixer Shelter | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Colutea arborescens (common name: bladder senna)
Propagation: Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in hot water and sow late winter in a greenhouse[1]. Scarification can help speed up the germination process[2]. Germination can be slow and erratic[3], though treated seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 20°c[2]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[4]. Cuttings are not very long-lived[4].
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it tolerates most soil conditions other than a water-logged soil[5]. Prefers a position in full sun but tolerates light shade[5]. Grows well on dry sunny banks[6][7]. Dislikes strong winds, though another report in the same book says that it tolerates salt-laden winds[3]. In our experience the plants are very subject to wind-rock when grown in a windy site[K]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[7][3]. A fast growing plant, thriving on poor soils[7][3].
Plants are hardy to about -20°c[8][3].
Slugs love the young seedlings[K].
Flowers are produced on the current season's growth[7][3]. These flowers are very attractive to bees[9].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[3].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[3].
Range: S. Europe - Mediterranean. Naturalized in Britain[10].
Habitat: Open woods, roadsides, railway banks etc[11], often on calcareous soils[12].
Medicinal: The leaves are diuretic and purgative[13][11]. The leaves are sometimes used as a substitute for senna as a laxative, though they are much milder in their action[13]. The plant is rather unreliable when used medicinally so is rarely employed in herbalism[11].
The seeds are emetic[13]. They are also toxic[11].
Usage: The plants have an extensive root system and are used to stabilize banks and prevent soil erosion[3].
Can be grown as a hedge[3].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The seed is poisonous[11][14].
Links
References
- ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association, 1981.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.