Chekalkin walnut, or xanthoseras (from the Latin. Xanthoceras sorbifolium ) - a beautiful bush tree, which was brought to Europe from North China and Korea. The plant looks very impressive because of the dense foliage and a large number of flowers, it is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
Plant description
The Chekalkin mountain ash is a deciduous tree or shrub with several trunks, curiously curved, its height is 6-8 m, the crown has a pyramidal shape. This plant was discovered and first described in the late 19th century. A. David in China, belongs to the Sapinda family. Cultivated plants grow up to a maximum of 4 m, life expectancy is 60 years. Its leaves are similar in shape to mountain ash (which is the reason for the name), but larger - up to 30 cm in length, consisting of 10-17 leathery leaves of dark green color.
Inflorescences are also large (up to 25 cm), in which so many flowers are located on the brush that the tree seems to be sprinkled with them. The flowers are white with a red and yellow middle.
After the tree fades, bolls with seeds of round shape up to 7 cm in size are formed. Inside are round dark brown and black hazelnut seeds the size of a hazelnut (5-17 pieces). After ripening (August-September), the box cracks, nuts spill out. Its seeds are quite edible, similar in taste to almonds, they can be eaten raw or fried. The calorie content of nuts is 650 kcal per 100 g. The fruits contain 64% oil, a large number of trace elements, iodine, selenium, iron and cobalt. Seeds are very fond of eating rodents.
Where is it growing?
At home, xanthoseras grows on mountain slopes and hills. We have these plants take root in Russia, Crimea, Ukraine and Georgia, plant them with the purpose of landscaping and decoration of mountain landscapes and hills.
Chekalkin walnut loves fertile soil with good drainage, does not like stagnation of water or nearby groundwater. Resistant to frost, calmly tolerates up to -30 ˚ C. But she does not like transplantation, because it can only be transplanted at an early age.
Flowering time - May, until the leaves completely bloom, i.e. almost 2 weeks. Flowers on a tree are male and female star-shaped up to 4 cm in diameter, so pollination occurs even when planting one plant on the site. After pollination, the yellow middle becomes a bright burgundy color.
Propagation and seeds
Chekalkin walnut can be propagated using seeds or root cuttings, but the latter take root poorly and can only survive in ideal conditions. After the nuts have ripened, they can be stored in a bag until a favorable time for planting. They retain germination for 2 years. It is useful to know for those who want to propagate a chekalkin nut: the seeds do not even need to be stratified (kept in the cold), because they do not remain at rest.
Seeds are planted in the spring (April) in a prepared sunny place to a depth of 4-5 cm, several pieces in 1 hole can be used to increase the chance of germination. Usually 40-65% of seeds germinate, some of which are etiolated (chlorophyll-free) seedlings that die within 1-1.5 months. At first, seedlings grow slowly, some of them dry out, only the strongest survive, having gained a good root system. According to gardeners, out of 6-10 planted seeds of live seedlings, only 2-3 remain, so it is better to plant more.
Seed germination
To intensify the process of seedlings and growth of a plant such as chekalkin nut, seed cultivation can be carried out in two stages. The first step is to germinate them in a small bowl, and it is better to soak the seeds in advance for several days for better germination. Then cut the skin in the places where the shoots are supposed to hatch. It is better to be treated with a growth stimulator and kept at 20 ˚ C.
Drainage is placed on the bottom for germination, and a moist soil mixture is placed on top. One of the soil options: universal soil (70%), river sand (30%), with the addition of vermiculite and perlite. Seeds are planted to a depth of 2 cm, the sowing is closed with polyethylene, watering is not necessary. Only slightly moisten the ground so that it does not dry out during the week.
When the first young shoots appear, put the pot in a warm, bright place and water it. Shoots are planted at a constant place after the end of spring frosts at a moderate temperature (second stage).
The plant does not tolerate transplantation due to the characteristics of the root system. Therefore, this should be taken into account when planting a chekalkin nut - seedlings can be transplanted only by transshipment. In the first year, a root root is formed, quite fragile, it can be damaged during transplantation.
Xanthoseras (chekalkin walnut): cultivation and care features
When growing, you should consider some rules:
- young plants do not like drafts and frosts, but adult trees feel normal both in cold and in heat;
- at the end of autumn, plants should be covered with leaves and branches, when frosting adult trees, the nut begins to develop from the root and is completely restored;
- walnut loves sunlight and open spaces, safely withstands dry periods, but does not tolerate waterlogging and stagnation of water in the soil;
- prefers soil with mineral fertilizers, tolerates the addition of lime;
- during the period of active growth, it should be fertilized with universal mineral complexes containing phosphorus and potassium;
- during the first summer, the tree grows up to 40 cm, next year a bush is already forming and only in the 3rd - the tree blooms and gives fruit;
- young bushes are not cut, because they themselves create their bizarre forms;
- pruning is done only for trees older than 3 years, removing unnecessary, broken and diseased branches, in the spring, crown formation is carried out.
Diseases and Pests
The worst disease for xanthoseras is a coral fungus, which can appear from excessive humidity or hypothermia, affects the bark of a tree. Most often, the tsalkin nut becomes ill after a long wet winter with long thaws.
According to the reviews of amateurs who tried to grow this plant, an attack of the fungus can occur in mid-summer, when some shoots begin to dry out. The diseased plant gradually dries and dies; it is impossible to cure it. But the tree is not affected by pests.
Use in decorative gardening
This plant is very loved by designers who use it as a tapeworm on the hillocks and near retaining walls. Shrubs have a very diverse and unusual shape, bloom very colorful with a honey smell. However, practically in plantings it is rarely used because of the impossibility of transplanting, very often it does not take root well or dies in the chosen place.
It goes well with lilac bushes and bird cherry, weigel, it is used in combination with the first spring flowers - tulips, daffodils, etc. Even the small-sized flowering bush of this ornamental plant impresses with its beauty, and then also pampers with delicious nuts.