Colutea istria
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Colutea genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Colutea
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 3 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Used in land reclamation projects in the Negev desert, consolidating soil and plant debris from flood waters[5]. Plants can be grown as a hedge[5].
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- Middle East.
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in hot water and sow late winter in a greenhouse[2]. Scarification can help speed up the germination process[3]. Germination can be slow and erratic[5], though treated seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 20°c[3]. 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[6]. Cuttings are not very long-lived[6].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a well-drained soil in full sun[5]. Grows well on dry sunny banks and in poor soils[1][4]. Dislikes strong winds, though another entry in the same book says that it tolerates salt-laden winds[5]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[5], but it should succeed outdoors in the milder areas of the country[4]. Even there it is probably best grown on a south or south-west facing wall[5]. According to the International Legume Database, this species may actually be Colutea abyssinica Kunth & Bouch., a species found in N. Africa where it grows in montane grassland and shrubland. Flowers are produced on the current year's growth[5]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5]. 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[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00