Practical
Plants

Keteleeria davidiana

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Keteleeria genus in the family Pinaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Pinaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
30 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - soft, light, resinous, close grained, easily worked. It is esteemed for building purposes, furniture and wood fibre[7][2][6].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - S.W. China.
Habitat
Usually found in areas with hot dry climates, growing in woodlands and on mountain slopes, often solitary or in small clumps, occasionally forming pure stands, 300 - 1500 metres[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow in a sandy soil in a warm greenhouse in the spring[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from winter cold for their first two winters outdoors. Cuttings of leading shoots from coppiced plants, summer in a frame[5].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a sheltered position in a moist but well-drained light loamy soil with added leafmold[1]. Plants require a hot dry site if they are to flourish[8], with at least 4 months of temperatures above 25°c[5]. They grow best in a Mediterranean climate[5]. A tree at Wakehurst Place, south of London, was 14 metres tall in 1980[3]. Trees are slow growing in Britain[4] and are rather tender when they are young[1]. The new growth can be damaged by late spring and early autumn frosts[8]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm in height. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. Planting out larger trees also badly affects root development and wind resistance[5]. Trees can be coppiced[5]. Plants do not produce seed in Britain[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  4. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  7. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  8. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩1↩2

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