Robinia luxurians
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Robinia genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Robinia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 8 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Flowers - raw[2].
- Plant part
- Flowers
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Plants succeed in dry barren sites, their suckering habit making them suitable for stabilizing banks[5]. Wood - heavy, exceedingly hard, strong, close-grained[8].
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Secondary canopy
Environment
- Range
- South-western N. America - New Mexico.
- Habitat
- Banks of mountain streams to elevations of 2100 metres[8].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - pre-soak for 48 hours in warm water and sow the seed in late winter in a cold frame[7]. A short stratification improves germination rates and time[7]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the following summer. The seed stores for over 10 years[4]. Suckers taken during the dormant season.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in any soil, preferring one that is not too rich[1][5]. Requires a well-drained soil, succeeding on dry barren sites[5]. Plants are tolerant of drought and atmospheric pollution[5]. Succeeds in a hot dry position. The branches are brittle and very liable to wind damage[5]. When plants are grown in rich soils they produce coarse and rank growth which is even more liable to wind damage[3][5]. Any pruning should be done in late summer in order to reduce the risk of bleeding[5]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5]. The flowers are fragrant[6]. 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
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6
Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X