Pterocarya stenoptera fruiting catkin (09/06/2011, London)
Position: Flourishes in full sun.
Soil: Moist and well drained.
Flowering period: Late spring to early summer.
Eventual Height: 20m
Eventual Spread: 15m
Hardiness: USDA Zone 6a-8b
Family: Juglandaceae
Pterocarya stenoptera is a vigorous deciduous tree with a spreading habit. Its foliage is ash like with pinnate, bright green leaves that each have a winged stalk. In summer the tree will produce green catkins, with the females developing winged, green then brown fruits and the leaves will yellow in autumn.
P. stenoptera, commonly known as the Chinese Wingnut, is native to the southeast China region. Its foliage can be used as a snail repellent as extracts of the plant, even in high volumes of water have strong molluscicicdal properties.
Pterocarya is derived from ancient Greek meaning ‘winged-nut’, with stenoptera also being derived from the Greek meaning ‘narrow-winged’.
Pterocarya stenoptera (09/06/2011, London)
The Landscape architect may find this plant useful as a specimen tree with interesting pedulus fruiting catkins on display in summer. It is also useful in lightly shady locations. Care should be taken when locating this tree in the urban environment as it is shallow rooting and may disturb pavement surfaces.
This plant will tolerate almost any soil conditions; it will be happy in acid, neutral or alkaline pH levels, in loam or clay based soils in a sheltered or exposed location facing any aspect.
This plant will not have a large positive ecological impact as it is not native to this continent and as such has no established symbiotic relationships or organisms, which prefer it as a habitat.
This plant will tolerate many soil conditions; it will be happy in acid, neutral or alkaline pH levels, in loam or clay based soils in a sheltered or exposed location facing a southern aspect.
Maintenance: Pruning to remove dead or damaged material or formative pruning for prolonged tree’s health should be carrie out during the summer months to prevent bleeding.
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