"Lhandkerchief tree (Davidia involut) hija pjanta li tappartjeni għall-familja ta' Davidiaceae. It is a tree native to western China which owes its botanical name to the naturalist e French missionary Armand Davidthe first to make this plant known in the West. Its common name is instead due to the flowers of the plant and their “withering”, with unique characteristics in the world of plants. The tree is quite rustic and, with the right precautions, it is therefore easy to grow in the garden as an ornamental and shade plant.
In this article, we know the botanical characteristics of the Davidia involut and tips for growing it in the best way in the garden.
Description of the handkerchief tree
Hemm Davidia involut it is a deciduous species, that is, it sheds its vegetation during the autumn. It is very long-lived, in fact it can exceed a century of life. It has a slow growth and an average final size, around 20 m in height. The posture is pyramidal in the younger specimens, more expanded with the passing of the years and with drooping branches.
The bark of the trunk and of the larger branches is greyish, with time it tends to crack.
The root system is not very expanded, but deep and taproot, able to anchor the plant to the ground in the best possible way.
Weraq
The leaves of the handkerchief tree are cordate, sharp, with tight margins, green in color, hairless on the upper side, pubescent on the lower side. The appearance is similar to the leaves of the siġra tal-ġir.
Fjuri u fjuri
The most notable feature of the handkerchief tree is in the flowers. These are gathered in globose inflorescences, formed by numerous small flowers with at the base two large bracts (one of which about four times long, similar to a leaf), creamy white, ovate and pendulous. These bracts, just like a handkerchief, protect the flowers from UV rays and attract pollinating insects. Touched by the wind, they sway delicately, just as they used to do with handkerchiefs when a loved one was leaving. Flowering, very luxuriant, occurs in spring (May and June), but it is the most “scenic” moment of withering. The bracts, in fact, at the moment of maximum maturity, fall to the ground cradled by the air, creating a beautiful white carpet at the base of the plant. The only flaw of this show is that, to see the first flowers from a handkerchief tree, you have to wait about 8-10 years after planting.
Frott
The fruits of the Davidia involut they are similar gray-brownish drupes, many hard and inedible and which contain seeds inside. Full ripening occurs in autumn after the leaves fall.
Subspecies and varieties of handkerchief tree
Of the handkerchief tree there are the type species just described and the subspecies Davidia involucrata var. vilmorinianawith completely hairless and glaucescent leaves.
Variety can also be found in nurseries Sonomawhich develops a smaller and more compact tree, certainly an advantage in growing in a small garden.
How to grow the handkerchief tree
The handkerchief tree, being deciduous, resists well the cold of our winters, so it is possible to grow it in all Italian regions. Mountain areas where frost can be very intense should be avoided.
In the garden it requires a sunny or partial shade position.
As for the soil, it prefers the fresh ones, of taħlita medja, with a good supply of organic matter and optimal drainage. It is essential that the soil is not clayey and compact, in these conditions the taproot roots cannot develop properly.
Multiplication from seed
The handkerchief tree can be started to grow from seeds. Sowing takes place in autumn, when the fruits fall to the ground. For germination, small pots are used, filled with soil and 20% of fine sand. The soil must always be kept well moist, but without creating stagnation that would cause the seed to rot, and kept in a protected position during the winter (for example on the balcony). The germination of the seeds is not very high, so it is advisable to start more seeds. For the first year the plant should be kept in a pot, and then transplanted in the spring of the following year.
If you want to try growing the handkerchief tree, ne specialty stores find the seeds.
qtugħ
Another valid reproduction technique for the handkerchief tree is that of the cutting. You will have to choose a portion of a young, semi-woody branch. The best time to do this is late summer. The cutting will be placed in a container with soil e perlit, keeping the substrate moist and the pot protected from the cold. In the following spring we will verify the engraftment of the cutting and we will be able to plant the young tree.
Trapjant
The best time to plant the handkerchief tree is early spring, when the risk of late frosts is behind you. It is important that the soil is moved deeply in the chosen location. Basic organic fertilization is also positive. Therefore we advise you to carefully follow ours tips for planting a tree.
irrigazzjoni
Watering the handkerchief tree is important in the first few years after planting.
It must be regular during the spring-summer period, without however exaggerating causing water stagnation. When the tree is adult, well free to the ground and with a developed taproot, irrigation can only be carried out in emergency, after long periods of summer drought.
Fertilizzazzjoni
Fertilization can be done in early spring by amending the soil around the trunk of the mature organic substance, such as kompost tad-dar, demel u ħumus tal-ħniex.
How to prune the handkerchief tree
Pruning of the handkerchief tree is not usually necessary. We only intervene to remove dry branches or branches damaged by bad weather and with light back cuts to keep the foliage in order. The best time to prune is in late winter, before the vegetative restart.
Pests and diseases of the handkerchief tree
On the handkerchief tree there are no particular criticalities regarding parasites and diseases. The greatest attention must be paid to the drainage of the soil, in order to avoid root rot and attacks by fungi on the trunk of the plant.
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