Cunonia

Family. Cunoniaceae.

Origin. South Africa.

Description. Cunonia is an attractive tree with a powerful, branched trunk. The leaves are glossy, complex - they consist of several pairs of lanceolate leaflets about 10 cm long, located oppositely. The edges of the leaf blades have small teeth. Young leaves have a bronze tint, but become dark green with age. The flowers are male and female, very small, white, but abundantly collected in large, drooping, dense clusters, fragrant.

Height. In nature it reaches 10 m in height, in culture it can be regulated by pruning.

Temperature conditions

During the growing season they are kept at room temperature; in winter they are provided with a cool dormant period at a temperature of 8 - 10 ° C. 

Lighting

Well-lit location without direct sunlight throughout the year.

Care

Cunonia will appreciate being outdoors in the spring and summer. Trim weak and overly long shoots to keep the plant looking tidy and neatly shaped.

Substrate

Nutritious soil with good drainage. A mixture of leaf humus with peat and coarse river sand is suitable. 

Feeding

Feed weekly with complex fertilizers from spring to autumn.

Purpose

This species is grown as an ornamental foliage and ornamental flowering plant due to its attractive glossy foliage and fragrant flowers.

Flowering time

Summer.

Air humidity

Spray periodically to prevent pests.

Soil moisture

Water abundantly during the period of active growth - until the soil is completely soaked. In autumn and winter, the frequency of watering is reduced in accordance with the temperature, but the soil should not dry out completely.

Transfer

As the cunonia grows, it is transplanted in the spring into larger pots. For tub specimens, which are difficult to transplant due to their size, a layer of soil about 5 cm thick is replaced with fresh soil in the spring.

Reproduction

The bush is propagated by sowing fresh seeds in spring or by semi-ripe stem cuttings using growth hormones. The propagation process is quite difficult.