Today I will tell you about a very interesting tree --- Chekalkin Orekh.

It blooms very beautifully, and its fruits are edible!

Rowan-leaved walnut, or Chekalkin Walnut, is a deciduous tree or shrub, cultivated up to 4 m in height.

The trunk is bizarrely curved, the crown forms a dense head of leaves, similar in shape to rowan trees, which is reflected in the name.

At the latitude of Kiev, it blooms simultaneously with the lilac, until the foliage is completely dissolved, with large, 25 cm, tassels of large white flowers with a red throat, dotting the entire tree.

Extraordinarily effective. Some dendrologists consider it one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs.

After flowering, forms round boxes, the size of a walnut,

Of which, when ripe and cracking, from 5 to 17 pieces pour out. round dark brown nuts resembling small thin-skinned hazelnuts.

Nuts are edible both raw and fried and contain up to 64% fat.

Care: poorly tolerates stagnant water, especially at a young age, needs good drainage, sunny warm place for planting. Like all nuts, he does not like transplants, it is recommended to sow and plant immediately to a permanent place. It is growing rapidly. Frost-resistant, according to some sources, up to -30 degrees C.

Reproduction: seeds.

Attention! The seeds do not have a dormant period and do not require stratification - if you collect seeds from a tree and sow, they will immediately germinate and be exposed to frost. It is recommended to sow in the spring months immediately to a permanent place, since the nut gives a strong taproot, which makes further successful transplantation difficult. There are indications of the possibility of propagation by root cuttings.

The seeds are stored in burlap in a cool, damp, well-ventilated area. Seed germination during such storage lasts up to 1.5 - 2 years. It must be remembered that the seeds are easily eaten by mice. Embedding depth 4 - 5 cm.

This graceful tree considered exotic in Russia. It is called the chekalkin nut, or xanthoceras (mountain ash). It was brought to Europe from China at the end of the 19th century. The plant has gained popularity for its amazing beauty. Its intricately curved trunk and branches, feathery dark green foliage and abundant flowering always attract admiring glances.

Description of the plant

Chekalkin walnut is a beautifully flowering tree, or a shrub from the Salindov family. It was discovered and described by the scientist A. David in the 19th century in China.

The height of wild xanthoceras reaches 6-8 meters, but cultivated plants do not grow higher than 4 meters. It has a lush pyramidal crown and one or more sinuous trunks. The life span of the tree reaches sixty years.

The leaves of the plant are similar in structure to mountain ash (hence their name), but much larger. Their length is about 30 cm. One leaf contains from 10 to 17 leathery opposite leaves with jagged edges. Chekalkin nut refers to deciduous plant species- its leaves turn yellow and fall off in autumn.

The trunks of the mountain ash xanthoceras are covered with light gray bark, which cracks over time. Young branches are thin, covered with a light downy. They thicken over time. The tree has a well-developed rod-shaped root system

Many dendrologists consider xanthoceras, the chekalkin nut, to be one of the most beautiful plants in the world. Growing from seed is the main way to breed this magnificent tree. Xanthoceras blooms early, along with tulips and lilacs, and blooms until all the leaves have bloomed. Flowering usually lasts two weeks.

The long, lush bunches of white flowers are extremely showy. Xanthoceras flowers are large - up to 4 cm in diameter, regular star-shaped. They have a yellow core, which turns red or burgundy after pollination. Bisexual flowers: one plant is enough for the fruits to ripen.

Xanthoceras produces tasty and healthy fruits that ripen in small chestnut-like boxes. When ripe (in September or August), the capsules crack. They contain from 5 to 17 black or dark brown nuts with a thin shell, resembling hazelnuts in appearance.

Xanthoceras fruits contain up to 64% fat. They have a pleasant taste reminiscent of almonds. Nuts are eaten fresh and fried. They contain many useful substances such as selenium, cobalt, iodine.

The natural habitats of the plant are the north of China and Korea, as well as the southern regions of Mongolia. It grows on hills, foothills and mountain slopes. Cultivated plants are grown in the European part of Russia, in the west of Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Crimea. They are planted to decorate mountainous areas and for landscaping. Some gardeners grow chekalkin walnut in the Moscow region.

Features of growing xanthoceras:

It is best to prune trees in the spring, before flowering. If necessary, you can make pruning immediately after flowering so that over the summer, flower buds can form next year.

Sanitary pruning removes old and broken branches. Crown-forming pruning is performed on plants over three years old. In this case, the branches are cut off by no more than a third.

Plants tolerate frosts well up to 30 degrees. Adult trees do not need to be covered, while young trees need to be covered with leaves and branches in autumn. From severe frosts, the ground part of the chekalkin nut can completely freeze out, but it recovers well from the root.

Xanthoceras are not afraid of pests. The most dangerous disease for him is coral fungus. Most often it appears from hypothermia and strong humidity... This usually happens after a long winter with frequent thaws. Sometimes the fungus can appear in the summer on drying shoots. It is impossible to cure the plant - it dries up quickly and dies.

The plant propagates by seed and cuttings. In the second case, you need to use cuttings taken from plants grown from seeds in the area where they are going to breed xanthoceras. Otherwise, the cuttings will not take root.

Growing plants from seeds gives the best results. For sowing, large intact nuts are selected and stored until planting in a canvas bag in a cool, damp room. So they remain viable for one and a half to two years. Seeds do not need stratification, since they do not go into a dormant state.

Plants are planted in early spring. They are not planted in autumn, as the crops can be eaten by rodents.

Seeds are planted in April in a sunny place protected from drafts. Planting depth is 4-5 cm. Better immediately plant nuts in a permanent place since Xanthoceras does not like transplanting.

Several nuts are placed in one hole, since about half of them emerge. Seedlings develop slowly. Many of them die in the first month and a half. Only those copies that have managed to gain a good root system remain.

To improve the development of plants, seeds are pre-germinated. This is done as follows:

When the first frosts are over, the sprouts are planted in the soil. The plant does not like it when it damages its root system, therefore, seedlings are transplanted into the soil only by transshipment.

Young plants should be protected from drafts and protected from possible frost. In autumn, planting should be covered with leaves and branches and provide protection from rodents.

In the first year, the tree grows up to 40 cm. The next summer, xanthoceras is already forming a crown. In the third year, it begins to bloom and bear fruit.

This beautiful ornamental plant is not widely used. It can sometimes be found in parks. Solitary planting is practiced on high ground or among rocks.

Xanthoceras looks interesting next to plants that have similar feathery leaves, for example, weigela. It is also often planted next to lilacs that bloom with it at the same time. Xanthoceras flowers can be cut for bouquets.

This is not the first year I have been growing this beautiful tree. It pleases the whole family with flowers and delicious nuts. I recommend to everyone.

Tatiana Petrova

Two seedlings spent the whole winter on the loggia. One overwintered in the garden. The upper part of it froze, but in the spring the tree began to grow again from the root.

Olga Bugrova

After soaking, I planted 6 nuts in a container. Four of them have sprouted. Two sprouts have dried up, and two are growing. One grew up to 15 cm, the other up to 12. At first the seedlings dragged on quickly, now the growth has slowed down. I touched the trunks - they become woody.

Konstantin Vasilenko

Briefly: Seed collection April 2015. Description Xanthoceras Sorbifolium, Xanthoceras Rowan-leaved or Chekalkin walnut - an unusually spectacular flowering tree or multi-stemmed lush shrub native to the northern regions of China and Korea, belongs to the Sapindov family. Some dendrologists consider it one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs. It is used as a specimen on a hillock, at the edge of a retaining wall, in creating mountain landscapes. The entire growing season looks very aesthetically pleasing.
Xanthoceras is a deciduous tree, cultivated up to 4 m in height. The trunk is bizarrely curved, the crown forms a dense head of leaves, similar in shape to rowan trees, which is reflected in the name. It blooms in May at the same time as the lilac, until the foliage is completely dissolved, with large, 25 cm, clusters of large white flowers with a red throat, dotting the entire tree. Extraordinarily effective. After flowering, it forms round capsules, the size of a walnut, from which, when ripe and cracking, spill out from 5 to 17 pieces. round dark brown nuts resembling small thin-skinned hazelnuts.
Nuts are edible both raw and fried and contain up to 64% fat.

Xanthoceras Rowan-leaved. Sowing seeds:

It is recommended to sow directly to a permanent place, since the nut gives a strong taproot, which makes further successful transplantation difficult. Soak the seeds for a day in warm water with the addition of growth stimulants, sow in a nutritious neutral substrate with the addition of river sand and inert disintegrants, after moistening it. Root option: 70% universal soil + 30% river sand, vermiculite, perlite. The seeds are deepened by 2 cm, covered with foil to create a greenhouse effect and germinated in a bright, warm place at room temperature. Germination period from 2 weeks to 1.5 months.

Chekalkin Orekh. Care and maintenance:

Location: The bright scattered sun, should be shaded in the hot hours received, endures partial partial shade. Protect from strong winds and drafts.

Watering: Poorly tolerates stagnant water, especially at a young age, needs good drainage, a sunny warm place for planting. Overdrying is preferable to overflowing.

Humidity: Not picky.

Temperature: It tolerates a drop in temperature without damage to -20 ° C, during the rest period it needs a cool content of + 8-10 ° C, if it is not possible to provide coolness, put it on the coldest window sill. Can shed foliage entirely or partially. In summer, it perfectly tolerates the heat, it is recommended to take it to the balcony, terrace, garden.

The soil: Nutritious, neutral, but tolerates calcareous soils. The pot should be taken deep, in accordance with the shape and size of the root rod system. Be sure to lay the bottom of the container with a good drainage layer.
Top dressing: During the growing season from April to September, a universal fertilizer with a high content of phosphorus and potassium, according to the manufacturer's instructions. In winter, the nut is not fertilized.

Cropping: It tolerates pruning in February.

Diseases and pests: It is not affected by pests, with excessive watering, fungal diseases are possible.

Today I will tell you about a very interesting tree --- Chekalkin Orekh. It blooms very beautifully, and its fruits are edible! Rowan-leaved walnut, or Chekalkin Walnut, is a deciduous tree or shrub, cultivated up to 4 m in height.

The trunk is bizarrely curved, the crown forms a dense head of leaves, similar in shape to rowan trees, which is reflected in the name. At the latitude of Kiev, it blooms simultaneously with the lilac, until the foliage is completely dissolved, with large, 25 cm, tassels of large white flowers with a red throat, dotting the entire tree.

Extraordinarily effective. Some dendrologists consider it one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs. After flowering, it forms round capsules, the size of a walnut, from which, when ripe and cracking, spill out from 5 to 17 pieces. round dark brown nuts resembling small thin-skinned hazelnuts.

Nuts are edible both raw and fried and contain up to 64% fat. Care: poorly tolerates stagnant water, especially at a young age, needs good drainage, sunny warm place for planting.

Attention! The seeds do not have a dormant period and do not require stratification - if you collect seeds from a tree and sow, they will immediately germinate and be exposed to frost.

It is recommended to sow in the spring months immediately to a permanent place, since the nut gives a strong taproot, which makes further successful transplantation difficult. There are indications of the possibility of propagation by root cuttings.

The seeds are stored in burlap in a cool, damp, well-ventilated area. Seed germination during such storage lasts up to 1.5 - 2 years. It must be remembered that the seeds are easily eaten by mice.

Embedding depth 4 - 5 cm.

- Xanthoceras sorbifolium Homeland - Northern China, where it was discovered at the end of the 19th century, in 1868 by Abbe David. Deciduous tree or shrub, grown up to 4 m in height. The trunk is bizarrely curved, the crown forms a dense head of leaves, similar in shape to rowan trees, which is reflected in the name. At the latitude of Kiev, it blooms simultaneously with the lilac, until the foliage is completely dissolved, with large, 25 cm, tassels of large white flowers with a red throat, dotting the entire tree. Extraordinarily effective. Some dendrologists consider it one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs. After flowering, it forms round capsules, the size of a walnut, from which, when ripe and cracking, spill out from 5 to 17 pieces. round dark brown nuts resembling small thin-skinned hazelnuts. Nuts are edible both raw and fried and contain up to 64% fat. poorly tolerates stagnant water, especially at a young age, needs good drainage, sunny warm place for planting. Like all nuts, he does not like transplants, it is recommended to sow and plant immediately to a permanent place. It is growing rapidly. Frost-resistant, according to some sources, up to -30 degrees C. In the USA, he is given zone 4. X. sorbifolium Bunge appears in the collection of the botanical garden of St. Petersburg for 2-3 years (1955-1956, 1977 (planted from the greenhouse) - 1981, 1995-1997). seeds. Attention! The seeds do not have a dormant period and do not require stratification - if you collect seeds from a tree and sow, they will immediately germinate and be exposed to frost. It is recommended to sow in the spring months immediately to a permanent place, since the nut gives a strong taproot, which makes further successful transplantation difficult. There are indications of the possibility of propagation by root cuttings. The seed is stored in burlap in a cool, damp, well-ventilated area. Seed germination during such storage lasts up to 1.5 - 2 years. Laboratory germination rate 98 - 100%, soil - from 20 to 66%. About 50% of germinated seeds form etiolated plants, which die 1 - 1.5 months after germination. It must be remembered that the seed is easily eaten by mice. Embedding depth 4 - 5 cm.

Xanthoceras Sorbifolium or Chekalkin Nut (seed)

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Seed collection April 2015. Xanthoceras Sorbifolium, Xanthoceras Rowan-leaved or Chekalkin walnut- an unusually spectacular flowering tree or multi-stemmed lush shrub native to the northern regions of China and Korea, belongs to the Sapindov family.

Some dendrologists consider it one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs. It is used as a specimen on a hillock, at the edge of a retaining wall, in creating mountain landscapes. The entire growing season looks very aesthetically pleasing.

Xanthoceras is a deciduous tree, cultivated up to 4 m in height. The trunk is bizarrely curved, the crown forms a dense head of leaves, similar in shape to rowan trees, which is reflected in the name.

It blooms in May at the same time as the lilac, until the foliage is completely dissolved, with large, 25 cm, clusters of large white flowers with a red throat, dotting the entire tree. Extraordinarily effective.

After flowering, it forms round capsules, the size of a walnut, from which, when ripe and cracking, spill out from 5 to 17 pieces. round dark brown nuts resembling small thin-skinned hazelnuts. Nuts are edible both raw and fried and contain up to 64% fat.

Xanthoceras Rowan-leaved. Sowing seeds: It is recommended to sow directly to a permanent place, since the nut gives a strong taproot, which makes further successful transplantation difficult.

Soak the seeds for a day in warm water with the addition of growth stimulants, sow in a nutritious neutral substrate with the addition of river sand and inert leavening agents, after moistening it. Root option: 70% universal soil + 30% river sand, vermiculite, perlite.

The seeds are deepened by 2 cm, covered with foil to create a greenhouse effect and germinated in a bright, warm place at room temperature. Germination period from 2 weeks to 1.5 months. Chekalkin Orekh.

Poorly tolerates stagnant water, especially at a young age, needs good drainage, a sunny warm place for planting. Overdrying is preferable to overflowing. Not picky.

It tolerates a decrease in temperature without damage to -20? C, during the rest period it needs a cool content of + 8-10? C, if it is not possible to provide coolness, put it on the coldest windowsill. Can shed foliage entirely or partially.

In summer, it perfectly tolerates the heat, it is recommended to take it to the balcony, terrace, garden. Nutritious, neutral, but tolerates calcareous soils. The pot should be taken deep, in accordance with the shape and size of the root rod system.

Be sure to lay the bottom of the container with a good drainage layer. Top dressing: During the growing season from April to September, a universal fertilizer with a high content of phosphorus and potassium, according to the manufacturer's instructions. In winter, the nut is not fertilized.

It tolerates pruning in February. It is not affected by pests, with excessive watering, fungal diseases are possible. RUB 60

Free in Novosibirsk - from 500 rubles. Local pickup in Novosibirsk (metro pl.Marksa)

By train (within the Russian Federation; through a guide) By bus (Altai Territory, Tomsk Region, Kemerovo Region; through a driver)

A nut you didn't know

To plant chestnuts or not to plant

Everyone or almost everyone loves nuts ... Few decide to grow on their own plot. Walnuts have delicious nuts, but they grow slowly, not handsome, but, having matured, will shade half of the site. Hazelnuts and almonds remain. And here's the problem.

It is pointless to plant one bush, but there is no place for a large number. And then the mountain ash chekalkin will help you out. It is unpretentious, effective, it can grow everywhere - it is drought-resistant and frost-resistant, and the maximum height, which it rarely reaches, is four meters.

In culture since the 70s of the XIX century. But in Russia for some reason it is little known and even considered exotic. Chekalkin walnut (grown from seeds) blooms in the third year of life. At this moment, he is unusually effective. In May, star flowers appear.

Large, white, with a red or yellow center, collected in long (up to 25 centimeters) bunches. They literally cover the entire tree and have a pleasant aroma. Flowering lasts more than two weeks. But even after flowering, the nut does not lose its decorative effect.

There remain beautiful leaves, similar to mountain ash, dark green above, light below. In place of flowers, seed pods up to seven centimeters long appear, with the color and shape still reminiscent of green walnuts. They contain from 7 to 17 round nuts.

The harvest ripens in September. The peel cracks - and here they are: dark brown with a thin peel, they can be snapped like seeds. Try to make sure that the nuts do not fall to the ground. There are many who want to eat.

They can be eaten raw. But dried or toasted are tastier. Very much like almonds. The nucleoli contain more than 60% fats, trace elements, iodine, selenium, calcium, magnesium.Due to the bizarrely curved trunk, dense mountain ash foliage, beautiful flowers - he is a born soloist.

But a separate group is also good. How to raise this delicious handsome man? Propagated by seeds and cuttings. Root cuttings are harvested in autumn (after leaf fall) and in spring (before bud break).

Schisandra chinensis

Dig a trench around the plant, carefully cut off some of the horses. We cut the resulting lashes into cuttings 5-10 centimeters long. We store the autumn ones until spring in the basement in wet sand.

We plant the spring plants right away, but most gardeners use seeds. They are easier to get hold of. The usual packing is three seeds per bag. Many complain: all three did not ascend, and if they did, they perished at a young age.

Nuance: some of the seedlings almost always die after 1 - 1.5 months. So to be sure, get at least six nuts. Chekalkin walnut has a strong taproot - the plant often dies during transplantation. Therefore, in the spring (April) we sow immediately to a permanent place.

And the place should be sunny, well-drained - the nut cannot stand stagnant water. In its historical homeland - in China, it grows on stony, organic-poor soils. So there are no requirements for special fertility.

The seeds were soaked for seven days and sown to a depth of five centimeters. Water the seedlings moderately. You can feed it with a universal mineral fertilizer such as "Aelita-universal". Babies grow quickly - 40 centimeters over the summer.

With this growth, it leaves for the winter. You don't have to hide - we don't have severe winters. In the second year, it forms a bush.

On the third, it blooms and bears fruit. For an adult nut, the care is simple: a little urea in the spring, watering in the first half of summer once a week, then without watering.

Trees and shrubs

Seedlings grown from nuts last spring overwintered. There were three of them, all in different places, but all on retaining walls. Two blown off heads, growing back from the root. But this one overwintered to the full height of a five-centimeter growth and started growing early from the crown of the bud. That's how he wintered - in the arms of three stones. As an observation - with stones it is better than in open places that St. John's wort came out of winter and the honeysuckle is brilliant (the link to Saratov is canceled). It is clear that the winter was mild, but still pleasant. The nonsense question (I wanted to boast more) is this. The nut began to grow into three trunks (two are clearly visible, the third is from behind). Leave it with a bush or try to lead with a tree, plucking out all that is superfluous? Who else sowed, intrigued by the stories of the forum member Seriy?

I sincerely thank all readers of our newspaper for their keen interest in new plants, and especially in walnut crops. We have already got acquainted with the unique Korenovsky walnut, with the royal nut - Thin-shell almonds, with low almonds - a handsome spring garden. Many gardeners grow and feel great hazelnuts - red-leaved and green-leaved.

I have also tasted chilim - a water nut growing in a reservoir, brought from the Penza region. Eight years ago, I successfully cultivated peanuts (peanuts) of the Goodwin, Chufu or peanut varieties on a vacant plot. We can no longer talk about the benefits of all nuts - everyone knows that in terms of calorie content, protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, nuts are not inferior to meat, milk and other valuable food products.

Walnut from a friend from China

Talking to you, I noted that they want to have nuts, but the area of ​​the land plot often does not allow growing powerful and tall trees, such as Manchurian walnut, gray and tall walnut varieties. Yes, and no one wants to wait for fruiting for 10 years. Today I want to tell you about another curious plant, the seeds of which were brought to me from China. This is Chekalkin walnut or mountain ash. It was sent to me by a friend of mine who worked in China for several years, learned the language, and stayed in Shanghai.
The Chinese are very practical people. Since there are very few good lands suitable for traditional agriculture (rice, wheat, vegetables) in the country, they gradually occupy all the inconveniences with unpretentious useful plants. And, in particular, on the foothills, on stony, organic-poor soils, they grow almonds, dogwood, Chinese irga, Chekalkin nut. Here's someone we should learn from! Everything that can be eaten is grown on plantations and delivered to consumers. All these plants require almost no watering, are content with scarce soils and are of great benefit to humans.

Walnut growing on stones

I planted the nuts directly in the ground in April, without doing any stratification (there was no time). I didn't have any literature about this exotic. But on reflection, as it turned out later, I correctly judged that if at home, in China, he grew on stones, then I will not add humus to him (it is not known how he will react to it), but I will put expanded clay on the bottom of the hole to drain off the excess water and add a can of wood ash.
Two weeks later, I was surprised that all five nuts had sprung up! Then, when the seedlings had already grown by 10 centimeters, I made a mistake and decided to plant them. And three seedlings died during the transplant. So for myself, I concluded that it is necessary to plant the nut immediately to a permanent place or at home through seedlings in a peat pot, so as not to injure the roots once again.

Chekalkin nuts

Over the summer, the seedling has grown by 35-40 cm. The leaves are very similar to rowan, compound, feathery. As always, since the middle of July, I have not watered it, so that the trunk becomes a little lignified. For the winter, I covered it with branches, spruce branches with a layer of 30 cm. We overwintered without any losses. In the second year, a bush began to form. We had interruptions in water, there was not enough water for watering, but he was green. Apparently, he learned to get water himself.
The first time the Chekalkin nut bloomed in the third year. It has clusters of white flowers at the ends of the shoots, flowers 3-4 cm in diameter, star-shaped with a pleasant aroma. And in September the fruits ripened. Nuts of 5-7 pieces are enclosed in a box the size of a large walnut, and they themselves are the size of a small hazelnut, have a very thin peel and a sweet core. The mountain ash kernel contains a lot of fats - up to 60%, trace elements, iodine, selenium, calcium, magnesium, cobalt.
Now this is a small compact tree 2.5 m high, it grows almost without leaving, I throw a handful of urea under it in the spring, then with half a bucket of chalk on the trunk circle, I water it once a week in the first half of summer, and I don’t water it in the second half. Once or twice a season I give him a foliar dressing - I spray the leaves with a solution of humate with microelements. Chekalkin walnut bears fruit abundantly. It is necessary to monitor and collect in time so that all the nuts do not wake up on the ground - otherwise, here, on the ground, they immediately become tasty prey for mice and other living creatures. We dry the collected nuts and fry them in a skillet for food. You can't tell from almonds. And it takes up little space, and bears fruit in the third year!
This miracle is propagated by nuts, which can be planted immediately in the ground in spring. Whoever wants to create such a compact walnut garden at home - along with Korenovsky walnuts and almonds, you can also grow mountain ash. I can send you nuts.
You can contact me with any questions by phone: 8-917-632-13-28 or write to me at the address: 432008, Ulyanovsk, PO Box 201.

Natalia Petrovna
ZAKOMURNAYA