Caucasian Wingnut (pterocarya fraxinifolia)
SKU:
£1.25
£1.25 - £8.00
per item
Seed Prices
2 grams (approx 28 seeds) £1.25
5 grams (approx 70 seeds) £1.80
10 grams (approx 140 seeds) £2.25
25 grams (approx 350 seeds) £5.00
50 grams (approx 700 seeds) £8.00
Use the drop down button below to select the seed quantity
The Caucasian Wingnut is native to the Caucasian region which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia, the Ukraine and Turkey. This is a tree with big aspirations and requires a big space to develop to its full majestic potential.
It is fast growing and grows best on flat ground or shallow slopes near rivers or streams and in deep moist
soils. It can tolerate drought and even hard, compacted soils. Develops an extensive root system and occasional suckers are produced from the roots at a considerable distance away from the parent tree.
The climate associated with the distribution of this tree includes mild winters and mild humid summers but it is also very hardy and copes with the lengthy winter freezes below -20 Celsius that we occasionally "enjoy" here in central France.
Fast growing to a height of up to 30m, the short, thick bole supports widely spreading branches to form a rounded structure. This is a tough and vigorous tree and could be pollarded at intervals to contain its size.
In Spring pendulous, pale-green catkins up to 50cm (20in) long are produced which develop into the "fruits" in late summer and are arranged on the remains of the catkins, they tend to resemble strings of beads.
An unusual member of the Walnut family.
The seeds contain a deep dormancy that requires patience to break down, full details included with every order.
It is fast growing and grows best on flat ground or shallow slopes near rivers or streams and in deep moist
soils. It can tolerate drought and even hard, compacted soils. Develops an extensive root system and occasional suckers are produced from the roots at a considerable distance away from the parent tree.
The climate associated with the distribution of this tree includes mild winters and mild humid summers but it is also very hardy and copes with the lengthy winter freezes below -20 Celsius that we occasionally "enjoy" here in central France.
Fast growing to a height of up to 30m, the short, thick bole supports widely spreading branches to form a rounded structure. This is a tough and vigorous tree and could be pollarded at intervals to contain its size.
In Spring pendulous, pale-green catkins up to 50cm (20in) long are produced which develop into the "fruits" in late summer and are arranged on the remains of the catkins, they tend to resemble strings of beads.
An unusual member of the Walnut family.
The seeds contain a deep dormancy that requires patience to break down, full details included with every order.
Germination, Sowing and After Care Information for
Caucasian Wingnut (pterocarya fraxinifolia)
Caucasian Wingnut seeds have a natural dormancy within them, this requires a degree of patience to overcome and it is usually quite easy to get high levels of germination if the correct procedures are followed.
First soak the seeds in warm water, allow to cool and leave them soaking for 24 hours. When this is completed drain away all the water fully.
Next prepare a free draining substrate into which the seeds are to be mixed, moist sand is thought to give the best results for this although you could use a 50/50 mixture of compost and sharp sand, The chosen substrate needs to be moist (but not wet), if you can squeeze water out of it with your hand it is too wet and your seeds may drown and die.
Mix the seeds into the substrate, making sure that their is enough volume of material to keep the seeds separated. Place the seed mixture into a clear plastic bag (freezer bags, especially zip-lock bags are very useful for this -provided a little gap is left in the seal for air exchange) If it is not a zip-lock type bag it needs to be loosely tied. Then write the date on the bag so that you know when the pretreatment was started.
The seeds require a cold period to break the dormancy that is naturally found within them, this is easily achieved by placing the prepared bag of seeds and compost mix in the fridge (4 Celsius or 39F) for around 8 weeks. It is quite possible for the seeds to germinate in the bag at these temperatures when they are ready to do so, if they do, just remove them from the bag and carefully plant them up.
For larger quantities it is easiest to sow the seeds in a well prepared seedbed once the cold pretreatment has finished and wait for the seeds to germinate. Seeds that are ready to germinate will be plump and soft, if they are not, the pretreatment is not yet complete or has been ineffective due to incorrect temperatures or incorrect moisture content of the pretreatment medium and the pre treatment process should be started again.
Do not expose newly sown seeds to high temperatures (above 25 Celsius) otherwise a secondary dormancy may be induced and the seeds will not germinate until they have been pretreated again. Germinated seeds can be planted in deep pots or plug trays in a good quality compost. Keep the seedlings well watered and weed free.
Growth in the first year is usually between 20 and 50 cm and usually trouble free. Growth accelerates rapidly in the second year. Allow them to grow for 1 or 2 years before planting them in a permanent position.
First soak the seeds in warm water, allow to cool and leave them soaking for 24 hours. When this is completed drain away all the water fully.
Next prepare a free draining substrate into which the seeds are to be mixed, moist sand is thought to give the best results for this although you could use a 50/50 mixture of compost and sharp sand, The chosen substrate needs to be moist (but not wet), if you can squeeze water out of it with your hand it is too wet and your seeds may drown and die.
Mix the seeds into the substrate, making sure that their is enough volume of material to keep the seeds separated. Place the seed mixture into a clear plastic bag (freezer bags, especially zip-lock bags are very useful for this -provided a little gap is left in the seal for air exchange) If it is not a zip-lock type bag it needs to be loosely tied. Then write the date on the bag so that you know when the pretreatment was started.
The seeds require a cold period to break the dormancy that is naturally found within them, this is easily achieved by placing the prepared bag of seeds and compost mix in the fridge (4 Celsius or 39F) for around 8 weeks. It is quite possible for the seeds to germinate in the bag at these temperatures when they are ready to do so, if they do, just remove them from the bag and carefully plant them up.
For larger quantities it is easiest to sow the seeds in a well prepared seedbed once the cold pretreatment has finished and wait for the seeds to germinate. Seeds that are ready to germinate will be plump and soft, if they are not, the pretreatment is not yet complete or has been ineffective due to incorrect temperatures or incorrect moisture content of the pretreatment medium and the pre treatment process should be started again.
Do not expose newly sown seeds to high temperatures (above 25 Celsius) otherwise a secondary dormancy may be induced and the seeds will not germinate until they have been pretreated again. Germinated seeds can be planted in deep pots or plug trays in a good quality compost. Keep the seedlings well watered and weed free.
Growth in the first year is usually between 20 and 50 cm and usually trouble free. Growth accelerates rapidly in the second year. Allow them to grow for 1 or 2 years before planting them in a permanent position.
