The origin and appearance of the plant
The acacia shrub is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family. Grows in Asia, Mexico, Africa, Australia. Can be found in greenhouses in Europe. Evergreen trees and bushes can reach a height of up to 25 m, and a trunk diameter of 1.2 m. They may have thorns. Young plantings are distinguished by green and smooth bark, but over time it becomes brown or gray. The rhizome is strong and branched horizontally along the topsoil.
Original pink beauty
Plant flower descriptions
There are single, numerous and small flowers on the bush. The calyx is serrated and bell-shaped, but sometimes it is absent. 3 petals per flower, spliced or loose. The popular color of the plant is orange, yellow, white and, less often, pink.
Interesting! So is the acacia tree or shrub? Both, because the plant has many types and varieties.
Detailed botanical description of the tree
According to the description, this is a beautiful decorative tree with a spreading openwork crown and fragrant white flowers, which are collected in large inflorescences. Its trunk can reach 1 m in diameter, the bark is very thick with longitudinal stripes, the color of the bark varies from brown to dark gray (in young trees, the bark is smooth, light gray).
The leaves of the tree are green, ovoid, opposite each other, reaching a length of 25 cm. Flowering takes place in May - June. When acacia blooms, then within a few days there is a strong release of nectar (good honey plant). In September, the seeds begin to ripen - brown, flat beans.
The root system of the White Acacia is very powerful and well developed, there is a main stem, strong branching occurs in the upper layers of the soil. White Acacia grows very quickly, especially the first 10 years, in 1 year it can grow 80 cm in height and 30 in width.
Let's take a closer look at all the parts of this beautiful and useful tree:
- Seeds. They are an elongated bean, can be linear, lanceolate or ovoid. Also, the bob can be straight or curved.
- Fetus. It is a flat pod, usually brown in color, inside which there are seeds - beans (5 or 6 pieces).
- Inflorescences. They differ in shape, can be cylindrical or paniculate, capitate-type inflorescences are also found.
- Thorns. In many species of acacia, stipules have transformed into thorns, i.e. spines of white acacia are modified stipules
- Flowers. A huge number of small or large, fragrant, can be heterosexual or bisexual, they are collected in hanging bunches.
Blooming White Acacia is simply mesmerizing. Acacia flowers can be not only white. There are varieties with flowers in yellow, light pink, dark pink, golden and even purple.
Types and varieties
Viburnum red is a shrub or tree - description
There are many types of acacia. Let's consider the most popular ones.
Yellow acacia or caragana
This is a small bush or tree. Yellow acacia (shrub) is found along the banks of rivers and lakes. The plant can reach 7 m in height, although it usually grows up to 2-4 m. Thin shoots, paired and oval leaves.In autumn, the foliage changes color from green to yellow.
The shrub is characterized by a relatively low growth from 2 to 4 and up to 2.5 m in width. Gray-green trunk, branchy and thin shoots. In the period May-June, small yellow flowers with a unique aroma appear. Green space tolerates any soil well, but a sunny, sandy area is the best option. Karagana is resistant to frost, winds and storms.
Caragana tree for the garden
Attention! It is recommended to plant a tree in the fall so that it takes root and adapts to winter.
The shrub needs to be pruned from the second year of life, when it fades. Fertilize it from March to August twice a week. The plant tolerates excessive moisture worse than drought.
The plant is used to decorate gardens, parks and other cultural objects. The bush helps to strengthen the embankment slopes, protect the soil from weeds. The vine is ideal for weaving baskets. With the help of shrubs, designers create beautiful compositions, a hedge looks especially exquisite.
White acacia, or robinia false acacia
It is a fast growing tree with light green leaves and milky white flowers. Dark brown seed pods appear by September. White acacia blooms from May to June. Acacia is a frost-resistant white shrub, melliferous. Up to 15 kg of fresh honey can be harvested from one tree.
Using robinia false acacia
The list of diseases for which traditional medicine recommends the use of Robinia is wide. Its medicinal properties facilitate the course of the disease and accelerate recovery from colds, diseases of the digestive, reproductive system.
- SARS, flu. It is used in the form of an infusion with an expectorant, antipyretic effect.
- Disorders of the digestive tract. Leaves and bark have an astringent, hemostatic, antispasmodic effect, reduce the acidity of gastric juice. The broth can be used for gastritis, the occurrence of antispasmodic pain in the stomach and intestines, ulcerative bleeding.
- Inflammation of the urinary system. The infusion is used as a diuretic for inflammatory kidney disease, urolithiasis.
- Hypertension. Infusion of acacia flowers has a hypotonic effect, reduces blood pressure.
- Diseases of the female reproductive system. In case of inflammation, uterine myoma, it is recommended to take the infusion inside and douching with a decoction of white acacia flowers.
- Rheumatism, thrombophlebitis. An infusion based on acacia flowers is used for external treatment of the affected areas. It has an analgesic effect.
White acacia treatment is common in homeopathy. However, due to the higher content of the medicinal substance in the infusion and broth, the effect of the application occurs faster than when using homeopathic remedies.
Antipyretic infusion
In case of influenza and ARVI with complications in the form of stagnation of mucus in the respiratory tract, it is recommended to use an infusion of acacia flowers. It has an antipyretic effect, facilitates the discharge of sputum.
Preparation
- Pour 10 grams of dried flowers with a glass of boiling water.
- Wrap with a towel, leave for one hour.
- Strain, take warm 50 ml four times a day.
The infusion has a diuretic effect, therefore it can be used in the treatment of inflammation of the kidneys and bladder.
Decoction for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
For the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, a hot decoction of the bark and young shoots of acacia is used. It reduces the acidity of gastric juice, reduces pain during exacerbation of gastritis and ulcers.
Preparation
- Chop up dried bark or shoots.
- Pour 500 ml boiling water over one dessert spoon of raw materials.
- Heat 20 minutes over low heat.
- Strain, mix with water in a volume of 500 ml.
- Take it warm, in a few sips.Use the resulting broth within two days.
It is unacceptable to exceed the dosage of a decoction from the bark, as there is a high risk of poisoning. This remedy should be used with caution, if suspicious symptoms (drowsiness, vomiting, dizziness) occur, stop treatment and consult a doctor.
This infusion is used for those whose nerves are at their limit. It is also useful in the treatment of heel spurs. The same infusion is advised to rub motionless limbs after a stroke or paralysis.
Alcohol infusion for rheumatism
For the preparation of alcoholic infusion, an acacia flower is used. It reduces painful joints, has an anti-inflammatory effect in rheumatism. Traditional medicine recommends using it for thrombophlebitis with prominent protruding veins.
Preparation
- Pour 100 ml of alcohol into 4 tablespoons of flowers.
- Seal with a lid, put on a sunny windowsill for ten days.
- Strain.
- Apply topically to affected areas: joints, inflamed vein nodes. You do not need to rub in the product.
To prepare the infusion, use a high concentration of alcohol - at least seventy percent.
Decoction from diseases of the reproductive system
Traditional medicine notes the effectiveness of the treatment of diseases of the female reproductive system with the help of a decoction of robinia pseudoacacia. The remedy is recommended for inflammatory processes, uterine fibroids.
Preparation
- Brew a tablespoon of flowers with 300 ml boiling water.
- Leave to infuse for one hour.
- Drink 50 ml of the broth daily, three times a day.
For colpitis, vaginitis, inflammation of the external genital organs, use a decoction for washing, douching.
Planting acacia trees
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Before planting, it is necessary to prepare the seedling, put a support, find the best place and fertilizers. It is also worth considering nearby growing plants.
Preparing the soil for the seedling
Choosing a place
A spacious, sunny place is selected for landing. Due to the spreading acacia crown, the distance between trees should be at least 2.5 m. Low-lying areas where cold air masses stagnate and the proximity of groundwater are not suitable. No fruit trees are planted nearby, because the roots of the fragrant beauty will oppress other plantings.
Important! The bush is poisonous, so it is forbidden to place it near playgrounds, schools, kindergartens.
Step by step process
It is recommended to plant a tree in early spring, when the soil is already warmed up. Planting an open-rhizome shrub requires pruning branches and long roots. The process is step by step:
- Dig a hole in accordance with the size of the root system of the acacia.
- Gravel is placed at the bottom with a layer of 20 cm as drainage.
- The dug soil is fertilized with nitroammophos, 80 g of the product is enough for one tree.
- A stake is placed in the center of the pit for support, a seedling is placed and the rhizome is straightened.
- The bole is covered with prepared earth, lightly tamped and moistened from above.
- Acacia is tied to a support.
From above, it is advisable to cover the soil with a layer of peat 6-8 cm thick.
Reproduction
Bush shrub - decorative, white, variegated
Acacia is a beautiful tree with a pleasant aroma. There are two ways to reproduce it - by seeds and cuttings.
Propagation by cuttings
The second half of May is ideal for digging out the lateral roots, which are carefully separated from the root processes. A cutting is placed in a nutritious and loose soil under a slope so that the cut is on top and is at ground level. The incision site is sprinkled with activated carbon.
Cutting at home
Contraindications
In folk medicine, seeds and roots of acacia white, as well as any of its parts in pure form, are never used.The roots and seeds contain a high concentration of toxic robinin, which causes severe poisoning. Care should be taken when treating with an infusion of bark and shoots, since they contain a higher content of robinin than flowers.
The broth lowers blood pressure, therefore it is not recommended for people suffering from hypotension.
A beautiful ornamental plant robinia pseudoacacia is widely used in herbal medicine. It helps fight the symptoms of colds, normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and has an anti-inflammatory effect. However, it must be used with caution, and even with good tolerance, do not exceed the recommended dosage. In case of symptoms of poisoning, take emergency measures: rinse the stomach, drink a sorbent drug and call a doctor.
Care
Young trees need regular moisture, while mature shrubs require water only in drought. Shrub acacia takes enough moisture from the incoming precipitation. Water at room temperature is used for irrigation, the planting is watered in the morning or in the evening. After watering, a little loosening of the soil is necessary.
Top dressing
For the first three years, the plant does not require fertilization. Older trees are fed with special preparations during the flowering period and in the middle of summer. For one plant, 100 g of fertilizer is enough, which is scattered near the root and sprinkled with earth. At the end of summer, you can use 30 g of potassium sulfate or a glass of wood ash per acacia.
Features of care during flowering
The plant needs regular watering, constant sunlight. There is no need for additional spraying of the tree. The flowering period of acacia is the best time to apply fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus.
Features of spring care
Water stagnation should not be allowed, and it is also not recommended to loosen the soil. Around the acacia trees can be weeded to remove weeds. The land should not be drained because the bush plant will enrich it with nitrogen on its own.
Fragrant bunches of white acacia
Preparing the plant for winter
Acacia is frost-resistant, it is able to withstand temperatures below -25 degrees, but the first three years the shrub must be covered for the winter. In the autumn season, when all the leaves have fallen off and it gets colder outside, you can start preparing for frost. Peat or fallen leaves are poured onto the root area, the tree is wrapped in burlap and fixed until spring.
Novice gardeners are still confused: acacia is a tree or still a shrub. It all depends on the variety and type. The planting is in demand due to its beautiful flowers, unique fragrance and precious red wood. When buying a plant, you should ask the seller for a complete description of the acacia bush and the rules for caring for it.
