Is the silk tree a deciduous or evergreen species?

The silk tree is also known as “Persian silk tree”, “pink silk tree”, “hehuan”, “yehe”, and “niaorong”, and is the city tree of Weihai. So is it a deciduous or evergreen species?

1. Is the silk tree a deciduous or evergreen species?

The silk tree is a deciduous tree that can reach 16 m in height. In June-July it produces pink flowers, the trunk is grayish-black; the young branches, inflorescences and leaf rachises are covered with tomentum or short pubescence.

2. What are the planting methods for the silk tree?

1. The silk tree is usually propagated by sowing. Seeds are collected between September and October. When collecting seeds, choose plump pods free of pests and diseases, sun-dry them to thresh the seeds, and store them dry in a dry, ventilated place to prevent mold.

2. Between March and April of the following year, the seeds can be sown only after treatment. Because the seed coat of the silk tree is hard, in order to make the seeds germinate evenly and emerge quickly, 2 weeks before sowing soak them in a 0.5% potassium permanganate cold-water solution for 2 h, remove them, rinse them clean with water, and soak them in hot water at about 80°C for 30 s (no longer than 1 min at most, otherwise the germination rate will be affected); after 24 h they can be sown. With this method of forcing germination, the germination rate can reach 80%-90%, and after emergence the seedlings grow robustly and are not prone to disease.

3. After the seedlings emerge fully, management work such as weeding, loosening the soil and topdressing should be strengthened. Transplant in the second spring or autumn, with a plant spacing of 3-5 m. For 2-3 years after transplanting, weed and loosen the soil around the plants every spring and autumn to promote growth.

4. The silk tree prefers slightly moist, somewhat dry soil and is relatively drought-tolerant. Be careful not to water too much; it is not tolerant of waterlogging. If too much water is given, the silk tree cannot absorb it properly, which may cause its roots to rot entirely, and excessive watering will affect the air permeability of the whole soil, preventing the roots of the silk tree from contacting air for respiration. Note that when planting a silk tree, you must find soil with sufficiently good drainage; there must be no water accumulation in any of the four seasons, and keep it in abundant sunlight.

5. The main pest and disease problem of the silk tree is canker, which can be sprayed with a 50% Tuzet 800-fold solution. Pests include longhorn beetles and psyllids; use 1 kg of kerosene plus 50 g of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate to kill longhorn beetles, and spray psyllids with a 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate 1500-fold solution.