Celtis AUSTRALIS

Celtis AUSTRALIS - European nettle tree, Mediterranean hackberry, Southern nettle tree, Common hackberry, Celtis Australis, Stone tree, Ironwood, Cuculia.

Can be trained as bonsai!

Celtis is a genus of deciduous, rarely evergreen trees and shrubs in the hemp family (Cannabaceae), comprising about 100 species distributed across temperate and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. Species of the genus grow on open dry slopes with stony, often calcareous soil, along forest edges, and on cliffs.

Members of the genus are trees ranging from 10 to 25, occasionally up to 40 m (33-82, occasionally up to 131 ft) in height, with smooth gray bark. Leaves are alternate, simple, stiff, asymmetrical at the base, 3 to 15 cm (1.2-5.9 in) long, with a serrate margin and three main veins.

Flowering coincides with leaf emergence - small bisexual and staminate flowers appear in early spring in the leaf axils. The fruit is a small, nearly globose drupe with sweetish pulp, edible in many species, with a pitted or wrinkled stone inside.

The European nettle tree is a tree 15-20, occasionally up to 25 m (49-66, occasionally up to 82 ft) in height, native to the Mediterranean - Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Southwestern Asia. The trunk is straight, up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in diameter, with gray bark, and the crown is dense and globose. Young shoots are pubescent; the root system is powerful, extending deeply and widely to the sides. Leaves are ovate-lanceolate, 4-8 cm (1.6-3.1 in) long, with a long pointed tip, asymmetrical base, and serrate margin, green above, paler and softly pubescent beneath.

It blooms in May, and the fruits ripen in September-October - globose drupes about 10 mm (0.4 in) in diameter, ranging from dark purple to almost black, with somewhat dry sweet pulp. It grows slowly, begins fruiting at 10-20 years of age, and is distinguished by exceptional longevity - individual specimens live up to several centuries; at least one reliably dated tree in France is known, planted in 1550 and still alive today.

Seeds of the European nettle tree are medium-sized, about five per gram, enclosed in a dense pitted stone. To improve germination, cold moist stratification is required - seeds are mixed with moist sand and kept for 2-3 months at a temperature of 3-5 °C (37-41 °F); at home, the bottom shelf of a refrigerator is suitable, with the sand moistened and mixed every 1-2 weeks.

After stratification, seeds are soaked in a 1% potassium permanganate solution for several hours, and then for 12-24 hours in warm water with the addition of a growth stimulant: SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon. Then seeds are sown in a light breathable substrate to a depth of 1-3 cm (0.4-1.2 in), moistened with a spray bottle, placed in a propagator or covered with plastic wrap, and germinated in the light, but not in direct sun, at a temperature of 18-20 °C (64-68 °F) - a nighttime drop to 10 °C (50 °F) stimulates germination. Seedlings need ventilation; waterlogging and desiccation of the sowing are unacceptable.

Under favorable conditions, the first sprouts appear after 2-3 weeks; main germination is usually completed within 1-2 months, while individual seeds may delay significantly longer - one should not hurry to discard sowings. Seedlings become ready for repotting into individual pots 4-5 months after sprouting.

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For the European nettle tree, a location with bright sunlight is chosen, although the plant also tolerates light partial shade. It tolerates heat remarkably well, but handles frost poorly.

During the warm period, watering is generous as the top 3 cm (1.2 in) of the substrate dries out, approximately once every 1-2 weeks depending on temperature - the soil should be thoroughly soaked, but without water stagnation, as the tree dislikes overwatering. If necessary, the crown can be misted with soft water.

Neutral or slightly alkaline loamy soils with good air and moisture permeability are preferred; drainage is mandatory. Repotting is carried out once every 3 years in early spring, with simultaneous pruning of one-third to one-half of the root mass.

From early spring until autumn, with a break in July-August, fertilizing is applied with slowly decomposing organic fertilizers - regular feedings promote shoot lignification and strengthen the branches.

From the start of the growing season until late summer, pinching of long young shoots above leaf axils is carried out to encourage branching, while formative pruning is done in March-April, before growth begins. Wire training is possible throughout the entire period of active growth. Besides seeds, the plant can be propagated by woody cuttings 5-15 cm (2.0-5.9 in) long treated with a rooting stimulant.