El adenocarpus is a genus of plant that is part of the evergreen and deciduous shrubs, which they are widely used in gardeningThis is thanks to the fact that they offer a large number of yellow flowers.
It has at least 48 species with description that belong to the Fabacae family, however only 16 species of them are accepted. Its origin occurs regularly in the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. It can also be seen in the region of Andalusia, being in the Sierra Nevada, the natural parks of Almijara, Fibrales, Endrinal, as well as in the Cordilleras Penibéticas and in the vicinity of Timar.
Adenocarpus characteristics
Among the species that have been selected, one of them stands out as ornamental use in gardening, we refer to the Adenocarpus decorticans, known by its common name of rascavieja and ash, among others.
Adenocarpus is a shrub that grows about three meters tall, hermaphroditic and evergreen. The ramification is erect and the foliage that characterizes it is quite dense, of a grayish green tone. Its leaves are trifoliate, they have cadas, alternate or fasciculate stipules. The trunk it has is thick, sometimes has a good definition, its bark is yellowish or reddish-brown.
The ramification of the flowers is in dense clusters. The calyx has a campanular tube of about 3 to 3,5 mm, is silky, bilabiate, its lower lip has three subulate teeth in line and the upper lips have two narrow and long teeth. Its corolla has a yellowish-yellow shape with a 13-16 mm pubescent banner. Its fruit has dimensions of 3 to 6 cm, an oblong legume like flattened, which is covered with glandular tubers of black or red colors. During spring is when it begins its flowering, for later and during the summer, begin with its fruiting. The branches have a bark that can peel off in strips.
Cultivation and care
So that this species is given in all its splendor, your sun exposure must be direct avoiding the shadows. The habitat in which it must grow must be in humid areas, since the plant prefers it, or in any case sub-humid. On the other hand, the soil where it develops best is in areas that have currently been deforested or in soils with acidic substrates.
Outside of its natural environment, can be used as ornamental plants, being one of the best for the garden thanks to the fact that its beautiful flowers delicately adorn the gardens, for this, they must be free of frost that can affect it. In addition, the way its branches and trunk grow make it a very exotic species for some, making it stand out above the others.
For its germination to take place correctly, it must be scarified for an hour with sulfuric acid. To clean the plant, the fruits must be undone using the rubbing technique. to later properly separate the seeds with fanning and screening. They can be replicated in pots that are under a greenhouse, although these pots must be at least 10 cm in diameter.
Diseases and pests
La adenocarpus It does not present diseases that can affect it in a serious way or pests that attack it especially, therefore, it can be said that it is a very resistant plant worth having in your garden.
This plant is one of the most beautiful that can be in charge of decorating your garden, since the flowers that it gives during the spring are very showy and can give a special touch to your natural space. In addition, its cultivation is quite simple to carry out, so you will not require in-depth knowledge for the seeds to germinate. On the other hand, and as we have commented, they are resistant to any type of disease or plague, making their care limited to pruning or that their environment has the necessary elements for the correct growth of the plant to occur.
Simply put, it is one of the most widely used plants by people who want to see their garden in perfect condition.