Losbaum: Tips for planting & caring for

The lot tree, too Clerodendrum called, is still relatively unknown to us. For everyone who wants to be a pioneer when it comes to exotic shrubs, we have summarized the most important things about planting and caring for in the garden.

With its magnificent flowers and extraordinary fruits, the exotic Losbaum (Clerodendrum) is slowly making its way into European gardens and houses. You can find out why this is entirely justified here.

Losbaum: origin and characteristics

Losbrees are a very heterogeneous group. No wonder, because their area of ​​distribution includes the entire tropics and subtropics of this world. There are small trees and shrubs belonging to the lotus tree, as well as herbaceous plants and lianas. But the Losbaum has even more to offer. While some species are deciduous, others are evergreen. However, they all belong to the mint family (

Lamiaceae). The flowers shine in all possible colors and usually smell extremely aromatic.

Clerodendrum-Species

It's such a thing with the Losbaum species. The genus seems incredibly species-rich and diverse, even confusing. On closer inspection, it was discovered that not all of these species belong to the lotus tree genus. And so it is still hotly debated which species now belong to the wild boom and which do not. Currently, the number of Clerodendrum species is somewhere between 150 and 300.

The most famous representatives of the Losbrees:

• Japanese lot tree (Clerodendrum trichotomum var. fargesii): The Japanese loose tree is a hybrid between a shrub and a tree. Its shrubby habit is so compact that it almost grows like a small tree. With its maximum height of three meters, the plant is perfect for small gardens and sitting areas. It is considered hardy, but should be protected for the first few years. The white-bluish flowers do not appear until August / September and are arranged in panicles. The red and blue fruits are a real eye-catcher.

• Chinese lot tree (Clerodendrum bungei): With a maximum size of two meters, the Chinese loose tree remains significantly smaller than the Japanese loose tree and has more of a shrub-like appearance. With its broad leaves and spherical pink flowers, it is almost reminiscent of a hydrangea. In a mild climate, the plant is hardy, but can freeze back to the ground in cold winters. Be careful, however: once you have found the perfect location, the Chinese loose tree likes to spread over root runners. A root barrier is definitely appropriate here.

• Climbing lot tree (Clerodendrum thomsoniae): If you have ever been to tropical Africa, you might find a climbing one Plant with conspicuous, balloon-like fluffed white calyxes with red flowers be. This liana is also one of the loosing trees and makes a wonderful houseplant. As a traffic light or clinging to a trellis, its flowers create an exciting contrast. Although the climbing Losbaum is theoretically several meters tall, its growth can be limited to about one meter. This species is not hardy.

• Uganda loose shrub (Clerodendrum ugandense): The Uganda loose shrub surprises with its beautiful blue flowers. As a tall trunk or shrub in a bucket, it looks wonderful in the garden or on the terrace. This type of keeping is favored by its good cut tolerance. Its leaves are evergreen, which is why it is better to overwinter it frost-free.

Planting a loose tree: timing, location and procedure

As tropical plants, Los trees love the sun, but they cannot cope well with blazing summer sun. In their homeland, they mainly grow on the edge of the forest and in thickets. It is therefore better to plant your loose tree in the shelter of other trees or in a place protected from the direct midday sun. Los trees kept indoors also prefer partially shaded places in the apartment. In general, they love a warm location, preferably with a high level of humidity. The following points are therefore important:

• Protection from direct sun
• Warm
• High humidity

The best time to plant is in spring. Dig a large hole for this. It should definitely be wider and deeper than the root ball itself. Now put some of the earth back into the hole and place the root ball on top of it at ground level. Now you can fill in the rest with the excavated earth. This will make it easier for your Los Tree to penetrate the earth with its roots. Now press the soil lightly again so that the shrub stands securely and water it carefully. The first time after planting you should continue to water more until the tree has developed its roots sufficiently.

Repot Losbaum

Booms tend to be less demanding when it comes to the substrate. They thrive on all well-tended, well-drained garden soils with a weakly alkaline pH value. You can therefore put the Japanese and Chinese Losbaum in the garden without much preparation. This is usually the same for potted trees, but since you have the choice here, you should opt for humus garden soil.

Repotting is due approximately every one to two years. Of course, the growth and size of the plant are also decisive here.

Maintain the lot tree

With good care, loose trees can get old. The Japanese loose tree, for example, grows into a beautiful tree over many decades. In addition, loose trees can easily be propagated by cuttings. So, in principle, your genetics are immortal. We have collected the most important information for you here so that your lot tree can also reach a high age.

Clerodendrum water and fertilize

During the summer you should orientate yourself on the home of the los trees when watering. It's quite humid there. Water regularly and thoroughly so that the soil always remains moist. However, you should absolutely avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot. Los trees are kept a little drier in winter. Deciduous species in particular then need significantly less water.

Fertilizing is also stopped during the winter, around September. In spring, however, specimens that have just been planted love a dose of fresh compost. Alternatively, you can use organic fertilizers, such as our Plantura, twice a year Organic universal fertilizer, use. When using fertilizers, you should make sure that there is a sufficient amount of phosphorus, as this promotes the formation of flowers. So the most important points about watering and fertilizing are these:

• Always keep moist during the summer
• A little less water in winter
• Spray houseplants regularly with water that is low in lime
• Fertilize only during the warm season
• Prefer organic fertilizers
• Phosphorus in the fertilizer promotes flower formation

Cut loose tree

In the winter hardy loose trees, no pruning is usually necessary, as they remain quite compact. Should you still want to swing the secateurs, early spring is the right time to do so, before the new shoots begin. Los trees kept in pots or tubs often need pruning.

The climbing Losbaum, for example, can easily be shortened a little during the summer months. More radical prunings are also possible, but should be done in early spring.

Hibernate Losbaum

Depending on the species, older loose trees can be quite hardy. The Japanese loose tree is therefore also often planted in Europe. It only needs light winter protection for the first two to three years. Here it is helpful to protect the roots with fallen leaves or brushwood and to wrap the trunk with fleece or bubble wrap in extreme cold.

Many species, such as the Chinese loose tree or the Uganda loose shrub, have a certain winter hardiness and can also be planted in mild regions of Germany. Protecting the roots with leaves or brushwood can be helpful in extreme locations. The plants mostly freeze completely above ground over the winter. While the Chinese Losbaum tolerates this well, the Uganda Losbaum should better be wintered frost-free to be on the safe side.

Species that are not hardy, such as the climbing loose tree, must be overwintered frost-free. A bright place with temperatures between 10 and 15 ° C is ideal here. However, the climbing Losbaum can also be overwintered warm. In summary, the following applies:

• Japanese Losbaum only needs winter protection for the first 2-3 years
• Chinese Losbaum freezes above ground
• Winter Uganda loose tree and climbing loose tree at 10 - 15 ° C in a bright place

Is the lot tree poisonous?

The fruits of the lot tree are slightly poisonous. You don't need to worry though, because the fruits are anything but tasty. So it shouldn't occur to anyone to try more than one bite of it. So you can integrate the plant into your garden or apartment with a clear conscience.

For everyone who's now in the mood for a bit of the exotic, we put it here ten exotic houseplants from distant lands.