Tag Archives: Trees

The Practice of Lateral Grafting at Canarius

plant-grafting Canarius | Friday September 9th, 2016 |

When we talk about grafting in plant fields, we refer to the combination of two different species, joined so as to continue their growth together as a single plant. Grafting produces a ‘chimera’, i.e. a plant with two different genes: one in the roots and another in aerial parts.

Grafting is carried out by making cuts in the rootstock in order for it to receive the scion, so that the joining occurs between the two plants.

plant-fieldFor the joining to take place, it’s necessary that certain conditions are met: we call those that depend on the nature of the plant, ‘internal conditions’; and the inherent requirements of the environment where the new species is developed, ‘external conditions’.

Grafting between plants of the same variety or gender are almost certain to happen. However, when grafting between different species, there is a much lower percentage of probability.

The cuts made in both the rootstock and scion must be clean. Both parts should join intimately and remain linked with a tie, until the grafting is attached and set.

lateral-graftingTypes of Grafting

As for the types of grafting, they’re varied, some more advisable than others for certain plants or times of the year in which they’re carried out. With lateral grafting -one which is practised at Canarius farms- it’s carried out in late winter, when the bark can be peeled off the rootstock with ease.

With lateral grafting, a T-shaped cut is made in a smooth area of the rootstock’s bark and then peeled. Additionally, the cutting below the raised bark is introduced.

After the bud has sprouted from the cutting, the top part of the rootstock is cut off so that all the sap goes to the graft and grows strong. After approximately 15 days, the raffia tie is removed so not to strangle the graft.

This type of graft is valid for all trees and shrubs, both deciduous and perennials. At Canarius we also carry out other practices of grafting which we’ll explain in later posts.

A Baobab Tree Growing in Europe

Canarius | Tuesday June 17th, 2014 |

In the heart of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain there is a beautiful African Baobab Tree (Adansonia digitata), planted in the year 2000, when it was a few years old and 3-4 m tall. It is not exactly “Europe” but yes… this is still Europe!

This tree was purchased in Senegal, by the City Council. It is now adult and it is becoming quite large. It is flowering and fruiting since 2012. It is located in the commercial downtown, by the intersection between Calle del Pilar and Calle Suárez Guerra, close to the popular square named Plaza del Príncipe.

This is the only large baobab in the city, except the ones the botanical garden Palmetum de Santa Cruz, which are also adults but just a bit younger.

It sheds leaves for three or four months, chiefly between February and April. Its large white flowers are developed between July and September. In summer 2013 they were featured in a local newspaper, because they are truly attractive and people do notice them. This picture of the flower is from the article linked here.

Picture featured in the newspaper (see link above)

The latin name of the baobab is Adansonia digitata. It is a beautiful symbolic tree, able to attain a gigantic size. It is easy to cultivate in pots, as long as it is kept above 8 C and kept dry in winter, when leafless. Leaves are dark green, glossy and palmate. Flowers are an absolute beauty. The fruit is edible.

These are our pictures taken in May 2014, when it is growing the new leaves.

Adansonia digitata (2)Adansonia digitata (1)  Adansonia digitata (3)

Canarius is your web-based plant shop, with lots of unusual species available.  We ship worldwide, directly to your home. Visit THIS LINK and see pictures of our plants on the packing desk and learn more about what we ship.