In autumn the last flowers on the bee bush wither. Now all the energy belongs to the maturing seeds. But with some tree specimens you wait in vain year after year. What does that mean?
What do bee tree seeds look like and when are they available?
The seeds of the bee tree are round, shiny black, vary in size (2-4 mm) and are located in reddish capsule fruits. They ripen from August to November and can be used to propagate the tree or purchased commercially.
Male and female trees
Bee trees are dioecious and have separate sexes. This botanical name says nothing other than that there are purely male and purely female trees. Although both can flower, only the female trees will produce seeds.
Starting seed production
If your velvet-haired stink ash, as the tree is also called, does not produce seeds, it does not have to be a male tree. Stinky ash trees need a few years after planting before they bloom. After about six years you can expect the first flowers and therefore the first seeds.
Tip
If you later want to propagate the bee tree yourself from seeds, you should start with a female and a male tree to ensure fertilization.
The ripening period
The stinky ash is a long-flowering tree. From June to September it produces new flowers diligently. From around August onwards, the small, reddish capsule fruits that contain the seeds will follow. The fruits of the stink ash are popular with birds. But with the large number of flowers, some seeds will certainly reach maturity by November.
Tip
The inflorescences of this tree are even more decorative than its flowers. You can easily cut some branches for the vase.
Optical characteristics of the seeds
Collect ripe stink ash seeds in the fall if you want to propagate the tree yourself. This is what the seeds look like:
- round shape
- glossy black
- various sizes
- about 2 to 4 mm
Buy seeds
If you don't have a bee tree in your garden yet, you obviously won't be able to get seeds for propagation. You can get these in stores at any time (€3.00 on Amazon). At around 1-2 euros per 50 pieces, they are also extremely affordable.
If you do not use the stinky ash seeds immediately, you should store them in a cool and dry place. By the way, the seeds of the stink ash are not poisonous.
Sowing stinky ash seeds
Sowing is possible all year round in rooms with temperatures between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius. The small black seeds are placed about 1.5 cm deep in the potting soil, which must remain moist throughout. In a bright location they will germinate after 10 to 12 weeks.
