Rhamnus alaternus or Aladierno, the perfect plant for xerogardens

View of the leaves and fruits of Rhamnus alaternus

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Hectonichus

The Rhamnus alaternus It is a beautiful shrub or tree that can be grown in all gardens where rainfall is rather scarce, as it resists drought very well. In addition, it remains evergreen all year round, so it is a fantastic species for creating hedges or protection screens.

It’s so adaptable, it’s actually beginner-friendly. So, Why not get one and enjoy it?

Origin and characteristics

View of the flowers of the Rhamnus alaternus

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Eitan F

Our protagonist, whose scientific name is Rhamnus alaternus, It is an evergreen and dioecious shrub or tree (there are male feet and female feet) native to the Mediterranean region. It is popularly known as aladierna, aladierno and alaterno. It reaches a height of between 2 and 8 meters, depending on the amount of water it has and whether it is directly exposed to the sun or not.

The leaves are alternate, leathery, lanceolate to ovate, with a size of 2 to 6 cm, green in color. The flowers sprout in spring and are grouped in short dense clusters. The fruit is a black berry that measures 4 to 6mm, inside which we will find 2 to 4 dark seeds.

What are their cares?

If you want to get a copy, we recommend providing the following care:

Location

Place your Rhamnus alaternus abroadin full sun or in semi-shade. You can put it where you like the most since it does not have invasive roots, but it is advisable to plant it at a distance of at least 2 meters from walls and tall plants so that it can have a good development.

Irrigation

2-3 times a week in summer and a little less the rest of the year. In the case of having it in the garden from the second year on, you will be able to space out the waterings more and more.

Subscriber

The manure guano powder is very good for the aladierno

Guano powder.

From early spring to late fall you can pay it with organic fertilizers, such as guano, manure, tea bags, egg and banana peels, or stale vegetables (which are no longer edible). You just have to keep in mind that if you are going to have it in a pot it is better to use liquid fertilizers.

Planting or transplanting time

The best time to spend it in the garden or change pot, something you have to do every two years, is in spring.

Multiplication

Seeds

To multiply it by seeds you have to follow this step by step:

  1. First of all, they have to stratify in the fridge for three months in early winter. To do this, a tupperware will be filled with vermiculite (you can buy it here!), the seeds will be placed so that they are buried and will be watered. Finally, copper or sulfur will be sprinkled on the surface to prevent the appearance of fungi.
  2. After that time, they will be sown in a pot with universal growing substrate (like this one they sell here!), outside, in full sun. It is necessary to ensure that they are simply a little covered with earth. If all goes well, they will germinate in 1-2 months.
  3. When the plants have a height of about 30 centimeters, they can be transferred to individual pots or to the garden.

Cuttings

A faster way to get new specimens is multiplying it by cuttings following this step by step:

  1. In spring a cutting of about 40 centimeters is cut.
  2. The base is then impregnated with powdered rooting hormones or homemade rooting agents.
  3. Then it is planted in a pot with vermiculite.
  4. Finally, it is watered and placed outside, in semi-shade.

If everything goes fine, in 2-3 months it will emit its own roots .

Plagues and diseases

It’s very tough. Maybe some cochineal, but nothing that cannot be removed with a cotton swab soaked in pharmacy alcohol.

Rusticity

The aladierno resists the cold and the frosts of until the -12ºC.

Can it be worked as bonsai?

The aladierno can be worked as bonsai

Image – your ballast

It is a very rare species in the bonsai world, and about which there is not much information yet. But yes, it can work without problems. The cares are:

  • Location: outside, in semi-shade (more light than shade).
  • Substratum: 100% akadama or mixed with 30% kiryuzuna (you can buy the first here! and the second by here!).
  • Irrigation: 4-5 times a week in summer and a little less the rest of the year.
  • Style: fits all bonsai styles: formal vertical, waterfall, semi-waterfall, forest.
  • Wiring: only if necessary, in spring.
  • Pruning: late winter. Remove dry, diseased or weak branches, and also those that intersect and / or go out of style.
  • Transplant: every two years, in spring.
  • Rusticity: resists cold and frost down to -8ºC.

What uses does it have?

The aladierno is a very ornamental plant

Image – Daniela Longo

The Rhamnus alaternus is used as:

Ornamental

It is a beautiful plant that it can be had both in pot and in the gardenwhere it will decorate the room without problems. In addition, over time it comes to give a pleasant shade, which is perfect for those areas that are highly exposed to the sun.

Medicinal

It is used as purgative, laxative and astringentbut you should consult a doctor before starting treatment.

What did you think of this plant? Did you know her?

Rhamnus alaternus or Aladierno, the perfect plant for xerogardens

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