Robinia pseudoacacia Karolina Zamoyska

Robinia pseudoacacia Karolina Zamoyska is a variety of false acacia with variegated foliage, marbled with yellow or light green at first. The variegation then lightens to become white over time. This robinia has an astonishing and moving history, it is a rare and precious tree. An old Polish variety from the Podzamcze nurseries in the early 20th century, it then disappeared without a trace, until, in 1981, a variegated specimen was discovered near Warsaw and identified as the Karolina Zamoyska variety. It appreciates a slightly shaded position where its leaves express their variegation better. This beautiful deciduous tree has a flexible and airy habit and fine foliage that provides light shade without harming companion plants. It grows in any soil and in almost all climates, except in windy regions, as its wood is brittle.

Robinia Karolina Zamoyska is a horticultural creation derived from Robinia pseudoacacia, a tree native to the eastern United States of the fabaceae family. In this family, plants are capable of assimilating atmospheric nitrogen at their roots and therefore do not need to draw it from the soil, this characteristic allows them to grow in poor environments. Karolina Zamoyska, cultivated in the famous Podzamcze nurseries, was part of the nursery's offer between 1903 and 1913. The variety was named in honour of Karolina Franciszka Józefa Zamoyska. After World War II, the tree disappeared without a trace. It was only in 1981 that Wiesław Gawryś, from the Powsin botanical garden, found a tree with atypical cream variegated leaves in a park near the Hoser nurseries in Pruszków, near Warsaw. After observation and comparison with available archival documents, the tree was identified as Karolina Zamoyska. The tree was reproduced in 2006 and reintroduced into cultivation.

Karolina Zamoyska is smaller than the species with bright and changing foliage. It is a long-lived tree with a columnar habit during the first years, whose sparse canopy becomes rounded over time. It is fast-growing and reaches an average height of 8 m with a spread of 4-5 m. The bark is initially smooth then takes on an interestingly fissured texture with age. The branches are composed of strong but brittle branches with a few thorns. Its deciduous, 15 to 20 cm long leaves are divided into about twenty leaflets. They are highly decorative, initially variegated with yellow and light green before maturing to dark green and white. Flowering takes place in May, on individuals about ten years old. The pendulous, 10 to 20 cm long inflorescences are produced abundantly. They are composed of white butterfly-like flowers. This highly fragrant flowering, with an orange scent, attracts pollinating insects and can be cooked in fritters. It is followed by the formation of flat, reddish pods containing a few rare brown bean-shaped seeds. Please note, only the flowers can be consumed, the rest of the plant is highly toxic.

Robinia Karolina Zamoyska is suitable for small and large gardens, but it is not recommended in windy situations. Planted individually in a small garden, it also thrives on slopes or in informal hedges in a large garden. You can place it against a backdrop of evergreen shrubs or conifers (cypress, thuja, yew, juniper). In poor soil, it can also be associated with other undemanding and highly ornamental trees or shrubs such as Sophora davidii, laburnum, Indigofera gerardiana, a red oak (Quercus robur Purpurascens) or a purple hazelnut. Welcome it into your garden for its beautiful variegated foliage and its history.