Sterculia balanghas
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Sterculia balanghas

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 10–12
0
Observations
3

Description

Source: leafsnap

Sterculia balanghas is a species of plant in the family Malvaceae. It is native to India and Sri Lanka. Leaves are simple, alternate; swollen at base and tipped; lamina elliptic, obovate, oblong, elliptic-ovate or oblong-ovate; base subcordate or round; apex acuminate; with entire margin. Flowers may be unisexual or polygamous are yellow or greenish-purple in color. Inflorescence show terminal or axillary panicles. Orange to red colored fruit is oblong and seeds are black in color.The plant is known as "nawa - නාවා" by Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka. It is widely used as an ornamental tree and as a fence tree in Sri Lanka.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun

The Chinese chestnut is native to open habitats, such as sunny meadows and forest edges, which offer plenty of light. It prefers full sun but will also tolerate partial sun, making it adaptable to a range of light conditions.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

Chinese chestnut comes from tropical areas, where the weather is generally warm and humid. As a result, it is adapted to high temperatures and moisture. It does not tolerate sudden temperature changes and prefers a stable thermal environment, so avoiding indoor temperature fluctuations is important. It usually cannot withstand cold and requires warmer conditions to grow. If the surrounding temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

Fertilize a Chinese chestnut in early spring as it comes out of dormancy. This encourages overall growth and the development of flowers. Fertilization improves the foliage, stems, and branches, and encourages flowers that are larger, more vibrant, and longer-lasting. It helps transport nutrients from the roots to the flowers and enhances the plant's health and resistance to disease.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Tree
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Sterculia
Family
Malvaceae
Hardiness Zone
10-12
Mature Height
10.06 m
Mature Spread
7.92 m to 11.89 m
Leaf Color
Dark Green, Forest Green
Leaf Type
Deciduous
Flower Color
White, Pink
Flower Size
1.02 cm
Bloom Time
Late spring, Early summer
Planting Time
Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Late summer, Early fall
Native Area
India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, China

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