Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Prefers consistently moist soils, but tolerates drought. Tolerates hard, compacted soils. Develops an extensive root system. Promptly remove plant suckers as they appear (it suckers freely) to control unwanted spread.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Pterocarya × rehderiana is a hybrid wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia × Pterocarya stenoptera) that was first grown at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston in 1879 by Alfred Rehder. It is sometimes commonly called Rehder wingnut. It is considered to be faster growing, more vigorous and hardier that either of its parents. This is a deciduous tree in the walnut family that typically matures to 50-72' tall with a rounded, broad-spreading habit. It is noted for its attractive compound foliage and interesting fruits (seeds flanked by papery wings) which purportedly resemble wing nuts. Monoecious, light green flowers appear in pendulous catkins (female catkins to 18” long and male catkins to 5” long) in late spring (May-June). After flowering, small green-winged nutlets develop in the female catkins in early summer, forming pendulous strings to 18” long. Nutlets mature to brown in late summer to early fall, sometimes persisting on the tree into winter. Compound, odd-pinnate leaves with slightly winged rachis grow to 8” long. Each leaf contains up to 21 glossy, narrow-oblong , dark green leaflets (each leaflet to 2-4” long). Undistinguished yellow-green fall color.
Genus name comes from the Greek words pteron meaning a wing and karyon meaning a nut. Karya is an old Greek name for the walnut tree.
Specific epithet is in reference to Alfred Rehder.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Needs a large space. Best for parks or large commercial plantings. Roots/suckering habit may temper use in residential lawns or near drains or foundations. Good shade tree.