Robinia x margaretta 'Casque Rouge'
I seem to be obsessed with plants that have pea-like flowers, whether they be single and simple or held in big showy clusters. A plant with pea flowers that I just had to have is Robinia x margaretta ‘Casque Rouge’ or ‘Pink Cascade’.
Robinia x margaretta is a hybrid between Robinia hispida var. kelsey and Robinia pseudoacacia. The result is a Robinia with gorgeous drooping clusters of lightly scented cerise-pink flowers, each 15-20mm long, produced in May or June in the United Kingdom. Leaves emerge before the flowers and comprise of 5-11 pairs of oval leaflets, at first bronze in colour, and later, mid green then yellow before falling the autumn. Flowers are followed in autumn by hairless pods containing 4-10 seeds. The tree has a rough bark and I have to be careful of the sharp spines that form from stipules on twigs and suckers.
Robinias are fast-growing, deciduous, suckering trees that are native to eastern North America but can today be found in Europe and Asia. My tree is quite young and the flower clusters aren’t quite full-sized yet, but it is growing healthily and fast. Almost too fast for the allotment! It is over 2.5m tall. I’m going to have to try and contain the height for as long as I can by pruning. They are actually considered an invasive in some areas. Other names are False Acacia and Black Locust. The species has been cultivated in the UK since the 1600s.
‘Casque Rouge’ is best grown in a sheltered location as it’s branches may be prone to weakness and wind damage, particularly if over-watered. It is fully hardy and prefers well-drained, poor soils.
