Trumpet tree - fruits have a high ornamental value, but are poisonous

Trumpet tree - fruits have a high ornamental value, but are poisonous

Trumpet tree has many names

The bean-shaped capsule fruits - these are also legumes - can be up to 40 centimeters long, but are only a maximum of five to seven millimeters long. They develop gradually after the flowering period, whereby the flowers of the trumpet tree are hermaphroditic and can therefore fertilize themselves. The fertilization is mainly done by bees, bumblebees and other insects, which are attracted by the delicate scent of flowers and find a richly laid table here. The initially green fruits remain hanging on the tree all winter, only to open when the seeds are ripe in the following spring. Because of its bean-like fruit capsules, the trumpet tree is also known as “bean tree” or “cigar tree”.

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The fruits are not edible

However, despite their resemblance to nutritious legumes, the fruits of the trumpet tree are not edible, but rather inedible and even slightly poisonous. Consumption (accidentally) can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, but does not lead to death. The only dangerous thing is the confusion with the highly poisonous angel's trumpet, which is sometimes also sold under the name “trumpet tree”. Furthermore, the also deadly poisonous laburnum bears the nickname “bean tree” and also has seed pods that look similar - the fruits of both types of plant, in contrast to those of the trumpet tree, are highly toxic and can have fatal consequences.

Fruits contain a lot of seeds

However, you can use the fruits of the trumpet tree to propagate it, because the capsules contain numerous seeds, especially after long and very warm summers. These are up to 2.5 millimeters long, flattened and frayed on both ends. Ideally, leave the seed-containing fruits hanging on the tree over the winter and harvest them as soon as they turn brown in spring. Then the seeds can be collected and sown, they are very germinative.

Tips

In some years, however, you can be unlucky because the fruits do not contain any seeds. In such a case, the trumpet tree can also be propagated with cuttings.