The Robinia ‘Mop Top’ (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Umbraculifera’) is a tough and popular deciduous tree, known for its distinctive ‘ball on a stick’ shape. It has a dense, rounded crown of bright green leaves that turn a lovely yellow in autumn. This tree is a fantastic choice for small gardens, courtyards, or for creating formal avenues, as its compact size and uniform shape make it a great feature. It’s grafted onto a standard trunk, which means the trunk’s height won’t increase, only the canopy will grow.
Care Tips:
- Position: Prefers a sunny spot with well-drained soil. It’s very adaptable and can handle poor soil, drought, heat, frost, and pollution, making it ideal for urban areas.
- Watering: Water deeply until the tree is established (for the first 6-8 weeks). Once established, it is quite drought tolerant.
- Pruning: Low-maintenance, the tree naturally holds its shape. You can prune it in late winter or early autumn to maintain its size and density.
- Suckers: The rootstock can produce suckers. To minimise this, avoid disturbing the roots and remove any suckers that appear at or below ground level.
- Pests & Diseases: Generally quite resilient, but keep an eye out for pests like aphids and scale. Yellowing leaves can be a sign of iron deficiency, which can be corrected by adjusting the soil’s pH.
