Hevea brasiliensis Seeds | Rubber Tree
LATIN NAME: Hevea brasiliensis
COMMON NAME: Rubber Tree
Plant Profile
Hevea brasiliensis, better known as Rubber Tree, is a tree in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). Rubber tree is a tall, milky tree of warm plantation, and small, cream flowers hide among broad, oval leaves. It is a tree of open, sunny, deep, moist, well-drained ground. Few species give back so generously for so little effort.
Science & Biotechnology
The species features in the wider study of the spurge family, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. For researchers, plants like this one offer practical material for propagation studies and selection work.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Rubber Tree for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Rubber tree is a fine, historic tree of warm plantation and study collection. It has been written up in industrial and botanical papers for milky latex and long modern history, and it is a fine, historic tree of open, sunny, deep, moist, well-drained garden. Keep young trees in warm, sheltered corner for the first years, and the latex will come from the mature bark. In later seasons it demands little more than an appreciative eye.
The rubber tree transformed industry with natural latex; para rubber seed oil is an emerging product, and the tree sequesters carbon across vast plantations.
Growing from Seed
Starting Rubber Tree from seed is simple and satisfying. Use a fine, free-draining seed compost, scatter the seed evenly, cover it lightly and hold it just moist in good light. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
It is a solid representative of the Hevea group, true to type from seed. Careful watering early on is rewarded by toughness at maturity.
Related Reading
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