Among unpretentious shrubs, spirea loosestrife is the most winter-hardy. It grows in nature in temperate latitudes, where frosts occur in winter to -50 ° C. It is found along river banks, in flood meadows of many continents.
Description of spirea loosestrife
The botanical name "spiraea salicifolia" arose from the ancient Greek word "spiral". The deciduous shrub of the pink family has flexible, long branches. Because of the narrow foliage, spirea was called voluminous.
Short description:
- leaves up to 11 cm long, up to 3 cm wide, smooth with short petioles, sharp-edged edges;
- bush height 1.5-2 m;
- the branches are bare, slightly faceted, the young have a yellow-green color, the mature ones have a reddish-brown color;
Grefshame gray spirea hedge spring flowering
- pyramidal inflorescences with a length of 12 to 25 cm or spherical with a diameter of up to 20 cm, from afar the buds appear terry;
- small flowers with long stamens, protruding pestle;
- fruits in the form of multi-seeded leaflets are formed 45-60 days after flowering;
- seeds are flat, brown, spontaneously spill out of leaflets-boxes.
Planting a plant
Species and ornamental spirea (dwarf, bole) are well propagated by self-seeding. Two-year-old bushes that have reached 20 cm in height are transplanted to a new place. When weeding, it is enough to leave several sprouted shoots. The purchased seedlings tidy up the root system - remove dried areas. The bush is well rooted, it can be transplanted to a permanent place at any time of the year.
Seed capsules are cut to reveal when the skinny sashes become coarser and darker
Seed cultivation
In garden plots, seeds are sown in separate plots or in boxes:
- in the spring when snow is melting;
- in the fall, immediately after seed ripening.
For sowing in boxes, a mixture of ripened non-acidic peat, leaf soil is selected. Vermiculite is added to the soil to retain moisture.
Basic Rules:
- seeds do not deepen, only moisten well;
- preliminary preparation of planting material does not require;
- for accelerated germination, seeds are covered with a film for 5 days.
The pickling of seedlings in thickened plantings is carried out after the appearance of 3 full leaves. Pinch the root 1/3 to activate the growth of young roots. Keep a distance between seedlings of up to 6 cm.
Note! Hybrid varieties (Argut, Wangutta, Billard and others labeled F1) are grown only from purchased seeds. In yellow leaves, only 40% of seedlings inherit the characteristics, varietal is selected when the sprouts reach 2 cm in height (green shoots drown out the varietal). From the seeds of species and decorative spires in 80% of cases, full-fledged offspring grows.
In varieties blooming in summer, the color of the petals is colored, the buds retain their decorativeness until mid-autumn
Planting seedlings in open ground
Planting a year-old seedlings that survived spring and autumn, take a permanent place in the spring or autumn 3 weeks before severe frosts - the plant needs to be well rooted. It is advisable to choose open sunny areas, in shady blooms are not so plentiful. The type of soil does not play a role, the main thing is that the soil is neutral. A few recommendations:
- planting pits make 2 times more earthen coma;
- at the bottom with a layer of up to 2 cm lay drainage;
- seedlings are not deeply buried.
How to care for spirea loosestrife
Care is reduced to sanitary and forming pruning, rare watering and top dressing. The shrub exists well in vivo, but blooms profusely when it feels care.
Watering
The plant is drought tolerant, young seedlings are watered on the hottest days. Old bushes need watering only in very dry years.
Important! The fibrous root system of the bush rots in stagnant water.
Top dressing
Hybrid varieties are fertilized once every three years, species - when inflorescences are reduced. Introduce nitrogen, phosphorus-calcium fertilizing in the spring before the appearance of peduncles. Allowable dose per bucket of water:
- mullein infusion 0.5 l;
- superphosphate 10 g (half match box).
Important! Superphosphate is diluted in boiling water, in cold water the fertilizer dissolves slowly.
Pruning
Pruning time depends on the time of flowering shrubs:
- summer (colored) form from the age of 4, at the very beginning of spring along a green cone;
- spring - in the fall, without touching the branches on which there were buds.
The hybrid summer look of Billard "Triumphans" looks exquisite
Breeding methods
Hybrid varieties in the areas propagated:
- pinning shoots to the ground to form a young bush;
- by cuttings, young 2-year-old shoots with a darkened bark are selected;
For cuttings, the scraps are divided into several parts 10-15 cm long.
The advantages of grafting:
- the bushes bloom faster than with the seed method of planting;
- with them less trouble: the cuttings are kept in water until white roots appear, after which they are planted in a permanent place.
Note! It is recommended to add aloe juice to the water. A biostimulant activates root growth, a dense bundle is formed.
Diseases and Pests
The culture is resistant to pests, diseases. The condition of the bushes depends on the cleanliness of the site. It is also worth knowing that:
- spider mite leads to early leaf fall, damage to inflorescences;
- leaflet in late May affects greenery;
- aphid leads to curl of leaves, damage to buds.
To combat insects, drugs are used to protect vegetable and fruit crops.
Winter preparations
The shrub winters well, only young shoots are sprinkled with mulch in late autumn. In winters with little snow during the period of frost, the trunk circle is covered with straw or spruce branches.
Use in landscape design
Of the spring blossoms, the most common type is alba, with a yellow tinge of petals.
Hedgerows are made of spirea, in urban landscape design they are used for landscaping squares and parks.
Healing properties
Loosestrife white spirea (official name Spiraea Alba) is used for medical purposes as an antimicrobial, antiparasitic, analgesic.
Yellow-leaved Japanese spirea looks good with conifers
Flowering shrubs - a real find for gardeners. It does not require frequent care, the plant is unpretentious. It serves as a decoration of the site and a live pharmacy at the same time.
