Kalina gordovina: description and features of growing a bush
Viburnum Is a flowering tree of the Honeysuckle family. We used to mean by this concept the well-known red viburnum, or ordinary. But in fact, there are more than one and a half hundred species of this plant alone. One of the most interesting is Kalina gordovina.
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Kalina gordovina: description
Kalina gordovina bears little resemblance to its relative, ordinary viburnum. This is a bush that grows up to 6 m in height. It has a wide, compact crown. In an adult tree, it reaches 4 m. It does not grow very quickly. During the year, it adds up to 30 cm in height and width. And in total, it lives for about 60 years. The dense oval leaves are beautiful in spring and autumn. Their length can reach 15 cm. The top of the leaf is green, the bottom is gray, covered with a bloom of light hairs of the original shape. In autumn they turn pink, acquire a very original look. Shoots are also densely covered with white villi. Because of this, the plant is called flour.
Viburnum gordovina blooms in early summer. The bush is covered with a huge amount of white flowers with a cream shade. They are collected in umbrellas inflorescences. The size of the flower is about 0.5 cm. They bloom for 2-3, or even 4 weeks. Then drupes appear in their place. At first they are green, then they turn red, they become full. Gradually, their color becomes richer, darker, and finally turns to black. The fruiting period of the gordovina viburnum is extended.
While some of the berries have already ripened and turned black, the rest continue to be red of varying intensity.
They look very beautiful against the background of pink leaves. The fruits of the viburnum gordovina can be eaten. They are firmly held on the bushes for a month. In early October, they gradually begin to wrinkle, dry out, and lose juice. But still fit for consumption.
Viburnum gordovina grows in deciduous forests. It adjoins well with tall oak and maple... Growing regions - the Caucasus, Europe, Asia Minor. Viburnum gordovina has decorative forms. Their fruits are inedible. It is variegated (yellow spotted leaves), wrinkled (with large flowers and leaves that correspond to the name), laurel. The latter are intended for cultivation in the southern regions. It can be grown in the middle lane, but then you need to cover the trunk circle for the winter, protecting it from frost, or plant it in places protected from the wind.
Some varieties of gordovina viburnum:
- "Revival"
- "Aureum" is a short shrub (up to 3 m) with golden leaves, It reproduces well cuttings.
- "Aureo-variegatum" with original variegated leaves with yellow spots.
Landing rules
Kalina gordovina grows well in partial shade. But leaves and flowers will be more beautiful in a sunny place. The soil loves moist, with an acidity index of about 6 pH. Grows well near rivers, ponds, artificial reservoirs.
Planted in spring or autumn:
- A pit is prepared with a depth of at least 40 cm and a diameter of 60 cm.
- Humus (bucket) and wood ash (400 g) are introduced into the soil. If the soil is not very fertile, you can take 4 buckets of humus, 40 g of phosphorus, a little less nitrogen and potassium. Mix thoroughly.
- Set the bush so that the root collar deepens by 5 cm.
- Cover with prepared soil, carefully compacting it.
- For the first glaze you need up to 3 buckets of water.
- After it is absorbed, mulch near-trunk circle. The layer of mulch should be thick, up to 10 cm. It will conserve moisture and protect root system from drying out.
During periods of heavy rainfall, you can move the mulch away from the trunk to prevent rotting. After 3 years, the remains of the mulch are removed, the soil under the bush is loosened and mulched again. Peat, humus, and freshly cut grass are used. The latter should be added periodically as it dries. The soil should be neutral or slightly acidic. It grows poorly on podzolic and peat soils.
Care Tips
Kalina gordovina is not afraid of frost, tolerates drought and air pollution well. This allows you to successfully grow it in city parks and squares. Kalina gordovina is often planted one by one. But can be used to create original hedges... If the garden is large, you can plant several shrubs in different locations. They will be especially beautiful in autumn.
Kalina gordovina has a well-developed root system, so it can be planted on slopes to strengthen them.
In order for the gordovina viburnum to grow quickly and actively bear fruit, it every year fertilize:
- In the spring you need to add 50 g of nitrogen, 30 g of phosphorus, 20 g of potassium. In the fall, no nitrogen is added.
- Instead mineral fertilizers can be used organic... A bucket of rotted manure per year will be enough.
One of the valuable properties of this plant is resistance to various diseases and peststhat are so fond of other species viburnum... Likes to settle on young shoots aphidspoiling the look of the bush. Scale-like and cap-shaped moths can settle. To combat these pests, one of the insecticides is used, preferably with an adhesive. A 0.1% solution of karbofos is used against the scabbard. Trichogramma, prudently planted to the bush, will help fight aphids. Kalina gordovina may be amazed powdery mildew or spotted. To combat them, they are treated fungicides, for prophylaxis by infusions garlic or tobacco.
Watering Kalina is needed at least until the time it takes root. Water a biennial plant in the summer at least once a week. Weeding of the trunk circle is carried out as needed. It is mulched, so the bulk of the weeds cannot break through. But if anyone succeeds, then weed need to be removed.
Cropping:
- Pruning Hordovina viburnum is carried out in early spring, before bud break.
- In the second year after planting, one main trunk is left. The rest are removed. This allows you to grow a gordovina viburnum bush in the form of a tree.
- But the shoots will grow near this trunk every year. It is removed or used for propagation.
- To form a curly crown, pinch the edges of branches that have reached 30 cm.
- Once every 5-10 years, the crown is radically thinned out, removing dry and broken branches.
- If the plant is weak, cut it on a stump at a height of about 30 cm from the ground. The dormant buds wake up and form a young, strong plant.
Reproduction methods
Kalina gordovina reproduces:
- Offspring
- By dividing the bush
- Cuttings
- Seeds
Ornamental forms are usually propagated by cuttings. To do this, take two-year branches. They root well in high humidity. The temperature must be maintained within 22-25 degrees. Almost all of them should be accepted. The lower the temperature, the worse the rooting rate.
Cutting viburnum gordovina:
- In the cold season, cuttings take root worse. They are cut from June to July. Cut into 10 cm pieces with two buds.
- The lower leaves are removed, the upper ones can be cut in half. The cut at the top of the cutting is straight, at the bottom - obliquely.
- Process cuttings a growth stimulator solution and planted in a greenhouse under a film.
- The soil there should be loose and well-drained. Therefore, it is prepared from sand and peat in equal parts.
- Plants obtained from green cuttings can bear fruit in the second year after planting in a permanent place.
More information can be found in the video:
Seeds keep in a dry place. They remain viable for 2 years. Before sowing stratify half a year at a temperature of about 5 degrees 3 months. Then they are sown 3 cm deep. You need 10 g of seeds per running meter. Sown in spring, they begin to germinate in late summer. But first, the root grows. The ground part appears next year. Therefore, a place for cultivation must be determined so that later you can remember it. In winter, the site is covered with peat and leaves. The soil must be kept moist. Germination rate of seeds of viburnum gordovina is about 80%.
In order to get a seedling early, double stratification is used.
First germinate seeds 3 months at 20 degrees. Then they are placed for 4 months in a room with a temperature of 45 degrees. And only then are they sown. For two years, seedlings grow very slowly, then faster. Flowers and fruits may appear already in the 4th year. And at 15 years old, they can be collected from one bush up to 25 kg.
By dividing the bush, only young plants are propagated. For this:
- They are not shaped like a tree, leaving branches to separate.
- Low branches can be pinned to the ground and secured with a wooden fork.
- Sprinkle with earth on top, shade a little, often watered.
- The result can be seen next year, and the fruits - after 3 years.
Kalina gordovina is not only a beautiful, but also a useful plant. Used as a honey plant. The fruits are used as an anti-inflammatory agent and to increase blood pressure.