2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Galezia (Latin Halesia) - a genus of flowering ornamental shrubs of the Styrax family. The plant is often called the lily of the valley tree, the snowdrop tree, and the silver bell tree. Such names were given because of the large bell-shaped flowers. The genus includes four species, three of which are native to North America and China. In Russia, galezia is not very popular, but it is grown by amateur gardeners on their personal backyards, in parks and squares in the Krasnodar Territory.
Common types and their characteristics
* Galezia carolina (lat. Halesia caroliniana) - the species is represented by shrubs with thickened straight trunks up to 3 m high, covered with bright brown lumpy bark. Leaves are light green, alternate, elliptical, with a pointed tip, up to 10-12 cm long. Flowers are white or pale pink, bell-shaped, four-petaled, sitting on thin pedicels, collected in bunches. Caroline galezia blooms for 10-15 days, as a rule, flowering occurs in late May - early June. Fruits are large, ribbed, up to 3.5 cm long. Seeds are winged. The fruits ripen at the end of August. In nature, Caroline galezia is found in North America, grows on river banks and mountain slopes.
* Mountain galezia (lat. Halesia monticola) - the species is represented by deciduous shrubs and trees up to 25 m high with a wide conical crown. Young shoots are smooth, gray-brown, gray-black with age, with deep scales. Leaves are oblong or elliptical, alternate, with jagged edges. The flowers are white, bell-shaped, up to 2.5 cm long. The fruit is brown with wing-like ribs. Currently, mountain galezia is grown in the south of Russia, as well as in Moldova and Ukraine.
Growing conditions
The location of the galezia is preferably sunny, with light shading possible. Protection from cold winds is a must. Soils are desirable fertile, moist, well-drained, loose without compaction. Galezia does not tolerate swampy, strongly acidic and saline soils. The presence of lime in the soil is also contraindicated.
Galezia is relatively hardy, but flower buds can be damaged in cold winters. That is why you should not expect abundant flowering after cold winters. You can grow a crop under the canopy of large trees, where the most favorable microclimate is created, which softens frosts.
Reproduction and planting
Galezia is propagated by seeds, layering and cuttings. In the middle lane, grafting is preferable. Cuttings are cut from semi-freshened shoots. Before planting, the cuttings are soaked in a solution of indolylbutyric acid. In this case, the rooting rate is 68%. In the southern regions, the culture is propagated by seeds, their germination rate is low, only 60-62%.
Most gardeners grow galemia with biennial saplings. Before planting, the container with the seedling is immersed in warm water for 20-25 minutes. The substrate must be completely saturated with water. The diameter of the planting pit should be about 50 cm, the depth - 60 cm. A layer of gravel or crushed stone is laid at the bottom of the pit, a soil mixture consisting of fertile soil and humus is poured, and the seedling is lowered. The roots are straightened, and the voids are filled with earth and compacted.
After planting, the near-stem zone is watered and mulched. It is recommended to use peat or wood chips as mulch. The root collar of the seedling should be located at the level of the soil surface or a couple of centimeters higher. For the first time, seedlings should be shaded from the bright sun.
Care
Of the mandatory procedures for the care of the crop - feeding and watering. Plants are fed in early spring and before flowering. Irrigation is systematic, the volume of water is increased in drought and before preparing plants for winter. Sanitary pruning is done in the spring and fall. Formative pruning of galezia is unnecessary, but not prohibited.
