Mirikaria

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Mirikaria (lat. Myricaria) - genus of semi-shrubs and shrubs of the Tamaricaceae family. The genus has 10 species, of which 6 are common within the CIS, the rest are in Russia, Kazakhstan, China and other Asian countries. In Russia, foxtail myrikaria is considered the most popular species.

Characteristics of culture

Mirikaria are erect or creeping shrubs or shrubs up to 2 m high with yellowish-brown or reddish-brown shoots, entirely covered with peculiar scaly leaves. The leaves are simple, sessile, alternate, without stipules, their color and texture effectively distinguish the plant against the background of ordinary greenery. The flowers are pinkish, medium-sized, equipped with a long bracts, collected in racemose, paniculate or spike-shaped inflorescences.

The fruit is a capsule, pyramidal in shape, with a huge number of seeds, equipped with white-hairy awns located at the top. Mirikaria are light-requiring, under optimal growing conditions they give abundant growth from the stump. Decorative throughout the growing season (from May to October), especially during fruiting. Myrikaria blooms for about two months.

Growing conditions

The most favorable for growing myrikaria are open sunny and moderately humid areas. Soils are preferable fertile, drained with a neutral pH reaction. Loams are optimal. Saline, acidic and waterlogged soils are not suitable.

Reproduction and planting

Propagated myrikaria by seeds, green or semi-freshened cuttings and pneumatic shoots. It should be remembered that myrikaria seeds lose their germination rather quickly. It is important to comply with all conditions for collecting and storing seeds. The seeds need pre-sowing treatment: they are kept in a refrigerator for five days at a temperature of 3-5C. In this case, seed germination is 93-95%, and without treatment - 25-29%.

Mirikaria reproduces well with lignified cuttings. Cuttings are harvested in early spring, more precisely, before the buds swell. Cuttings are planted in containers filled with a substrate consisting of humus, sand and peat in a ratio (1: 1: 1). Green cuttings are cut in the first decade of July. Before planting for rooting, the cuttings are treated with growth stimulants (for example, Heteroauxin, Kornevin or Epin), and then covered with plastic wrap.

Myrikaria seedlings are planted in spring or autumn. Planting pits are prepared in advance, their dimensions should be at least 50 * 50 * 50 cm. A mixture composed of fertile soil and peat is poured onto the bottom of the pit, wood ash or a special mineral mixture is also added. Seedlings are transplanted together with a clod of earth. Planting with open roots myricaria tolerates only in a leafless state. After planting, the soil in the near-trunk zone is abundantly watered and mulched with peat or humus.

Care

Mirikaria needs regular watering, weeding and loosening. The plant responds to feeding with active growth, rich foliage color and abundant flowering. In the spring, humus or compost is introduced, in the future it is useful to carry out two more feeding with mullein infusion. Due to the fact that myrikaria has a too spreading crown, formative pruning and haircut will not harm it.

Mirikaria tolerates even significant pruning without problems, but it is advisable to start forming a bush from an early age. Initially, they only pinch the green tips of the shoots, and do this as they grow back throughout the season, but until early September. Thanks to such careful care, the plants will acquire a hemispherical crown of an attractive bluish-gray color.

Application

Mirikaria is a highly decorative plant, ideal for single and group plantings. Looks especially good on the carpet background of sedum, loosestrife, purple tenacious, periwinkle and Fortune euonymus. Mirikarii harmoniously fit into rocky compositions, as well as Japanese-style gardens. Myrikaria will also flow into the coniferous garden. It is not forbidden to grow shrubs on the banks of an artificial or artificial reservoir.