Colquitia

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Colquitia
Colquitia
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Kolkwitzia (lat. Kolkwitzia) Is a monotypic genus of flowering shrubs of the Linnaeus family. The only species is Kolkwitzia amabilis (lat. Kolkwitzia amabilis). The genus got its name in honor of Richard Kolkwitz, a German professor of botany. In nature, colquitia is found in the mountainous regions of China. Currently, kolquitia is grown as an ornamental crop in countries with temperate climates.

Characteristics of culture

Kolkvitsia is an ornamental deciduous densely branched shrub up to 3-3.5 m high. Young shoots are pubescent, red-brown with age, with peeling bark. As the plants grow, they form a large amount of root growth. Leaves are bright green, oval or broadly ovate, with pointed tips, paired, opposite, up to 8 cm long. In autumn, the leaves acquire a bright yellow color.

The flowers are fragrant, bell-shaped, up to 2 cm long, sit on shaggy pedicels, located at the ends of annual shoots. Corolla five-lobed, yellowish on the inside and pink on the outside. Fruits are small, dry, covered with short bristles over the entire surface. Colquitia blooms in late spring or early summer. Long-lasting and abundant flowering.

Growing conditions

Kolquitsia is cultivated in regions with cool and temperate climates. The cultivation area is preferable sunny or slightly shaded, protected from strong winds. Soils are desirable drained, fertile, moderately moist, slightly acidic or neutral. Kolkvitsiya is quite winter-hardy, capable of withstanding frosts down to -30C. In colder winters, young, immature shoots freeze severely in plants, but in spring they quickly recover.

Reproduction and planting

Kolquitsia propagates by seeds, horizontal layering, dividing the bush, green and lily cuttings. Seeds are sown before winter under a shelter in the form of sawdust, dry fallen leaves and peat. When sowing in spring, the seeds are stratified. Stratification is carried out according to the following scheme: three months are kept in wet sphagnum or sand at room temperature and three months at a temperature of 3-5C. After stratification, the seeds are treated with concentrated sulfuric acid for 10 minutes.

Among the vegetative propagation methods of colquitsia, the most common method is cuttings. Semi-freshened cuttings are harvested in the fall and stored in a basement or cellar until spring. In March, the cuttings are planted in boxes, which are put in a greenhouse. Rooted cuttings are planted in open ground after a year. Propagated by green cuttings in mid-summer. It should be remembered that green cuttings have low winter hardiness, and in the first winter they freeze very much, and sometimes even die.

Propagation by horizontal layers is also effective. Young shoots are bent to the ground, buried in and fixed with wooden staples. Shoots are recommended to be cut or overtightened with wire. The soil is systematically moistened, and with the advent of adventitious roots and young shoots from the buds, the layers are cut with a pruner or other sharp object and planted in the ground or in a greenhouse for growing.

It is advisable to plant kolkvitsiya seedlings in the spring, but after warming up the soil. The planting pit is prepared in the fall, its depth and diameter should be about 50-60 cm. At the bottom of the pit, a slide is formed, made up of sand and humus. Drainage is done on heavy soils. Planting a seedling is carried out in cloudy weather or in the evening. Too long roots are pruned with a pruner or knife, and then the seedling is lowered into the hole. All voids are carefully filled with soil and watered abundantly. After planting and watering, the soil in the near-stem zone must be mulched with bark, sawdust, wood chips or any other natural material. Mulch will keep moisture in the soil for a longer period and will protect the roots of colquicia from overheating, and in the winter season - from severe frosts.

Care

Kolkvitsiya is supportive of fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers. A favorable time for fertilization is early spring or early summer. Also, with the onset of heat, but before the start of sap flow, they carry out sanitary pruning, which consists in removing frozen and dry branches. After flowering, the faded shoots are slightly shortened in kolkvitsia. Mulching is carried out in the spring, repeated mulching - in the fall when preparing the crop for winter. Young plants are covered with non-woven fabric or kraft paper for the winter. Watering, weeding and loosening the soil in the near-stem zone is mandatory, these procedures are performed as needed.