2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Liquidambar (Latin Liquidambar) - a genus of large deciduous trees of the Altingiev family. Previously, the genus was ranked among the Witch hazel family. The genus includes five species. Liquidambar is found naturally in North America, Asia and Europe.
Characteristics of culture
Liquidambar is a deciduous tree 25-40 m high. The leaves are palmate-lobed, spirally arranged along the stem. The flowers are monoecious, rather small, collected in dense spherical inflorescences up to 2 cm in diameter. The inflorescences hang on the petiole. The fruit is a spherical woody box, up to 4 cm in diameter, contains a large number of seeds. The fruits remain on the branches even after the leaves fall. The culture cannot boast of frost-resistant properties, for this reason in Russia it is grown only in the southern regions.
Growing conditions
Liquidambar has a taproot system with branched and fleshy roots that are sensitive to compacted soils. Plants develop in the best way on acidic loamy and clayey soils, and waterlogging does not affect the representatives of the genus in any way.
Liquidambars are also tolerant to highly saline soils. The location is preferably sunny, lack of light can lead to decay, especially on waterlogged soils. The culture has a negative attitude to an excess of lime and dryness of the soil. On alkaline soils, plants are often affected by various diseases, in particular, leaf chlorosis.
Reproduction and planting
Liquidambar is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Sowing seeds is carried out in the fall under a shelter or in the spring with a preliminary two-month stratification. Most of the seeds germinate without pre-sowing treatment, however, the entrances appear uncooked and weak. The seeding depth is at least 1.5-2 cm.
With the emergence of seedlings, young plants are planted in separate containers and grown indoors for about 3-4 years. Then the matured and formed plants are transplanted into open ground. Planting liquidambar with saplings is popular among gardeners; they must be purchased only in specialized centers. Planting is carried out in the fall, the soil in the near-trunk zone is necessarily mulched with peat or humus.
Care
Liquidambars are quite often affected by pests and diseases, and in order to prevent these unpleasant consequences, it is necessary to carefully care for the plants. Regular watering is recommended, because the culture does not tolerate drought. Needs liquidambar and sanitary pruning, which consists in removing dry, randomly located and damaged shoots.
Top dressing is also regular, at least once a year. For these purposes, both organic matter and mineral fertilizers will do. It is important to fight disease, especially fungal infection, leading to deformation of the leaves and the appearance of reddish or orange pads on the branches.
Application
Liquidambar is used in single and group plantings, plants are especially valued in automnalias (gardens of autumn flowers), since in the autumn they are distinguished by increased decorativeness due to the beautiful color of the leaves. The resin released by trees when the bark is damaged is used as an antiseptic for inhalation, as well as in soap making and perfumery. Once resin was used to flavor tobacco products, in some southern states of the United States this tradition has survived to this day.
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Eastern Liquidambar
Eastern liquidambar (lat.Liquidambar orientalis) - a beautiful tree of the genus Liquidambar (Latin Liquidambar) of the Altingiaceae family (Latin Altingiaceae). The appearance of the plant almost does not differ from other species of the genus, except that the leaf plate formed by five lobes is smaller in size than that of other relatives.
Liquidambar - The Decoration Of Autumn
The mysterious name of the deciduous tree is very easy to decipher and becomes clear and memorable. Its pyramidal spreading crown, openwork green leaves that change their color in autumn to bright and catchy, and thorny hedgehogs-seeds are very decorative, and therefore popular for landscaping settlements