Scumpia

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

Scumpia (lat. Cotinus) - deciduous shrub or tree of the Sumac family. Under natural conditions, scumpia grows in the temperate zone of Eurasia and in the east of North America. The culture is widely cultivated in the south of Russia, the Crimea, the Caucasus and China. The genus includes two species: ordinary skumpia, or leather skumpia (Latin Cotinus coggigria) and obovate skumpia, or American skumpia (Latin Cotinus obovatus).

Characteristics of culture

Scumpia is a strongly branched deciduous shrub or tree 2-12 m high with a rounded crown, grayish-brown peeling bark and reddish or green bare shoots that secrete milky juice in a fracture. Leaves are simple, alternate, entire or slightly toothed, ovate or obovate, sitting on thin petioles. Flowers are numerous, often underdeveloped, staminate or bisexual, yellow or greenish, collected in large rare paniculate inflorescences. Scumpia blooms in May - June, in the southern regions several times per season. The fruit is a dry obovate drupe, ripens in July - August.

During the period of fruit formation, the stalks are greatly elongated and covered with white or reddish hairs. As a result, the panicles become very decorative. Visually, the crown of shrubs and trees is similar to a bluish-pinkish or reddish cloud. In this form, the scumpia flaunts from June to December. This is why the plant is often referred to as a greenhouse or smoky tree. At the beginning of September, the scumpia changes the color of the leaves: at first they become crimson on the veins and edges, and then they are completely covered with this shade. Often purple, orange, bluish or metallic shades appear in the color.

Growing conditions

Skumpia prefers open, sunny areas that are warmed up throughout the day and protected from northerly winds. The culture has a negative attitude towards shading, young shoots do not have time to ripen and die in winter. Soils for growing scumpia are desirable neutral, fresh, well-drained, with a high content of lime. Plants tolerate slight salinity with ease. The culture does not accept waterlogged and compacted soils, as well as lowlands with an accumulation of cold water.

Reproduction and planting

Scumpia is propagated by seeds, green cuttings, shoots and layering. Seeds need preliminary stratification within 5-6 months. Scarification of seeds with subsequent three-month stratification is not prohibited. Sow the skumpia in the spring. Embedding depth - 2 cm. An equally effective method is propagation by layering. The lower branches are pinned to the soil surface, the bark is cut from below. After rooting, the branches are separated from the mother plant and transplanted to a permanent place.

Care

Scumpia is a moisture-loving plant, it needs regular watering, it should not be overmoistened. The main task of scumpia care is formative pruning, which the plant tolerates without much problem. Pruning is carried out once every 2-3 years in the spring, but before the leaves bloom. Annual shoots are shortened by 2/3. Rejuvenating pruning "on a stump" is allowed, subsequently the scumpia forms abundant growth and a compact spherical crown.

It is advisable to mulch the soil in the near-trunk zone; this procedure allows you to retain moisture for a longer period. Most of the skumpia varieties are characterized by increased cold resistance, therefore, plants do not need shelter for the winter. The culture is resistant to diseases and pests. The only misfortune is verticillary wilting, which is caused by a fungus. In this case, the affected branches are cut and burned. Formative pruning is also relevant for dwarf forms.

Application

Scumpia is a plant that is highly decorative and original. The culture is used in mixed and group plantings. The scumpia looks harmoniously near the lawn. Plants are often used as bright spots in a variety of plant compositions. Surprisingly, scumpias are extremely good at cutting and are ideal for winter bouquets. The plant is widely used in folk medicine.