2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Chingil (lat. Halimodendron) Is a monotypic genus of shrubs of the Legume family. The plant is known under the names Shengil and Chemysh. The genus is represented by one single species - the silvery chingil. Chingil is distributed in the countries of Central Asia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, in the European part of Russia, as well as in Ukraine. In California, chingil is considered a dangerous invasive weed.
Characteristics of culture
Chingil is a deciduous thorny shrub up to 2 m high with a spreading crown. The bark is gray, cracking. Shoots are pubescent over the entire surface, equipped with long spines (2-7 cm).
The leaves are paired, alternate, with two spiny stipules, subulate, consist of 1-5 pairs of leaflets. The leaves are rather small, obovate, up to 3 cm long, silky, pubescent, silvery in color. In summer, the leaves become grayish-green in color, in autumn - yellowish-green.
The flowers are pink, pale pink or light purple, collected in axillary umbellate inflorescences, outwardly similar to pea flowers. The fruit is a swollen leathery bean, brown when mature. Seeds are dark olive or brown, kidney-shaped. Chingil blooms in June-July for 7-10 days. The fruits ripen in August-September.
Growing conditions
In general, Chingil is not picky about growing conditions. The composition of the soil is of no fundamental importance, the plant develops without problems on saline soils. The culture does not tolerate only waterlogged soils, as well as low-lying areas with stagnant melt water. Chingil areas are preferable with maximum illumination.
Reproduction and planting
Chingil is propagated by seeds, shoots and grafting. The seeds do not need pre-sowing treatment, although it is advisable to scald them with boiling water or scarify them with a needle. Sow seeds immediately to a permanent place. Chingil seedlings develop very quickly, form a powerful root system, therefore, they are negative about transplanting.
Reproduction by root suckers is difficult, but this problem can be solved by grafting chingil on a yellow acacia stem, or tree caragana. Chingil, grafted onto a stem, forms a very graceful shrub with thin silvery branches. In general, tree caragana due to its bush-like shape is not ideal for a pure stock, so gardeners use double grafting.
A caragana shoot with a length of 1.5 m is grafted onto the roots of a robinia, and only then a chingil is grafted onto it. Periodically, an acacia shoot forms at the base of the stem, it is easily removed, therefore it does not cause any special problems and does not interfere with the formation of a powerful stem.
Application
Chingil blooms very effectively, although only 7-10 days. However, even after flowering, the shrubs do not lose their decorative effect due to the stable silvery color of the foliage. Chingil is used for landscaping parks and gardens, for creating hedges and protective afforestation. Standard chingil forms are acceptable as lawn tapeworms. The culture is also suitable for decorating sandy and rocky areas.
