2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Emleria (Latin Oemleria) Is a monotypic genus of shrubs of the Pink family. The genus includes one single species - cherry-like emleria. The plant got its name in honor of the German botanist A. G. Emler, who brought it to Europe from America in the middle of the 19th century. The plant is often called the odorous shrub, nutallia, osmaronia and Indian plum. Under natural conditions, emleria grows in places hidden from human eyes, or rather, in bays, river floodplains and bays from Washington to California. Also found in moist broadleaf forests in western North America. In culture since 1848.
Growing conditions
Emleria is a large deciduous shrub or tree up to 7 m high with lilac bare branches. The leaves are bright green, elliptical, with a pointed tip, 5-12 cm long, with a slightly pubescent lower plate, they do not have stipules, when crushed or rubbed, they emit a peculiar smell. Buds are green in color, equipped with three scales.
The flowers are small, inconspicuous, white, outwardly similar to cherry flowers, collected in small clusters at the ends of young branches, have a pleasant aroma. The calyx is five-lobed with twisted lobes. The fruit is a juicy drupe, in an underdeveloped state it is reddish-yellow, when ripe it is dark blue, edible, although it has a bitter and sour taste. Fruits are tied in July, ripen in August. It is believed that the fruits contain derivatives of hydrocyanic acid, they are readily eaten by birds.
Growing conditions
Plots for growing emleria are preferred well-lit, sheltered from cold winds. Slight shading is encouraged. If the growing conditions are not followed, the plants develop poorly, sometimes even die. Soils are desirable moderately moist, fertile, loamy or sandy loam with a slightly alkaline or neutral reaction and high-quality drainage.
Reproduction and planting
Emleria is propagated by seeds and green cuttings. Seeds are sown in autumn under a shelter, in spring with preliminary seed stratification for 3-4 months.
Green cuttings are cut in the summer; they do not need treatment with growth stimulants. Before rooting, they are planted in greenhouses with fertile and fertilized soil. With the appearance of developed roots in the cuttings, they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Emeleria seedlings are planted in spring, approximately at the end of April - beginning of May (it depends solely on the climatic conditions of the region). Planting pits are prepared in the fall, then organic matter is introduced into them. The application of mineral fertilizers is transferred to the spring.
Care
The most important component of crop care is choosing the right growing conditions. It is very important to consider lighting, ground characteristics and wind conditions. If you plant emleria in the right place, it will develop without problems and will not require special care. Plants are watered only during prolonged drought.
Sanitary pruning is carried out annually in early spring: broken, diseased and frostbitten branches are removed, and they are shortened to the third bud. By the beginning of summer, the shrubs are restored, and traces of damage disappear before our eyes. The culture also needs formative pruning, it will allow maintaining the density of foliage and decorative crown.
Usage
In landscape design, emleria is used very rarely, and this is despite the fact that it fits perfectly into almost all stylistic directions. The plant looks great in specimen and group plantings, and is also suitable for creating dense hedges. It is not forbidden to plant emleria on the lawn, especially in a group consisting of 3-5 shrubs.
The fruits of emleria are eaten, albeit in small quantities, since they do not have a pleasant taste, one might say - for an amateur. The only contraindication for the use of fruits is individual intolerance. The bark of the plant is used to brew tea.
