2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Epigea (lat. Epigaea) - a genus of undersized flowering shrubs of the Heather family. Currently, epigea is widely cultivated in North America. In Russia, the epigea is grown on personal household plots in the Krasnodar Territory, as well as in the non-chernozem and central zones.
Characteristics of culture
Epigea is a small evergreen shrub up to 35 cm high. The leaves are dark green, simple, obtuse or pointed, ciliate or wavy along the edge, elliptical, rounded, ovate or ovoid-oblong. The flowers are small, pink or white, very fragrant, collected in axillary or apical bundle-shaped inflorescences. The corolla is tubular. The fruit is a dry capsule containing a large number of small seeds.
Epigea creeping (lat. Epigaea repens) is one of the most popular species found in nature in the Atlantic regions from Florida to Newfoundland. It is an evergreen shrub 30-35 cm high, forming dense tussocks as it grows. Stems rooted easily, recumbent, covered with fine short hairs. Leaves are short-petiolate, sparsely bristly, round or ovate, with a heart-shaped base, up to 8 cm long. Flowers are axillary, pinkish or bright pink, fragrant, collected in dense apical bundles. Creeping epigea blooms in late May - early June. Differs in increased frost resistance, withstands frosts down to -45C.
Growing features
Epigea is photophilous, but shade-tolerant. It develops worse in dense shade than in intensely lit areas. It has a negative attitude towards direct sunlight, in hot midday hours it needs shading. The culture is hygrophilous, but does not tolerate prolonged waterlogging, especially in early spring when the snow cover melts. Good drainage is required for normal development. The most decorative epigea on light, loose, loamy soils that do not contain lime.
Propagated epigea by seeds, offspring, cuttings and division. The seeds of the epigea are small and do not require embedding. They are carefully scattered over the soil surface, sprayed with a spray bottle and covered with glass, in extreme cases, with plastic wrap. The hatched seeds are sown in seedling containers with fertile soil mixed with peat in equal proportions. Seedlings appear in 25-40 days, which largely depends on growing conditions. Seedlings are planted in a permanent place next spring.
The most common method is considered to be reproduction by dividing the bush. The bushes are carefully dug out, trying not to damage the root system, then they are divided and planted in a permanent place. Immediately after planting, a solution of urea and microfertilizers is introduced into the near-trunk zone, watered and mulched with natural material, for example, peat, fine chips or sawdust.
Care
Like many other members of the Heather family, the epigea needs watering, weeding, loosening and feeding. Fertilizers are applied in early spring. Fertilizers should not fall on the plant. During prolonged heat, the epigea is thoroughly sprayed, but only in the evening hours. The epigea does not require shelter for the winter, since most species have increased frost-resistant properties.
Usage
The epigea is highly decorative; as it grows, it forms soil-covered tussocks of medium density. Beautiful fragrant flowers and ornamental leaves add some zest to the garden landscape design. Moreover, epigea is ideal for creating shady flower beds. The culture looks great in heather gardens, as well as rockeries and rock gardens.
