2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
An ornamental shrub is prized by gardeners for the brightness of foliage colors. Her spring-summer green outfit changes to yellow and deep red by the end of the summer cottage period. The abundant spring bloom of bell-shaped flowers and the plant's resistance to high and low temperatures increase the popularity of Enkianthus
Rod Enkianthus
When you learn that the genus Enkianthus is a member of the Heather family, you immediately surround the shrub with a halo of mysterious legendary antiquity. The imagination draws legends of fortitude and loyalty to their clan, which conquer death itself.
A deciduous bush planted in the garden does not disappoint the imagination, but only strengthens the admiration for the brightness and variability of the appearance, consistent with the season. Bright green glossy leaves with small denticles along the edge clearly follow the weather, dressing up in yellow-crimson clothes in autumn.
The leaves, gathered in groups at the ends of the twigs, are complemented in spring by inflorescences of many small bell-shaped flowers, which, like earrings in the ears of fashionistas, droop with their corollas to the ground.
Varieties
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Enkianthus bell-shaped (Enkianthus campanulatus) is a deciduous spreading shrub or tree from 2 to 5 meters high. Elliptical or obovate dark green leaves of small size (up to 7 cm in length) dress up in crimson clothes in autumn. In May, the shrub is decorated with dense clusters-inflorescences, collected from yellow-cream flowers. The color of the flowers can be different, for example, orange with red veins. Green beans crown the summer growing cycle, turning rusty brown as they mature.
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Dangling enkianthus (Enkianthus cernuus) - on erect bushes with dark green leaves that fall for the winter, in May, cluster inflorescences of many flowers bloom, the color of which is different: white or bright red, like the variety "Red". Red flowers are decorated with fringes along the edge.
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Enkianthus Chinese (Enkianthus chinensis) is a red-loving deciduous species. Its large green leaves hold onto branches with red stalks. At the beginning of summer, flowers, quite large for this genus of plants, bloom, painted yellow with an additional red tint.
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Enkianthus kidney-covering (Enkianthus perulatus) is a slow-growing, and therefore very compact, deciduous shrub, the young shoots of which are colored red. This does not prevent the pointed leaves from remaining green. In May, dense cluster inflorescences, collected from white flowers, bloom..
Growing
The shrub is good because it can grow safely in a lighted or semi-shaded place. At the same time, it is resistant to a wide range of temperatures, managing to withstand Russian frosts. It is advisable, of course, to help the plant by insulating them in case of severe frosts.
They do not like alkaline soil, preferring neutral or slightly acidic. Will respond gratefully to organic additive when planting.
Watering is required for young seedlings, bushes growing in containers and flowerpots, as well as during prolonged drought.
Pruning is only needed to maintain the appearance when it is necessary to get rid of damaged or dry branches.
Quite resistant to diseases and pests.
Reproduction
Like many types of shrubs, Enkianthus is propagated by semi-lignified cuttings harvested in August-September. For rooting, they are placed in containers with a mixture of sand and peat, in a 1: 1 ratio, and sent to an unheated room.
In the spring, rooted cuttings are planted one at a time in personal pots, and after a couple of years they are released into the wild, planting in open ground.
When purchasing seedlings from well-stocked nurseries and horticultural centers, choose small, healthy, mature specimens.
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