Kamchatka Elder

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

Kamchatka elder (Latin Sambucus kamtschatica) - healing and decorative culture; a representative of the elder genus of the Adoksovye family. In nature, it is most often found in deciduous forests with moist soils, in river valleys, as well as in swampy areas in the Russian Far East and Japan.

Characteristics of culture

Kamchatka elder is presented in the form of a large deciduous shrub or a small tree up to 4 m high with a trunk and branches covered with light brown bark. Leaves are green, compound, consist of 3-7 obovate, glabrous, serrate-toothed leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow or greenish-white, small, have corollas up to 7 mm in diameter, collected in loose hemispherical inflorescences up to 10 cm long.

Fruits are small, very juicy, bright red, spherical, collected in dense clusters, contain three wrinkled seeds. Kamchatka Elderberry blooms in late June - early July for 3 weeks. The fruits ripen in the first - second decade of August, sometimes later, depending on the climatic zone. The species in question grows from March to October - early November. The culture cannot boast of high winter-hardy properties.

Pests and the fight against them

It should also be noted that the branches and leaves of plants have a rather unpleasant odor that can scare away harmful insects and mice. For this reason, Kamchatka elderberry (and other representatives of the genus) are practically not affected by pests. However, there are several insects that are not deterred by the unpleasant nutmeg smell emanating from the bush.

These include the tailed moth, it is often called the elderberry. She eats elderberry leaves, which is reflected in the appearance of the shrubs. The Kamchatka elder fly is no less dangerous for the elderberry, it lays eggs on the leaves, and the larvae that appear eat and suck the juices from the plant. Broad-spectrum insecticides are effective against these pests. Treatments are advised to be carried out 40-45 days before fruit ripening.

Another pest of culture is the elder mite; acaricides are effective against it. It is very difficult to detect this pest on a plant, especially at the initial stage of damage. The first sign of damage is that the leaves curl, dry out, and a cobweb forms on them. Processing is carried out in the morning or evening hours, but not in direct sunlight, otherwise there is a high probability that the shrubs will get burns.

Application

Kamchatka elderberry is used in folk medicine and as an ornamental plant. It fits perfectly into rustic gardens as well as wild gardens that mimic nature. The fruits of the elderberry species in question are edible, however, they are rarely used in cooking, although hundreds of years ago our ancestors prepared various winter preparations from berries.

By the way, elderberries are very beneficial for health, as they contain about 35-40 mg of ascorbic acid, as well as organic acids, carotene, rutin, sambucin, tannins and essential oil. The fruits are suitable for the preparation of wines and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, vinegar, jelly, jam, mousse, preserves and pie fillings. All preparations from elderberry fruits are distinguished by an unusual taste and aroma, incomparable with anything. Flowers and fruits are used as medicinal raw materials.

Propagation by cuttings

Cutting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to propagate the Kamchatka elderberry. Cutting gives very good results. The material is cut in late June - early July with a special sharp secateurs or a knife, pre-treated with a disinfecting solution. It is recommended to take cuttings from green, but strong shoots. The optimal length of the cutting is 8-12 cm, it should have 1-2 leaves, preferably 2 paired leaves.

For rooting, cuttings are planted without treatment with growth stimulants. The mixture for planting is made up of wet peat and sand, taken in a 1: 1 ratio. Treatment with growth stimulants is not required, but it is not forbidden either, this procedure will accelerate root formation by 2-3 times. It is important to provide cuttings with a moisture content of 80-85%, for this they can be covered with plastic wrap. Only the film should in no case touch the cuttings, otherwise they will feel defective and begin to rot.

You should also systematically remove the film for airing, regular watering is no less important. The mixture should not dry out. If all conditions are met, the cuttings take root after 1, 5-2 months, after which they can be planted in open ground. For the winter, young plants obtained in this way are covered with dry fallen leaves.