2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Etruscan honeysuckle (lat. Lonicera etrusca) - a representative of the genus Honeysuckle of the Honeysuckle family. Another name is Tuscan honeysuckle. The species got its name in honor of the ancient Etruscan people, who lived in 1000 BC. NS. on the Alenninsky Peninsula (now Tuscany). Natural range - Europe, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. Typical habitats are the lower mountain belt, thickets of bushes, sparse forests and forest edges. In Russia, it is found only on the Black Sea coast.
Characteristics of culture
Etruscan honeysuckle is a semi-evergreen climbing shrub up to 3-4 m high, growing in different areas in the form of a bush or liana. Young shoots are grayish with a purple tint; with age, they acquire a grayish-ocher color. The leaves are dark green, round or broadly elliptical, sharp or obtuse, rather dense, up to 6-7 cm long. On the underside, the leaves are glabrous or pubescent, whitish-green. Flowers are yellowish-white, often with a purple tinge, fragrant, sitting on glandular-pubescent or bare peduncles, collected in dense capitate inflorescences. Fruits are spherical, red, contain flat-convex seeds.
Growing conditions
Like most representatives of the genus, Etruscan honeysuckle needs intense sunlight, but a light openwork shade will not harm the plants. Soils on the site for planting honeysuckle are preferable light, loose, moisture-absorbing, breathable, well-drained, fertile.
On poor soils, plants develop slowly and bloom poorly. Also, swampy, saline, strongly acidic and waterlogged substrates are unsuitable for Etruscan honeysuckle. The optimal soil mixture for the culture is sod land, humus and sand in a ratio of 3: 1: 1.
Reproduction
Etruscan honeysuckle is propagated by seeds, green and lignified cuttings, layering and dividing the bush. The easiest and most effective way is to propagate by layering. Layers are laid in the spring in the grooves prepared in advance, then they are pinned, covered with soil and moistened. In the future, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the soil, with a lack of moisture, the layers take root poorly or do not take root at all. The rooted layers are separated after a year, that is, next spring.
Good results are obtained by propagation of honeysuckle by cuttings. The green cuttings are preferably cut after flowering. Each cutting should have at least two internodes. The lower leaves on the cuttings are removed, and the upper leaves are shortened by 50%. Before planting cuttings for rooting, they are treated with growth stimulants. This condition is imperative for successful rooting. Cuttings are planted in a tilted position in a greenhouse. As a rule, rooting occurs 35-40 days later. The cuttings are planted in a permanent place next fall.
Care
Etruscan honeysuckle is undemanding to care. It is important to provide the plants with a solid support on which they will climb as they grow. Without support, honeysuckle will be attacked by various pests. Plants respond well to fertilizing with mineral (especially nitrogen and potash) and organic fertilizers (rotted manure or peat compost). With careful care, Etruscan honeysuckle gives an increase of up to 1-1.5 m in height, sometimes more.
For the winter, long lashes are removed and covered with non-woven material; in the southern regions this procedure is not required. Watering is carried out regularly, drying out and waterlogging should not be allowed. In early spring, before bud break, sanitary pruning is carried out. Shoots are cut over the bud with a secateurs.
Application
Etruscan honeysuckle is used as an ornamental culture. It is ideal for vertical landscaping of gazebos, walls of houses and other architectural structures. The considered type of honeysuckle is in harmony with annual and perennial flower crops, as well as with ornamental shrubs and trees.
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