Kirkazon Pumpkin-leaved

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

Kirkazon pumpkin-leaved (lat. Aristolochia cucurbitifolia) - climbing shrub; a representative of the Kirkazon genus of the Kirkazonov family. Another name is pumpkin-leaved aristolochia. He is a native of South America. It differs from other species in unusually finger-like foliage, which is outwardly similar to the foliage of a vegetable crop - pumpkin. Uncommon species. It is rarely used in horticulture.

Characteristics of culture

Kirkazon pumpkin-leaved is an almost herbaceous climbing shrub with pubescent or bare cylindrical stems. The leaves are petiolate, large, green, leathery, oval-cordate or cordate, up to 9 cm long, up to 11 cm wide, cordate at the base, divided into 5-7 palmate lobes. Lateral lobes are short, narrowed, obverse lanceolate or spatulate; the middle lobes are sharp, obovate or spatulate, up to 3 cm wide, up to 9 cm long. The leaves sit on pubescent petioles, the length of which varies from 1 to 3 cm.

The flowers are medium, axillary, solitary, tubular, with a brownish calyx up to 6 cm long with a disc-shaped limb and a horseshoe-shaped corolla tube. Fruits are ovate or ovate-fusiform, up to 7 cm long, up to 2 cm wide. The pumpkin-leaved Kirkazon blooms in summer, usually in July. The fruits ripen in late October - early November. When grown on the territory of Russia (even in the southern regions), the fruits of the species in question are set extremely rarely. If the fruits appear, the seeds do not have time to ripen before the onset of frost. That is why kirkazon pumpkin-leaved, like other species, is most often propagated by cuttings.

Features of growing and care

Most representatives of the genus Kirkazon, including the species under consideration, prefer moist, nutritious, air and permeable, loose soils. On such soils, plants develop more actively and bloom more abundantly, because their main task is to decorate the garden. If you plant a crop on an area with poor, dry or heavy soils, it will stagnate and freeze in winter even under cover. This factor will also affect flowering, it may not be there.

Also, the location is important for the pumpkin-leaved kirkazon. It is better to place the plant in areas protected from wind and direct sunlight. Thick shade and open sun are highly undesirable, because the culture does not tolerate excessive dryness and lack of light. Unlike many other vines, Kirkazones cannot grow normally without water, and this applies not only to soil moisture, but also to air. For the plant to feel good, it is important to spray systematically.

It should be noted that the pumpkin-leaved Kirkazon has an average winter hardiness. In central Russia in winter, he is unlikely to survive, although if you provide good shelter, it is possible. Fallen foliage (layer of at least 8 cm) can serve as a shelter. Since the shrub is curly, a prerequisite for successful cultivation is the installation of a support. By the way, an old tree trunk or a wall of a house can act as a support. If we touch on the topic of leaving, then there are no particular difficulties. Although the pumpkin-leaved Kirkazon will require a lot of time and effort.

First, the plants must be watered regularly and abundantly; secondly, to carry out systematic morning and evening spraying (during drought); thirdly, apply fertilizers (at least 2-3 times per season); fourthly, weeding and loosening. Sanitary pruning is equally important, which consists in removing weak and damaged shoots, mulching and protecting from pests. In general, crop pests are infrequently affected, usually in dry summers with a lack of moisture in the soil and air. Among the most common pests, aphids and spider mites can be noted, the fight against which does not cause difficulties.