Schisandra Chinensis

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

Schisandra chinensis (lat. Schisandra chinensis) - a representative of the Schizandra genus of the Schizandrov family. Most widespread in Japan, Korea and China. In Russia, it is found in the Far East, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and in some regions of Siberia. Typical places are cedar-deciduous and mixed forests, clearings, clearings, forest edges, valleys of mountain streams and rivers. It grows both on fertile soils and on podzolized loams.

Characteristics of culture

Schisandra chinensis is a perennial deciduous liana up to 15 m long; in regions with a cold climate, plants reach a length of 3-4 m. The stem is covered with dark brown, flaky, wrinkled bark. Shoots are smooth, yellowish. Leaves are dark green, obovate or elliptical, petiolate, obscure toothed along the edge, with a wedge-shaped base and a pointed tip. On the inside, the leaves are pale green in color. When rubbed, the leaves give off a pleasant lemon scent.

The flowers are dioecious, white, by the end of flowering they acquire a pinkish color, are clustered at the base of the annual shoots. The perianth consists of 6-9 oval-oblong obtuse lobes, the outer lobes are often drooping. Fruits - berries, form large clusters up to 10 cm long. Seeds are round, concave, smooth, shiny, yellowish-brown, have a dark gray scar. The seeds are covered with a hard but very fragile skin. The fruits have a specific odor and a spicy, bitter-pungent taste.

The subtleties of growing

Schisandra chinensis is propagated by seeds, layering, green cuttings and root suckers. Seeds before sowing need two months of stratification. Stratification is not required for autumn sowing. The seeding depth is 2-4 cm. The sowing pattern is 20 * 20 cm or 10 * 15 cm. After sowing, the ridges are abundantly shed and mulched with organic material. The emerging seedlings are shaded. When the seedlings reach a height of 10-12 cm, thinning is performed. Lemongrass is transplanted to a permanent place after 2-3 years. You can plant culture both in open areas and along fences, walls of houses and near gazebos. The site for lemongrass is prepared in advance: they dig trenches 60 cm deep, add humus or peat, superphosphate and nitrogen fertilizers.

Soils for growing crops are preferred light clay or sandy loam permeable. The plot is well lit, without shading. During planting, it is necessary to organize a reliable support on which the vine will curl as it grows. Schisandra is picky about care, it is important to keep the soil loose and moist. Regular weeding is a must. Mulching is encouraged. Fertilizers are applied annually. At the age of 2-4 years, pruning is carried out, which consists in removing thickening shoots and stems. For the winter, the plants are removed from the supports. There is no need to cover, since the culture is frost-resistant. In winter, lemongrass should be covered with a thick layer of snow.

Application

Schisandra is ideal for landscaping garden and suburban areas. During the entire gardening period, the plants look very attractive. Lemongrass is used in folk medicine, its berries are useful for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Schisandra boasts tonic and refreshing properties. Berries contain a huge amount of vitamins and other nutrients. In China, lemongrass is used to produce various broad-spectrum medications. Jams, jelly and other soft drinks are prepared from lemongrass berries. They are also used in the confectionery industry, for example, for the production of sweets.