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No matter how gardeners try to decorate their plots. They plant colorful annuals and perennials, creating unusual flower arrangements. But what amazes me most is their ability to choose the right plants for their garden. Mock orange Girandole is a shrub that, by its very appearance, can tell that a gardener treats his favorite hobby with special trepidation. The compact shrub, also called Russian garden jasmine, blooms profusely and for a long time, delighting with snow-white flowers and a pleasant aroma.
Description of mock orange Girandole
Chubushniks, common in Russian gardens, are often confused with jasmine, but in fact this shrub has nothing in common with a member of the Maslinov family. And they call it that because of its slightly similar aroma and white flowers.
Mock orange Girandole, belonging to the Hydrangeaceae family, is a hybrid variety.The main sources about its origin indicate that it belongs to Lemoine hybrids, and it was bred by French breeders in 1916.
According to the description, the mock orange Lemoine Girandole does not exceed 1.5 m in height, as well as in width. The flowers are medium-sized, white, with a milky tint. The leaves are small, ovoid, light green in color with jagged edges. A young plant has vertical, erect branches, but with age and as it grows, they begin to bend under the weight of numerous inflorescences, forming an arch.
How the mock orange Girandole blooms
Mock orange Lemoine Girandole is a medium flowering variety. It blooms profusely throughout the month - from June to July. After flowering, the shrub does not lose its decorative effect, since thanks to its compact and green crown it becomes an excellent background for other flowering plants.
The flowers themselves are medium in size (4-4.5 cm in diameter), densely double, white or creamy, collected in 5-7 pieces in a lush inflorescence. The inflorescences are located on short lateral shoots. In a fully open flower, you can see the core with yellow stamens. The aroma of Girandole mock orange flowers only from a distance resembles the aroma of jasmine, as it is more delicate and interesting. As the shrub ages, the doubleness of the flowers increases.
The Girandole shrub is light-loving and, with sufficient light, blooms evenly and abundantly. It can grow in partial shade, but it is worth considering that flowering weakens in shady places. With a lack of light, the flowers become smaller and the branches of the bush become elongated.
The white and cream flowers of this plant are not accidental, since the Girandole mock orange, unlike tall trees pollinated by the wind, grows only up to 1.5 m, so it needs to attract insects for pollination. A persistent, delicate aroma also helps in attracting pollinated insects.
Photo of mock orange flowers Girandole.
Main characteristics
Mock orange Girandole, also known as garden jasmine, unlike true southern jasmine, tolerates sub-zero temperatures down to -30 degrees. It is also easy to care for, is drought-resistant and does not tolerate excess moisture. Does well in urban environments.
An adult Girandole mock orange does not need shelter for the winter, but young (1 year old) bushes require some protection from winter frosts. It is important to mulch, which will protect the root system from freezing, as well as cover the bush itself with any covering material.
With proper care and autumn preparation for winter, the Girandole mock orange easily tolerates winter frosts and recovers in the spring, increasing its green mass.
The shrub is resistant to various diseases, but its pleasant aroma attracts many insects that can cause damage to both flowers and leaves. Therefore, it is important to promptly treat Girandole mock orange with insecticides against pests.
Features of reproduction
To propagate mock orange, you can resort to:
- seed method;
- vegetative propagation.
The seed method of propagation, although it is one of the simplest methods, has a significant disadvantage - varietal characteristics are not transmitted through the seeds. There is a risk that when propagated by seed, the seedling will have significant differences from the mother plant.
Girandole mock orange is propagated vegetatively using:
- green or woody cuttings - is the most difficult method;
- layering is a more accessible method;
- dividing the bush is the most common and frequently used method.
Planting and caring for mock orange Girandole
From the photo and description, you can be sure that the Girandole mock orange blooms very beautifully, but in order for it to please with its flowering for as long as possible and be completely healthy, it is important to plant the shrub correctly. The planting process itself, as well as the subsequent care of the mock orange, are not particularly difficult, but there are still some nuances, taking these into account, you can decorate your site with a magnificently flowering shrub.
Recommended timing
Lemoine Girandole mock orange can be planted in early spring or autumn.
If it is necessary to plant in the spring, it should be done before the leaves bloom, otherwise it will be difficult for the plant to take root, which can lead to its death.
Site selection and soil preparation
For good flowering of Girandole mock orange, it is important to choose the right place for planting it. A well-lit, sunny location is ideal. You can choose an area where there is light partial shade for 2-3 hours during the day.
When planting several shrubs, you should maintain a distance between them of 0.5 to 1.5 m, and when planting a hedge - 0.5-0.8 m.
The Girandole mock orange is not picky about the soil, but it will take root better if it consists of leaf soil, humus and sand. You can prepare this soil mixture yourself in a ratio of 3:2:1. Also, for successful growth, you can add 70-90 g of special complex fertilizers.
Landing algorithm
The algorithm for planting mock orange Girandole is simple. To begin with, a couple of weeks before planting, you need to dig a planting hole measuring 60x60x60 cm. Be sure to lay a drainage layer of 10-15 cm at the bottom of the hole.
Photo of Lemoine Girandole mock orange seedlings ready for planting.
The seedling is lowered into the hole to a depth of no more than 50 cm; it is important to ensure that only the roots of the plant are lowered, since the contact of the branches with the ground can lead to their rotting.
The seedling lowered into the planting hole is sprinkled with prepared soil, lightly compacted on top, then watered generously with 10-12 liters of warm water and mulched to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture.
Growing rules
Important rules for growing any garden flowering plant are the correct watering and fertilizing regime. Also, to form a crown and lush flowering, the shrub requires timely pruning.
Watering schedule
In the first year after planting, the young bush needs regular watering. The irrigation regime is based on climatic conditions. In dry weather, the Girandole mock orange should be watered once a week.
An adult shrub is watered every 18-20 days, and if there is heavy rainfall, watering may not be required.
Weeding, loosening, mulching
Weeding and loosening the ground near the tree trunk is an important process for enriching the soil with oxygen.Loosening should be done after each watering to a depth of at least 8 cm.
To prevent the evaporation of moisture from the soil, it is recommended to mulch the trunk circle of the Girandole mock orange. Dry grass or leaves, peat, and bark can be used as mulch.
Feeding schedule
For good growth and abundant flowering of garden jasmine Girandole, it is also advisable to systematically fertilize the shrub. It is necessary to feed the plant 3 times per season:
- Spring feeding, including mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen and potassium.
- During the period of bud ovaries. For a young plant of the 1st year of life, it is necessary to apply only organic fertilizers (manure mixed with water in a ratio of 1:10). Mature shrubs need the addition of mineral fertilizers. For this amount of organic fertilizer, add 15 g of urea and potassium sulphide and 25 g of superphosphate.
- Autumn feeding. Cover the tree trunk area with a 5 cm layer of compost or humus. You can also use a solution with mineral fertilizers - 1 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate, 2 tbsp. l. superphosphate per 10 liters of water.
Trimming
Pruning should be done annually after flowering. It is performed by removing weak and dried shoots.
Also, every 3-4 years, the mock orange Girandole needs sanitary pruning. In this case, it is necessary to remove old shoots to the base so that they do not interfere with the development of new, stronger shoots.
Preparing for winter
It is advisable to cover the young mock orange Girandole with any covering material during the first winter. To do this, all the branches are collected and tied, then wrapped. As necessary, in winter the bushes are freed from the snow layer.
An adult plant can easily tolerate sub-zero temperatures, so it does not need shelter.
Pests and diseases
The mock orange Lemoine Girandole is immune to diseases. But pests can often cause irreparable damage to a bush. For preventive purposes, some gardeners recommend planting phytoncidal plants, such as lavender or oregano, next to the Girandole mock orange.
If mock orange is damaged by pests, spraying with insecticidal preparations should be used:
- "Decis";
- "Kinmiks";
- "Apollo".
Conclusion
Mock orange Girandole is an undemanding, but quite beautiful garden plant. It is not for nothing that this shrub is compared to jasmine, because it also has a delicate and unforgettable aroma.
