Content
Stefanandra is used in landscape design as a ground cover plant, a classic shrub, in single plantings and other options. This is a beautiful shrub with arched, well-growing shoots and numerous foliage. The rules for planting and caring for crops are described in detail in the presented material.
Description of Stefanandra
The stephanandra plant is a deciduous shrub. A characteristic feature is arched, slightly twisting shoots. The plant reaches a height of 2.5 m, but only in natural conditions. Cultivated varieties barely grow to 1.5 m, i.e. below human height. However, this does not prevent them from decorating the garden thanks to their spreading branches and numerous foliage.
The shoots are quite thin, the color is carmine (closer to burgundy), and the surface glitters in the sun. The stephanandra plant has deeply lobed leaves with serrated edges.Interestingly, on a flowering shoot they are much smaller in size than on those without buds. The color is rich green, without dark shades. By autumn they become yellow-orange, pink-red, and crimson. They fall in October.
Flowers of the stephanandra plant appear in the second half - the last days of May. They are very small, reaching only 0.5 cm in diameter. But they appear in large quantities and are combined into panicle-shaped inflorescences. The color is white, sometimes with a shade of cream, monochromatic. There is no smell.
The flowering of stephanandra can be long - it often ends in the first ten days or even mid-July. But even after this, the plant remains decorative thanks to its beautiful shoots and leaves.
In the second half of summer, closer to the beginning of autumn, stephanandra forms fruits (leaflet type). Essentially, these are achenes covered with dry scales (pericarp). At first they are green, then they turn brown and dry out a little. In autumn, the fruits of the stephanandra plant can be simply opened by running along the longitudinal seam.
Stephanandra varieties with photos
Stephanandra is a genus of plants of the same name, Stephanandra, found in nature mainly in Japan and Korea. Moreover, experts count four types. Based on some of them, several varieties with fairly high winter hardiness (usually up to -28 degrees) have been bred. Below are the most popular varieties of the stephanandra plant that can be grown in Russia:
- Stephanandra incisa produces a low shrub up to 50 cm. At the same time, the shoots can grow up to 2 m, but they are thin, so they lie on the ground.The plant remains decorative throughout the season thanks to its beautiful, elegantly shaped foliage.
- Stephanandra tanakae is a tall plant, growing up to 2 m. At the same time, it spreads almost twice as wide - up to 4 m. It produces large foliage, shaped like maple.
- Crispa (Stephanandra Crispa) is a fairly compact plant, reaching a height of 80 cm and a width of 1.5 m. Most often it is used as a ground cover. Produces white-green flowers with a noticeable aroma.
Planting stephanandra in open ground
Stefanandra is not too whimsical, but the plant is sensitive to drafts and severe waterlogging. Since the shrub should not be replanted, it is recommended to carefully select the location and timing of planting. How to do this is described below.
Site selection
It is best to plan planting stephanandra plants in the spring. Moreover, in the south you can start already at the end of March, in the middle zone and neighboring regions - at the beginning of April. In the Urals and Siberia, it is recommended to plan planting for the middle of the month, when the snow has completely melted from the soil and it has time to warm up a little.
The site for planting the stephanandra plant is chosen in advance. It must meet several requirements:
- lack of shade (the shrub grows slowly and needs very good lighting);
- protection from draft winds, especially from the north side of the garden;
- fertile and loose soil - optimally loam with a neutral reaction of the environment.
Landing
Planting a stephanandra plant is quite simple - you need to follow these instructions:
- Several holes of medium depth and width (60 cm each) are formed.
- Expanded clay, pebbles or other small stones are placed at the bottom - the drainage layer must be at least 10 cm.
- Then the seedlings of the stephanandra plant are planted in the center and sprinkled with fertile soil.
- Compact the soil, leaving the root collar flush with the surface.
- Water with settled water. After a few days, mulch. To do this, you can use peat, straw, sawdust or other materials.
Stefanandra grows well in sunny areas
Stephanandra care
Stefanandra grows rather slowly, but with good care it produces a lot of foliage, shoots and flowers. To achieve an attractive appearance, it is recommended to follow the tips described below.
Watering
To ensure proper planting and care of stephanandra in the Moscow region and other regions, it is necessary to follow the watering regime. This is especially important for young seedlings, as well as during periods of drought. The plant is moisture-loving, so it is necessary to regularly water the soil at least once a week. If it’s too hot and there’s no rain in the forecast, do it twice as often.
The water should be settled, not cold, because otherwise the root system of the stephanandra plant may be damaged.It's also worth keeping in mind that overwatering is no better than underwatering. It is necessary to ensure that the soil is moderately moist. To keep it that way for as long as possible, it is recommended to mulch the tree trunk circle with sawdust, mown grass, and hay.
Weeding and loosening
As already mentioned, the stephanandra plant feels good not only on fertile, but also on loose soils. If the soil contains a lot of clay, at least 2-3 kg of sand or sawdust per 1 m2 is first added to it2.
Also, as necessary, the tree trunk circle is loosened. This should be done after heavy rains and watering. At the same time, weeding is carried out - otherwise the bush may suffer from a lack of nutrients and moisture.
How to prune stephnandra in spring
Stephanandra pruning is carried out in early spring, when the buds have not yet begun to swell. It serves two important purposes - sanitary and formative. It is necessary to remove all old, dry, broken branches. Small shoots that clearly thicken the crown are also removed. You can even do a radical pruning, since in the spring, provided good watering and fertilizing, the bush will produce a lot of green mass.
Top dressing
The stephanandra plant should be fed several times a season:
- In early spring, after the snow melts, mulch is laid in the form of humus. You can also give complex mineral fertilizer, for example, “Spring”.
- At the very beginning of the flowering period (second half of May), the stephanandra plant must be fed with complex fertilizer or organic matter, for example, an infusion of chicken manure diluted 10-15 times.
- In early September, it is recommended to sprinkle the tree trunk circle with wood ash (200 g per 1 m2) or pour with superphosphate (40 g per 10 l) and potassium sulfate (30 g per 10 l).
The plant should be fed 2-3 times per season
Wintering
Experienced gardeners claim that many varieties of stephanandra plants can withstand frosts down to -25 degrees. The same is said in the description of a number of varieties. Therefore, in the south there is no need to make a shelter.
In other regions, after leaf fall, it is recommended to bend down large shoots and fix them to the ground. Next, the plants are covered with spruce branches; you can also use dry branches or create something like a hut using agrofibre.
Diseases and pests
To grow a beautiful stephanandra bush, as in the photo, you must follow the watering norm. The plant is moisture-loving, but can suffer from fungal infections that develop in conditions of high humidity. The greatest dangers are powdery mildew, gray rot and rust. For preventive treatments in the spring, as well as during treatment, proven fungicides should be used:
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Profit Gold";
- "Maksim";
- "Abiga Peak".
As for insects, the plant is practically not exposed to pest invasion. In extreme cases, for example, when aphids are detected, insecticide treatment can be carried out. The most effective drugs are:
- "Colorado";
- "Karbofos";
- "Inta-Vir";
- "Decis".
Reproduction methods
The stephanandra plant is quite easy to propagate in several ways.Most often, cuttings and layering are used, but the crop can also be grown from seeds.
Seeds
Stephanandra seeds can be purchased at the store or collected independently. In any case, they are planted directly in open ground, bypassing the stage of preparation, soaking or growing seedlings.
Work begins only in May, when return frosts are excluded. Sowing is done to a depth of 1-1.5 cm, covered with film, periodically watered and ventilated. After the mass emergence of seedlings, the seedlings are thinned out and transplanted to a permanent place in early autumn.
Cuttings
An easier way to propagate stephanandra plants is by cuttings. To do this, in early June, several green shoots 15 cm long are cut. An oblique cut is made from below, and a straight cut from above. Place it in a solution of “Heteroauxin” or another growth stimulant overnight.
Then they are transferred to moist, fertile soil, covered with a jar, regularly watered and ventilated. For the winter, they are carefully covered or moved indoors and grown in a moderately cool room. They are planted in a permanent place only next spring.
By layering
The stephanandra plant can also be propagated by layering. At the end of May, several flexible annual shoots are bent to the soil, dug into a groove, and pinned. Water and fertilize regularly. Then, at the beginning of autumn, all parts where roots have appeared are cut off from the mother plant and transplanted to a permanent place. For the winter, carefully mulch.
Stefanandra in landscape design
The stephanandra bush is widely used in landscape design. Depending on the variety, it is used in single plantings, compositions and as a ground cover. Below are several application options with photos:
- Planting a stephanandra plant next to the path.
- Group composition.
- Combination of stephanandra plant with conifers.
- Use as a ground cover.
Conclusion
Stefanandra in landscape design can be used by both experienced and novice gardeners. Growing a shrub is not so difficult, but you should remember that it is moisture-loving and requires fertilizing at least twice a season. The rest of the agricultural technology is quite simple.
