Content
The genus of flowering shrubs Lagerstroemia includes approximately 25 plant species. Indian lilac is a prominent representative of the genus. This is a whimsical greenhouse culture that requires attention and good care. Compliance with all growing rules will ensure abundant and long flowering.
Description of Indian lilac lagerstroemia
The height of a shrub or tree depends on the growing conditions. In the wild, the plant reaches 11 m in height, in indoor conditions it does not exceed 1 m. The crown of a wild crop can reach 8 m.
Lagerstroemia shrub produces many straight, thin shoots covered with light brown bark. The tree has a single thin but strong trunk, the color of the bark is light, gray-brown.
The leaves are oblong, dark green, elliptical in shape.The tips of the leaves are pointed, the edges are almost smooth. Leaf length ranges from 3 to 6 cm. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and bright red.
Lagerstroemia flowers are small, do not exceed 2 cm, collected in large, lush inflorescences, their length can reach 20-25 cm. The buds are formed from buds, which are more like small berries. The petals have an uneven wavy edge. The color range is wide: pink, purple, lilac, white, and there are buds of different shades on the same tree. You can find photos on the Internet showing this phenomenon of Indian lilac flowering.
When and how does Indian lilac bloom?
Lagerstroemia begins to bloom in July and ends in October. During the day, as the buds bloom, their color also changes. On one bush you can find lilac and dark purple flowers or pale pink and bright red.
Distribution area
The plant came to India from China, and then the crop was brought to Europe. Currently, the flowering tree can be seen on the streets of Asia, the Mediterranean, North and South America, and Australia. The plant also takes root well in the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine.
Types and varieties
Of the 25 known species of Indian lagerstroemia, there are several that are easy to cultivate and can be grown even in the garden.
These types of Indian lilac include:
- Lagerstroemia blooms profusely (Lagerstroemiafloribunda), a plant that can be shaped into a tree or shrub. At home, you can grow bonsai or indoor lilac - lagerstroemia. The culture is characterized by abundant and long-lasting flowering. In spring the petals are pink, but towards autumn they turn white.During the flowering period, you can find all shades of pink, white, and purple flowers on one tree.
- Lagerstroemia superb(Lagerstroemia excelsa) is a tall, up to 30 m in height, flowering tree. The trunk and branches are covered with smooth, glossy gray bark. During the flowering period, it produces small (up to 4 cm in diameter) dark purple buds.
- Lagerstroemia caudate (Lagerstroemiacaudata) grows to 20 m or more in height. Flowering is abundant and long lasting from April to October. The diameter of the flowers is approximately 3 cm, the color of the petals is white.
- Varieties of Indian lilac – RedFilli, CoralFilli, Violette Filli are winter-hardy species of Indian lagerstroemia. These are miniature, ornamental shrubs, the height of which does not exceed 50 cm, and tolerate frosts down to -30 ᵒC. Flowering is long lasting, up to 3 months. The root system of plants is not exposed to low temperatures.
At home or outdoors in tubs, lagerstroemia is grown everywhere and put away in a heated room for the winter.
Where is Indian lilac used?
Lagerstroemia is used for landscaping gardens, parks, and public gardens in the southern and coastal regions. Indian lilac is also grown as a home ornamental plant.
In oriental medicine, lagerstroemia flowers are used to normalize blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and for weight loss.
In construction, the durable trunk of a flowering tree is used to produce carpentry.
Growing Indian lilac lagerstroemia from seeds
At home, a flowering tree can be grown in any region of Russia. The easiest way to cultivate Lagerstroemia is from seeds.You won't get a tall tree, but you can try to grow a flowering, ornamental shrub.
When can you plant
2 times a year - in autumn and spring, you can sow Indian lilac seeds. It is important to create the correct temperature regime: + 10-13 ᵒC. Seeds are sown in greenhouses or on a windowsill in seedling containers.
Selection of container and soil preparation
For sowing I use universal ready-made soil for ornamental and flowering plants. You can prepare the following soil mixture yourself: peat, sand, garden soil, leaf humus. All components are taken in equal parts.
Important! For planting, use plastic shallow containers for seedlings or peat cups.
How to plant Indian lilac seeds
Lagerstroemia seeds are quite large, but light; they are planted in prepared furrows to a depth of 2.5 cm and at a distance of 5 cm from each other.
The seedlings are sprinkled on top with a thin layer of ground soil without lumps or sand. Then the seeds are moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film and placed in a well-lit place for germination.
How to properly care
Before the Indian lilac shoots appear (about 2 weeks), the plant is watered at home as needed. Every day, seedlings are ventilated for half an hour, removing the film from the container.
After the appearance of 2 true leaves, the grown seedlings are planted in separate containers. They are filled with the same soil as when sowing seeds. Before transferring the seedlings to a permanent place (late May and June), they are simply watered as needed.
Growing Indian lilac in open ground
Lagerstroemia seedlings that are at least 1 year old are planted in the garden. For planting, choose a sunny, warm place with light soil.
Landing dates
Lagerstemia begins to be planted in open ground at the end of May or at the beginning of June; this crop awakens quite late in the spring. Before July, the May lilac will take root and grow quickly. The height of such a seedling by mid-summer will be 1-2 m.
Site selection and soil preparation
Indian lilac feels great in open areas under the scorching rays of the sun. Where other southern crops cannot grow, their leaves will burn, you can plant lagerstroemia.
Heavy black soils are not suitable for growing May lilacs. She needs light, water- and breathable soil. To do this, any available soil is mixed 1:1 with sand, dug well and loosened. Immediately before planting, the soil is well moistened.
You can also choose areas with clay and loamy soil for planting. On fertile, dense soil, lagerstroemia will grow well, but only shoots will develop, and flowering will remain weak.
Planting Indian lilacs in open ground
For transplantation, choose strong grown seedlings with a well-developed root system. When transferring the plant, you need to save the earthen ball.
Planting technology:
- Planting holes are dug 50x50 cm in size.
- A layer of expanded clay is placed on the bottom for good drainage, and a layer of peat is poured on top.
- The soil for planting is prepared by mixing garden soil, sand, peat and turf soil in equal parts.
- The root of the plant is sprinkled with this soil mixture after fixing it in the planting hole.
- After planting, the soil is carefully trampled down, and the lagerstroemia is watered abundantly.
In the first year after rooting of Indian lilac, no fertilizer is applied to the site. This will allow it to develop a strong root system.Fertilize the crop for the next year. This will stimulate the growth of new shoots and the formation of buds.
Rules of care
Water Lagerstroemia often, about every other day. Good moisture is the key to abundant flowering of the crop. After watering, as soon as the moisture is absorbed, loosen the soil. Lagerstroemia prefers to grow in light, breathable soils. If you need to retain moisture at the roots for a long period, mulch the soil. After watering, cover with a thick layer of sawdust or hay.
In spring and summer, watering is combined with fertilizing. For this purpose, complex mineral fertilizers are used. Feeding is carried out 2 times a month, from May to August.
Lagerstroemia is a fast growing and branching plant. If you do not shorten the shoots once a year, the crop will grow and stop blooming, since inflorescences form only on young shoots. To stimulate their appearance, Indian lilacs are pruned in the fall, after flowering, or in the spring, in March, before buds begin to form. Remove old shoots, shortening them by a third. Leave approximately 20-30 cm of total length. If the task is to form a tree, one central long shoot is left, the rest are shortened. If you need to form a bush, all shoots are cut equally.
Preparing for winter
If Indian lilac grows in a tub, it is placed in a cool, dark room for the winter. The air temperature should not exceed + 15 ᵒC. Watering in winter is carried out once a month.
Plants rooted in open ground are pruned well in the fall, leaving shoots no longer than 20-30 cm. The trunk circle is mulched with sawdust, spruce wood, fallen leaves, or covered with earth. Indian lilac will tolerate frosts down to -10 ᵒC painlessly if you cover it with a thick layer of spruce branches for the winter. In tall lagerstroemia in the form of a tree, only the lower part of the trunk is insulated. If the thermometer drops below - 15 ᵒC, the above-ground part of the plant may die. In the spring, new shoots will appear from the rhizome, their flowering will be no less abundant than the previous ones.
Diseases and pests
Indian lilac is resistant to most known garden pests and diseases. All this thanks to the thick, strong bark. With improper care, excessive shading and excess moisture, powdery mildew may appear on the leaves. In this case, the affected tree is pollinated with ash or sprayed with a solution of Fundazol or another fungicide.
On soils with an excess of alkali, the leaves of Indian lilac may turn yellow and chlorosis appears. To correct the situation, the soil is dug up deeply in the fall with the addition of granular sulfur or gypsum.
Spider mites and aphids can attack young seedlings of Lagerstroemia growing in open ground. The shrub or tree should be sprayed with preparations against garden pests.
Application in landscape design
Tall lagerstroemia in the form of a tree looks great alone on any personal plot, in a park or alley. Indian lilac in the form of a bush goes well with ferns and low coniferous crops. It is always better to place Lagerstroemia in the center of a flower bed or composition, surrounded by evergreen, non-flowering plants.
Indian lilac, like European lilac, is good to plant near your home.When European lilacs fade in the spring, Lagerstroemia buds will open in June. In this case, the lush flowering of two types of lilac can be enjoyed from late April to September.
Indian lilac looks good against the background of any buildings, in any style. Based on the photo, you can choose how best to fit the Indian lilac - lagerstroemia - into the landscape.
This blooming culture fits well into both country and urban landscapes. It looks equally good against the background of banks, administrative buildings, and against the background of country houses and rural houses.
Bush lagerstroemia can also be planted in central Russia in cities and rural areas. The main condition for good growth and lush flowering of ornamental crops is insulation before the onset of frost.
Conclusion
Indian lilac is a beautiful ornamental plant that can beautify any area. Its lush, long-lasting flowering pleases the eye throughout the warm season. The crop can also be successfully cultivated indoors by placing an exotic tree on a loggia or veranda.
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