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Cinquefoil Abbotswood or Kuril tea (also five-leaved) is a compact decorative five-leaf variety that is perfect for solitaire plantings on the lawn and group compositions with coniferous crops. The culture grows equally well both in central Russia and in the Northern regions, but also feels good in the south of the country. The life expectancy of the bush is 25-30 years.
Description of Abbotswood bush cinquefoil
Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa Abbotswood) is a low shrub with a rounded crown, which, when properly shaped, takes on a spherical appearance. The average height of the plant is 1 m, the diameter of the crown is 1-1.2 m. The first years of life, the cinquefoil grows very quickly, however, then, as it approaches the upper point of growth, development slows down. The annual growth of young bushes reaches 15-20 cm in height and the same in width.
The Abbotswood variety blooms in June, forming small white flowers with a diameter of about 2-3 cm; in total, flowering lasts until October. The leaves of the bush are lanceolate, ovate in shape. Their length reaches 3 cm. The color of the leaf blade of the Abbotswood cinquefoil variety is light green with a yellowish tint.
Abbotswood cinquefoil is a fairly hardy variety - the variety tolerates long periods of drought and can withstand winter temperatures down to -40°C. The advantages of the shrub also include resistance to many diseases. In particular, the Abbotswood variety is not affected by powdery mildew.
Potentilla's light requirements are average. Plantings of the Abbotswood variety are light-loving, but at the same time they develop well in partial shade.
In landscape design, Abbotswood shrubby cinquefoil is used to create dense, low-growing hedges and to line the bottom of tall hedges from other garden crops. The shrub combines well with conifers and looks good in rocky gardens. Solitaire plantings are no less popular.
How does Abbotswood white cinquefoil reproduce?
The description for the Abbotswood cinquefoil variety states that the plant can only be propagated vegetatively on its own. The seed propagation method is used only if professional equipment is available.
The main methods of propagation of Kuril tea include:
- breeding by divisions;
- cuttings (use green cuttings);
- formation of layering.
Propagation of cinquefoil by layering is considered the simplest; this method does not require much effort or significant time investment from the gardener.
Reproduction by divisions
By dividing the bush, cinquefoil is propagated as follows:
- In autumn or spring, you need to dig up the plant to expose the root system.
- Using a shovel or an ax, the part with the roots is separated from the bush. The mother bush is sprinkled with earth, covering the rhizome.
- The division is cut to 20-30 cm, and it is important to leave 2-3 buds.
- Then the fragment is planted in a previously prepared hole. It is watered and mulched with dry pine needles or sawdust.
In autumn, by dividing the bush, cinquefoil can be propagated only in warm regions. The separated fragment blooms on average 2-3 years after planting; the flowering Abbotswood cinquefoil bush is shown in the photo below.
Green cuttings
Cuttings are a fairly simple way to obtain a large amount of planting material. The procedure is carried out as follows:
- Starting from the end of June, cuttings can be harvested. The deadline is the last days of July. For propagation, young shoots of the current year are selected; the leaves do not need to be cut off from them. Cut branches to approximately 15 cm.
- The sections are immersed in a root formation stimulator for an hour.
- Then the planting material is buried into the substrate, almost completely into separate containers with soil; it should rise about 3 cm above the surface. The container for cuttings should have holes in the bottom. The bottom of the containers must be covered with drainage.
- After this, the containers or pots with the cuttings are removed to a dark place. Over the next 2 weeks, the planting material is regularly moistened.
- On the 15th day, the plants should get stronger.They can be left indoors for the winter or planted in open ground, however, the second option is only possible when growing the Abbotswood variety in a region with a mild climate.
Reproduction by layering
In order to form a layer, you need to select a healthy shoot located close to the ground and bend it down. The place in contact with the ground is dug in and pressed down from above with a heavy object so that the branch does not bend. By the next season, the pinned shoot can be separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a new place.
Planting and caring for Abbotswood cinquefoil
Preparations for planting shrubs begin in advance. Planting holes for seedlings must be dug at least 2 weeks before planting cinquefoil. Planting dates depend on local climatic conditions - Abbotswood seedlings can be planted only when the soil has thawed. In the south, shrubby cinquefoil is planted at the end of summer.
Recommended timing
Cinquefoil shrub variety Abbotswood can be planted both in spring in April and in autumn, no later than September. In mid-latitude conditions, it is better to plant in the spring. Plants planted in the fall in a harsh climate may not have time to take root before the onset of cold weather.
Site selection and soil preparation
The plant of this variety prefers loose, fertile soils - the shrub does not develop well in areas with compacted soil.When grown in poor soil, the Abbotswood cinquefoil flowering is not as abundant, and the flowers themselves become smaller and have little in common with the flowers in the photo below - their petals narrow, and the core loses its rich yellow color.
The plant is not sensitive to drafts, so you can plant it in open areas, especially since cinquefoil loves the sun. The advantages of the Abbotswood variety include resistance to air pollution, which allows it to be planted near roads and within the city.
Planting the plant on heavy clay soils would not be the best option—cinquefoil does not tolerate stagnant moisture. The variety's soil composition requirements are moderate. Abbotswood cinquefoil prefers well-drained, acidic soils, but also grows well in slightly alkaline areas.
How to plant correctly
Potentilla is planted in the following sequence:
- First you need to prepare a planting hole about 60 cm deep. The width of the hole depends on the size of the root system of the seedling. For group plantings, the distance between adjacent holes should be at least 1 m. If you plan to create a hedge or border, this gap is reduced to 50 cm.
- Drainage is placed at the bottom of the planting hole - a layer of broken clay shards, pieces of brick or pebbles about 15 cm thick.
- The drainage is sprinkled on top with a mixture of the top layer of garden soil, humus and sand, which are taken in a ratio of 2:2:1. Additionally, the soil mixture is diluted with complex mineral fertilizer (100 g is enough).
- After this, a cinquefoil seedling is installed on the soil mixture.When buried, the root collar of the plant should be at ground level or rise above it by 2-3 cm, but no more.
- The tree trunk area is moderately watered and mulched with sawdust, pine needles or dry grass with leaves.
Growing rules
Abbotswood shrubby cinquefoil is distinguished by excellent frost resistance - in extreme cases, in particularly harsh winters the very ends of the branches of the plant may freeze. With age, the shrub's resistance to low temperatures increases. Timely feeding with mineral compounds helps improve this indicator. Only young bushes are covered for the winter.
Caring for the Abbotswood variety is simple. It is rarely pruned; the plant does not require frequent watering.
Watering
Water Abbotswood cinquefoil sparingly. In the absence of rain, watering is carried out 2-3 times a week, but this only applies to young seedlings. After a month, watering is stopped, the plant receives a sufficient amount of moisture from precipitation. In hot summers, adult cinquefoil bushes are watered 2-3 times per season, one bucket per plant is enough.
Top dressing
Full development of Abbotswood shrubby cinquefoil is possible only when planted in fertile soil. Additionally, it is necessary to feed the bush to stimulate its flowering and strengthen it before wintering. The recommended frequency of fertilizing is 1-2 times per season. In March, mineral fertilizers are added to the soil - about 50-60 g of the full composition. Before flowering, cinquefoil can be fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers according to the dosage indicated on the package.
Loosening, mulching
The mulch layer created during planting in the tree trunk area must be maintained throughout the season. Any material can be used:
- sawdust;
- peat;
- dry leaves;
- straw;
- pine needles, etc.
Loosening is carried out if the top layer of soil becomes compacted after heavy rainfall.
Pruning, bush formation
Mandatory annual pruning of shrubby cinquefoil is not necessary, however, in order to give the crown a more spherical appearance, you can shorten shoots that stand out from the general mass. In general, Abbotswood bushes are pruned every 3 years, cutting off approximately 10 cm. Anti-aging pruning can be done even less frequently, at intervals of 5 years. For this purpose, the shoots are shortened by a third; the cinquefoil shrub does not like drastic pruning.
Pests and diseases
Kuril tea of the Abbotswood variety is rarely affected by pests and therefore does not require additional protection. The plant also rarely gets sick, but sometimes, if the bush develops in unfavorable conditions, the cinquefoil may suffer from rust. This disease is provoked by increased soil moisture as a result of stagnant water, damp air and close proximity to diseased pine trees. Abbotswood cinquefoil is treated by spraying with preparations that contain copper.
The following tools have proven themselves to be effective:
- "Topaz";
- "Strobe";
- "Vectra";
- Bordeaux mixture.
Conclusion
Abbotswood Cinquefoil is a wonderful addition to any garden. The plant withstands pruning well and combines harmoniously with many crops: perennials, coniferous shrubs and creeping species.In landscape design, the variety is usually used to create dense borders and low-growing hedges, which look especially advantageous against the background of dark conifers. Solitaire plantings of Abbotswood cinquefoil look no less impressive. The culture of this variety has gained popularity among gardeners for its relative ease of shaping and care in general.
You can learn more about the peculiarities of growing cinquefoil in Russia from the video below:
