Content
Photos and descriptions of the bladder give a general idea of the plant. This is a fairly tall shrub (2-4 m) with numerous green or bluish leaves. Valued for its long flowering, which lasts throughout almost the entire summer. The features of planting and growing crops are described in detail in this article.
Photo and description of the bladder
Bladderweed is a perennial deciduous shrub from the legume family. It reaches a height of 2-4 m - this parameter depends on the variety, climatic conditions and care. The foliage is imparipinnate and alternately arranged. The shape is ovoid, the size is small, up to 3 cm in length. There are notches at the ends.
In some types of bladderwort, the internodes are very short, so it seems that the leaves are collected in common bunches. They appear in large quantities, the color is rich green. By autumn they turn orange and yellow and fall off in October.
The color of the petals of the bladder is yellow, monochromatic, and quite bright. The corollas also come in a purple hue. They are much longer compared to the calyx. The entire flower reaches only 2 cm in length. Each has 10 stamens, but only one is free (the rest are fused).The flowering period occurs in June-July, in some species it begins in May, and can last until September.
The inflorescences of the plant are represented by an axillary raceme, the bracts are small, at the base they take the shape of a cup, and are rarely absent. The calyxes are wide, tubular or bell-shaped. Covered with small hairs of black or white color.
The bladderwrack shrub is attractive with its leaves and flowers
The ovaries are formed on well-defined stalks. At the end of summer, fruits begin to form. Bladderwort produces a membranous or leathery-looking bean. It is swollen in shape, opens only at the end, and bends slightly along the seam. Over time, this seam goes up. Bud-shaped seeds are produced in large quantities. The bean visually resembles a bubble, which is where the name of the plant comes from.
Lifespan of bladderwort
The bladder plant lives for a very long time. The average duration is from 25 to 30 years. Much depends on the correct selection of the variety (its winter hardiness must correspond to the climate of the region), as well as care. But we can say that the plant is unpretentious, so cultivating the shrub is quite simple.
Types and varieties of plants
There are 20 species of plants in the genus bladderwort. Most of them are well studied and described. Many representatives grow in countries with warm climates - in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Turkey, as well as in Central Asia. Some varieties are quite suitable for cultivation in Russia. The most beautiful representatives of the bladderwort are described in the following sections.
Oriental
The oriental species (Colutea orientalis) is also quite common.Despite the name, it does not grow in the east, but in the Crimea, the Caucasus, Transcaucasia and Iran. It is represented by a deciduous shrub up to 3 m high. The crown of the bladderwort is quite compact, dense, and round in shape.
The leaves of this plant are visually large, reaching 6 cm in length. Moreover, they are combined into small pairs - 3-4 each. The shape is round, the base is wedge-shaped. The inflorescences are represented by 3-4 or less often 5 yellow flowers, which are organized in racemes. The flowering period of this species is May, June and July. The ovaries are glabrous and produce pods 4 cm long.
The plant produces beautiful yellow flowers
Tree bladder
This is one of the most famous species, which has several names. It is often called the common bladderwort, bladder tree. Less commonly called lentil tree and power plant. The scientific name of the tree bladderwort in Latin is Colutea arborescens.
Fruits of the tree bladder
The plant produces complex, odd-pinnate leaves that are elliptical or ovoid in shape. They reach a length of 3 cm, the color is pure green, the surface is matte. The flowers are bright yellow in color, grouped in clusters of 6-8 pieces. Bladderwort fruits are multi-seeded beans with a smooth surface. Because it cracks and bursts when pressed, one of the names for this type is “pooch-pooch.”
Average
The middle bladder (Colutea x media) was bred artificially. It is a hybrid of tree and oriental. Unlike the “parents”, it has bluish-green foliage. Moreover, the plates are very large for such a plant - they reach 7 cm in length.
Blooms later, from mid-summer to mid-September. The fruits of the middle bladder ripen already in October.The hybrid is more resistant to diseases and adverse weather conditions, including winter frosts. When growing, it is worth considering that this species is light-loving and quite demanding on the composition of the soil.
The medium bladder plant is decorative due to the unusual color of the leaves and orange flowers. They appear in large quantities for several months in a row.
The plant produces attractive orange flowers
Buse
Buse (Colutea buhsei) is a small shrub whose height corresponds to human height. The leaves of the plant have a round shape. They are collected in bundles of 7-9 plates. Appear in large quantities. The inflorescences are located in the axils, the color of the petals is orange-yellow. Each inflorescence produces 2-4 buds. Flowering begins in mid-spring and ends in July.
The beans are quite large, reaching 5-6 cm in length. Sparse hairs are noticeable on the surface. The plant is very drought tolerant, but does not tolerate shade. Therefore, it is better to grow in open areas.
Elegant
The species Colutea gracilis is also called the thin bladder. The fact is that it produces rather long but thin shoots of a dark green color. The leaves are small, with a matte surface. Inflorescences are pinkish. There is little information about this plant - it is known that it is found in Turkmenistan. This indicates low winter hardiness - in Russia, cultivation of the crop is limited.
Elegant bladderwort is not very common in Russia
Brittle bladder
The brittle species (Cystopteris fragilis) does not belong to the legume family, but to ferns. This is not a shrub, but a herbaceous plant, the height of which reaches only 20-25 cm. It produces a thick rhizome and lanceolate leaves of a bright green color. The shoots are very thin and therefore brittle, which is where the name comes from.
Brittle bladder leaf
Features of cultivation
The plant is best grown in the south of Russia, in the middle zone and neighboring regions. In areas with a harsh climate, such as Siberia, it can be severely damaged by winter frosts. Planting is planned for mid-spring, but if this is not possible, it can be done at the end of September. The location must meet several requirements:
- good lighting - you need to choose areas without shadow;
- a small hill – protection from flooding and the formation of puddles;
- The soil can be almost any, even clayey, but it is optimal to cultivate the plant on sandy soils.
It is advisable to prepare the area for planting 1.5-2 months in advance. The soil is dug up, compost or humus is added in an amount of 5-7 kg per 1 m2. Instead of organic matter, you can also use complex mineral fertilizers (according to the instructions).
The landing process itself looks like this:
- Several holes are formed with a depth and width of 40 cm at a distance of 70 cm from each other. Preferably in a checkerboard pattern.
- A layer of small stones is placed at the bottom.
- The seedlings are rooted in the center.
- Sprinkle with soil and compact, leaving the root collar flush with the surface.
- Then water it abundantly with settled water and mulch after a few days.
Caring for the bladder is not very difficult. One of the main requirements is timely, regular watering. Water is given so that the soil remains moderately moist at all times. Many species are drought-resistant, so they do not need abundant watering. However, cracking and drying out of the soil should not be allowed. Periodically, you should loosen the tree trunk circle and remove weeds.
Feeding is given in spring and autumn.At the beginning of the season, it is better to fertilize with a nitrogen compound, for example, urea (20 g per 10 l), and at the end with wood ash. Instead, you can use a mixture of superphosphate (40 g per 10 l) and potassium sulfate (30 g per 10 l).
Since the bladder shoots grow quickly, they are regularly pruned. In early spring, broken, dry, frostbitten branches are removed. Formative pruning is planned in the fall.
The bladder needs to be watered regularly
For the winter in a region with a very frosty climate, for example, in the Urals, in Siberia, the plants are mixed into tubs and left in a moderately cool room. In other areas, they are carefully mulched and covered with agrofibre and spruce branches.
Diseases and pests
To grow a beautiful early-blooming bladder flower, as in the photo and description, it is important to protect the plants from diseases and pests. Sometimes bushes are affected by fungal infections. To prevent this from happening, you need to monitor the watering rate. If necessary, treat with fungicides:
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Maksim";
- "Ordan".
Among insects, spider mites and aphids pose a certain danger to the plant. They are fought with insecticides, for example:
- "Aktara";
- "Fufanon";
- "Decis".
Reproduction
Bladderwort can be propagated by root shoots and cuttings. In the first case, the growth of the bush is monitored and the young shoots are gradually separated, planting them in a new place in late summer - early autumn.
If you propagate the bladderwort by cuttings, the shoots are harvested at the very end of spring. They should be young, 10-15 cm long. An oblique lower cut is made and placed in a growth stimulator solution. Then they are planted in fertile soil and covered with a jar. Water and ventilate regularly; in the fall, the plants are transplanted to a permanent place and covered for the winter.
Bladderwort can also be propagated by seeds, but their germination rate is low. In addition, not all species characteristics can be preserved. The plant seeds are first kept in the refrigerator for several weeks, then doused with boiling water and germinated in a damp cloth for 1.5 months. Only after this are they planted for seedlings.
Conclusion
The photo and description of the bladder reflects the beauty of this plant and its high decorative qualities. In garden design, shrubs are often used in single plantings, although compositions are often left as well. Blisters look especially good in hedges. It is not difficult to care for, but you should keep in mind its low winter hardiness and cover it well in the fall. Moreover, in the southern regions it is not necessary to do this.
