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Lilac Aucubafolia is a variegated hybrid variety that was bred not so long ago, but has already gained popularity around the world, including in Russia. The advantages of the shrub include high frost resistance and abundant flowering.
The originator of the variety is the French breeder Auguste Gaucher, who developed it in 1919 on the basis of the President Grévy variety.
Description of lilac Aukubafoliya
Common lilac Aucubaefolia is one of the upright tall varieties - the bushes grow up to 2.5-3 m under favorable growing conditions. Distinctive features of the Aucubafolia variety: wide crown, rich aroma of flowers and variegated foliage. This color of the leaf blade formed the basis for the name of the variety - green leaves with light yellow stripes and spots resemble the foliage of aucuba.
The flowers of the Aucubafolia variety are pale blue with a purple tint, semi-double. They are collected in large loose inflorescences of paniculate type, the length of which reaches an average of 20-25 cm. Lilac blooms extremely profusely.
The decorative effect of the shrub is extended over time and occurs not only in spring and summer, but also in autumn, since the Aucubafolia variety sheds its leaves late.
Reproduction methods
Lilac varieties Aukubafoliya are propagated vegetatively:
- cuttings;
- layering;
- vaccination.
With the seed propagation method, lilac loses its varietal qualities, so it is suitable for propagating wild species. Cultivation of the Aucubafolia variety by layering is popular, followed by cuttings.
Layers are obtained as follows:
- Deep furrows are dug near the bush.
- Several young shoots, which have already begun to become lignified, are bent to the ground and secured in the ground. The base of the branches is tied with copper wire.
- By autumn, young shoots will develop from the buds of the removed shoots.
- Before the onset of frost, the cuttings are finally separated from the mother bush and removed for growing.
Cuttings are carried out by harvesting green cuttings, which are cut in June-July. The middle part of the resulting blanks is suitable for reproduction.
Privet or common lilac are used for grafting.
Rules for planting and care
Lilac Aucubafolia tolerates short-term drought without any negative consequences and can withstand cold temperatures down to -35-40°C, which is why it is not necessary to cover the bushes. The variety is pruned moderately; it does not need regular treatments against diseases and pests. The only difficulty that arises when growing lilacs is choosing the right place for planting. Despite its unpretentiousness, the Aucubafolia variety is picky about the type of soil.
When to plant
Recommended planting dates in central Russia are the last days of August and the beginning of September. This way, the Aucubafolia variety will have time to take root in a new place before the onset of frost.
If lilacs are planted too late, you can improve the situation by mulching. The tree trunk circle is generously sprinkled with dry leaves, straw, peat or sawdust - such insulation will slow down the freezing of the soil. In spring, it is important to remove the mulch in time so as not to delay the thawing of the soil.
Site selection and soil preparation
When choosing a place to grow lilacs, adhere to the following recommendations:
- The Aucubafolia variety loves sunlight and prefers open areas. As a last resort, partial shade will do. When grown in the shade, the growth of the shrub slows down and flowering is poor.
- The recommended soil type is fertile, drained and moderately moist soil, preferably neutral acidity. You can reduce acidity using dolomite flour or lime.
- Lilacs do not respond well to stagnant moisture and the proximity of groundwater - they must pass at a depth of at least 1 m. Lilacs should absolutely not be grown on swampy and damp soils - otherwise young roots will begin to die off.
- The surface of the area for planting lilacs should be flat. The shrub is planted on a hill, but it is not recommended to place the Aucubafolia variety in the lowlands. Under such growing conditions, the lilac roots will be flooded with excess moisture after rainfall and watering.
Additionally, it is worth noting that it is better to choose an area without strong drafts.They do not cause damage to the bush, but lilacs of the Aukubafoliya variety develop better in places with less cold air flow.
How to plant
The optimal planting pattern for the Aucubafolia variety is 2-3 m. It is not recommended to thicken the plantings, since fungi multiply in conditions of strong shade. In addition, this way the lilacs will compete for nutrients contained in the soil.
The process of planting lilacs is as follows:
- In the selected area, holes are dug about 50 cm deep and 50-60 cm in diameter. On poor soil, the dimensions of the planting hole are increased to 80 cm deep and 100 cm wide. The additional space is filled with a nutritious soil mixture of the following composition: 15 kg of humus or compost, 250 g of wood ash, 25 g of superphosphate.
- The seedling is placed in the center of the hole and the roots are carefully aligned along the bottom.
- The roots are carefully sprinkled and the soil is lightly compacted in the area around the tree trunk. In this case, the root collar of the lilac seedling should be at soil level.
- Immediately after planting, lilacs are watered abundantly.
- As soon as the water goes to depth, the area around the tree trunk is mulched with grass, leaves, humus or peat to a thickness of 5 to 8 cm.
Rules of care
Caring for the Aucubafolia variety is not difficult; the most important thing is to follow the watering rules.
The shrub is watered as the top layer of soil dries. On average, about 25 liters of water are consumed per bush. In August and September, watering is reduced.
Aucubafolia lilac should be fertilized only if fertile soil mixture was not placed in the planting hole during planting. This first feeding of the bush is enough for 3-4 years.
After this, the Aucubafolia variety is fed with both organic matter (bird droppings, manure) and mineral fertilizers (phosphorus-potassium compounds, nitrogen). Follow the following recommendations when applying fertilizers for lilacs:
- The Aucubafolia variety is fed with nitrogen in the spring, when the plant begins to gain green mass. Optimal dosage: about 50 g of urea or 60 g of ammonium nitrate per 1 bush. It is better to replace mineral fertilizers in the spring with organic fertilizers: mullein solution prepared in a ratio of 1:5 or slurry. Organic matter is not added at the root, but at a distance of half a meter from the trunk, so as not to burn the root system.
- Phosphorus and potassium fertilizing is carried out in the fall. For these purposes, double superphosphate (40 g per 1 bush) and potassium nitrate (30 g per 1 bush) are suitable.
- Wood ash is considered the best among complex fertilizers. To feed 1 lilac bush, 8 liters of water with 200 g of the substance diluted in it is enough. Lilacs are watered with this solution during growth, in the summer - only in extreme heat.
Caring for the Aucubafolia variety also involves regularly loosening the soil in the area around the tree trunk. The procedure is carried out at least 3 times a season. Timely pruning gives the bush a decorative appearance.
Lilac varieties Aukubafoliya are pruned in March-April. To do this, remove 2/3 of the number of flowering shoots, which stimulates the growth of the remaining branches. This way the variety will bloom abundantly - untouched shoots form a large number of new flower buds.
Sanitary pruning is carried out at any time of the year.
Diseases and pests
According to the description, Aukubafoliya lilac is a disease- and pest-resistant variety, which is confirmed by numerous reviews. However, occasionally the plant is affected by the following diseases:
- Bacterial necrosis – the disease is determined by a change in the color of the leaves from green to gray, young shoots also change color to brown. It is almost impossible to cure a diseased bush of the Aucubafolia variety. The affected areas are cut out and burned. If the disease has affected more than 50% of the bush, it is uprooted.
- Powdery mildew – this disease often affects young lilac bushes. The first sign of the disease is that the leaf blade becomes white, its surface is covered with a whitish coating. The affected areas are cut off and burned. For prevention purposes, in March or April, bleach is added to the soil at the rate of 100 g of substance per 1 m2. After this, the soil is carefully dug up. During growth, Bordeaux mixture (1%) is used to combat powdery mildew.
- Verticillium wilt – lilac leaves curl and brownish spots appear on them. Ultimately, the bush sheds its leaves and the lilac dries out. To combat the disease, Aucubafolia lilac is sprayed with a solution of laundry soap and soda ash taken in equal proportions (100 g of substance per 15 liters of water). The drug "Abiga-Peak" is also used. Damaged shoots are burned.
Among insects, the following pests pose a danger to lilacs of the Aucubafolia variety:
- Lilac leaf mite – this parasite sucks the juices from the underside of the leaf blade, as a result of which it turns brown. Control measures primarily involve treating the plant with copper sulfate.For preventive purposes, the tree trunk circle is fertilized with phosphorus-potassium compounds. The affected parts of the lilac are cut off and burned.
- Lilac bud mite – the presence of a pest is determined by the deformed buds in which the pest lives. The Aucubafolia variety is treated with a solution of copper sulfate. All damaged shoots are removed.
- Lilac leaf miner – the presence of the pest becomes obvious when small dark spots appear on the leaves, after which they curl. Against these insects, the plant is treated with Baktofit, Bordeaux mixture or Fitosporin-M.
Diseases are prevented by following the rules of agricultural technology.
Application in landscape design
To decorate gardening areas, lilacs of the Aukubafoliya variety are planted in group plantings or as part of a hedge. The combination of shrubs and coniferous crops looks beautiful. Also good are compositions from lilac bushes of the Aukubafoliya variety and peonies, which bloom at the same time as the bush.
Conclusion
Lilac Aucubafolia is a variety that is easy to care for. If you take into account the moderate need for watering of the shrub and choose the right site for planting, there will be no problems with it. If the rules of agricultural technology are followed, he does not get sick.
Reviews
Please tell me! I bought lilacs from a reputable garden center; there were tags on the package and inside the cutting itself with the name of the variety Aukubafoliya. I planted everything and it grows, but it doesn’t show varietal properties, because... The leaf is normal green. I wrote to the store. They replied that the properties would appear in 2-3 years. But I think this is just an unsubscribe. Please tell me is this so? Or is it a re-sort and a beautiful song from the store.
Good afternoon.
Hard to tell. This is unlikely to be a mismatch.
Any crop (grafted or self-rooted) must exhibit varietal characteristics at the time of sale, and not after 2-3 years. Moreover, the distinctive feature of the lilac variety Aukubafoliya is the unusual color of the leaves.
You have the right to write or call this garden center and declare that the purchased product does not correspond to the description. The company employees are obliged to return your money.