Content
Chinese lilac is one of the hybrid varieties of well-known shrubs. This species with lacy foliage and beautiful inflorescences has long been used in gardening. In addition, the new variety has a number of other improved characteristics.
General description of Chinese lilac
The Chinese lilac shown in the photo was discovered in the 18th century in the botanical garden of the French city of Rouen, and it still remains a mystery why it is called that way, because this species does not grow in natural conditions.
The external resemblance of the shrub to the Persian lilac prompted breeders to think about the hybrid origin of the species, which was subsequently proven by L. Henry and E. Lemoine during testing by artificial crossing of various species.
Thus, it has been established that Chinese lilac (Syringa x chinensis), an ornamental perennial garden shrub that belongs to the Olive family, was obtained by crossing common and Persian lilacs. The hybrid eventually received an improved bush shape, lush flowering, resistance to dry periods, improved rooting and survival rate.
The bush can be 5 m in height. The diameter of the trunks is smaller than that of the common lilac. The graceful branches of the bush hang down, its crown is neat, up to 3 - 4 m wide.
The elongated leaves are pointed at the ends. They are not very large in length - about 4 - 7 cm, located oppositely. Small tubular flowers form panicles 10–16 cm long and 2 cm wide. The inflorescences resemble a fox's tail or a pyramid.
How Chinese lilac blooms
Chinese lilac blooms magnificently, forms many inflorescences, and in this way it is similar to ordinary lilac. It begins in May - June and pleases the eye for another two weeks. Its inflorescences are varied - white, purple or pink. In addition, this species has forms with simple flowers and with double flowers, always with a fragrant aroma.
Forms and varieties of Chinese lilac
Chinese lilac has several forms, both popular among gardeners and not so popular, each of them has its own distinctive features.
- Chinese lilac Saugeana (Saugeana, or Sojina). This is the most common form of this type. The diameter of the spreading crown of the bush is 3 m, the height also reaches 3 m. Large purple inflorescences of Chinese lilac Nuzhena look good against the background of green foliage;
- Chinese lilac Duplex, or Double. This is also a small bush, the maximum height of which is 2, less often - 3 m.A distinctive feature of this form is double flowers of a rich burgundy hue;
- Chinese lilac Metensis. The bush with an ovoid crown is larger in height than previous forms - 3.5 m. The panicles of pale purple inflorescences are large: 15 - 16 cm in length and up to 9 cm in width;
- Chinese lilac Alba Dieck - characterized by showy white flowers;
- Chinese lilac Bicolor (Lemoine) H. Jaeger. Although this variety is not widespread, its flowers are very rare and extremely beautiful - two-colored.
How does Chinese lilac reproduce?
There are several ways to propagate a bush, using:
- Seeds;
- Layers;
- Privoev;
- Cherenkov.
Gardeners rarely use seeds for propagation, because fruits are not always available. For better germination, it is necessary to carry out stratification - keep the seed material in moistened sand in the refrigerator for 2 months. In early spring, it can be planted in a box with soil to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm. Seeds can sprout within 2 weeks or after several months. Seedlings dive 2 weeks after they sprout. It is important that the air and soil are well warmed up; then it is time to transfer the seedlings to the site.
One of the common methods of propagation is Chinese lilac layering. In spring, an annual shoot is tied with copper wire in two places: at the base and at a distance of 80 cm from it. The bark must not be damaged. The branch should be placed in a groove near the bush, sprinkled with earth (except for the top). As soon as the new shoots reach a height of 15 - 17 cm, they are spudded. In autumn, the cuttings are separated from the bush.
In the spring, gardeners also quite often graft a bush - this is the second common method of propagation.The cuttings are prepared in early spring and kept in the refrigerator until grafting. The scion is wrapped in a bag. It is removed after the buds begin to swell.
Propagating Chinese lilacs using cuttings is not very easy because they do not take root well. Young shoots (preferably annual ones), which are cut directly during flowering or after, are suitable for this purpose. The cuttings are rooted in a greenhouse in calcined soil made of peat and sand. It is important to cover the shoots. After about 2 months, the cuttings will take root, and in the spring the plant can be planted on the site.
Planting and caring for Chinese lilacs
Chinese lilac is quite winter-hardy and drought-resistant. But some nuances associated with planting and further care still need to be observed, because it is not for nothing that this species does not grow in the wild.
Chinese lilac - planting and care in the photo:
Recommended timing
With the exception of certain conditions, for the bush propagation methods described above, the optimal period for planting Chinese lilac is considered to be the second half of July - the beginning of September. At other times, the bushes will take root worse, will hardly give good growth and will not bloom for several years.
Site selection and soil preparation
Choosing a suitable place for a bush in the garden is important. To do this, follow the rules:
- Chinese lilac preferably grows with access to the sun, and there should be a lot of light. If you place the bush in a shady place, it will bloom very modestly, and it is even possible that the buds will not bloom at all.
- The plant needs protection from strong drafts, but light ventilation is a must for the growth of Chinese lilacs.
- It is better to choose a place on a hill to avoid rotting of the roots due to stagnant moisture.
- Chinese lilac is picky about the type and fertility of the soil and loves humus. It is necessary that the soil is moderately moist and drained, with a neutral or slightly acidic pH value.
How to plant correctly
It is recommended to follow the following steps:
- Prepare the roots - remove weak and damaged ones. Cloudy weather or early morning is more suitable for planting.
- It is necessary to first dig a planting hole larger in size than the roots, along with a lump of earth: approximately 50 - 60 cm deep and wide.Important! If you plan to place several plants nearby, it is worth considering that the distance between them should be about 2 - 3 m (the diameter of the crown of an adult lilac).
- Drainage must be laid at the bottom of the hole. It can be crushed stone or expanded clay. Next, add some soil and fertilizer and place a Chinese lilac seedling. It is important to carefully distribute its roots throughout the hole.
- Then the seedlings need to be sprinkled with fertile soil and the surface compacted with your hands (no need to press hard).
- Water the freshly planted bush generously with water.
Growing rules
Chinese lilac is relatively unpretentious, but in order for it to bloom more luxuriantly and grow faster, it is worth adhering to a number of rules - watering, feeding, pruning and preparing for winter. Then the culture will decorate the site for many years.
Watering schedule
Chinese lilac can withstand drought, so in summer it is recommended not to water it very often and not too much: the plant gets enough rainfall.But during the growing season and active flowering of lilacs, a large amount of water is needed.
What can you feed?
In the first 2 - 3 years, it is not necessary to fertilize the plant: for growth and development, it has enough minerals added during planting. Next, the bush should be fed with nitrogen fertilizer (60 g per bush). Slurry is also suitable; you need to add about 2 buckets of it per plant. Nitrogen fertilizers improve the color of leaves and activate shoot growth.
About once every 2 years, the plant is fed with double superphosphate and potassium nitrate (35 g per bush).
Mulching the soil
The trunk circle of Chinese lilac is mulched with peat and rotted leaves. This is done to protect the roots from overheating. It is enough to loosen the soil 3 - 4 times a season to a depth of 7 - 8 cm. It is important not to damage the roots. As an alternative, there is another option - to plant small perennial plants under the lilacs. They will naturally loosen the soil.
Pruning Chinese lilac
Pruning ennobles the bush or gives it a beautiful shape, making it immediately look well-groomed. It is recommended to do this three years after planting. It is better to do a haircut in early spring, before the buds swell. It is necessary to remove weak or damaged branches every year.
In addition, pruning rejuvenates the bush and sets the correct shape of the crown. In this case, you need to leave only 5 or 10 of the healthiest and straightest stems.
Preparing the bush for winter
It is recommended to cover young shrubs for the winter. This should be done only when cold weather sets in, but not before. The root circle is covered with a dense layer of 10 cm of fallen leaves and peat.
Bushes growing in the middle zone, in the Urals and even the Moscow region, should be covered for the winter, since at very low temperatures there is a risk of shoots freezing.
Application in landscape design
This very neat, beautiful and spectacular plant can decorate a garden area on its own, for example, towering on the lawn, or become part of a composition with other plants.
A significant advantage of Chinese lilac, often used in gardening, is its powerful, branched root system. Due to this, the shrub stands securely in the ground and helps strengthen creeping slopes or loose soil.
Chinese lilac is also suitable for hedges. Fencing made from multi-stemmed shrubs is quite dense and beautiful.
Pests and diseases
Chinese lilac is a fairly resilient crop, but some diseases and pests can overcome it, in particular:
- Bacterial necrosis. Accompanied by a change in foliage color from green to gray. The shoots turn brown. To prevent this, it is recommended to thin out the crown to ventilate the lilac.
- Bacterial rot. The disease affects the leaves, flowers, shoots and buds of Chinese lilac; they gradually dry out. You can cure lilacs. To do this, you need to spray the bush 3 or 4 times with copper oxychloride at intervals of 1.5 weeks.
- Powdery mildew. The leaves are covered with plaque. It is necessary to cut off the infected areas and spray the bush with a fungicide. In spring, it is better to dig up the soil with bleach (100 g/m2).
- Verticillium. The leaves curl and their surface is covered with brown spots. The bush dries out quickly, starting from the top.The affected plant must be treated with a special solution - add 100 g of soda ash and laundry soap to 1.5 buckets of water.
In addition, the shrub can be disturbed by hawk moth, leaf miner, lilac moth, as well as bud and leaf mites. It is necessary to spray the plant with appropriate preparations.
Conclusion
Chinese lilac is one of the most profusely and interestingly flowering shrub species. Gardeners actively use it to decorate plots as an independent plant or in tandem with others.
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