Content
Lilac Znamya Lenin is a variety bred in 1953, the originator of which is L. A. Kolesnikov. The culture was created for breeding in cold climates. This is one of the few representatives of the species for which low temperatures not only pose no threat, but also improve the quality of spring flowering.
Description of lilac Banner of Lenin
The variety Znamya Lenin is a deciduous, frost-resistant plant that does not require special attention from gardeners. Distributed throughout Russia; climatic conditions do not affect the growing season of the crop. Thanks to its drought resistance, lilac is a frequent visitor to southern garden plots. The main distribution of the variety is in areas with temperate climates.
The plant is used for landscaping city parks and squares, and for decorating the territory of personal plots. Lilac of the Znamya Lenin variety is unpretentious to the composition of the soil, grows happily next to any representatives of the flora, so it is often used in landscape design compositions.Lilac Banner of Lenin is a medium-sized compact shrub. Grows up to 3 m in height. The crown is dense, branched, dense, intensely leafy.
External characteristics of the lilac bush Lenin's Banner, shown in the photo:
- The plant is multi-stemmed, the bark of perennial representatives is light brown with a rough surface and longitudinal small furrows. Young shrubs with smooth gray-green bark.
- The shoots end in two large flower buds; they are formed only on last year's branches. Leaf buds are smaller, oppositely located.
- The leaves are simple, opposite, up to 12 cm long, up to 7 cm wide. They are located on long (3 cm) petioles. The leaf plate is smooth, whole-cut, with smooth edges. The leaves are heart-shaped, pointed upward, dense, dark green. The foliage does not change color by autumn, becomes dull, and turns green.
- The fruits are in the form of a box with two nests, the seeds are small, equipped with a lionfish, and after opening they scatter several meters from the mother bush. Ripen at the end of September. The seeds, once dropped on the ground, germinate well in the spring. They overwinter under the snow until favorable conditions occur.
How lilacs bloom Lenin's Banner
Common lilac Znamya Lenina is a variety with an average flowering period. In cold climates, the shrub blooms in late May or early June. Due to the relatively late flowering period for the crop, the buds are rarely affected by returning frosts. In the South, the flowering period occurs at the end of April.
Wide panicle inflorescences are formed at the ends of the shoots; as a rule, there are no more than two of them. The shape of the inflorescence is pyramidal, length – 15-20 cm.The flowers are simple, large - 2-2.5 cm, the petals are raised. At the moment of blooming, the flowers are dark red in color; when fully opened, they become purple-lilac. Flowering lasts 21 days.
Features of reproduction
The culture is bred generatively and vegetatively. The common lilac variety produces full-fledged seeds that produce plants that fully correspond to the characteristics of the mother bush. Planting material is sown immediately after collection. Stratification is carried out, the seeds are laid out on a damp cloth, then placed in the refrigerator for 2 days. Sown on the site 30 days before the onset of frost. According to reviews, lilac seeds Znamya Lenin germinate in spring, but generative propagation takes longer than vegetative propagation.
The shrub produces a lot of root shoots, which are separated and planted on the site. This is the fastest and least labor-intensive method of breeding. Lilacs are propagated by cuttings, they are cut from last year's shoots in August and placed in a container with soil. In the spring, the cuttings will form roots; at the end of August they can be determined to a permanent place of growth. The propagation method by layering is also suitable for the lilac Znamya Lenin. In the spring, they dig a longitudinal trench, bend the lower branch, and cover it with soil. The plant can be replanted next season.
Planting and caring for lilacs Banner of Lenin
Lilac of the Znamya Lenin variety is an unpretentious plant, takes root well in the area, quickly produces growth, and does not require special agricultural technology.The drought-resistant crop grows in open areas and in partial shade; seasonal rainfall is sufficient for it.
Recommended timing
In central Russia, shrubs are planted from late August to mid-September. Before the onset of frost, the lilac will take root and overwinter without loss. Late dates are suitable for the South; the plant is planted here from late September to mid-October. If the seedling does not have time to take root, there is a risk that it will not survive the winter.
Site selection and soil preparation
The location for the Znamya Lenin variety is chosen based on the design decision. You can place lilacs on a slope, flat rocky terrain, in partial shade or in an area open to the sun. The composition of the soil is slightly acidic, neutral, the main condition is that the soil should not be heavy. If the acidity is high, it is neutralized with products containing alkali. The bush will not grow in wetlands.
The pit is prepared several days before planting the lilacs. Deepen taking into account the volume of the root system. On average, the size is 50*50 cm, depth is the distance from the root to the neck plus 20 cm (drainage and nutrient mixture).
How to plant correctly
Before planting lilacs, mix turf soil, sand and compost in equal proportions, approximately 8-10 kg. Divide into two equal parts. Make a concentrated clay solution and dip the roots of the planting material into it. Landing algorithm:
- Take a seedling, it should have foliage and strong healthy roots.
- One part of the prepared soil is poured onto the bottom of the hole and a hill is made.
- Lilacs are placed in the center on a hill.
- Distribute the root system along the bottom of the hole.
- Pour out the rest of the mixture and compact it so that there is no void.
- Then fill it with soil.
- The root collar is left above the surface.
- Then the soil is compacted along the root circle and watered abundantly.
Growing lilacs Banner of Lenin
Growing common lilacs is not a labor-intensive process and does not require material costs. The growing season of young and adult shrubs occurs independently with minimal intervention from the gardener.
Watering
For an adult plant, watering is carried out in the spring before flowering; throughout the rest of the growing season, the shrub receives enough rainfall. If the summer is dry, water the lilac no more than once a month. Young seedlings are watered more often; the soil around the lilac should be moist, constantly loose, and free of weeds.
Top dressing
From the moment of planting, the shrub is not fed for three years; for the seedling to grow, the nutrients added to the planting hole are sufficient. In subsequent years, organic matter is added in the spring: compost, rotted bird droppings. Mineral fertilizers are added to prevent bacterial and fungal infections (once every 3 years).
Mulching
Root cover is necessary for young seedlings in temperate climates; for adult shrubs this measure is not relevant. After planting, dry leaves or sawdust are used as mulch. Pine needles or straw will do. A prerequisite is that the material must be dry. In spring the covering layer is removed. The procedures are carried out up to three years of growth.
Trimming
Lilac pruning is carried out in accordance with the functional purpose of the design. If the Znamya Lenin variety is planted as a single planting on a spacious area, health-improving pruning is sufficient for it. This is done only in the spring:
- cut off flower stalks after flowering;
- remove dry fragments;
- cut out several perennial branches; over the course of the season, the lilac will form a replacement;
- get rid of root shoots.
It is not recommended to remove flower stalks in the fall, because lilacs may not bloom in the spring.
Preparing for winter
The variety Znamya Lenina is one of the frost-resistant representatives of lilac, so preparatory measures for winter are minimal. A young plant does not need to be completely insulated; it is enough to hill it up and cover it with a layer of mulch. If the shoots freeze over the winter, the bush will quickly recover. If the summer season was dry, the adult plant is given moisture-recharging irrigation.
Diseases and pests
Lilac Znamya Lenin is affected by pests along with other crop varieties. The plant is parasitized by lilac moth; the pest is active from May to September. A sign of presence is curled leaves, inside of which there is a cluster of caterpillars. Being at any stage of development, the insect feeds on the juice of leaves. To combat adult moths and caterpillars, use “Bi-58” or “Fozalon”, make a solution and treat the bush. Dig up the root circle and remove the affected leaves. The rose leafhopper is less common; the insect feeds on sap from the lower part of the leaves. Brown or yellow spots appear on the surface. Eliminate the pest with Kemifos or Fitoverm.
Of the infections, powdery mildew is a danger to lilacs Banner of Lenin. It appears as a gray coating on the leaves. The fungal infection spreads quickly, and the affected leaves dry out and fall off. To combat the disease, fungicidal preparations are used and damaged areas are removed. A bacterial infection (late blight) occurs. To prevent the disease from spreading, problem areas are cut off and lime chloride is added to the soil.
Conclusion
Lilac Znamya Lenina is a variety of ordinary lilac that is distributed throughout Russia. The plant is used in garden design and in the landscaping of city parks. The culture is frost-resistant, tolerates open sunny areas well, and does not require special care. A dense, abundantly flowering shrub of medium height will decorate any garden plot.
