Content
- 1 What is scumpia and how does it grow
- 2 The use of leather skumpia in landscape design
- 3 Medicinal properties of scumpia
- 4 Reproduction of leather skumpia
- 5 Planting and caring for mackerel in open ground
- 6 Rules for growing scumpia
- 7 Why mackerel does not bloom: reasons and possible solutions
- 8 Pests and diseases
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 Reviews
Zheltinnik, Venetian sumac, tanner, paradise tree - under all these names hides the amazing leather mackerel. Until recently, this extraordinary plant was undeservedly deprived of attention by gardeners, but with the spread of the art of landscape design, interest in it has increased significantly.
What is scumpia and how does it grow
Mackerelium tanner belongs to the perennial deciduous plants of the Anacardiaceae, or Sumacaceae, family. This crop is a branched shrub or tree, the height of which ranges from 1.5 to 5 m, depending on the variety. In the wild, mackerel is distributed throughout South Asia, Western Europe, India and China. It is also found in Russia, in particular, on the lands of the Voronezh and Rostov regions. This plant gained popularity as a garden crop in the 17th century. and has since been actively used in perfumery, dye production and leather production.
Gardeners value leather mackerel, first of all, for its decorative properties. All types of this plant have a compact spherical or umbrella-shaped crown, which looks very advantageous on a personal plot. The leaves of the crop, bright green or dark purple in summer, attract the eye with a rich palette of colors in autumn, acquiring shades of red, crimson and orange. This property of yellowberry, as well as its unusual flowering, make it a very popular crop in landscape design.
How does skumpia bloom?
Many plant lovers prefer Mackerel because of its spectacular flowering. In late May - early June, the crop is densely covered with paniculate inflorescences 15 to 30 cm long, consisting of small flowers of burgundy, white, greenish or pale pink. The airiness and delicate color of the skumpia inflorescences, such as in the photo above, give the impression that the bush is shrouded in haze. For this reason, the plant received its English name - “smoke tree”, or “smoky tree”.The Russian-speaking population calls the leather skumpia “wig tree”, since the flowering shrub evokes associations with a fluffy wig.
How fast does scumpia grow?
In its natural habitat, the tanning squid lives for about 100 years. The impressive lifespan of this plant is combined with rapid growth. Since yellowberry has a powerful superficial root system, it has the ability to grow wildly in breadth in a short time, so by the 2nd - 3rd year of cultivation you can count on getting a beautiful ornamental shrub. But mackerel begins to bloom much later, at 6 - 8 years old, when it reaches maturity. By this time, the plant slows down its growth somewhat, making its shape much easier to maintain.
Winter hardiness of leather skumpia
The winter hardiness of leather mackerel often becomes the reason why plant growers refuse to cultivate this plant on their plots. The fact is that young shrubs and mackerel trees do not tolerate low temperatures very well and can die at the first stable frost if you do not take care of their shelter in time. This is especially true for imported seedlings. Instances grown in the same country where planting will subsequently take place are less sensitive to frost, however, it is not always possible to find such in central Russia.
At the same time, 3-5 year old seedlings have fairly high frost resistance and can winter quite successfully in cold regions with minimal shelter at temperatures down to -15 °C. Winter-hardy varieties boast even greater hardiness and, with proper protection, grow well in colder climates.Thus, among connoisseurs of skumpia there are gardeners who have experience growing this plant in the Urals and in other areas with similar weather conditions. Such varieties of leather skumpia as Young Lady or Grace not only do not suffer from winter Ural frosts, but also retain their aesthetic appearance in the summer.
Is Mackerel poisonous or not?
Mackerel itself is not poisonous, but the leaves of this crop contain large quantities of essential oils and tannins, which can be toxic in large doses. Untreated yellowberry leaves are not recommended for human consumption, as this can cause poisoning. In addition, if possible, you should limit the access of pets to the bush, otherwise an inadvertently swallowed leaf of a leather mackerel can lead to the death of a pet.
Types and varieties of mackerel with photos
The beauty of the leather mackerel has inspired many breeders to experiment, thanks to which new varieties of this unusual plant appear with enviable frequency. Below are descriptions of the most common varieties of leather mackerel and their photos.
Golden Spirit
This variety, reaching 2 m in height, owes its high decorative value to its golden-green leaves. In clear weather, the sun's rays passing through the leaf blades give the shrub a glowing effect, which is why Golden Spirit is grown with pleasure even in cold regions. Despite the not very high winter hardiness, the crop is quite capable of surviving the frosts of central Russia with proper shelter.
Young Lady
The Young Lady variety is considered the least demanding of all known varieties.In addition to its luxurious appearance and lush flowering, during which the shrub seems to drown in the dawn fog, the variety has enviable frost resistance, which makes it possible to plant and care for leather mackerel, including in the Urals and Siberia.
Grace
This 2.5-3 m shrub immediately attracts the eye with its dark purple foliage, which in autumn is complemented by shades of scarlet, orange and crimson. The plant blooms with airy burgundy-colored inflorescences.
Velvet Cloak
No less attractive to the eye is the Velvet Cloak tanning variety, which is memorable for its relatively small size - from 1 to 1.5 m - and bluish-violet, almost black leaf plates. The inflorescences of these plants are dark pink in color.
Royal Purple
The variety Royal Purple, popular among connoisseurs of tanned mackerel, grows up to 2 - 3 m and has a compact silhouette with dark purple leaves and crimson plumes of inflorescences. The crop does not tolerate frost and in cold, dry winters it tends to freeze out to the root collar.
The use of leather skumpia in landscape design
Looking at the neat silhouette of the tannery mackerel, we can say with confidence that this plant was simply created to decorate gardens, parks and green areas. Both shrubs and tree varieties of yellowberry look appropriate in gardens of different styles. Mackerels stand out very impressively in contrast with conifers and surrounded by other deciduous perennials. Often different varieties of these plants are planted in groups against the background of mixborders: in this form they not only do not overshadow each other, but, on the contrary, complement the composition.
Leather scum also look advantageous in single plantings, in particular in areas that imitate the natural habitat of these plants. For this reason, yellowberry bushes fit especially organically into the setting of rocky gardens, coniferous rockeries and rock gardens.
Below are photos showing tannery mackerel in landscape design.
Medicinal properties of scumpia
In addition to its decorative properties, tanning mackerel has a number of medicinal properties. The tannins in its composition, as well as flavonoids and essential oils, provide the plant with the following properties:
- wound healing;
- antibacterial;
- choleretic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- expectorants.
Almost all parts of the yellowberry, including leaves, young shoots and roots, are used in folk medicine to prepare drugs for a wide range of diseases. According to reviews from connoisseurs of alternative treatment methods, lotions made from the infusion of mackerel help with burns, bedsores and wounds, and foot baths help with excessive sweating. The infusion is taken internally for food poisoning, disorders of the intestinal microflora and intoxication with heavy metal salts.
Reproduction of leather skumpia
Reproduction of leather mackerel is carried out using seeds or vegetative methods, which include:
- cuttings;
- propagation by layering;
- dividing the bush.
The choice of the optimal method for propagating leather mackerel depends on weather conditions, soil quality and other environmental factors. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, which should be taken into account before carrying out the procedure.
How to propagate mackerel from cuttings
Propagation of leather mackerel by cuttings gives good results if you know the nuances of this cultivation method:
- Planting material is prepared at the end of June - early July.
- Before planting, the cuttings are soaked in a heteroauxin solution for 12 hours. The solution is prepared at the rate of 20 mg of the product per 1 liter of water.
- After this, the cuttings are planted in a summer greenhouse or cuttings in prepared soil of peat, turf and sand in a ratio of 1:1:1.
- To increase the chances of rooting, the soil under the seedlings must be kept moist. The ideal interval between waterings is 20 minutes.
Under such conditions, the first roots of the leather mackerel will appear after 3 - 4 weeks. After this, you can think about transplanting the plant into open ground.
By layering
Skumpii obtained using layering have a higher percentage of rooting. This method of reproduction is also considered the least labor-intensive. To implement it, follow the following steps:
- On a tanberry bush, select the lower healthy branch and cut the bark on its outer side.
- The branch is tilted to the ground so that the cut in the bark touches the soil, it is secured at this level and sprinkled with soil.
- The place of attachment is regularly watered until young shoots and roots appear on the branch.
- As soon as rooting occurs, the branch is cut from the mother plant and planted in open ground.
Seeds
Reproduction of leather mackerel using seeds requires some experience and skill. The seeds of the plant have a very dense shell and germinate with great difficulty without certain manipulations. So, before spring planting, they need stratification for 5-6 months at a temperature of 3-5 °C. If planting is carried out in the fall, there is no need to further age the seeds, since wintering in the ground will successfully replace this procedure.
Seeds are sown at a depth of 2 cm, while autumn seedlings are not covered for the winter. The first shoots will appear a year after planting, and the germination rate of seeds planted directly in the ground is several times higher than that of those germinated at home.
Planting and caring for mackerel in open ground
Leather mackerel is not a very pretentious shrub that will feel quite good in almost any climate and on any soil, if you follow certain requirements when planting and caring for it.
Deadlines
The optimal time for planting leather mackerel is considered to be spring, however, if the seedling has a closed root system, it is placed in the ground at any time of the year, except winter. The only condition that should be remembered when planning planting: the plant needs 2 - 3 weeks to take root before the cold weather arrives.Otherwise, the roots of the yellowberry will freeze and it will die.
Mackerel seeds are often sown in early spring, but early autumn is also suitable for this. In this case, seedlings after the procedure germinate only the next year, regardless of when the plant was planted.
Site selection and soil preparation
Being a heat-loving crop, leather mackerel prefers well-lit areas, so it is worth choosing a place for it where there is a lot of sun. The growing area of the bush should be protected from drafts and located away from tall trees that provide abundant shade.
As for the soil, tanning mackerel is quite unpretentious in its composition, however, acidic soils are not the best choice for this plant. Healthy growth and lush flowering of the shrub will be ensured by slightly alkaline, light soils with moderate moisture. If the planting site is in a lowland or there is groundwater in close proximity to it, you should consider moving the plant to a more favorable area.
How to plant mackerel
The procedure for planting leather mackerel differs little from region to region and is carried out according to the following scheme:
- The recess for planting must be larger than the earthen coma of the plant.
- Before planting a seedling in open ground, you should soak it in water or Kornevin solution.
- The planting hole should be watered generously, using 2 buckets of water per hole.
- At the bottom of the recess it is necessary to place a drainage layer 20 - 30 cm high
- Place a small hill on top of the drainage and place the plant on it.
- After which the planting hole must be filled with earth and compacted thoroughly.
Rules for growing scumpia
After planting, the leather mackerel does not bother gardeners with too burdensome care and can delight with abundant flowering, as in the photo, with minimal watering, periodic pruning and fertilizing.
Watering
Mackerel tannery is a fairly drought-resistant plant, however, a prolonged lack of moisture negatively affects the growth and flowering of the shrub, so you should not ignore its timely watering. As a rule, yellowberry is watered as needed, when the soil around the tree trunk dries out. In this case, water is poured as close as possible to the base of the plant so that moisture does not get on the leaves. You can reduce the frequency of watering by mulching the tree trunk circle, which is carried out in early spring. Mulch will help distribute water evenly and protect the roots from drying out during the dry season.
Top dressing
Although leather mackerel is quite capable of growing without any additional fertilizers, it responds well to fertilizing and actively uses the added nutrients to enhance flowering. Therefore, it would not be superfluous to apply complex mineral fertilizers to the plant in early spring, before the leaves appear: this way the shrub will recover faster after winter.In June, before flowering begins, the yellowberry can be fertilized again, this time replacing the phosphorus-potassium fertilizer with an organic one, for example, a solution of mullein or bird droppings. The plant does not need more frequent feeding.
How to trim scumpia
Growing and caring for tanned mackerel requires periodic pruning of the plant, which is carried out every 2 to 3 years. As a rule, this is done in the spring, before leaves appear on the bush. In this case, a hygienic procedure aimed at removing frozen or old branches is combined with formative pruning. Annual shoots of young yellowberry are cut to 2/3 of their length - this will make the bush more luxuriant and form more branches. On older plants, branches can be safely trimmed to create a stump. Mackerel will quickly recover after such pruning and will form a more compact spherical crown, and the leaves on it will be larger.
How to cover leather skumpia for the winter
Although there are frost-resistant varieties among the varieties of leather mackerel, young plants need protective shelters for the first few winters. Thus, lutrasil or other non-woven material, which is wrapped with cling film for reliability, is suitable for insulating yellow grass. To prevent frost from damaging the root system of the plant in the winter months, it is worth mulching the bush with peat or humus.
Why mackerel does not bloom: reasons and possible solutions
It happens that when cultivating leather mackerel, gardeners are faced with a situation where the bush refuses to bloom.The flowers either do not appear at all or fall off after a short time, not having time to form beautiful paniculate inflorescences. Most often, the reason for this lies in insufficient care. So, flowering may be absent:
- due to an unsuitable planting site (the shrub grows in a lowland or is too shaded);
- acidic heavy soils in the place of cultivation;
- excessive moisture due to the influence of groundwater or watering more than once every 2 - 3 weeks;
- overdose of fertilizers (mackeria grows better in soil with a natural level of nutrients).
In these cases, the situation will be corrected by correcting the conditions in which the plant grows.
If the flowers of the leather mackerel quickly fall off after their appearance, without having time to delight with colorful clouds of inflorescences, it is worth paying attention to their structure. There are two varieties of mackerel flowers:
- monoecious;
- dioecious.
The first variety is more common and implies that the flowers of the plant have both pistils and stamens. Such scumpia are self-sufficient, since pollination occurs within one bush.
Dioecious crops are divided into male plants, whose flowers have only stamens, and female plants, which only have pistils. To pollinate such scumpia, both specimens must be present. At the same time, shrubs with male flowers cannot boast of lush flowering and look rather modest.
Pests and diseases
Mackerel tannery is quite disease-resistant and can easily resist the most common diseases. However, some insects can still pose a danger to the plant. Such pests include the pine psyllid and the fawn leaf beetle.
By eating the leaves of the plant, they weaken the mackerel and spoil its aesthetic appearance. Treatment with various insecticides, for example Decis or Karbofos, will help against these insects.
Conclusion
Mackerel is a beautiful plant that is worth a little effort in caring for it. With proper cultivation, it will become a real decoration of the site and serve as an exquisite decorative element for creating unique landscape compositions.
