Content
Pink snowberry is an unpretentious bush of medium height with a spreading crown, the width of which reaches almost 2 m. It grows well on different types of soil, even calcareous and dense. Does not require special care, is resistant to drought, pests and diseases. The basic rules for planting and caring for this plant are described in detail in the article.
Description of pink snowberry
Pink snowberry (Latin name Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) is a deciduous shrub from the honeysuckle family. It has several names - snow berry, snowberry or wolfberry. The plant is small in size - 1.3-1.5 m in height, sometimes 1.8 m. At the same time, the crown is spreading - its diameter is even greater than the height and ranges from 1.5 to 1.7 m.
The leaves of pink snowberry grow on small petioles and are oval or ovoid in shape. The color is rich green, becoming yellowish-orange in autumn. Even during the cold season, the foliage does not fall off for a long time, so the shrub remains decorative throughout the season.
Pink snowberry blooms in July and lasts 3-4 weeks.The flowers are small, white, and also pinkish. They are not very attractive, although they look quite beautiful against the background of foliage.
Shrub berries are beautiful, but inedible
The fruits appear in late summer. They have a round, less often oval shape. They are classified as drupes by type - juicy, with one hard stone. Snowberries start out white, then turn pink. They ripen fully in early September and remain on the branches until the onset of severe frosts.
Pink snowberry is a medium-winter-hardy plant. In open ground it can withstand frosts down to -28 degrees. Therefore, in the climatic conditions of the Urals, Siberia, and northern regions, plants need shelter.
Varieties of pink snowberry
There are several popular varieties of this shrub. Some of the most beautiful ones include:
- Snowberry Foliis Variegata - grows up to 1.8 m. Produces beautiful berries of a pinkish-purple hue. The flowers are small, greenish with pink tones. The fruits decorate the bush until the first snow falls.
- Western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) is a bush of medium height (1.5 m). The inflorescences are small, but quite dense, in the form of racemes with light pink or pure white bell-shaped flowers. Flowering is observed from the very beginning of July until the first days of September. The fruits are oval-shaped, small in size, white or light pink in color.
- Mountain-loving snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) - this bush also reaches only 1.5 m.The plates are slightly pubescent, oval or round in shape. The flowers are combined in a pair, the color is pink or white. The winter hardiness of this variety is not the highest.
- Chenault's snowberry (Symphoricarpos x chenaultii) is a hybrid variety obtained from the common and small-leaved snowberry. Bush of medium height, with dense pubescence. The leaf blades are sharp and small. The berries are pink in color and have characteristic white “cheeks”. Frost resistance is low.
- Henault's snowberry (Symphoricarpos x chenaultii) is another one and a half meter tall hybrid. It also spreads 1.5 m wide. The leaf blades are dark green, and even bluish on the reverse side. The berries are round, white or purple.
Planting pink snowberry
Snowberry can be planted at different times of the year, but it is better to do it in the spring. The bushes are medium in size and do not take up much space. Basic soil requirements and planting instructions are described below.
Landing dates
You can plan planting either in spring (mid-April) or autumn (late September). It is important to make sure that according to the forecast, the temperature will no longer drop below 0. In most regions, planting should be planned for spring. Although in the south autumn planting is also allowed in October-November.
Place and soil
The selection and preparation of a place for the pink snowberry should be approached in advance - preferably 1-2 months in advance. The area should be well lit, although partial shade from other bushes, trees or buildings is also allowed.
Almost any soil is suitable - even heavy clay, rocky, limestone. But in order for the pink snowberry to take root well, the soil must first be dug up and fertilizer applied. You can use organic matter (for example, compost 7 kg per 1 m2) or complex fertilizing (40-50 g per 1 m2).
How to plant
The process of planting pink snowberry is simple. The main stages are:
- Mark several holes 60*60 cm at a distance of 1.2-1.5 m.
- Place a 10 cm layer of small stones on the bottom.
- Place the seedling in the center and sprinkle with fertile mixture.
- Tamp down a little so that the root collar goes to a shallow depth.
- Water with settled water.
- Mulch with straw, hay or other materials.
Caring for pink snowberry
Growing pink snowberry is not that difficult, although there are a few important points. Regular pruning should be carried out and bushes should be fed periodically, especially in the first half of summer. As for watering, it can be rare, since the plant is drought-resistant.
Watering and fertilizing
You can water the pink snowberry infrequently - literally 1-2 times a month, although during drought it is advisable to do this weekly. Particular attention is paid to young shrubs under three years of age. Watering should be plentiful, but not very frequent. It is necessary to ensure that the soil dries out almost completely, and also focus on the weather forecast.
The shrub should be watered 1-2 times a month.
You can also feed the plant rarely, but regularly. Every spring, at the very beginning of April, the bushes are watered with a urea solution of 20 g per 10 liters. Instead, you can simply lay mulch in the form of compost - 5-6 kg. When buds begin to form, pink snowberry is fed with complex fertilizer. At the end of summer, the root zone can be sprinkled with wood ash.
Trimming
Pruning pink snowberry is a mandatory maintenance requirement. To get a beautiful crown, as well as to get rid of old, diseased and frost-damaged branches, pruning is planned for March. In the future, it can be repeated in the fall to form a general outline. You can safely remove shoots, since flowering occurs only on branches of the current year.
Mulching
Pink snowberry is a drought-resistant plant that can be watered literally 1-2 times a month. But in order for the soil to retain moisture for as long as possible, the tree trunk circle should be mulched. For this, various natural materials are used:
- freshly cut grass;
- sawdust;
- hay;
- peat.
They also make shelter for the winter. In early November, a fairly high layer of leaves or mixture is laid. It is necessary that it be 8-10 cm.
Diseases and pests
Pink snowberry is characterized by very strong immunity to both infections and other diseases. It can also withstand insect attacks. But it also happens that the root system begins to suffer due to excess moisture. To prevent this from happening, watering should be rationed. It is better that it is plentiful, but not too frequent
In the spring, even before the buds begin to swell, it is recommended to treat pink snowberry with fungicides:
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Abiga Peak";
- "Ridomil Golda";
- "Profit".
Spraying is also done when signs of disease appear, for example, powdery mildew or softening of fruits. You can use the same drugs, but it is better to plan treatment in the early morning or late evening.
Conclusion
Pink snowberry is a shrub that even a novice gardener can care for. It does not need regular watering, and fertilizing can be done only twice a season.The plant looks good in single plantings and hedges. But in the latter case, you should not expect fruiting - the bush will decorate the area only with its leaves.
