Content
Stefanandra Tanaka is a deciduous shrub from Japan that has taken root in many regions of Russia. It is valued for its unusual foliage and long-lasting flowering. The plant is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but caring for it cannot be called simple. The fact is that the winter hardiness of the crop is low, so it needs shelter even in the middle zone. Basic recommendations for planting and care are described in detail in the presented material.
Description and photo of Stefanandra Tanaka
Stefanandra Tanaka is a low deciduous shrub from the Rosaceae family. It reaches a height of 1.5-2, rarely 3 m, and produces a rounded crown that spreads out to about 2 m in width. The shoots bend in the shape of an arc, the surface is brown and shiny.
Stephanandra Tanaka's foliage has an interesting three-lobed, broadly ovate shape with serrated edges. The color is dark green, the base is heart-shaped. In autumn the color changes to yellow, brownish-orange with red and purple tones.
Stephanandra Tanaka flowers are small in size, white in color, organized in loose panicles that grow at the very end of the shoot.Flowering is observed from the first ten days of July until the end of August. After this, from the end of September to mid-October, the fruits ripen.
Winter hardiness of Stefanandra Tanaka
The winter hardiness of the plant is low and is only -23 degrees (the limit value corresponding to zone 6). Because of this, the shrub needs to be covered even in the middle zone, and growing Stephanandra Tanaka in Siberia and the Urals is extremely difficult or even impossible. But in the south it can be cultivated without shelter.
Advantages and disadvantages
Stefanandra Tanaka is distinguished by its high decorative properties. It decorates the garden both in the warm season and in autumn, when the foliage acquires original orange shades. The shrub produces a beautiful crown and blooms for a very long time. But the culture needs reliable shelter for the winter.
The shrub blooms beautifully for 1.5 months
Pros:
- decorative leaves;
- spreading crown;
- arched shoots;
- long flowering.
Minuses:
- low winter hardiness;
- poor drought resistance;
- may be damaged by strong winds.
Landing rules
It is best to plan planting of stephanandra Tanaka in late spring - mid or even the second half of May, when there will definitely be no return frosts. Autumn planting is permissible only in the southern regions - it can be planned for the first half of October.
When choosing a landing site, you should pay attention to several requirements:
- the soil is loose, with a high content of peat and sand;
- good lighting - Stefanandra Tanaka grows poorly in the shade;
- protection from strong winds, especially from the north side of the garden.
Before planting, the soil should be prepared. At the beginning of spring, it is dug up and fertilized with complex fertilizer or organic matter (humus, compost).If the soil is dense, be sure to add sand, vermiculite or sawdust.
When planting shrubs, Stephanandra Tanaka acts as follows:
- Dig fairly spacious holes with a depth and diameter of 60-70 cm.
- Place a layer of pebbles or expanded clay 10-15 cm high on the bottom.
- Lay fertile soil mixture.
- Root the seedling.
- Compact the soil so that the root collar goes to a shallow depth.
- Water with settled water and mulch after a few days.
Care instructions
Caring for stephanandra Tanaka is not so easy, since the shrub is quite demanding in terms of watering, fertilizing and other conditions. It is not drought-resistant, so water should be given at least once a week, and heat - twice as often. After watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil and, if necessary, weed.
Fertilizers are applied several times per season:
- In early spring, give urea or ammonium nitrate.
- During the formation of buds - complex feeding.
- A similar composition - again after 2-3 weeks.
- At the end of summer, you can water it with an infusion of wood ash (200 g per 10 l) or a mixture of superphosphate (40 g per 10 l) and potassium sulfate (30 g per 10 l).
Stephanandra Tanaka is pruned twice a season:
- In early spring, before the buds begin to swell, remove all old, frozen branches.
- In late autumn, it is recommended to thin out the crown, removing all the shoots that thicken it. If desired, this can be done in the spring.
Particular attention should be paid to preparing Stefanandra Tanki for winter. In late autumn, be sure to form a layer of mulch from peat, dry leaves, straw or other materials.Branches are laid on them and pinned or fixed with heavy objects. On top there is also dry leaf litter, spruce branches or dense agrofibre, burlap.
Thanks to reliable shelter, Tanaka's stephanandra recovers well after winter frosts
Diseases and pests
If improperly watered, the shrub can suffer from powdery mildew, various types of rot and other infectious diseases. For prevention, it is recommended to treat with a fungicide every spring:
- "HOM";
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Tattu";
- "Ordan".
As for pests, they are practically never found on stephanander. But if, for example, aphids or spider mites appear, you need to spray 1-2 insecticides:
- "Aktara";
- "Ephoria";
- "Karbofos";
- "Inta-Vir".
Photo of Stefanandra Tanaka in landscape design
Stefanandra looks beautiful in single plantings in open areas, near paths, lawns or the entrance to the house. Compositions with conifers are very attractive, they will create a pleasant background and protect the tree from strong winds. Several options for using crops in garden design are shown below:
- Planting next to the fence.
- Placement next to the path.
- Single landing option.
Conclusion
Stefanandra Tanaki is one of the most decorative medium-sized shrubs. Produces pleasant flowers and leaves that remain attractive until the first autumn frosts. If you carefully cover the branches for the winter, they will recover quite well even after severe frosts. As for care in the summer, special attention should be paid to watering, because the crop does not tolerate drought well.
