Jida plant (Elephant angustifolia): beneficial properties of berries, application, cultivation

Elaeagnus angustifólia (lat. Elaeagnus angustifólia) is a deciduous woody plant of the genus Elaeagnus and the Elaeagnus family. Outwardly, it is in many ways similar to sea buckthorn and willow, and the foliage resembles an olive. It is used for landscaping public gardens, parks, and personal plots, and is also valued for its medicinal properties. In order for this useful plant to fully develop, it is necessary to plant it correctly and provide care taking into account the requirements of the culture. It is also worth knowing what the beneficial properties of jida are and its contraindications.

The lifespan of a sucker is 65 years

Description and photo of Eleven angustifolia

This culture has its own characteristic differences. Therefore, before planting, you need to familiarize yourself with the appearance and characteristics.This will allow you to correctly place the jida on the site, taking into account its size and endurance.

Frost resistance of Eleven angustifolia

Eleven angustifolia, or as it is also called eastern, has high frost resistance and corresponds to USDA 3 climate zone. Therefore, the plant can easily tolerate temperatures down to -40 °C with proper care. However, it has been noted that in some seasons, young immature shoots of the jida may freeze. But at the same time, the culture is able to recover quickly.

Important! With high air humidity in winter, the branches of the jida plant can be damaged by frost already at -20 ° C.

Height and diameter of the crown of Elefati angustifolia

The height of jida in natural conditions can reach 10 m. However, in the Moscow region, the angustifolia oleagin does not grow more than 3 m. The plant is characterized by a lush, dense, spreading crown. The diameter of its growth is 3-6 m.

The bark of the jida is red-brown. The plant has spines up to 3 cm long. During active growth at the initial stage, the trunk bends. Its diameter in an adult sucker does not exceed 30 cm. The branches of the jida are smooth, and the young shoots are pubescent, silvery in color, which subsequently acquire a light gray color.

The leaf blades are oval-oblong with a pointed tip. Their length varies from 5 to 8 cm, and their width is 2-2.5 cm. Jida leaves have a light green color with a silvery tint. They are attached to the branches using short petioles, narrowed at the base.

Flowering of Eleven angustifolia

Elaeagnus angustifolia blooms in early June and continues to bud for three weeks. However, depending on the region, the timing may shift slightly.The flowers of the plant are small, solitary or collected in inflorescences of three, appearing from the axils of the leaves. The buds of the oleaster are silvery on top and yellow on the inside.

Jida's flowers are bisexual. They emit a pleasant aroma that attracts insects. After pollination of jida flowers, oval-shaped drupes are formed. When the suckers ripen, they turn red, orange or yellow. Inside each fruit there is an oblong bone. It has the same shade as the skin. The weight of the fruits of the Eleven angustifolia reaches 3 g, and their diameter is about 1 cm. Their ripening is uneven.

The first ripe fruits on the shoots of jida appear in late August or early September

Where does Elf angustifolia grow?

This culture is widespread in the Caucasus, in the European part of Russia, as well as in Kazakhstan, Asia Minor and Central Asia. Grows on forest edges and ravines. Jida is found in river deltas, lowlands, and along the edges of cliffs. The crop is undemanding to the composition of the soil and easily tolerates its low salinity.

Important! This plant is characterized by an accelerated growth rate; its height increases by 1 m per year.

Jida's silvery shoots appear at the age of four

How to plant Eleven angustifolia correctly

Jida can be planted throughout the season, provided that seedlings with a closed root system are purchased. However, the weather conditions must be appropriate for this to happen. For the plant, you must choose a well-lit place, protected from drafts.

For planting, it is necessary to select one-, two- and three-year-old seedlings that do not show signs of disease. Two weeks before planting the jida in a permanent place, you need to prepare a hole 60 cm wide and deep.It is recommended to pour a layer of crushed stone 10 cm thick at the bottom, and fill the rest of the space with a soil mixture consisting of turf, sand, humus and leaf soil in a ratio of 2:1:1:1.

The sucker should be planted according to the standard scheme, and its root collar should be at soil level after the end of the procedure. The jida seedling should be watered abundantly, and the next day the soil should be mulched to prevent the root system from drying out.

If you want to create a hedge from jida, seedlings must be planted at a distance of 80 cm from each other.

Important! The lifespan of the plant is 80-100 years, depending on the climate of the region.

Rules of care

Agricultural technology for growing crops involves following simple rules of care. They include regular watering in the year of planting. It should be carried out 1-2 times a week in the absence of seasonal rains. It is recommended to pour water into the root circle of the jida, soaking the soil to a depth of 10 cm. It is also necessary to periodically loosen the soil at the base of the jida and remove growing weeds.

After the jida gets stronger and grows significantly, the need for watering and weeding disappears

It is recommended to feed the plant twice per season. In the spring, at the beginning of the growing season, you can use urea or mullein for this, and in mid-summer - superphosphate and potassium sulfide.

Immediately after planting, it is recommended to carry out the first pruning of the jida, shortening its shoots by half. It is recommended to repeat the procedure the next season, and in the third year, reduce the length of the branches by only 1/3. In the future, the plant does not need drastic pruning. It is only recommended to periodically clear the crown of broken and damaged stems to maintain high decorativeness.

Dzhida needs shelter for the winter in the first three years after planting. Therefore, in late autumn, at the base of a young seedling, it is necessary to lay a layer of mulch 10 cm thick, and wrap the crown with agrofibre in several layers.

Jida begins to bear fruit at the age of 5-6 years

Reproduction of Eleven angustifolia

To obtain new jida seedlings, you can use seeds, cuttings and layering. In the first case, sowing is recommended in September to a depth of 3 cm. After the procedure, the area must be watered abundantly and covered with spunbond. With the arrival of spring warmth, the seeds of the oleaster angustifolia germinate. Young jida seedlings need to be provided with standard care, and when they become stronger, transplanted to a permanent place.

It is recommended to cut jida in early summer. For propagation, you need to cut the tops of one-year shoots, up to 15-20 cm long, clean them from the leaves at the bottom, powder the cut with root-forming agent and plant it in a moist, loose substrate, deepening it to 3-5 cm. After this, you need to make a mini-greenhouse over the shoots to ensure favorable conditions for rooting. It needs to be ventilated daily. And also control the soil moisture level so that it is always slightly moist. If all conditions are met, jida cuttings will form roots in 30-40 days. They can be replanted to a permanent place only next season.

To obtain 1-2 seedlings of jida, it is best to use the method of propagation by layering. In this case, it is necessary to bend the lower branches of the plant to the ground in early spring, deepen it by 10 cm and secure with staples, leaving only the top on top. Throughout the season, you need to constantly water the Jida layerings as needed.You can separate them from the mother plant only for the next season.

Only freshly harvested seeds should be used for sowing.

Diseases and pests

This plant can suffer from a number of harmful insects - leaf beetle, mites. When affected, the growth of the oleaster stops, the general appearance of the plant becomes dejected, and partial leaf fall occurs. To eliminate the problem, it is recommended to treat the liquid with Actellik, Fitoverm, Fufanon.

Fungal diseases can also cause damage to jida under conditions of high humidity and sudden temperature changes. The most dangerous of them is brown spot. For treatment, it is recommended to use Bordeaux mixture by spraying the crown. It is also recommended to use this drug to prevent damage in early spring and late autumn.

Beneficial properties of Eleven angustifolia berries

Jida fruits are distinguished by their rich chemical composition, which determines their healing properties. The berries have an astringent, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, analgesic, anthelmintic and enveloping effect.

They are used to treat:

  • inflammation of the upper respiratory tract;
  • colitis;
  • rheumatism;
  • radiculitis;
  • gout;
  • catarrh of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • hypertension;
  • swelling;
  • cardiac dysfunction.
Important! The berries remain fresh for a long time without heat treatment.

Use of Eleven angustifolia

This plant has found wide use in folk medicine. Its fruits, when used correctly, normalize the functioning of all human organs and systems, and also increase the body’s resistance to viruses, bacteria, and infections.

Fruit decoction

This medicine helps with digestive disorders.To prepare it, you need to pour 30 g of crushed berries into 250 ml of boiling water and simmer in a water bath for 20 minutes. After this, the hot drink must be strained through cheesecloth, and then boiled water must be added so that the volume of liquid returns to its original volume.

Recommended dosage - 2 tbsp. l. three times a day before meals. The course of therapy is 7-10 days.

Take the decoction of oleaster angustifolia berries warm.

Flower tincture

This remedy enhances mucus production, reduces inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, and also helps strengthen the heart muscle, treat hypertension and reduce fever.

To prepare it, you will need 6 g of oleaster flowers, pour 200 liters of hot water and leave in a water bath for 25 minutes. After this, strain the drink while hot and add boiled water to the original volume of liquid.

Take the healing infusion for 3 s. l. half an hour before meals three times a day. The duration of the course of therapy is 10 days.

Important! It is recommended to store water-based folk remedies from oleaster in the refrigerator for no more than two days.

Contraindications for use

Jida, despite its beneficial properties, can sometimes be harmful to health. Therefore, before carrying out therapy, it is necessary to study the contraindications of the plant.

Among them:

  • individual intolerance;
  • pregnancy;
  • lactation;
  • age up to 14 years.
Important! The use of folk remedies based on jida in the treatment of diseases should be agreed with a doctor.

Eleven angustifolia as a honey plant

The flowers of the plant emit a pleasant aroma that attracts the attention of bees. In addition, the plant blooms profusely and is characterized by a good level of nectar production, therefore it is considered a valuable spring honey plant.

The product obtained from the tree is distinguished by its amber hue, pleasant aroma and taste, and a complex of healing properties.

Elf angustifolia in landscape design

Dzhida is excellent for landscaping squares, parks, and personal plots. The silvery hue of its foliage can enliven any landscape design. The plant looks good both in single and group plantings.

Experts recommend planting jida against a backdrop of green conifers so that the plants can highlight each other’s beauty. Elf angustifolia can be used in landscape design to strengthen slopes, as well as to create hedges.

Dzhida tolerates polluted air well

Conclusion

Eleven angustifolia is one of the perennial crops that will not cause much trouble to the gardener, but at the same time look impressive. In addition, the plant is medicinal, and its cultivation on the site will allow you to always have medicinal raw materials on hand, which will help solve many health problems. The main thing is to choose the right place for the jida, taking into account its growth size, and plant it correctly so that in the future the plant can fully develop.

Reviews from gardeners about Eleven angustifolia

Svetlana Chursova, Podolsk
I have been growing jida in my dacha for ten years. During this time, a hedge of this plant has already formed, which successfully divides the area. I consider the plant to be unpretentious, since its care is minimal. The main thing is to properly prune the tree from the beginning to ensure a lush crown.
Sergey Stepnov, 38 years old, Bryansk
I consider Eleven angustifolia one of the best ornamental plants, and it also has medicinal properties. I have been growing it for seven years, and it has never caused any particular trouble.I water jida only during prolonged dry periods. I fertilize twice in early spring and in mid-summer, pouring fertilizer granules into the root circle. Ukrainian goosefoot is easily propagated by seeds. Moreover, already in the first year of sowing, jida seedlings are able to grow up to 1 m.

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