Content
Elf prickly is a common crop in Europe. Gardeners fell in love with the plant for its decorative qualities: bright fruits and unusually shaped leaves. The species is also a honey plant, and its berries contain so many useful substances and vitamins that they are used in alternative medicine.
Description and photo of the spiny sucker
The crop is grown in many countries. Special zones can be found in Germany, USA, France, Austria. In gardens and parks, the prickly elk is cultivated everywhere - in China, Japan, Russia, the Netherlands, Finland, as well as in southern countries.
The peculiarity of the spiny sucker is its good adaptive qualities. It is undemanding to environmental conditions and can actually grow without supervision. Most often the species is grown as a hedge. During the flowering period, the bush is covered with numerous buds that produce nectar.
Some parts of the plant are used in folk practice
The prickly sucker looks interesting even when there are no buds or berries on it. It has a height of 2 to 7 m, while the bush does not form extraneous shoots, as can be observed with wild grapes - which makes it easy to maintain.The crop does not require formative pruning, since only 1 or 2 trunks develop, and short branches grow around them. From the outside, the prickly sucker resembles a dwarf fluffy tree.
The leaves are similar to laurel - they have the same wavy relief and emphasized border. But there are also differences: the ends of the plates of the prickly oleagin are blunt, while the foliage of the laurel is sharp. White, sometimes brown scales are observed on the outside of the leaves.
At the same time, the plates themselves are dark green and smooth. The reverse side is noticeably lighter, it is rougher due to the large number of veins. The leaves are “planted” on brown petioles, growing from 8 to 14 cm.
The budding of the prickly oleagin begins with the bush forming several fragrant inflorescences. Their number is rapidly increasing. One group usually includes 1-3 flowers, each of which has a tubular shape. The buds directed toward the ground consist of five bicolor petals. Their interior is always yellow, while the exterior is decorated with silvery shades.
Are oleaster berries edible?
In place of the flowers, small elongated berries appear. They can be recognized by their red color, which is clearly visible against the background of green foliage. Unripe fruits have a green-brown color.
Berries can be eaten
The average length is 15 mm, each berry has rounded edges. Under the skin there is tender pulp, most of the fruit is occupied by the seed.
Properties and application
Elf prickly is grown for various purposes, mainly for apiaries, since the crop is described as an excellent honey plant.
The plant is also used for folk purposes: in the summer, gardeners prepare buds and leaves collected over several months for drying. These parts are rich in vitamin C and many macroelements. They are dried outside or at home, always in the shade.
Fresh shoots are used as lotions and compresses to treat rheumatism and radiculitis. The most valuable part in a practical sense are the berries. Decoctions stop inflammation, improve body tone, kill harmful bacteria, and strengthen the immune system. They are usually prepared for colds, as the prickly oleaster softens coughs and helps with expectoration.
Berry juice has a diuretic effect
The wood of the prickly sucker is very dense; various kinds of devices and crafts are made from it.
Advantages and disadvantages
Elf prickly is not only a decorative, but also a healthy crop. Healing decoctions are prepared from it.
The fruits of the oleaster are edible immediately after picking.
Pros:
- moderate growth;
- pleasant smell of flowers;
- honey production;
- unusual leaf shape;
- strong immunity;
- Possibility of growing in a variety of conditions.
Minuses:
- requires alkaline soil;
- sometimes shelter is needed.
Landing Features
In the absence of contact with direct light, the plant can withstand prolonged drought. Frost resistance allows the prickly sucker to withstand cold temperatures down to -18 degrees. The species grows well in urban areas and in villages.
For normal development, it requires a carbonate substrate with an acidity level of 8.5. The material germinates even in depleted soil, with a thin layer of humus.Thus, the crop can be planted in soils where plants with a tap root system do not grow.
Plant care
Growing prickly oleaster is not a hassle. Care involves sanitary pruning, weeding and fertilizing. If the plant is cultivated in a temperate climate (which is characteristic of the Western and Central parts of Russia), the prickly elk needs to be prepared for winter.
Fertilizers that are recommended are humus, potassium salt and superphosphate. They are applied in spring, summer and autumn - once per season. Every year, up to 20 kg of fertilizer is consumed per adult shrub.
Seedlings are fertilized if no nutrient mixtures were provided at the planting stage and the soil is poor
The prickly sucker requires a sanitary haircut. Every season, unhealthy, dry shoots are removed. By the age of 15, it is recommended to concentrate on rejuvenating procedures: every three years it is necessary to cut off up to 1/3 of all shoots so that the crown can renew itself.
In frosty regions, abundant watering is carried out in the fall, after which the root zone of the prickly oleaster is covered with a dense layer of humus. It is better to bend the crown of the bush to the ground - this is done with the utmost care so as not to damage the trunks. To prevent it from returning to its original position, it is fixed with twine. Closer to winter, the plant is covered with spruce branches or brushwood.
Reproduction methods
The plant can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and root shoots. In the first case, you need to choose the right time: September-October is considered a favorable period - this is how the seeds have time to undergo stratification under natural conditions.
If you plan sowing for spring, you will have to stratify at home. To do this, the bones of the prickly oleaster are kept in the refrigerator for 4 months, and 4 days before planting, they are soaked in water. Afterwards, the seeds are buried 3 cm deep in wet sand. The material will remain viable for up to four years if stored in a wooden box at a temperature of +15 degrees.
It is much easier to propagate the prickly sucker from cuttings. The shoots are cut in the fall and planted in a container in the spring. The next year, the plant is transplanted into open ground or a large pot. When growing hedges, leave 150 cm between specimens.
If an adult prickly sucker grows at the dacha, then a daughter plant is obtained by dividing the root shoots. It is necessary to dig up the bush, separate several bunches and transplant them to a lighted place.
They create an impenetrable barrier that protects the interior from drafts, animals and uninvited guests.
Diseases and pests
Diseases and pests are not typical for this group of plants. However, preventive treatment of prickly oleaster with insecticides and fungicides is encouraged.
Conclusion
The prickly sucker is an unusual crop that came to Russia from European countries. It is unpretentious to external factors and has beneficial properties. It is actively used in alternative medicine.The fruits contain many useful substances, so they are used to prepare drinks that boost immunity and relieve colds. The plant is in demand in landscape areas. Gardeners from different countries speak positively about the culture and recommend planting.
