Content
Siberian buzulnik is a kind of innovation in landscape design. The plant has not only juicy yellow inflorescences, but also medicinal properties. Beginning gardeners will appreciate all the benefits of buzulnik: the culture will generously bestow its beauty on those who provide it with minimal care.
Siberian buzulnik can become a decoration of the garden even without other vegetation around
Description of the Siberian buzulnik
Siberian buzulnik (lat. Ligularia sibirica) belongs to the Astrov family. This is a powerful and low-maintenance perennial that can grow without replanting for up to 15 years. The stem is strong and ribbed. The basal leaves of the Siberian buzulnik are large, heart-shaped, the base has a deep notch. The culture reaches a height of 0.3 m to 1.5 m. The leaves on the stem are small, lanceolate, covered with winged petioles of brown-red color.
The bright yellow flowers of the Siberian buzulnik are grouped into lush oblong inflorescences up to 60 cm long. Each flower has a single-row involucre and linear-shaped petals. Flowering lasts from early July to late September.Afterwards the fruits appear - oval-shaped seeds with a creamy tuft.
The Siberian buzulnik prefers soil saturated with moisture, therefore in nature it lives in the coastal zones of rivers and reservoirs, in coniferous-small-leaved forests, and in swampy areas. Its main places are the Baltic states, Belarus, Central Europe, and eastern Central Asia. In Russia it is distributed mainly in Siberia. Due to massive disturbance of the habitat of the Siberian buzulnik (draining of swamps, deforestation, changes in the hydrological regime of the area), in several regions it is listed in the Red Book.
The Siberian buzulnik has several subspecies. All of them, although they have medicinal properties, are used primarily in landscape design. Gardeners have only recently discovered the benefits of buzulnik, so the wide popularity of the crop is still to come.
Application in landscape design
Siberian buzulnik is a bright accent against the background of low-growing trees and shrubs. It can not only be the central figure of a landscape composition, but will also become an excellent participant in group planting, as a hedge. The culture loves water, so it is a frequent decoration of a garden ornamental pond or alpine slide. Bright yellow clusters will be reflected in the water surface, thereby enhancing the visual effect.
Partial shade near a wide tree solves 2 issues at once: it creates partial shade and protects from drafts
The area looks advantageous if you plant the Siberian buzulnik next to flowers of blue or blue tones
A multi-level composition will be original, in which there will be a lower bush or flowers next to the Siberian buzulnik
Features of reproduction
Siberian buzulnik is propagated by seed or by dividing the bush. The second method is preferable because it is simpler and takes less time.
Seed propagation occurs as follows:
- It is necessary to collect seeds from the bush and dry them.
- Planting is carried out in autumn or early spring, immediately in open ground, but in a separate place. The seeds should be planted in a hole to a depth of 2 cm. The seedlings will sprout in the spring.
- After they have strengthened, the plant can be transferred to its permanent habitat. Flowering will occur 3-4 years after planting.
Reproduction of Siberian buzulnik by dividing the rhizome is easier and more reliable. To do this you need:
- Dig up the bush with its roots, clear it of soil.
- Using garden shears or a sharp knife, carefully divide the rhizome into 2-3 parts. It is important that each one has at least 1 living kidney.
- Immediately plant the seedling in its permanent habitat.
The homeland of the Siberian buzulnik is South-West China, where its main population grows
Planting and care
Since the Siberian buzulnik is an unpretentious plant, it can withstand frosts down to -25 °C. Although the plant can live for a long time without replanting, after 5-7 years its roots grow too much, dangerously approaching the surface of the earth. Therefore, it is advisable to share it.
The stems of the crop are quite tall, so they can break in strong winds. To prevent this, gardeners advise choosing a place for plants near a fence or building. There are no particular requirements for the soil, the main thing is saturation with minerals and water.
Recommended timing
Planting of a divided bush occurs in early spring, when living buds become visible. Seeds can be planted both in spring and autumn. In the latter case, they will undergo a process of natural stratification, i.e. hardening. This will make the Siberian buzulnik stronger and more stable.
Site selection and soil preparation
The Siberian buzulnik loves soil saturated with moisture and useful minerals. It is also worth considering that in an open sunny area the plant will feel good only with abundant watering. The best place is partial shade, without drafts.
Landing algorithm
Planting the Siberian buzulnik is carried out as follows:
- Dig a hole measuring 40x40 cm.
- Mix the extracted soil with humus and mineral fertilizers.
- On the separated seedling, wash the roots with running water and treat the cut area with wood ash.
- Place some humus, wood ash and superphosphate at the bottom of the hole and water generously.
- Install the seedling and cover it with the prepared nutrient mixture. Stomp a little.
- Water the bush generously with rainwater.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
The Siberian buzulnik loves well-fertilized soil. If humus was added to the hole during transplantation, then nothing else is required in the first year. In the future, buzulnik should be fertilized once a year, before flowering, in well-moistened soil. Fertilizing should be done with mullein solution (10 liters of water per 1 liter of fertilizer).
The sunny the area, the more moisture the buzulnik needs. The proximity to bodies of water should also be taken into account. Watering is carried out 3-4 times a week, in the morning or evening, after a decline in solar activity. During the dry season, Siberian buzulnik requires additional spraying of the leaves.
Loosening and mulching
The soil around the Siberian buzulnik must be periodically loosened, thereby saturating it with oxygen. There is no need to go too deep so as not to damage the rhizome.
Loosening is also required to allow water to penetrate deeper into the ground.
Mulching will help prevent rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil. Sawdust, dry grass, and mown hay can be used as mulch.
Preparing for winter
The Siberian buzulnik tolerates wintering well. But even in cold weather, the plant needs precipitation, and if there is none, it may die. Therefore, it is necessary to cut the shoots to 1-2 cm and mulch the soil around them. Additionally, you can cover the buzulnik with spruce branches, humus, fallen leaves or other covering material.
Diseases and pests
The Siberian buzulnik has developed a strong immunity against diseases and pests. Most often, harm is caused by:
- Powdery mildew. The first sign of the disease is spots on the leaves. They are easy to wash off, but this will not prevent their further appearance. Then the lower leaves become covered with brown spots, and the disease gradually spreads to the upper part of the plant.The affected areas dry out and die, which leads to the death of the crop. The disease can be prevented by preventive spraying with sulfur or whey (three times a season). Feeding with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers during the flowering period will increase the plant's immunity to diseases. In case of damage, fungicidal preparations are used according to the instructions.
Warm, humid weather promotes the proliferation of harmful powdery mildew bacteria.
- Slugs and snails. Pests feed on shoots and leaves, so their appearance will be noticeable immediately. To prevent them from climbing onto the Siberian buzulnik, it should be fenced off (an obstacle created). Gravel, sand, nut shells, superphosphate granules, even pepper and tobacco dust will do. You can also place water bottles in the trenches around the plants. You can fight the already appeared individuals by collecting them manually or by spraying them with “Groza” and “Meta” preparations.
Slugs prefer young, large and soft leaves, rich in nutrients.
Conclusion
Siberian buzulnik is an excellent alternative for garden decoration. For no apparent reason, this culture remained unattended for a long time. But thanks to its spectacular appearance and unpretentiousness, the Siberian buzulnik is quickly gaining popularity among both professional garden decorators and ordinary people.
