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Calistegia (Calystegia) is a decorative vine of the Bindweed family. This plant is ideal for vertical gardening, so it is often used in landscape design. Popularity among flower growers is explained by endurance, unpretentious care, rapid growth and high decorativeness throughout the season. Japan, China are considered to be the birthplace of calistegia or povoy, and can also be found in natural conditions in the Far East, where the liana grows everywhere. Planting and caring for calistegia is carried out taking into account the requirements of the culture, otherwise the desired result cannot be achieved.
Liana easily adapts to any climatic conditions
Botanical description
This plant is a herbaceous perennial. Its curly shoots reach a height of 4 m. Their surface is brown. The stems of the vine are smooth, flexible, but strong. The leaves at the root can be bud, ovate or triangular with a heart-shaped base. The plates are bright green in color with a pronounced relief pattern on the surface of the veins. They are located along the entire length of the shoots alternately and are fixed with the help of petioles.
The calistegia plant is distinguished by a well-developed creeping root, which can grow up to 1,5 m in length. Every year, with the onset of autumn frosts, the aerial part dies off completely. And with the advent of spring, the vine begins its growth from the recovery buds, which are located in the upper part of the root system.
Along the entire length of the creeper shoots, single flowers are formed throughout the season, which appear from the axils of the leaves. They can be white or pink. The flowers are bell-shaped and can be single or double depending on the species. Their diameter can also be different from 2 to 9 cm. Flowers consist of 5 delicate petals that have grown together and frame a tubular core with stamens.
After the buds wither, a four-leaved rounded fruit is formed, inside which the seeds ripen. The flowering period of the liana begins in mid-June and lasts until September. All this time, the plant actively forms numerous buds, so it needs regular feeding.
Popular types and varieties
In nature, there are about 25 types of vines, but only a few of them have found application as an element of landscape design. In addition, on their basis, decorative varieties of calistegia were obtained, which are distinguished by large flowers. Therefore, you should study their features, which will allow you to choose the most suitable option.
Terry
This type of calistegia is also called the Siberian rose for the similarity of flowers with an ornamental shrub. Terry povoi is characterized by abundant flowering for 4 months. The diameter of the opened buds is 8-9 cm. The color of the petals is pale pink. Flowers in terry calistegia (Calystegia Hederifolia) are multi-petal. The length of the shoots reaches 3 m. The leaves are dark green, petiolate.
Seeds in terry vines do not form
Calistegia multiplex
A highly decorative type of culture, characterized by large flowers of a pink hue with a mother-of-pearl tint. The diameter of a blossoming bud at calistegia multiplex (multipleks) reaches 10 cm. The length of the shoots is 3,5 cm. The leaves are triangular, uniform green in color, medium. Flowering lasts from July to mid-October.
Liana multiplex is characterized by high frost resistance
Fluffy
The homeland of this povoy is China. This type of creeper is considered the highest, the length of its shoots reaches 4 m. The leaves are saturated green in color, elongated. The flowers of the fluffy calistegia (Calystegia pubescens) are multi-petal, terry type. Their diameter reaches 4-6 cm. The petals are white with a slight pink tint.
For the winter, fluffy calistegia should be covered with fallen leaves.
Fence
This species, in terms of the structure of leaves and flowers, resembles a birch, which is considered a weed. The shoots of the fence calistegia (Calystegia sepium) are thin, reaching 3 m. It is easily propagated by seeds, so self-seeding is possible. Triangular leaves, light green. The root deepens to 1 m, it is impossible to control its growth. Flowers simple, bell-shaped. The color of the petals is white.
The diameter of the flowers at the fence calistegia reaches 4 cm
ivy
This type of calistegia got its name due to the three-blade leaf plates, which are similar to ivy. The length of the shoots varies between 1,5-2,5 m. The lashes of the ivy calistegia (Calystegia japonica) are elastic and durable. Flowers are multi-petal, loose, up to 9 cm in diameter. They have a light pink hue. Flowering begins in July and lasts until autumn frosts.
Ivy calistegia is also called Japanese
hairy
The homeland of this species is the Far East. The shoots of the hairy calistegia (Calystegia Pellita) branch slightly, reach a length of about 80 cm. The leaves are oblong, petiolate. The shade of the plates of the liana is light green. Flowers consist of 5 sharp petals fused at the base. They are small in size, the diameter of the corolla does not exceed 4 cm.
Flowering in hairy calistegia occurs in the second half of summer
Application in landscape design
Calistegia is a liana that is ideal for vertical gardening of arbors, arches, pergolas. Thanks to the flexibility of its shoots, it is able to easily master any support in the first year after planting. Also, this plant can be planted near balconies, terraces.
If you want to make a green fence with the help of calistegia, you need to plant it near the fence, placing the seedlings nearby. This will allow you to get the desired result in 2-3 months.
Liana in a flower bed can only be used as a background
Methods of reproduction
Calistegia is often propagated vegetatively. This is due to the fact that its root has an enhanced regenerative ability, so a small segment is enough for it to start new shoots.
To propagate the type of calistegia you like, you need to dig out part of the mother bush in the fall before the start of frost along with a clod of earth. During the winter, it should be stored in the basement and kept slightly damp.
In March, the calistegia root should be cleaned of soil and washed thoroughly. Then cut it into pieces of 5-7 cm, and sprinkle fresh wounds with wood ash and plant them in boxes filled with nutrient soil. Delenki vines must be deepened by 3-5 cm and watered abundantly. You can plant young seedlings in a permanent place at the end of May.
When the seedlings of calistegia grow up and get stronger, it needs to be pinched, which will improve the branching of the vine.
Planting and caring for calistegia in the open field
Povoy is one of the unpretentious cultures. Therefore, planting and caring for a calistegia flower will not be difficult even for a novice gardener. But in order for the plant to fully develop and constantly form buds, you need to follow simple recommendations.
Abundant flowering of calistegia is possible only with support
Recommended dates
It is necessary to plant seedlings of vines in a permanent place in the second half of May, when the threat of return frosts has completely passed. This is due to the fact that immature sprouts of calistegia do not have high frost resistance like adult bushes, so you should not rush into planting.
Site selection and preparation
For a plant, you can choose open areas that are shaded in the afternoon. It is impossible to plant a povoy in deep shade, since it will not be able to fully bloom in such conditions.
A week before the procedure, it is necessary to dig up the area and add 5 kg of humus per square meter. m. Calistegia prefers to grow on loam. But landing in clay soil is also acceptable if sand and peat are added to it.
When planting, the occurrence of groundwater should be taken into account. This level should not be less than 1,0 m, since the vine does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil.
Landing algorithm
When planting calistegia, you need to prepare roofing material or pieces of slate. They are necessary to limit root growth. If this requirement is ignored, it will be impossible to control the further growth of the vine on the site.
The procedure for planting calistegia:
- Dig a planting hole 50-60 cm deep.
- On its sides, install slate or lay roofing felt.
- Pour earth into the center so that 15-20 cm remain to the top.
- Water generously and wait for the moisture to be absorbed.
- Set the seedling in the center.
- Sprinkle with earth and compact the surface.
- Water again.
As the shoots grow, it is necessary to pinch the calistegia to increase its branching.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
The rhizome of the creeper stores water, so the plant easily withstands a short drought. But in the case of a long absence of precipitation, you need to water the calistegia. To do this, use settled water with a temperature of +20 degrees. Humidification is carried out 1-2 times a week with wetting the soil up to 30 cm. Sometimes it is possible to do irrigation by sprinkling, which allows you to wash off the collected dust from the leaves.
Calistegia constantly forms buds for 3-4 months, so it needs regular feeding. During the period of active growth of shoots, organic matter or nitroammophoska can be used. And during flowering, use phosphorus-potassium mineral mixtures.
Trimming
To maintain the decorativeness of the plant throughout the entire flowering period, it is necessary to cut wilted buds once every 1-7 days.
Pruning of calistegia before wintering should be carried out at the end of October. During this period, it is necessary to cut the shoots at the base of adult bushes, and shorten the young seedlings by 2/3 of the length.
Preparation for winter
It is necessary to cover calistegia only in the first 3 years after planting. To do this, it is necessary to mulch the soil above the root with a layer of peat or humus 10 cm.
The need for a transplant
Adult liana bushes do not tolerate transplantation. But in case of emergency, the procedure should be carried out in the fall after flowering. Calistegia with regular feeding can grow in one place for 10-12 years.
With a decrease in the decorativeness of an adult vine, you need to completely renew the plant
Pests and diseases
Calistegia has a high natural immunity. Therefore, cases of its damage by pests and diseases are quite rare. This can only happen if the growing conditions are not met.
Possible difficulties:
- Powdery mildew. The disease develops at high humidity and temperature, which leads to excessive evaporation. The lesion can be recognized by a white coating on the leaves of the calistegia, which subsequently becomes dirty gray and causes metabolic disorders. For treatment, it is necessary to use “Topaz” or “Skor”. It is necessary to spray the shoots of calistegia at the first sign of powdery mildew.
- Slugs. This pest attacks the plant in case of high humidity for a long time. It feeds on young leaves and shoots, which reduces the decorative effect of the vine. To repel slugs, it is necessary to sprinkle the soil at the base of the calistegia with wood ash or tobacco dust.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for calistegia will not cause much trouble to the gardener. But at the same time, it is important to remember about its ability to spread uncontrollably throughout the site, so you should worry in advance and deepen the root limiter. Calistegia is an ideal flower for vertical gardening, which can quickly wrap itself around any support.
