Contents
Chinese lilac is one of the hybrid varieties of a well-known shrub. This species with openwork foliage and beautiful inflorescences has long been used in horticulture. In addition, the new variety has a number of other improved characteristics.
General description of the Chinese lilac
The Chinese lilac, shown in the photo, was discovered in the XNUMXth century in the botanical garden of the French city of Rouen, and it still remains a mystery why it is called that way, because this species does not grow in natural conditions.
The outward similarity of the shrub with the Persian lilac prompted breeders to think about the hybrid origin of the species, which was later proved by L. Henry and E. Lemoine during the test by artificial crossing of various species.
Thus, it has been established that Chinese lilac (Syringa x chinensis), an ornamental perennial garden shrub that belongs to the Olive family, was obtained by crossing common and Persian lilacs. The hybrid eventually received an improved bush shape, lush flowering, resistance to dry periods, improved rooting and survival.
The height of the bush can be 5 m. The diameter of the trunks is less than that of the common lilac. The graceful branches of the shrub hang down, its crown is neat, up to 3-4 m wide.
The elongated leaves are pointed at the ends. They are not very large in length – about 4 – 7 cm, located oppositely. Small tubular flowers form panicles 10-16 cm long and 2 cm wide. Inflorescences resemble a fox’s tail or a pyramid.
How the Chinese lilac blooms
Chinese lilac blooms magnificently, forms many inflorescences, and in this way it looks like an ordinary one. It starts in May – June and pleases the eye for another two weeks. Its inflorescences are varied – white, purple or pink. In addition, this species has forms with simple flowers and with terry ones, always with a fragrant aroma.
Forms and varieties of Chinese lilac
Chinese lilac has several forms, both popular among gardeners and not so much, each of them has its own distinctive features.
- Lilac Chinese Saugeana (Saugeana, or Sojina). This is the most common form of this species. The diameter of the sprawling crown of the bush is 3 m, the height also reaches 3 m. The large purple inflorescences of the Chinese narrowed lilac look good against the background of green foliage;
- Lilac Chinese Duplex, or Double. This is also a small bush, the maximum height of which is 2, less often – 3 m. A distinctive feature of this form is double flowers of a rich burgundy hue;
- Lilac Chinese Metensis. A bush with an ovoid crown is larger than the previous forms – 3,5 m. Panicles from pale purple inflorescences are large: 15 -16 cm in length and up to 9 cm in width;
- Lilac Chinese Alba Dieck – characterized by spectacular white flowers;
- Lilac Chinese Bicolor (Lemoine) H. Jaeger. Although this variety is not very common, its flowers are very rare and unusually beautiful – two-colored.
How does the Chinese lilac reproduce?
There are several ways to propagate a bush, using:
- seed;
- Otvodkov;
- Privoev;
- Cherenkov.
Gardeners rarely use seeds for propagation, because the fruits are not always available. For better germination, it is necessary to carry out stratification – keep the seed material in moistened sand in the refrigerator for 2 months. In early spring, it can be planted in a box with soil to a depth of no more than 1,5 cm. Seeds can sprout after 2 weeks or after several months. Seedlings dive 2 weeks after they sprout. It is important that the air and soil are well warmed up, that’s when it’s time to transfer the seedlings to the site.
One of the most common propagation methods is the layering of the Chinese lilac. In the spring, an annual shoot is tied up with copper wire in two places: at the base and at a distance of 80 cm from it. The bark cannot be damaged. The branch should be laid in a groove near the bush, sprinkled with earth (except for the top). As soon as new shoots reach a height of 15 – 17 cm, they are spudded. In autumn, layering is separated from the bush.
In the spring, gardeners also quite often plant a bush – this is the second common method of reproduction. Cuttings are prepared in early spring and kept in the refrigerator until grafting. The scion is wrapped in a package. It is removed after the kidneys begin to swell.
It is not very easy to propagate the Chinese lilac using cuttings, because they do not take root well. For this purpose, young shoots are suitable (preferably annuals), which are cut directly during flowering or after. The cuttings are rooted in a greenhouse in calcined soil of peat and sand. Escapes are important to cover. After about 2 months, the cutting will take root, and in the spring the plant can be planted on the site.
Planting and caring for Chinese lilac
The Chinese lilac is quite winter-hardy and drought-resistant. But some of the nuances associated with planting and further care must still be observed, because it is not for nothing that this species does not grow in the wild.
Chinese lilac – landing and care in the photo:
Recommended dates
With the exception of certain conditions, for the methods of propagating the bush described above, the second half of July – the beginning of September is considered the optimal period for planting Chinese lilacs. At other times, the bushes will take root worse, almost will not give a good growth and will not bloom for several years.
Site selection and preparation of soil
Choosing the right place for a bush in the garden is important. To do this, follow the rules:
- Chinese lilac prefers to grow with access to the sun, and there should be a lot of light. If you place the bush in a shady place, it will bloom very modestly, it is even possible that the buds will not bloom at all.
- The plant needs protection from strong drafts, but light ventilation for the growth of Chinese lilacs is a must.
- It is better to choose a place on a hill to avoid root rot due to stagnant moisture.
- Chinese lilac is demanding on the type and fertility of the soil, loves humus. It is necessary that the soil be moderately moist and drained, with a neutral or slightly acidic pH value.
How to plant
It is recommended to follow the following steps:
- Prepare the roots – remove the weak and spoiled. Cloudy weather or early morning is more suitable for planting.
- It is necessary to first dig a planting hole larger than the roots, along with a clod of earth: approximately 50 – 60 cm deep and wide.Important! If it is planned to place several plants side by side, it is worth considering that the distance between them should be left about 2 – 3 m (crown diameter of an adult lilac).
- Drainage should be laid at the bottom of the pit. It can be crushed stone or expanded clay. Next, pour a little soil with top dressing and place a Chinese lilac seedling. It is important to carefully distribute its roots in the pit.
- Then the seedlings need to be sprinkled with fertile soil and compact the surface with your hands (no need to press hard).
- Pour a freshly planted bush with plenty of water.
Growing rules
Chinese lilac is relatively unpretentious, but in order for it to bloom more magnificently and grow faster, it is worth following a number of rules – watering, feeding, cutting and preparing for winter. Then the culture will decorate the site for many years.
Watering Schedule
Chinese lilac tolerates drought, so in summer it is not recommended to water it very often and not too much: the plant has enough rainfall. But during the growing season and active flowering of lilacs, a large amount of water is needed.
What can be fed
In the first 2 – 3 years, it is not necessary to fertilize the plant: for growth and development, it has enough minerals added during planting. Next, the bush should be fed with nitrogen fertilizer (60 g per bush). Slurry is also suitable, it needs to be applied in about 2 buckets per plant. Nitrogen fertilizers improve leaf color and promote shoot growth.
About 1 time in 2 years, the plant is fed with double superphosphate and potassium nitrate (35 g per bush).
Soil mulching
The trunk circle of the Chinese lilac is mulched with peat and rotted leaves. This is done to protect the roots from overheating. It is enough to loosen the soil 3-4 times a season to a depth of 7-8 cm. It is important not to damage the roots. As an alternative, there is another option – to plant small perennial plants under the lilac. They will naturally loosen the soil.
Chinese lilac pruning
Pruning ennobles the bush or gives it a beautiful shape, so that it immediately looks well-groomed. It is recommended to do this after three years after planting. It is better to cut a haircut in early spring, before the buds swell. It is necessary to remove weak or damaged branches every year.
In addition, pruning rejuvenates the bush and sets the correct shape of the crown. In this case, you need to leave only 5 or 10 of the most healthy and straight stems.
Preparing the shrub for winter
A young shrub is recommended to cover for the winter. This should be done only when cold weather sets in, but not before. The root circle is covered with a dense layer of 10 cm of fallen leaves and peat.
Bushes growing in the middle lane, in the Urals and even the Moscow region, should be covered for the winter, since at very low temperatures there is a risk of freezing of the shoots.
Application in landscape design
This very neat, beautiful and spectacular plant can decorate a garden area by itself, for example, rising on a lawn, and also become part of a composition with other plants.
A significant plus of Chinese lilac, often used in gardening, is a powerful, branched root system. Due to this, the shrub stands securely in the ground and helps to strengthen creeping slopes or loose soil.
Chinese lilac is also suitable for hedge decoration. Fences from a multi-stemmed shrub are quite dense and beautiful.
Pests and diseases
Chinese lilac is a fairly resistant crop, but some diseases and pests can overcome it, in particular:
- Bacterial necrosis. It is accompanied by a change in the color of the foliage from green to gray. Shoots turn brown. To prevent this, it is recommended to thin out the crown for lilac ventilation.
- Bacterial rot. The disease affects the leaves, flowers, shoots and buds of the Chinese lilac, they gradually dry out. Lilac can be cured. To do this, it is necessary to spray the bush 3 or 4 times with copper chloride with an interval of 1,5 weeks.
- Mučnistaâ rosa. The leaves are covered with plaque. It is necessary to cut off the infected areas and spray the bush with a fungicide. In spring, it is better to dig up the soil with bleach (100 g / m2).
- Verticillosis. The leaves are curling, their surface is covered with brown spots. The bush dries quickly, starting from the top. The affected plant must be treated with a special solution – 1,5 g of soda ash and laundry soap are added to 100 buckets of water.
In addition, the shrub may be disturbed by hawk moth, mining moth, lilac moth, as well as bud and leaf mites. It is necessary to spray the plant with appropriate preparations.
Conclusion
Chinese lilac is one of the most abundant and interesting flowering shrub species. Gardeners actively use it to decorate plots as an independent plant or in tandem with others.
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