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Derain red or Svidina blood red is a small plant that is widespread throughout Europe. The shrub is used for landscaping parks and squares, gardens and household plots. Thanks to its unpretentiousness and minimal care, the plant has become popular with gardeners.
Description of red deren
Blood-red turf belongs to the Kizilov family. In nature, deren reaches 4 m, grows in a temperate climate, often found on the edge of the forest and along the banks of water bodies.
Description of blood red derain:
- flexible young shoots of derain are painted in bright olive color. Over time, they change it to reddish or brown, and in late autumn, after leaf fall, the shoots become bright burgundy;
- ovate, dark green leaves are large, reach 5 cm in diameter. In the first half of September, the leaf plate becomes blood-scarlet or brick-colored;
- at the end of spring, small creamy-white flowers appear on the red derain, which stay on the branches for a month;
- the first inflorescences appear on the 7th year of life;
- with proper care and in regions with a warm climate, the plant can re-bloom at the end of summer;
- in autumn, small, inedible black fruits form from inflorescences;
- fast-growing shrub, in a year the crown grows up to half a meter in height and width;
- in one place the plant grows up to 25 years.
The red-leaved derain is cold-resistant, grows well in cities with an unstable climate. And also the plant tolerates a slight drought and can grow in the southern regions.
Blood red derain in landscape design
Red deren has a developed root system and a large number of lateral roots, due to which it is used to strengthen the slopes.
A miniature red shrub looks attractive in any season, both in single and in mass plantings. It is planted next to unattractive buildings, used to decorate shady corners, adding colorful colors to a nondescript winter area.
Red turf is grown as a hedge, it is unpretentious, easy to care for, grows well in a polluted area.
Varieties of red derain
Derain red has become popular with flower growers since ancient times. Everyone can choose the most suitable variety for themselves:
- Compress;
- Midwinter Fire;
- Anna Winter Orange.
To quickly determine the variety, you must carefully read the description and see the photo of the red derain.
Derain red Compressa
The most popular, unusual variety. Love flower growers received for compact forms, erect shoots and beautiful leaves. Glossy leaf plate of dark emerald color with small wrinkles.
The decorativeness of the derain is increased by changing the color. In autumn, after leaf fall, the shoots turn blood red. The variety does not bloom, but this is not considered a disadvantage, since even without inflorescences, the plant does not become less attractive.
Derain blood-red Compressa is a small shrub that grows from 1 to 2 m in height. The crown is dense, compact, slow growing. The annual growth is several cm per year.
The plant is shade tolerant, can grow in the shade and in partial shade. For good growth and development, it needs alkaline, well-drained soil without stagnant water. Deren Compressa is unpretentious in cultivation and care, so even a novice grower can grow an attractive shrub.
Deren Red Midwinter Fire
A straight-growing, sprawling, undersized variety reaches a height of up to 2 m. The shrub is frost-resistant, withstands temperatures down to -34 degrees.
An ornamental variety, especially in winter. In autumn, the shoots turn yellow, and the ends are orange-red. The broadly elliptical foliage is opposite, changing color from bright green to yellow-orange in autumn. Snow-white, fragrant corymbose inflorescences appear in early June and last for about a month. After flowering, dark-gray fruits are formed that look beautiful against the background of snow-white snow.
It looks good in flower beds, on an alpine hill and as a hedge.
Derain blood red Anna Winter Orange
A decorative, sprawling variety reaches a height of up to 2 m. In summer, light orange shoots are covered with bright emerald foliage and snow-white hemispherical inflorescences up to 5 cm in diameter. After flowering, white-blue drupes are formed.
In autumn, the leaf plate acquires a rich orange color, and after leaf fall, bright scarlet shoots are exposed that adorn the backyard in the autumn-winter period.
Derain blood-red Anny’s Winter Orange is unpretentious, develops well in the shade, on moist sandy loamy soil.
Planting and caring for red derain
To grow a beautiful, sprawling shrub, you need to take into account the characteristics of the plant. Red shrub is not whimsical to the place of planting and soil quality. To obtain the maximum visual effect, it is necessary to regularly water, fertilize and trim.
Rules of landing
It is better to plant a red deren shrub in a sunny place or in partial shade, as the shoots lengthen in the shade, the leaf plate fades, as a result, the plant loses its decorative appearance. Red Derain prefers nutritious, well-drained soil with neutral acidity.
Landing technology:
- Seedlings are planted in the spring, after the end of frost or in the fall a month before the onset of frost.
- If the planting material has an open root system, the roots are cut before planting and kept in warm water for 4-5 hours. If the seedling is purchased in a container, it is placed in a planting hole with a clod of earth.
- A hole is dug 50×50 in size, at a distance of 0,7 m from each other.
- A 15 cm layer of drainage is covered at the bottom.
- The seedling is set in the center and carefully sprinkled with earth, tamping each layer.
- The soil is abundantly shed and mulched.
Watering and top dressing
Derain with red stems is drought-resistant. It does not need a special watering schedule. The first abundant watering is carried out after planting the seedling, the next one is carried out as needed. If the foliage has lost turgor and wrinkled, then this is the first sign of a lack of moisture.
Top dressing affects the decorativeness of the plant. Complex mineral fertilizers, such as “Nitrofoska”, “Ammophos”, are applied in the spring, before the foliage blooms, strictly following the dosage rules.
Thanks to the correct and timely feeding, deren:
- produces bright shoots and leaves;
- forms a dense, spreading crown;
- produces a large number of flowers.
Trimming
To give decorativeness, it is necessary to remember about pruning, since the shoots lose their elasticity and color with age, the crown quickly grows in width, thereby giving the plant an untidy appearance.
The first pruning is carried out a few years after planting. Old branches are removed in spring, leaving 10-15 cm stumps. At the end of summer, a deren crown is formed, weakened and underdeveloped branches are cut out. To prevent the appearance of fungal diseases, the cut is covered with coal or brilliant green.
Preparation for winter
Red deren is cold-resistant, withstands temperatures down to -34 degrees, so it does not need shelter. In regions with a cold, little snowy winter, only young seedlings cover.
Reproduction
Red deren can be propagated in several ways:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- division of the bush;
- taps.
All methods are easy to perform, the survival rate is about 90-100%.
Seeds
Seed material is purchased in a store or collected from a bush you like. In order for the germination of seeds to be high, they must undergo stratification. Therefore, they are sown in the fall in a prepared place. Furrows are broken at the site, 5 cm deep, seeds are laid and sprinkled with earth.
After the emergence of seedlings, thinning is done. After 4 years, when the turf reaches 80 cm, it is transplanted.
Cuttings
An easy way to propagate red deren. The cuttings are cut in the middle of summer, 10-15 cm long. The lower leaves are removed, the upper ones are cut off by ½.
The prepared seedling is kept for several minutes in a growth stimulator and planted in nutrient soil to a depth of 10 cm, at an angle of 45 degrees. The stalk is abundantly shed and cleaned in a mini-greenhouse, which must be regularly ventilated. The air temperature for germination should be + 23-25 degrees. In autumn, after the roots grow back, the turf is transplanted to a permanent place.
Layers
For this method, young side shoots are suitable. The procedure is carried out in the spring, after the snow melts. A healthy shoot is placed in a prepared trench, fixed to the ground with a metal bracket and sprinkled, leaving the top on the surface. The soil is mulched with sawdust, straw or foliage.
After the appearance of new foliage, the young seedling is disconnected from the mother bush and transplanted to the prepared site.
Division of the bush
For this method, an adult bush is selected that requires a transplant. In autumn, the sods are dug up and divided into sections so that each plant has an overgrown root system and healthy shoots.
The cut site is treated with coal, the plant is transplanted to the prepared site.
Diseases and pests
Derain with red leaves is immune to many diseases. But with untimely care, young seedlings can get sick with powdery mildew. When a disease appears, the bush is treated with fungicides.
Of the insect pests, the red shrub can be attacked by: aphids, sawflies and yellow fly larvae. To destroy them, insecticides of a wide spectrum of action are used.
Conclusion
Derain red is a beautiful ornamental shrub. With proper care and timely pruning, the plant will become an ornament to the backyard in the autumn-winter period.