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In the southern regions of Our Country, with the onset of spring, lily-colored magnolia blossoms in parks and squares, surprising with abundant, richly bright flowering, which delights and delights urban residents. Flowering lasts for several weeks, accompanied by a wonderful, fragrant aroma.
Description Magnolia Nigra
Lily-flowered magnolia of the hybrid variety Nigra is a deciduous, large – up to 4 m in height and width – shrub with a highly branched, spherical crown. The trunk and branches of the culture are smooth, light gray in color. Alternately arranged, showy leaves fall in winter. The cylindrical fruits ripen in late October – November. The uniqueness of the Nigra variety lies in the darkest color of the inflorescences of all magnolias. Outside, it is dark ruby, and inside – white-lilac. Visually, this color combination looks almost black. Hence the name of this variety. The plant is photophilous, but tolerates light shading in the southern regions, surprising with delightful flowering.
The high decorative qualities of the Nigra magnolia lilac are clearly shown in the photo below. It looks impressive in single and group plantings on lawn areas, against the background of a variety of evergreens, near water bodies and against the background of structures.
How magnolia nigra blooms
Simultaneously with the blooming of the leaves, vase-shaped, large flowers appear, up to 12 long and 5 cm wide, with a dark outer color and light – white, purple or gray inner blotches. Lily-colored magnolia Nigra blooms twice – in spring and in mid-summer, sometimes until autumn.
Methods of reproduction
Magnolia Nigra liliaceus can be propagated in several of the following ways:
- layering;
- cuttings;
- seeds.
A well-proven method of propagation by seeds, which has a high percentage of germination. It will not be difficult to propagate magnolia and layering, which naturally take root around the mother bush. Layers take root quickly and easily, reaching moist, fertile soil. For cuttings, sphagnum moss is used, where prepared cuttings with roots are placed. They are pre-soaked in and root-stimulating solutions. Before the appearance of several leaves, the cuttings of Magnolia Nigra are covered with plastic caps, they are provided with regular watering, feeding and airing. Only after that they are planted in open ground in a permanent place.
Planting and caring for lily-colored magnolia Nigra
Sophisticated, special magnolia care is not required. The main thing is abundant watering, especially in drought. Mandatory for good growth and development of fertilizing with mineral, organic fertilizers. Every year in the fall, the trunk circle is mulched with coniferous bark, peat or fallen leaves. This measure will provide additional fertilizer with natural organic matter. To give the lily-colored magnolia Nigra decorativeness, mandatory pruning is carried out. This measure is also necessary to remove damaged, dried branches. The superficial root system does not allow actively loosening the soil around the bush. Therefore, loosening must be carried out very carefully, trying not to damage the small roots.
Recommended dates
Lily magnolia Nigra is planted mainly in autumn – in September or early October, when the seedlings are at rest. As practice has shown, this will ensure 100% survival of the plant. Planting in spring – in April does not exclude the risk of freezing and death of young seedlings from recurrent frosts.
Site selection and preparation of soil
The place for magnolia lily-colored Nigra should be open, but protected from drafts and sharp gusts of north and east winds. It is worth choosing bright, sunny areas, ideally – with protection from the scorching sun at noon. Near the bush, you should not place any plants, nor should you dig up the ground around. Magnolia will not thrive and bloom to its full potential in calcareous and saline soils. The soil should be nutritious, fertile and loose. The best option is slightly acidic or neutral soil. In the first year of life, its root system is gaining strength, so Nigra develops slowly, with difficulty. But proper care will ensure the beauty and power of a flowering shrub later.
The size of the planting hole for lilac magnolia Nigra should be three times the volume of the root system of seedlings. A little sand and rotted compost are added to the soil. Drainage is required at the bottom.
How to plant
A little soil mixture is poured into the prepared hole with a drainage layer of crushed stone, broken brick or ceramic tile, a lily-colored Nigra magnolia seedling is placed vertically and the depression is filled with the remaining soil. The basal neck of the Nigra should be placed 3-5 cm above the ground, which, after planting, is carefully compacted and watered abundantly. After absorbing moisture around the bush, mulching is carried out with peat or coniferous bark.
A video about magnolia lilac-colored Nigra will clearly demonstrate the landing rules:
Growing rules
Magnolia Nigra care is simple and similar to the agricultural technology of other varieties of this flower crop, a description of which can be found on the site. Basic growing rules:
- mulching with coniferous bark reduces the acidity of the soil and allows you to retain moisture, which makes it a mandatory measure;
- weeding can only be done by hand;
- young bushes must be covered for the winter with burlap or spunbond, arranging a light pyramidal frame.
Watering
Nigra magnolia requires abundant, regular watering throughout the growing season to thrive. A young plant, up to 5 years old, needs to be watered once a week, but during dry periods, their number is increased to 2-3 times a week. The soil of the trunk circle should always be moist, but not wet. Warm water is used for irrigation.
Additional fertilizing
Fertile land, preparations for seedlings, provides sufficient nutrition for Nigra for two years. From the age of three, the plant needs regular feeding. In the spring, you can use organic matter in limited quantities. However, preference should still be given to mineral fertilizers. For this, ready-made mineral complexes are suitable, where the dosage is indicated in the instructions. Suitable for feeding and self-prepared composition:
- 20 g of ammonium nitrate;
- 1 kg of mullein;
- 15 g of urea;
- 10 L of water.
For an adult bush, you will need 40 liters of solution for a single feeding, which is carried out 1 time for 30-40 days. With the onset of August, the number of top dressings is reduced, then they are completely stopped. So, magnolia lilac-colored Nigra will be able to gradually go into a dormant stage and prepare for a long winter period.
Trimming
When growing lily-colored magnolia in the garden, the need for formative pruning is eliminated. Only in single plantings as a tapeworm, the plant can be slightly cut to give a neater, decorative shape. Sanitary pruning is carried out only after flowering, with the elimination of frozen, damaged branches, thickening the crown of dry shoots, as well as wilted flowers. In spring, the lily-colored Nigra magnolia is in a state of sap flow, and pruning will reduce the natural defenses of the shrub. Therefore, spring pruning of magnolia cannot be carried out! After cutting, damaged areas are treated with garden pitch.
Preparation for winter
Magnolia Liliaceus Nigra has an average winter hardiness and in especially severe winters, young shoots, along with buds, can freeze slightly. Therefore, shelter for the winter from several layers of burlap wrapped around the trunk and branches will eliminate the risk of freezing. This is especially true for young plants.
Pests and diseases
When growing magnolia liliflora of the Nigra variety, it is worth considering that it is quite resistant to diseases and pests. At the same time, do not forget:
- Nigra magnolia can be harmed with a large amount of fertilizer: overfeeding will have a bad effect on its further development;
- rodents pose a threat to the root neck and small roots;
- the spider mite prefers to feed on the juices of the fleshy leaves, which causes the lily-colored magnolia to shed its foliage with the onset of summer;
- yellow spots with green veins on the foliage indicate the occurrence of chlorosis.
Since the lily-colored magnolia does not tolerate saline, calcareous soils, the soil for it must be diluted with acidic peat. This measure is the best prevention of chlorosis. Soil for Nigra can be obtained from coniferous forests and provide abundant watering, which reduces soil salinity. From rodents, you can use solutions based on foundationazole, which treat damaged areas.
Conclusion
The lily-colored magnolia is unusually effective during the budding and flowering period, exuding a pleasant aroma and attracting bees. The Nigra variety is excellent for growing in small gardens, in household plots in southern and central Our Country.