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Potentilla Marion Red Robin differs from the original form with yellow flowers in a beautiful orange-red hue of the petals. The ornamental variety of the five-leaf spring of shrub summer-autumn flowering is bred on the basis of the long-known Red Ice. The shrub is moisture-loving, winter-hardy, tolerates urban conditions well.
Description of marion red robin puppies
Dwarf cinquefoil Marrob, as the variety is sometimes called, is characterized by a round, compact crown, dense, but small in size – 45-60 cm high, up to 80-100 cm wide. Medium growth force: thin branches grow by 10-15 cm per season Densely branched, brittle shoots of red-brown cinquefoil, spreading slightly. Small leaves pinnate, deeply cut to the base, of 5 lobules, sometimes found in 3-7 parts. Green leaf blades turn yellow by autumn. Due to the dense arrangement of small Potentilla leaves, Marion Red Robin gives the impression of a dense crown.
Abundant flowering of the variety begins in June and continues until mid-September or even October in warm weather. The flowers are numerous, with a yellow center, consist of 5 red terracotta petals, up to 3,5 cm in diameter. From the bottom, the petals are much lighter, to a creamy orange hue. In the sun, Potentilla Marion Red Robin flowers fade a little, but towards the end of flowering they slightly change their shade to burnt terracotta. In autumn, fruits are formed – prefabricated achenes.
Potentilla Marion Red Robin in landscape design
The cinquefoil shrub Red Robin is especially picturesque towards the end of summer and early autumn. The plant is stable in the urban atmosphere, it is planted in one bush and in groups, combined with other decorative specimens:
- in a curb;
- on farms;
- in rock gardens and rockeries;
- ground cover for slopes and spacious lawns;
- as padding for tall bushes or trees with an openwork crown;
- low hedge for a symbolic breakdown of garden areas.
Planting and caring for Potentilla Marion Red Robin
Potentilla is planted in early spring or autumn, plants in containers are moved in the summer. For a shrub, a sunny place is chosen, on which a shadow can fall only for a short time, no longer than 4 hours. The best corner is cozy, without access to strong winds and snow drifts in winter. Ornamental Potentilla Red Robin grows, as in the photo, lush and blooming profusely in temperate regions rich in rain.
Site preparation
Variety Marrob develops well on fertile soil, loves loose loam. On sandy loam, the substrate must be enriched with compost or humus. If the site is lowland, a mound is formed, up to 60 cm high, and a landing pit is arranged in it:
- depth and diameter 60 cm;
- the interval between plants is up to 80 cm, for hedges – 40-50 cm.
Rules of landing
Proper planting determines the successful development of the shrub for 20-30 years:
- drainage up to 10 cm is laid from below, lime gravel can be used, since Red Robin Potentilla tolerates alkaline soils well;
- complex fertilizers are added to the prepared enriched substrate, referring to the instructions;
- the seedling is placed taking into account the requirement that the root collar be on the same level with the garden soil;
- having compacted the soil around the bush, the near-trunk circle is watered with a bucket of water;
- put mulch on top.
Watering and top dressing
Potentilla shrub grows well on loose and moderately moist soils. For the plant, areas with stagnant water or too dry are contraindicated. In the first year of growth, bushes of Potentilla shrub Red Robin are watered up to 2 times a week, preventing the earthen clod from drying out. Mature plants tolerate short-term drought, but such a period affects the splendor of flowering. In summer, regular watering is necessary, which is accompanied by loosening or mulching the soil. The Red Robin variety is fed in the spring with nitrogen and potassium preparations, and before flowering, the bush is supported with potassium-phosphorus. Complex fertilizers for ornamental shrubs are easy to use.
Trimming
Variety Marion Red lends itself well to shearing, crown formation begins from the second or third year of growth. Pruning is carried out in the spring, often late, when you can see how well the plant has endured the winter. Gardeners are advised to shorten only a third of each developed branch, and leave young shoots to bloom. Thanks to the formation, flowering is more abundant. Sanitary cleaning is carried out in any season, removing damaged shoots.
Preparation for winter
According to the description, Potentilla shrub Marion Red Robin is winter-hardy, tolerates short-term sub-zero temperatures up to 30 degrees. But in the harsh conditions of snowless and frosty winters of the middle zone, the ornamental bush requires mulching of the near-stem circle and covering young plants with mats made of natural materials. Frozen shoots are removed, new ones grow to replace them.
Reproduction of cinquefoil shrub Marian Red Robin
Like all bushes, the Marion Red variety is propagated:
- cuttings;
- layering;
- division of roots;
- seeds.
Cuttings that take root well are cut in early summer. At the same time, layering from the lower branches is added. Before sowing, the seeds are stratified for 3 months. It has been noticed that under favorable conditions, branches planted near the bush after pruning are accepted and grow.
Diseases and pests
Potentilla shrub is not very susceptible to diseases and pests. Only in the presence of a focus with the pathogen rust, anthracnose or powdery mildew, the leaves of the Marion Red variety are also affected. For the treatment and prevention of planting sprayed with fungicides. A soapy or soda solution is used against aphid colonies.
Conclusion
Potentilla Marion Red Robin is able to delight the eye with abundant flowering with careful care and the right choice of location. Regular watering and periodic top dressing, moisture conservation by mulching, shelter for the winter of young plants will create the necessary conditions for an ornamental variety.
