Contents
Description of the princepia
Prinsepia is a Latin name. botanists call the plant somewhat more prosaic: flat seed chinensis (Prinsepia sinensis).
This shrub is about 1,5 – 2,5 m high (1), and it is very interesting in shape: its long shoots are bent to the ground in arcs, forming a kind of fountain. Their bark is light gray, while the young shoots are greenish-gray. The leaves are green, matte, lighter on the wrong side. In autumn they turn ocher yellow. Along the entire length of the branches there are rare, but rather long spikes – up to 2 cm. The flowers are yellow, with a faint pleasant aroma, bloom in April-May. And in early August, the bushes are covered with bright red rather large (1,5 – 2 cm in diameter) berries, resembling cherries in appearance and taste.
In the wild, the princepia lives in Manchuria, in the south of Primorye and in Korea (2) – where it usually grows along the banks of rivers.
Principia Care
Light fertile soils and an abundance of light (it can grow in partial shade, but it will bloom worse and yield less yield) – that’s basically all she needs. It tolerates drought well, does not require special care. It only needs to be watered occasionally and occasionally fed. But it is better to add more humus when planting in a hole, and then you can forget about top dressing for several years.
In central Our Country and even in Siberia, princepia winters well without any shelter. Only in very severe winters can one-year-old shoots freeze slightly. But in summer the plant recovers very quickly.
Reproduction of princepia
Layering or green cuttings are the simplest and most reliable ways. It is possible with seeds, but it is advisable to sow them before winter – so there is less fuss. And if you sow them in the spring, the seeds will first have to be stratified – to withstand 4 months in the refrigerator.
Popular questions and answers
We asked questions about growing Prinsepia agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova.
Where to plant princepia in the garden?
And the princepia can be planted in an ornamental garden – it looks very interesting with other ornamental shrubs, including conifers.
When does the princepia begin to bear fruit?
How are the fruits of the princepia used?
- Usenko N.V. Trees, shrubs and creepers of the Far East // Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk book publishing house, 1984 – 272 p.
- Vorobyov D.P. Wild trees and shrubs of the Far East // L.: Nauka, Leningrad. Otdel., 1968 – 276 p.