Three-lobed almond (Louisania)

This amazing plant has two names at once. Or, to be more precise, three. It was also known as Chinese terry plum. Residents of Western Europe call the shrub a terry plum, and in the Soviet Union it took root as a three-lobed almond. In the common people, it was dubbed sakura, although this plant has nothing to do with the Japanese cherry. Unusually beautiful flowering bushes immediately won the hearts of gardeners and collectors. But in the parks you will not find Louisiana. She has too much color. Decorative twigs break off for bouquets. And the secrets of growing this plant are not known to all gardeners. But it is still possible to grow a mysterious Asian on your site. It is not difficult to understand the variety of species and the intricacies of caring for three-lobed almonds.

Description of the three-lobed almond

This plant is a small tree or shrub 2-3 m high. Its bark is brownish. The leaf plates are three-lobed with small teeth, on the reverse side they have a slightly grayish tint. Terry flowers about 2,5 cm in size, can be white or pink. After flowering, fruits appear in many species – a small drupe, slightly rounded.

Popular varieties

The three-lobed almond, the photo of which is presented below, has many types.

The most popular are:

1. Captivity. One of the most famous varieties of three-lobed almonds. It has double flowers (up to 4 cm in diameter). Interestingly, the flowering period of the plant coincides with the appearance of leaves on the branches. As a result, the bush becomes lush and branched (reaches a height of 2 m). Immediately after flowering, all fruits fall off, not having time to ripen and give seeds.

   

2. Kievskaya. The plant is tall (about 3,5 m). The shade of the flowers is darker and more saturated. It is characterized by earlier and more abundant flowering, but it lasts no more than a week. Then the leaves open up. It has a rich almond flavor.

   

3. Vesnjanka. An excellent standard variety. The flowers are a little flat, but remain double. They differ in delicate shades of pink, but turn white before withering. Gardeners prefer this variety for its hardiness and resistance to diseases (even to monolial burn).

   

4. Rosenmund. European variety with international awards. Almond three-lobed Rosenmund has compact-sized bushes with large flowers (5 cm in diameter). The budding period is longer than the rest – up to 21 days.

   

5. Crimson. The plant is characterized by the presence of straight shoots. They are strewn with flowers of a deep crimson hue. The plant does not bear fruit.

   

6. Chinese. famous hybrid. The branches of the plant are upright, bloom early and do not have a bright color. The breeding method is grafting onto felt cherries. Outwardly very similar to sakura. Three-lobed Chinese almond bears fruit for years, resembling felt cherries in appearance, only much larger.

   

7. Tanya. The shrub is relatively small, but very beautiful. The flowers of the plant are bright, with a large terry corolla, which in turn consists of three dozen intricately curved petals.

   

Planting and caring for three-lobed almonds

In general, this plant is easy to grow. Beginners may encounter some difficulties. But, having sufficient information about the preferences of the three-lobed almond, you can safely plant it in your garden. A rare shrub can be compared with it in decorativeness.

Landing site and material preparation

First, you should pick up a healthy and viable three-lobed almond seedling. Often they can be purchased in special containers. Three-year-old specimens are suitable as planting material. Their root system is already strong enough.

The site should be sunny, but without drafts and gusty winds (especially during the cold season). Under the ban are also places flooded with spring floods. Three-lobed almond calmly reacts to some shading. And there are no special requirements for the composition of the soil.

Garden soil for three-lobed almonds must be fed with humus (add two parts), and sand should be used as a baking powder (no more than one part).

Rules of landing

Three-lobed almonds are distinguished by good pollination. Therefore, gardeners often plant several copies at a time. It is necessary to dig holes with a depth of 30-40 cm (maximum – half a meter). A distance of at least 3 m is made between them. The bottom is laid with a 10-15 cm layer of good drainage. You can use gravel. Sprinkle it with sand on top, then place the plant and cover it with earth on top.

Immediately after planting, the bush is watered abundantly, tied to a support, and the ground around is mulched.

Watering and top dressing

Planted almond bushes do not suffer much from moderate drought. But periodically you need to moisten the soil well, especially after planting. The amount of moisture depends on the specific climatic conditions and the individual characteristics of the plant. Three-lobed almond seedlings with their own root system do not tolerate stagnant water, it is better to dry them out a little than to fill them.

If the rains in the region are quite frequent, then additional watering of the three-lobed almonds will not be required at all. In Louisiana, which were grafted onto other plants (for example, cherry plum, blackthorn or plum), they try to keep the near-stem circle in a wet state until the second half of July. But here it is also important not to overdo it. The line between wet and wet soil is quite thin. Moisture is brought in exclusively under the root, getting on the crown is highly undesirable. For good growth and generous flowering of three-lobed almonds, it is required in the spring to pour at least 2-3 buckets of water under one bush every 3-4 days.

Louisiana spends most of its energy on flowering. Fertilizers are applied before and after. In early spring, they fertilize with organic matter on melted snow. Mullein diluted at a concentration of 1:10 is used. It is also useful to use humus (from 5 to 6 kg per plant). After pruning, three-blade almonds are recommended to be fertilized with urea or ammonium nitrate (10 g / 30 l). For August, the best fertilizers are superphosphate (per 1 m² soil no more than 20 g) and wood ash (a glass of raw materials is diluted with a bucket of water).

Trimming

Caring for three-lobed almonds involves regular pruning. It performs sanitary and formative functions. Held annually. In plants that bear fruit, not all branches are pruned and some of the fruits are retained. For sterile varieties of three-lobed almonds, cardinal pruning is practiced as soon as they fade. On each shoot, a part with 2-3 buds necessarily remains. Young shoots sprout from their sinuses at the end of the season. Five-year branches are removed completely. After winter, sanitary pruning of three-lobed almonds is carried out. It is necessary to get rid of all dead branches.

Preparation for winter

You need to start it in advance, since the summer. To speed up the lignification of the three-lobed almond shoots, they resort to tweezing, that is, pinching the tops. Thus, they will be protected from freezing.

Young bushes of three-blade almonds are mulched with earth (to a height of up to 15 cm from the soil level), as well as materials such as dry leaves, straw or dense lutrasil. It is important to ensure that under the snow the root neck does not turn sour and does not rot.

As for standard specimens of three-lobed almonds, their branches must be carefully gathered into a bundle, wrapped with non-woven material and tied with ropes.

Reproduction

There are the following plant propagation options:

1. Layers. This method of propagation of three-lobed almonds is highly respected by gardeners. It’s pretty simple and effective. Low and long branches are ideal. Grooves are made near the bush, branches of three-lobed almonds are laid in them and fixed. After they fall asleep with earth and water well. A year later, the seedling is transferred to a permanent place.
2. Cuttings. The source for such planting material is the upper branches of the three-lobed almond. The optimal length of the cuttings is from 15 to 20 cm. For successful rooting, they are soaked for a day in a special solution for root formation or growth stimulants are used. Until the cuttings take root, they require constant attention. After the three-lobed almonds can be safely planted in the garden.

   

3. Vaccinations. First you need to grow or pick up from existing bushes or three-bladed almond trees for grafting (these are the so-called rootstocks). It is preferable to work with frost-resistant species. Next, the cuttings themselves are prepared (these are grafts). The best period for grafting three-lobed almonds is spring or summer. At this time, plants produce the most juice. The technology is as follows: an incision is made in the rootstock (higher than the root collar) and a cutting is inserted into it. For reliable fixation, it is wrapped with tape or tape. When the three-lobed almonds take root, the tapes are peeled off.
4. bones. The most troublesome way. They are used extremely rarely for propagation of three-lobed almonds, since not all varieties are capable of fruiting. And if there are fruits, then the process takes too much time and effort. Initially, the bones from fresh fruits of three-lobed almonds are stratified for a long time. In spring or autumn, you can start planting immediately into the ground. Three-lobed almond bones are laid in 10-centimeter grooves (every 10 cm). Landings require constant care. At a half-meter seedling, all branches are cut off (at a distance of 10 cm from the ground) and then they are seated around the site. In the future, they will become material for vaccination. It is not worth growing to a mature bush, since in most cases such a plant will lose all maternal signs.

Diseases and pests

Varieties of three-lobed almonds are resistant to common diseases.

But some errors in care can lead to problems:

1. Moniliasis. A type of fungal infection that infects Rosenmund almonds through the flowers. Getting inside the branches, spores begin to develop rapidly, which leads to the destruction of wood. The shoots gradually turn black and resemble a charred tree. To avoid infection, the three-lobed almond flowers that have opened should be treated with common antifungal drugs. If the moment was missed, you will have to cut off all unhealthy-looking shoots.
2. Milky luster. Another disease of three-lobed almonds caused by bacteria. typical of the south. Regular inspection of the shrub and timely pruning will help prevent it.
3. Gray mold. Appears if the summer is cold and damp. May be due to excessive watering or too dense planting. The affected branches of the three-lobed almond are immediately removed.

Pests rarely attack three-lobed almonds. There are cases of defeat by aphids, leafworm and plum bark beetle-sapwood. But they are not systematic. Caring for three-lobed almonds, as well as for other shrubs, does not create any particular difficulties. Sometimes tits can bother. But it is enough to start feeding them, and they will stop feasting on the kidneys.

Conclusion

Three-lobed almond, or luizeania, a plant of rare beauty. For many gardeners, it has become mutual love at first sight. All the efforts spent will be more than paid off when a cloud of fragrant flowers blooms.