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Vesicles are ornamental shrubs that have been known in culture for several centuries and, despite this, are not particularly popular in Our Country until the beginning of the 2016st century. Perhaps the reason was a small selection of species and varieties suitable for growing in gardens. But the breeders did their best, and already in 30 there were more than XNUMX varieties of vesicle in the world. And the process of breeding new varieties continues. The most interesting and popular varieties of the viburnum vesicle with photos and descriptions will be presented below. But this plant is an ideal decoration for any garden – it has decorative leaves, beautiful flowers and attractive fruits. In addition, the vesicle is distinguished by its amazing unpretentiousness in maintenance and high winter hardiness.
What does a vesicle look like
Modern varieties of the vesicle are striking, first of all, with a diverse and very interesting color of the leaves. The shrub itself is able to reach a height of 3 m, although there are also quite dwarf varieties that do not exceed 80-100 cm.
The branches of the vesicle are thin, but luxuriantly growing in all directions, drooping at the ends, form a hemispherical, dense crown, which is clearly seen in the photo of the plant.
Medium-sized rounded-elliptical leaves containing from 3 to 5 lobes have a serrate-toothed edge. Their color can be all shades of green, yellow, red-orange, and even a combination of several colors.
Next, a detailed description of the main types and varieties of the vesicle and their photos will be given, using which you can choose the most suitable plants for your garden.
How does the vesicle grow
In terms of its growth and development rates, the vesicle can be classified as a fairly rapidly developing plant. Already at 4 years old, the plants begin to bear fruit, and, having reached their maximum height, they begin to grow in breadth. The life expectancy of one bush can be up to 80-100 years. And in width, one plant can grow up to 4 meters in diameter. The growth rate of the vesicle is such that in a year the plant gives an increase of about 35-40 cm. Depending on the variety, the bushes reach their maximum height in 6-10 years.
Young leaves usually open in April, and leaf fall occurs, depending on the climatic conditions of the region, from early to late October.
Flowering of the vesicle
The flowering period of the vesicle usually takes place in June or July. The flowers are white or pink, up to 1,2 cm in diameter and are enclosed in convex corymbose inflorescences.
The fruits have a very original shape in the form of balls collected in groups, which, as they ripen, change their color from light green to reddish.
Varieties of the vesicle
In nature, there are about 14 species of the vesicle genus, which are distributed mainly in East Asia and North America. But only two species are used in culture: Amur vesicle and viburnum.
Among themselves, these species differ, first of all, in the geography of distribution. The Amur vesicle was found and lives to this day in the undergrowth of the Far East, in the north of China and Korea. Kalinolistny, on the other hand, originates from North America, where it grows in mixed forests, along river terraces.
The two species can also be distinguished by the size and shape of the leaves. The Amur leaves are larger, have a slightly heart-shaped shape with obligatory light gray pubescence on the underside.
The Amur vesicle, unlike the viburnum, is less common in horticulture, although it is not inferior to its fellow in terms of unpretentiousness and frost resistance. Perhaps this is due to the small variety of currently available varieties:
- The aureomargin – green leaves have a dark golden border.
- Nana – a dwarf variety with a compact dark green crown.
Varieties of the vesicle of the viburnum with a photo and description
Despite the fact that in horticulture, the viburnum vesicle has been used since the middle of the 10th century, the active breeding of varieties of this crop began only about 20-XNUMX years ago. But at the moment this shrub is so popular that new varieties appear almost every year.
Amber Jubilee
The variety was bred by English breeders and named after the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II of England. One of the most beautiful varieties of viburnum vesicle. The color of the leaves is very rich, and at the same time they look unusually festive, especially when they sway in the breeze. At the ends of the branches, the shade of the foliage is closer to red-orange, with a fiery sheen. And towards the center of the crown, the leaves also acquire yellow and greenish hues, which pass into each other in a wide variety of combinations. The bush reaches a height of 2 m, and a width of 1,5 m. The brightest of all, the leaves show their colorful play of colors and shades on bushes growing in the open sun.
Andre
The variety is distinguished by a decent size of bushes – up to 3 m in height and up to 2,5 m in width. In spring, the leaves bloom pinkish-red, later they clearly show a bronze hue. True, when in the shade, the leaves turn green. The fruits also change their color from red to brownish.
Aurea
One of the oldest varieties of viburnum vesicle, which has a second name – Luteus. Plants are characterized by the fact that when blooming, the leaves have a beautiful golden yellow color, but pretty soon they become just light green. However, closer to autumn, the golden color of the leaves appears again. It blooms with white inflorescences that bloom in the second half of July. Young shoots also have a golden color.
Gold Spirit
The variety is an excellent alternative to the already slightly outdated Luteus, as the golden yellow leaves retain their hue throughout the growing season when they appear. In height, the bushes reach 2 m and are well suited to any haircut.
Darts Gold
Another very popular in recent years, the Dutch variety of viburnum vesicle with golden foliage. It is a hybrid of Luteus and Nanus varieties. It does not exceed 1,5 m in height. The leaves retain a golden hue for almost the entire season, only in the second half of summer they become slightly greenish. But in autumn they become covered with a noticeable crimson. Flowers are creamy white. In 1993, this variety received the prestigious award of the Royal Horticultural Society of England.
Diablo
Despite the mysterious origin of Diablo, this does not prevent him from being one of the best among other dark-colored varieties of viburnum vesicle. The bushes have a sprawling shape, up to 3 m high. Throughout the season from spring to autumn, smooth and almost glossy leaves have a uniform dark purple hue. When planted in shady conditions, the leaves turn green, but the purple hue, although weak, is preserved. For beauty, unpretentiousness and frost resistance, the variety was also awarded the Royal Horticultural Society Prize in 2002.
Lady in Red
A fairly new cultivar of viburnum, but managed to show itself so well that in 2012 it also received the aforementioned highest garden award in England. When blooming, wrinkled leaves have a bright red hue, which gradually darkens and by the second half of summer they acquire an almost beet color. The flowers have an attractive pinkish hue. The height of the bushes is up to 1,5 m.
Little Devil
It belongs to a series of so-called dwarf varieties of the viburnum vesicle, reaching a height of no more than 90-100 cm. At the same time, the bush can grow up to 70 cm in diameter in width. Graceful leaves are maroon throughout the growing season. Flowers are small, pink.
Little Joker
A dwarf variety, bred in Holland, grows from 50 to 100 cm in height. Small corrugated leaves when blooming have a bright cherry color. Subsequently, they turn into purple-brown. White-pink flowers bloom in June.
Little Angel
Another representative of the dwarf family of the vesicle of the viburnum. The Dutch variety Little Angel has a very small size, up to 60 cm in height and the same width. The crown is quite dense, has a pillow shape. The leaves are very small, bloom in spring with an orange tint. Later they become beet brown.
The variety is ideal for container growing on balconies or terraces.
Luteus
The second synonymous name of the variety Aurea.
Mindia (Coppertina)
This variety of viburnum vesicle, bred by French breeders, is considered the most “red” of all currently existing. Bushes grow both in height and in width up to two meters. When opening, the leaves can be, depending on the location in the crown, yellowish, orange or reddish hues. Then the color changes to cherry, brown or maroon. In those places of the crown where the sun falls less, the brownish-green shade of the leaves clearly stands out.
Midnight
It is the darkest of the red-leaved varieties of the viburnum vesicle. If the leaves are dark purple at the ends of the shoots, then towards the center they become almost black. True, in autumn the leaves turn red-orange. Plant height is average – about 1,5 m, crown width – up to 1,8 m. Flowers are whitish-pink.
Nugget
Another medium-sized (up to 2,5 m) variety of the viburnum vesicle, which boasts foliage of a bright yellow color. True, the shade changes during the season: in the spring it is very bright and saturated, by the middle of summer it becomes lighter, and in the fall it acquires some gold. The leaves are large and corrugated. Cream flowers with red stamens appear in mid-June, but may reappear in late summer at the same time as the already ripe fruits.
Red Baron
A red-leaved variety of the vesicle of a very attractive shade, somewhat reminiscent of Diabolo, but with smaller leaves. Their rich burgundy color in the fall receives additional bronze hues. A brownish color begins to predominate in the shade, but the red tint on the leaves still remains.
Summer Vine
The spring leaves of this variety of viburnum vesicle are distinguished by a wine-red color with a characteristic metallic sheen. In summer, they can be observed greenish hues, and in autumn – bronze. The height of the bushes is not more than 1,5 m.
Center Glow
The leaves of this vesicle are unusually bright, especially in the light, due to the golden sheen in the center of the leaf, which is inherent in them when in bright sunlight. Young leaves may be dark red or light burgundy. With age, they only acquire an even deeper and darker shade.
Tilden Park
To slightly diversify the colorful palette of colored leaves of the viburnum vesicle in the garden, you can plant the Tilden park variety. Its corrugated leaves have an ordinary light green hue. But, like many other varieties of the viburnum vesicle, its bushes, up to 150 cm high, are well cut and can be molded. The flowers are white in color. It goes well with any variegated and especially dark-colored varieties.
Chameleon
A very interesting colorful cultivar of viburnum up to 1,5 m high with unusual color characteristics. The general color of the leaves is dark green. Against this background, spots of any shades can be located: red, orange, yellow. But along the entire palmate border of the leaves there is a decorative strip. In young leaves, it has a purple hue, with age it acquires a light green or lemon color.
Shuh (Shuch)
The young leaves of this 1,5-2-meter shrub have an expressive cherry color, which changes to dark purple in summer. In autumn, the color of the foliage remains exactly the same as in summer. Flowers are white with pink.
Features of growing a vesicle
The vesicle, for all its beauty, is an amazing plant in terms of its unpretentiousness to growing conditions. It can tolerate shade, drought, gas and smoke in the air. Although all variegated forms show their true beauty only in the sun.
Shrubs are not at all demanding on the composition of the soil. Only stagnant moisture at the roots is poorly tolerated, so drainage is necessary when planting.
They perfectly tolerate frosts, only in the most severe winters can the tips of young shoots freeze slightly. Which, however, practically does not affect the general condition of the plants, since they are easily pruned.
Few susceptible to invasion of various parasites.
Propagated well by seeds, cuttings and layering. Moreover, during seed propagation of the golden forms of the vesicle, the original properties of the mother plant are often preserved.
Conclusion
Varieties of viburnum vesicle with photos and descriptions presented in the article make it possible to make the right choice for decorating any garden. These plants are unlikely to disappoint their owners, but, on the contrary, they are able to give a whole range of positive emotions, especially from constantly changing decorative properties.
