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Willow spirea is an interesting ornamental plant. The botanical name comes from the ancient Greek word “speira”, which means “bend”, “spiral”. This is explained by the fact that long, flexible branches give the bush additional splendor. The second word in the name is derived from the shape of the leaves, which are outwardly similar to willow. Description and photo of the willow spirea will be presented below.
Description of spirea willow
Spirea willow is a deciduous shrub. Refers to plants of the genus Spirea, family Pink. The root system is shallow, fibrous. The foliage is elongated-lanceolate. The top is pointed. The leaf surface is smooth. Petioles are short. The base is wedge-shaped. The serrated edges may have cilia. The outer side of the leaf is dark green, the inner side is light green. The length is usually 5-7 cm, rarely reaches 10-11 cm, and the width is 1-3 cm.
The perennial has high rates of frost resistance. Demanding to moisture, the sun. Grows in soils of various composition. The shrub is growing rapidly. In the natural environment, it is found in swampy areas, on the banks of rivers, flood meadows. It grows in North America, China, Korea, Japan.
plant size
Willow-leaved spirea reaches a height of 1,5-2 m. The crown is spherical. The branches are bare. Slightly faceted, have a vertical orientation. Young shoots are yellow, light green in color. More mature branches are dark red, brown.
Medicinal properties of spirea willow
Willow leaf spirea is not only beautiful, but also useful. In medicine, leaves, young shoots, inflorescences, bark, buds, roots are used. The plant contains tannins, flavonoids, phytoncides, alkaloids, vitamins A, C, essential oil, salicylic acid, mineral salts. Due to the rich chemical composition, the willow spirea has the following properties:
- antimicrobial;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antipyretic;
- anthelmintic;
- antifungal;
- wound healing;
- pain reliever.
Decoctions and tinctures from spirea willow are used as remedies in folk medicine. They help with diarrhea, rheumatism, intestinal candidiasis.
When it blooms
Willow-leaved spirea blooms in the second half of June and ends in early autumn. Flowers bloom unevenly. The process can take up to one and a half months. Inflorescences are formed on the shoots of the current year. They are narrow pyramidal in shape, similar to a cylindrical one. They consist of small flowers with yellowish pedicels collected in a bunch. Panicles form along the edges of the shoots. The approximate length of the inflorescences is 12-25 cm.
The shrub is valued for its bright pink blooms. There are also lilac, pomegranate, burgundy shades of inflorescences. Rarely, but white spirea is found.
Fruit type
The fruits of the willow spirea look like multi-seeded leaflets. The opening occurs first along the inner, and then along the outer edge. Seeds flat, winged, brown. Ripening occurs in 45-60 days. Seeds spill out of leaflets.
Willow leaf spirea in landscape design
The decorativeness and attractiveness of the willow spirea continues throughout the season. The expressive shape of the crown and long flowering make it an indispensable element of the landscape composition. Use this type of shrub in the form of a dense hedge. No less impressive pink willow spirea will look in a single landing. The plant is used as a decoration when creating an alpine slide.
Planting and caring for spirea willow
Despite the external attractiveness, the willow spirea is unpretentious in care. It grows well and blooms under the most normal conditions. The only thing you should pay attention to is the pruning of the plant.
Preparation of planting material and site
For planting, it is advisable to choose 1-2-year-old seedlings, which may have an open or closed root system. Before planting a plant with closed roots, it is removed from the container along with a clod of earth. After abundantly moisturize. If the earth lump is too dry, then it is necessary to soak it briefly in warm water.
Saplings with open roots should be put in order. Trim damaged or dry areas first. Excessively branched roots also require pruning. The aerial part is shortened by 1/3 of the length. To improve survival, the root system of a spirea seedling is dipped in a mixture of clay and cow dung.
For the willow spirea, sunny, open areas are selected. In partial shade, the plant is also able to grow, but flowering will not be as plentiful. The composition of the soil does not matter. It is preferable that it be fertile, loose and moist. The ideal option is turf or leaf land. The required pH is 6-7.
Planting spirea willow
2 seasons are suitable for planting loose leaf spirea in open ground: spring and autumn. In the spring, it is important to plant the plant before the buds appear on the seedling, in the fall – after the leaves are shed. When using a group planting of spirea, the distance between plants should be 50 cm. The presence of lime in the soil is unacceptable.
- Dig a hole 50 cm deep in the selected area.
- The recess should be larger than the diameter of the root system. In this case, the shrub will develop faster.
- A drainage layer of broken brick, crushed stone or expanded clay is laid at the bottom, 15 cm thick.
- The bottom of the pit is covered with garden soil mixed with peat and sand in proportions of 2:1:1.
- A seedling of spirea willow is placed in the center of the recess and sprinkled with earth. The root neck is not deepened much, it should be 3-5 cm above the ground.
- The earth around the roots is carefully poured and rammed.
- At the end, 1-2 buckets of warm water should be poured under each bush.
- At the end of planting, the near-stem circle is mulched with peat.
Watering and top dressing
Spirea willow is a drought-resistant plant that requires moderate watering. On average, 15-20 liters of water per week is enough for an adult culture. During the hot period, the amount of watering should be increased. A young shrub needs more frequent moisture until it takes root. However, it is important to ensure that there is no stagnation of fluid.
The optimal time for top dressing is early spring, before the start of flowering of the willow spirea. Fertilize it with a complex of mineral and organic substances. To do this, dilute 10 liters of mullein in 6 liters of water. Then 7-10 g of superphosphate is added to a bucket of the resulting mixture.
Trimming
The procedure for pruning spirea willow is performed at the end of flowering, that is, in the fall. However, faded shoots do not need to be shortened, as this will provoke the growth of lateral branches, on which small, inexpressive flowers will appear. The shape of the bush will also be broken, and the effect of drooping flowering shoots to the bottom will be spoiled.
Summer-flowering spireas begin to prune with the advent of spring, and only those plants that are at least 4 years old. As a result, the bush will remain 20-30 cm tall. If this is not done, then the willow spirea will lose its decorative shape, long branches will deviate to different sides, leaning towards the ground. And if you remove only the upper part of the shoots, then the young shoots will be extremely thin, with small inflorescences.
Preparation for winter
As a rule, willow-leaved spirea does without shelter in winter. It is able to tolerate frosts up to -45-50 ° C. However, if a harsh and snowless winter is expected, then it is worthwhile to ensure the plant has a proper wintering. The near-stem circle is mulched with hay or straw, the roots are covered with dry spruce branches. The branches are tied into a bundle and covered with burlap or agrofibre.
Reproduction
Spiraea willifolia propagates in 3 main ways: cuttings, layering and seeds.
- Seed material is planted in seedling boxes in March-April. After 10-12 days, the first shoots will appear, and after 2-3 months, the seedlings dive and planted in open ground. Young spireas will actively develop subject to simple agrotechnical measures. A shrub will bloom for 2-3 years.
- To preserve all varietal characteristics, the cutting method should be used. Plants grown in this way bloom much faster. Spirea willow will be covered with flowers for the next season. Partially woody shoots of the current year are used as planting material. Sections 10-15 cm long are needed. The lower part of the cutting is dipped in a root formation preparation and planted in the ground. If the procedure is performed in July, then by the autumn a full-fledged root system will appear.
- The following propagation method is used if few young plants are required. To do this, during the period of foliage blooming, the side branches must be bent to the ground. Pin them with pegs and sprinkle with soil. During the season, maintain a moist environment around the branches and by autumn you can get independent plants.
Diseases and pests
The shrub has a strong immunity to various bacterial and fungal diseases. However, pests cause great damage to the plant: spider mites, aphids, rose leaf, slugs, pink miner.
Competent care for the willow spirea helps to cope with them: watering, fertilizing, loosening the soil, pruning, as well as maintaining cleanliness on the site. The fight against harmful insects involves timely treatment with chemicals.
- Spider mite. Its presence is given out by the holes made on the inflorescences, premature drying and falling leaves. The pest is active in dry, hot weather. 0,2% phosphamide, 0,3% karbofos, 0,2% acrex help to cope with it.
- Leaflet. Appears at the end of May. The parasite gnaws out all the green tissue on the leaves. Completely destroys his drug 0,1% pyrimor.
- Aphid. Sucks juice and nutrients from leaves, petioles, young shoots. Processing is carried out with a soap, tobacco solution.
Conclusion
Willow leaf spirea is a real find for the gardener. Numerous uses and ease of care make the shrub more and more in demand. This culture is able to decorate not only the backyard, but also the streets of the city. Grow it within the power of a novice grower.
