For many amateur gardeners, hydrangea appears as a shrub. However, from the Far East, petiole hydrangea came to the inhabitants of European countries. Landing and caring for her is not particularly difficult. The plant tolerates the cold season well, because in the wild it grows in the forests of southern Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and Japan. It combines the beauty of green foliage, which is replaced by golden in the fall, the aroma of many small flowers, the mystery of the branchy shoots that are exposed in winter.
Description
The petiole hydrangea is a perennial deciduous vine, which is characterized by beautiful flowering. She is able to climb a support to a height of 25 meters, using aerial roots and suction cups. If there is no support, the plant will spread along the surface of the earth.
It is recognized as a cultural flower in 1865. Since it is found less and less in the natural habitat, it is listed in the Red Book.
Appearance of the plant:
- Leaves - ovoid, large, shiny. Color depends on the species, but more often it is dark green. Attached to the stem with petioles, the length of which reaches eight centimeters. With the onset of cold weather, the leaves turn yellow. Fall off at the end of October.
- Inflorescences - the diameter of each inflorescence is about 20 centimeters. They consist of many small flowers. Their color can be of three options: milky white, pink-white, light purple. Cover the entire length of the vines. The flowers have a light aroma, therefore, attract bees. Insects use pollen to make honey.
An adult plant can withstand even frosty, snowless winters. It is easily restored, continuing to develop. How to get such a frost-resistant decoration for your garden?
Advice when choosing a seedling
Acid petrel hydrangea should be obtained from trusted distributors. The fact is that the plant is very similar to a schizophragm. This culture also belongs to the hydrangea, but does not have an important quality for our continent. She is afraid of frost.
The specialist will be able to see the difference by looking at the inflorescences. But usually not blooming young seedlings are sold.
Landing
Due to the fact that the plant feels great in the shade, the planting of petioles hydrangea can be carried out in any area. But it will bloom profusely only on the sunny side.
It is better to pick up acidic soil. It should be moist, rich in humus. Soil with an alkaline reaction can lead to a lack of iron in the plant. This will cause his illness. To preserve moisture in the soil, you will need to cover it with a large layer of mulch. It is better to use acidifying coarse organic matter for this. For example, bark, shavings, leaf humus.
Sapling should be planted immediately in a permanent place. After a couple of years, it will be impossible to tear it from the support without harming the shoots. The selected location should not blow over the north wind.
For landing, a pit is prepared, measuring 40 by 40 centimeters. Depth - 50 centimeters. A 10-centimeter layer of drainage is poured into the bottom of the pit. The pit is covered with a mixture consisting of two parts of humus and earth, one part of peat and sand. The root neck should be flush with the ground.
If several seedlings are planted in a row, the distance between them should be 80-100 centimeters. Seedlings are susceptible to weather conditions. In dry times, they must be systematically watered and sprayed with warm water. In cold weather, it is important for them to make light shelter. Three-year-old plants no longer need shelter. Do not worry if the plant does not bloom in the early years. He needs time for development.
Top dressing
For any plant for good development and abundant flowering, fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers is necessary. The first time they are brought directly into the pit before landing. Then the plant is fed during a period of intensive growth. This is usually done in late May and early August. Two weeks should elapse between recharge.
You can use a mixture of chicken manure, which is diluted with water 1 to 10. It is allowed to feed with complex mineral fertilizer, which includes 20 grams of superphosphate, 20 grams of urea, 10 grams of potassium sulfur.
Immediately after planting, the plant will develop a root system, so you should not expect a significant increase in shoots. In adult hydrangea, shoots grow by 50 centimeters per year.
The plant is not able to independently seek support. He needs help by directing it with a ladder. But do not tie it with ropes. A strong wall, a durable tree can serve as a support. It looks gorgeous on arches and arbors. Can create a hedge on the balcony. Old hedges and stone sculptures shrouded in creepers will look mysterious.
If the plant spreads on the ground, it will turn into a dense flowering carpet. This option is suitable for large outdoor areas that do not have time to plant with various crops.
Pruning
In order for curly petioled hydrangea to beautifully and evenly cover a given area, for example, an arbor, it needs to cut the shoots. This is done in early spring. The shoot is cut off over the fifth or sixth kidney. New branches need to set the direction of growth. Intensive pruning is not necessary if the plant spreads on the ground. If necessary, sanitary pruning should be performed, which involves the removal of dry branches.
Breeding
Cherry hydrangea creepers attract many gardeners. If desired, it can be propagated independently by cuttings or layering. The cuttings method gives 90% survival.
Cuttings are cut in the spring. They are placed in sand or a mixture of sand and peat. Before this, they can be treated with a root stimulant. Cuttings should be covered with a film. Further care involves regular ventilation and hydration. After a while, the roots will appear.
Reproduction by layering is possible. To do this, in spring or summer, an escape is bent to the ground and dug in. The soil should be dug up, mixed with sand and peat. Do not forget about drainage. From the part of the shoot, which will be underground, it is necessary to remove the foliage and other branches. The instillation depth is only 10-15 centimeters.
By autumn, a young plant can be separated from the mother. But it’s too early to transplant it. Young hydrangeas should be held in the old place for another three weeks. So she will adapt to an independent life. After you need to trim the top of the new seedling for the development of the root system. It is ready to land on a permanent place.
A young seedling purchased in the fall is best planted in a pot. In it, he will spend the winter, being in the basement. The plant must be regularly watered, and in the spring planted in a permanent place.
Pests
Stem hydrangea can be attacked by slugs and snails. They are easy to detect by the eaten leaves and the remnants of dried mucus that they leave. You can get rid of pests by sprinkling the soil under the plant with a layer of river sand. For these purposes, special granules are sold in stores.
Other pests include spider mites, thrips, and aphids. You can fight them with the help of insecticides. But during the flowering period, it is better to refrain from procedures so as not to destroy the bees and other beneficial insects. For prevention, you can treat the plant with special means at the beginning of the season.
Hydrangea can lose its beautiful appearance due to the large amount of humus and lime in the ground. Do not get carried away with nitrogen fertilizers, so that the plant is not damaged by gray rot or powdery mildew. In general, hydrangea is not susceptible to disease. Much depends on proper care.
Subspecies
Petiole hydrangea (climbing vine) is not very common in gardens. It is a liana-shaped shrub that can stretch up along the support or spread along the ground.
Over the years, several subspecies of this original plant have been developed. The most popular are two of them.
Cordifolia
A petiole hydrangea variety called Cordifolia is small in size. In height, the plant reaches a maximum of one and a half meters. It grows slowly. For a year, shoots are stretched by only 10 centimeters.
The leaves have a rounded shape, their length is approximately six to eight centimeters. On top of the sheet plate is painted green, and below - in light green or white. Fruiting flowers have a creamy tint. The aroma of honey comes from them. Sterile inflorescences - white. This variety is frost-resistant and disease resistant.
Miranda
According to some reviews, petiolum hydrangea attracts with its lush flowering, according to others - with bright yellow leaves in autumn days. For fans of the original color, the Miranda variety is ideal.
The leaves of this plant have notches. The inner part is colored green, and the border has a cream or yellow tint. An adult plant reaches a length of five to six meters. The diameter of the flower is two centimeters. Flowering occurs in late June - early August. White flowers have a light pleasant aroma.
Adult liana hibernates without shelter. In severe frosts, only the tips of the shoots can be affected.
Garden design application
Reviews of curly petiole hydrangea are only positive. This plant retains decorative qualities at any time of the year:
- in the spring - lush green vines;
- in summer - violent white flowering;
- in the fall - bright yellow leaves;
- in winter - red-brown stems.
It is important not to plant another type of vine next to hydrangea so that they do not compete. Ideally, shade-loving plants get along with her. Their task will be to close empty spaces under the vine. They will also retain moisture. Hosts, astilba, geranium are suitable for these requirements. Other hydrangeas can be planted nearby. During flowering, the garden will flood with white color and a wonderful light aroma. The most important thing is to observe not only the rules of planting, but also the recommendations of specialists in caring for such a plant.