Foxtail Mirikaria, planting and caring for which is not difficult, is an ornamental shrub that is large (about 2 meters high), as well as the unusual shape and color of inflorescences and the bush itself.
Mirikaria: habitat
The exotic appearance of the plant is enhanced by an unpredictable character. Its flowers bloom unexpectedly and gradually stretch out into long inflorescences resembling fiery fox tails (hence the name of the bush).
There are about ten varieties of myricaria in nature, and they grow in Eastern Europe, as well as in
Central Asia, Mongolia and the Himalayas, in the Pamirs and Altai. “Lives” in river valleys, on stony-sandy shores and pebbles. Mirikaria can be found in the mountains, at an altitude of 1900 meters.
Foxtail Mirikaria: Description
Outwardly, the shrub myricaria is a sprawling bush that consists of spruce upright shoots. They depart from the root in the amount of 10-20 pieces. The leaves of the plant are delicate, very small, densely sitting on the shoots. They look like bluish-green fleshy scales. It is the spectacular bluish color of the leaves that distinguishes the foxtail myricaria as a bright spot among ordinary greens.
Around the middle of May, a large number of pink-purple flowers gradually appear on the bush, which, growing, form spike-like long inflorescences. The first of them bloom in the lower part of the bush, gradually moving to the top.
The flowering period of myricaria lasts about 2 months and lasts until early August.
The life span of a flower is 3-5 days. It is noteworthy that the ends of the shoots of this plant will never lignify, so scientists attribute myricaria to shrubs.
Myricaria planting conditions
Foxtail Mirikaria, planting and caring for which even a beginner gardener can do, is a moisture- and light-loving plant, completely picky about soil fertility. In a sunny place, she will feel very comfortable, and in the penumbra flowering will be somewhat sparse.
Shrubs (photo) can be replanted only in spring (when there are no leaves on the bush) and in autumn (tentatively - in October). It is advisable to leave on the roots of the earth, which will significantly increase the percentage of survival of the plant. The soil with which to fill the planting pit can be prepared by combining with peat in the same ratio; add wood ash there.
Tamarix and myricaria are very similar in appearance to plants. Their difference is only in the fact that tamarix does not tolerate wintering, and myricaria foxtail is resistant to winter conditions; Of course, annual freezing of the roots of the plant is observed, but this does not cause the plant significant harm. Frosts below -40 ° C are not terrible for the plant - you don’t even have to worry about additional shelter for it. Nevertheless, to protect myricaria from frosts, it is better to tie the shoots so that they do not break under the weight of wet snow. Young bushes are recommended to bend to the surface of the soil.
Features of myricaria care
Like any plant, foxtail myrikaria responds with active growth and abundant flowering. It is recommended to feed the shrub with compost or humus, which is recommended to be applied in the spring, introducing shallowly into the basal zone. After a couple of weeks, mulching is required by introducing a moisture-resistant, humus-containing mulch into the soil (peat, loose humus, chopped wood chips). This operation is necessary to stabilize the optimal humidity regime.
During the summer, one to two times it is recommended to make liquid top dressing with the infusion of mullein diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 10 with the calculation of 2 liters per bush.
Watering myricaria is required once a week, after which the earth around the plant should be loosened.
Mirikaria: reproduction
Propagation of myricaria is done by cuttings and seeds, during the collection of which it is required to observe storage conditions, because they quickly lose their germination. Before sowing seeds from 1 to 5 days are kept in the refrigerator at a temperature of 3-5 degrees, which provides them with an estimated germination rate of up to 95%. Without the use of stratification (keeping the seed at a certain temperature, which accelerates germination), the plant germination will not exceed 30%.
The most convenient is the propagation by cuttings, which must be prepared in the middle of summer, during the period of mass flowering of the plant. On the bush, the stems of the lower part of the plant are trimmed and planted in containers, in prepared soil, consisting of peat, humus and sand, taken in equal proportions.
Trimming and crown formation of myricaria
Pruning is done at the beginning of leaf blooming; frozen shoots are shortened to healthy wood. Sometimes the plant, due to the shortened shoots that protruded beyond the crown, acquires a neat, neat appearance. By the way, the compactness of myricaria achieved by pruning absolutely transforms shrubs (photo).
It is advisable to start the process of forming an attractive crown from a young age of the plant, first pinching only the green tips of the stems and limiting them to a length of half a meter. You can do this throughout the season, as it grows. By September, the pruning process should be stopped to give the plant the opportunity to prepare for the winter cold. Thus, every year the crown of the bush will become more magnificent, turning the plant into a dense hemisphere of a bluish-blue color. Such bushes in a single landing, formed with sincere love, will originally stand out against a green carpet background.
Mirikaria as a decorative element of a garden composition
Mirikaria can be successfully planted in urban conditions, using it as a border for curbs, park alleys and green zones of auto-junction. Foxtail Mirikaria, planting and care of which favorably distinguishes it from wild specimens, looks original against the background of ponds and large stones, reviving their silent neighborhood; the plant organically fits into the coniferous garden, becoming like evergreen shrubs. A group of myrikaria can be used as a decoration for a small slope, taking a place at its foot.
Not many gardeners understand the incredible beauty of this bush. Often he is allocated a place somewhere in an obscure corner of the garden. In fact, foxtail myricaria, the planting and care of which is not difficult, can become a bright center of an attractive garden composition.