Golden Rhododendron belongs to the Heather family, is a shrub from a height of 50 cm. It is also known as Kashkarnik, Montenegro, Pyandarva, mountain dope. The plant is considered poisonous.
Description
The plant has a bark from brown to dark brown in color with low growing branches. The leaves are dense, leathery, length 3-7 cm, width 1-3 cm. Their surface is smooth glossy, with a venation of deep green color, the lower part of the sheet is paler. The shape of the leaves is correct: oblong-oval with slightly curving edges.
The flowers of the plant are large, large bell-shaped, pale yellow, up to 5 cm in diameter. They are collected in inflorescences of 6-10 pieces at the ends of the branches. The fruit has an oblong five-membered capsule, at the beginning of ripening ocher-colored and slightly rough, upon reaching maturity - smoother with many seeds of small size. Rhododendron blooms in the first summer month, and bears fruit in the last.
Widely distributed in Western and Eastern Siberia, the Arctic and the Far East. It grows in forests as undergrowth, as well as in meadows, often forming thickets. Rhododendron is distinguished by its golden healing properties.
Contraindications
The use of tinctures, decoctions and tea is contraindicated for people with:
- kidney disease
- pregnancy
- during lactation;
- tissue necrosis.
Kinds
These varieties of golden rhododendron are grown:
- Daurian rhododendron is one of the most beautiful species with pink-purple flowers. Belongs to evergreen species, can reach 3 m in height. Strongly branched, with branches rising upwards and small leaves. Blooms up to 3.5 weeks. Unpretentious, easily propagated by cuttings. This species grows equally well both in the north and in the middle zone of Russia.
- Caucasian rhododendron has white flowers with pale green spots, white-pink, pale yellow with pink spots or dark pink flowers. Grows in shady damp terrain. Its branches are low, creeping. It has a delicate aroma.
- Rhododendron of Ledebour is widely distributed in Altai. It has thin branches that reach 1.6 m in height. The leaves are oval green in color above and slightly paler below, in winter they fold, and when spring comes, they open. Small flowers of lilac-pink color.
- Schlippenbach's rhododendron grows in the Primorsky Territory, Korea, China and Japan. It differs in large flowers of soft pink color and a pleasant aroma. Very often used in landscape design. Gives good germination when using the seed method of reproduction.
- Japanese rhododendron grows in numerous thickets on the slopes of the mountains of Japan. Refers to deciduous species. Its characteristic feature is the beginning of flowering before the appearance of leaves. The flowers are brightly coral or pink. It looks especially successful in landscape compositions with other varieties of rhododendrons.
Growing Features
One of the highlights is the right place to plant the plant. Rhododendron does not like open sunny terrain. It is advisable that this be a shaded, windproof area. Golden rhododendrons are golden, the photo of which is presented in the article, as a rule, hide under the crowns of trees, pines and firs.
In addition, the plant does not tolerate stagnation of water, which should be considered when choosing a suitable place. Depending on the variety of rhododendron, it needs different sunlight in different ways. Large-flowered prefer partial shade, the rest grow beautifully in shading. However, in areas of almost constant shade, the plant will not bloom.
They plant it in the spring, so it takes root more quickly and adapts to a new place. More mature plants with their own lump of land can be replanted in later months.
Before planting, the soil must be deeply dug up, and peat, superphosphate, turf, or sheet soil should be poured into the prepared hole. It must be remembered that in nature rhododendrons grow in acidic soil rich in humus.
The root system of the plant is extremely sensitive to overheating, so the surface of the earth must be mulched. Pine bark or coniferous litter is perfect for this. The mulching layer should be at least 5 cm, thus, not only the root system will be protected, but also the necessary moisture will remain longer.
Rhododendron Care
On hot and dry days, the plant needs watering, while the soil should be slightly moistened. Abundant watering with rhododendrons is just as harmful as drying out.
In mountainous areas, golden rhododendrons grow and develop with high humidity, so it is advisable to sometimes spray a bush with flowers - in the morning or in the evening. Due to irrigation with ordinary tap water, calcium and magnesium salts accumulate in the soil over time, and as a result, the plant blooms worse, and eventually loses its decorative effect. For irrigation of rhododendron, rain or river water is ideal.
After the inflorescences wither, they must be removed - so as not to damage the axillary buds. This procedure contributes to enhanced flowering of the bush next year.
Wintering
Preparing a plant for winter is an integral part of caring for it to preserve its beneficial properties. Golden rhododendron and other evergreen species tolerate wintering worse. In turn, deciduous varieties - Ledebour, Daurian, Canadian, Schlippenbach, Japanese - winter well enough. In extreme cases, with the onset of cold weather, the root neck of the plant can be covered with dry leaves.
Evergreen rhododendrons, including winter-hardy ones, must be sheltered from strong winds and the sun, otherwise the plant will dry out and regenerate for a long time.
Severe frosts negatively affect the root system of all rhododendrons, therefore, first of all, you need to take care of its warming.
Air temperature up to -10 ° is not terrible for the plant, however, if the soil is prematurely covered, the root neck will rot, which will inevitably lead to its death. It is not necessary to cover the soil around the rhododendron with the loss of the first snow, the best time to warm it is November. If there is snow, it is raked and I lay the mulch in a dense layer around.
In spring, you should not rush to open the plant: in the first 1.5 months, the roots are still asleep, and the resulting leaves easily burn out in the sun. Only when the snow has completely melted and the earth has warmed up a bit, can we remove the insulation of rhododendron.
Breeding
Golden Rhododendron (Kashkara) is propagated by seed method, layering or cuttings. Wild rhododendron is propagated by seed.
If we talk about cuttings, then choose semi-lignified branches and cut at an angle of 45 °. They are harvested in June. The length of the handle should be 5-8 cm. The slice is treated with various growth stimulants, then the handle is immersed in the prepared soil and the earth is pressed around. Abundantly watered and covered with a film. The plant is left in a warm place at a temperature of 24-26 ° C, this method of reproduction gives the best result.
When propagating by layering, the strongest lower branch of the bush is selected, unbent and sprinkled with earth. After some time, the branch will take root and take off. It is carefully cut and transplanted to a new place. However, this method is not suitable for every type of rhododendron.
Rhododendron disease
Fungal diseases can infect plants during excessive watering, as well as sprouts planted in heavy clay soil. In addition, most diseases caused by fungi spread very quickly in humid conditions and in cool weather.
Other Golden Rhododendron diseases are listed below:
- Mosaic. Small spots of yellow color appear on the affected plant, over time they darken and acquire a brown hue. The bush slows down development, blooms less. The leaves become rough and unattractive. As a rule, the carriers of the disease are harmful insects. For preventive purposes, the plant is sprayed with agents that protect against attack by aphids, bugs and other pests. If affected branches or leaves are found, they are cut and burned.
- Cercosporosis is another unpleasant disease. It is characterized by the appearance of dark spots with a reddish edging. In rainy weather, the leaves of the plant are covered with a gray coating. The leaves on the lower branches of the bush are especially affected.
- Anthracnose is a fungal disease in which dark spots of irregular shape form on the leaves. With the course of the disease, the green dries and falls. In order to combat, the affected areas are cut off, and the plant is completely sprayed with Bordeaux liquid.
Golden rhododendron (Kashkara): how is it useful?
Due to the huge amount of microelements and vitamins, the plant is widely used in folk medicine.
Well proven infusion of rhododendron golden with:
- headaches;
- cardiac pathologies;
- intestinal diseases;
- gout
- insomnia and irritability;
- as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Decoctions are used to treat stomatitis and periodontal disease, female diseases, flu and acute respiratory viral infections, irritability and many others.
Taking into account the medicinal properties of golden rhododendron, infusions and decoctions are made, which are also used in veterinary medicine. Before using them, you must definitely familiarize yourself with the recommendations of doctors, contraindications and dosage.