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Astilba Mighty Chocolate Cherry is a young but very interesting variety that has already attracted the attention of gardeners. It is not often possible to see him in summer cottages, but it is all the more interesting to study the features of the plant.
Description of Astilba Mighty Chocolate Cherry
Astilba Mighty Chokolat Cherry is a plant from the Stonefragment family, which is very popular in landscape design. It has numerous basal leaves, usually pinnate and toothed, on long petioles. Dark green, with a bronze-olive tint, the leaves change their color throughout the season - by autumn Mighty Chocolate Cherry acquires a rich chocolate shade. The perennial's stems are thin, erect, the flowers are tall cherry-colored panicles.
The hybrid has dark green leaves and rich cherry inflorescences
In height, Mighty Chocolate Cherry reaches 70 cm, and during the flowering period - up to 120 cm due to high-rise inflorescences. The bush can spread out by about 1-1.2 m.
According to gardeners, the growth of astilbe takes about 3-4 years, during which time the perennial forms a full-fledged bush. Astilba Cherry chocolate feels best in the shade, perennial develops poorly in the sun. Mighty Chocolate Cherry soil needs moist but well-drained soil.
The advantages of the plant include high frost resistance. Astilba Chocolate Cherry can be grown in frost resistance zone 3, that is, in regions where winter temperatures reach -35 ° C. The variety is recommended for cultivation in the Central region and the Urals, in the middle lane and in the Far East.
Astilba Chocolate Cherry prefers shaded garden areas
Flowering features
Mighty Chocolate Cherry belongs to the hybrid group of astilbe, which combines shade-tolerant perennials derived from Japanese and Dutch varieties.
Although even the leaves of the new variety have decorative qualities, its flowering attracts special attention. Astilba Mighty Cherry Chocolate produces very beautiful velvety-cherry paniculate inflorescences, comparable in height to the green part of the plant.
Mighty Chocolate Cherry blooms from July to the end of August
Astilba blooms in summer, in July and August, for 2 months. Splendor depends mainly on the quality of the care. To achieve abundant flowering, the gardener needs to regularly feed Mighty Chocolate Cherry, protect her from direct sunlight and water on time.
Application in design
The rich cherry blossoms of Astilba can beautify any garden plot. An unpretentious plant is used in mixed flower beds, planted in mono-groups, and often decorate places near water bodies with them. Mighty Chocolate Cherry feels great in the shade of shrub hedges and under the cover of tall trees, and at the same time brightens up the green background.
The hybrid goes well with other garden perennials that prefer shade.
You can combine astilba with perennials with whole leaves - for example, with hosts and berry, buzulniks and brunners. Mighty Chocolate Cherry feels good with lilies of the valley, mountain goats, irises, tulips and others shade-loving perennials.
But with perennials that prefer sunlight, it is better not to plant a plant. Peonies, hyacinths, chrysanthemums and poppies do not get along well next to astilba due to the mismatch in growing requirements.
Chocolate Cherry looks spectacular in group compositions
Reproduction methods
It is possible to increase the population of astilba Chocolate Cherry on the site by vegetative methods - by dividing the rhizomes and cuttings:
- Division of the bush. The method is practiced for reproduction of adult bushes at least 5 years old. In autumn or spring, a perennial is dug out of the ground, the rhizome is cut into several parts so that each division has living buds, and then they are planted, deepening the growth bud of at least 7 cm.
The easiest way to propagate an adult Chocolate Cherry by dividing a bush is
- Cuttings. Young rosettes with 2-3 leaves and a root are separated from the upper layer of the rhizome, planted in fertile soil and for the first time covered with a glass cap.
Astilba responds well to propagation by cuttings with a root
The simplest and most effective method is dividing the bush. But astilba seeds Mighty Chocolate Cherry are not propagated.
Landing algorithm
It is customary to plant astilba in the ground in the second half or at the end of May, after the return frosts have passed. A place for a perennial is selected shaded, with loose and nutritious soil.
Landing Algorithm:
- Shortly before planting on the site, you need to dig a hole about 30 cm deep, the roots of Astilba are superficial, so it does not need a deep hole.
- Garden soil and humus, potash and phosphorus fertilizers and a little ash are laid at the bottom of the pit. The mixture is thoroughly mixed and moistened.
- A strong and healthy seedling with well-developed, intact roots and green shoots in the upper part is chosen as a planting material.
- Before planting, astilbe is briefly immersed in water to saturate the root system with moisture, and then set in the center of the hole and sprinkle with soil mixture to the end.
You can plant a hybrid near groundwater or next to a pond.
Immediately after planting, the plant is watered and mulched at the base with peat or rotted sawdust.
Follow-up care
When caring for Mighty Chocolate Cherry, you need to pay special attention to watering, the soil at the roots should not dry out. It is advisable to supply the perennial with moisture three times a week; during dry periods, watering can be carried out every day.
They begin to feed astilbe after 3 years of life. Feeding is carried out at a standard frequency:
- in early spring, after the regrowth of leaves, nitrogenous fertilizers are applied - urea or ammonium nitrate;
- before flowering, perennials are fed with phosphorus and potassium;
- in the fall, astilba is supplied with organic fertilizers - peat or humus.
For good growth, the hybrid needs to be moisturized often.
It is necessary to regularly loosen the soil at the roots, this prevents the growth of weeds and provides oxygen to the soil. Loosening is carried out twice a month. During the procedure, care is taken - it is impossible to deeply loosen the soil, the surface roots will suffer from this.
It is very useful to mulch astilba after watering. A layer of mulch will slow down the evaporation of moisture and help keep the roots from drying out. In addition, it will interfere with the growth of weeds, simply by preventing them from breaking through to the surface.
Preparing for winter
Astilba Mighty Chocolate Cherry, or Mighty Chocolate Cherry, has high winter hardiness, but you still need to protect it from frost.With the onset of autumn and at the end of flowering, pruning is carried out for the perennial - the entire aerial part is cut off flush with the ground, since the astilbe stems will die off in any case in the winter.
For the winter, the stalks of the Chocolate Cherry are cut whole
Before the onset of cold weather, the area with astilba is covered with compost or humus with a layer of about 10 cm, phosphorus and potassium can also be added to the soil, which will increase the plant's endurance. In order to avoid freezing, the trimmed astilbe is additionally covered with spruce branches or lutrasil until spring.
Diseases and pests
Mighty Chocolate Cherry rarely suffers from pests and diseases. However, sometimes it is affected by the following insects:
- strawberry nematode - small worms feed on perennial juices, astilba leaves of Mighty Chocolate Cherry under their influence turn yellow, turn brown and dry up;
It is very difficult to spot a nematode in time, but it causes serious damage
- slobbering penny - this pest settles in the axils of the leaves and leaves a white foamy discharge that resembles saliva, the plant begins to stagnate over time, and the leaves become unnaturally light.
The slobbering penny leaves characteristic marks on the leaves and stems
For pest control, Aktara and Karbofos are used, as well as homemade solutions - garlic, soap and onion. It should be noted that it is very difficult to fight against nematodes on astilbe. If the plant is heavily infested, it is easier to dig it up and destroy it.
Of the diseases for Mighty Chocolate, Cherry is especially dangerous:
- root rot, in conditions of strong swampiness, the roots of the perennial begin to rot, and a black border appears along the edges of the leaf plates;
Root rot can quickly kill a crop
- bacterial spot frequent and large black dots appear on the leaves, the plant begins to dry out and wither.
Bacterial spotting appears as black dots and blotches on foliage
To combat ailments, you must immediately remove the affected parts of the perennial, which can no longer be saved, and burn them in a remote corner of the site. After that, you need to treat the plant with Bordeaux liquid, copper sulfate or a solution of potassium permanganate; chemical fungicides such as Fundazol are also suitable.
Mighty Chocolate Cherry tolerates severe winter frosts
Conclusion
Astilba Mighty Chocolate Cherry is a very beautiful plant from the hybrid group. The new variety appeared only 3 years ago, but managed to win the interest and love of gardeners due to its decorative qualities. Taking care of the Chocolate Cherry is easy, you just need to provide it with good hydration.
