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Prutovidny loosestrife is one of the most unpretentious ornamental plants, which only needs regular watering, rare dressing and pruning. A low (up to 100 cm) bush adorns the garden thanks to the lush spike-shaped inflorescences that appear continuously throughout the summer. Such a plant looks spectacular in single and composite plantings.
Description of twig-shaped loosestrife
Derbennik (Lythrum virgatum) is a herbaceous perennial from the genus Derbennik, Derbennikovye family. It is sometimes called vine or twig-like. This emphasizes the characteristic appearance of the shoots. They look like twigs, since the leaves and inflorescences are rather narrow, the shape of the stem is tetrahedral, and its height reaches 70-100 cm.
The leaves of the rod-shaped loosestrife of the sessile type (without petiole), are arranged opposite (in pairs, opposite each other), saturated green. Lanceolate, very narrow in width, tapering towards the base. In the inflorescences, the leaves are even smaller, they pass into the bracts.
The inflorescence is spicate, formed in the upper half of the stem. Flowers no more than 1.5 cm in diameter, pale lilac in color. Flowering is long and continuous - from late June to mid-August (often to early September). The seeds ripen in small boxes, which must be removed in advance (otherwise self-seeding will occur, and the rod-shaped loosestrife will take up a large space in the garden).
The loosestrife is decorative due to the lush spike-shaped inflorescences
The roots of the culture are quite powerful, tree-like. At the same time, the root system is shallow, it lies in the surface layer of the soil. The bush loves water, but the plant is deprived of the ability to get moisture from the deep layers of the soil. Mature shrubs tolerate even prolonged drought well.
Prutovidny loosestrife refers to winter-hardy plants. It can withstand frosts down to -35 ° C, which allows it to be grown in most regions of Russia. However, in the Urals and Siberia, the bush must be prepared for the cold season. In addition, the winter hardiness indicator also depends on the variety - this information should be clarified in advance.
Popular varieties
Rod-shaped loosestrife has more than 30 varieties. The most common ones are described below.
Dropmore purple
Variety Dropmore pearl (violet) rod-shaped loosestrife gives pinkish-purple inflorescences up to 40 mm in diameter. The brush is not very dense, intervals are visible. The height is standard - up to 100 cm, the leaves are strongly dissected, very narrow.
Lush inflorescences of Dropmore Purple are visible from any corner of the garden
Modern pink
This variety of perennial rod-shaped loosestrife also grows up to 100 cm.
Modern Pink gives rich pink flowers, with a touch of fuchsia
Helen
Dwarf rod-shaped loosestrife - grows to a height of no more than 50 cm.
Flowers in the Helen variety of rich pink and purple shades
Rocket
The bush of this variety of rod-shaped loosestrife is medium in size - up to 70-80 cm.
The flowers of the variety Rocket (Rocket) are bright pink, saturated
Rose queen
The bushes of this representative of the rod-shaped loosestrife grow up to 70 cm.
The cultivar produces pinkish-purple panicle inflorescences
Application in landscape design
The loosestrife is highly decorative, therefore it is often used in single plantings. The photo shows several original options for the use of the rod-shaped loosestrife:
- on well-groomed lawns;
- next to the entrance, porch, fence;
- on the coast of the reservoir.
Also, the rod-shaped loosestrife can be used in combination with other ornamental plants (it is better that they are also moisture-loving). Good neighbors will be: marsh gladiolus, geranium, lobelia, yarrow, crocosmia, rubdekia, phlox, daylily, snake mountaineer.
You can combine flowers in different compositions - simple and multi-tiered flower beds, mixborders and others
Breeding features
Rod-shaped loosestrife can be bred in several ways:
- Basal cuttings - to obtain them, you will need an ax, since in an adult bush, shoots and rhizomes begin to lignify. You can prepare cuttings of a rod-shaped loosestrife in June, then root them in the soil and moisten them abundantly (first grown under a hood from a jar). After receiving an escape, transplant it to a permanent place towards the end of September. Thoroughly mulch for the winter.
- By dividing the bush - at any time (from the beginning of spring to the end of autumn), an adult specimen of the rod-shaped loosestrife at the age of 3-4 years can be dug up and divided into several divisions so that each of them has 2-3 healthy shoots. This should be done with a sharp knife, then transplant new plants to a permanent place and cover with mulch in the fall.
- Seeds - at home, you can grow the seedlings of the rod-shaped loosestrife. Seed material is planted in early March, and transferred to open ground in the second half of May. Then it is grown in the same way as an adult plant, making sure there is sufficient moisture. For the winter, young seedlings need to be mulched.
Planting and care in the open field
Rod-shaped loosestrife is one of the most unpretentious plants, therefore, care for it will be minimal. Bushes only require regular watering and shelter for the winter. Top dressing, pruning and other activities are rare.
Recommended timing
There are two planting dates for the rod-shaped loosestrife, which are suitable for any region:
- Early spring, when the snow has completely melted, but at the same time the buds have not yet had time to swell, i.e. late March or early April.
- Mid-autumn (on the eve of the first frost) - October.
Blooming of the rod-shaped loosestrife can be expected only next year. Therefore, flower growers can choose any term.
Site selection and preparation
It is quite simple to choose a place for planting a rod-shaped loosestrife:
- The bush grows well in light partial shade, since in the bright sun its inflorescences can burn out (this is especially true for the southern regions).
- The soil for the rod-shaped loosestrife should be well moistened, so the plant can be placed even in lowlands - just where most garden flowers and shrubs grow poorly or even die due to excess moisture.
- If possible, the site should be protected from strong winds by trees, shrubs or buildings.
Prutoid loosestrife grows well on different soils, but does not like loams and sandy soils because of their dryness. The reaction of the medium should be close to neutral (pH about 7).
Saplings of a rod-shaped loosestrife are placed at a distance of 50 cm from each other
2-3 weeks before planting, the site is cleaned and dug onto a shovel bayonet. If the soil is depleted, you can add 50-60 g of complex mineral fertilizer per 1 m2 area. Although it is not necessary to do this: fertilizers can also be embedded in the planting hole.
Landing algorithm
The technology of planting a rod-shaped loosestrife is standard:
- Several shallow holes are formed (so that the roots are free) with an interval of 50 cm.
- Place the seedlings of the rod-shaped loosestrife.
- Sprinkle with a mixture of humus with garden soil (the ratio is equal).
- Pour a bucket (10 l) of water.
- Mulch with a layer of peat, leaf litter (in autumn) or straw, hay, and other materials.
Watering and feeding schedule
Caring for the rod-shaped loosestrife is very simple. The plant only needs timely watering, and all other actions are carried out as needed. Moisturize regularly, especially in the first season after planting:
- if there is no rain or it is light - weekly;
- in case of drought - 2 times a week.
It is advisable to defend water in advance. Before watering the loosestrife bush, you need to touch the topsoil: if it is still a little wet, it is better to wait, and if it is dry, you must add water.
By itself, the rod-shaped loosestrife will survive well the complete absence of fertilizers. However, top dressing must be applied to maintain a long and lush flowering:
- For the first time in the spring, the layer of organic mulch (humus, peat or compost) is renewed.
- At the beginning of flowering (end of June), a complex fertilizer is applied (with a minimum nitrogen content).
- A similar feeding is done closer to the end of flowering - i.e. around the beginning of August.
Top dressing 2-3 times per season provides a very beautiful and long-lasting flowering.
Its shoots can lie on the ground and completely lose their decorative effect. Therefore, the standard dosage of such dressings must be reduced by 1.5-2 times.
Weeding, loosening, mulching
The roots of the loosestrife are mulched, and it is advisable to lay out just organic material (peat, humus or compost). It performs 3 important functions at once:
- Saturates the soil with nutrient organic substances.
- Maintains its natural moisture level.
- Prevents weeds from growing.
Weeding is carried out as needed, completely removing weeds from the soil. Loosening is performed 2-3 days after watering or heavy rain. Thanks to this procedure, water, nutrients and oxygen are easily supplied to the roots of the twig loaf. Otherwise, the water compresses the soil, and the effect is the opposite.
Pruning
It is also recommended to prune the rod-shaped loosestrife. Thanks to this procedure, you can form a beautiful bush and remove all old shoots, which stimulates the growth of new branches. Traditionally, pruning of a rod-shaped loosestrife is carried out only once a year - in early spring (before the start of active sap flow) or in late autumn, after the onset of the first frost. At this point, you need to remove any old, broken and dried stems.
In the future, you can periodically form a bush, cutting off strongly protruding branches. It is advisable to treat the cut site with a 1-2% solution of potassium permanganate or sprinkle it with charcoal or activated carbon powder. Rod-shaped shoots are easier to work with with a pruner.
Wintering
If there can be severe frosts in winter (below -25 ° C), the rod-shaped loaf bush should be cut off (in October). To do this, the branches are removed completely, leaving hemp 10-15 cm high. The sections are sprinkled with charcoal powder. Then the bush is spud and a large layer of mulch is laid - dry foliage, peat, spruce branches, hay. In early spring, it must be removed so that the branches do not overheat due to excess moisture.
Pests and diseases
The loosestrife is distinguished by a fairly good immunity to diseases and pests. But aphids can settle on it, which is easy to notice visually, as well as by indirect signs - a cluster of ants nearby. You can destroy these insects with a solution of baking soda, ammonia, infusion of onion peels, chopped garlic, mustard powder, chili and other folk remedies.
Insecticides also help well:
- Biotlin;
- Green Soap;
- Fitoverm;
- "Decis";
- Aktara.
The processing of twig bushes is carried out late in the evening or early in the morning in dry and calm weather.
If there is an apiary nearby, the years of bees should be limited (in the case of using toxic drugs).
Conclusion
The rod-shaped loosestrife is decorative, but at the same time it is undemanding to care. The bushes are small, graceful and very attractive. Rod-shaped seedlings can be placed both in the center of the flower garden and along the edges of the garden.
