Content
Calystegia is an ornamental vine of the Bindweed family. This plant is ideal for vertical gardening, which is why it is often used in landscape design. Popularity with flower growers is explained by endurance, unpretentious care, rapid growth and high decorativeness throughout the season. Japan, China are considered the birthplace of kalistegi or povoya, and in natural conditions it can also be found in the Far East, where liana grows everywhere. Planting and caring for calistegia is carried out taking into account the requirements of the culture, otherwise the desired result will not be achieved.
Liana easily adapts to any climatic conditions
Botanical description
This plant is a herbaceous perennial. Its curly shoots reach a height of 4 m. Their surface is brown. Vine stems are smooth, flexible, but strong. The leaves of the povoy can be kidney, ovate or triangular with a heart-shaped base. Plates of bright green color with a pronounced relief pattern on the surface of the veins. They are arranged alternately along the entire length of the shoots and are fixed with petioles.
The calistegia plant has a well-developed creeping root that can grow up to 1.5 m in length. Every year, with the onset of autumn frosts, the aboveground part completely dies off. And with the arrival of spring, the vine begins its growth from the recovery buds, which are located in the upper part of the root system.
Along the entire length of the shoots of the liana, single flowers are formed throughout the season, which appear from the axils of the leaves. They can be white or pink. The flowers are bell-shaped and, depending on the species, can be simple or double. Their diameter can also vary from 2 to 9 cm. Flowers consist of 5 delicate petals, which have grown together and frame a tubular core with stamens.
After the buds wither, a four-leafed rounded fruit is formed, inside which the seeds ripen. The flowering period for lianas begins in mid-June and lasts until September. All this time, the plant is actively forming numerous buds, therefore it needs regular feeding.
Popular species and varieties
In nature, there are about 25 species of vines, but only some of them have found application as an element of landscape design. In addition, on their basis, decorative varieties of calistegia were obtained, which are distinguished by large flowers. Therefore, you should study their features, which will allow you to choose the most suitable option.
Terry
This type of calistegia is also called the Siberian rose for the similarity of flowers with an ornamental shrub. Terry pova is characterized by abundant flowering for 4 months. The diameter of the opened buds is 8-9 cm. The color of the petals is pale pink. Terry Calystegia (Calystegia Hederifolia) flowers have many petals. The length of the shoots reaches 3 m. The leaves are dark green, petiolar.
Terry liana seeds are not formed
Calistegia multiplex
A highly decorative type of culture, characterized by large pink flowers with a pearlescent tint. The diameter of the blossoming bud of the multiplex calistegia reaches 10 cm. The length of the shoots is 3.5 cm. The leaves are triangular, uniform green in color, medium. Flowering lasts from July to mid-October.
Liana multiplex is characterized by high frost resistance
Fluffy
The homeland of this war is China. This type of liana is considered the highest, the length of its shoots reaches 4 m. Leaves are rich green color, elongated. The flowers of the fluffy calystegia (Calystegia pubescens) are multi-petal, double type. Their diameter reaches 4-6 cm. Petals are white with a slight pink tint.
For the winter, a fluffy calistegia needs to be covered with fallen leaves.
Fence
In terms of the structure of leaves and flowers, this species resembles a birch, which is considered a weed plant. The shoots of the fence calystegia (Calystegia sepium) are thin, reaching 3 m. It is easily propagated by seeds, therefore self-seeding is possible. The leaves are triangular, light green. The root deepens to 1 m, it is impossible to control its growth. Flowers are simple, bell-shaped. The shade of the petals is white.
The diameter of flowers at the fence calistegia reaches 4 cm
Ivy
This type of calistegia got its name thanks to the three-bladed leaf plates, which are similar to ivy. The length of the shoots varies within 1.5-2.5 m. The scourges of the ivy-leaved calystegia (Calystegia japonica) are elastic, strong. Flowers are multi-petaled, friable, up to 9 cm in diameter. They have a light pink tint. Flowering begins in July and lasts until autumn frosts.
Ivy calistegia is also called Japanese.
Hairy
The Far East is considered the homeland of this species. The shoots of the hairy calystegia (Calystegia Pellita) are weakly branched, reaching about 80 cm in length. The leaves are oblong, petiolar. The shade of the liana plates is light green. The flowers consist of 5 sharp petals fused at the base. They are small in size, the rim diameter does not exceed 4 cm.
Flowering in hairy calistegia occurs in the second half of summer.
Application in landscape design
Kalistegia is a liana that is ideal for vertical gardening of arbors, arches, pergolas. Thanks to the flexibility of its shoots, it is able to easily master any support in the first year after planting. Also, this plant can be planted near balconies, terraces.
If you want to make a green fence with the help of calistegia, you need to plant it near the fence, placing the seedlings next to it. This will allow you to get the desired result in 2-3 months.
Liana in the flowerbed can only be used as a background
Reproduction methods
Calistegia is often propagated vegetatively. This is due to the fact that its root has an enhanced regenerative ability, therefore, a small piece is enough for it to start up new shoots.
To reproduce the type of calistegia you like, you need to dig out a part of the mother bush in the fall before the start of frost, along with a lump of earth. During the winter, it should be stored in a basement and kept slightly damp in the soil.
In March, the root of the calistegia must be cleaned of soil and rinsed thoroughly. Then cut it into pieces of 5-7 cm, and sprinkle fresh wounds with wood ash and plant in boxes filled with nutritious soil. Vine strips must be deepened 3-5 cm and watered abundantly. You can plant young seedlings in a permanent place at the end of May.
When the seedlings of Kalistegiya grow up and get stronger, they need to be pinched, which will improve the branching of the vine.
Planting and caring for Kalistegia outdoors
Povoy is one of the unpretentious crops. Therefore, planting and caring for the Kalistegia flower will not be difficult even for a novice gardener.But in order for the plant to fully develop and constantly form buds, you need to adhere to simple recommendations.
Abundant flowering of kalistegia is possible only with support
Recommended timing
It is necessary to plant vine seedlings in a permanent place in the second half of May, when the threat of recurrent frosts has completely passed. This is due to the fact that the fragile sprouts of calistegia do not have high frost resistance like adult bushes, so you should not rush to planting.
Site selection and preparation
For the plant, you can choose open areas that are shaded in the afternoon. It is impossible to plant a new one in deep shade, since it will not be able to bloom fully in such conditions.
A week before the procedure, it is necessary to dig up the area and add 5 kg of humus to each square. m. Kalistegiya prefers to grow on loam. But planting in clay soil is also permissible if sand and peat are additionally added to it.
When planting, take into account the occurrence of groundwater. This level should not be less than 1.0 m, since the vine does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil.
Landing algorithm
When planting a calistegia, you need to prepare roofing material or pieces of slate. They are needed to restrict root growth. If this requirement is ignored, it will be impossible to control the further growth of vines on the site.
Procedure for planting calistegia:
- Dig a planting hole 50-60 cm deep.
- Install slate or roofing material on its sides.
- Pour earth into the center so that 15-20 cm remains to the top.
- Water liberally and wait for the moisture to absorb.
- Set the seedling in the center.
- Sprinkle with earth and compact the surface.
- Water again.
As the shoots grow, it is necessary to pinch the calistegia in order to enhance its branching.
Watering and feeding schedule
The liana rhizome stores water, so the plant can easily withstand a short drought. But in the case of a long absence of precipitation, you need to water the calistegia. To do this, use settled water with a temperature of +20 degrees. Moisturizing is carried out 1-2 times a week with the soil getting wet up to 30 cm. Sometimes it is possible to irrigate by sprinkling, which allows to wash off the collected dust from the leaves.
Kalistegia constantly forms buds for 3-4 months, so it needs regular feeding. During the period of active growth of shoots, organic matter or nitroammophos can be used. And during flowering, use phosphorus-potassium mineral mixtures.
Pruning
To maintain the decorative effect of the plant throughout the entire flowering period, it is necessary to cut off the wilted buds 1 time in 7-10 days.
Pruning kalistegiya before wintering should be carried out at the end of October. During this period, it is necessary to cut off the shoots at the base in adult bushes, and shorten it by 2/3 of the length in young seedlings.
Preparing for winter
It is only necessary to cover the calistegia in the first 3 years after planting. To do this, it is necessary to mulch the soil above the root with a layer of peat or humus 10 cm. Remove the shelter in early spring, without waiting for stable heat, so that the upper part of the root does not come out.
The need for a transplant
Adult liana bushes do not tolerate transplanting well. But in case of emergency, the procedure should be carried out in the fall at the end of flowering. Calistegia with regular feeding can grow in one place for 10-12 years.
With a decrease in the decorative effect of an adult liana, you need to completely renew the plant
Pests and diseases
Calistegia has a high natural immunity. Therefore, cases of its defeat by pests and diseases are quite rare. This can only happen if the growing conditions are not followed.
Possible difficulties:
- Powdery mildew. The disease develops in high humidity and temperature, which leads to excessive evaporation.The lesion can be recognized by the white bloom on the leaves of the calistegia, which later becomes dirty gray and causes metabolic disturbances. For treatment it is necessary to use "Topaz" or "Speed". It is necessary to spray the shoots of calistegia at the first signs of powdery mildew.
- Slugs. This pest attacks the plant in case of high humidity for a long time. It feeds on young leaves and shoots, which reduces the decorative effect of the vine. To scare away slugs, it is necessary to sprinkle the soil at the base of the calistegia with wood ash or tobacco dust.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for calistegia will not cause much trouble to the gardener. But at the same time, it is important to remember about its ability to spread uncontrollably throughout the entire site, so you should worry in advance and deepen the root limiter. Kalistegia is the perfect vertical gardening flower that can wrap around any support pretty quickly.
