Content
- 1 Description and the most common types of euonymus
- 2 Where does euonymus grow
- 3 The healing properties of euonymus
- 4 Why is euonymus dangerous?
- 5 How to plant euonymus
- 6 Euonymus care
- 7 How euonymus blooms
- 8 How to propagate euonymus
- 9 Why does not euonymus turn red
- 10 Diseases and pests of euonymus
- 11 Conclusion
Planting and caring for a spindle tree is very simple. Due to this and its high decorative qualities, the culture is widely used in landscaping. Plants are plastic, from which they create traditional curbs, hedges, ground carpets, flexible lashes of creeping species are lifted onto a support.
Description and the most common types of euonymus
Euonymus is a genus of deciduous and evergreen shrubs or trees belonging to the genus Celastraceae. They are often used in landscape design, rarely - as an indoor plant or a plant intended for a winter garden. There are more than 200 species, of which 20 grow in natural conditions on the territory of Russia.
Externally, euonymus are very different from each other. But they all have nondescript small greenish flowers that are of no decorative value and small, simple oval-shaped leaves. Bright leathery seedlings look attractive, bursting after seed ripening. Depending on the type, they can be yellow, pink, all shades of red.
The species used as an ornamental plant can be conditionally divided into two groups.
Deciduous euonymus
They are rather large shrubs and trees, reaching 3 m or more without cutting with age. Euonymus do not reach such a height soon, as they grow slowly, but live for a long time. They are grown mainly for their attractive bright fruits and colorful leaves in the fall.
The most famous deciduous species are:
- European or Bruslin reaches 5 m, is grown because of attractive pericarp and large (up to 7 cm) ornate leaves, gradually changing color from green to red, purple or brownish-burgundy in autumn;
- Winged - a dense shrub up to 1.8 m high with a crown resembling a dome, orange-red pericarp and large (up to 6 cm) leaves that acquire a carmine color in autumn;
- Warty is a slow-growing shrub up to 1.5 m high with red or orange-pink pericarp and leaves, painted in pink, red-pink in autumn;
- Maaka - a bush or tree up to 10 m tall with pink or dark red pericarp, lanceolate or elongated oval serrated leaves up to 9 cm long, changing color from green to all shades of pink and purple in autumn;
- Maksimovich - a large shrub or tree up to 7 m, winter-hardy, with large green elliptical leaves, acquiring a pinkish color in autumn, carmine pericarp on long stalks.
Evergreen euonymus
Unlike deciduous, evergreen species do not change color in autumn. They are shrubs that spread or reach a maximum height of 1.5 m.Cultivated as a green hedge, groundcover or even as a liana. The leaves of evergreen species are much smaller than those of deciduous euonymus, they can have a uniform color. But variegated varieties with yellow or white stripes are more appreciated.
The most popular evergreen species:
- Winged or Fortune - a creeping shrub with a height of 30-60 cm with lashes up to 3 m, easily rooted and capable of clinging to supports, oval leathery leaves about 2.5 cm long, variegated, sometimes monochromatic;
- Japanese, which is a shrub, even under the most favorable conditions does not grow higher than 150 cm, with leaves larger than those of the previous species, usually monochromatic, but variegated forms exist;
- Dwarf - a semi-evergreen shrub, growing up to 30-100 cm, with linear dark green leaves up to 4 cm in size, easily grafted onto the European euonymus, a weeping shape can be created on the trunk.
Many varieties have been bred, differing in the size and color of the leaves. They bloom poorly, rarely, even the pericarp does not have decorative value.
Where does euonymus grow
It is difficult to find a plant that is more undemanding to growing conditions than euonymus. Most species take root on any soil, but prefer neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Evergreen euonymus tolerate shading well; under the bright midday sun, they can burn a little. Deciduous species, especially Maak, have increased requirements for lighting.
Euonymus does not like stagnant water. It is better to plant it where watering is lacking than in a constantly damp area.
The plant tolerates low temperatures well, it can be planted everywhere except the Far North. Even the most thermophilic Japanese euonymus, which, according to reference books, should withstand -5-10⁰C, in practice grows without shelter at -20⁰C. Cold wind is more dangerous for the plant than low temperatures, so the landing site must be protected.
The healing properties of euonymus
Before being treated with euonymus, you should clearly remember that the plant is poisonous, you cannot simply make a decoction or tincture - this is dangerous to health and life. You should consult a doctor or an experienced herbalist. The pharmaceutical industry does not use euonymus for the manufacture of medicines, but the folk industry uses it carefully and in small doses.
All parts of the plant are medicinal:
- wood contains pectin, glucose, sucrose, tannins, organic acids, vitamin C, steroids;
- the bark is rich in anthraglycosides with laxative properties, fatty acids, carbohydrates;
- the leaves contain vitamin C, alkaloids, flavonoids;
- seeds contain carbohydrates, fatty oils and acids, vitamin C.
Water and alcohol infusions, euonymus decoctions are taken orally, applied in the form of lotions for a number of diseases:
- nervous disorders;
- severe headaches;
- constipation;
- hypertension;
- hepatitis;
- vomiting;
- decreased potency;
- from parasites and worms.
Why is euonymus dangerous?
Decoctions and infusions can cause serious harm to health with a simple overdose. They contain gutta and highly toxic cardenolides, which cause strong contractions of the heart muscle. Exceeding the dose can cause:
- vomiting;
- nausea;
- inflammation of the small intestine;
- slowing down or increased heart rate.
It is categorically impossible to take products containing euonymus:
- children under 18;
- pregnant women;
- nursing mothers;
- hypotension;
- cores.
How to plant euonymus
Planting and caring for euonymus outdoors is very simple. The plant will not tolerate only constantly locking acidic soils. Some species feel uncomfortable in the bright sun and can burn.
Landing dates
In temperate and cold climates, euonymus is planted in the spring, when the soil thaws and warms up a little. In the south - in autumn, no later than a month before the onset of stable frosts. Then the seedling will take root well.
Landing rules
On chernozems, loose, fertile and not prone to blocking soils, euonymus can simply be planted in a hole, the size of which will allow the root to be freely positioned, and watered abundantly. Lime or dolomite flour must be added to the acidic soil, the dense one is improved with sand and organic matter. If the soil is prone to sticking, drainage is arranged for the plant from a 15-20-centimeter layer of broken red brick, gravel, rubble or expanded clay.
The hole is made one and a half times larger than the size of the root. Humus and a handful of complex fertilizers are added to each. A seedling is placed in the center of the pit, the roots are straightened, covered with soil, and watered abundantly.
In flower beds, ridges and in landscape groups, the size of an adult plant must be taken into account. When planting a hedge from a spindle tree, it is convenient not to dig each hole separately, but to make a shallow ditch.
At first, the plant needs abundant watering and protection from the sun. The soil is mulched with peat or humus.
Euonymus care
Even in Siberia, planting and caring for euonymus does not present any particular difficulties. This is a very simple culture that can be safely planted in areas where the owners are irregular.
Watering and feeding
The plant tolerates drought well, it is rarely watered on purpose, but abundantly. Even in summer, euonymus is moistened from time to time.
If during planting the soil was filled with fertilizers, the plant is no longer given additional fertilizing for three years. In the future, they are also optional. It is advisable to add nitrogen in the spring after the snow melts, which will help the plant quickly recover and build up green mass. In the fall, a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer is given at the root, it will increase frost resistance, which is especially important in the Urals. There, planting and caring for euonymus is complicated by the changeable weather.
How to cut euonymus
All euonymus, evergreen and deciduous, tolerate heavy pruning well. Although many species develop slowly, they quickly grow with new branches, and the plants practically do not need time to recover after cutting.
Any pruning and pinching causes increased branching. The euonymus already forms rather dense bushes or trees, and this will increase their decorative effect. It is best to cut the haircut in May, cutting out frozen, broken, dry branches and shortening the shoots. Plants planted in hedges are re-pruned in late summer or early fall.
Deciduous species are usually pruned after fruiting. Ground cover (creeping) euonymus planted in the foreground and growing quite quickly, if necessary, you can cut it even in summer.
In ground cover forms, old shoots are cut out so that they do not spoil the appearance of the plant.
How to form euonymus
The crown of the euonymus (except for the creeping one) is cut in the form of an umbrella, cone, ellipse. It is better to stick to the natural form, only improving it. Ground cover species are trimmed to fit in with the landscape concept. They can be formed with a thick carpet, candles, even a liana, if raised on a support.
You can even make a topiary from a plant if you start cutting a tree or bush from an early age. To create a weeping bole, the dwarf euonymus is grafted onto the European.
Shelter of euonymus for the winter
Actually, euonymus is quite frost-resistant. The shoots of the plant suffer more from the winter sun and weathering. Often in Fortune varieties, the stems directed upwards are frozen over. In the spring they are simply cut off.
Even in the northern regions, euonymus is covered with spruce branches or spunbond for the winter only for the first three years after planting. Mature plants withstand frost well.
How euonymus blooms
Euonymus flowers are small, inconspicuous, up to 1 cm in diameter, greenish, collected in 4-5 pieces. They open in late May or early June, and look good against the backdrop of beautiful dark green leaves.
Flowers rarely appear on evergreen euonymus. In deciduous trees and shrubs, the ovaries are usually numerous, their pericarp, expanding, resemble wings and are painted in yellow, orange, in all shades of pink, red, crimson, purple.
As you can see in the photo, euonymus look very decorative in autumn even after the leaves fall off.
How to propagate euonymus
The euonymus takes root well, it is easy to propagate it vegetatively.
Propagation of euonymus by seeds
This is the most difficult way to reproduce euonymus. It is used mainly for deciduous species, since from evergreen plants flowering, and even more so the formation of seeds, can be expected for years.
The planting material is collected when the box has already begun to crack. The seeds are cleaned and immediately planted in the ground. If you leave them until spring, you will have to stratify and soak for 4-6 months, or wait a year for germination.
The seeds are sealed to a depth of 1.5-2 cm, covered with foil or glass, and kept at room temperature, daily airing and checking the moisture content of the soil. When 4-6 true leaves appear, the plants dive. They are planted in a permanent place after 3 years.
How to propagate euonymus by cuttings
From a bush or tree at least 5 years old, green cuttings are cut into pieces of 6-8 cm in the first half of summer. They should contain 1-2 internodes. The lower cut is treated with a growth stimulant and planted in fertile loose soil, 3-4 cm of sand are covered.
Keep in a cool place with good lighting. After 1.5-2 months, the cuttings will take root and they can be planted in the ground.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
This method is more suitable for dwarf varieties and small indoor shrubs. It is difficult to dig up an adult plant from open ground in order to separate it into parts and plant it back. In addition, you will have to cut up to 70% of the length of all stems, and this will lead to a loss of decorative effect of large specimens. It may take years to reach the same size.
But the delenki are planted immediately to a permanent place.
Root offspring
The shoots are planted in early spring when the soil thaws. A piece of root with a length of at least 20 cm with a shoot is placed immediately in a permanent place, trying not to disturb the earthen lump. If the height of a young plant exceeds half a meter, it is shortened.
Reproduction by layering
Forchuna's euonymus and other ground cover species are easily propagated by layering. Long lashes can root on their own by simply touching the soil. To get more plants, the shoot is bent, fixed with a bracket, sprinkled with earth, leaving the top free.
Rooting occurs quickly, but it is better to wait until next spring before separating the young creeping euonymus from the mother plant. Planting and care is carried out in the same way as for a regular seedling.
Why does not euonymus turn red
They are evergreens and should not blush. But deciduous species are often grown only in order to admire the riot of colors for 1-2 weeks at the end of the season. Let it be for a little while, but the garden is transforming. Every day, the color of the plants gradually changes until it becomes saturated purple, pink, red.
But some gardeners complain that autumn has come and the deciduous species have turned brown. This can happen for the following reasons:
- Bad light. For the leaves to become brightly colored, the plants must receive enough sunlight.
- Excess fertilizer. The euonymus is "full" and is not going to change the color of the leaves, they will simply dry up and fall off.
So, in order for the leaves to acquire a bright color in autumn, the plant needs sunlight and poor soils.
Diseases and pests of euonymus
Euonymus are affected by diseases and pests more often than many gardeners who grow them think. It's just that variegated forms have gained the greatest popularity, and on them all problems appear only when they enter an advanced stage. And this may be fraught with the loss of a valuable plant.
The most common diseases of spindle tree:
- powdery mildew - fungal disease, the external sign of which is a white bloom on the leaves;
- viral mosaic - first, yellow spots appear on the vegetative organs, then the area near the veins brightens, the leaves are deformed;
- blotches - spots caused by fungal disease appear on the leaves, then bulging points or pads with spores;
- necrosis - damage to the bark by fungal diseases, in which it can first change color, then it cracks, whole colonies of spores are formed under it, which eventually emerge to the surface.
For the treatment of the plant, three times spraying with fungicides is used with an interval of 14-20 days. As a preventive measure, euonymus should be regularly examined, diseased and dry branches should be cut off in a timely manner, and fallen leaves should be removed or processed.
The spindle trees are affected by pests:
- scabbards (coccids) - sedentary insects about 2 mm long, stick around the leaves and shoots of the plant throughout the growing season, look like bulging sticks, it is extremely difficult to fight them;
- aphid affects young growth, sucking juices out of it, usually carried by ants;
- spider mite hides on the underside of the leaves, tightening them with a thin cobweb and forcing them to fall off in case of severe damage;
- caterpillars of the euonymus moth gnaw on the leaves of the plant;
- weevils in early spring, they gnaw at the edges of the leaves;
- ermine moth, the caterpillars of which braid the leaves with cobwebs and eat them, leaving the veins intact;
- euonymus moth caterpillars affect the fruits.
Most pests of spindle tree, in contrast to diseases, are infrequent and usually do not cause significant damage to the plant. You still need to get rid of them using the appropriate insecticides.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for a spindle tree is not a complicated matter. It is important here - cut off on time, not overflow the plant, and limit feeding for deciduous species. Unpretentious euonymus well endure urban conditions, in summer they decorate the garden, and in autumn they delight the eye with green or red leaves.
