Tamarix or, as it is also called, Grebenchuk shrub is a beautiful plant that many gardeners admire.
Origin
Tamarix shrub is distinguished by an extensive palette of shades, to many it resembles bead jewelry, therefore another name of the plant is Beads.
The name of the plant speaks of its origin - it was first discovered near the Tamariz River, located in the Pyrenees (the modern name of the river is Timbra). At least 75 of its species are known in the world, which grow on a vast territory from southern Europe to India.
Tamarix is a surprisingly beautiful and unpretentious shrub.
Flower description
The Shrubber of the shrub leaves are small, bluish-green in color. The flowers of the plant form racemose inflorescences, which can be pink or white. Until the flower buds open, the shrub looks like it was densely strewn with beads.
Flowering of Tamarix is very attractive to bees, because the plant is an excellent honey plant.
It’s easy to take care of Grebenchuk - he is resistant to drought, perfectly adapts to the gas-polluted large cities. Even the laziest gardener will cope with Tamarix shrub planting and caring for the plant.
Tamariks is an excellent decoration for a garden, a personal plot and any other territory
Species and varieties
Tamarix bush according to the description has many varieties and three main types:
- four-stamen;
- branchy;
- loose.
Four-stemmed Tamarix
The four-stemmed Tamarix shrub in garden farms can be found in regions such as the Moscow Region, the Urals and even Siberia. In nature, the plant grows in the Crimea and in the Caucasus. It can also be seen in the Republic of Belarus.
This variety is characterized by a particularly lush crown, consisting of arched shoots with a reddish bark. The plant has bright green leaves that are located along the entire stem. It’s easy to take care of the four-tamar Tamarix, because it is often used to decorate summer cottages and urban landscapes.
Four-stemmed Tamarix
Branched Tamarix
Branched Tamarix often grows on the banks of rivers, lakes, as well as sandbanks. This is not a very large shrub with green or bluish bark and narrow awl-shaped leaves. Variety flowers have a pink hue. Flowering branchy Tamarix occurs from June to September, because the plant often finds wide application as a decorative element in landscape design.
Branched Tamarix is very unpretentious, its cultivation is possible on any type of soil. Despite the fact that the plant is relatively resistant to frost, its wintering (especially in the northern regions) should suggest the organization of additional shelter.
Branched Tamarix
Loose tamarix
Loose Tamariks looks like a spreading tree, growing under favorable conditions to a height of five meters. The bark of the plant is greenish or bluish. Foliage is characterized by an ovoid shape. The flowers of the plant are pink, collected in quite lush brushes. The flowering period lasts about two months. Thanks to its particularly high winter hardiness, the loose Tamarix is excellent for growing in regions with harsh winters.
Open transplant
After buying Tamarix seedlings, it is important to properly plant them in open ground. Planting a plant is best in early spring.
There are no special soil requirements for planting at Tamariks. The plant feels equally good on any type of soil. For shrubs, even heavy clay soil is suitable. When planting in such a soil, it is strongly recommended to add humus and peat.
Tamarix is unpretentious to the ground
Choosing a place to land
When choosing a landing site, one should take into account such a property of the Grebenshchik as intolerance to moisture stagnation. In this case, the humidity is reasonable within the limits of the plant, like the sun's rays.
Landing step by step
In order for the bush to grow without problems and begin to delight with its amazingly beautiful flowers, it is important to plant it correctly. To do this, you need to follow these steps:
- Dig a hole in the ground, the size of which will be twice the size of an earthen coma inside the container.
- Mix soil with compost and humus.
- Pour the plant in a container.
- Remove the seedling from the container.
- At the bottom of the pit, pour a small amount of soil mixture.
- Carefully place Tamarix in the pit.
- Fill a hole with a plant.
- Tamp down the landing site.
- Form a watering circle.
- Water the freshly planted plant.
- Mulch the landing site.
Advice! The best place for planting Tamarix is a well-lit area that does not flood in the spring.
Features of plant propagation
Tamarix breeding is most often carried out in one of the following ways:
- cuttings;
- from the seeds.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings of plants are recommended to be made in the fall, before the time of frost has come. As cuttings should be used young, but have already managed to lignify branches. They are cut into cuttings with a length of 10 to 15 cm and placed in a container with warm water until the roots form.
Tamarix can be propagated in various ways.
When the roots appear, the plant is transplanted into a mixture of sand and peat, then covered with a cap and placed in a warm, well-lit place. You can plant a plant in open ground in May or June.
Seed propagation
Reproduction from seeds is not the easiest and fastest way to obtain seedlings. However, in some cases it is used.
Important! After ripening, the seeds of Tamarix retain their germination for only four months, so you need to plant them while they are fresh.
To prepare the planting material, you must perform the following steps:
- prepare a container with loose soil;
make sure that there are drainage holes in the container; - place seeds in the soil to a depth of 1 cm at a distance from each other from 3 to 4 cm;
- when the height of the seedlings is 5 cm, plant them in separate cups;
- grow seedlings, maintaining room temperature and a moderate indicator of humidity, for two years.
Tamarix seeds
In the open ground, the plant can be planted in the spring in the third year.
Tamarix Care
Like any other plant, Tamarix requires some care.
Watering
In the first days after planting, the plant should be watered with a high degree of intensity, gradually reducing the number of irrigations. Mature Tamarix does not require regular hydration. Moreover, excess moisture can harm him. Shrub water is needed only in long dry periods, especially during flowering.
Top dressing
If the bush is planted on fertile soil, it does not require special feeding. It is enough only in the middle of spring to fertilize it with a mixture of chicken droppings, mullein and ash.
Flowering care
During flowering, the plant does not require special care, but periodic watering will not harm it, especially in dry weather. If the summer is cool and rainy, it is better not to disturb Tamariks blossoming.
Attention! Excess waterlogging will lead to root rot.
Care at rest
After flowering, it is necessary to prune Tamarix. All faded and withered inflorescences and those shoots that managed to stretch are subject to removal. Through pruning, efforts must be made to give the bush maximum stability. In this case, the plant does not need to be attached to the supports.
Preparing for the winter
Preparing the plant for winter should begin at about the same time as the first frost. The first step is to thoroughly mulch the trunk region. Peat or ordinary fallen foliage can be used as mulch.
When the air temperature becomes stably low, the bush is bent to the ground, fixed and insulated with special covering material or spruce paws.
Recently, Tamariks as an ornamental plant is in high demand among gardeners. It looks great with perennial perennials, shrubbery compositions and just planted on the lawn.
Since the plant does not require special care, it is optimally suited to create the perfect landscape design. Amazing beaded flowers of this plant will become a real decoration of any garden.
