Mirikaria is an interesting herbaceous plant that is valuable to most gardeners due to the unusual foliage structure. Unlike most bright green crops, its lush bushes will adorn the front garden with silver scaly branches.
The main characteristics of myricaria
The perennial plant belongs to the comb family and looks similar to heather. Its name is the word form of the Latin name for heather (mirica). The birthplace of myricaria is Asia (from Tibet to Altai), it is widely distributed on the Chinese and Mongolian plains. It also lives on plateaus and hills, climbing to a height of 1.9 km above sea level.
The bush has reddish or yellow-brown branched shoots with tiny leaf scales. Low spreading shrubs in a temperate climate reach 1-1.5 m, although plants are found in nature up to 4 m in height. The width of the garden representatives is 1.5 m.
In the bush, there are 10-20 main ascending shoots, smooth with a stiff structure. Short lateral branches are covered with small fleshy leaves, the color of the leaf plates is bluish-green. The vegetative period of the plant lasts from early May to frost. At this time, even without inflorescences, it serves as a decoration of a front garden or garden.
Myricaria blooms in mid-May and delights with delicate buds for two months. Such a long flowering is due to the gradual opening of flowers. First, they bloom on the lower shoots adjacent to the ground, and in late summer - on the tops of the plant. A single flower lives from 3 to 5 days. On long peduncles up to 40 cm in height, an spike-shaped inflorescence is formed. Depending on the variety, flowers are formed on the tops of the stems or in the leaf sinuses. The brushes are densely strewn with small pink and purple flowers.
After flowering is complete, the seeds ripen. They are collected in an elongated pyramidal box. The smallest seeds have a whitish pubescence.
Varieties
In culture, two types of myricaria are known:
- Daurian;
- foxtail.
Mirikaria daurskaya, it is long-leaved, often found in the south of Siberia and Altai. In the first year of life, young shoots are covered with a yellowish-green bark, which in subsequent years becomes brown. The foliage is grayish, narrow, reaches 5-10 mm in length, and only 1-3 mm in width. The shape of the leaves is oblong or ovoid, the upper part is dotted with small glands.
Inflorescences form on the lateral (older) and apical (one-year) shoots. The form of inflorescences is simple or more complex, branched. First, the peduncles are shortened, but by the opening of the buds they become longer. On the bract up to 6 mm in diameter is a miniature calyx, 3-4 mm in size. Pink oblong petals protrude 5-6 mm forward and have a width of 2 mm. Half-fused stamens adorn the capitate stigma of the ovary. In a tricuspid elongated capsule there are elongated seeds up to 1.2 mm in length with a partially pubescent awn.
Foxtail Mirikaria, or, in the opinion of other gardeners, foxtail is more common in Western Europe, as well as in the Far East and Central Asia. Low shrubs with straight and ascending lateral shoots are strewn with regular fleshy leaves. The color of the sheet is silver with a blue tint.
From mid-May to late August, the upper stems are decorated with tassels of pink inflorescences. Flowers densely cover the peduncle and begin to unfold from below, under the weight of the buds the stem often falls in an arc. Until the buds open, the flower stalk is about 10 cm long and resembles a dense cone, but, as it blooms, lengthens to 30-40 cm and becomes more loose.
In early autumn, fruit ripening begins. Due to the whitish pubescence of seeds at the ends of branches, large shoots resemble the tail of a fox with a lush bright end. For this feature, the plant got its name.
Breeding
When propagating by seeds, it is necessary to observe the storage conditions, since they quickly lose their properties. Keep seeds at moderate temperatures in sealed waterproof packaging. Landing is done the next year. Before sowing, the seeds are stratified for a week in the refrigerator at a temperature of + 3 ... + 5 ° C. After this procedure, the germination rate exceeds 95%. Without stratification, only a third of seedlings will sprout.
Sow seeds in boxes without deepening or sprinkling with earth. A drip or ascending method of moistening the soil is preferred. Already for 2-3 days the seeds are pecking and a small root appears. A ground shoot is formed after about a week. Reinforced seedlings are transplanted into the garden after the onset of steady heat, as the slightest frost will destroy the plants.
It is more efficient to propagate myricaria by cuttings and dividing the bush. For these purposes, old (woody) shoots and young (annual) shoots are suitable. Cutting and rooting cuttings can be throughout the vegetative period. Their length should be 25 cm, and the thickness of stiff stems - 1 cm.
Freshly cut cuttings are immersed for 1-3 hours in a water-alcohol solution of growth stimulants (Epin, Heteroauxin or Kornevin). Landing immediately is best done in prepared pots or plastic bottles. Although the roots form quickly and the plant is suitable for planting in open ground, its sensitivity to frost in the first year of life is very high. In a cold climate, young shoots do not winter well. But in the spring of the second year, they can be safely planted in the garden and not be afraid for a future wintering.
Plant care
Mirikaria is not damaged by various diseases and is resistant to pests. She is very unpretentious. It easily tolerates winter frosts up to -40 ° С and summer heat up to + 40 ° С.
Fertile garden and loamy peat soils are suitable for planting. Prefers a neutral or slightly acidic environment. Mirikaria is resistant to drought, even in the heat it needs a little watering, but on moist soils it grows and blooms more. In the absence of rain, 10 l of water per bush is sufficient once every two weeks. Withstands excess moisture and temporary soil flooding.
With the annual mulching of the soil with organic matter (peat or humus), the color of the petals and greenery becomes more saturated. During the season, you can make 1-2 dressing of the bush with universal fertilizers for heather crops.
For planting, slightly shaded areas of the garden are better suited. The plant normally tolerates bright light, but the midday sun can burn young shoots.
Gradually, the bushes become greasy, at the age of 7-8 years the plant significantly loses its attractiveness. To avoid this, you need to carry out regular pruning. It is performed in two stages:
- in the fall - for decorative purposes;
- in spring - to remove frozen and dry branches.
Spreading branches are vulnerable to strong winds, so they need special shelter or landing in calm places. In winter, the plant is tied up to help withstand snow drifts or strong gusts of wind. Young growth can be bent to the ground in the fall.
Using
Mirikaria will serve as a beautiful addition to the design of natural and artificial reservoirs. It is used as a tapeworm or in group plantings on flower beds. Preferred neighborhood with deciduous and coniferous dark green crops, as well as in the rose garden.
