Ornamental and forest heather: the secrets of a hardy shrub. What is heather. Heather ordinary: useful properties, cultivation, care and reviews The use of heather in other areas

Heather is grown by gardeners to decorate plots, and professionals actively use this plant in landscape design. When heather blooms, it happens from spring to late autumn, its small flowers become like bells and give great aesthetic pleasure.

On the territory of Russia, extensive thickets of wild heather bushes grow most often in the European part, in the eastern and western parts of Siberia. Moorland can be found throughout Europe, from the north to the Mediterranean. Such thickets are also found in the countries of North Africa.

These bushes grow mostly in pine forests, as well as in swampy areas, peat bogs and wastelands. Often there are wide areas of heather shrubs on the slopes of the mountains and in places with stony soil.

Heather blooms in summer and late autumn, they are good autumn plants. The brightness and beauty of the flowers is preserved even after the first snow falls.

Useful properties of heather

The beneficial properties of heather are recognized both officially and folk medicine. It contains a large number of useful substances that are used in the treatment of various diseases:

• helps cleanse the blood of harmful substances;
• thanks to him, rheumatism and gout are cured, stones in the bladder dissolve;
• is a prophylactic against hypertension and strengthens sleep;
• in combination with other medicinal herbs treats heart diseases;
• heather baths help in the fight against skin diseases;
• decoctions of this plant help strengthen hair;
• heather decoction is used for gargling with ENT diseases;
• is a good remedy for mitigating cough and expectoration;
• used as a wound healing agent for external use;
• juice squeezed from the leaves is useful for eye diseases, cystitis, diabetes, rheumatism and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent.

There are 500 varieties of the heather family in the world. Among them, the most common:

1. Allegro. The height of the bush is 60 cm, the flowers are carmine-red, the bark is brown. It stands out with a lush crown.
2. Carmen. A small compact shrub 30 cm high. It is characterized by small leaves and purple buds.
3. Peter Sparks. It differs by an oval-shaped crown and dark green leafy scales, which have a silvery color in winter.

Also popular are varieties such as Alexandra, Boskup, Monica and David Eason.

Common heather: cultivation features

For growing heather, choose sunny places or areas with partial shade. In the shade, these plants die. And in areas with insufficient sunlight, flowering does not turn out bright and lush.

These shrubs can be grown on poor land, they do not require a lot of nutrients. Well suited soil with the addition of sand, peat and humus.

After planting, it is desirable to mulch with chips of coniferous trees, this helps to create the necessary microenvironment. The plant needs to be watered as necessary, the soil is periodically loosened. When caring for heather, do not forget about weed control, and once a year you should fertilize with mineral fertilizers.

Before the appearance of spring buds, it is necessary to cut off the tops of the stems to the height of faded flower stalks, thanks to which the bushes grow and become more magnificent. In autumn, branches with faded inflorescences also need to be cut.

Selection of seedlings

To get a good, healthy bush, you should choose a strong seedling. You need to carefully examine it and check for the presence of young shoots and unblown buds. The bark should be even and smooth. It is better not to take a plant on which there are dying branches, most likely, efforts will not bring results. To ensure good growth, you need to choose young seedlings.

The best time for planting heather is spring, the second half of April. Acceptable results are also obtained by autumn planting, the second half of September. It is advisable to choose a site protected from the winds.

Planting density should be approximately 6-10 bushes per 1 sq.m. Dig a hole to a depth of up to 35 centimeters, while the neck of the root should be at the level of the soil surface. In clay areas, drainage from broken bricks or sand with a thickness of about 5-10 cm can be arranged. It is recommended to add about 30 g of nitrophoska and 50 g of horn flour to the hole.

Immediately after planting, plants should be watered and mulched with coniferous chips. Due to the fact that the bush does not tolerate transplanting well, it is advisable to provide for everything so that you do not have to change the location of the plant again.

Heather shelter for the winter

Despite the frost resistance of heather, after freezing the soil around it, you need to pour peat or dry leaves, and cover it with spruce branches on top, this will save the plant from severe frosts. All this protection should be removed in mid-April.

There are 4 main types of propagation of common heather: seed, cuttings, division of rhizomes, layering.

Seed is a labor-intensive process that guarantees high germination. It is necessary in the fall to collect the seeds from the boxes that have faded, and in the spring sow in containers with prepared soil from a mixture of peat, needles, sawdust and sand. Then cover with a film to accelerate the germination of seeds. The soil only needs to be slightly moistened for 2 weeks. After the appearance of sprouts, they must be kept under the film for another 14 days, and then opened.

Heather plants are a very diverse and rich group of plants. It includes tiny shrubs and meter-long rhododendron bushes that are considered "garden aristocrats". These are evergreens (rhododendrons), semi-evergreens (erica) and deciduous plants (azaleas). The right plants can be a picturesque and revitalizing accent for any garden, from open sunny spaces to rock gardens, semi-shaded parks and "wild" forest areas.

Growing Requirements

All heather plants prefer acidic, well-drained soils covered with a layer of organic mulch that protects their shallow root systems from drying out, frost and weeds.

Heathers, ericas and low shrubs prefer sunny and not too wet places. A heather garden from heather alone can be created even on very light and poor soils. Varieties of heather plants are different in height, have a variety of colors of leaves and flowers. They bloom from VII to IX (butonic heathers even longer), forming a multi-colored carpet in the garden until the very frost.

The rest of the heathers need soil of high humidity. Species with evergreen leaves need quiet places and protected from direct sun rays. The stronger the influence of the continental climate - more frosty winters, dry and hot summers - the more they need shade and soil moisture.

Multi-colored large-flowered azaleas, like small-leaved rhododendrons, look good in all landscape compositions, prefer sunny and semi-shady places, while evergreen Japanese azaleas need shade and moist places. Most fast-growing evergreen rhododendrons (especially large-flowered varieties) thrive in the partial shade of tall, deep-rooted trees such as pines, firs, oaks, which provide additional natural mulch.

Landing

For good growth of heather plants, acidic soil with a pH of 3.5 - 5.5 is required. It rarely happens that the existing soil is suitable, therefore, before planting the plants, it is necessary to change the top layer to a depth of 25-30 cm or add peat, sawdust conifers.

Container-grown heather plants can be planted in open ground the entire growing season, although it is believed that the best time is spring (III - IV) or late summer, early autumn (VIII to early IX). In general, heathers and ericas are available for sale during flowering, and we plant them.

Planting heather plants between plants depends on their size, for example, we place large shrubs at a distance of several meters from each other. Heathers and Erics 20-30 cm. And since most of them are sold in small containers and dry quickly, we soak the lump in water before planting. We straighten the roots knocked into a heap, and after planting, water abundantly. Be sure to mulch (for example, with sour peat or pine needles), since heathers have a superficial root system that is prone to rapid drying.

Care

Heather plants are undemanding, so it is enough to fertilize them once a year, in spring. Be sure to regularly mulch, supplement the layer up to 5 cm (mulch, in addition to limiting the evaporation of water from the soil, prevents the germination of weeds). We water rarely, but plentifully, avoiding irrigation of the leaves so that there are no fungal diseases. Better than drip irrigation. Heather shrubs protect for the winter, covering with coniferous spruce branches. We wrap large bushes of rhododendrons and azaleas with white agrofibre.

Heathers and ericas need to be pruned annually after flowering, so they bloom better and retain their beautiful shape. We cut heathers in late autumn or early spring, Erica in the 5th month.

Usage

A variety of colors, different flowering time, height from several centimeters to several meters, allows you to create various compositions from heather plants, sometimes only from plants of your own group. Better look and grow planted in several pieces of the same species and variety. Often combined with coniferous plants, which form a good background for them and a favorable neighborhood. For shrubs, these can be the usual dwarf forms of pines, junipers and firs. Shade-loving hostas, ferns or anemones can coexist with azaleas and rhododendrons. In addition to the popular azaleas and rhododendrons, ericas that bloom in early spring and heathers that dominate in autumn, there are many species of heathers that can create an interesting accent in the garden, introducing a variety of flower shapes, decorative and edible fruits of cranberries, blueberries and lingonberries.

A valuable addition to heather gardens are decorative and short grasses, drought-resistant perennials, bulbous plants.

Heather plants species and varieties - photo and description by growth and preference for growing conditions:

Andromeda (Podbel) - a genus of flowering evergreen undersized shrubs of the family Ericaceae (Ericaceae)

The generic name Andromeda was given to the plant in Lina in honor of the beautiful Andromeda, daughter of the Ethiopian king Coffee and Cassiopeia. Andromeda competed in beauty with the sea nymphs - Nereids. The Russian generic name Podbel received because of the white color of the underside of the leaves.

Andromeda polifolia L. (Andromeda, or ordinary podbel, or multi-leaved podbel)

Range Northern Europe, North America, North Asia, typical plant of peat bogs. Evergreen slow-growing dwarf shrub 0.15-0.4 m tall. The leaves are leathery, narrow, 3-5 cm long, tucked down along the edge, the upper side is dark green shiny, the lower side is bluish or whitish-green from a wax coating. It blooms in May-June (July), the flowers are light pink, ovoid-july, drooping, on long pedicels, collected at the ends of the shoots in umbellate brushes of 3-5 pieces, very decorative. The fruits are small spherical capsules. Roots superficial, branching, weakly competitive. Light-requiring, to partial shade. The soils are optimally swampy, wet, acidic, peaty, but also sufficiently moist humic acidic soils are suitable. Leaves and flowers are highly poisonous. Very hardy, disease resistant. Recommended for rock gardens and heather gardens, on constantly moist and acidic soil. Frost resistance zone 3

Andromeda polifolia (polyleaf) "Blue Ice"

Evergreen dense dwarf compact shrub 0.2 m high and 0.4 m wide. The leaves are small, bluish-silvery. It blooms in April-May, the flowers are bell-shaped, light pink, collected in 3-5 pieces. at the ends of the runs. The rest of these preferences and uses are the same as Andromeda polifolia. Bronze medal at the exhibition Green is life, Warsaw, 2004. Frost resistance zone 3

Andromeda polifolia (polyleaf) "Compacta"

Evergreen dwarf shrub, dense and dense, grows up to 0.25 m in height and 0.4-0.5 m in width. The leaves are lanceolate, leathery, green with a silvery-blue bloom, reminiscent of rosemary. It blooms in May-June with pale pink numerous bells. The rest of these preferences and uses are the same as Andromeda polifolia. Resistant original variety for alpine slides and heather gardens. Frost resistance zone 3

Andromeda polifolia (polyleaf) "Nikko"

Evergreen dwarf shrub, dense and dense, 0.15-0.2 m high and about 0.4 m wide. The leaves are dark green, silvery-blue below. May-June blooms, light pink flowers, numerous bells. The rest of these preferences and uses are the same as those of Andromeda polifolia. Frost resistance zone 3

Arctostaphylos (bearberry) is a genus of shrubs in the family Ericaceae (Ericaceae)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L) (bear's ear or bearberry)

Habitat: widely distributed in Europe, northern Siberia, North America, usually grows in clumps or pure thickets in sparse dry pine and deciduous forests, burnt areas and clearings, on scree, coastal dunes. Evergreen low strongly branched bushes with rooting and ascending branches creeping along the ground, which form crowns resembling pillows 0.15-0.25 m high and 1-1.5 (2) m wide. Young specimens grow rapidly, annually increasing the area occupied by them by 3-4 and even 7 times, from 15-25 years the growth rate decreases, and annually increase their area by no more than 1.5-2 times, lives for a long time. Shoots are red-brown, recumbent, branched, rooting and ascending, up to 1 m long. Leaves obovate, leathery, hard, 1-3 cm long, dark green, lighter on the underside, life expectancy 2 years, 3- th year the leaf dies off. The flowers are small white-pink bells collected in short drooping apical brushes, blooms in April-May. The fruits are bright red berries the size of a pea, do not fall off for a long time, are edible, although mealy, are eaten by birds. Prefers well-lit sunny places to light shading, does not tolerate competition from other plants. It is a temporary plant of the first stages of restoration of dry forests after a fire or logging, the presence is determined by how long sufficient illumination remains, and how slowly competitors will be introduced into its community. Soils prefer moderately dry to fresh well-drained, sandy-clay, slightly acidic or neutral, often grows on poor dry loose soils, does not grow on purely peaty soils. Frost resistance is very high, loves areas with high humidity. In ornamental landscaping, it is used as a ground cover plant in heather and stony gardens, to strengthen embankments and slopes. Hardiness zone 2

Calluna (Heather) is a monotypic genus of flowering evergreens in the family Ericaceae (Heather)

The generic name comes from the Greek kalunei, translated as "to clean", Russian name"heather" from the Old Slavic "varesnets", meaning "hoarfrost". The only species in the genus is Calluna vulgaris (common heather).

Calluna vulgaris (common heather)

The range is extensive, Europe, Southeast and North Asia, north and west Africa, in Greenland, on the Atlantic coast of North America, Morocco, the Azores, distributed in the European part of Russia, found in Western and Eastern Siberia. Characteristic plant of moorland and swamp landscapes (forms large moorland), grows in light dry oak and pine forests, in sandy thickets, on depleted pastures, on rocky slopes and marshes, on poor moderately dry to dry in summer, acidic, stony, sandy , humus-sand, clay and peat soils. Evergreen slow-growing ground cover or vertically growing dwarf dense and compact shrub, 0.2-0.8 (1) m tall, with strongly branching stems and small dark green triangular scale-like sessile (which lack petiole) leaves, 1-3 mm . long, tile-overlapping. It blooms in July-August, the flowers are pink-lilac bell-shaped buds on short pedicels collected in dense abundant racemose inflorescences up to 25 cm long. Heather is a very good honey plant, forms a lot of nectar, heather honey good antiseptic, cleanses the blood. Fruits are four-leaved brown boxes up to 2.5 cm long, opening along partitions, seeds up to 0.3 mm. long, spread by the wind. The roots are deep and widely spread, with many thin roots. Photophilous, tolerates partial shade. A pioneer species for poor soils, grows on all acidic soils, poor sandy, clayey, peaty and swampy, moderately dry (dry), to wet. Lives 40-50 years. Common heather is extremely susceptible to mutation and already in nature itself there are numerous forms that differ from the wild species. Based on this, numerous targeted selections have been carried out, and today there is a very large number of the most magnificent varieties of common heather, differing in flowering time with different colors of inflorescences and leaves. With the right selection of varieties, you can have a heather garden blooming from August to December. Common heather is resistant to diseases, quite winter-hardy, hibernates without shelter, can suffer from late frosts. Ornamental during long and abundant flowering and due to beautiful foliage, recommended for planting in heather, rhododendron and azaleas gardens, look great with dwarf and creeping conifers, growing in pots and containers, reclamation of landscapes in poor, strongly acidic locations, on rocky slopes. Planting distance between plants 0.3 - 0.4 m, or 6-8 pcs are planted per 1 m². vigorous, and 12-15 pcs. low growing varieties. Frost resistance zone 5A

Care: heather plantations should always be young, it is necessary to constantly rejuvenate, support the formation of new shoots so that the shoots do not become bare and do not lose the ability to form flowers. Important pruning in March-April, in cloudy weather, a part of the stem is cut off below the faded inflorescences.

Cultural forms of common heather:

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Alexandra"

Evergreen wide dwarf vertically growing shrub up to 0.3 m tall. The leaves are dark green. Flowers buds in dense racemes, unopened bright red, opened dark pink, retain an attractive unchanged color from August to November. Valuable profusely flowering variety for heather gardens and for decorative arrangements in pots and containers. The variety is marked by AGM, Great Britain in 2002. Frost resistance zone 5A

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Alicia"

Evergreen very dense vertically growing shrub up to 0.4-0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide. The leaves are fresh green. Flowers snow-white large buds. Blooms late, September-December. The flowers remain in buds until cold weather, without losing their decorative effect. The variety is marked by AGM, Great Britain 2002. Frost resistance zone 5B

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Allegretto"

Evergreen very dense vertically growing shrub up to 0.4-0.5 m tall. The leaves are dark green. Flowers buds are purple-red, blooms August-September. Variety with good decorative qualities. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Allegro"

Evergreen fast-growing dense vertical shrub 0.4-0.5 (0.6) m tall. The leaves are dark green. The flowers are simple, in numerous long racemes, dark carmine red, blooming from mid-August to the end of September. Very effective decorative variety, resistant to cold. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Amethyst"

Evergreen vertical shrub 0.4-0.5 m tall. The leaves are dark green, turning brown-green in winter. The flowers are purple-red buds, flowering September-December. The variety is decorative until frost, suitable for planting in containers and flat planters. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Anette"

Evergreen broadly upright shrub 0.4-0.5 m tall. The leaves are green and do not change color even in winter. Flowers buds are initially light pink at the base white, intense pink in late autumn, blooms September-December. A very showy cold tolerant variety, recommended for heather gardens and planting in pots and containers. The variety is marked by AGM, Great Britain in 2002. Frost resistance zone 5A

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Annemarie"

Evergreen broadly upright shrub 0.4-0.5 m tall. The leaves are rich green. The flowers are double, purplish-violet later dark pink, in long effective racemes. Blooms profusely from September to mid-October. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Bonita"

Evergreen vertical wide densely branched shrub 0.3-0.4 m tall. The leaves are light green-yellow-orange, orange-brown in autumn and winter. The flowers are purple-red buds. Blooms September-November. A hardy and very decorative variety. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Boskoop"

Evergreen dense vertical low-growing shrub 0.2-0.3 (0.4) m tall. The leaves are yellow, orange-red in winter. The flowers are simple lilac. Blooms August, September. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Carmen"

Evergreen fast-growing widely upright shrub 0.4-0.5 m tall, about the same in diameter. The leaves are dark green. The flowers are simple pink-purple. Blooms from mid-August to late September. Efficient variety for heather gardens, attracting attention with expressive color contrast of flowers and leaves. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Con Brio"

Evergreen medium-growing broad-vertical shrub 0.3-0.4 m tall. The leaves are initially green-yellow, later yellow. The flowers are simple purple-red. Blooms in August-September. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (Heath common) "Dark Beauty"

Evergreen dense compact upright shrub 0.3-0.4 m tall. The leaves are light green. The flowers are semi-double unusually beautiful, ruby ​​red in dense racemes. Blooms September to mid-October. A strong red accent for heather gardens. The variety is marked by AGM, Great Britain 2002. Frost resistance zone 5B

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Darkness"

Evergreen shrub with a wide vertical compact crown, reaches 0.3-0.45 m in height. The leaves are green. The flowers are numerous, simple with a purple tint, collected in dense inflorescences. Blooms August, September. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Dark Star"

Evergreen compact vertical shrub 0.3-0.4 m tall. The leaves are green. The flowers are semi-double, light ruby ​​in dense inflorescences. Blooms from early September to mid-October. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Firefly"

Evergreen shrub with a dense wide crown, reaches up to 0.3-0.4 m in height and 0.4-0.6 m in width. Leaves are orange to brown-yellow, orange-red in winter. The flowers are simple, lilac-pink. Blooms from August to September. Valuable variety for color compositions in heather gardens. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Gold Haze"

Evergreen shrub, crown wide vertical compact, reaches 0.3-0.4 m in height. The leaves are light yellow in summer, lemon yellow in winter. Flowers simple white. Blooms August-September. Durable variety, disease resistant and frost hardy. It is recommended to plant in sunny places surrounded by shrubs of darker tones. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Golden Wonder"

Evergreen dense shrub with an upright wide crown, reaches up to 0.3 m in height and 0.5-0.6 m in width. The leaves are yellow-green. The flowers are simple lavender-pink. Blooms September-October. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Jan Dekker"

Evergreen low heather variety, 0.1-0.15 m high and up to 0.3 m wide. The leaves are gray-blue velvet. Flowers simple light purple. Blooms August-September. Valuable variety with gray-blue leaves. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "J.H. Hamilton"

Evergreen wide-vertical compact shrub 0.4-0.5 m tall. The leaves are dark green, brown-green in winter. Flowers densely double Pink colour on long pedicels. Blooms August-September. An old and very valuable variety, durable, disease and frost resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Kinlochruel"

Evergreen creeping variety 0.1-0.15 (0.25) m high and 0.3-0.4 m wide. The leaves are light green, slightly purple-green in winter. Flowers are pure white. Blooms August-September. One of the best white-flowered varieties. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Long White"

An evergreen upright shrub, a very fast-growing variety of heather, reaching up to 0.5 m in height. Leaves are juicy green. Flowers simple white. Blooms September to early October. Healthy frost-resistant variety. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Marleen"

Evergreen shrub with a wide vertical crown 0.4-0.5 m tall. The leaves are green. The flowers are purple-purple buds. Blooms from September to December. The variety is very frost-resistant and viable. Frost resistance zone 5A

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Marlies"

Evergreen shrub with a wide vertical crown 0.4-0.5 m tall. The leaves are green. Flowers buds purple-red. It blooms from September to December, slight frosts do not damage the color of the flowers. The variety is very viable and frost-resistant. Frost resistance zone 5A

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Melanie"

Evergreen shrub with a wide vertical crown 0.4-0.5 m tall. The leaves are green. The flowers are pure white buds in dense inflorescences. It blooms from September to December, the flowers of this variety do not bloom and retain their color until cold weather. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Mullion"

Evergreen squat dense widely growing shrub 0.2-0.3 m tall. The leaves are green. The flowers are simple pink-violet, collected in dense inflorescences with numerous branches. Blooms August-September. The original low strong frost-resistant variety. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Peter Sparkes"

Evergreen shrub 0.4-0.5 m tall, crown wide, vertical. The leaves are grey-green. The inflorescences are long and dense, the flowers are densely pink. Blooms from early September to late October. The variety is marked by AGM, Great Britain 2002. Frost resistance zone 5B

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Radnor"

Evergreen dense, wide-vertical undersized shrub 0.2-0.3 m tall. The leaves are dark green. The flowers are densely double light pink with a purple tint. Blooms profusely from mid-August to early October. Long term well developed frost-resistant variety. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (Heather) "Red Favorite"

Evergreen low dense compact shrub 0.15-0.20 (0.30) m high and up to 0.6 m wide, with dark green leaves. The flowers are double dark salmon-pink. Frost-resistant early-flowering variety, blooms from mid-August to late September. Frost resistance zone 5A

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Sandy"

Evergreen shrub 0.3-0.4 m tall with a wide vertical dense compact crown. The leaves are yellow, especially intense leaf color in fully lit areas. The flower buds are pure white. Blooms September-December. A valuable plant for heather gardens and potted arrangements. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Silver Knight"

Evergreen vertical dense shrub 0.3-0.4 (0.45) m tall. The leaves are silvery-gray, covered with silver hairs. The flowers are simple pale lilac-pink. Blooms from mid-August to mid-September. It is frost-resistant, especially effective in a sunny and dry place. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Spring Torch"

Evergreen shrub with a dense raised crown, 0.3-0.4 m tall. The original leaves are green with orange tips of spring growths. Violet flowers appear in late summer, blooming until the end of September. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Theresa"

Evergreen shrub with a wide vertical dense crown 0.3-0.4 m tall. The leaves are golden yellow, especially brightly colored in late summer and autumn. Flowers pink buds. Blooms from September to December. A good variety for color patches in gardens and potted arrangements. Frost resistance zone 5V

Calluna vulgaris (common heather) "Wickwar Flame"

Evergreen shrub with wide-raised shoots, reaches up to 0.4 m in height. The color of the leaves is yellow-orange, dark orange in winter. The flowers are light pink. Blooms in August and September. Frost resistance zone 5V

Empetrum (Podyanka) - a genus of evergreen creeping shrubs of the family Ericaceae (Ericaceae)

The generic name is from the Greek empetrom, meaning growing on a rock. There are up to 18 species in the genus, one species of Empetrum nigrum L. (black dropsy) is cultivated

Empetrum nigrum L. (black dropsy, veronica, shiksha)

Range Northern Europe, Northern Asia, North America. It forms evergreen carpets on heathlands, on rocky areas and on dunes, in light coniferous forests, pine bogs, on poor, acidic, humus, sandy and peaty soils, forms forest humus. Evergreen, strongly branched shrub with a dense cushion-shaped crown, 0.25-0.5 m tall. Branches are green, brown or reddish. Leaves are placed alternately or in false whorls of 3-5, leathery, needle-shaped, with edges turned down, 4-5 mm. long, green, shiny. The plant is dioecious, very small red-purple unisexual flowers, blooms in May-June. The fruits are spherical black shiny drupes the size of a pea, ripen from August, stored in winter, carried by birds. The fruits are edible, taste sour-sweet-bitter, eat fresh or make jam, jelly. The roots are superficial with several deep roots up to 0.5 m, live in symbiosis with root fungi, tolerate sanding. Photophilous, tolerates partial shade and shade. Soils prefers sufficiently moist, acidic loose, humus, poor sandy, gravel and peat, does not tolerate stagnant water and soil compaction. It is very frost-resistant, despite the fact that it loves moisture, it tolerates drought well. Frost resistance zone 2

Empetrum nigrum (black dropsy) "Bernstein"

Evergreen dense creeping shrub 0.2-0.3 m tall. The leaves are needle-shaped, shiny, yellow-green in summer, brown-yellow in winter. It blooms in June, the flowers are pink-purple small in the corners of the leaves. The fruits are black, shiny, edible. Photophilous, tolerates partial shade. Very hardy, grows well in both moist organic and sandy dry soil. Indispensable in heather gardens. Gold medal at the exhibition Green is life, Warsaw, 2005. Frost resistance zone 3

Erica (Erica) - a genus of evergreen flowering plants of the family Ericaceae (Ericaceae)

The genus Erica is extremely extensive, more than 800 species, shrubs, shrubs, less often small trees. Distribution area of ​​most species South America and the mountains of Africa, up to 600 species grow there. On the Mediterranean coast of Africa and Europe grow up to about 70 species. Ericas are one of the most beloved ornamental plants, due to their abundant long and very early flowering, as well as their undemanding and durability. All types and varieties are suitable for ground cover gardening, rocky and heather gardens, natural corners of the garden, they form an evergreen dense even carpet. The most important for us are the garden forms of Erica carnea (herbal erica), the most frost-resistant of erica and begins to bloom in December. Erica x darleyensis (Darlenskaya Erica), a hybrid between Erica carnea (herbal Erica) = Erica erigena (Eriugena Erica), also attracts attention, varieties of this group reach more than 0.6 m in height and have an unusually long flowering.

Erica carnea (herbal erica)

Area Central and Southern Europe, grows in sunny pine forests together with dwarf heathers, forms a specific vegetation, the so-called heathlands, on moderately dry to fresh rocky placers, sandy, light loamy and clay soils. Evergreen, strongly branched shrub forming a dense cushion-like carpet, 0.15-0.35 (0.6) m high and 0.5 m wide. Grows slowly. The leaves are dark green, shiny, needle-shaped, collected in whorls of 4, arranged alternately. The flowers are pink, bell-shaped, numerous, collected in racemose inflorescences 3-10 cm long at the ends of the shoots. Flowers are laid in summer and winter without sheltering buds, often bloom in late autumn, flowering itself lasts from February to April, the beginning of flowering depends on the area of ​​growth, earlier in the southern regions, later in the northern ones. The fruits are obovate small capsules with numerous seeds. The roots are thin, intensive root system in the upper horizons, symbiosis with mycorrhiza, sensitive to soil compaction. Light-requiring, but grows well in light shade. Soils prefer moderately dry to fresh, sandy, humus, peaty clay, or light loam with good water drainage, acidic to alkaline, does not tolerate waterlogging and soil compaction. In general, erica is undemanding to soils, erica is one of the few types of heather calcephiles. Frost-resistant, moisture-loving, tolerates only short periods of drought, resistant to diseases and pests. In culture since 1763, many different varieties have been bred with more lush and bright flowering, are integral part heather gardens and alpine slides. Frost resistance zone 5V

Erica carnea (herbal erica) "Challenger"

Evergreen low and sprawling shrub up to 0.2 m high and 0.3-0.4 m wide. The leaves are needle-shaped, dark green, turning brown in winter. The flowers are dark pink, open from March to early May. Other data and preferences are the same as for Erica carnea. The variety is recommended for combination with white-flowering Erics. Frost resistance zone 5V

Erica carnea (herbal erica) "Foxhollow"

Low sprawling evergreen shrub 0.1-0.2 m high and 0.3 m wide. The leaves are needle-like yellow, orange at the ends of young shoots in spring and summer, yellow-brown in late autumn and winter. The flowers are pink, numerous, bloom from late February to April. The rest of the data are the same as for Erica carnea. The variety is highly valued for its beautiful leaf color and is recommended for color arrangements in sheltered areas. Frost resistance zone 5V

Erica carnea (herbal erica) "Golden Starlet"

Evergreen low dense shrub up to 0.15 m high and 0.25 m wide. The leaves are needle-shaped light yellow, green-yellow in winter. The flowers are white, bloom in March-April. Other data and preferences are the same as for Erica carnea. It is frost-resistant, against the background of the environment it stands out as a bright contrasting spot. Frost resistance zone 5V

Erica carnea (herbal erica) "Isabell"

Evergreen, low, wide-rounded shrub 0.1-0.2 m high and 0.3-0.4 m wide. The leaves are fresh grassy green. The flowers are white, numerous, blooms March-April. Other data and preferences are the same as for Erica carnea. The variety is profusely flowering, viable, recommended for compositions with heathers of powerful shades. The variety is marked by AGM, Great Britain 2002. Frost resistance zone 5B

Erica carnea (herbal erica) "Myretoun Ruby"

Evergreen low shrub with open shoots 0.15-0.3 m tall. The leaves are dark green. It blooms very profusely, the flowers are large, rich dark red-purple, abundant flowering from April to mid-May. Requires a sheltered and warm location. Other data, roots, soil and preferences are the same as those of Erica carnea. Frost resistance zone 5V

Erica carnea (herbal erica) "Nathalie"

Evergreen dense and compact shrub 0.2-0.3 m high and 0.3-0.4 m wide, with dark green leaves. The flowers are purplish-red, differing in more red than other eric flowers in the color of the flowers that persists throughout the flowering period. Blooms profusely March-April. The rest of the data is the same as the view. Intense coloring is most effective in contrast to white-flowering Erics. The variety is marked by AGM, Great Britain 2002. Frost resistance zone 5B

Erica carnea (herbal erica) "Rosantha"

Evergreen wide compact shrub 0.2-0.25 m tall. Leaves are needle-shaped green. The flowers are ruby-pink, densely arranged. One of the most beautiful new varieties, characterized by abundant unusually beautiful flowering, the flowers are larger than other varieties. Blooms profusely from March to late April. The rest of the data, root system, soil and preferences are the same as those of Erica carnea. Frost resistance zone 5V

Erica carnea (herbal Erica) "Rubinteppich"

Evergreen low rapidly growing carpet-shaped shrub 0.3 m tall. The leaves are intense green. The flowers are white at first, later ruby ​​pink. It blooms very profusely from late March to mid-April. The rest of the data, root system, soil and preferences are the same as those of Erica carnea. Valuable frost-resistant variety. Frost resistance zone 5V

Erica carnea (herbal erica) "Snow Queen"

Evergreen low creeping shrub with spreading shoots 0.15-0.2 m high and 0.3 m wide. The leaves are light green. The flowers are white and open under the snow from December to April. Needs sheltered and quiet places, as in snowless winters it can suffer from frost and dryness. The rest of the data, root system, soil and preferences are the same as those of Erica carnea. Frost resistance zone 5V

Erica carnea (herbal erica) "Vivellii"

Evergreen low dense wide-round shrub 0.15-0.25 m high and up to 0.4 m wide. The leaves are dark green, bronze-green in winter. The flowers are dark red-violet, one of the darkest flowering heathers. Blooms from January to May. It looks effective against the background of snowy thawed patches next to light erics and bulbous plants. Better than others, Erik tolerates partial shade and high acidity of the soil. Valuable early flowering frost-resistant variety. Frost resistance zone 5V

Erica carnea (herbal erica) "Wintersonne"

Evergreen, low, broadly rounded shrub up to 0.25 m high and up to 0.4 m wide. The leaves are needle-shaped dark green, turning brown-red in winter. Flowers dark pink to purplish red in dense inflorescences. Blooms profusely March-April. The rest of the data, root system, soil and preferences are the same as those of Erica carnea. Frost resistance zone 5V

Erica x darleyensis (Erica Darlene)

Erica x darleyensis is a hybrid between Erica carnea (grass erica) and Erica erigena (erica eriugena) that lives in southwestern France and northern Spain. The hybrid Erica x darleyensis inherited disease resistance from Erica carnea, growth and unfortunately less frost resistance from Erica erigena, when grown in the central regions of Ukraine, it requires protected and warm places, light shelter for the winter. The special value of Erica x darleyensis is the duration of flowering, from November to mid-May, and the frequent release of colored leaves.

Erica x darleyensis (Erica Darlene) "Kramer's Rote"

Evergreen broad bushy fast growing shrub 0.4-0.5 m tall. The leaves are needle-shaped dark green. Flowers pink-red. Blooms November-May. The location prefers sunny to light shade, sheltered. Soils moderately dry to fresh, humus, sandy, poor nutrients, from acidic to alkaline. Not very frost-hardy, requires light shelter for the winter. Fast growing, good groundcover. Frost resistance zone 6B

Erica x darleyensis (Erica Darlene) "White Perfection"

Evergreen low shrub with a spherical crown 0.35-0.4 m high and up to 0.5 m wide. The leaves are green, yellow when blooming. The flowers are snow-white, blooms November-May. Other data and preferences as for Erica x darleyensis "Kramer's Rote" Frost resistance zone 6B

Gaultheria (Gaultheria) is a genus of plants belonging to the family Ericaceae (Ericaceae)

The genus is named after the 18th century French physician and botanist Jean-Francois Gauthier, one of the first explorers of the flora of Canada.

There are about 170-180 species in the genus Gaultheria, distributed in Australia, Asia, South and North America. Several species are cultivated as ornamental plants, of particular interest is Gaultheria procumbens (Gaultheria recumbent) growing in forests and clearings on sandy-sterile soils in East and North America, cultivated in other countries of the world.

Gaultheria procumbens L. (recumbent or creeping gaultheria)

Evergreen ground cover very low 0.2 m tall, but reaching large diameter shrub thanks to underground creeping root cuttings. It spreads slowly, one plant reaches 0.4 m in width in 3-5 years. Young shoots are chocolate red. The leaves are arranged alternately, elliptical or obovate, 2-4 cm long, sometimes longer, dark green shiny, leathery, burgundy in winter, very decorative. The flowers are light pink, pitcher-shaped, drooping, solitary, rarely in small inflorescences, blooms in July-August, honey plant. Fruits are red spherical large 8-15 mm. berries in diameter, very decorative and stored until late spring, fragrant, non-poisonous, birds do not peck them because of essential oils. In America, the fruits are used to decorate fruit cakes. Filamentous roots, densely branched in the upper humus layer, form root cuttings. Prefers shade or partial shade, with sufficient soil moisture grows in a sunny place. Soils prefer fairly moist upper peaty, humus, acidic and slightly acidic, avoid lime. Hardy, intolerant of long periods of drought, tolerates root pressure from other trees and fairly competitive, ideal groundcover. Frost resistance zone 5V

Kalmia L. (Kalmiya) is a genus of evergreen woody plants belonging to the family Ericaceae (Ericaceae)

The genus Kalmia is named after the Swedish botanist, professor at the Royal Academy of Abo (now Turku) Per Kalm (1716-1779). The genus includes up to 10 species, evergreen shrubs from half a meter to several meters, depending on the species, in height, common in Eastern and North America, reaching north to Alaska. Leaves of all types and grades of Kalmiya are poisonous.

Kalmia angustifolia (angustifolia)

Distribution North America, naturalized in Europe, grows as an undergrowth on wet, damp, acidic peat and swamp soils. Evergreen, broadly bushy, vertical small shrub, with thick, numerous, slightly branched branches, 0.6-1 (1.5) m tall, forms root suckers with age on favorable soils and, thanks to them, slowly grows in width. The leaves are arranged alternately and in whorls at the tops of the shoots, oblong-lanceolate, 4-8 cm long and up to 2.5 cm wide, entire, matte, gray-green with a blue tint, light green with yellow veins on the underside. Cup-shaped flowers, lilac, pink-blue, rarely up to white color, located in the axils of the upper leaves, the flowers are large 1 cm in diameter, collected several pieces in dense inflorescences, blooms in June, early July. The fruits are inconspicuous brown capsules of 5 parts containing many seeds. The roots are superficial, thin, dense, form offspring. Photophilous, tolerates partial shade. Soils prefer humus, sufficiently moist, acidic or slightly acidic, avoid lime. It is frost-resistant, has a number of cultural forms, the popular variety "Rubra" with burgundy-red flowers, the variety was noted by AGM, Great Britain, in 2002. Frost resistance zone 5B

Kalmia latifolia (Kalmia broadleaf)

The range of eastern North America, grows as an undergrowth in moderately dry, wet, rocky and sandy mountain forests. Evergreen vertically growing wide densely branched shrub 1.5-2 (3) m high and wide, sometimes higher, in the mountains of North and South Carolina looks like a small tree up to 9 m, very slow growing when young. The leaves are arranged alternately, similar to laurel, elliptical-lanceolate, 5-12 cm long and up to 4 cm wide, dark green shiny, yellow-green on the underside. The cup-shaped flowers of light pink color are collected in inflorescences, located at the ends of the shoots, blooms May-June. The fruits are brown boxes of 5 parts. The roots are superficial, fibrous, do not tolerate mechanical damage (for example, when digging). Photophilous, tolerates partial shade. Soils prefer humus, sufficiently moist, acidic or slightly acidic, avoid lime. Frost-resistant, has a number of cultural forms. Frost resistance zone 5V

Kalmia latifolia (Kalmiya broad-leaved) "Elf"

Evergreen low compact dense shrub 0.5-0.8 m high and wide, grows very slowly. The leaves are dark green, shiny, narrow, elliptical in shape, 2-3.5 cm long and 0.8-1.2 cm wide. The flowers in buds are light pink, then a delicate pink-whitish color, blooming pure white, collected in inflorescences at the ends of the shoots, individual flowers are smaller than those of other representatives of the species, 1.5 cm in diameter, but blooms very profusely and decoratively, blooms in May -June. Other characteristics, location, roots and soil are the same as Kalmia latifolia. Frost-resistant, blooms profusely already on young shoots, beautifully blooming, also called mountain laurel. Frost resistance zone 5V

Kalmia latifolia (calmium broadleaf) "Kaleidoskop"

Evergreen rounded shrub with thin shoots, partly raised, partly creeping. It grows slowly, a ten-year-old plant reaches 0.6-0.8 m in height and width. Young shoots are green-burgundy. The leaves are dark green, lanceolate. The flower buds are dark purple, reddish with a white border during flowering, blooming in June. The rest of the data, location, roots and soil are the same as for Kalmia latifolia. Frost resistance zone 5V

Kalmia latifolia (calmium broadleaf) "Minuet"

Evergreen slow-growing low shrub 0.6-0.8 m high and wide. The leaves are dark green shiny. The flowers in buds are light pink, blooming bicolor, white-pink and chestnut-red - unusually decorative. Blooms in June. The rest of the data, location, roots and soil are the same as for Kalmia latifolia. Frost-resistant, recommended for small areas. Frost resistance zone 5V

Kalmia latifolia (broad-leaved Kalmia) "Ostbo Red"

Evergreen, broadly bushy, vertically growing, slightly branched, loose, very slow-growing shrub, reaches 0.9 m in height by the age of 10, an adult plant is 1.2-1.5 m in height and 2 m in width. The leaves are green, narrow, 6.5-8 cm long and up to 3 cm wide, bent, reminiscent of a boat. The flowers in buds are cherry-red, blossoming pink, individual flowers are large 2-2.5 cm in diameter, blooms in May-June. An unusual multi-colored effect is obtained due to the presence of flowers in the inflorescences on different stages development. Other characteristics, location, roots and soil are the same as Kalmia latifolia. Blooms profusely on young shoots, prefers protected, quiet places. Frost resistance zone 6A

Pieris (Pieris) - a genus of evergreen shrubs or low-growing trees of the family Ericaceae (Ericaceae)

Pieris is a name from ancient Greek mythology. The genus includes seven species, three species are used in culture: Pieris floribunda (flowering pieris), Pieris japonica (Japanese pieris) and Pieris formosa (beautiful pieris). Of interest to us is the frost-resistant species of Pieres from eastern North America Pieris floribunda (blooming Pieris). Pieris japonica (Japanese pieris) and Pieris formosa (beautiful pieris) are popular ornamental plants that have many garden forms but are not hardy enough and can be grown in southern regions with mild winters. All parts of the plant, of all types and varieties of Pieris, are poisonous, especially poisonous to animals.

Pieris floribunda (flowering pieris)

The species range is Eastern North America from Virginia to Florida, very common in the Allegheny Mountains on shady, wet slopes as undergrowth. Evergreen small wide shrub, upright and densely branched, friable with age, lateral branches hanging slightly. Slow-growing, annual growth 10-15 cm, size of an adult plant 1.5-2 m. Height and width. Leaves are dull green, leathery, smooth, alternate, elliptical or narrowly elliptical, 3-8 cm long. Flowers white pitcher 5-6 mm. long, collected in dense vertical inflorescences at the ends of shoots up to 12 cm long, flowers are formed in the summer of the previous year. Blooms profusely April-May. The fruits are very numerous rounded brown boxes. Roots are flat, widely distributed with a large number of thin roots, does not tolerate soil compaction. Shade-tolerant. Soils prefer humus, not too rich in nutrients, acidic or neutral, fairly moist, generally undemanding, grows well on poor sandy soils. It is frost-resistant, very shade-tolerant but does not bloom profusely in dense shade, prefers like most plants of the heather family hyperacidity soil, on heavy soils it is sick, does not tolerate wind. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (Rhododendron) - a genus of plants of the family Ericaceae (Ericaceae)

The name Rhododendron is of Greek origin and consists of two words rhodon - rose + dendron - tree = pink tree. The genus Rhododendron has about 600 species, mostly evergreen semi-evergreen and deciduous shrubs, less often trees. The Rhododendron genus is very diverse in growth forms, among them there are ground cover mountain species up to 10-15 cm tall, dwarf rhododendrons 20-30 cm tall, medium and large shrubs, and trees up to 20-30 m tall. Rhododendrons are common in the main temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, with the main distribution area of ​​​​South China, the Himalayas, Japan and Korea. About 250 species live in subtropical Malaysia, New Guinea and Northern Australia. Another important part of the habitat in the west and north of North America, where the species Rhododendron catawbiense (Ketevbinsky rhododendron - one of the most frost-resistant large-leaved evergreen rhododendrons), and Rhododendron viscosum (glutinous rhododendron - deciduous frost-resistant species) are found. Asia Minor and the Caucasus is the birthplace of such important species as Rhododendron smirnowii (Smirnov’s Rhododendron is a frost-resistant evergreen species), Rhododendron luteum (Yellow Rhododendron is a deciduous species) and Rhododendron ponticum (Pontic Rhododendron is a frost-resistant evergreen shrub, rarely a small tree, 5 (8) m . height). Four species live in Southern and Central Europe, evergreen Rhododendron ferrugineum (rusty rhododendron - shrub 1.2-1.5 m tall), Rhododendron hirsutum (hard-haired rhododendron - shrub up to 1 m tall). In Kamchatka and Alaska, the species Rhododendron camtschaticum (Kamchatka Rhododendron) grows, a deciduous low shrub up to 0.3 m tall, which is considered one of the most beautiful plants for a rocky garden in humid, cool locations. All parts of plants of all types and varieties of Rhododendrons are poisonous, the leaves of Rhododendron ferrugineum (rusty rhododendron) are very poisonous.

The history of breeding and popularization of rhododendron species began in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, during these years the first types of rhododendrons were brought to England: R. carolinianum, R. maximum, R. ponticum, R. caucasicum, R. catawbiense. These species became the basis for long-term breeding work; in 1825, breeders bred the first rich red hybrid. Today, the number of species and hybrids used for breeding robots in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century increased by more than ten times. And to date, a huge number of varieties and hybrids have been bred with various forms of growth and coloring of flowers, with more abundant and long flowering, resistant to frost and pests. But not only evergreen species were cultivated, but also azaleas, which aroused interest among amateurs and collectors, and already in 1850 there were up to 500 hybrids of Azalea pontica - Rhododendron luteum (yellow rhododendron) on sale. In rhododendrons, the compact surface root system is sensitive to compaction, prefers acidic soils, as a result of many years of breeding robots, it was possible to develop a lime-tolerant rootstock of rhododendrons, the most famous varieties which also become lime tolerant and develop a strong root system.

In England, rhododendrons are so popular in ornamental landscaping that it is now even hard to imagine English gardens without them. Rhododendrons have become popular with us relatively recently, and today, like roses, without a doubt, they are the most popular beautifully flowering ornamental plants in our gardens. And the popularity of rhododendrons will only increase, their popularity is due to the fact that rhododendrons are decorative not only with large surprisingly beautiful inflorescences, but also with large leathery evergreen leaves that look very exotic, especially in winter.

Large-flowered rhododendrons

Large-flowered rhododendron hybrids are a group of evergreens with large flowers and large leaves up to 15 cm long fast-growing shrubs, the height of which is 1.5-3.5 (5) m. The flowering period of varieties of this group lasts from mid-May to late July. Soils prefer slightly acidic or acidic, loose, humus, fairly moist, but well-drained and aerated. Poorly aerated and damp soils are completely unsuitable for rhododendrons. Light sandy soils are improved by mixing with organic materials such as sawdust, wood chips, bark, needles, leaves, straw. Clay soils and loams with poor drainage will certainly be loosened with sand, bark, and leafy soil. If heavy dense clay or loam, at least part of the soil should be replaced with light aerated organic material. They winter better and bloom longer in places protected from the scorching sun and wind, protection from drying summer and winter winds is recommended, in nature, most wild-growing rhododendrons hide under the canopy of trees. They prefer a slightly shaded location, or partial shade (shade), they need bright sun for several hours a day, and only in places with high air and soil humidity (near water bodies) is it possible to land in a sunny place. It is preferable to place the plants in such a way that they are protected from bright sunlight in the afternoon. In very sheltered, enclosed areas, leaves can be affected by sudden temperature changes, which can lead to brown spots along the veins and edges of the leaves, as well as yellowing of the leaves. Places with drafts (between buildings) are completely unsuitable for rhododendrons.

Evergreen rhododendrons is a very large group, has a very large number of varieties. In this section, we have selected the most hardy frost-resistant varieties, briefly described the key features and parameters of the varieties. But pay special attention to the group of varieties highlighted in blue, these are frost-resistant hardy varieties of rhododendrons with large inflorescences and large leaves, they are distinguished by strong growth and even large shrubs have foliage to the ground. Such plants meet the highest standards for specimen plants.

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "America"

Evergreen vigorous shrub with a spreading free structure reaching 3.5-4 m in height and width. It grows quite quickly, at 10 years old it reaches about 2 m in height. The leaves are quite large, dark green shiny. The flowers are ruby ​​red with a brown-red pattern, collected 10-15 pieces in spectacular spherical apical inflorescences, blooms profusely from late May to early June. The location prefers partial shade to shade. Recommended for planting singly or in groups, in gardens and parks in combination with heather and coniferous plants. Frost resistance is high. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Casanova"

Evergreen dense rounded shrub, with elliptical dark green shiny leaves up to 10 cm long, 10-year-old specimens reach up to 1.2 m in height and width. The flowers are unusually beautiful, rich pink in buds, as they bloom, they take on a color from creamy pink to creamy yellow, inside a multi-color pattern, yellow with brown dots, inflorescences are collected in 12-14 flowers. Blooms in the second half of May. One of the most valuable American varieties with high frost resistance. Withstands temperatures as low as -32 °C. Winter hardiness zone 5V

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Catawbiense Boursault"

Evergreen, large, dense, broadly rounded shrub 5 m high and wide. Fast-growing, annual growth up to 15 cm in height and width. It blooms profusely in June, the flowers are deep purple with a yellow-green pattern, large about 6.5 cm in diameter, slightly wavy along the edges, collected 15-20 pieces in glamorous conical dense inflorescences. Leaves from elliptical to oblong-elliptical, large up to 15 cm long, dark green shiny. Location penumbra to shade. Very hardy, exceptionally frost-resistant variety, withstanding frosts down to -36 °C. Recommended for planting in parks and large gardens. Frost resistance zone 5A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Catawbiense Grandiflorum"

Evergreen large wide-vertically growing dense shrub 6 m high and 4 m wide. Fast-growing, annual growth up to 15 cm in height. It blooms profusely in June, the flowers are light purple with a yellow-red pattern, large about 6.5 cm in diameter, slightly wavy along the edges, collected 15-20 pieces in conical dense inflorescences. Leaves from elliptical to oblong-elliptical, large up to 15 cm long, dark green, shiny. Location from penumbra to shade. An old popular pollutant tolerant variety that is very hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as -36°C. Recommended for planting in parks and large gardens. Frost resistance zone 5A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Catharina van Tol"

An evergreen shrub with a dense, wide-rounded silhouette, 3 m high and wide, medium fast growing, by the age of 10 reaches 1.3 m in height and 2 m in width. The leaves are large, strong, persistent. The flowers are pink with a delicate green pattern in a yellow throat, collected in dense spherical inflorescences. Blooms profusely in late May. It has good frost resistance, undemanding to light, grows well in sunny places and in the shade. Winter hardiness zone 6A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Cunningham" s White "

Evergreen very dense compact flat-round shrub 3-4 m high and 4-4.5 m wide. It grows quite quickly, with an annual growth of 8-12 cm in height and width. The leaves are elliptical, large 10-12 cm long, dark green, leathery, shiny. The flowers in buds are light pink, open snow-white with yellow-green patches in the middle. It blooms from mid-May to mid-June, often re-blooming in late July. One of the more light-loving varieties, resistant to drought and air pollution. The location is sunny to partial shade. It also grows well on soils with low acidity. Frost-resistant, when freezing, it is easily restored. Recommended for planting in gardens and parks, suitable for urban plantings, in single and group plantings, excellent dark green background for other plants. It looks amazing as a flowering evergreen hedge or in the creation of an alley. Frost resistance zone 5A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Helsinki University"

Evergreen vigorous shrub with raised branches, up to 2 m high and wide. The leaves are green or light green, shiny, up to 15 cm long. The flowers are light pink with red-brown patches in the nutria on the upper petal, blooms from mid-June. Location from penumbra to shade. A variety from a series of rhododendron varieties bred at the University of Helsinki in Finland with high winter hardiness, withstanding frosts down to -39 ° C. Frost resistance zone 5A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Elviira"

Evergreen low wide shrub with a dense crown, in 10 years reaches 0.5-0.6 m in height and 0.6-1 m in width. The leaves are green shiny 6 cm long. The flowers are bell-shaped cherry-red, collected in conical inflorescences of 6-10 flowers, blooms from early to mid-May. This is another representative of a series of varieties bred in Finland, recommended for cold regions, withstanding frosts down to -32°C. Frost resistance zone 5A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Roseum Elegans"

Evergreen, wide-round, fast-growing dense shrub, reaches 3 m in height and 4 m in width. Annual growth is about 15 cm. The leaves are oval or narrowly elliptical, 7-8 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, reddish-brown when blooming, then dark green, leathery, shiny. The flowers are pink-purple with a brown-red pattern in the nutria, blooms in June. Location from penumbra to shade. A popular variety, characterized by high frost resistance and high resistance to environmental pollution. Withstands frosts down to -32 °C. Planted singly and in groups in parks and gardens. Frost resistance zone 5A

Varieties from the Yakushiman rhododendron group

Rhododendron yakushimanum is a fairly new group of evergreen hybrids, characterized by a compact crown yet abundant flowering. They will satisfy the requirements of those plant lovers who need to plan a small garden, or organize mobile container plants. Yakushiman rhododendrons grow more slowly than other large-flowered cultivars, tolerate drier, higher light conditions better, are relatively tolerant or tolerant of lime, and are fairly hardy. We have selected the most frost-resistant varieties of Yakushimansky, which can withstand frosts down to -26 ° C, light shelter is desirable in snowless winters.

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Emanuela"

An evergreen shrub with a wide flattened crown, by the age of 10 it reaches 1 m in height and up to 1.5 m in width. The leaves are dark green, long and convex. The flowers are two-tone, white-pink with effective strongly wavy dark pink edges, bloom in mid-May. Recommended for both shaded and very sunny places. The variety is very decorative and frost-resistant. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Kalinka"

Evergreen shrub with a regular dense hemispherical shape, reaches up to 1 m in height and 1.4 in width. Leaves from the top are dark green, smooth, shiny, from the bottom with dark brown pubescence, elliptical, up to 10 cm long. The flowers in buds are red, later ruby-pink, gradually brightening, with a yellow-green pattern, slightly wavy along the edges, collected in conical inflorescences of 12-17 flowers. Blooms profusely and annually, blooms from mid-May - early June. Photophilous, tolerates shading. Frost resistance is good. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Ken Janeck"

Evergreen low shrub with a dense spreading crown, by the age of 10 reaches about 0.7 m in height and 1.1 m in width, an adult plant is about 1 m in height. Young growths are white-pubescent, decorative for several weeks. The leaves are dark green, convex, with dense creamy-brown pubescence on the underside. The flowers are large pale pink fading to white, with a yellow spot and a dark pink corrugated edge, collected in large inflorescences of 11-13 pieces. The average flowering period, blooms very profusely even a young plant, in May. Grows beautifully like a full open places, as well as in the shade. High frost resistance. The variety is marked by AGM, Great Britain in 2005. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Lumina"

Evergreen squat shrub with a flattened silhouette. 10 year old bushes reach about 0.5 m in height and about 0.9 m in width, the target height is 1 m. The leaves are leathery dark green, slightly shiny. The flowers are ruby-pink with a brown pattern, the edges are slightly corrugated, collected 16-20 pieces in spherical inflorescences. Blooms very profusely in the second half of May. It grows well both in the shade and in fully open places. Frost resistance is not inferior to the most resistant large-flowered rhododendrons. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Nicoletta"

Evergreen shrub with a dense, squat flat-spherical silhouette, at the age of 10 about 0.5 m high and up to 1 m wide. The leaves are dark green and slightly convex. The flowers are white-pink at first, fading into almost white with a pronounced red-burgundy spot on the upper petal, collected 16-19 pieces in glamorous almost spherical inflorescences. Blooms from mid-May. Location from partial shade to shade, in shaded places the flowers are more colorful and last longer. Winter hardiness is quite good. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Polaris"("Hachmann's Polaris")

Evergreen compact oval shrub. At 10 years old, it grows to 0.9 m in height and 1.2 m in width, the size of an adult plant is 1.4 m in height and 1.8 m in width. The leaves are dark green, slightly shiny, 10-12 cm long. The flowers in buds are ruby-pink, opened pale pink, slightly wavy, with a yellow pattern, collected 15-18 pieces in spectacular spherical inflorescences. Blooms profusely from the second half of May. Hardy, grows well in full sun to partial shade. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendrons small-flowered

This is a group of dwarf rhododendrons, slow and compact growing forms with small evergreen leaves. They bloom from early April, can grow in open sun and partial shade. Well suited for the foreground of a group of rhododendrons, for the smallest gardens, for growing in containers and pots. Soils prefer fresh, humus, slightly acidic to strongly acidic.

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "April Reign"

A semi-evergreen shrub with an upright crown, at 10 years old it reaches 0.8-1 m in height. The size of an adult plant is 1.3 m. Height and width, in young plants the crown is loose, later it becomes more dense. The leaves are elliptical, small up to 5 cm long, green, shiny, copper-red in winter, last 2-3 years. The flowers are numerous, pale pink semi-double, bloom in early April, for which he received the name "April reign". Prefers sunny to partial shade places. Valuable American early and profusely flowering frost-resistant variety, but spring frosts can damage open flowers. Recommended for small gardens. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "April Rose"

Semi-evergreen shrub with a vertical crown, height at the age of 10 is about 1 m, an adult plant is 1.3 m high and wide. The leaves are elliptical, green, shiny, turning reddish-brown in winter. The flowers are very numerous, purple-pink terry with a delicate aroma, bloom in early April, often at the end of March, resemble small roses, hence the name "April Rose". April frosts can damage blooming flowers. Prefers sunny to semi-shady places. An American variety from the "April Reign" group, however less hardy, it is recommended for sheltered places in small gardens. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "April Snow"

Semi-evergreen, compact, rounded shrub, at 10 years old reaches 0.6-0.7 m in height and width. The leaves are small, dark green and shiny. The flowers are white semi-double, bloom in the second half of April, hence the name "April snow". Prefers places open to partial shade. Lovely spring accent, forms beautiful compositions with varieties blooming purple- pink flowers. Frost resistance is high up to -29 °C. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "Elite"("PJM Elite")

Evergreen shrub, in 10 years reaches 0.8-0.9 m in height and width. Initially a free shrub, it becomes larger and denser with age, an adult plant is about 2 m high and slightly wider. The leaves are elliptical, small 5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, dark green shiny, dark brown in winter. The flowers are purple-pink with a red tinge, collected in spherical inflorescences of 9-15 flowers. It blooms from year to year more and more abundantly from late April to mid-May. Light-loving, to partial shade. The variety is especially hardy down to -35 °C. Frost resistance zone 4

Rhododendron (rhododendron) "P.J. Mezitt"("Peter John Mezitt")

Evergreen wide-vertical shrub, in 10 years reaches up to 1 m in height and 1.2 m in width. Initially, the shrub is loose and becomes thicker with age. The leaves are oval, dark green dense shiny, dark brown in winter. Inflorescences are small dark purple-pink. Blooms profusely from late April to mid-May. Late frosts sometimes damage flowers. The location is sunny to partial shade. The variety is very frost-resistant down to -32 °C. Frost resistance zone 4

Azalea (Azalea)

Azalea- flowering deciduous and evergreen shrubs, from a botanical point of view, belong to the genus Rhododendron. Previously, Azaleas were distinguished into an independent genus of the Ericaceae (Heather) family - Azalea L., now all types of azaleas are included in the genus Rhododendron. In garden classification, azaleas continue to be separated from other rhododendrons and are collected in a separate group Azalea. The Azalea group has a huge number of species and varieties, the most frost-resistant and interesting varieties. Garden azaleas are very suitable for small gardens, as they fill the space with extremely abundant blooms and decorate the garden with many shades of flowers.

Azaleas

Large-flowered azaleas are deciduous shrubs, initially free-form shrubs but with time become very thick. Grows well both outdoors and in shady places. Soils prefer slightly acidic or acidic, must be protected from drying out and waterlogging, do not tolerate lime, preferably fresh humus soils. Smoke and gas resistant.

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Anneke"

Medium-sized deciduous shrub with a wide, straight crown about 1.5 m high and wide. The leaves are bright green, turning bronze-orange in autumn. The flowers are large 6-8 cm in diameter, yellow, flower petals curved back. Blooms very profusely every year from the second half of May. Light-loving, tolerates shading. Frost-resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Berryrose"

Medium-sized deciduous shrub with a wide and straight silhouette, about 1.5 m high and 1.8 m wide. The leaves on young shoots are red-brown, then light green. The flowers are large 5-8 cm in diameter, pink with a pronounced yellow spot, collected 10-15 pieces in spherical apical inflorescences. Blooms profusely from May to mid-June. Photophilous, tolerates shading. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Cannon" s Double"

Deciduous upright growing wide shrub, by the age of 10 reaches 1.2 m in height and width. The leaves on young shoots are red-copper then green with a copper tint, shiny. The flowers are double multicolored, raspberry in buds, when opened with a multicolor set of colors, salmon pink with a transition from pale orange to creamy beige with a yellow tint. Blooms profusely from late May to mid-June. Light-loving, tolerates shading. Frost-resistant. The variety is marked by AGM, Great Britain 2002. Frost resistance zone 5B

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) 'Cecile'

A deciduous upright shrub with a spreading crown, by the age of 10 it reaches 1.1 m in height and 1 m in width. Young leaves are reddish brown, then green. The flowers are large salmon-pink in color with a golden speck, the petals are slightly corrugated along the edges, collected 10 pieces in spherical spectacular inflorescences. Blooms profusely from late May to early June. Light-loving, tolerates shading. Frost-resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) 'Christopher Wren'

Deciduous slow-growing shrub, after many years reaches about 1.5 m in height and width. The leaves are light green. The flowers are unusually beautiful, large, rich yellow with an orange-brown spot, bloom in mid-May. Light-loving, tolerates shading. Frost-resistant old attractive valuable variety, recommended for small gardens. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Feuerwerk"

Deciduous shrub with strong growth, 10 year old bushes reach 1.5 m height and 1.2 m width, target height 2 m. Leaves ovate 7 to 10 cm long, dark green. The flowers are bright red with a red-orange center, very large up to 9 cm in diameter, wide open with slightly inverted edges, collected in majestic hemispherical apical inflorescences. Blooms from late May to mid June. Light-loving makes shading. Frost-resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Freya"

Deciduous compact shrub with medium vigor, reaches up to 1.5-2 m in height and width. The leaves are dark green. The flowers are delicate golden-pink, tubular, terry, 4-5 cm in diameter, collected in hemispherical inflorescences, open from mid-May. A variety from the slightly forgotten Rustica group of azaleas, the variety is frost-resistant and durable and deserves widespread distribution. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Gibraltar"

Deciduous densely growing shrub, by the age of 10 reaches 1 m in height and 1.5 m in width. The leaves are shiny dark green. Flowers from orange to red-orange, the petals are curved and corrugated along the edges, collected 8-15 pieces in wide dense spherical inflorescences. It blooms very violently from 2-3 decades of May. Frost-resistant, very decorative variety. Light-loving, tolerates shading. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Glowing Embers"

Deciduous shrub with medium vigor, will grow up to 1.8 m in height and 2 m in width. The leaves are dark green. It blooms very profusely, the flowers are orange-yellow about 6 cm in diameter, collected in 7-14 pieces in spherical dense inflorescences. It blooms from the end of May and in the first decade of June. Light-loving, tolerates shading. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Golden Eagle"

A deciduous densely branched shrub with an average growth force with a dense, straight silhouette, 1.8 m high and 1.5 m wide. The leaves are dark green, shiny, 9 to 10 cm long. The flowers are light orange, collected in 6 to 11 pieces in spectacular numerous spherical and rather dense inflorescences. Blooms very profusely from late May to early June. Light-loving, tolerates shading. The variety was bred from azalea marigold (R. calendulaceum), from which it inherited high frost resistance. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Golden Lights"

Deciduous free upright shrub, after 10 years reaches 1.4 m in height and 1 m in width. The leaves are olive green, broadly lanceolate, about 10 cm long, burgundy-violet in autumn, very decorative. The flowers are golden-orange with a dark orange spot on the upper petal, wide open, fragrant, collected in globular inflorescences up to 10 flowers. Blooms profusely from the second half of May. Light-loving, tolerates shading. An interesting frost-resistant novelty of the European market, bred in the Minnesota Arboretum. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Golden Sunset"

Deciduous, medium-sized spreading shrub with a free silhouette, at the age of 15 years, more than 1 m high and 1.5 m wide. The leaves are green. The flowers are large, pure yellow with golden spots, collected in glamorous hemispherical dense inflorescences. Blooms very profusely in late May-early June. Prefers sunny or slightly shaded places. Hardy frost-resistant variety. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Goldflamme"

Deciduous with moderate vigor, upright shrub with a rather irregular open crown, at 15 years old it reaches 1.5 m in height and 1.3-1.5 m in width. The leaves are dark green. The flowers are large 8-9 cm, golden-orange with a fiery pattern on the upper petal and a slightly wavy edge, collected in inflorescences up to 13 flowers. Blooms very profusely at the end of May. Light-loving, tolerates shading. Frost-resistant variety with very decorative flowers. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Goldpracht"

Deciduous shrub with medium vigor. By the age of 15, it reaches 1.1 m in height and 1.3 m in width. The leaves are elliptical 6-9 cm long, green. The flowers are large, from 6.5 to 7.5 cm in diameter, fragrant, yellow with a large orange-yellow spot, collected 7-9 pieces in wide showy inflorescences. Blooms very profusely in the third decade of May. Prefers sunny or slightly shaded places. Frost-resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) 'Homebush'

Deciduous with medium vigor, upright and dense shrub, at the age of 10 years, height about 1.5 m, width 1.3 m. Leaves are elliptical, light green. The flowers are purple-pink, semi-double, star-shaped, small 3-4 cm in diameter, collected in very spectacular perfectly spherical inflorescences of 12-16 pieces. Blooms very profusely from late May to mid-June. Prefers sunny or slightly shaded locations. A valuable frost-resistant variety, bred back in 1925, thanks to its surprisingly original beauty, it has not lost its value. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Jack A. Sand"

Deciduous vertical medium-sized shrub, at 10 years old reaches 1.4 m in height and about 1.2 m in width, an adult plant is about 2 m in height. Young leaves are reddish brown then dark green. The flowers are semi-double of a very interesting color, in buds red-pink later pink-white with a contrasting yellow spot, collected in spherical inflorescences. Blooms from mid-May. Prefers sunny or semi-shady areas. Frost-resistant, recommended for single and group plantings, along with other azaleas and rhododendrons. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Juanita"

Deciduous medium-sized shrub with a dense oval crown, by the age of 15 reaches 1.4 m in height and 1.6 m in width, target height is 2 m. The leaves are dark green, orange-red in autumn. The flowers are 6.5-7.5 cm in diameter, dark pink with a pronounced golden yellow spot, the petals are slightly wavy along the edges, collected 9-10 pieces in spectacular spherical apical inflorescences. Blooms very profusely in late May early June. Prefers sunny or semi-shady places. The variety is frost-resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Klondyke"

A deciduous shrub with an average growth force, a straight and wide silhouette, at 10 years old it grows up to 1.3 m in height and 1.2 m in width. The young leaves are red-brown, forming a contrasting background for the opening flowers, then green and shiny, and in autumn they are beautifully colored brownish-red. The flowers in the bud are red-orange, opened yellow-orange at the edges, wavy, from 6 to 8 cm in diameter, collected in 8-15 pieces in hemispherical inflorescences. Blooms very profusely in the second half of May. Prefers sunny or shady places. The variety is hardy, frost-resistant, recommended for planting in gardens singly or in groups Frost resistance zone 5B

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Mandarin Lights"

Deciduous upright slow growing shrub, 10-year-old specimen reaches up to 1 m in height and 0.7 m in width, target height is about 2 m. Leaves are about 10 cm long, light green, maroon in autumn. The flowers are orange-red in color with a juicy orange spot on the upper petal, the edges of the petals are corrugated, collected in spectacular, perfectly spherical inflorescences, slightly fragrant. Blooms at the turn of May and June. Prefers sunny or semi-shady places. American variety with high frost resistance down to -31 °C. Frost resistance zone 5A

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Parkfeuer"

Deciduous vertical fast-growing shrub, at 10 years old reaches up to 2 m in height and 1.5 m in width. The leaves are dark green. The flowers in buds are dark red, then red shiny orange in the nutria with white stamens, with a slight aroma, collected 9-11 pieces in wide hemispherical inflorescences. It blooms annually and is very abundant from late May to mid-June. Prefers sunny or slightly shaded places. Very attractive hardy variety. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Persil"

Deciduous, irregularly shaped, slow-growing shrub, reaching 1.5 m in height by the age of 15. The leaves are light green. The flowers are white with a bright yellow-golden spot, from 5 to 7 cm in diameter, collected 8-12 pieces in spherical inflorescences. Blooms annually and profusely from late May to early June. Prefers sunny or slightly shaded locations. Frost resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Pink Delight"

Deciduous shrub with a wide loose rounded crown, by the age of 15 reaches 1.7 m in height and 1.4 m in width. The leaves are light green. The flowers are pink, slightly lighter inside and with a pronounced golden-yellow spot, from 6.5 to 8 cm in diameter, collected 8-12 pieces in wide spherical inflorescences. Blooms from the second half of May. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. The variety is frost-resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Sarina"

A deciduous shrub with a dense crown, by the age of 10 it grows up to 1.2 m in height and 1.4 m in width. The leaves are green. The flowers are large, fragrant, pink-salmon with an orange-yellow spot, the edges of the petals are strongly corrugated, collected 8-10 pieces in spherical inflorescences. It blooms beautifully and very abundantly in late May early June. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. The variety is frost-resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Satomi"

A deciduous shrub with a loose straight crown, by the age of 10 it reaches 1.2 m in height and 1.4 m in width. The leaves are light green, broadly elliptical 8 cm long. The flowers in buds are white-pink, then pink outside and along the edges, fully opened pure white with a golden spot, from 7.5 to 8.5 cm in diameter, collected 7-9 pieces in dense spherical inflorescences, pleasantly fragrant. It blooms very profusely and annually from mid-May. Prefers sunny or slightly shaded places. Frost resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Saturnus"

Medium-sized deciduous shrub, 10-year-old specimen reaches 1.4 m in height and about 1.1 m in diameter, an adult plant is 1.5-2 m in height. The leaves are dark green, turning orange-red in autumn. Flowers of medium size 6-7.5 cm in diameter, wide-funnel-shaped orange-red, collected in spherical inflorescences consisting of 8-9 flowers. The beginning of flowering falls at the end of May. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. Valuable variety from the Mollis group, especially frost-resistant, drought-resistant, recommended for all types of gardens and urban landscaping. Frost resistance zone 5A

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) 'Schneegold'

Deciduous shrub with medium vigor and regular shape, by the age of 10 reaches about 1 m in height and width. The leaves are dark green, rather large 9-12 cm long. The flowers are large, up to 10 cm in diameter, wide open, white with a yellow spot, collected 9-12 pieces in hemispherical inflorescences. Blooms profusely in the second half of May and early June. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. It looks especially impressive against the background of dark greenery. Frost resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Sunte Nectarine"

Deciduous shrub with a wide straight loose crown, by the age of 10 reaches up to 1.4 m in height and 1.2 m in width. The leaves are light green. The flowers are large, up to 9 cm in diameter, wide open, golden yellow with an orange tint with a fiery pattern, collected 9-11 pieces in spectacular spherical inflorescences. It blooms very profusely at the end of May and in the first decade of June. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. The variety is frost-resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Rhododendron (large-flowered azalea) "Toucan"

Deciduous fast growing shrub with a wide and regular dense crown, at the age of 10 years reaches about 2 m in height and almost the same width. The leaves are light green, elliptical, covered with glandular hairs, turning orange-brown in autumn. The flowers in bud are yellow, then beige to lemon yellow with a large yellow spot, large about 9 cm in diameter, collected 7-14 flowers in round, glamorous, rather loose apical inflorescences. Blooms very profusely in late May early June. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. Frost resistant. Frost resistance zone 5V

Azalea japonica

Japanese azaleas are evergreen or semi-evergreen most varieties of low shrubs, with a wide dense crown and extremely abundant flowering. By type, they are very similar to the well-known indoor azaleas Rhododendron simsii (Rhododendron Sims). Japanese azaleas are bred from numerous evergreen and semi-evergreen small-leaved wild azalea species native to Japan. Japanese azaleas are very decorative plants, but they do not tolerate cold and hot summers of the continental climate; the root system requires a superficial evenly moistened soil all year round, it is recommended to mulch the roots with foliage or other materials. Dry winds and the early spring sun are especially dangerous for them, they need quiet places protected from the wind, or shelter for the winter with pine or spruce spruce branches, or non-woven materials. Soils prefer loose humus, fresh or moist, slightly acidic to acidic. Photophilous, tolerates shading and partial shade. Japanese azaleas are perfect for the smallest gardens, can be used as a beautifully flowering ground cover in places that meet their requirements.

Rhododendron (Japanese azalea) Babuschka "Hachbadu"

Semi-evergreen dwarf shrub with a compact spherical shape. After 10 years, it reaches about 0.5 m in height and width. The leaves are dark green shiny. The flowers are numerous, large about 4.2 cm, semi-double, carmine-pink with a dark red pattern on the middle petal, collected several in apical inflorescences. Blooms very profusely in the second half of May. Photophilous, tolerates partial shade. The variety is very decorative, frost resistance down to -25 ° C, it is recommended for planting in places protected from the wind. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (Japanese azalea) EISPRINZESSIN "Hacheis"

Evergreen low flat shrub, at 10 years old reaches 0.3 m in height and 0.5-0.6 m in width, an adult plant 0.4-0.8 m in height and up to 1.3 m in width. The leaves are dark green, oval to round, matte. The flowers are terry consisting of about 20 petals, wide open, white inside with a thin creamy pattern, about 5 cm in diameter, collected several in the upper inflorescences. It blooms incredibly profusely and for a long time, from late May to mid-June, during the flowering period, the entire bush is as if under snow, the leaves are almost invisible. Photophilous, tolerates partial shade. One of the most beautiful white varieties of Japanese Azalea, frost resistance down to -24 °C, recommended for planting in sheltered areas. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (Japanese azalea) "Fridoline"

Evergreen to semi-evergreen slow-growing shrub with a flattened crown shape, after 10 years reaches about 0.35 m in height and 0.6 m in width. The leaves are small, oval, up to 3.2 cm long, shiny green, in sunny places in winter they can shed some of the leaves and grow back in spring. The flowers are numerous, medium 4-4.5 cm in diameter, ruby ​​red with a delicate dark red delicate pattern. Photophilous, tolerates partial shade. Blooms in late May and early June. Frost resistance is high. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (Japanese azalea) "Gislinde"

Evergreen, slow-growing, compact, flattened bush, after 10 years reaches 0.3 m in height and about 0.6 m in width. The leaves are dark green, shiny, ovate, about 2 cm long. The flowers are semi-double, rarely solitary, carmine-pink, from 4 to 4.5 cm in diameter, very numerous. Blooms from the second half of May. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. Belongs to the most resistant varieties in the group of Japanese azaleas, frost resistance down to -26 °C. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (Japanese azalea) "Kermesina"

Evergreen to semi-evergreen densely growing compact shrub, by the age of 10 reaches 0.8 m in height and 1 m in width. The leaves are dark green, oval, shiny, in winter they change color to maroon and in spring they are green again, in sunny places they can lose some of the leaves. The flowers are simple, small and numerous, up to 3.5 cm in diameter, ruby ​​pink with a red tint. Blooms profusely in the second half of May. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. One of the easiest varieties to grow, tolerates low temperatures well. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (Japanese azalea) "Kermesina Rose"

Evergreen to semi-evergreen, very dense compact shrub, reaching 0.6 m in height and 0.9 m in width by the age of 10. The leaves are dark green and slightly shiny. The flowers are numerous, small, pink with pronounced ruby ​​red stripes on open petals, looks very elegant. Blooms profusely in the second half of May. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. The variety is frost-resistant, it is a mutation of the previous variety "Kermesina", also in this series there is also a variety of "Kermesina Alba" with pure white flowers, but a little more sensitive to frost than these two. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (Japanese Azalea) "Ledicanense"

A semi-evergreen shrub with a wide straight silhouette, by the age of 10 it reaches 0.6 m in height and 1.2 m in width, the maximum height of an adult shrub is 1 m. The leaves are green matte, 40 x 12 mm., There are few wintering leaves. The flowers are light lilac large with a purple-red pattern on the top three petals. Blooms in the second half of May. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. It is considered the most frost-resistant in its group, frost resistance down to -27 ° C. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (Japanese azalea) "Melina"

Evergreen compact undersized shrub with a dense wide crown, by the age of 10 reaches 0.3 m in height and 0.7 m in width. The leaves are dark green, slightly shiny, obovate, 2.5 cm long, red-brown in winter remaining on the bush. The flowers are purple-pink, more red inside, semi-double with a double - triple tier, consisting of 12-15 petals, up to 5 cm in diameter. It blooms very profusely and for quite a long time, at the end of May and in the first decade of June. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. Attractive hardy variety. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (Japanese azalea) "Otava"

Semi-evergreen shrub of compact form, 10-year-old specimens reach 0.7 m in height and slightly more than in width. Shoots and leaves are velvety-pubescent. The leaves are longitudinally ovate, dull, dark green, 2.2 cm long, few leaves remain on the bush in winter. The flowers are light purple with a dark purple middle, the flowers are small 2-4 cm in diameter but numerous. Blooms very profusely from mid-May. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. In sheltered and semi-shady places it endures the winter without damage. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (Japanese Azalea) PETTICOAT "Hachpett"

Evergreen dense shrub of broadly rounded shape, after 10 years reaches about 0.6 m in height and 0.8 m in width. Leaves are glossy dark green, turning green-yellow-red in autumn. The flowers are unusually pink double with corrugated edges, large about 5.8 cm in diameter, with a red pattern and a red stamen inside the bowl. Blooms very profusely in the second half of May. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. Very decorative variety, frost resistance is satisfactory, it is recommended for planting in sheltered quiet places. Frost resistance zone 6A

Rhododendron (Japanese azalea) SCHNEEPERLE "Hachschnee"

Evergreen dense hemispherical flattened shrub, after 10 years about 0.3 m high and 0.8 m wide. The leaves are dark green, small up to 3 cm long, oval, shiny. The flowers are very decorative, white terry consisting of 17-20 petals, wide open, large, flower diameter 4-5 cm, reminiscent of roses. Blooms annually and profusely in the second half of May. Light-loving, tolerates partial shade. This is a beautiful new variety of Japanese azalea, quite hardy, frost-resistant, but preferably a planting site protected from winter winds. Frost resistance zone 6A

Vaccinium L. (Vaccinium) - lingonberry, cranberry, blueberry - Ericaceae (Ericaceae)

Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Bilberry blueberry, or Blueberry tall)

Range Eastern North America, grows in wet or damp acidic soils, swamps, forests, lowlands and damp grasslands. Deciduous slow-growing densely branched shrub, broadly spreading with age with many shoots, 1-2 m high and wide. The leaves are arranged alternately, ovate-lanceolate, green, autumn color is yellow or bright orange-red. The flowers are white-pink rounded bells collected in dense bunches, blooms in May. Fruits are rounded 1.5 cm in diameter. Blue-black berries with a bluish bloom, edible, sweet with a pleasant taste. The roots are superficial, prostrate, with a large number of thin roots. Photophilous, tolerates partial shade. The soils are fresh or wet (moist), humus, grows well on humus sandy-heather soils, which can be marshy, with a pH value of about 4.0-5.0, tolerates a pH of 3.0. The need for nitrogen is very small, with an excessive amount of nitrogen, the shoots die off. Frost tolerant, loves cool and damp locations. There are a large number of cultivars grown as an ornamental and fruit plant in household plots and industrial plantations. Frost resistance zone 5V

Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton (Large-fruited cranberry, or American cranberry)

Range Eastern North America, grows in sphagnum swamps, runs wild on dunes. Evergreen ground cover shrub, with creeping long, thin, dense shoots with age, forming a dense green carpet 10-30 cm tall. The leaves are arranged alternately, small with a short petiole, elliptical-oblong 0.5-1.5 cm long, light green or green slightly glossy on top, hard and leathery, light gray (ashy) on the underside, becoming red in winter. brown. Blooms May-June-July, light purple or white-pink flowers with curved petals stigma down (drooping), on long stalks, flowering may take 20-25 days. The fruits are round-elliptical, 1-1.3 cm in diameter (the size of berries in plants growing in swamps is larger), cherry-red with a gray-blue waxy coating, when ripe in August they become dark red or black-red, glossy. The berries are edible, have a bitter-sour taste, contain a lot of vitamin C and antioxidants, the berries can be harvested before the first hard frosts, stored for a long time in fresh. Photophilous. Soils prefer sandy-humus, fairly moist, moist, loose, from acidic to slightly acidic. Very frost-resistant, grown as an ornamental and fruit plant in household plots and on an industrial scale, has cultivated fruit varieties "Crowley", "Pilgrim", berries with a diameter of 1.9 cm. Very decorative. Frost resistance zone 2

Vaccinium myrtillus L. (Common blueberry)

The range of Europe to Central Siberia, to the southeast up to the Caucasus, is distinguished by a wide ecological amplitude, is undemanding to humidity, grows in light deciduous and coniferous forests, is found both on the outskirts of swamps and in damp forests, and in dry, lightened areas, on heather swamps, on fresh humus loose soils that do not contain lime. Slow-growing deciduous shrub, growing strictly vertically, reaches 20-50 cm in height, forms many shoots. Young shoots are green, smooth, ribbed. The leaves are light green, pale below, on short petioles, almost sessile, arranged alternately, elliptical or pointed-ovate, 1-2.5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, reddening in autumn. It blooms in May-June, the flowers are solitary greenish-reddish, rounded, pitcher-spherical corollas, drooping, on short pedicels, axillary. The fruits are very tasty round berries 0.6-1 cm in diameter, dark blue with a bluish bloom, blueberry juice is highly coloring, bears fruit in July-September. It forms long roots on which new bushes are formed, the life span of several generations of vegetatively formed bushes can reach several hundred years. Bushes formed on rhizomes bloom in the 4th year and live up to 14-18 years, and those formed from seeds bloom only in the 15-20th year. It prefers light places and partial shade, but in completely open areas it often dies off completely or partially. Soils prefer sandy-humus, fresh or moist, humus-rich loose substrates, acidic or slightly acidic. Frost-resistant, grown as an ornamental and fruit plant, grown in household plots and on an industrial scale, tasty berries are of great economic importance, green shoots are popular in floristry, the fruits and the plant itself are used as medicinal raw materials. Frost resistance zone 1

Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (Common lingonberry)

The range from Northern Europe to Siberia and Japan, as well as in Arctic North America, is distinguished by a wide ecological amplitude, especially in relation to moisture, occurs both in dry and wetlands, grows as the lower layer of dry coniferous forests, in upland or medium marshes , in the mountains in thickets of shrubs, on sandy, stony, humus and poor acidic soils. Evergreen slow-growing low shrub 10-30 cm tall with rooting creeping shoots, lives for about 13 years. The leaves are arranged alternately, leathery, small, ovate, glossy green on the upper side, lighter on the lower side. It blooms in May-June, re-blooming is possible in late summer, white-pink bell flowers are collected in small dense drooping racemose inflorescences, have a weak but pleasant smell. The fruits are very decorative, rounded red shiny berries the size of a pea, bright red berries stand out sharply against the background of green foliage, edible healthy, taste tart-sweet-sour, possibly diverse application, ripen in August-September, the berries can be harvested before the first hard frosts, after the first frosts they become soft and watery, fruiting irregularly. The roots are superficial, widespread with a large number of thin roots, form offspring. It is light-requiring, tolerates partial shade, in shady places it blooms less and bears fruit. It is not demanding on soils, it often grows on poor dry soils, prefers sandy-humus or peaty acid from fresh to damp, the need for nitrogen is very limited. Frost-resistant, well tolerates snowless frosty winters, grown as an ornamental and fruit plant, grown in home gardens and on an industrial scale, there are about 20 cultivars. Frost resistance zone 1

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (Cowberry) "Koralle"

It was bred in 1969 by H. Van der Smit, Holland.

Evergreen slow-growing low densely bushy shrub 20-30 cm tall, with underground rooting shoots. The leaves are alternate, small, ovate-elliptic, 1.5-2.2 (2.5) cm long and 0.7-1.3 cm wide, rough, glossy, light green or green. It blooms in May-June, re-blooming is possible in late summer, white-pink bell-shaped flowers are collected in racemose hanging inflorescences. Fruits are round-ovoid bright red berries 1-1.2 cm long and 0.8-1 cm in diameter, very numerous. Other data and advantages as for Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. Hardiness zone 1

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Thanks for the Distribution!

- (Calluna), a genus of plants of the family. heather. One species of V. ordinary (C. vulgaris), evergreen, strongly branching shrub with small trihedral leaves. The flowers are small, in one-sided racemes. The calyx is longer than the corolla, painted, like the corolla, in ... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

Erika Dictionary of Russian synonyms. heather n., number of synonyms: 7 bush (357) ... Synonym dictionary

Heather- (Yaremcha, Ukraine) Hotel category: Address: Petrasha Street 12, Yaremcha, 78500, Ukraine ... Hotel catalog

Modern Encyclopedia

A genus of shrubs of the heather family. 1 species, in Eurasia, Sev. Africa, America. Honey plant, ornamental plant. Sometimes heather is called species of the genus Erica ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

HEATHER, heather, husband. (bot.). A low evergreen shrub with small leaves and purple-pink flowers. Dictionary Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

VERESK, a, husband. Evergreen shrub with small leaves and purple-pink flowers. | adj. heather, oh, oh. B. honey. Heather family (n.). Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

heather- lilac (К.Р.) Epithets of literary Russian speech. M: The supplier of the court of His Majesty, the partnership of the printing press A. A. Levenson. A. L. Zelenetsky. 1913 ... Dictionary of epithets

Heather- HEATHER, a genus of evergreen shrubs (heather family). 1 species, in Eurasia, North Africa, on the Atlantic coast of North America, in Greenland and the Azores. They grow strongly in clearings of pine forests, burned areas, forming ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

heather- Iskon. Reorganization of public noun veres ( *versъ, cf. Polish wrzesień "September", literally "the month when the heather blooms"), still known in dialects. The sound k in heather from euonymus, sometimes noted in dialects and (under the opposite influence ... ... Etymological dictionary of the Russian language

Books

• Heather of Oblivion Category: Classical foreign poetry Series: Translation Space Publisher: Aquarius,
• Heather of Oblivion , Vincenty Korab-Brzozovsky, Stanislav Korab-Brzozovsky, Stanislav Korab-Brzozovsky (1876-1901) is known as the author of poetic translations from Baudelaire, Verlaine, Maeterlinck and original poems, recognized today as models of Polish ... Category: Miscellaneous Series: Translation Space Publisher:

According to an ancient legend of the Scottish people, God asked the plants, which of them wants to be on the bare mountain slopes, which are mercilessly blown by the wind? Heather was the only one who answered the question. For this, God rewarded him with endurance, handsome lush bloom and wonderful aroma.

Heather ordinary - is a representative of shrubs from the Heather family. The leaves are quadrangular, scaly. Heather height reaches about 25 cm. Types of shrubs are divided according to the shade of its leaves.

The leaves come in a variety of colors: green, silver, yellow, orange, bronze and even brown and red. It blooms in the form of a brush, which collects a large number of small fragrant flowers. pink, purple, white, cherry or raspberry shades. The flowering period falls on July-August. At this time, heather, inconspicuous at first glance, turns into a multi-colored fragrant carpet that can decorate the most gloomy stone wasteland.

The plant retains inflorescences for a long time, which, even when dried, remain bright juicy shades until late autumn. At first glance, you can not even think that the plant has faded.

The title photo shows a modern variety of common heather Peter sparkes.

The exact place of origin of the plant cannot be established. It is distributed in the northwest of America, as well as throughout the European continent with a variety of climatic conditions: from Siberia to the Mediterranean, in Morocco and the territories of the Azores.

There are several versions of how heather was introduced to the American mainland. One of them says that in ancient times the plant was used in dry form to stuff mattresses. Traveling, they could easily get on a ship from Europe to America. The ancient legend of the Scots also contains a certain amount of truth: heather is able to survive and amaze with beautiful flowering in the most lifeless harsh corners of nature with a difficult climate: wastelands, peat bogs, mountains, wastelands, swamps - any such territory can become its habitat.

Heather stems and flowers have been used in everyday life since ancient times. So the word itself, translated from Scottish, literally means “to cleanse” due to the fact that a broom was made from a plant. The leaves were used to make a yellow dye. They even made an alcoholic drink from heather - heather ale(similar to beer).

heather species

The name heather comes from Greek, word kalunei means "to clean". The name of this plant can also be found in Old Slavonic, then it was called "varesets" or "hoarfrost".

The plant is represented in its kind by one species - Common heather (lat. Calluna vulgaris), but about 500 different varieties are distinguished in it, differing from each other in decorative differences in the characteristics of leaves and flowers. Varieties due to their large number are conventionally divided into 6 groups according to common characteristics:

• with green leaves;
• with green leaves and white flowers;
• with a silvery coating on the leaves;
• with a golden bloom on the leaves;
• with a terry structure of flowers;
• with non-opening structure of flowers.

Far from all varieties of shrubs turned out to be suitable for growing in the Russian climate. Consider the most popular among them.

• Sort "Сarmen"- was bred in 1968 in Holland, belongs to the group of plants with green leaves. Initially, it was considered a mutation, but then it was registered as a separate variety. The shrub is evergreen, has a rounded shape and a height of up to 40 cm. The spherical shape is achieved due to the width of the bush about 50 cm. The leaves are dark green in color, the bark is brown. It blooms in panicles up to 20 cm long, pink-violet flowers. The flowering period in different territories of Russia is different due to the diversity climatic conditions. In the European part of the country, the flowering period falls on mid-August-late September, in Moscow and the region - from September to October. Heather varieties "Carmen" are best planted in a brightly lit area. The plant is frost-resistant, but shelter with the help of spruce branches will not be superfluous.
• Heather variety "Hammondii"is a representative of a group of plants with green leaves and white flowers. The homeland of the shrub is England, where it was bred in 1850. Is evergreen shrub spherical shape (height - 40 cm, crown width - 50 cm). The leaves are small. The bark is brown. Panicles with flowers reach a length of 20 cm. It grows well in a brightly lit area. The maximum growth of shoots shows on fertile peat soils. The variety is often used landscape designers to create compositions or as part of heather gardens. The shrub is frost-resistant, but to protect it from too low temperatures, it would be useful to cover it with spruce branches.
  
  
• Among the varieties with silver leaf color, there are Heather "Jan Dekker", which is valued for its compact size (about 15 cm high, crown width - about 30 cm). The brushes of flowers are dense, the flowers themselves have a pink-purple hue. The leaves are slightly pubescent, due to which a silver color is achieved. The flowering period is in September.
  
• Heather Melanie (Calluna vulgaris "Melanie")- an evergreen shrub of compact form with a height of 50 to 60 cm. The leaves reach a length of 1 to 3 cm, needle-shaped, light green in color. The flowering period falls on the autumn months - September, October. Inflorescences consist of white flowers. Light-loving shrub, but can tolerate light partial shade. It tolerates heat well, but can suffer from early autumn frosts. Pruning is done in early spring.
  
  
• Heather variety "Beoley Gold" belongs to the group of plants with golden leaf color. The shrub has a sprawling shape, reaches a height of about 35 cm, the width of the crown varies from 50 to 60 cm. The flowers are white in color, the brushes reach about 12 cm in length. The flowering period is in September.
  
• Heather variety "Kinlochruel" is a representative of a group of plants with double flowers. The shrub is dense, wide-spread, height is about 25 cm, the crown in diameter can reach about 40 cm. The variety is valued for its snow-white double flowers collected in lush brushes. Flowering period - September.
• Heather varieties with non-opening flowers look unusual. This includes "David Eason"- shrub of spherical shape of small height (20 cm) and spreading crown (25 cm). The leaves are dark green, the flowers are pink and purple, the brushes are narrow. Flowering period - September.
  

plant propagation methods. Landing Rules

Heather can propagate in several ways: cuttings, offshoots and seeds.

1. When propagated by cuttings for their planting, deep holes are used, dug from each other at a distance of 50 cm. Do not bury the root neck of the plant. The soil in the hole should be well tamped, watered and mulched with sawdust or peat. If the cutting is planted in heavy soil mixed with clay, then a good drainage layer must be placed at the bottom of each hole.
2. Propagate heather by offshoots quite simply: an adult bush will eventually form many processes that creep along the ground. It is enough to fix one process on the soil, sprinkle it a little and wait for the rapid development of an independent root system. Then the seedling will be ready for transplanting to a permanent place.
3. Growing heather seeds- the longest and most laborious method. Heather seeds are sown on a layer of nutrient soil and wait for the first shoots in about 21 days. The resulting sprouts are transplanted into spacious boxes. Heather can be transferred to open ground only after 2 years.
4. The most common breeding method for heather is dividing the rhizome of an adult bush into parts. Old stems are removed, each plot is planted in a new hole.

Proper planting of a shrub is a guarantee of its future good growth and abundant flowering.

You can plant heather in open ground both in spring and in autumn.

It has been experimentally established that the plant takes root best when planted in the spring. Indeed, with this method, the shrub will have a better chance of growing a powerful root system that can withstand winter frosts. Additional protection in winter consists in sheltering with spruce branches, leaves or sawdust.

Heather Dark Beauty

Plant care rules

Heather care consists in regular abundant watering, control of the level of soil acidity, annual top dressing (about 40 g of top dressing per square meter). Not all types of plants need loosening the soil - in some species, the root system is too close to its surface and can be damaged.

The rules for caring for heather in different areas of our country will contain some differences due to too different climatic conditions. So the natural factors of the Urals and Moscow region with possible severe and frosty winters, spring and autumn frosts require additional availability on a bush of covering material. Summer in these zones can be both abnormally dry and rainy, so the irrigation regime must be adjusted in each individual case.

Planting in a pot. Growing indoors

Let's designate the basic rules for caring for heather shrubs in room conditions:

1. For irrigation use only soft settled water. room temperature. Rain water will also work.
2. You need to water abundantly. Multiplicity - as the top layer dries. The shrub does not tolerate drying out of the soil.
3. The temperature of the content of heather in summer varies from 18 to 25 degrees, in winter - from 8 to 12 degrees of heat.
4. The room must be regularly ventilated for inflow fresh air, but it is better to protect heather from drafts.
5. In spring and summer, heather needs regular spraying with soft water. This will help avoid pest infestation.
6. Periodically make the substrate more acidic by adding sulfur or spruce bark to it.
7. As the root system grows, heather is transplanted into a large container. The earthen ball is not violated. The frequency of transplantation is once a year.
8. Regular pruning of the shrub, which stimulates more active growth and flowering.

Heather in landscape design

The shrub is loved all over the world due to the possibility of forming a bright and memorable landscape from it. The color variety of the shrub allows you to create limitless combinations. You can use planting from only one shade of heather, but the combined flower bed will look much more spectacular. The variety of heather species will allow you to choose varieties for different periods so that you can end up with a garden that blooms from early spring to late autumn.

In the heather genus, there is one species that has a dozen beautiful varieties that differ in foliage color (from white to orange) and flowers (from white to purple).

Under natural conditions, this species has a large range in Europe, starting in the north from the tundra to the southern border of coniferous-deciduous forests. In the Russian Federation, there is a large amount of heather in the north of the European part, in pine forests, in sphagnum bogs - in those places where the poorest and most acidic soils.

Under the thickets of heather, a layer of acidic soil is formed - mixed with white sand, poor in potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus. This heather land is used in floriculture as a soil.

The smell of heather is amazing.

Heather is valued for its long flowering in the second decade of summer.

heather

Common heather is common in Western Europe, in Russia, is found in Asia Minor, Siberia, in the north and Africa, on the Azores. In pine forests, in the tundra, in sphagnum bogs, on sands and in coniferous-deciduous forests.

Low-growing, evergreen shrub, up to 60 cm tall. The crown of the heather is compact, almost rounded. The bark is brown. Heather leaves are scaly, sessile, trihedral, dark green.

heather flowerson short pedicels, collected in racemose inflorescences, lilac-pink, rarely white. Flowering period: July. Fruits up to 3 cm long. It grows rather slowly, 2 cm per year. It lives for about 30 years. Decorative heather is a period of abundant and long flowering and chic foliage. Heather winters without shelters, winter-hardy.

Today, more than 50 varieties of heather are grown in Russia, differing in the timing of flowering and the coloring of flowers, as well as leaves. Due to the many varieties of heather, you can create an interesting corner in the heather garden and extend the flowering of the garden until the end of autumn. It must be said that not all varieties of heather winter well in the middle lane, so it is best to cover them in autumn.

Heather variety with green foliage

Heather "Allegro"is an evergreen shrub, about 50 cm high. The crown is dense, compact. The bark of heather "Allegro" is dark brown. Dark green leaves, scaly. The flowers are shiny, simple, carmine-red.

The fruits are not tied. It is a vigorous variety, shoots grow upwards. It grows up to 10 cm per year. Decorative in long and abundant flowering. Heather "Allegro" is winter-hardy. But on winter period it is better to cover with a dry leaf.

Heather variety with silver leaf color

Heather "Silver Knight" - low evergreen dense shrub. In height up to 30 cm. The crown of heather "Silver Knight" is compact, cushion-shaped. The leaves are fluffy, silvery-gray. In winter, they acquire a purple hue. Very showy foliage.

Heather flowers "Silver Knight" lilac or light purple. Medium growing, upright shrub. Top not flowering shoots drooping. Photophilous. It is winter-hardy, but it is better to cover with spruce branches.

Heather variety with double flowers

Heather "Red Favorit"- cushion shrub up to 40 cm tall, crown diameter more than 65 cm. The branches are numerous, long, broadly ascending.

Dark green leaves. The flowers are pink, double, collected in dense inflorescences up to 10 cm long. Grows slowly.

heather location : heather is demanding on illumination, it grows in areas with illumination of at least 50%, and sometimes in open places. In partial shade, common heather can easily withstand the bright March sun, but it will not bloom for long and not luxuriantly, and the color of the flowers will be pale. Without drainage, the bush will die in the lowland.

And in a dry place, heather will winter well, but will not give a dense crown and will completely cease to bloom in the future. Heather is very fond of the sun, but also welcomes light shading. Heather grows very well on alpine hills, where water does not linger, and gravel will not allow the roots of the shrub to dry out.

The soil: Heather prefers dry sandy and moist soils. The shrub is not picky about the richness of the soil, it is widely distributed on sandy acidic soils.

Landing: between plants the distance is half a meter in groups or 8 specimens are planted strongly growing per 1 sq. m or 12 slow-growing varieties. Planting depth should be 25 cm.

It has a symbiosis with mycelium and does not tolerate transplantation very well. It is best to purchase a shrub in a container where the roots are completely preserved, this increases the plant's survival rate.

After the death of the heather, the shrub retains its foliage and flowers in its original form for a long time, so when you purchase pay attention to the following:

1) heather shoots should be elastic, at the tips of the branches there should be buds and shoots that are lighter than the old ones;

2) the soil must be moist, not overdried;

heather planting time : Heathers are best planted in the spring. Over the coming season, they can take root well.

Care: Heathers suffer from dry air in summer and respond well to spraying. root system heather is compact due to the huge number of branched small roots. Their short roots cannot extract moisture from the depths and need to keep the top layer of the earth always moist.

Mulching: Immediately after planting heather, mulch with peat or softwood chips is necessary, because it contains mycorrhiza. Chopped pine bark, large sawdust or wood chips, fern soil, peat, and even small gravel are suitable as mulch - all this well protects the soil under the heathers from drying out.

heather pruning: The first years after planting do not need to be pruned. After flowering in autumn or spring, old shoots are cut with secateurs. When pruning, keep the shape of the crown.

Diseases and pests : heathers almost do not get sick and are not affected by pests, but viral and fungal diseases are possible.

The most common disease in heathers is gray rot, it develops at high humidity air and soil. As a rule, this happens in places where a lot of snow lingers. Plants that were covered incorrectly or the shelter was removed very late are also damaged.

If the heather leaves turn brown, and the tops of the shoots wither, then this is a consequence of waterlogging the soil or an excess of fertilizers. For treatment, use antifungal drugs.

Symptoms of a viral disease are deformation of shoots and flowers, uncharacteristic coloring of foliage and flowers. If the plant is affected by viral infections, the bush must be dug up and then burned.

reproduction: Heather is propagated by cuttings (varietal), seeds and dividing the bush.

Usage: With proper care, you can create a briar carpet that is as picturesque as a briar garden. Heathers look beautiful in combination with conifers and flowering shrubs. Usually, heathers are planted in the foreground, and taller bushes in their background.

Partners: heathers look spectacular with ferns, rhododendrons, dwarf and creeping conifers.