All about the Japanese scarlet

A beautiful garden is a serious investment, not only in the immediate environment, but also in your psychological health. Sometimes, in order to calm down or gain strength, it is enough to sit on a bench in your favorite garden and enjoy the beauty you have created. And if in the garden there are such incredibly charming cultures as Japanese scarlet, it is simply impossible not to be inspired by its elegance.

Japanese scarlet (with one "n" is also correct) - an oriental plant, characteristic of the gardens of Japan and China. But it has long been noticed far beyond the Asian borders. A shrub or tree is widely cultivated in various European regions, it is also common in North America.

Botanical characteristics of the plant:

• the crown of the scarlet tree is powerful, wide, pyramidal in shape;
• several trunks are formed at the very base;
• mature tree has dark gray bark with cracks;
• young shoots of scarlet are rather brown, glabrous;
• the root is powerful, pivotal, there are many branches in the rhizome, located near the soil surface;
• leaflets are small, cordate, about 5-8 cm in length;
• the outer side of the leaves is dark green with a blue undertone, the inner side is gray with white;
• at the start of the growing season, the leaves have a beautiful pink color with a purple undertone, shimmering with a satin sheen, in the fall they become golden yellow or even crimson;
• what distinguishes this tree from others is its aroma, as a result of which the plant is often called "gingerbread" (it really has a smell reminiscent of gingerbread or vanilla);
• inconspicuous flowers without perianth are collected in racemose inflorescences;
• the fruit of the scarlet is a pod-shaped capsule with many winged seeds;
• the culture is fast growing;
• winter hardiness is inherent in it, but if the winter is harsh and at the same time without snow, the tree may begin to freeze slightly;
• Japanese scarlet will begin to bear fruit only at the age of 15-16;
• the flowering of the plant lasts no longer than a week, this time falls in April-May;
• the fruits will ripen by the beginning of autumn or a little later (depending on the climate).

Crimson is not a particularly demanding culture. But to everything else, he prefers areas with good lighting, in which there are no squally winds (at least there is protection against them).

We can say that this plant is relatively rare, because there will be no abundance of varieties. It is assumed that once the scarlet grew almost everywhere, but the glacier did its job and seriously reduced the population.

Today, there are several varieties of Japanese scarlet.

• Magnificum (or magnificent purple) - characteristic of the island of Honshu, prefers to grow at a height, next to rivers and streams. Has a smooth bark and modest branching, large leaves.

• "Pendula" - and this is a weeping variety of scarlet, which was bred a couple of decades ago in North America, is distinguished by drooping twigs. The tree is not particularly tall, and its frost resistance is not as high as that of the wild form.

• "Gearswood Globe" - this variety is also bred in North America, it is distinguished by its spherical neat crown shape. It is practically a dwarf tree, which can still grow over time.

An ornamental plant will wonderfully take root on rich, fertile lands, which are abundantly and regularly saturated with water. If the land does not receive enough water, the plant lives in the context of drought, and it will behave capriciously. For example, it will drop beautiful foliage at once. The acidity level of the soil should be neutral, the moisture level should be high.

Consideration should be given to the peculiarities of the landing.

• A place. A spacious area with good lighting is what this culture needs. But if direct sunlight shines from morning to evening, this is also dangerous, the plant is afraid of burns. At the beginning of the growing season, scorching rays can destroy the tree. Therefore, it is quite possible to plant a scarlet plant in partial shade, where there is good illumination, but the tree will not be constantly under the sight of ultraviolet radiation.
• Rules. The hole for the tree must be prepared in advance, fertilized with humus or compost (well rotted). It is not necessary to deepen the root collar, the planting level will be the same as before the transplant. The seedling must be installed vertically, sprinkle with soil, slightly compact the earth, press it with your foot. Watering is rather big, not less than a bucket for each seedling.

Grooming is a few points that are especially important for the growth and development of a culture. Losing one of them can ruin all other efforts.

The scarlet plant is a moisture-loving plant that, in the absence of moisture, can shed its foliage literally in one moment. Therefore, regular watering is required, you need to be especially careful about the near-stem zone on the trunk - thoroughly moisten it. Mulching is also not superfluous. This will help protect the root system of the gingerbread tree from overheating and, most importantly, retain moisture.

Only young trees need it at a time when they are actively growing greenery. Special complexes with a low percentage of nitrogen will be optimal (otherwise, young branches will begin to grow excessively). Nitrogen in large quantities is also dangerous because young, actively growing branches may simply not have time to ripen before the cold weather.

It is supposed to cut the scarlet in early spring, before the juices begin to move. It is necessary to cut off all the branches that have frozen over, remove what irreversibly crippled pests. You can give the crown the desired shape by trimming - experiment with the design.

The simplest breeding option for scarlet is cuttings. You can cut off green branches in June, as a last resort in July. They are placed in water, in wet sand, or in a suitable nutritious potting soil. Beforehand, the cuttings must be kept in a solution of "Epin" (both "Kornevin" and "Heteroauxin" will do). For root formation, such measures are very important and effective.

The cuttings should be covered with polyethylene bags, or with plastic cups. This creates a high humidity greenhouse environment. Doing so also boosts root formation.

Consider how to grow a tree from seeds.

1. Seed collection is planned for early October, they are immediately sown in a seedling box. Planting depth - 1-2 cm.
2. The box is taken out into the garden, covered with a layer of foliage.This contributes to natural stratification, in the spring about 65-70% of the seeds will sprout.
3. When the thaw comes, the seed box is freed from the shelter. You can move it to your home.
4. You can do seed stratification in the refrigerator. They are kept in a damp natural cloth, which is wrapped in a bag.
5. At home, seedlings will develop slowly - this is absolutely normal. When, finally, 2-3 true leaves appear, the plants are planted in flowerpots for growing. The culture must be transported together with an earthen clod. You need to be especially careful with the root.

The seedlings will be sent to a permanent place in early autumn. Before the onset of severe cold weather, the tree will need to be covered with leaves and spruce branches. But some gardeners decide to play it safe and plant young scarlet trees only in the spring. You can do it like that.

This plant has an enviable immunity: pests and pathogens attack it not as actively as many neighbors in the area. But it is possible that if an external enemy hits the scarlet, it will be aphids. If it is seen on a tree, it is imperative to remove all damaged areas. And the use of systemic insecticides will solve the issue radically: the pest will leave the tree.

If the leaves of the tree are drying, this may be due to a lack of water. Or from too active the sun, if the scarlet lacks shading.

A crimson hedge will be wonderful - there is no better zoning option for the site. The tree looks no less beautiful in the design of the border. The scarlet plant planted along the paths and alleys creates a hedge that will become the highlight of the territory.

On the site, the scarlet is in harmony with the bright forsythia, the majestic rhododendron, the green boxwood all seasons. This tree is a great neighbor that makes the site unique. Nevertheless, in Russia, scarlet is still considered an exclusive, therefore it will be a winning acquisition.

And if you want the most romantic, cozy autumn, it makes sense to plant the scarlet in a beautiful container. You will get a tree in a pot, a small shrub that can decorate a terrace, for example, stand next to a house and be the brightest and most unusual decor for it. That same golden autumn - a great time for gardens - will show the scarlet in all its glory.

An overview of Japanese scarlet in the next video.