Liriodendron: features and types, planting and care

One of the most original and spectacular plants successfully used for landscaping adjoining territories, summer cottages and parks is the liriodendron, also called the tulip tree. Special attention should be paid to undemanding care, which both of its types can boast - a feature that is of paramount importance for any gardener. Given the listed advantages, it should not be surprising that the planting of liriodendron is becoming more and more popular both in Russia and abroad.

The first successful experience of growing liriodendron in the Russian Empire dates back to 1813 and is associated with the activities of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, located on the southern coast of Crimea. Now the tree in question can be found both in the gentle subtropics of the Krasnodar Territory, and in the more severe regions of the middle zone and the Black Earth Region. Let's highlight the main features of the described plant.

• High height, reaching 30-60 meters, depending on the species, and rapid growth (vertical - up to 1 m per year, horizontal - up to 20 cm).
• Beautiful leaves, the shape of which resembles a lyre. As a rule, they consist of 4 blades, and their dimensions are 8-22 cm and 6-25 cm in length and width, respectively. Most often, the leaves of young liriodendrons are larger and indented than those of adult trees.
• Bisexual single flowers, resembling a tulip in appearance, capable of reaching 10 cm in diameter and attracting attention with their greenish-yellow color (orange blotches are also characteristic of the American species).
• Pineal fruit of medium size, consisting of lionfish, inside which are 4-sided seeds.
• Powerful trunk covered with greenish-gray bark. In the first years of a tree's life, it is smooth, but over time, cracks form on its surface, forming embossed diamond-shaped areas. On the branches, the bark looks different, characterized by a brownish tint and the presence of a waxy coating.
• Light wood, successfully used for the manufacture of musical instruments and quality plywood.

Currently, botanists distinguish 2 types of liriodendron - tulip and Chinese. The homeland of the second is clear from its name, while the first is of North American origin. This tree was brought to Europe from the eastern part of the United States, where it is a symbol of Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. If both species grow close to each other, they easily interbreed, forming a beautiful and fast-growing hybrid Liriodendron tulipifera x L. chinense.

Often the tulip liriodendron is called a lyran, a real tulip tree and a “yellow poplar”, although the latter option is not correct from the point of view of biological taxonomy. The characteristic features of this type are excellent decorative qualities and impressive dimensions. (up to 60 m in height), making it a real boon for landscape designers. As for the regions of Russia that are optimal for growing the presented tree, these are the Black Earth Region, the vicinity of Kaliningrad and warmer regions. In addition, lyran can successfully develop in the Moscow region and neighboring regions (with the exception of varieties that do not have sufficient winter hardiness).

In addition to the two main types, there are numerous varieties of this tree, which have their own remarkable characteristics. Separate consideration deserves the varieties of tulip liriodendron, which are maximally adapted to Russian conditions.

• Ardis. Spectacular tall tree, decorated with a "dress" of relatively small leaves with beveled ends. A characteristic feature of the buds is their large size and an orange base, which gives them additional originality. "Ardis" blooms in May-June, exuding a pleasant aroma for two decades.

• Glen Gold. One of the most distinctive varieties, especially notable for the golden hue of the lamellar leaves. The crown of such trees is spreading, and their flowers are decorated with orange markings. Glen Gold's buds open in June, delighting the owners of the site for a month.

• Heltorf. This variety is characterized by large leaves, consisting of 2-6 lobes, and large flowers, the sepals of which are aesthetically bent back. As for the buds, they bloom early - in late spring.

No less interesting is the Chapel Hill liriodendron - a spectacular fast-growing hybrid, the conical crown of which attracts attention with its rich green color. Other features of the plant are beautiful striped bark, large leaves and large bowl-shaped flowers that open in May. It is also worth mentioning two varieties of tulip tree with maximum decorativeness - Aureomarginatum and Fastigiatum, suitable for cultivation in the Black Earth Region and warmer regions. The first can boast of original variegated leaves, and the second - a pronounced columnar shape.

The procedure under consideration should be started in the spring, after the soil on the site warms up well. If the gardener plans to plant several liriodendrons, he needs to make sure there is enough free space (the recommended distance between trees is 5 m). One of the main conditions contributing to the rapid development of a plant is the abundance of sunlight. In addition, the selected site must be protected from strong winds that can damage the shoots of the young liriodendron. Particular attention should be paid to the groundwater level at the site: being located close to the surface, they make the soil excessively wet and threaten the root system of the tulip tree.

As for the soil, it should have a slightly acidic or neutral reaction (pH 6.5-7.0). It is also desirable that the soil is loose and does not suffer from excess lime, which slows down the development of a young tree. In a situation where the land lacks nutrients, it must be fed using rotted manure and mature compost. If the soil is too depleted, this combination can be supplemented with a glass of complex mineral fertilizer.

Having fulfilled the above conditions, the owner of the site can start planting the liriodendron, following a simple sequence of actions.

• Prepare a hole, the dimensions of which are determined by the size of the young plant (the best option is a week before the scheduled procedure).
• Carefully examine the root system of the tree. If you find dried or rotten areas, you need to get rid of them, not forgetting to process the sections with crushed coal.
• If the roots of the seedling are open, you should not hesitate with planting it. Immediately before the specified procedure, they should be placed in a container with water for 3-4 hours.
• In a situation where the plant is purchased in a container, it must be thoroughly watered on the eve of planting. This action contributes to the extraction of the earthen lump, which is strongly not recommended to break.
• Before placing the seedling in the pit, a drainage layer of broken brick and / or gravel should be arranged at its bottom.
• Having placed the tree in the center of the recess, you can start burying. The substrate must be compacted gradually and very carefully (otherwise air voids will remain).

In order to grow a healthy and beautiful tulip tree, it is essential to take proper care of it. This task is not particularly difficult, and therefore any gardener, both experienced and beginner, can cope with it.

Optimal watering of the liriodendron should provide for regular, but not excessive moisture in the soil, which is especially important in the first years of the tree's life. It is also desirable that the water used is at room temperature (approximately + 20.25 ° C). Another procedure that contributes to the development of the described plant is spraying the crown in the warm season. It should be carried out daily several hours before sunset, using a garden hose with a special sprinkler nozzle.

The first feeding of a tulip tree can be carried out after two years from the moment of planting. This procedure is performed in early spring and involves the use of nitrogen-containing preparations that act as a stimulant for leaf growth. The second feeding is carried out at the end of the growing season and involves the use of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. Such compositions strengthen the root system of the plant, as well as increase its resistance to diseases and adverse weather conditions.

Given the frost resistance of the tree in question, it can be argued that only young liriodendrons need a full-fledged shelter for the winter. To solve this problem, it is enough to follow a few simple steps, namely:

• mulch the near-trunk circle with sawdust or peat (recommended layer thickness is 10 cm);
• carefully press the branches of the tree to the trunk, wrap them in burlap and tie them with a rope for secure fixation;
• as additional protection from the cold, you can use spruce branches located around the plant.

There are 3 ways to propagate liriodendron - by seeds, cuttings and layering. Each of them has its own characteristics, the accounting of which contributes to the successful solution of the problem facing the gardener.

For propagation of a tulip tree by the specified method necessary:

• sow seeds in a large box filled with a loose substrate (the optimal time is the end of autumn);
• place containers in a fairly humid and cool room (it is advisable that the temperature does not rise above + 9 ° C);
• with the onset of spring, place the box in the light.

The described method involves the use of green cuttings cut from a healthy liriodendron in early summer. The list of conditions contributing to the successful solution of this problem looks like this:

• the optimal length of the separated parts of the plant is 40-50 cm;
• leaves and flowers located on selected cuttings must be removed (as well as the bottom 5 centimeters of the bark);
• future plants must be treated with a rooting stimulator and placed in a fertile substrate at ½ of their length;
• for the accelerated development of cuttings, they should be covered with a plastic bag and placed in a well-lit place, avoiding direct sunlight.

This procedure is carried out in late autumn and assumes the following steps:

• select several lower shoots, carefully tilt them to the ground and securely fasten in the groove made;
• sprinkle the layers with soil, leaving their tops above the substrate;
• with the onset of spring, ring the shoots from the side of the mother plant.

Experience shows that the tree in question is quite hardy, and therefore rarely suffers from parasites and pathogenic microflora. In some cases, liriodendron can be affected by fungal infections, the development of which is facilitated by excessive moisture in the soil. The optimal solution to the problem is fungicidal preparations with which you need to treat the plant and soil in the near-stem circle.

And also experts recommend paying attention to the following alarming symptoms affecting the leaves of the tulip tree:

• pallor - lack of nutrients in the soil;
• yellowing during the growing season - excess sunlight and moisture deficit;
• dry tips - dry soil and insufficient air humidity.

Of the pests, liriodendron can be disturbed by weevils and scale insects, the hordes of which attack the plant at the beginning of the growing season. Effective counteraction to parasites involves two-time treatment of the tree with a broad-spectrum insecticide, observing a weekly interval. Following the tips listed in this material, the vast majority of gardeners will be able to grow liriodendron. The natural result of their efforts will be a spectacular and hardy tree, like a magnet attracting the enthusiastic glances of others.

For information on how to properly care for liriodendron, see the next video.