Fieldfare (Sorbaria) is an ornamental deciduous shrub belonging to the Pink family. The fieldfare is found in nature for a large part in Asia. The genus has about a dozen different species. Translated from Latin, the word "Sorbus" means "mountain ash". The plant got such an obvious name due to its similarity with rowan ordinary. Outwardly, both green representatives of the flora have many characteristics in common. As a cultural species, fieldfare became widespread only in the middle of the 18th century.
Description of the plant fieldfare
The plant is several meters high. The root system is highly developed and capable of producing many root suckers. Thanks to the long and branchy shoots, the adult shrub resembles solid thickets. The grayish shoots are geniculate-sinuous, and the leaves form from 9 to 13 pairs of serrate leaves. Peduncles seem to be covered with small snow-white flowers, which gather in pyramidal panicles. After flowering is complete, fruits are formed on the shoots of the shrub, which are called leaflets. When creating decorative landscape compositions, the shrub can be placed both separately from other plants and in group plantings. Also, the fieldfare looks great as a hedge and serves as a natural frame for living reservoirs in the garden.
Planting fieldfare in open ground
Such events are carried out with the arrival of spring, before the process of sap flow begins in the bushes and trees, or after the end of autumn leaf fall. Fieldfare grows well in the shade, and also tolerates growing on heavy loams or in wet soil.
The bushes are placed in pre-prepared holes, dug to a depth of 0.5 m. If you want to organize a group planting, then it is important to take into account the distance between individual specimens of at least one meter. The shoots grow strongly over time, so the hole is covered with slate sheets from the inside to hold back the growth of the roots, and the bottom is covered with drainage material. A mixture of compost and earth is used as soil. The roots are lowered into the pit and the organic substrate is evenly distributed around the root collar. She must definitely look out a few centimeters. A couple of buckets of water are brought under each bush. Planting ends with mulching of the soil surface. This will help in the future to save time on loosening and get rid of weeds.
Field care
Cope with the cultivation of field ash will not be difficult even for novice gardeners. The first thing to take care of is maintaining a moist environment at all times. The soil is loosened, and the surface of the soil around the shrub is cleared of weeds. They also regularly carry out feeding and pruning of shoots to form a crown. The fieldfare needs abundant watering; during a drought without water, the plant may die.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Fertilization is carried out at least 2 times during the season.Top dressing is distributed over the surface or buried near the roots. It is allowed to use organic types of fertilizers - compost or humus, alternating from time to time with mineral compositions, so that both the root system and foliage develop evenly.
Pruning
Inflorescences that have lost their attractiveness are removed in order to preserve the overall decorative effect of the bush. In the spring, sanitization is carried out, cutting off diseased, dried out or, conversely, shoots thickening the bush. This thinning prevents the formation of brittle and weak branches, and also maintains the shape of the crown. Ryabinnik also responds well to rejuvenating haircuts.
Transfer
Often, the transplantation process is carried out simultaneously with the division of the shrub. For this, the plant is transferred to a new pit containing the same drainage layer and a fertile substrate enriched with compost or humus. The fieldfare rhizome is divided into several parts, leaving a healthy shoot in each of them. The places of the cuts are treated with crushed coal, and the finished cuttings are seated in different pits. If the cultivation of fieldfare is not a primary task, then the bush is allowed to be transplanted as a whole, without dividing the root system, adhering to the same sequence of actions as during the initial planting.
Fieldfare propagation
Dividing a bush is considered the most reliable breeding method. Growing a shrub from seed usually does not produce the desired results. Layers or cuttings can also be used as planting material. To grow fieldfare with the help of a layering, the longest shoot is chosen and pressed with that side to the soil on which the green buds are located. The shoot is lightly sprinkled with earth, without touching the crown. During the summer season, the cuttings are watered abundantly. Rooting is very fast. In autumn, the matured cuttings are separated from the main bush and transplanted to a permanent place.
Cuttings are carried out using lignified shoots, cutting off their tops with a length of 20 to 30 cm. The finished cuttings are transferred to a box filled with substrate. It is important to ensure that the soil in the box does not dry out. If the tops of the cuttings begin to grow, then the procedure was successful.
Diseases and pests
The vegetative parts of the plant are impregnated with phytoncides, so the fieldfare has increased resistance to the effects of many pests. However, occasionally the bushes are affected by spider mites or green aphids, which suck out cell juices from the shoots. As a result, the shrub turns yellow and loses its attractiveness. Instances affected by the viral mosaic must be incinerated immediately. In the fight against pests, chemical solutions Mitaka or Fitoverma are used.
After flowering, fallen leaves and dry flowers are collected. The fieldfare is able to withstand severe frosts, so it is allowed not to cover the bushes before wintering.
Types and varieties of fieldfare
Among the cultivated species, there are only 4 species of fieldfare.
Felt fieldfare - is a tall, non-flowering shrub, the origin of which began in the eastern regions of Asia. It is found on mountain slopes and shows a tendency to freeze.
Tree-like fieldfare - has similar features to the previous species of fieldfare, however, it is able to bloom and withstand the cold. Shoots are growing slowly.
Fieldfare of Pallas -Can be seen in the middle of the mountainous regions of Transbaikalia or the Far East. This deciduous flowering shrub reaches a height of just over a meter. Brown bare shoots covered with short yellow hairs. In old bushes, the bark exfoliates over time. The surface of the leaf blades is slightly pubescent. Leaves grow up to 15 cm in length. The diameter of white or cream colored flowers is no more than 15 mm. They form small apical panicles. The fieldberry fruit is a pubescent leaflet. The plant shows resistance to frosty winters.
Rowan-leaved fieldberry - is considered one of the most common species in Asia and the Far East. It even grows in Japan. The shrub is of medium height and grayish-brown erect shoots. The shape of the leaves is pointed. In the spring, young leaves acquire a pink tint, in the summer months they are repainted in a rich light green color, and in the fall the bush tries on a fiery red outfit. The flowers exude a pleasant aroma and gather in cone-shaped lush paniculate inflorescences, reaching a length of no more than 30 cm. Inside each calyx are tiny stamens. In place of withered flowers, a pitcher-like fruit is formed in the form of accrete leaflets.
Fieldfare Sam - a plant that is rarely found in wildlife. The shrub is quite compact and visually attractive. Green shoots have a characteristic yellow tint, the surface of the leaves with a copper overflow. Snow-white inflorescences form panicles. To preserve the rich color of the leaves, it is necessary to organize additional lighting near the shrub.
