Scumpia (Cotinus) or popularly "tanning tree", "smoky tree", "wig bush", "zheltinnik" are deciduous shrubs or trees belonging to the Sumakhov family. In their natural environment, plants are common in regions with moderate climatic conditions - in the eastern part of North America and in Eurasia. Scumpia has not only high decorative properties, but also numerous useful qualities. For example, the leaves are used to make leather, wood is used to obtain dyes. Wood craftsmen use the skumpia to make toys and household items.
Description of the scumpia bush
Scumpia is a tree about 5 m high with an unusual umbrella-shaped crown or a branching shrub, reaching a height of 1.5 m to 3 m. Scumpia is a long-lived tree that can grow and develop for almost a hundred years. It consists of numerous shoots with a smooth surface and peeling bark on a brown trunk, dense leaves of a dark green, dark red or purple hue (depending on the season), panicle inflorescences of small greenish flowers and black drupe fruits when ripe. The flowering period begins in May or June, and the surface of the scumpia stalks is covered with a long, airy red pile. During this period, the tree becomes like a cloud of an unusual shade, it seems just as light and airy. It is impossible to take your eyes off the delicate flowering plant. In warm climates, re-flowering is also possible - in the second half of summer.
Planting a scump in open ground
When to plant skumpia
A favorable time for planting seedlings is early spring or autumn. When planting in autumn, the skumpia should have time to take root in a new place and adapt before the arrival of the winter cold. When planting in spring, the seedlings must also have time to go through a period of adaptation before the onset of the summer heat. In winter and in the middle of the summer season, the skumpia must not be planted.
The landing site should be in a spacious and bright area, possibly with light partial shade. It is important that the plant is protected from strong winds.
Scumpia can grow on any soil - heavy, alkaline, rocky, but preference is given to light, neutral, with good air and water passage and deep groundwater. Excess moisture in the soil and stagnant water negatively affects the life of the culture.
How to plant a scumpia on a pavilion
Preparation of seedlings for planting consists in soaking the root part in water (a day before planting), in a thorough examination of the roots and removing dry and damaged parts, in the treatment with fungicides and charcoal.
The size of the planting hole should only slightly exceed the size of the root system of the seedling.
Special preparation and application of fertilizers to the soil is not required, because the scumpia is much better to root in depleted soil.
First, the planting pit is watered abundantly, for each pit - about 20 liters of water. After absorbing moisture, cover the earth with a mound and put a seedling. The spread roots are carefully sprinkled with earth, lightly tamped and watered again abundantly. It is important that after planting the root collar remains 2-3 cm above the ground level.
Skumpia care
Watering
Until the seedlings are completely rooted, it is recommended to water them regularly and abundantly. Frequent watering is only necessary for young plants in the first year after planting. Adult crops can be watered less frequently, or even as needed, but in relatively large amounts. It should be remembered that excess moisture is very harmful for scumpia.
Mulching
Mulching is not only a protective and nutritious layer for plants, but also saves time for watering. Moisture will remain under the mulch much longer, watering will be necessary only in rare cases.
Top dressing and fertilizers
After planting seedlings in poor soil, crops will very soon need additional fertilizing in the form of mineral and organic fertilizers. At the beginning of the growing season, the scumpia will require fertilizers with a nitrogen content, and in mid-July - potassium and phosphorus. In areas with fertile soil, no additional feeding is needed.
Pruning
Pruning is done regularly, but not often. One "haircut" in three years is enough. For sanitary purposes, in early May, it is recommended to cut off dried and frozen shoots, damaged and diseased branches. Pruning for crown formation promotes good branching and maintains a high decorative effect. Young one-year-old shoots are cut by about 60-70%, and old ones - by 90-100%.
Preparing for winter
Some varieties of adult skumpii can overwinter without shelter even in severe frosts, but young specimens, without exception, need reliable insulation and protection. In late autumn, it is necessary to apply a thick mulch layer to the trunks of young skumpia, consisting of humus or peat. It is recommended to cover the entire aerial part of the plants with spruce branches and non-woven material.
Features of growing scumpia in the Moscow region
In Moscow and the Moscow Region, you can also grow a scumpia, you just need to choose the right variety for planting and take a responsible approach to organizing the wintering of plants. For example, green-leaved scumpia varieties tolerate winter cold better than shrubs and trees with variegated leaves. There are several guidelines for growing this exotic plant:
- It is necessary to choose only winter-hardy varieties and varieties for planting;
- It is better to buy seedlings in nurseries, they should have already survived one or two winter periods;
- The landing site must be chosen in a protected area, without cold drafts and strong gusts of wind;
- In the first 2-3 years, young crops need reliable winter insulation.
Reproduction of scumpia
Skumpia can be propagated in various ways - by seeds, cuttings, layering, root shoots.
Seed propagation
The seed propagation method is used by professional gardeners, as it is considered troublesome and requires certain skills and patience.
First, the seeds must be removed from the ripe fruit. This can be done at the end of the summer season. Because the seeds have a dense, waterproof surface, it is difficult for sprouts to break through after planting. To facilitate this procedure, the seeds require scarification, which is carried out in a solution of sulfuric acid. The planting material is placed in the solution for 15-20 minutes, after which the hard shell dissolves. Further, within three or four months, the seed is stratified at a temperature of about 5 degrees Celsius.This completes the preparation for spring sowing.
For autumn planting, scarification is not necessary, and natural seed stratification will occur in the soil during the winter months. The depth of planting seeds is 1.5-2 cm. The crops do not need winter shelter. The emergence of seedlings can be expected only after a year.
Propagation by cuttings
Cutting is not a popular method of propagation, because only a third of the cuttings take root.
Before planting, green cuttings cut at the beginning of summer must be kept for 12 hours in a stimulating solution (for example, "Heteroauxin"), after which they can be planted in a special substrate. Its composition is an equal amount of coarse river sand, turf and peat. With the help of dense polyethylene, a mini-greenhouse is built over the cuttings. The main care of cuttings is regular airing and watering. It is better to use a fine spray to moisten the soil. The cuttings will develop their own root system in about 20 days.
Reproduction by layering
This method is considered to be very easy and effective. The branch lowest to the ground must be cut at the base, bent to the ground, fixed with a wire pin and dug in. With regular watering, the cuttings take root very quickly, after which it can be separated from the adult culture and planted on the site chosen for the young plant.
Diseases and pests
Scumpia is highly resistant to pests and diseases. She never gets sick, and pests can appear only in very rare cases. Possible "uninvited guests" are scumpian beetle, fawn leaf beetle, pistachio beetle. After treatment of plants with special preparations (for example, "Decis" or "Karbofos"), the pests die.
Types and varieties of scumpia
Scumpia ordinary Is a branched shrub about three meters high or a five-meter tree. Its most famous varieties are Lady Young, Grace, Purpurea, Golden Spirit, Royal Purple. All varieties differ in height and growth rate, color and size of leaves and inflorescences, as well as life expectancy. For example, the Royal Purple variety is slow growing and attracts attention in the fall with a bluish-metallic shade of leaves. With the arrival of autumn, Golden Spirit dresses up in a whole palette of colors with shades of red, green, yellow, brown, purple and orange. A variety "Purpurea" with pubescent leaf plates can grow up to seven to eight meters in height.
American scumpia Is a tree with large, bright green leaves, native to the southeastern United States. The peculiarities of this species are the transformation of green foliage into fiery red leaf plates in autumn, as well as high resistance to cold weather and undemanding care.
