Shrub lizard: planting and care in the garden

The original and very elegant shrub with a lush crown, abundant and long flowering won an honorable place among gardeners to decorate the garden.

It is used in a single planting to emphasize any part of the landscape, in a group of plants or as a hedge.

Description and types of bladder

Bladder is part of the family of legumes, its genus includes 25 species of plants. Differences in the representatives of the genus are so insignificant that even specialists can not immediately recognize them. Original pinnate leaves up to 15 cm long. Yellow or orange flowers, which belong to the butterfly type. The unusual fruits of the shrub are riveted to their attention, in their shape resembling a bubble in fish. This interesting feature is reflected in the Russian version of the name.

The shrub retains its decorative appearance throughout the growing season - from early spring to late autumn. The peculiar leaves of the shrub, its long and abundant flowering, the appearance of the original beans - always remain noticed and rarely leave anyone indifferent.

The most common types are:

Tree bladder (Colutea arborescens)

This is a tall bush that can reach 4 meters in height. The bark of the plant stem is brown with a light shade, the pinnate leaves are light green in color. Flowers of yellow color are collected in a brush, flowering lasts for three months - from May to July. Instead of flowers, later fruits are formed, which, as they mature, become saturated red or copper.

It grows well in urban environments. Favorably looks both in single, and in group landings.To maintain the originality of the plant, it is necessary to remove old shoots. This plant loves to grow in latitudes, where the climate is mild and warm, severe winters are destructive for it. Very often it is planted in containers, moving into the room for the winter.

Oriental bubble (Сolutea orientalis)

Shrub rounded in shape, up to two meters high. The leaves have a bluish-green hue, the flowers are coppery red, the beans have a violet-red color.

The shrub lizard has found its distribution in the Crimea and the Caucasus, it grows in rocky areas. Often landed in group and curb plantings.

Bubble medium (Сolutea x media)

Is a hybrid of the oriental bladder and tree.

The leaves have a bluish-green color, dark red or orange flowers that appear in July and disappear in mid-September. The beans ripen in October.

It tolerates winter better than the oriental bladder.

The best place to plant in the garden

The best place to plant a plant is an open sunny area. Bubble can be planted on the slopes, shrubs copes well with the retention of crumbling earth.

To do this, plant seedlings in a staggered manner at a distance of 70 cm from each other.They make a hole in the form of a pocket on scree, put compost on the bottom, cover it with 15 cm of earth, and then plant the plant itself (it is desirable that it be 50 cm high) and water it abundantly.

It tolerates the neighborhood of such cultures as white acacia and gledichia.

Lighting

Bubble is very photophilous. Prefers a hot, scorching sun, a long day of light. It does not tolerate shaded areas, so a place to plant should be chosen away from tall trees.

Soil type

Prefers slightly alkaline or neutral soils, loam. Does not tolerate swampy and saline soils.

Bubble growing

Often seeds are used to grow this decorative crop, but it can quite successfully propagate by stem or root cuttings.

In early spring or late autumn, the shrub is planted in a prepared place.

The first time after planting, the sapling is watered abundantly. After the time when the sapling takes root, it will be possible to stop watering, he is satisfied with the rain.

Seed planting

The plant can be grown from seeds, but it must be borne in mind that they have weak germination. There are several ways:

1. Before sowing, they are scalded with boiling water or stratified. The seeds are laid out on a wet material and placed in a warm place for a month and a half, not forgetting to moisten the cloth with the seeds. It is necessary to germinate at a temperature not lower than 22 ° C.
2. Remove part of the peel, but very carefully, so as not to affect the core or prick the peel - this speeds up the process of swelling and germination. It is necessary to germinate seeds at temperatures not lower than 20 ° С, after a week the result is already noticeable.

Sowing of seeds that have sunk into the open ground is carried out in April; shoots are subject to timely moistening.

Planting seedlings

A bladder sapling is planted on the plot when it reaches 30 cm in height. It is advisable to plant a bush in early spring, choose a sunny place for planting.

Basic rules of care

Bubble is not afraid of the summer heat, the shrub feels good with intense light and long light day.Does not need feedings.

Watering plants

Abundant watering of the plant is done only once - when planting, later watering is done very rarely - only during a long drought, as a rule, there is enough rain for the shrub.

Cropping and crown formation

In the middle of March, sanitary pruning of the shrub is done when dry and poorly growing branches are removed. Strong branches are shortened, leaving 3-4 buds at the base. The shrub quickly comes to life after pruning. Gardener forms the crown of the bush, according to their preferences.

Major diseases and pests and other possible difficulties in growing

Wet soil and poor drainage are the names of the main enemies of the plant. They lead to the death of the roots. In this case, the plant is dug up and damaged roots are removed during transplantation.

Black shoots in the spring say that the plant is frostbite, they need to be cut off. But if a plant has cracks on the branches, the leaves wither, this indicates a bacterial disease. To avoid an epidemic bubble is destroyed.

Before the onset of cold weather, the root system of the bush is covered with spruce branches or a thick pillow of dry leaves.

Unpretentious and original plant that will serve as a true decoration of the garden. Shrub, which almost does not require attention and care, but loves to please with its appearance.