Rhododendron in a vase with water. Daurian rhododendron (Ledum): description, reproduction, species with photos and descriptions. Subvarieties: description and photo

If you ever see a flower blooming in the forest, on the hills Daurian rhododendron, - believe me! – this sight will remain in your memory for the rest of your life! In the words of the song " Somewhere wild rosemary blooms on the hills..." we are talking about him - rhododendron dahurian. This is what people say, but from a botanical point of view the correct name is Daurian rhododendron.

My family met this plant in the early 60s in the Primorsky Territory and throughout their lives they retained awe, delight in contemplating and admiring wild rosemary (may the botanists forgive me - rhododendron dahurian!)

A completely unprepossessing bush with twisted, branched branches, dark brown leathery leaves rolled into a tube in winter. In the spring - in April-May - it transforms unusually, becoming covered with pinkish, lilac (different shades) large flowers (up to 5 cm). Seeing this sea of pink color, the most delicate lilac haze among the scatterings of stones on the hills, mountains, among dry old leaves, in coniferous, but more often deciduous forests, you freeze with delight. Massively Daurian rhododendron It blooms in early spring, when there are still no leaves on the trees and shrubs around.

Rhododendron Daurian very winter-hardy, loves slightly acidic soils. Light-loving, but tolerates slight shading normally. In addition to the Primorsky Territory, it is found throughout the Far East (where, of course, there is no permafrost) and in Eastern Siberia, Transbaikalia, China, Korea, Mongolia, and Japan.

Of course, there is a great desire plant in your own area such a miracle – Daurian rhododendron.

It is quite widely used in ornamental gardening.

Name "rhododendron" comes from two Greek words "rhodon" and "dendron", which mean "rose" and "tree". The British were the first to introduce Daurian rhododendron into culture. It began to be grown in Russian gardens only in the 19th century.

In nature, the main method of reproduction is rhododendrons is propagation by seeds. Seeds usually have high germination rate and retain it for several years. Experienced amateur gardeners grow rhododendrons from seeds. Vegetative propagation requires special conditions and skills.

So you can just dig Daurian rhododendron early spring or early September, except during flowering and late autumn. The soil should be light, slightly acidic.

Propagation of rhododendron by seeds. Collected seeds rhododendron dahurian sown in winter - in December-February in greenhouses, in boxes, placing them on the surface of the soil, without covering them. Seeds must be germinated at a temperature of + 18-20 degrees. If germination is carried out in a room, you should ensure adequate air and soil humidity by covering its surface with glass or film. The germination rate of the seeds is at least 80%, and it lasts up to three years if they are placed in a hermetically sealed vessel (jar) in a cool place. In the third to fifth year, the seedlings bloom.

Vegetative method of propagation of rhododendron consists of using semi-lignified green cuttings or dividing the bush. It is better to prepare cuttings for planting in the second half of summer (mid-June - early July). Green semi-lignified cuttings rhododendron dahurian They take root very easily, almost 100% rooting is observed.

The plant does not tolerate overdrying, so regular deep watering is necessary, in dry times - at least 2-3 times a week. Until the plant gets stronger, it should be lightly fed with liquid complex fertilizers (NPK) or well-rotted manure in early spring.

If you prune the bush, the growth and flowering of the plant will be inhibited. So choose what you want to do.

Besides the amazing beauty Daurian rhododendron still has medicinal properties. In folk medicine, its leaves are used as a sedative, antipyretic, and diuretic. They are used for compresses and rubbing for gout and joint rheumatism. And infusion and tea from flowers are taken for insomnia and other sleep disorders.

Rhododendrons(alcohol extracts from leaves) are bactericidal, phytoncidal and even insecticidal (flower powder rhododendron dahurian) properties.

This is such an amazing plant - Daurian rhododendron, bringing people joy, delight, divine admiration!

I read a beautiful legend on the internet about rhododendrons. I can't resist posting it.

“A long time ago, when God left sinful Eden for Heaven, He first wanted to take away all the beauty of the Earth from people. But His Love for people and Hope overcame just anger: God left divine plants for people - rhododendrons. But they do not grow everywhere, but only in hard-to-reach places - high mountains and gorges, on seaside cliffs and screes, near glaciers and waterfalls.”

In the spring, in most cities you can see unsightly “brooms” with thin leaves on sale. But if you put them in warm water at home, after 2–3 days you will be able to admire the beautiful pink flowers. This is Dahurian rhododendron, which is often mistakenly called wild rosemary.

We invite you to read other materials on the topic of Rhododendrons:

Description

Rhododendron dauricum is a highly branched deciduous shrub with upward-pointing branches. It reaches a height of 2 m.
This slow growing plant: annually grows only 5 – 7 cm, less often up to 10 cm per year.
Perennial - relative long-lived among the bushes. Its lifespan is more than 50 years.
A plant with a wide crown and light gray bark, unlike other species.
Elongated beautiful leaves reach sizes of 5 cm in length and 2 cm in width. They are green above, but brownish or grayish-green below. This is one of the characteristic features by which this species can be recognized.

Bloom although modest compared to other species, it is the earliest. It occurs when leaves have not yet appeared on other shrubs, somewhere in the second half of April, and continues to bloom until mid-May. The flowers, although rare, evenly cover the entire bush. At this time, it is especially beautiful and will perfectly decorate any area - be it wild nature or a personal plot.
Flowers pinkish-lilac with lilac-violet hues, sometimes white, with a strong intoxicating aroma. The width of the flower reaches 4 cm.

Ripen from August to September fruit in the form of a dry box.

Landing

When choosing a landing site in the garden, remember that Dahurian rhododendron prefer light shade and bright places. The best planting location is close to conifers, which promote optimal development and growth, protecting from winds and direct sunlight.

A beautiful combination is also obtained next to lilac, Japanese quince or barberry.

This species is accustomed to growing on rocky slopes, scattered stones and rocks, so it prefers gravelly and slightly acidic soil. Does not like clayey and waterlogged soils without drainage. Therefore, take responsibility when preparing the site. This determines how strong and lush the flowering will be.

Once the garden area has been prepared, you can start planting.

If you bought a seedling in a container, it is best to plant it in the spring. Having dug a hole about half a meter deep and 70 cm wide, you need to cover the bottom with a mixture of sand, crushed stone and brick fragments. Next, fill the hole with fertile soil mixed with humus and mineral fertilizers and place the bush there at the same depth as in the container. In this case, the lump of earth from the container can be slightly weakened. Do not allow the root collar to go deep. You can make a roller around it and water it well. Then the planting site is mulched with a thick layer.

The Daurian species can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and dividing bushes. All types of plantings provide very good germination and rapid rooting.

Care

Rhododendron dauricum is not a plant from exotic places, therefore it is resistant to frost and tolerates the conditions of the central and northern regions of Russia well.

Like most plants, it loves timely weeding and fertilizing.

The shrub does not tolerate dry soil well, so it is important water intensively and regularly his. If you notice dull and drooping leaves, immediately water the plant, or even better, spray it with rainwater - rhododendron does not like hard and chalky water. After watering, carefully loosen the soil.

Although rhododendron is a winter-hardy plant - it is necessary to cover it. You never know if there will be enough snow in winter to protect the bush naturally. Suitable dry leaves or grass can be used.

It is better not to overdo trimming of this type of shrub. Only as a last resort can you carry out March sanitary pruning.

In order for the Dahurian rhododendron to bloom magnificently and for a long time, it requires care and maintenance, despite the fact that in natural conditions it survives well on its own even in Siberia and the Far East.

All epithets will not be enough to convey the beauty and elegance of a blooming flower. He needs to be seen. And everyone who has at least once had the opportunity to admire its natural habitat certainly becomes eager to acquire such luxury on their site. In addition, it is not difficult to grow the Daurian variety in Ukrainian gardens. The main thing is to provide suitable conditions and competent, timely care.

The preferences of Dahurian rhododendron, factors favorable and detrimental to it will be discussed further, and in the article you will find photos and recommendations from professionals.

Botanical description

Daurian rhododendrons are genetically adapted to conditions temperate latitudes, since in the wild they spread in the Altai mountainous areas.

But due to the polymorphism of the species, scientists still cannot name its exact habitats. The fact is that many forms are very close to the Sikhotin, small-leaved and Lebedur varieties.

In Asian lands, wild rhododendrons often occupy large areas of wasteland, forming a continuous pink carpet of petals. Individual specimens are found on gravelly, rocky lands, in deciduous and forests. They are also found in North America, New Guinea, and Australia.

For unknown reasons, the Slavic peoples began to call the rhododendron Daurian. Botanists reject any relationship between these plants. The only thing that unites them is that they belong to the family.

Within the Daurian species, experts distinguish several forms of rhododendrons. This explains the radical differences between plants. Some of them have tiny and dwarf half-meter stems, while others, on the contrary, are characterized by giant buds that, when opened, reach a twenty-centimeter diameter, and two-meter sprouts.

In this case, you will need to add up to 40 g of dry matter per square meter of tree trunk circle. If you wish, you can independently assemble the necessary components at this stage of tree development. For this you will need 2 parts, 1 part phosphorus and one and a half parts.

The second feeding is planned when the bush fades. Then his vitality is supported with phosphorus-potassium mixtures prepared in a 2:1 ratio. If you decide to use complexes, give preference to fertilizers containing a minimum amount of lime, phosphoric acid and. rejuvenate old shrubs by cutting off part of the shoots at a level of 30–40 cm.

And next year, in March, the same procedure must be done with the remaining sprouts. The cut location should be near the dormant buds. After cutting, all “wounds” on the tree should be treated with garden varnish or oil paint.

Experts insist on mandatory removal of all faded brushes. Firstly, they spoil the decorative effect. And secondly, they interfere with abundant growth and future flowering. The main thing is that when they are eliminated, the axillary bud on the upper foliage is preserved.

Wintering

Sheltering Daurian rhododendrons for the winter is mandatory only for young seedlings. The peculiarity of the species is good. Mature trees can easily withstand temperatures of 30 degrees. Therefore, unlike evergreen varieties, they do not require any preparation other than abundant autumn watering and mulching of tree trunks. To do this, you can use peat or fallen oak leaves (spread at least 20–25 cm), this procedure applies to all bushes.

Important! For the winter, it is imperative to cover the root collar of all rhododendrons, regardless of their type and age.

Young seedlings need to cover the crown. It is better to do this not with burlap and spunbond, but with a specially made house from boards, which is covered with roofing felt on top.

There is no need to rush with preparations, since 10-degree frosts are not scary for the shrub, but a rotted root collar can easily destroy it. Therefore, professionals advise covering the plant in mid-November, and removing all structures closer to March, when the ground warms up and can absorb moisture, and the weather outside is cloudy. This is necessary so that the sun's rays do not burn the young foliage.

Vegetative methods of propagation

Owners of rhododendrons will confirm that when one shrub settles on the site, you certainly want to get the next one and turn it into a continuous flowering canvas. Fortunately, anyone can get new seedlings at home. It is easier to do this in a vegetative way.

By layering

Gardeners call this technology the most affordable and effective. It consists of choosing a strong, viable stem and pinning it to the ground after making small cuts in the bark. Roots should appear in this place. To speed up the process, the ground under the layer needs to be moistened in time, and a small mound of substrate should be poured onto the branch. It is advisable to do the procedure in spring or autumn.

Did you know? Europeans learned about rhododendrons more than one and a half thousand years ago, when flowering shrubs appeared in royal gardens. From there they spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

It will be possible to separate a young seedling from the mother bush only by second year after the performed manipulations. This is done by cutting the branch and digging out cuttings.

Cuttings

The method of propagating Daurian rhododendron by cuttings is used only for cultivated varieties. Planting material is harvested in June, when the bush gets stronger after flowering. For propagation, you need to cut off healthy shoots up to 5–10 cm long. The knife blade should make an even, oblique cut.

After that, all the leaves on the blanks are removed, except for the three apical ones, and the cuttings are placed at a 30-degree angle in a box with peat-sand soil. Some housewives replace peat and add pine sawdust to the soil mixture.

It is important that the substrate is moderately moist. Therefore, do not forget to visit it and water it. The box should be covered with glass and placed in a warm place where the temperature is maintained at 24 degrees Celsius.
After a month and a half, the cuttings can be transplanted into small containers. It is also advisable to move them to a cooler, but brighter room. Experts recommend transplanting grown rhododendrons into open ground only after 2 years. During this period they will get stronger and have a better chance of surviving the winter.

Important! Young seedlings of “rose trees” are very sensitive to the spring sun. To prevent ultraviolet rays from leaving behind burns, shade the seedlings.

16 once already
helped

Daurian rhododendron is a perennial, abundantly branching shrub with beautiful flowers., belonging to the heather family. Distributed throughout the Far East, Siberia and Transbaikalia, it delights with its lush flowering for two months. Sometimes you can see a huge carpet of blooming Rhododendron in a spacious clearing - an unforgettable sight.

This shrub usually reaches a height of 2 m and blooms from early April to early June.

History of origin

Rhododendron is considered a very ancient plant that existed 50 million years ago, and its birthplace is China and India. In Russia, it began to be used for decorative decoration of plots in the 19th century.

Medicinal properties

This plant has unique medicinal properties; many medications are made from it, which have an analgesic, sedative, bactericidal and antipyretic effect. Also Rhododendron is successfully used in folk medicine, it helps:

for headaches;
nervous disorders;
radiculitis;
with inflammation of the mucous membranes;
with gastritis.

Of course, this is not a complete list; the abilities of this plant are simply magical.

Rhododendron is certainly a very interesting plant:

it’s interesting what can grow even at an altitude of 6 thousand meters above sea level;
is an excellent soil-protective plant;
has strong essential oil properties;
Some peoples use the petals to prepare various snacks and salads.

What is the difference from other types?

Reference! Dahurian rhododendron differs from other species in the color of its leaves, the underside of which is brown or gray-green. Also, this species has a gray bark color on its branches - this is also its characteristic feature.

Below you will find a description of two subspecies of this rhododendron: wild rosemary and April Jam.

Subvarieties: description and photo

Rhododendron Daurian has its own subvarieties, the most interesting of them are described below, and photos of flowers are also shown.

Ledum - common in the Far East and the south of Eastern Siberia, it loves to grow under the canopy of larches, the flowers are bright pink or purple.

April Jam is a wonderful shrub with large double white flowers, has good winter hardiness, usually reaches 1 - 1.5 m in height, and blooms for two months.

Bloom

The peculiarity of the flowering of Rhododendron Daurian is that it begins earlier than all other species - from the beginning of April. The flowering is very abundant, at this time even the branches are not visible - the entire bush consists of bright caps of flowers, they bloom at the tips of the branches.

Care before and after flowering - this shrub grows quite slowly and blooms about five years after planting. The shrub must always be looked after, following all the rules for care, and after flowering it is necessary to prune it.
What to do if it doesn’t bloom - if the plant doesn’t want to bloom, most likely the planting site was chosen incorrectly, replant it.

Use in garden design

The shrub will look gorgeous in any corner of your garden plot, but it is important to take into account its preferences.

Important! Rhododendron loves to be in the vicinity of any conifers; it will successfully shade pine, larch, lilac, barberry; you can plant 3 bushes next to each other or plant a whole row along the wall. The main thing to remember is that the bush loves places protected from the wind.

Let's take a closer look at all the main points of caring for Rhododendron:

How to propagate?

Attention! This type of Rhododendron is most successfully propagated by layering; it can also be propagated by seeds and cuttings.

In the spring, a side shoot (you can take several at once) is dug into the ground - into a hole to a depth of about 10 cm; this place must be secured with a pin and constantly kept moist.

Next spring you can separate and plant the young bush separately. Propagation by cuttings and seeds is much more troublesome, this is usually done by professionals.

Diseases and pests

Red spots may appear on the leaves along the veins - you need to urgently add potassium nitrate. This shrub is also adored by the bug; you can help by treating it with Diazinon. The best prevention of all problems is proper care

Conclusion

We can safely say that Dahurian rhododendron has a strong Siberian character, persistent and seasoned. This is a hardy and very cheerful plant that copes with various negative weather surprises. You just need to help him a little, take care, and in return you will receive your “purple sea” as a gift - an incomparable blooming beauty. This is such a sign of spring!

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Our Daurian rhododendron has bloomed - one of the most beautiful, early flowering plants in Transbaikalia. People call this shrub: bagul or wild rosemary. It grows wild throughout Eastern Siberia and the Primorsky Territory.

It has been established that Dahurian rhododendron dilates the coronary vessels of the heart, helps calm the nervous system, increases blood pressure, and lowers blood pressure.

Bagul or wild rosemary is an evergreen shrub, belongs to the Heather family, in the most favorable places it grows up to 2 meters in height, with very fragile, easily broken branches. This is the tallest bagul bush behind the gate of our dacha:

The plant has oval, rounded at the top, leathery leaves with thyroid glands filled with fragrant, aromatic essential oil. Young, light green leaves appear on the bush after it blooms. By autumn they become hard and dark green in color; these leaves do not fall off and remain overwintering on the branches. In winter they change their color again to reddish-brown. And last year's bagul leaves fall off in the fall.

In spring in May, as soon as the flower begins to bloom, the entire surrounding area turns pink and purple. A wild rosemary bush with sparse leaves is completely covered with flowers. On the way to the dacha we admire this beauty:

The flowers of Dahurian rhododendron are funnel-shaped, with 5 petals of pink and purple.

The flower has long curved stamens; the flowers are collected in a bunch at the ends of the branches or grow singly. The size of the flowers varies from 2 to 4 centimeters in diameter. The plant is winter-hardy and tolerates frosts up to 40 degrees.

As soon as the sun warms up, there is a tart-spicy aroma in the bagul glades, and since rhododendron grows in pine forests, this smell mixes with the aroma of the pine forest. Such a unique aromatherapy! It’s simply impossible to breathe in!

The flowers, leaves, and stems of Dahurian rhododendron contain flavonoids, sugar, organic acids, and essential oil, which were found to contain: limonene, ylangene, humulene, and caryophyllene. In addition, the plant contains a lot of ascorbic acid - up to 500 mg%, ursolic acid, and tannins.

Required recipes: ## For radiculitis, neuralgic pain, salt deposits, and nervous disorders Traditional medicine of Transbaikalia recommends baths with wild rosemary flowers.

## Aromatic baths with rhododendron leaves and flowers help strengthen the nervous system, relieve neuralgic pain, and improve sleep: To do this, take one part of each plant: Daurian rhododendron, wormwood, single-seeded ephedra and juniper needles.

## Infusions and decoctions of wild rosemary leaves are used for polyarthritis, gout, radiculitis, rheumatism and as a sleeping pill and sedative. Used in the same way as a diaphoretic. For these diseases, 10 grams of leaves are brewed in 1 glass of water, taken 3 times a day, a tablespoon before meals.

## For external rubbing in diseases of osteochondrosis, radiculitis, polyarthritis, neuralgia, prepare a vodka tincture from leaves and flowers.

I collected a mixture of flowers and leaves, filled them loosely into a glass bottle, poured it with vodka in a ratio of 1:10 and put it in a dark place to infuse. Keep the tincture for 2 weeks and drink 10 drops diluted in water 3-4 times a day. The same tincture is rubbed on sore spots.

## The local population collects the flowers and makes jam from them; only the corollas are collected.

I specially posted more photographs of this amazing healing plant - Daurian rhododendron, a rare and beautiful specimen created by nature, which grows only in a few regions of our country, so that you and I could admire its beauty.

In Soviet times, unblown wild rosemary branches, their cuts wrapped in wet cloth and cellophane, were often sent in parcels as a bouquet for the women's holiday on March 8 to the central regions of the country. The branches withstood such transfers well and, after standing in the water, flowers bloomed.

The unopened buds of Daurian rhododendron look very beautiful:

It is interesting that the Daurian rhododendron was transported from our region to the countries of North America and Europe, where hybrid varieties of rhododendrons were bred, which are now cultivated as ornamental garden plants. Such cultivated forms also grow in the Moscow region.

I wanted to pick Daurian rhododendron flowers for jam and was late. The frost hit tonight... All our beauty has withered. Many wild rosemary buds did not have time to bloom.

There is little hope that the buds, which are located in the leathery scales, remained intact. This is our sharply continental climate... We could admire this beauty for more than two weeks... but alas.

Another species of Adams rhododendron grows in Transbaikalia, read:

Health to you, dear readers!

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