Elaeagnus

The genus Loch (Elaeagnus) includes more than 45 species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and small trees, which are valued for the beauty of their foliage and fruits. Very small nondescript flowers-fragrant, without petals, with a four-lobed calyx, 1-3 in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is a drupe with a sweet mealy edible pulp. The leaves are regular, silvery or with a felty pubescence. Narrow-leaved loch (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a deciduous tree up to 10 m tall. The branches are sometimes spiny; the leaves are oval-lanceolate silver-gray. The flowers are fragrant, silvery or whitish outside and yellow inside, blooming from May to July. Edible fruits are similar to olives, they are pinkish-yellow in color, covered with silvery scales. E. multiflora is a deciduous species. The leaves are ovate, dark green on the upper side and silvery on the lower side. Yellowish-white flowers bloom in April-May on new shoots, in their place oblong blood-red edible fruits are formed. Prickly loch (E. pungens) is an evergreen species whose stems are only occasionally prickly. They grow egg-shaped leathery leaves, glossy and green on the upper side and matte white on the lower side, covered with chestnut scales. Fragrant silvery flowers bloom in autumn, and small oval red or bright orange fruits are formed in their place. The species is particularly suitable for creating hedges. Umbrella loch (E. umbellata ) is a lush deciduous species with yellowish-brown shoots and ovate leaves with a wavy edge; the upper side of the leaves is greenish, the lower side is silvery. White-cream fringed flowers bloom in May, later forming red spherical fruits. Ebbing's loch (Elaeagnus x ebbingei) is a fast-growing evergreen hybrid of large-leaved loch (E. macrophylla) - an evergreen shrub with egg-shaped leaves, silvery flowers and oval red fruits-and prickly loch. Ebbing Loch is growing rapidly. It is characterized by egg-shaped silver-gray leathery leaves and drooping silvery flowers with a strong aroma that appear in autumn. The fruits are oval, small, red or bright orange. Silver loch (E. argentea) - a tree up to 4 m tall or a shrub - is a very popular species in ornamental gardening. Ebbing loch and prickly loch have many variegated varieties.

The genus Loch (Elaeagnus) includes more than 45 species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and small trees, which are valued for the beauty of their foliage and fruits. Very small nondescript flowers-fragrant, without petals, with a four-lobed calyx, 1-3 in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is a drupe with a sweet mealy edible pulp. The leaves are regular, silvery or with a felty pubescence.

Narrow-leaved loch (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a deciduous tree up to 10 m tall. The branches are sometimes spiny; the leaves are oval-lanceolate silver-gray. The flowers are fragrant, silvery or whitish outside and yellow inside, blooming from May to July. Edible fruits are similar to olives, they are pinkish-yellow in color, covered with silvery scales.

E. multiflora is a deciduous species. The leaves are ovate, dark green on the upper side and silvery on the lower side. Yellowish-white flowers bloom in April-May on new shoots, in their place oblong blood-red edible fruits are formed.

Prickly loch (E. pungens) is an evergreen species whose stems are only occasionally prickly. They grow egg-shaped leathery leaves, glossy and green on the upper side and matte white on the lower side, covered with chestnut scales. Fragrant silvery flowers bloom in autumn, and small oval red or bright orange fruits are formed in their place. The species is particularly suitable for creating hedges.

Umbrella loch (E. umbellata ) is a lush deciduous species with yellowish-brown shoots and ovate leaves with a wavy edge; the upper side of the leaves is greenish, the lower side is silvery. White-cream fringed flowers bloom in May, later forming red spherical fruits.

Ebbing's loch (Elaeagnus x ebbingei) is a fast-growing evergreen hybrid of large-leaved loch (E. macrophylla) - an evergreen shrub with egg-shaped leaves, silvery flowers and oval red fruits-and prickly loch. Ebbing Loch is growing rapidly. It is characterized by egg-shaped silver-gray leathery leaves and drooping silvery flowers with a strong aroma that appear in autumn. The fruits are oval, small, red or bright orange.

Silver loch (E. argentea) - a tree up to 4 m tall or a shrub - is a very popular species in ornamental gardening.

Ebbing loch and prickly loch have many variegated varieties.

Cultivation

Loch is grown in the open ground, usually in group plantings, to create hedges, in forest protection strips, to fix the banks of rivers and canals, and also as a medicinal, essential oil, gum-bearing plant. Only variegated species are usually grown in pots, and only for the first 4-5 years, then it is recommended to plant them in the open ground. Deciduous species are finally planted in the ground in October, evergreen in March or September. Suitable for any type of soil, even poor and calcareous, but well-drained. Narrow-leaved and silvery sucker is more suitable total sandy soil. In hedges, plants are planted at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other, in forest protection strips - 60-90 cm. They do not require regulating pruning; in spring, you can limit yourself to shortening long and unsightly branches and removing dry and damaged ones. Plants in hedges should be pruned in June. On variegated varieties of prickly loch and Ebbing loch, branches often form with green leaves rather than with variegated ones - they must be removed.

Location

Deciduous species should be planted in the open sun, and evergreens are suitable for both open sun and partial shade. Evergreen species are unpretentious, grow also in the wind and in the shade.

Temperature

The plant easily tolerates both high and low air temperatures.

Watering

It is only required for young plants immediately after planting in a permanent place in the ground, as well as for bushes grown in pots, which are recommended to be watered regularly. Adult plants of open ground need watering only during periods of severe prolonged drought.

Transplant

Transplanted in the spring once every 2 years, in pots of a larger size than the previous ones.

Reproduction

The loch is propagated by seeds, root scions and cuttings. Deciduous species are propagated by seeds, sown from July to September in seed soil and kept in a closed, unheated room. Later transplanted into pots. Permanent placement is made in 1-2 years. In evergreen species, at the end of August - September, semi-woody cuttings 10-15 cm long are taken and planted to form roots in a mixture of peat and sand. After the formation of roots (in spring), the seedlings are transferred to separate pots. Plant in the ground in the fall.

The loch is propagated by seeds, root scions and cuttings. Deciduous species are propagated by seeds, sown from July to September in seed soil and kept in a closed, unheated room. Later transplanted into pots. Permanent placement is made in 1-2 years.

In evergreen species, at the end of August - September, semi-woody cuttings 10-15 cm long are taken and planted to form roots in a mixture of peat and sand. After the formation of roots (in spring), the seedlings are transferred to separate pots. Plant in the ground in the fall.

Diseases

Leaf spots and rust appear due to various fungi, but only rarely are these diseases so serious that they require intervention. If damage (cancer) is visible on the branches, then the affected parts are removed. Aphids and worms often settle on young shoots and leaves. They get rid of them with the help of appropriate medications.

Acquisition

Most loch species are easily found in gardening centers and specialized nurseries. Choose well-formed and probably healthy plants.