Gaultheria

More than 100 species of evergreen shrubs belong to the genus Gaultheria, the height of which ranges from 15-25 cm in creeping species to 1.5 m in erect ones. The pitcher-shaped whitish or pale pink flowers are very similar to blueberry flowers; in their place, fruits are formed - boxes with small seeds, enclosed in an overgrown brightly colored cup (which is mistaken for a berry). Gaultheria adenothri is a dwarf creeping species with small serrated leathery dark green leaves and pubescent reddish-brown stems. The flowers are white-pink, bloom in spring and summer, in their place are formed by weakly pubescent bright red fruits. The antipode gault (G. antipoda) is a species ideal for rock gardens. Leaves are thick, obovate or oblong, serrated leathery. White flowers bloom in June-July. Fruits are globular, white or red. Fragrant gault (G. fragrantissima) - up to 50 cm high. It has straight elliptical serrate leaves and fragrant flowers, in the place of which blue fruits are formed. Gaultheria Mikel (G. miqueliana) is a dwarf species (up to 35 cm tall) with elliptical leaves and drooping small, in brushes, white flowers that appear in May-June, in place of which are formed spherical white or pink edible "berries". G. opposite folia is a small, very branched shrub with ovoid-oblong leaves. White flowers bloom in May-June, white berries. Lying gaultheria (G. procumbens) is a creeping species used as a ground cover. It has glossy obovate serrated dark green leaves. Flowers are white or pink, in short clusters, bloom in July-August. Fruits are globular glossy red. Gaultheria shallon (G. shallon) is a root-sprouting species with erect branches, up to 1.5 m high. Characterized by wide leathery leaves and light pink or white flowers blooming in May-June, dark purple fruits. Chinese Gault (G. sinensis) is a compact creeping shrub. It has elliptical pubescent leaves and white flowers that bloom in April. The "berries" are blue, pink, or white.

More than 100 species of evergreen shrubs belong to the genus Gaultheria, the height of which ranges from 15-25 cm in creeping species to 1.5 m in erect ones. The pitcher-shaped whitish or pale pink flowers are very similar to blueberry flowers; in their place, fruits are formed - boxes with small seeds, enclosed in an overgrown brightly colored cup (which is mistaken for a berry).

Gaultheria adenothri is a dwarf creeping species with small serrated leathery dark green leaves and pubescent reddish-brown stems. The flowers are white-pink, bloom in spring and summer, in their place are formed by weakly pubescent bright red fruits.

The antipode gault (G. antipoda) is a species ideal for rock gardens. Leaves are thick, obovate or oblong, serrated leathery. White flowers bloom in June-July. Fruits are globular, white or red.

Fragrant gault (G. fragrantissima) - up to 50 cm high. It has straight elliptical serrate leaves and fragrant flowers, in the place of which blue fruits are formed.

Gaultheria Mikel (G. miqueliana) is a dwarf species (up to 35 cm tall) with elliptical leaves and drooping small, in brushes, white flowers that appear in May-June, in place of which are formed spherical white or pink edible "berries". G. opposite folia is a small, very branched shrub with ovoid-oblong leaves. White flowers bloom in May-June, white berries.

Lying gaultheria (G. procumbens) is a creeping species used as a ground cover. It has glossy obovate serrated dark green leaves. Flowers are white or pink, in short clusters, bloom in July-August. Fruits are globular glossy red.

Gaultheria shallon (G. shallon) is a root-sprouting species with erect branches, up to 1.5 m high. Characterized by wide leathery leaves and light pink or white flowers blooming in May-June, dark purple fruits.

Chinese Gault (G. sinensis) is a compact creeping shrub. It has elliptical pubescent leaves and white flowers that bloom in April. The "berries" are blue, pink, or white.

Cultivation

Gaultheria are grown in the open field as an ornamental (especially during fruiting) plants, in mix borders, in rock gardens, less often in pots on balconies and terraces. Planted at a permanent landing site in September-October or April-May. They prefer rather moist, acidic, peaty soil with a pH (acidity) of 5.0-5.5, unfinished. Sometimes fertilizers are applied as needed, more often organic materials - peat or leaf humus (5-7 kg/m2, depending on the acidity of the soil). During the growing season, fertilizing is carried out with complex mineral fertilizers at the rate of 30 g/m2. When growing plants in pots, humus with peat is also used. Once a month from April to August, liquid fertilizing with irrigation water is practiced. Pruning is usually not required, limited to removing dry and damaged branches. Only Shallon gaultherias need pruning in the spring to thin out overgrowing branches.

Gaultheria are grown in the open field as an ornamental (especially during fruiting) plants, in mix borders, in rock gardens, less often in pots on balconies and terraces. Planted at a permanent landing site in September-October or April-May. They prefer rather moist, acidic, peaty soil with a pH (acidity) of 5.0-5.5, unfinished. Sometimes fertilizers are applied as needed, more often organic materials - peat or leaf humus (5-7 kg/m2, depending on the acidity of the soil).

During the growing season, fertilizing is carried out with complex mineral fertilizers at the rate of 30 g/m2. When growing plants in pots, humus with peat is also used. Once a month from April to August, liquid fertilizing with irrigation water is practiced. Pruning is usually not required, limited to removing dry and damaged branches. Only Shallon gaultherias need pruning in the spring to thin out overgrowing branches.

Location

Mainly prefers partial shade. A shady place, for example under trees, is also suitable for the shallon gaultheria.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to high air temperatures, but cannot tolerate temperatures below 7-10 °C. They easily withstand temperature fluctuations, although often severe frosts and cold damage the shoots.

Watering

It is necessary during periods of drought, as well as young plants after planting in a permanent place and cultivated in pots.

Transplant

Transplanted at the end of winter using slightly larger pots than the previous ones.

Reproduction

Propagated by seeds, layering, offspring. In July-August, semi-lignified cuttings 8-10 cm long are taken and planted in a substrate based on peat and sand in a closed unheated room. In the spring, the seedlings are transplanted one at a time into pots filled with peaty substrate. Finally, they are planted in the ground in the fall. In October, you can sow seeds in a suitable peat-based soil in a cool room. After germination, the seedlings are transplanted into pots. They are planted in the air only after 1-2 years. Before planting plants in the ground, it is recommended to fertilize once a month in April-August: flower complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in an amount of 10-20 g per bucket. In gaultheria, shallon is more often used for reproduction by rooted shoots, which in September are separated from the mother plant and immediately planted.

Propagated by seeds, layering, offspring. In July-August, semi-lignified cuttings 8-10 cm long are taken and planted in a substrate based on peat and sand in a closed unheated room. In the spring, the seedlings are transplanted one at a time into pots filled with peaty substrate. Finally, they are planted in the ground in the fall. In October, you can sow seeds in a suitable peat-based soil in a cool room. After germination, the seedlings are transplanted into pots. They are planted in the air only after 1-2 years.

Before planting plants in the ground, it is recommended to fertilize once a month in April-August: flower complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in an amount of 10-20 g per bucket.

In gaultheria, shallon is more often used for reproduction by rooted shoots, which in September are separated from the mother plant and immediately planted.

Diseases

Leaf spot provokes the appearance of various fungi, leaf galls and oidium (grape powdery mildew) on the leaves and shoots. Only occasionally, in this case, treatment is required, usually it is enough to remove the affected organs. At elevated pH values, both in the garden and in containers, growth slows down and chlorosis appears on the leaves and top shoots. They correct the situation by introducing sour peat or iron chelates into the ground.

Leaf spot provokes the appearance of various fungi, leaf galls and oidium (grape powdery mildew) on the leaves and shoots. Only occasionally, in this case, treatment is required, usually it is enough to remove the affected organs.

At elevated pH values, both in the garden and in containers, growth slows down and chlorosis appears on the leaves and top shoots. They correct the situation by introducing sour peat or iron chelates into the ground.

Acquisition

Gaultheria are easy to find in specialized nurseries and horticultural centers. If you buy them in the fall, choose berry-strewn plants after checking the condition of the foliage.