Tamarix

The genus Tamarix includes more than 60 species of evergreen shrubs and trees that shed their shoots in winter. The fragile branches are covered with tiny, small, scaly leaves that give the plants a feathery appearance. The leaves are bluish or grayish, without stipules, regular sessile. A special feature of the plants is that in autumn the leaves fall directly with the twigs. Blooming in summer, small white pink, purple flowers are collected in dense racemes on annual shoots, which creates lush color spots. Fruit-small tricuspid the box. French tamarix (Tamarix gallica) is an evergreen or semi-evergreen (depending on temperature and humidity) shrub species. The trunk is short, twisted, covered with brownish-gray bark with pronounced lentils (small holes shaped like lentils). The branches are curved upwards, the young ones are purple in color. The leaves are green-blue; the flowers are pink, formed on the shoots of the current year. Tamarix pentandra - a species with light green leaves that overlap each other, completely covering the reddish-brown twigs. Pink flowers with five very noticeable red stamens are formed on the branches of the current year. The 'Red' variety, with darker flowers, is widely used in hedges, while the 'Pink Cascade' has lilac-pink flowers. Tamarix tetrandra (T. tetrandra) is a sprawling species with light green leaves. Bright pink flowers with four very noticeable stamens bloom on the branches of the previous year. The four - stamen purple tamarix (T. tetrandra purpurea) is also very beautiful-it is often considered as a separate species-the small-flowered tamarix (T. parviflora), with dark pink flowers. Tamarix paniculata (T. ramosissima) - a large shrub or tree, with light pink flowers, completely covering last year's branches.

The genus Tamarix includes more than 60 species of evergreen shrubs and trees that shed their shoots in winter. The fragile branches are covered with tiny, small, scaly leaves that give the plants a feathery appearance. The leaves are bluish or grayish, without stipules, regular sessile. A special feature of the plants is that in autumn the leaves fall directly with the twigs. Blooming in summer, small white pink, purple flowers are collected in dense racemes on annual shoots, which creates lush color spots. Fruit-small tricuspid the box.

French tamarix (Tamarix gallica) is an evergreen or semi-evergreen (depending on temperature and humidity) shrub species. The trunk is short, twisted, covered with brownish-gray bark with pronounced lentils (small holes shaped like lentils). The branches are curved upwards, the young ones are purple in color. The leaves are green-blue; the flowers are pink, formed on the shoots of the current year.

Tamarix pentandra - a species with light green leaves that overlap each other, completely covering the reddish-brown twigs. Pink flowers with five very noticeable red stamens are formed on the branches of the current year. The 'Red' variety, with darker flowers, is widely used in hedges, while the 'Pink Cascade' has lilac-pink flowers.

Tamarix tetrandra (T. tetrandra) is a sprawling species with light green leaves. Bright pink flowers with four very noticeable stamens bloom on the branches of the previous year. The four - stamen purple tamarix (T. tetrandra purpurea) is also very beautiful-it is often considered as a separate species-the small-flowered tamarix (T. parviflora), with dark pink flowers.

Tamarix paniculata (T. ramosissima) - a large shrub or tree, with light pink flowers, completely covering last year's branches.

Cultivation

French tamarix and paniculate tamarix are cultivated everywhere as ornamental crops. Tamarix is planted in parks and even in small gardens. It grows quickly; due to its resistance to strong and cold winds, they are very readily used in hedges and forest protection strips, for fixing slopes and sands. Tamarix is planted permanently in October (in moderately cold climates) or March. They prefer well-drained and slightly acidic soil, although any soil is suitable, with the exception of calcareous ones. The main top dressing of young plantings - in autumn or spring rotted manure or compost at the rate of 5 kg / m2. In hedges and forest protection strips, the distance between plants is left approximately 60 cm. It is not recommended to plant them too close to other plants, because Tamarix have a very deep and horizontally spreading root system. Species that have flowers formed on the branches of the current year, for example, tamarix four-staminate, pruned in the winter months. Species that have flowers formed on the branches of the previous year are pruned only after flowering. Regular pruning is necessary to maintain the compactness of plants, otherwise a very rare crown is formed.

French tamarix and paniculate tamarix are cultivated everywhere as ornamental crops. Tamarix is planted in parks and even in small gardens. It grows quickly; due to its resistance to strong and cold winds, they are very readily used in hedges and forest protection strips, for fixing slopes and sands. Tamarix is planted permanently in October (in moderately cold climates) or March. They prefer well-drained and slightly acidic soil, although any soil is suitable, with the exception of calcareous ones. The main top dressing of young plantings - in autumn or spring rotted manure or compost at the rate of 5 kg / m2.

In hedges and forest protection strips, the distance between plants is left approximately 60 cm. It is not recommended to plant them too close to other plants, because Tamarix have a very deep and horizontally spreading root system.

Species that have flowers formed on the branches of the current year, for example, tamarix four-staminate, pruned in the winter months. Species that have flowers formed on the branches of the previous year are pruned only after flowering. Regular pruning is necessary to maintain the compactness of plants, otherwise a very rare crown is formed.

Location

Prefers a place in the open sun.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to both high and low air temperatures.

Watering

Plants are drought-and salt-resistant. In natural conditions, the species grow on sandy and even semi-desert soils, so they rarely need watering, with the exception of young plants immediately after planting completely in the ground.

Reproduction

Propagate by seeds, cuttings, root offspring. Use semi-woody cuttings 25-30 cm long, which are taken in October and planted in sandy and slightly moist soil in the open air. Seedlings are thinned out and planted in a permanent place after a year. Sowing is used less frequently.

Diseases

Various fungi cause the formation of growths - galls on branches. In the case of a significant lesion, this can lead to drying of the shoots, which should be removed. Powdery mildew of grapes provokes the appearance of whitish mold. It is easy to get rid of it with the help of appropriate fungicides. Plants with rotted roots or trunk should be destroyed. Worms suck nutrients from the plant, and later on their sugary secretions develop rabble. In the winter months, it is advisable to carry out treatment with anticoccidal drugs.

Acquisition

Tamarix is easily found in nurseries and gardening centers. Buy plants with a lump of earth or in containers, because seedlings with unprotected roots do not tolerate transplanting well.