Myrsine africana
It is an evergreen dioecious, gustooblistvennye shrub with a height of 1.2 m and a width of 75 cm. he Hails from the Azores, Eastern and southern Africa, the Himalayas, China, where it grows in the woods.
Myrsine africana (also called African Buxus) grows slowly. In culture, it is grown because of the very beautiful leaves: leathery, from rounded to elliptical, pointed, fragrant, dark green shiny, up to 2 cm flowers are yellow-brown, collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Female plants give round pale blue fruits with a diameter of 5 mm (for fruiting it is necessary to plant a number of male and female specimens). It can be a worthy alternative to evergreen boxwood, which has recently become increasingly sick and damaged by pests everywhere.
Accommodation in the country
It develops well on fertile, moist, but well-drained soils in light, semi-shaded areas. Tolerant to calcareous dry soils, but they do not look lush on them.
Features of care
Requires regular watering, especially in the first year of planting. In the spring, at the beginning of the growth of shoots, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is necessary. In the first winter after planting, it is necessary to shorten the shoots by half the length, in the autumn the soil around the Bush is well shallow dig and mulch organic substrate. With age, the shrub rejuvenate: put on a “short” stump. When forming a hedge from Myrsine africana, it is necessary to remove the root growth in time.
Winter hardiness, resistance to diseases and pests
Resistant to diseases and pests. Hardy.
Methods of reproduction
Propagated in the fall (sowing seeds in containers) or in the summer (semi-woody cuttings with lower heating).
Use
Grown in borders, rockeries, the walls groups in the Heather garden, peat bogs, shady gardens with natural style.
Myrsine africana is popular in warmer countries as a topiary plant and shrub for low fences; it can be grown in bonsai.
Ceanothus
Luxurious deciduous dense shrub, height and width of 1.5-2 m. Unfortunately, very little known.
It is a hybrid of C. pallida and C. herbaceous. Leaves opposite, serrated on the edge, dark green, shiny, up to 5 cm. Blooms fluffy fragrant light pink flowers (bloom from mid-summer to autumn, collected in the apical panicles longer than 7 cm), on the spectacular wine-red shoots, which are decorative even in leafless condition. Long bloom, attracting many butterflies. Grow faster. He is not constantly in bloom and has 2 waves of flowering. It is usually kept by pruning at a height of 1 m. the Fruits are red, Burgundy.
Accommodation in the country
It adapts well not only to fertile, but also to poor, but well-drained soil; will grow on any, but prefers clay. In the southern regions, it is desirable to place so that at noon Ceanothus was in the shade.
Features of care
Easy to grow. Drought resistant, but looks better when watering. Resistant to trampling. It is better to immediately plant it in a permanent place, as it painfully transfers the transplant. Pruning in the spring, to give a more bushy shape.
Winter hardiness, resistance to diseases and pests
For winter needs easy shelter: winter temperature minimum from +4,4°C to -23,3°C.
Use
Ideal for mixed borders and small gardens. A great accent and background plant for Sunny areas.
Great for creating wall curbs.
Escalonia rubra
Luxury evergreen shrub of the same name family Escalloniaceae. She comes from Chile, Argentina.
In 10 years already reaches its optimal size: height and width up to 2.5 – 4 m Bark exfoliating, brown. Leaves serrated, shiny, dark green, up to 6 cm long, from elliptic to wide-oval or obovate. Flowers tubular, pink, crimson, up to 1 cm; collected in hanging brush up to 10 cm blooms Profusely from summer to early autumn.
Decorative varieties:
- ‘Crimsom Spire’ – crimson flowers, up to 2 cm.;
- ‘Woodside’ – dwarf, up to 75 cm, width up to 1.5 m, crimson flowers.
Accommodation in the country
Grows well in full sun and partial shade in places protected from cold winds, on different soils, wet, but well-drained.
Features of care
Regular watering is necessary in the first year of planting, in the future — only in hot and dry summers. Annual spring fertilizing with mineral fertilizers will make the Bush more lush. Escalonia rubra requires shaping and rejuvenating pruning.
Winter hardiness, resistance to diseases and pests
Winter hardy in the southern zone of horticulture; the British lead her winter minimum at around -15°C. North in preparation for the winter is necessary to insulate the base of the Bush or grow in container culture.
Accommodation in the country
Red Escalonia rubra is a spectacular tapeworm.
It is suitable for creating hedges.
In conclusion of our small, but very beautiful review — my traditional question: do you know these rare shrubs? Maybe some of them have already become a rare decoration of your cottage?