Skumpia - a bush in a pink cloud. Exotic and unpretentious tannery in garden decor Smoky tree

7 minutes to read

Common skumpia or, as it is also called, tannery skumpia is an unusually beautiful and original plant. Such beauty should be in your garden, because planting a skumpia is as easy as shelling pears! The color of its leaves is the most diverse, from brown-red to deep yellow. This plant has been grown for a long time, its older name is yellowberry.

Skumpia looks like a cloud entangled in the branches of a bush. In gardens, it is grown both as a single bush and as a hedge. Several of these plants can drastically change the look of even a garden that is very rich in different flowerings, they do not need much care.

In cool areas, skumpia grows up to 5-6 meters, but in areas with a hot climate - up to 10-12 meters. In diameter, the crown reaches 6-7 meters. Such a bush can grow for about a hundred years. The leaves of skumpia at the beginning of summer have a soft yellow color with shades of pink, but closer to autumn they turn orange, up to deep red.

Growing skumpia from varietal seedlings is an expensive pleasure, varietal seedlings of common skumpia are very expensive (about 4 thousand rubles), but planting this plant is only half the battle, but care is a completely different story.

Skumpiya, landing and care in the suburbs is not very complicated, but there are some nuances that are useful to know even professional gardener, we'll talk about them.

Many people dry skumpii branches and decorate their house with them. To prevent the inflorescences from crumbling, sprinkle the inflorescences with hairspray.

Scumpi also has fruits. These are drupes, very small in size, the flesh of which dries quickly. The drupe has a green color, grows on a long stem. In order for the fruit to appear on the bush, no special care is required. When ripe, the fruits turn black. Fruit ripening occurs from August to October.

Types of skumpii

There are many types of this plant. In Europe, "Royal Purple" is the most common, but this species is considered one of the least hardy. It is a fluffy shrub with large foliage, the height of which can reach 1.5 meters. Often, skumpii bushes are used in grassy and shrubby mixborders. Skumpiya of this species often freezes slightly in severe cold. But it is "Royal Purple" that is grown most often.

Let's look at a few more types.

"Grace", "Nordine" - leathery mackerel purple.
"Golden Spirit" - yellow skumpia, often grows in the form of a tree. Wood of this type is used for small carpentry crafts and furniture inlay.
'Green Fountain', 'Pink Champagne' is a shrub with green foliage that only turns slightly yellow closer to autumn. Planting is more favorable for such plants in early spring.

These varieties of skumpia do not differ in resistance to cold or size (if only very slightly), their differences are more pronounced in the period and form of flowering, as well as in color.

Wild thickets of this bush have anti-erosion and soil-protective value. Skumpia of any of the listed species is an important component of windbreaks.

Planting and caring for skumpia will not cost you a lot of money and take a lot of time, but this plant will please your eye for a long time with its unrealistically beautiful flowering.

How to choose seedlings

When buying seedlings, give preference to older specimens, they are more adaptable, their cultivation will be easier and more active. Remember that varieties with green foliage are more resistant to cold than others, if you live in a region with frequent rainfall and cold winds, choose green types of skumpia, they will require less care.

Choosing seedlings

When to plant

We will determine the landing time. Planting seedlings of skumpia with an open root system is carried out in early spring or late autumn. If the root system is closed, planting in the soil can be done throughout the entire period, from early spring to late autumn.

What to plant

Of course, planting a seedling gives more guarantee that skumpia will be successfully adopted, but it is possible to grow this plant from seed. It is best to sow seeds in the fall. If you do this in the spring, they should first be scarified, that is, destroy the waterproof film, and stratified - make an imitation of winter, otherwise the seeds will not sprout.

From the seed, as a rule, those who want to save on growing, or experienced gardeners who want to check if I can do it, grow up.

How to plant?

Favorable growing conditions

Plant the skumpia in a warm place, on the sunny side of the yard or garden, if you want to quickly grow this beauty. The wind does not act on this plant in the most favorable way, so if possible, protect it from strong winds. Skumpia does not like excessively moist soil, it will not bloom and buoy if planted near groundwater or in places where precipitation accumulates and stagnates.

The same applies to the landing process itself. If the soil is wet from recent rainfall, a layer of drainage may be needed for planting.

It is not necessary to plant this plant next to poplar, robinia, thorns, maple, as the tannery tannery emits acids in the process of growth, which adversely affect the listed plants.

What kind of soil does skumpia prefer?

To the soil, this plant is just the same is not demanding. Skumpia can be found on mountain slopes, limestone rocks. On the slopes, the powerful root system (about 1.5 meters) allows the plant to strengthen. The bush may well grow in acidic soil, but it is still better if the soil is light alkaline.

Ground for skumpii

Planting process

It is necessary to dig a planting hole, the size of which will be 3-4 cm longer than the length of the root system of the seedling. No need for fertilization and a specially prepared substrate, skumpia easily takes root.

Care

Caring for this wonder of nature is quite simple. The first two or three years after planting, the entire plant should be covered for the winter. When the bush gets older, no shelter will be required, however, it will be extremely difficult to do this, since the bush is actively expanding in diameter every year. For the winter, it is worth warming the roots of skumpia with fermented compost. Some branches will still freeze over in winter, but with the advent of spring, before the leaves bloom, they just need to be cut off and the skumpia will again delight you with its curly inflorescences. Such pruning is essentially the main care. You can do this not every year, but every 2-3 years.

Skumpia will be a great decoration for your garden also because with the help of pruning you can give this bush different shapes. However, when pruning, it should be remembered that flowering appears only on last year's branches, so cutting them too much is still not worth it. The bush quickly recovers even after pruning to a stump.

Pruning under the stump not only rejuvenates the neglected plant, but also gives the new bush a more round, spherical shape.

In all other respects, care is not required. Pests do not threaten, this bush does not have diseases, so no fertilizers should be used.

The plant needs watering only the first time after planting. If the soil is excessively dry, watering should be daily. An adult bush does not need to be watered, except when there is no precipitation for a very long time.

reproduction

We talked about growing and caring for skumpia, but what if you want several bushes to grow in the yard like this - how to propagate this plant?

For propagation of skumpia, experienced gardeners use layering, roots, and cuttings. You can grow skumpia from seeds, but this is done very rarely, as it is not effective. Seeds can germinate only a year after planting, and when planting this type, further reproduction often becomes impossible.

Reproduction of skumpii

Reproduction by layering

In order to propagate skumpia by layering, it is necessary to make an incision on one of the lower branches of the bush and tilt it to the ground, sprinkle it a little with soil. After the roots are visible, the newly formed plant is carefully separated from the mother plant.

Skumpia

deciduous shrub or the skumpia tree (Cotinus) is a member of the sumac family. In nature, such a plant can be found in temperate regions of Eurasia and in eastern North America. This genus includes only 2 species. The Frenchman J. Tournefort, who was a botanist and doctor, called this plant "cotinus", in ancient Greece this was the name of the wild olive. Such a tree grew on Earth already in the days of the ancient world, perhaps this can explain the fact that it has quite a few names, for example: Venetian sumac, wig bush, yellowberry, leather tree, smoky tree, etc. Today, such a plant is grown in industrial scale, it is used as a source of fizegin (an orange and yellow dye for wool, leather and silk). The greenish-yellow wood of the skumpia is used for handicrafts, and the foliage is used for tanning leather. Also, this plant is grown as a decorative deciduous, decorating your garden with it.

Skumpia Features

Leather skumpia, or common skumpia, is a branched shrub, reaching a height of 150–300 centimeters or a five-meter-high tree with a compact, wide-oval, umbrella-shaped crown. The peeling bark is colored brown. Bare light red or green stems secrete milky juice when broken. Simple alternate leathery petiolate leaf blades of obovate shape can be entire or slightly serrated. They are painted in dark red or green, which in autumn takes on a purple tint. Small pale green flowers are part of dense paniculate inflorescences, reaching a length of 0.3 m. Sumpia begins to bloom in May or June, at which time the stalks are elongated, and light red appears on their surface. long pile, making it look like the plant is covered in a pale red mist. The fruit is a green small drupe with a long stem. Ripe fruit turns black. Sumpia can live for about 100 years.

Planting skumpii in open ground

What time to plant

If seedlings with a closed root system were purchased, then they can be planted at any time of the year, of course, except for the winter period. However, a couple of nuances should be taken into account. Skumpia has a fairly long growing season in connection with this, if it is planted very late in autumn, then it simply will not have time to adapt normally and prepare for wintering. If this procedure is carried out in late spring, then the rooting of the seedling in a new place will also be difficult due to excessive heat. The site for such a plant should be chosen spacious, sunny and protected from gusts of wind, but it can also be grown in slight shading. Permeable, light, alkaline or neutral soil is considered the most suitable, but skumpia can be grown in heavy or acidic soil, as well as on rocks. However, when choosing a site for planting, it should be taken into account that lowlands or places with a close occurrence of groundwater are not suitable, since such a plant reacts extremely negatively to fluid stagnation in the root system.

Landing features

24 hours before planting, seedlings must be removed from the container and their root system placed in water. Before planting, the root system is carefully examined, while it will be necessary to cut off dried or diseased roots, then it is necessary to treat the sections with a fungicide, and then sprinkle them with crushed charcoal. The size of the planting hole should be slightly larger than the volume of the seedling root system. It is not necessary to add fertilizers to the soil or use a special soil mixture, since skumpia will take root much faster in poor soil. First, pour 20 liters of water into the hole and wait until it is completely absorbed. Then a little earth is poured into it in such a way that a mound is formed, on which the seedling is installed. When the roots are carefully straightened, the hole must be filled with earth, which is carefully compacted. Planted skumpii need to be watered very well. In a newly planted seedling, the root neck should rise 20-30 mm above the soil surface, when the plant is watered, it will be flush with the ground.

Sumpia Care

Planting and growing such a plant is relatively simple. Newly planted bushes need frequent and abundant watering until they are fully rooted. Watering of adult bushes is carried out only when there is a need for it, while it should be rare, but plentiful. Remember that skumpiya does not tolerate stagnation of fluid in the root system. In the spring, when the soil warms up well, it is recommended to cover the trunk circle with a layer of mulch, this will significantly reduce the amount of watering. If the soil on the site is poor, then the plant will need to be fed. When the growing season begins, the skumpiya will need nitrogen-containing fertilizers; from the second half of the summer period, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers will have to be used for top dressing. This plant responds well to both mineral and organic fertilizers. In the event that the soil on the site is saturated with nutrients, it is most likely not necessary to feed the skumpia.

pruning

For the normal development of skumpia, she will need infrequent, but systematic pruning. They are carried out at intervals of 1 time in 2 or 3 years around May, it is necessary to have time before the opening of the kidneys. During this procedure, it is necessary to cut off the branches injured and damaged by frost, and it is also necessary to make a formative pruning at the same time. In young bushes, annual stems are shortened by 2/3, while old shoots, if desired, can be cut into a stump. With systematic and correct formative pruning, the plant will be lush, while the foliage will be large and rich in color.

Bloom

Blooming skumpia is just an amazing sight. This plant looks airy and very delicate. If it is grown in warm areas of the middle lane, then during one season it will bloom several times. Cirrus paniculate inflorescences consist of cream or pale yellow flowers. The first flowering is observed in May, and the next - in the second half of the summer period.

Diseases and pests

This plant is highly resistant to diseases and pests. However, in very rare cases, a small pistachio beetle, fawn leaf beetle, and skumpia leaf beetle can settle on it. To destroy these pests, the affected bush must be treated with Decis or Karbofos.

Shelter for the winter

Young bushes need mandatory shelter for the winter. However, first of all, you need to fill the near-stem circle with a thick layer of mulch (humus or peat) and this must be done regardless of whether you have an old skumpia or a young one. Next, you need to tie the young bushes with spruce branches, but experts recommend covering them with completely non-woven material. Adult plants that are adapted for cultivation in the middle lane do not need shelter for the winter.

Skumpia care in the Moscow region

If you are going to grow skumpia in the Moscow region, then you should take a responsible approach to choosing the type and variety of the plant, and you should also pay special attention to the plant when preparing it for wintering. For the cultivation of skumpia in the Moscow region and Moscow, it is recommended:

choose the type and variety that is highly winter hardy;
purchase those seedlings in nurseries that have survived one or two winters;
choose a landing site protected from gusts of wind and drafts;
cover young bushes for the first few winters.

Varieties and species with green foliage are distinguished by the highest frost resistance. The same varieties that have purple foliage, in little snow winter time able to suffer from severe frosts, while the bush freezes to the level of snow cover. However, during the growing season, the plant is able to fully recover, but it will no longer bloom this year.

Reproduction of skumpii

Skumpia can be propagated by seed (generative) method, as well as vegetatively - by layering, cuttings and shoots.

How to grow from seed

Growing skumpia from seeds is most often done by professionals. Fruit ripening occurs at the end of the summer period, after which seeds are taken out of them. For spring sowing, seeds must be prepared, they need three or four months of stratification, for this they are placed in a place with an air temperature of 3 to 5 degrees. The seeds are covered with a very strong shell that does not allow water to pass through, and it is very difficult for a sprout to break through it. In this regard, before sending the seeds for stratification, they must be scarified. To do this, the seeds must be immersed for a third of an hour in sulfuric acid, which will make the coating loose and dissolve it. In the event that the seeds are sown before winter immediately after harvest, then they should not be subjected to stratification. The fact is that in winter they will undergo a natural stratification. Sowing seeds in open ground produced in spring or autumn, while they need to be deepened by only 20 mm. Crops for the winter do not need to be covered. The first seedlings will appear 12 months after sowing.

cuttings

Harvesting of green cuttings is carried out in June, then they are immersed overnight in a solution of Heteroauxin. Landing should be done in the morning, while a greenhouse should be made above the container with cuttings. The composition of a substrate suitable for rooting includes sand, peat and sod land (1: 1: 1). Do not forget to systematically ventilate the cuttings, and also provide them with moderate but frequent watering (it is recommended to spray them from the sprayer). The roots of the cuttings should appear after 20 days, but it should be noted that, according to statistics, only 3 out of 10 cuttings take root.

Reproduction by layering

In springtime, you need to choose the stem that grows close to the ground. Then, a longitudinal incision is made on its outer surface, not high from the base. This stem must be bent to the surface of the soil and fixed in this position. Then you need to throw it with earth in the part where there is an incision. Throughout the entire growing season, do not forget to water the layers in a timely manner, separate it from the parent bush after full rooting, and then transplant it to permanent place.

Types and varieties of skumpii with photos and names

In this genus, there are only 2 species, namely: American mackerel and common mackerel.

Common skumpia, or leather skumpia (Cotinus coggygria)

In nature, this type of skumpia can be found on the southern mountain slopes of the Himalayas, in the Crimea, in Asia Minor, in China, in the Mediterranean and in the Caucasus. The height of such a branched shrub can vary from 150 to 300 centimeters. In some cases, this species is represented by trees, the height of which can reach up to 5 meters, they are covered with flaky brown-colored bark, bare stems can be light red or green, there are also alternate, usually entire, but sometimes slightly serrated leaf blades. obovate or ovoid, their length is about 7 centimeters. Relatively large, but rare panicle-shaped inflorescences reach 0.3 m in length, they consist of many bisexual flowers of light green or pale yellow color. The fruit is a small dry drupe. This species has a large number of forms, the most popular of which are: red-leaved, weeping and creeping skumpia. Forms with green leaves have a relatively high winter hardiness compared to red-leaved ones. This must be remembered by those gardeners who want to cultivate skumpia in the Moscow region. But not all red-leaved varieties have low frost resistance. The most popular varieties:

Lady Young. The height of such a plant can reach up to 400 centimeters. The color of the foliage is green, the inflorescences consist of flowers, which eventually change their green color to cream, and cream, in turn, to pink. Lifespan this plant can vary from 40 to 60 years.
Grace. This shrub is vigorous, and it can reach a height of 500 centimeters. Large oval-shaped soft leaf plates reach 5 centimeters in length, they are painted in red-purple color, which changes to scarlet in autumn. Large conical inflorescences in length reach 20 centimeters, they consist of flowers of a purple-pink color.
Sumpia purple (Purpurea). The height of the plant is about 7-8 meters. Its flower panicles and leaf blades are purple and pubescent.
Golden Spirit. Yellow leaf plates along the edge and along the veins have an orange tint. When grown in partial shade, the leaves turn greenish-yellow. In autumn, the leaves begin to gradually become covered with an orange-red blush. In autumn, this variety looks incredibly impressive due to the fact that its foliage is painted in various "autumn" colors: from dark purple to pale yellow and pale green.
Royal Purple. This variety is slow growing. Its height can reach up to 150 centimeters. The spreading crown has a rounded shape. Large leaf plates in the summer are painted brownish-red, in autumn period they develop a pale blue metallic hue. Red flowers have a silver sheen. The life expectancy of the plant is about 70 years.

American mackerel (Cotinus americanus), or obovate (Cotinus obovatus), or olive sumac (Rhus cotinoiides)

This is not a very large tree in the middle latitudes, reaching a height of no more than 500 centimeters. Saturated green leaf plates have a length of about 12 centimeters, which is almost 2 times the size of the leaves of the common skumpia. But the length of the inflorescences of this species does not exceed 15 centimeters, they are painted in red-brown-green color. The homeland of this species is the South-East of the United States of America (Texas, Tennessee and Alabama). In these places, this tree is called american smoketree, which translates as "American smoking tree". This type is not used in the leather industry, and such a plant does not contain yellow pigment, but it has a decorative appearance. Large green foliage in autumn changes its color to fiery red, and the bush becomes like a blazing fire. AT European countries at the moment, this type of skumpia is not very in demand, despite the fact that it has high frost resistance. It can suffer in winter only from very hard frost. You should also be aware that this unpretentious plant, which does not impose special requirements on growing conditions.

Skumpia cultivation in the Moscow region: planting and care, propagation by cuttings

If a competition for uniqueness and originality were held among plants, then skumpia would rightfully take first place. This miracle tree is associated with a giant rainbow dandelion and surprises with a variety of forms throughout almost the entire year. Culture is distinguished by high aestheticism, decorative properties and occupies one of the leading positions among landscaping objects. Attractiveness is not her main trump card: skumpia is easy to care for and grow. Consider how to properly organize the process of caring for this beauty in various regions, in particular, in the suburbs.

Biological description and features

Skumpia grows in the form of a shrub or deciduous tree and is a member of the Sumakhov family. Its homeland is Eurasia and North America. In nature, there are only two types of culture, but the processes of selection and hybridization have helped nature to increase the number of this exclusive.

Important! Skumpiya differs in anti-erosion and soil-protective capabilities due to a powerful branched root system. In this regard, it is advisable to plant the culture on the places where slopes are fixed, screes and ravines, in shelterbelts.

The height of the shrub reaches 3 m, and the height of the tree can even be 6 m with a crown diameter of 3–4 m. The crown of the tree impresses with an umbrella-shaped shape, while the bush grows in the form of a circle. Stems and shoots are decorated with ovate or obovate leaves.

In late spring - early summer, exotic pleases gardeners with its amazing flowering. Small white flowers of a yellowish or greenish hue are collected in fluffy paniculate inflorescences. It seems that a smoky cloud caught and hung on a bush or tree.

The original appearance of the plant led to many of its names: leather tree or smoky tree, yellowberry, wig bush. After withering, the period of fruiting begins: a fruit is tied on a long stalk, covered with a reddish pile. At first it looks like a small green drupe, but in the process of ripening it turns black. During the formation of fruits, the tree seems to be shrouded in a red fleecy mist.

In autumn, the leaves amaze with their diversity of colors: orange, red, yellow, purple, scarlet shades are reunited in a harmonious textured ensemble.

Winter-hardy species and varieties

Mature skumpia plants are not afraid of winter cold. But the young must be taken care of and prepared for the winter. As a precaution, experienced gardeners are advised to study in detail the description of the varieties and types of skumpia for successful cultivation in various regions, for example, in the Moscow region.

So, winter-hardy types of culture:

The leather look is distinguished by many breeding varieties, among which the following stand out qualitatively:

Application in garden design

The unique appearance of the plant accompanies its high popularity among flower growers. Skumpia is widely used in the most fabulous landscape designs. It looks spectacular both in single plantings and in combinations with other flower or woody plants.

If you choose skumpii neighbors among flowers, then landscape compositions with irises, roses, rose hips, anemones, dahlias will look great.

Culture can serve as a fabulous backdrop for tall woody plants.

Selecting a landing site

Choosing a seat for skumpia is not a scrupulous business. It is only worth observing simple rules.

Lighting

For the rapid and high-quality growth of skumpia, it is necessary to provide a sufficient amount sunlight. Therefore, the place for planting the crop should be well lit, partial shade is allowed.

You should protect your pupil from winds and drafts.

The soil

The culture prefers light permeable soil with a neutral level of acidity, although it can also grow on acidic rocky soils. It is quite drought-resistant, but does not tolerate excessive soil moisture. The seat must be provided with a well-established drainage system and deep groundwater.

Neighbours

Skumpia gets along well with any plants. But it is worth remembering that it is impossible to plant it near poplar, mountain ash, blackthorn, maple, as it releases substances that can adversely affect these plants.

The process of planting seedlings on the site

Skumpia with an open root system is recommended to be planted in early spring or late autumn, but so that it can take root before the start of winter. Planting a plant with a closed root system can be carried out from spring to autumn. The day before planting, the seedlings must be placed in a bowl of water so that the roots are moistened, after which the seedling is removed from the water and the root system is carefully examined. If dried or diseased roots are found on it, they must be removed. Places of cuts must be treated with a fungicide.

In parallel with the preparation of seedlings, it is necessary to deal with the normalization of the seat. There is no need to worry about preparing the substrate for the culture, since it takes root in any soil, and poor soils will even benefit it (something like hardening). It is enough to dig a hole, the size of which should slightly exceed the volume of the root system of the seedling. Moisten the pit with a sufficient amount of water (several buckets), and then place the seedling in it. It is very important when planting to carefully straighten the roots of the culture. Then you need to tightly cover the roots with earth, leaving only the root collar “free” (2-3 cm above the ground). Over time, under the influence of watering, it will be equal to the soil.

Planting and caring for skumpia in the open field is not difficult. You just need to stock up on knowledge about the characteristics of culture.

Watering

Immediately after planting, the bush needs abundant and frequent watering, as its rhizome must adapt to a new place of residence. A mature smoky tree only needs to be watered during prolonged absence rains: it must not be allowed to dry out or suffer from excess moisture.

top dressing

The wig bush can tell you about its need for feeding with an oppressed appearance. But do not wait for such a state. Experienced gardeners advise feeding skumpia nitrogen fertilizers in the spring, at the beginning of the growing season, and in the summer it is recommended to give her a portion of potassium-phosphorus, mineral or organic top dressing.

Pruning and haircut

Pruning is practically the only requirement for the care of skumpia. It needs to be done every 2-3 years. Branches frozen in winter are also advised to cut. The plant recovers quite quickly after pruning, even on a stump.

Important! Thanks to pruning, the culture can be given the most unusual and original forms, which will qualitatively improve your landscape design.

Shelter for the winter

Gardeners with experience are advised to cover for the winter only plants that have not yet been planted for 2-3 years. It is also necessary to insulate their rhizome with humus. Mature shrubs and trees do not need shelter.

Diseases and pests

Since the skumpia migrated to us from other countries, it is not afraid of local pests and practically does not get sick. Its only enemies are the skumpia leaf beetle, the small pistachio beetle and the oak fawn leaf beetle. Insecticides, for example, Karbofos or Decis, will help to eliminate such uninvited guests.

Vegetative propagation methods

Skumpia reproduces by seeds, generative and vegetative methods. But in our area it is advisable to propagate the culture vegetatively.

layering

Propagation by layering is a fairly simple process. For its implementation, a longitudinal incision is made on the outside of a low-growing branch of a bush. Then the incised segment is chained with special brackets to the ground and watered abundantly throughout the entire growing season. After the roots appear, the finished seedling is cut off from the mother branch.

cuttings

Propagation by cuttings is carried out in June. Cut green cuttings and place them in a solution of heteroauxin for one night. In parallel, you need to prepare containers with a special substrate (peat, sand and sod land in equal proportions). In the morning, the cuttings are placed in containers and covered with a film to create a greenhouse effect. Regular watering and airing are the main rules for caring for cuttings. Within three weeks they should take root.

Important! Skumpiya cuttings take root quite hard. Of the total, only about 30% survive.

Many people think that the more exotic and unusual the plant looks, the harder it is to care for it. But, as you can see, it is not. And skumpia is a prime example of this. It would seem that such a unique culture with rich decorative inclinations was created only for exotic places. But, as experience shows, she feels great in almost any corner. Therefore, you should not hesitate whether it is possible to plant a skumpia in the suburbs. Moreover, growing and caring for it is a rather simple and not painstaking task, even amateur gardeners can do it.

Was this article helpful?

agronomy.com

Skumpia tannery: planting and care, varieties and applications

In the countries of Europe with a temperate climate and in the east of North America, this unusual shrub or small tree grows. In nature, most often it can be seen on gravelly slopes, in light forests and on the edges of oak and pine forests.

Skumpia

Skumpiya (Cotinus) belongs to the Sumac family (Anacardiaceae). There are 7 species in the genus, and all of them are deciduous trees or shrubs.

The most famous is the leather or common skumpia (Cotinus coggygria), it is it that is grown as an ornamental garden plant. In addition, it is used to obtain yellow paint, which is why it is also called yellow paint. For light clouds of inflorescences, the plant is also called a smoky or wig tree. Skumpia is a bush or a low tree - no more than 5 m in height, its lush crown has a rounded shape and can be up to 3 m in diameter. It is formed by numerous bare and shiny branches, with sunny side taking on a reddish tint.

Clouds of skumpia The leaves of the tree are simple, elliptical in shape, 10x7 cm in size, leaf blade smooth above, slightly pubescent below. Light green in summer, in autumn the foliage becomes very bright color- yellow-orange, scarlet scarlet. The roots of skumpia are highly branched, located superficially.

Foliage of a skumpiya in the fall But the skumpiya especially transforms in the period of blossoming and fructification. By themselves, its flowers are small and inconspicuous, cream-colored, collected in loose paniculate inflorescences, bloom in May. The inflorescence contains both female and male flowers, as well as many barren flowers. It is they who make the tree especially decorative. After flowering, their pedicels elongate, long hairs of a reddish or light yellow color grow on them, and the inflorescences become as if airy, reminiscent of fluffy clouds. Fruits-drupes usually ripen in August. Growing in the south, skumpii may bloom several times during the summer season.

Skumpia inflorescences Skumpia prefers sunny places. In nature, it tolerates a lack of moisture well, grows on dry, calcareous soils. Does not tolerate heavy, highly moist soils. It can rise to a height of up to 1200 m above sea level. In places with severe winters, the skumpia freezes, its young growths especially suffer, but recovery is easy, and the bush again acquires its nice shape. Breeders have bred varieties of skumpii with brightly colored leaves. But they are not as winter-hardy as the natural species and can only grow in the southern regions. Fairly stable form "Purpureus" with beautiful foliage purple.

Mackerel with purple foliage Among gardeners, the following varieties are popular: The most common variety of skumpia. It grows slowly, in height and in diameter reaches no more than 1.5-3 m, takes a rounded shape. The leaves of this variety immediately after blooming have a dark red, almost black color, in summer they become metallic sheen and slightly less saturated color. In autumn, the plant shows itself in all its glory, dressing in an orange-red outfit. The flowers are red with a silver sheen. This variety usually grows up to 2 m, in the southern regions it reaches 3-5. The leaves are an unusually beautiful rich purple-plum color, in autumn their color becomes red.

Scumpias with purple leaves. Photo from the site 1decor.org Taller and taller trees - up to 3-5 m tall. The plant is very decorated with large oval leaves, the color of which is red-purple in summer, becoming scarlet by autumn. But the main decoration is purple-pink flowers that form airy panicles of a conical shape. The average height of the plant is 1.5-3 m. Its foliage is very decorative at the beginning of its dissolution - with an orange tint along the edges of the leaves and in the center along the veins. In autumn, the tree becomes even more beautiful: it gradually changes the color of the leaves from light green and orange to deep red, almost purple. Clouds of paniculate inflorescences of light yellow color also decorate it.

Skumpia leather "Golden Spirit". Photo from greenmart.com.ua Shrub no more than 2 m tall. Red-violet leaves retain this color until autumn, when their color changes to red. Air inflorescences have a pink tint. This is dwarf form which is slowly growing. For 5-10 years, the shrub reaches 1-1.5 m in height. Forms a neat and compact bush. Frost-resistant variety, characterized by very early and abundant flowering, forms lush pink inflorescences. Leaves are light green in summer blue tint, in autumn they are painted in the whole gamut of yellow, orange, red.

Skumpiya leather "Young Lady". Photo from the site greengarden31.ru Growing skumpia in the garden is not difficult. For her, you need to choose the most illuminated and open area, preferably on a hill or slope - there she belongs. In no case should it be planted in a lowland or where groundwater is close. Skumpiya easily tolerates drought, but does not like excessive moisture. The soils are suitable for ordinary garden soils, lighter and more airy are better. When choosing a place, remember that most varieties of skumpia grow to the sides by 3-5 m. If the area is limited, look for smaller plants on sale. Planting is carried out in spring and autumn, and seedlings grown in pots can be planted throughout the summer.

A hole is dug depending on the size of the root system of a young plant, it is very desirable to add lime. The roots are covered with earth with the addition of organic matter - compost or humus, although skumpia can also grow on fairly poor soil.

Skumpii in the nursery. Photo from seattletrekker.com Early in the spring, right after the snow melts, it is very useful to feed the skumpia with a complex mineral fertilizer. This will help the plant regain strength and grow faster after winter. In June, it is also worth feeding the tree, but now with organic matter, for example, mullein or bird droppings. In the future, skumpia no longer requires fertilization. Only recently planted plants should be watered and in case of a prolonged drought - then watering is necessary about once a week. Adult skumpii do not need watering even in dry summers.

Bright skumpi outfit. Photo from the site onetwoclick.ru Even in the Moscow region, this plant freezes quite often. Therefore, in the fall, it is necessary to mulch the bush with peat, sawdust, needles and cover it with agrofiber. The main thing is that the root system does not freeze - in this case, the plant is quickly restored. For the first time after planting, the skumpia should be cut regularly. This contributes to the rapid and abundant growth of branches, and the leaves become larger. In the future, you should not get carried away with pruning, so as not to reduce the decorative effect during flowering. In the next video you can see spring pruning skumpii.

Sometimes skumpia can be exposed to fungal diseases, from which the leaves first of all suffer - they begin to wither, while the shoots die off. With this misfortune, the affected parts of the plant should be immediately cut off. Skin mackerel can be propagated seed way. It is preferable to breed varietal plants vegetatively - by cuttings, dividing bushes and layering. You also need to keep in mind that the plant gives abundant root shoots. The easiest way is to bend the lower branches and secure them with studs, sprinkled with earth. In places where the shoots come into contact with the ground, the bark should be cut a little - this will accelerate the appearance of roots. After rooting, the branch is cut off from mother plant, and the next year the seedling is transplanted to a permanent place.

Mackerel in bloom The skumpia is also propagated by green cuttings, which are cut and soaked in a rooting stimulator for 12 hours. Then they are planted in a cold greenhouse with moist, loose soil or in a stalk, which must be covered with lutrasil. In order for rooting to be successful, you need to spray the cuttings as often as possible, and keep the soil constantly moist. Species skumpii are propagated by seeds that are harvested in August. Sowing is carried out next spring. Skumpia seeds economic importance. Its shoots and leaves contain the dye fisetin, which is used to give tissues and skin yellow and orange color. The plant has a soft and light, but at the same time very durable wood, it can be used for the production of decorative wooden products and even musical instruments. Also, all parts of the plant are used in folk medicine for the preparation of infusions. They are used mainly externally for inflammation and skin diseases. But the main advantage of skumpia is its incredible attractiveness. The plant will be a great decoration of the garden. Particularly decorative are varietal forms with multi-colored foliage, shrouded in a haze of airy, cloud-like inflorescences - they will bring a unique flavor to your garden. Skumpiya will be very good in single landing against the backdrop of a green lawn, as well as in conjunction with coniferous and other ornamental shrubs.

Skumpii with multi-colored foliage. Photo from onetwoclick.ru

The main thing is that they do not obscure the skumpia. In a wide area, this plant can be used to fix slopes, it will be appropriate in a large rocky garden or rockery. Plant this magnificent shrub, it will certainly decorate and diversify the look of your garden.

7dach.ru

Skumpia leather planting and care in the suburbs Varieties with photos and descriptions

Leather skumpia, common skumpia, tannic sumac - these are synonymous names for a familiar plant that blooms with lush pale pink clouds of dense inflorescences. This shrub was often planted in forest plantations along the roads during the Soviet Union, and the beauty pleases us in the spring when we drive along highways.

Today, this ornamental shrub enjoys well-deserved attention from landscape designers. Skin mackerel practically does not require care and grows without watering, even in conditions of prolonged drought and high temperatures.

Conditions for growing skumpii

Skumpia should be planted in a sunny area, providing more space for bush development. After all, the height of the plant can reach 3 meters! The characteristics of the variety should be taken into account in order to leave a sufficient distance to the nearest trees or bushes. On average - at least 2-3 meters. It is important to provide the plant with the opportunity to prepare for the winter: sufficient illumination will favorably affect the formation of young branches that will have time to lignify before the onset of frost.

Skumpia grows on any soil, including poor stony ones. However, soils with a slightly alkaline reaction, well-drained and breathable are preferable. If you have heavy clay soils, perhaps even acidified, do not be upset: the skumpia may well come to terms even with conditions that are unfavorable for it.

The only thing that should not be allowed is the stagnation of melted snow or groundwater: the skumpia reacts sharply negatively to flooding, starts to get sick and may even die.

Winter hardiness of skumpii

Skumpiya endures frosts up to 30 ° C, however, each variety has its own characteristics. Young branches can freeze slightly, so special attention is required during the period of growing green mass: top dressing is carried out only in spring and in the first half of summer, so that the increased green mass has time to become woody before the onset of cold weather. Frozen branches should be pruned in spring.

In autumn, young bushes require shelter: they rake an earthen ball over the root system and cover with leaves. In the spring, the shelter is removed.

How to plant a skumpia

The shrub easily tolerates transplantation. To make the traumatic procedure as easy as possible for the plant, follow a few simple conditions:

Prepare a planting hole, slightly larger than the earthen clod with the root system of the transplanted bush (about 30 cm wide and deep).
Mix garden soil with humus in a ratio of 2: 1.
Set the bush upright, if the roots are without soil, straighten them so that they do not bend, and carefully sprinkle with earth, only lightly tamping with your feet.
Pour abundantly, at least 1 bucket of water under a bush, mulch the near-stem circle with mowed grass or other material.

For about two weeks, until the plant is accepted, you need to water it as the earth dries up, but do not allow moisture to stagnate. After that, the skumpia will completely take over and natural precipitation will be enough for it to fully develop.

Sumpia care Pruning a bush

Care consists in regular shaping pruning if you want to form a crown of a certain shape. Many gardeners prefer naturalness and completely give free rein to the plant, enjoying its unspoiled beauty.

How to cut skumpii look at the video:

However, sanitary pruning in the spring is still necessary: dried and frozen branches are removed, as well as underdeveloped ones. Once every two years, anti-aging pruning can be carried out, cutting off the branches before the start of sap flow by about two-thirds of the length. This stimulates the forcing of young twigs with flower buds.

If the bush is very old, make a radical pruning "on the stump". Skumpia will push out new young branches, forming a beautiful spherical crown, delighting you for many more years with a chic look.

Reproduction of skumpii

layering

Reproduction of skumpia leather layering

Skumpia reproduces well by layering, lets out root shoots. To propagate the plant by layering, you need to bend the branch, remove a narrow strip of bark, pin it in this place in the prepared hole, cover it with earth. After a while, roots will appear at the incision site and hollow shoots will grow above the surface. It is better to separate a new bush in a year, in the spring, by cutting it off with a shovel or pruner.

cuttings

Cuttings of skumpii photo

Cuttings are planted from young twigs of this year in the month of June. You need to root in a humid environment, creating greenhouse conditions. You can build a mini greenhouse in a shady place in the garden or plant the cuttings in pots, cover them with jars, and put them on the northern windowsill in the house. After three weeks, the cuttings will take root, which will be noticeable by the emerging new shoots. It is better to plant new bushes in a permanent place in the new season in the spring.

seeds

Growing skumpii from seeds photo seedlings

Seeds of skumpii remain viable for many years, but it is not high (up to 35%). They begin to sow the seeds in early spring, planting them to a depth of about 2 cm. The bed is occasionally watered and freed from weeds, the earth is loosened. Seedlings will be ready for transplanting in 2-3 years.

Skumpia leather in landscape design

Skumpia leather in landscape design photo

Planted tannery as a tapeworm plant, form hedges from it, make it part of group plantings. In each case, the shrub is an expressive accent that fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape.

Skumpia in garden design photo

Blooming clouds of skumpia look charming against the background of low-growing green shrubs or in combination with flowering plants planted nearby or in flowerpots.

Skumpia tannery in the garden photo

The plantings of skumpii of various shades are very original: pink inflorescences harmonize beautifully with creamy-white bushes.

Skumpia in garden design photo composition

It is impossible to take your eyes off the flowering shrub, but even after flowering, the skumpia is no less decorative. And in autumn, the leaves turn crimson, adding color to the autumn garden. By the way, skumpii inflorescences can be dried and decorate your home with them in the cold season.

Popular varieties of tannery cotinus coggygria with photos and names

Skumpia tannery royal purple photo at home

Skumpia leathery royal purple is distinguished by a rich purple hue of leaves and flowers. The compact shape of the bush, large dense inflorescences make this variety indispensable for decoration. personal plot or urban landscape.

Skumpia tannery young lady

Skumpia tannery young lady young lady planting and care photo

When this variety begins to bloom, almost no leaves are visible behind a light cloud of airy inflorescences. The delicate creamy-pink shade of the flowers is so attractive that you just can't take your eyes off it.

Cotinus coggygria green fountain kolcot

Cotinus coggygria green fountain kolcot photo

Charming pink-green fluffy beauty cotinus coggygria green fountain kolcot, covered with flowers from top to toe. Such decoration is appropriate in any corner of the garden, delighting with the unique lightness of weightless inflorescences.

Skumpia tannery golden spirit

Skumpia tannery golden spirit photo

The amazing color of the leaves: lemon-yellow at the tops and light green below - gave the name to the golden spirit variety. It really does look like a golden cloud.

Mackerel leather follis purpureus foliis purpureis

Mackerel leather foliis purpureis photo

The foliis purpureis variety is notable for its maroon color and compact bush shape. It looks very impressive against the background of flowering ornamental shrubs with contrasting white flowers.

Few plants can rival the elegance of flowering scumpiac. During flowering, it seems that a pink cloud is entangled in the crown of the tree. This article is all about the intricacies of planting and the proper care of a smoky tree in the Moscow region.

Skumpia: a variety of species and varieties

In shape, skumpia resembles a tree or a powerful bush with unusual leaves which change color during the growing season. During the flowering period, the tree is so charmingly beautiful, even the photo shows the lightness and transparency of pink inflorescences resembling haze.

Skumpia (Cotinus) has several names: sumac, leather tree, wig tree or yellowberry. The culture belongs to a separate genus of the Sumac family by botanists. The distribution area is limited to areas of North Africa and southern regions Europe, sometimes found in China.

Blooming skumpii

The tree is widely used in industrial production:

Sumpia wood has an unusual yellow-green hue, due to which the tree is widely used for all kinds of crafts.
Dyes for wool and silk fabrics are obtained from skumpia, dyeing them yellow and orange.
The leaves of the tree are used in the tanning industry for leather dressing.

The tree is widely used for decoration of gardens and parks. Unusual flowering delivers aesthetic pleasure, this can be seen even in the photo - skumpia in color attracts the eye, so the plant is used in landscape design quite often. Sumac reaches a height of 4 meters, lives with good care for over 100 years.

Major species representing culture

Proper planting of a smoky tree: all the subtleties of growing a crop

Skumpia is considered by gardeners to be a non-capricious plant, however, for its favorable development, certain rules should be observed:

For planting a plant, you should choose the brightest place, protected from the wind. Mature trees that can shade a young plant should not be located near the planting site of a sumpia seedling.
The culture is very sensitive to waterlogging - high-lying groundwater can greatly harm the development of the skumpia root system. When planting, reliable drainage should be provided, and if its device is not possible, the landing site should be chosen drier and protected from groundwater.

Make sure your skumpia has good drainage.

The root system of skumpia is branched and of considerable length, so the plant is absolutely undemanding to the composition of the soil. But young skumpia will grow faster on light soils with an alkaline reaction.

Advice! Avoid planting skumpia in areas with heavy acidic soils.

In the first years of life, a young plant requires shelter in the winter. Planting skumpii in a permanent place can be carried out in spring and autumn, in the latter case, provided that winters do not differ in severity and duration.
A tree is usually planted with ready-made seedlings, the price of which is quite high, therefore, in order to prevent the premature death of a plant, all the rules for planting a crop must be observed.

Sumy: proper care in the Moscow region

Sumpia care summer period consists in gentle, but regular watering, weeding and fertilizing with nutrient compounds. Plant treatment is necessary when diseases or pests attacking the tree are detected.

young plant

In winter, the plant should be covered from frost. To do this, you can use shield structures that enclose the seedling, covering the trunk and the fence with snow. Such shelters must be dismantled with the onset of warm weather, otherwise the tree may slither under the shelter.

Advice! If upon removal winter shelter damaged branches of skumpia were found, they should be pruned, treated with garden pitch.

An overgrown tree can be subjected to sanitary pruning:

pruning on the "stump" will rejuvenate the tree and increase the branching of the bush;
With the help of regular shearing, a tree can be given a decorative shape.

Skumpia: top dressing, top dressing time, types of fertilizers used

Skumpiya does not tolerate an excess of organic matter or complex mineral fertilizers. The plant, in principle, does not need top dressing, it is enough to apply a complex of mineral fertilizers once a year (in spring), taking into account the size of the plant.

Fertilize once a year to keep the plant blooming well.

In some cases, if the plant develops poorly, gives insignificant growth, it is possible to carry out foliar top dressing growth regulators, spraying the agent on green branches. Such processing should be carried out in the first half of summer, no later than August.

Reproduction of skumpii: methods and secrets

The following methods are used to propagate skumpia tannery:

Advice! When cutting, it is necessary to cut cuttings from green branches. For speedy rooting, cuttings can be treated with heteroauxin, epin, root.

Diseases and pests of skumpia in the Moscow region

Skumpia has a remarkable feature - it is practically not damaged by pests and known diseases. Sometimes in winter, skumpia trees that hibernate without shelter can damage hares or mice by gnawing at the bark.

And the rest, it is a very stable culture, growing well in central Russia, decorating decorative look city parks and private gardens.

Skumpia in autumn: video

Cultivation of skumpii: photo

Plant skumpia (lat. Cotinus) belongs to the genus of deciduous trees or shrubs of the Sumac family, common in temperate regions of Eurasia and eastern North America. There are only two species in the genus. The name "cotinus" was given to the plant by the French physician and botanist Joseph Tournefort - the ancient Greeks called the wild olive. In culture, the skumpia tree has been known since the times of the ancient world, which is probably why it has so many names: yellowberry, Venetian sumac, leather tree, wig bush, smoky tree and others. Today, skumpia is grown commercially for fizegin, a yellow and orange dye for leather, wool and silk; handicrafts are made from its yellowish-green wood, skumpia leaves are used for tanning leather. Skumpia is also cultivated as an ornamental leafy garden plant.

Listen to article

Planting and caring for skumpia (in short)

Landing: early spring and autumn.
Bloom: in May and June.
Lighting: bright sun, light shade.
The soil: light, water-permeable, with a pH value from neutral to alkaline. Do not plant the plant in lowlands or where groundwater is high.
Watering: infrequently, but abundantly.
Top dressing: in spring - nitrogen fertilizers, and from mid-summer - potassium-phosphorus. When grown in fertile soil, top dressing is not needed.
Pruning: in May, once every 2-3 years.
Reproduction: cuttings, shoots, layering and seeds.
Pests: psyllids, fawn leaf beetles and small pistachio beetles.
Diseases: The plant is extremely disease resistant.

Scumpia shrub - description

Common skumpia, or leather skumpia, is a branched shrub from 1.5 to 3 m high or a tree with a wide oval compact crown in the form of an umbrella up to 5 m high. milky juice. The leaves of skumpia are alternate, simple, obovate, entire or barely serrated, leathery, petiolate, green or dark red, acquiring in autumn purple hue. Small greenish flowers are collected in lacy, fluffy paniculate inflorescences up to 30 cm long. When the skumpia bush blooms in May or June, the stalks elongate, covered with a long reddish pile, because of which the tree looks like it is shrouded in reddish fog. The fruits of skumpia are a small green drupe on a long stalk, blackening when ripe. The life span of skumpia is about 100 years.

Planting skumpii

When to plant skumpia

Skumpia seedlings with a closed root system can be planted in the ground at any time of the year, except for winter, however, it should be remembered that skumpia belongs to plants with long period growing season, so in case of too late autumn planting, the plant may not have time to take root before the onset of cold weather, and late planting in spring can lead to the rooting process taking place at the peak of the heat, which can also slow down the adaptation process. For planting skumpia choose a bright, wind-protected, spacious area, although it grows well in partial shade. The best soil for skumpia - light, permeable, neutral or alkaline, but it also grows on acidic, heavy soils and even on rocks. Lowlands or areas with close groundwater occurrence are not suitable for skumpia - skumpia does not tolerate stagnant water in the roots.

How to plant a skumpia

The day before planting, skumpia seedlings should be removed from the container and their roots should be soaked in water, and before planting, the roots should be carefully examined: diseased or dry ones should be removed, the sections should be treated with a fungicide, and then with crushed charcoal. The pit for skumpii should be slightly larger than the root system of the seedling. It is not necessary to prepare a special substrate and mix it with fertilizers - the rooting of a skumpia seedling will be much more successful in poor soil. Pour a couple of buckets of water into the pit, let it soak, then fill the bottom with a mound of earth, put a sumpia seedling on it, carefully straighten its roots, fill the pit with earth, tamp it down and water it abundantly. When planting, the root neck should be 2-3 cm above the soil level - after watering, it usually drops to the surface level.

Sumpia Care

How to grow skumpia in the garden

Planting and caring for tannery skumpia will not cause you any trouble. Newly planted plants need to be watered profusely and often for a while until they take root. The main thing in this matter is not to make the plant suffer from excess water. If you mulch the trunk circle in the spring, after the earth warms up, you will have to water the skumpia much less often. It is advisable to feed the skumpia growing in poor soil with fertilizers: at the beginning of the growing season, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, and in the middle of summer they switch to potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. Skumpia responds well to both organic and mineral supplements. However, if the soil in your area is fertile, then it is likely that your plant for good development and abundant flowering top dressing is not required.

Scumpia pruning

Growing skumpii involves regular, but by no means frequent pruning of the plant. Once every two or three years, approximately in May, until the leaves of the skumpia have blossomed, they cut off branches frozen or damaged in winter, and also carry out a formative pruning of the bush. In young plants, annual shoots are cut off by two-thirds, old shoots can be cut off strongly - just on a stump. If you regularly and correctly form the crown of the plant, then your bush will branch well, and the leaves on it will be large and bright.

Blooming skumpii

The flowering of skumpia is incomparable with anything - it is impossible to take your eyes off the plant. Blooming skumpia creates an atmosphere of lightness and tenderness in the garden. In warm regions of the middle strip, skumpia blooms several times a season with light yellow or creamy flowers collected in pinnate panicles. The first time it blooms in May, the next time - in the second half of summer.

Pests and diseases of skumpii

The skumpia plant, which is resistant to diseases and pests, is almost not damaged by them, however, there have been cases when the plant was attacked by the fawn leaf beetle, the small pistachio beetle and the skumpia psyllid, which can be eliminated by treating the plant with Karbofos or Decis.

Skumpii shelter for the winter

Preparing the skumpia for winter involves sheltering young plants for the winter, but before covering the skumpia for the winter, it is necessary to mulch its trunk circle with a thick layer of peat or humus, and this applies to both young and adult plants. Young skumpii are tied with spruce branches for the winter, or even better, completely cover them. nonwoven fabric. Adult varieties of skumpia, recommended for cultivation in the middle zone, winter without shelter.

Skumpia in the Moscow region

Growing skumpia in the Moscow region requires a more thoughtful approach in choosing a plant variety and more thorough and responsible preparation of skumpia for winter. For those who are going to grow skumpia in Moscow and the Moscow region, we recommend:

acquire only winter-hardy plant species;
choose seedlings in nurseries that have already survived 1-2 winters;
plant skumpia in a site protected from winds and drafts;
be sure to cover young specimens for the first few winters.

Green-leaved species of skumpia are more cold-resistant than varieties with purple leaves, which in snowless frosty winters can freeze to the level of snow cover, and although they recover completely during the growing season, they do not have the strength to bloom.

Reproduction of skumpii

How to propagate skumpia

The skumpia plant propagates in a generative way, or by seeds, as well as by various vegetative methods - cuttings, layering and shoots.

Growing skumpii from seeds

The generative reproduction of skumpii is carried out mainly by professionals. Seeds of skumpia are extracted from fruits ripened at the end of summer and, in order to sow them in spring, they are subjected to stratification at a temperature of 3-5 ºC for 3-4 months. In order to free the seeds from a too dense waterproof shell, through which it is very difficult for a sprout to break through, they must be scarified before stratification, that is, placed for 20 minutes in a sulfuric acid solution that loosens and dissolves this shell. If you decide to sow the seeds immediately, before winter, then you do not need to scarify them, but they are stratified in the winter in the ground in a natural way. Seeds are sown in spring or autumn in open ground to a depth of 2 cm. For the winter, crops are not covered. Shoots appear in a year.

Propagation of skumpia by cuttings

Green cuttings for rooting are cut in June, soaked overnight in a heteroauxin solution, and planted in the morning by building a greenhouse over the container. The soil for skumpii cuttings is made up of equal parts of peat, sand and soddy land. During rooting, the cuttings need regular airing and very frequent, but not abundant watering - it is best to moisten them with a spray bottle. Cuttings take root within three weeks, but not all of them - the survival rate is about 30%.

Growing skumpia from cuttings

In the spring, a branch that grows low on a bush, not high from the base, is cut longitudinally along the side facing outward, then the shoot is bent to the ground, fixed and added dropwise to the part where the cut was made. During the growing season, the layering is watered, and when it takes root, it is separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place.

Types and varieties of skumpii

There are only two species in the genus of skumpia - common skumpia and American skumpia.

Common skumpia, or leather skumpia (Cotinus coggygria)

grows in nature mainly on the southern slopes of the mountains in the Himalayas, China, the Crimea, the Mediterranean, Western Asia and the Caucasus. It is a branched shrub, reaching a height of 1.5 to 3 m. Sometimes it is a tree up to 5 m tall with brown flaky bark, bare green or reddish shoots, alternate, usually entire, but sometimes slightly serrated ovate or obovate leaves up to 7 cm long Numerous bisexual yellowish or greenish flowers are collected in large sparse panicles up to 30 cm long. Fruits are small dry drupes. Leatherhead mackerel has many forms, the most commonly grown being weeping mackerel, red-leaved mackerel, and creeping mackerel. The green-leaved forms of the plant are more winter-hardy than the red-leaved ones, and this should be taken into account by gardeners who are going to grow skumpia in the Moscow region. However, there are varieties among the red-leaved forms that perfectly tolerate Moscow frosts. We offer you a choice of some of the most famous varieties tannery skumpii:

Lady Young- bushes up to 4 m high. The leaves of plants of this variety are painted green, and the flowers in the inflorescences gradually change color from green to cream, and from cream to pink. A plant of this variety lives 40-60 years;
Grace- vigorous shrub up to 5 m high. The leaves are large, oval, purple-red, soft, up to 5 cm long; in autumn they turn scarlet. Purple-pink flowers are collected in large (up to 20 cm in length) conical inflorescences;
purple skumpia (Purpurea)- bush 7-8 m high with purple pubescent leaves and flower panicles;
Golden Spirit- skumpiya with yellow leaves with an orange tint along the edge and along the veins. If the bush grows in shading, the foliage has a yellow-green tint. In autumn, a red-orange blush appears on the leaves, gradually spreading over the entire surface. The presence of a palette of all autumn colors on one bush - from light green and light yellow to dark purple, gives the Golden Spirit a special attraction at this time of the year;
Royal Purple- a slow-growing shrub up to one and a half meters high with a rounded spreading crown, the foliage of plants of this variety is large, red-brown in summer, in autumn it acquires a bluish metallic tint; flowers are red with a silvery sheen; the plant lives for about 70 years;

An exotic shrub, distinguished by its beauty, belongs to the Sumac family. He prefers moderate climatic conditions and is absolutely unpretentious in care. Sumpia wood is especially valued because of its properties.

Description and options for using common skumpii in landscape design

Common skumpia outwardly represents a shrub, characterized by branching and a height of one and a half to three meters. Sometimes this type of plant is presented in the form of a tree that reaches 5 meters in height. The bark of Skumpia has a brown color and a flaky structure. The shoots are distinguished by the absence of bark, a greenish and red tint. If you break a branch, you can observe the release of milky juice. The leaves are located on the branches in order of priority, their structure is simple, obovate, leaves with a smooth edge or with light teeth are distinguished. Their color scheme is diverse: green, red, dark red, and purple in autumn.

The flowers of the shrub are distinguished by their small size and close-knit arrangement on inflorescences that reach 30 cm. The flowers initially have a greenish tint, and during the flowering period they become covered with a pile with a reddish color, which contributes to the visual effect of the bush being shrouded in a light fog of the same color. The fruits are small drupes, like flowers, of a greenish tint. After ripening, the berries become black. This type of plant lives up to the 1st century.

Skumpiya is actively used by landscape designers due to its resistance to soil salinity, which becomes fatal for many crops. In addition to amazing abilities, a Skumpia tree or bush has an unusual appearance that allows you not to get lost among cultures of the same type. Due to its flowering, the tree acquires the shape of a crown, resembling a wig. One of the names "wig tree" is connected with this. autumn ornamental plant dyed in a variety of colors: Orange to red, with scarlet and purple present.

How to plant a skumpia (video)

Popular varieties of leather skumpii

Skumpia leather includes many subspecies, each of which differs in the shape of the crown and its color.

Royal Purple (Royal purple) differs from other species in its height and width of the crown, these figures for the bush are approximately the same and equal to 2-4 m.

The shape of the plant is broadly oval, quite compact, as can be judged from the size. The leaves are obovate and red-purple in color. In autumn, the crown is distinguished by a bluish color. The flowers of the shrub are pinkish in color, are in paniculate inflorescences standard for skumpii. During the formation of fruits, their legs lengthen, covered with characteristic hairs of a reddish hue. At this time, the bush is especially beautiful.

Skumpiya Royal loves a lot of light. The soil should be neutral with lime in sufficient quantity. For culture, excessive moisture and heavy soil are contraindicated. In garden decor, it is planted as a free-standing tree or in combination with lower plants.

The variety is larger than the previous one, has a crown height of 3-5 m and its same width. The shape of the bush is round, the shoots are raised straight, have a reddish color and are distinguished by the absence of bark. The leaves are oval, glossless, matte golden yellow. They turn orange in autumn, making the bush bright and eye-catching. The flowers, as is typical for Skumpia, are small, collected in panicles, which do not differ in density. When the process of fruit ripening occurs, the culture becomes the most attractive and decorative.

Golden spirit prefers sunny places, is not afraid of lack of moisture. The soil may be neutral, but saturated with lime. Experts recommend using this variety to fix slopes where water erosion is present. Possible landing in the compositions.

Skumpiya Young lady is characterized by high frost resistance and small size. This variety blooms much earlier than the others, and its flowering is more abundant. Inflorescences have a lush structure and a pinkish tint. The leaves are similar in color to simple shrubs - bluish-green, in autumn on the crown you can see all the shades inherent in the gamut from yellow to red.

One of the largest representatives of the Skumpii subspecies. In height reaches up to 5 meters. Leaves and inflorescences also differ in large size and oval shape. Both leaves and flowers are in the purple range of colors. The leaves are more saturated red, and the flowers are pink. The color of the crown changes in autumn and becomes scarlet.

Useful properties of skumpii

Skumpia is known for its useful qualities from ancient times. Its leaves are saturated with tannins, which was actively used by people. From the bark you can get a beautiful yellow dye. The thin shoots of the plant are used in tanning leather, and its wood is used to make various crafts and musical instruments due to its hardness.

Medicines can be prepared from all parts of the shrub. They are often used externally in the treatment of wounds, skin diseases, and also during inflammatory processes in the oral cavity. The plant gained this popularity due to its anti-inflammatory and astringent qualities.

The technology of planting tannery in open ground

Saplings of any type of crop can be planted from spring to autumn with a closed root system immediately into the ground. It should be borne in mind that planting too late in autumn and spring can lead to the death of the plant or its delayed adaptation due to the lack of conditions for rooting. This is due to the fact that in the fall this process may not have time to go through, and when late boarding in spring, the peak of rooting will be in the summer heat.

How to prune skumpia in spring (video)

The site should be spacious enough, well lit and not blown by the winds. On the choice of soil, you can not stop. Although Skumpia loves neutral or alkaline and light soil, it also grows well on acidic, heavy soils, it even perceives rocks well. The only thing should be maintained - the presence of good drainage of the earth and the absence of groundwater, because stagnant moisture has a detrimental effect on the root system.

The day before planting, the roots of the shrub are soaked in liquid, then they are carefully examined for diseases and dry parts. Such places should be removed and the sections treated with a fungicide, and then with crushed coal. The pit under the root system must be made slightly larger than the original size.

It is not recommended to cultivate and fertilize the soil, since the roots take root better in poor soil. It is only required to pour abundantly the bottom of the pit, wait until the liquid is completely absorbed, pour a small amount of soil into the center. Roots are placed and straightened on it. After that, the pit is covered with earth, compacted and the soil is re-irrigated. The root neck must be left a few centimeters above the ground, because after watering and settling of the soil, it will also settle a little.

Secrets of proper care for skumpia

Growing Skumpia is a fairly simple process, which consists in:

pruning;
watering;
top dressing.

Watering is carried out intensively only the first time after planting. When the bush reaches its size, you need to provide it with liquid as needed. If you do mulching near the trunk, then watering will be done quite rarely. No need to be zealous in this process, so as not to cause stagnant waters.

Top dressing is required only for poor soil. If the land is fertile and rich, then this will not be required. Skumpia responds well to both mineral and organic fertilizers. At the beginning of the development of the plant, it is desirable to introduce nitrogen fertilization into the ground, and in the middle of summer - potassium-phosphorus.

Pruning doesn't take much effort either., as it is produced once every few years. It is better to do this in late spring before the leaves bloom. Pruned only frozen and damaged shoots. If desired, additional pruning is done to form a bush. Old shoots can be cut to full length, and young ones - by 2/3. With proper pruning and shaping of Skumpia, its branches will be strong, and the leaves will be large and bright.

The shrub is distinguished by good resistance to diseases and pest invasions, but there are exceptions. In this case, you need to use special preparations for pests and diseases bought in the store.

Features of growing tannery skumpia in the Moscow region

The climate in the Moscow region is severe, so Skumpia varieties should be carefully chosen. It is advisable to stop your choice on species with a green crown, this is due to their greater resistance to frost. Species with a purple crown can freeze to the very foundation if the winter is issued with a small amount of snow. From this, the plant will not die, it will be able to recover during the warm season, but at the same time there will be no flowering.

To be guaranteed to purchase a bush that will delight with its beauty, you need:

buy only varieties that can endure winter;
in the nursery, opt for one- or two-year-old Skumpias, because they have already survived the winter;
choose a landing site in a place where there are no drafts and gusts of wind;
the first winters, it is necessary to cover the plant.

Features of growing skumpii (video)

Preparing the Wig Tree for Winter

Mature plants do not require shelter for the winter if they are intended to grow in climates with cold winters. Young bushes need to be covered with non-woven material or wrapped with spruce branches. In both cases, you need to mulch the soil around the trunk. It is done with the help of humus, you can also use peat. The mulching layer must be laid out thick to avoid freezing of the root system.

Skumpia is fascinated by its flowering, therefore it is widespread in ornamental gardens. With the right choice of variety, you can grow it in any region of the country. Easy care culture makes it even more attractive.

Categories

Popular