Description
- Latin name:
- Leptospermum.
- Family:
- Myrtaceae.
- Homeland:
- Australia, Asia.
The genus Leptospermum contains about 70 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees. They have small regular stiff leaves, sometimes almost turned into spines, and tiny waxy flowers, single or grouped in 2-3 in the axils of the leaves. Calyx bell-shaped of 5 lobes, 5 petals, many stamens. The fruit is a dry, hard box with grooves.
Leptospermum scoparium is the most well-known and widespread species. A fairly unpretentious plant, which is formed as a bush or tree (there are also dwarf and creeping forms). The leaves are oblong, pointed, prickly dark green. The small flowers are white or pink, blooming in May. The following varieties and decorative forms are popular: 'White terry' with white double flowers; varieties 'Pink Glory' are characterized by brown-green leaves and flowers of intense red-pink color; 'Prostrate' - a creeping form with partially raised edges. shoots and light pink, long-lasting flowers on the plant; 'Dwarf' - a low-growing form with numerous pink flowers; the variety 'Merry Girl' - with pink flowers, and 'Ruby Glow' - with ruby-red ones.
Leptospermum humifusum (L. humifusum, or L. scoparium prostratum) is a creeping species often used as a groundcover. It is more- hardy than leptospermum rod-shaped.
The bark of the shoots is reddish, the leaves are oblong-pointed leathery dark green small. The flowers are white and bloom in May.
Leptospermum thyme (L thymifolia, or L. liversidgei) is an unpretentious compact species with numerous small leaves that emit, if rubbed, a lemon aroma. The flowers are white.
Cultivation
Leptospermum rob-shaped in the open ground is grown as an ornamental profusely flowering shrub only in areas with a mild climate, mainly seaside. The species is also grown in pots as a balcony plant, which is transferred to the house in early autumn. Creeping species are used as groundcover plants. Planted in the garden in spring, in neutral or slightly acidic well-drained soil, fertilized with well-rotted manure or compost at the rate of 15-20 kg/m2. The substrate for potted plants is made from a mixture of peat and garden soil (1:1) with the addition of a small amount of sand to improve drainage. In spring, once every 15-20 days, a complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in the amount of 15 g per bucket.
Care
In the spring, dry, damaged or unsightly branches are removed.
Watering
It is only required for young plants immediately after planting in a permanent place. Adult specimens are highly resistant to drought. When growing Leptospermum in a pot, watering should be regular.
Transplanting
It is carried out once every 2 years in spring in larger pots and the same soil that is recommended for cultivation.
Reproduction
Use semi-lignified cuttings of the current year with a "heel", 5-6 cm long. Cut in June-July, for rooting they are planted in separate cups filled with a mixture of peat and sand. The room temperature is maintained at 16 °C. After the roots are formed, the cuttings are transplanted into a larger container and left for the winter indoors. In a permanent place, seedlings are planted in the spring of next year. Seed propagation is rarely used.
Location
Leptospermums require a place in the open sun.
Temperature
All species tolerate significant temperature increases well in summer. In winter, the temperature should not fall below 0-7 °C. Leptospermum rob-shaped is especially sensitive to low temperatures. Therefore, in areas with cold winters, this species is not grown in the open ground.
Diseases and pests
With prolonged waterlogging of the soil, sometimes rotting of the roots is observed. Affected plants are removed. Therefore, pay attention to the soil in which you plant the plant. On alkaline soils, leptospermums suffer from chlorosis. In this case, top dressing with iron-containing micro-fertilizers is recommended.
Acquisition
Leptospermums can be found in horticultural centers and specialized nurseries with a wide range of crops. Seedlings are purchased in the spring and immediately planted in a permanent place to enjoy their flowering all season. Choose small but well-formed plants.
Care summary
| Cultivation | medium difficulty |
| Watering | regular for young and potted specimens |
| Transplanting | in spring, once every 2 years |
| Appearance maintenance | delete damaged branches |
| Location | open sunny |
| Temperature | heat-resistant plant |
| Flowering time | spring-summer |
| Height | from 3-4 to 7 m |
Literature
- Leptospermum // Great Soviet Encyclopedia. — M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978. — 630000 copies.
- Ilyina E. Ya., Sterligova E. I. Indoor plants and their use in the interior. — Sverdlovsk: Ural University, 1991 — 208 s — 130000 copies. — ISBN 9785752502118
- Turdiev S. Yu., Vecherko L. I. Flowers in our life. — Alma-Ata: Kainar, 1986. — 217 s — 50000 copies.
- Chub V. V., Lezina K. D. Complete encyclopedia of indoor plants. — M.: Eksmo, 2003. — 416 s — 7000 copies. — ISBN 9785040060771.
- Leptospermum // Indoor and garden plants. — M.: Premiere, 2005. — 1274 s — 300,000 copies. — ISSN 1729-1828.
- Golovkin B. N. What do plant names say. — M.: Kolos, 1992. — 192 s — 70000 copies. — ISBN 9785100025054.
- Golovkin B. N. 1000 amazing facts from the life of plants. — M.: AST; Astrel, 2001. — 224 s — 10000 copies. — ISBN 9785170105342, ISBN 9785271030529.