So far, about 200 cultivars of bushes have been bred, more than half of which have been commercialized . Many of them are hybrid varieties, often obtained as a result of interspecies crossing.
While historical, traditional varieties of shrubs were popular mainly due to abundant flowering, modern breeding has also focused on obtaining plants with colorful, decorative leaves (purple, multicolored, variegated), low and compact habit and bicolor flowers.
The miraculous shrub My Monet is one of the newest varieties obtained in the USA by Thomas Ranney, introduced to trade in Europe in 2014.by the French nursery Pépinières Minier. In 2015, the plant was entered into the Novelties Plant Competition of the international exhibition "Green is Life", in which it attracted the attention of jurors and visitors and was awarded a distinction.
This plant is characterized by a compact and regular habit, moderate growth rate and multi-colored leaves with the color tone and intensity that changes during the season. The shrub grows up to 1.5 m.Creates straight, reddish shoots and pointed elliptical leaves.In spring, the leaf blades are surrounded by a thick, irregular, yellow-pink border, remaining green in the center. The youngest leaves are pink, the older ones become aquamarine-green. In autumn, they take on intense shades of red and orange.
Slightly pink bell-shaped flowers develop at the turn of May and JuneThese flowers stand out rather poorly against the colorful leaves, which are the main decoration of the plant, but their presence certainly increases the attractiveness of the bush. Plants seen from afar, especially when planted in groups, evoke associations with the works of the great French impressionist Claude Monet, which is aptly referred to by the name of the wonderful shrub My Monet.
Bush care
Shrubs prefer fertile, moist, well-drained soils, slightly shaded positions (especially varieties with variegated leaves) and sunny.In dry soils and in places with strong sunlight, in southern exposure, the delicate young leaves can be damaged by the sun.Sometimes in July and August, shrubs can be infected by spider mites. Premature yellowing of the leaves in summer is surely a signal to look at the underside of the leaf blades for microscopic spider veins.
If we find any, the bushes should be sprayed twice (with an interval of a week or 10 days) with an agent intended for combating spider mites. In addition, bushes are best planted in warm, sheltered places.In winter, shrubs should be lightly covered with a dress.
