Szczodrzeńce (Chamaecytisus) are shrubs belonging to the Fabaceae family. Easy to grow, sprinkled with yellow (usually) fragrant flowers attract attention. They can be planted singly as solitaire, and also in combination with other dark-leaved species. Very easy to grow, undemanding, they will grow where other plants cannot cope.
Common and accessible species are:
Purple Monk (Chamaecytisus purpureus) - is extremely decorative because of the pink flowers literally sticking to the branches in May and June. It grows up to 50 cm in height and 100 cm in width and is frost-resistant.
Shedding (Chamaecytisus ratisbonensis) - is an excellent ground cover plant. The tiny green leaves contrast beautifully with the bright yellow flowers. Flowering period IV-VI. Under favorable conditions, it may resume flowering in the fall.
Ruthenicus Szczodrzeniec (Chamaecytisus ruthenicus) - grows up to 1.5 m, and its raised shoots are covered with egg-shaped leaves and intense yellow flowers.
White Szczodrzeniec (Chamaecytisus albus) - has white flowers that appear in summer. This short tree looks beautiful both in flower beds, in rock gardens, and even in large pots.
Szczodrzeniec - position and cultivation
The site for the bastard should be sunny and sheltered from the wind, and the soil is slightly acidic (pH 6.5-7.5), well-drained, light, preferably sandy loam. The generosity can cope with even the weakest, dry and poor soil. It will be perfect in post-industrial, over-exploited or ruderal areas.
We can multiply Szczodrzeńce in several ways. We sow the seeds in autumn under covers. In the spring of the next year, we transplant the seedlings into larger pots and trim them to stimulate growth. Ready seedlings should be planted in the spring of the third year, when the risk of spring frosts disappears.
By propagating bushes by shoot cuttings, we will get seedlings faster than in the case of sowing from seeds, after 2 years.
The bushes are planted outside in early spring. When planting several bushes next to each other, keep a distance of at least 30 cm between them. After planting, it is best to mulch the ground around the bushes with a thick layer of organic material, e.g. compost or bark.
Plant care consists of watering, loosening the soil around the bush, fertilizing and pruning. In general, the plant is drought-resistant, it can not be watered at all in the season with heavy rainfall. During dry summer, however, the bushes should be irrigated.We water the plants abundantly only after the topsoil is dry. In the fall, we reduce gradual watering. After watering or rainfall, it is recommended to loosen the soil around the plants to a depth of 8-12 cm while removing weeds.
As for fertilization, genera need nitrogen in spring and potassium and phosphorus in mid-summer. If the bush does not seem to be growing fast enough, a third fertilization should be carried out.
Szczodrzeńce do not require pruning, but if we want to shape the bush a bit, nothing will stop you. After flowering, trim the branches by 1/3, but not to disturb the woody part. We can also x-ray the crown by removing the crossing shoots.
Young plants, under three years of age, should be covered for the winter, as they become frost-resistant only in their mature age. For this purpose, we can use, for example, agrotextile.
