&39;Elegans&39;is a vine with attractively colored and shaped leaves decorating the plant in spring and summer. In autumn, it is decorated with fruits shimmering in the sun with a unique color. Due to the appearance of the fruit, the Elegans variable vine is called the porcelain grapevine. See howcultivating a variable vine &39;Elegans&39;in the garden and learn how topropagate a variable vineon your own! "
Variable vine 'Elegans'
Variable vine 'Elegans' - description of the plant
Variable vine(Ampelopsis glandulosa, syn. A. brevipedunculata) cultivar 'Elegans' is a slow growing perennial climber from Japan. It belongs to the grapevine family (Vitaceae). Its shoots grow up to 2-3 m in height.The ornament of the Elegans variable vine isserrated, serrated at the edges, slightly twisted and tricolor - green, white and pink leaves. They are set on long, contrasting, pink-red leaf petioles. The leaves fall off in the fall without discoloration.In the fall (September-October) Elegans are the ornaments of the Elegans vineyard, small, shiny fruits, gathered in clusters. As the fruit ripens, it changes its color from white-blue, through purple, to turquoise. They ripen unevenly and one group often has fruits of various shades.
'Elegans' variable vine can be grown in small gardens or on terraces and balconies . It looks good on all kinds of supports under the vines, alone or interspersed with other vines. It is also used as a ground cover plant.
Variable vine 'Elegans' - cultivation
Variable vine 'Elegans' can grow in a sunny or semi-shaded positionHowever, when grown in full sun, it has nicer colored leaves and bears more fruit. This variety of vine can grow in any soil. The substrate should be constantly slightly moist, permeable and fertile.
Vineyard requires regular wateringIn case of water shortage it sheds leaves massively. It is worth using mulch to limit the drying of the substrate. Remember, however, that'Elegans' variable vine does not tolerate flooding the roots , therefore watering should be moderate and adapted to the current needs of the plant.
Variable vine 'Elegans' in late summer or early autumn . The plant is planted about 30 cm from the support. The plant produces the best fruit when the roots have limited development. Root development can be limited by planting a bush in the ground with a large pot.
Variable vine 'Elegans' tolerates low temperatures well . It happens, however, that in windy areas, during severe frosts, especially in colder regions of the country, it may freeze. Fortunately, frozen shoots quickly regenerate in spring.
Variable vine 'Elegans' does not require special careIf necessary, strongly overgrown shoots are pruned. The vine is pruned very hard and can be trimmed close to the ground at the end of winter or early spring (February-March) to increase the amount of flowers and therefore fruit.
Variable vine 'Elegans' - reproduction
Variable vine 'Elegans' can be propagatedby means of herbaceous cuttings, layering or by sowing seeds.
'Elegans' variable vine seedlings are harvestedat the turn of June and July. Cuttings with 1-2 pairs of leaves, rooting in pots in a peat mixture throughout the winter. When the cuttings are rooted and are over 20 cm high, they can be planted permanently, preferably in late spring (after the last frost) or early summer.
Seeds of the 'Elegans' variable vine are sown in autumndirectly into the ground or in pots. You can also stratify the seeds for 6 weeks at 5 ° C and sow in the spring.Germination is quite slow, seeds sown in February-March germinate only in June-August. Sometimes grapevine seeds may take more than a year to germinate. Seeds of the 'Elegans' variable vine are often sown by themselves and germinate around the mother plant.
The Elegans variable vine can also be propagated by layering which is prepared in spring.Bend the vineyard shoot to the ground and cover it with soilPut a stone on the unpleasant soil so that the shoot does not bend back to the vertical position. Regularly water the rooting shoots. In autumn, when roots develop on the shoot, we can cut it off from the mother plant and plant it in a new place.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
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