Chinese Kolkwicja(Kolkwitzia amabilis) is a deciduous shrub, very attractive during flowering. Plants such as tawuła or cinquefoil are great companions for the garden bed. We present the most interestingvarieties of Chinese collisionand explain what it looks likecultivating collkwicja in the gardenand how to make acollision cutfor a long time and bloomed profusely.
Chinese collision - Kolkwitzia amabilis
Fig. AnRo0002, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
What does the Chinese quote look like?
The Chinese Calvary is a shrub of loose structurenamed after the German professor of botany Richard Kolkwitz. Interestingly, nowadays this shrub is quite rare in native China, but it has spread as a garden plant. The basic species grows up to 3 m in height and the same width with age, but for smaller gardens we can also findvarieties of Chinese Calvary with less intensive growthBranches and branches of Chinese Calvary grow more and more dangling over the years.
The flowering of Chinese Calvary lasts from the end of May to the end of JuneDuring this time the bush is densely covered with bunches of delicately pink bell-shaped flowers. The individual flowers are about 2 cm long, bell-shaped, pink and white on the outside. Collected in loose panicles, the flowers of Collquition appear in last year's drives. In August and September,fruits of Chinese colicquite ripenThese are achenes placed in a bristly hairy, woody pituitary, topped with outstretched sepals.
Leaves and flowers of Chinese Calvary
Fig. AnRo0002, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Chinese collision leaves
Chinese Quince - varieties
In addition to the basic species, it is worth paying attention todecorative varieties of colloquiarecommended for planting in gardens. It is worth paying attention especially to thevarieties with more intense color of flowersand limited growth, which allows you to grow collicites also in smaller gardens.
Chinese collision in the garden of our Forowicz
Fig. B.E.Z., forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
3 most interesting varieties of Chinese Colloquium :
Chinese Calvary 'Pink Cloud'- a variety of Calico flower that blooms profusely as a young plant, its flowers are more intensely colored than in the basic species, intensely pink, appear in the typical period from May to June.This variety of Chinese kolkwicja grows up to 2-3 m in height, growing quite quickly. Of all the varieties of Red Cloud, 'Pink Cloud' has the widest, widespread habit. Kolkwicja 'Pink Cloud' is highly frost resistant, just like the species itself (plant frost resistance zone 5B). It can be planted individually or in groups, with a spacing of 1 / 1m². It works well in sunny and semi-shaded places. The variety is recommended for larger gardens. It also works great in urban green areas and parks.
Chinese collage 'Rosea'- a variety of collision as beautiful and profusely flowering as the collicion 'Pink Cloud', but with a much slower growth and reaching smaller sizes. This plant is only 1-1.5 m tall, which makes it also useful in small home gardens. It should be remembered, however, thatfrost resistance of this variety of Chinese stock is slightly weakerthan that of the species (frost resistance zone 6B).Even if it freezes partially during harsh winter, don't worry about it too much, because in spring the bush regenerates very quickly.
Chinese Quince 'Maradco'- an interesting variety characterized by the original bright color of the leaves, which makes it decorative throughout the growing season. First, the eyes are drawn to bright yellow leaves, and from May onwards, the garden is filled with numerous pale pink flowers. Kolkwicja 'Maradco' reaches a height of 1.5 m, which is why it will fit perfectly into small home gardens. Due to the delicate leaves,this variety of Chinese stockings should be planted in semi-shaded placesFrost resistance similar to 'Rosea'.
Fruits of Chinese Collegia
Fig. Krzysztof Ziarnek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Chinese Calvary - cultivation
Chinese Calvary grows well in rich and moderately moist soils . It feels good in a sunny position as well as in partial shade. There are no special requirements.
Chinese Calvary can be found even when planted under the treetops, but then it blooms less profusely, so it is not recommended as a typical shade plant.
Chinese quilt is resistant to drought, frost and air pollutionOnly in the case of varieties of quail for smaller gardens, such as 'Rosea' and 'Maradco', we must remember about a slightly lower frost resistance. Due to its ease of cultivation,Chinese Chickweed often appears as green in urban areasand parks.
Chinese collage - shrub in full splendor
Fig. Karsten Ratzke, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Chinese Quickie does not require annual fertilization . It is enough to apply a universal mineral fertilizer, preferably with a slow release, such as Substral Osmocote, every three years. In spring, it is worth sprinkling the bush with a layer of compost, enriching the soil with organic matter.
In order to maintain a nice and abundant flowering of collicion, it is advisable to trim the bush annually. Chinese collage is propagated by herbaceous cuttings.
Blooming Chinese Collie
Fig. B.E.Z., forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Chinese Quill - cut
Prune Chinese collage regularlyWe do not only cut young plants, allowing them to reach their target habit first. In the following years, the bush grows in size, but the young shoots are getting shorter and shorter, and the number of flowers is constantly decreasing. If we want to preserve the abundant flowering of the colic for longer, it will be necessaryannual shining cutWe cut some of the oldest branches down to the ground to give the new shoots enough space.
We cut Chinese collquette right after flowering, in early summer . The deadline for pruning should not be delayed so that the newly created shoots have time to woody before winter and become frost-resistant. Pruning is best done on cloudy but rainless days.
Pruning is done by shortening the shoots by 1/3 of their lengthjust above a he althy bud. We remove or shorten excessively bulky growths, all damaged and crossing shoots. Cut off the shoots of the collision with a sharp pruner.
How to become confident in pruning plants?
If you are unsure how to cut or simply afraid to do it, the fantastic book "Cutting School" will help you. Thanks to it, you will gain confidence in pruning plants and learn to cut plants so that they grow according to your expectations. After reading this book, your approach to pruning plants will probably change completely!
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
