Rodgersja chestnutowcolistna(Rodgersja aesculifolia) is an extremely decorative perennial with large, intensely green, palmate leaves, resembling chestnut leaves. It comes from the mountainous areas of central China but it does well in our climate and is an ideal plant for shady locations. See whatcultivating rodgersji Kasztonowcolistnejlooks like, and if you want to increase the number of perennials, we suggest how to dobreeding rodgersjiin your own garden.
Rodgersja kasztanowcolistna - Rodgersja aesculifolia
Photo. Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
What does horse chestnut rodgersja look like
Rodgersja chestnutowcolistna is a species belonging to the feldspar familyIt has a fleshy, underground rhizome, from which in spring grow large (diameter up to 50 cm) leaves, similar to those of a chestnut tree. They are the main decoration of the plant. In the sun, the leaves turn brown. High (up to 120 cm) shoots are crowned with a loose, scattered inflorescence composed of small flowers of cream, pink or red color.Rodgersja blooms in summer from June to August
Rodgersja chestnutowcolistna - planting
Rodgersja is a long-livedplant that can grow in one place for several dozen years. It is suitable for both large and small gardens. It works great when planted near ponds and in shady, moist gardens. We can also meet her in public areas, in city squares and flower beds.
Rodgersia should be planted in places sheltered from the wind , because strong gusts of wind can damage its large leaves.This plant is preferably presented individually (planted as a solitaire) or in the company of other plants intended for wet and shaded positions, such as, for example, rhododendrons, azaleas, garden ferns.Good companions for rodgersia are : funkia, hearts, tawułka, forest parrot, marsh grasshopper, cockerel, heart-shaped bergenia, euonymus, virginia's purse, chyme, uvula or loosestrife.Greater chestnut rodgersja(3 plants per square meter) can be used as a ground cover plant.
Rodgersja chestnutowcolistna - Rodgersia aesculifolia
Photo. depositphotos.com
Rodgersja chestnutowcolistna - cultivation
Rodgersja prefers semi-shaded and shady locationsand permeable soils (so that the rhizome does not rot in stagnant water), moderately moist or moist, fertile and humus-rich. Tolerates fully sunlit positions if the soil is constantly sufficiently moist.The pH of the soil should be neutral to slightly acidic (pH 6.0-7.0).
Depending on the position where we planted the rodgersiawe can count on a beautiful, abundant inflorescence (in the sun and with a lot of water, as well as humid air) and brown-colored leaves (which, however, are exposed to burn), or a thicket of lush and juicy leaves, but no flowering (in deep shade). An intermediate situation isplanting rodgersia in partial shade , when it produces more leaves and fewer flowers, which last longer and fade more slowly.
Rodgersja aesculifolia is not completely frost-proof.In the western parts of Poland, it is possible to omit the cover during a normal, snowy winter. In colder regions of the countryrodgersia cover should be the normThe plant cut close to the ground can be protected with compost, peat or nonwoven agrotextile.
Fertilization of rodgersia can be limited to the spring dose of compost(10-centimeter layer) mixed with the soil.If the compost was used to cover the plant for the winter, we simply use the cover compost. Before flowering itself, it is worth feeding the rodgersia with a universal fall fertilizer (nitrogen-free, as this would delay flowering) to provide phosphorus and potassium necessary for abundant flowering.
Rodgersja is extremely resistant to diseases and pests . Only snails can threaten young spring leaves.
Rodgersja kasztanowcolistna - Rodgersja aesculifolia
Photo. depositphotos.com
Rodgersja chestnutowcolistna - reproduction
Rodgersje can be propagated by seedswhich require a period of supercooling (also called stratification). They can be sown into the ground in autumn, then they will undergo natural stratification (however, this method is recommended in warmer regions of the country) or stratify them until spring (keeping in a dark room at about 0 ° C) and sow when the weather permits.
In order not to expose the plants to frost, it is better to produce a seedling. Sowing seeds is best done from November to March. A suitable substrate is a mixture of peat, sand and leaf earth in a ratio of 1: 1: 1. After sowing, it is recommended to initially place the pots outside for about 2-3 weeks so that the seeds will undergo stratification (the seeds germinate after freezing), then place them indoors at a temperature of about 10-12 ° C, where the young seedlings are quilted, and then planted permanently after spring frosts.
Rodgersja kasztanowcolistna - Rodgersja aesculifolia
Photo. Elżbieta 46, forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Rodgersje is most easily multiplied by dividing the fleshy rhizomeIn the fall, before frost, he althy and undamaged roots are taken from the mother plant, tied in bunches and placed in moist peat in a place where the temperature does not drop below 0 ° C.
We prepare the right seedlings in January. The simplest solution is to separate one leaf with a large piece of rhizome. In this case, the rhizome must have several nodes, because they give rise to further leaves and an inflorescence shoot. The prepared seedlings, 4-5 cm long, are placed horizontally in a moist substrate, covering 2-3 cm with a layer of sterilized sandy soil.At a temperature of 8-12 ° C, the seedlings will start growing after 40-60 days. After 4-6 weeks from the start of growth, they should be transplanted into containers and planted permanently in the fall. Dig a hole approx. 3 times larger than the root ball, mix the selected soil with compost in a ratio of 1: 1 and cover the roots of the planted plant with it. It will require abundant watering for about 2 months before the rodgersia take root.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
