Schisandra chinensis: plant description and care tips

So far, Chinese lemongrass is rare in areas of Russian gardeners. Many are simply afraid to plant an unknown exotic culture, considering it capricious and demanding to care for. But the Chinese magnolia vine is an unpretentious plant, nothing supernatural from the gardener is required. For observing the simple rules of care, the culture will thank an abundant harvest of very healthy berries.

What does Chinese lemongrass look like?

Schisandra chinensis Chinese Schisandra is a small genus of plants from the Schisandra family. In nature, it is distributed mainly in China, Japan, in the north of the Korean Peninsula. Also found in Russia - in the Far East, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands. His first scientific description was given in 1837 by the botanist N.S. Turchaninov.

Schisandra chinensis in nature forms dense thickets

The habitat of the plant is river valleys, forest edges, old glades, clearings, and fires. Accordingly, it is sufficiently cold-resistant and shade-tolerant, which makes it suitable for cultivation in most of the territory of Russia.

The characteristic aroma of lemon peel is inherent in the leaves and shoots, and this is what the plant owes its name to. Although it has nothing to do with citrus fruits.

In nature, lemongrass is an overall plant. The length of a vine with a curly stem, if not limited to anything, reaches 12-15 m. In this case, the stem is quite thin, only 2.5-3 cm in diameter. Bending shoots are covered with brown bark. On young branches, it is smooth, elastic, shiny, darkens over time, changing color to black-brown, and peeling.

In the fall, lemongrass Chinese looks elegant and very spectacular

The leaves are dense, leathery, ovoid or in the form of a wide oval. The edges are carved with almost imperceptible denticles. Petioles are quite short, painted in various shades of pink and red. The front part of the front plate is glossy, bright green, the inside with a bluish-gray tint, along the veins there is a strip of short soft “pile”.

In autumn, the plant looks very attractive - the leaves are painted in different shades of yellow, from pale golden to saffron.

A flowering plant also looks good. Schisandra flowers resemble those made from magnolia wax. Snow-white petals, before falling, acquire a gentle pastel pink hue. Buds are collected in inflorescences of 3-5 pieces, are located in the axils of the leaves. The pedicels are long enough, slightly nicky under their weight. Flowering occurs in the first half of July.

Chinese Schisandra flowers, spreading a pleasant aroma, attract pollinating insects to the garden

The fruits of lemongrass - small spherical bright scarlet berries, collected 15-25 pieces in a brush 8-12 cm long, resembling clusters of grapes or red currants. They also have a characteristic citrus flavor. Each contains 1-2 large seeds. The taste due to the high content of organic acids, tarry and tannins, essential oils is extremely specific. The peel is sweet-salty, astringent, the juice is very sour, astringent, the seeds are bitter.

In China, the fruit is called the "berry of five flavors."

Eating fresh berries of Schisandra chinensis (especially its wild varieties) is almost impossible

The average yield of Chinese magnolia vine is 3-5 kg ​​of berries from an adult plant. But once in 3-7 years there are "bursts" when the liana brings 1.5-2 times more fruit than the gardener had expected. Harvest ripens in August or early September.

Schisandra is a dioecious plant. This means that pollination and subsequent fruiting is possible only with the simultaneous presence on the plot of specimens with "male" and "female" flowers.

The yield of Chinese magnolia vine is not amazing, but its fruits are, rather, not a treat, but a medicine

Application

In folk medicine, seeds and dried fruits of lemongrass are used. They are distinguished by a high content of vitamin C, as well as trace elements vital for the body (iron, zinc, copper, selenium, iodine, manganese). Schisandra has the ability to relieve fatigue caused by intense physical and mental stress, sharpen vision and hearing, and also relieve depression. It is also extremely useful for strengthening immunity and stimulating tissue regeneration; it helps with vitamin deficiency, problems with the heart and blood vessels, and the respiratory system.

Far Eastern hunters a handful of dried berries throughout the day to forget about the feeling of fatigue and hunger.

Dried Chinese Schisandra Berries - A Strong Tonic

There is a fairly long list of contraindications. Schisandra chinensis is forbidden to use for pregnant women and children under 12 years of age, as well as for those who suffer from vegetative-vascular dystonia, any allergy, chronic insomnia, high intracranial pressure, and infectious diseases. In this case, it is recommended to take preparations from it before noon, so as not to provoke insomnia. The simultaneous use of any sleeping pills, tranquilizers, antipsychotics, psychostimulating drugs is strictly prohibited. In general, lemongrass is undesirable to "prescribe" yourself, it is better to consult a doctor first.

Common varieties

In nature, according to various sources, there are from 15 to 23 varieties of Schisandra chinensis. The culture also does not enjoy special attention from breeders, so the choice of varieties is limited. Most often, the following varieties are found on garden plots:

1. Garden one. A self-fertile hybrid that does not need pollinators. It is characterized by high cold resistance, good yield, and shoot growth rate. The berries are very juicy, sour. The average brush length is 9-10 cm, each with 22-25 berries. The average yield is 4-6 kg per adult plant.
2. Mountain. A medium-ripening variety, bred in the Far East, is considered one of the most promising there. Harvest ripen in the last decade of August. It is characterized by high winter hardiness and good immunity. The average brush length is 8-9 cm, weight is 12-13 g. It consists of 15-17 dark scarlet bitter berries with a noticeable sourness. The pulp is dense, but juicy. Productivity is low, 1.5-2 kg per plant.
3. Volgar The variety is resistant to winter cold and summer drought, it rarely suffers from diseases and pests. On one plant, as a rule, both "male" and "female" flowers bloom, but sometimes a season is given when only "male" flowers are formed. Harvest ripens in the first decade of September. The mass of the brush is 6-7.5 g, it consists of 13-15 berries. The fruits are very acidic, with a pronounced resinous aroma.
4. Firstborn. One of the latest achievements of Russian breeders, bred in Moscow. The variety is valued for frost resistance and disease resistance. The berries are small, elongated, purple-scarlet, the flesh is bright red. The length of the brush is about 12 cm, weight - 10-12 g. The bush is medium-sized, the plant is monoecious. A significant drawback is low frost resistance, weak immunity. The length of the vine is not more than 5 m.
5. Myth. A hybrid whose origin could not be established for certain. The brushes are not too long, up to 7 cm, but the berries are not particularly acidic, they can even be eaten fresh. In each fertility there are 15-18 of them.
6. Oltis. The homeland of the variety is the Far East. It is valued for good yield (3-4 kg per plant) and resistance to diseases typical of the culture. The berries are dark scarlet, small. The average brush length is 9-11 cm, weight is 25-27 g, each with 25-30 fruits. The taste is bitter-sour.
7. Purple. One of the oldest varieties, bred in 1985 in the Far East. Harvest ripening is the last decade of August. The first fruits are removed after 3-4 years after planting a seedling in the ground. Productivity - 3-4 kg from an adult plant. The variety is exceptionally hardy, but often suffers from diseases. The berries are small, the brushes are compact. The skin is red, the taste is noticeably sour.

Photo gallery: varieties of Schisandra chinensis

Planting and Transplantation Procedure

Schisandra chinensis is planted in garden plots not only for fruiting, but also for decoration. Liana is widely used in landscape design. Especially spectacular are the arbors twined with leaves, railings, arches, and “green walls”.

Schisandra chinensis is not only useful, but also a very decorative plant

Planting time depends on the region of cultivation. In areas with a warm climate (Ukraine, southern Russia) it can be planned for September and even for the first half of October. Enough time is left before the frost, the plant will have time to adapt to new living conditions. In regions with a temperate climate (Ural, Siberia), the only option is spring. In central Russia, Chinese schisandra is planted at the end of April or in the first decade of May (the soil should have warmed up to at least 10 ° C by this time, but it needs to be in time before the growth buds "wake up"). Over the summer, the plant will form a developed root system and have time to properly prepare for winter.

Experienced gardeners recommend simultaneously planting at least three schisandra seedlings (ideally, different varieties), leaving between them an interval of about 1 m, and between rows - 2-2.5 m. If the liana is placed next to the wall, it is necessary to deviate from it approximately as much so that drops of water do not fall from the roof onto the plant (this is harmful for the roots). Be sure to provide a place to place the trellis. Otherwise, the plant simply refuses to bear fruit. The simplest option is 2-3-meter posts arranged in a row with a wire stretched over them in several rows at different heights. As the creeper grows, its shoots are tied to it, forming a fan-like structure. When grown in a warm climate, the shoots of Schisandra chinensis are not removed from the trellis even for the winter.

Seedlings are selected based on the state of the root system. It must be developed. Be sure to have a minimum of three roots about 20 cm long. The average height of a 2-3-year-old plant is 12-15 cm.

Chinese Schisandra seedlings are low, this is normal for culture

Chinese lemongrass prefers soil fertile, but loose and light, well-permeable to air and water. A heavy substrate in which moisture stagnates for a long time - silty, clay, peat, will not be suitable.

The plant will tolerate both partial shade and shadow, but the maximum possible crops are harvested when grown in an open sunny place. It is desirable that it be protected from gusts of cold wind by some natural or artificial barrier located at some distance from the vine.

In temperate regions, lemongrass is most often located on the west side of buildings and structures, in the subtropics - on the east. In the first case, this placement provides the sun with enough liana, in the second - it protects from strong daytime heat.

The greatest possible yield is brought by Chinese magnolia vine, planted in an open sunny place

Still, the culture does not like very wet soil at the roots. If groundwater comes closer to the surface than 1.5-2 m, you need to look for another place for lemongrass.

Landing pit is always prepared in advance. If the procedure is planned in the fall - a few weeks before it, and with spring planting - in the previous season. The average depth is 40-50 cm, the diameter is 65-70 cm. A drainage layer of 8-10 cm thick is obligatory at the bottom. Crushed stone, expanded clay, clay shards, ceramic chips can be used. The fertile turf extracted from the pit is mixed with humus or compost (20-30 l), sifted wood ash (0.5 l), simple superphosphate (120-150 g) and potassium sulfate (70-90 g) and poured back, forming on bottom mound. Then the pit is covered with something waterproof, so that the rains do not erode the soil, and leave until planting.

Read more about planting in our article: Plant Chinese magnolia vine with seeds and other methods.

A drainage layer is required at the bottom of the landing pit prepared for Schisandra chinensis

Landing procedure:

1. The roots of the seedling are inspected, cut off all rotten and dried, the rest is shortened to a length of 20-25 cm. Then they are soaked for a day in water, heated to a temperature of 27-30ºС. To disinfect and prevent the development of fungal diseases, you can add several crystals of potassium permanganate to it, to activate the development of the root system and minimize the stress associated with the transplant, any biostimulant (potassium humate, Epin, Zircon, succinic acid, aloe juice).
2. The roots are densely coated with powder clay and fresh cow dung, then dried in the sun for 2-3 hours. The correct mass in consistency resembles a thick cream.
3. The plant is placed on an earthen mound at the bottom of the landing pit. The roots are straightened so that they "look" down, not up or to the sides. Then the pit begins to fall asleep in small portions of soil, periodically palms the substrate with your palms. In the process, you need to constantly monitor the position of the root neck - it should be 2-3 cm above the ground.
4. The soil in the near-stem circle is abundantly watered, spending about 20 liters of water. When it is absorbed, this area is mulched with peat crumb or humus. The seedling will take root quite quickly, but for the first 2-3 weeks it is advisable to protect it from direct sunlight by constructing a canopy from any white covering material.
5. Shoots are shortened, leaving 3-4 growth buds. All leaves, if any, are torn off.

The place for lemongrass is chosen deliberately, the plant does not tolerate the transplant

It is advisable to choose a place for Chinese magnolia vine immediately and forever. Young seedlings tolerate the procedure quite easily, quickly adapt to new living conditions, but this can not be said about adult plants.

Video: how to plant lemongrass

Plant care and nuances of cultivation in different regions

Caring for lemongrass is not particularly difficult in China, all the necessary procedures will not take much time from the gardener.

Watering

Schisandra is a moisture-loving plant. In nature, it most often grows along the banks of rivers. Therefore, it is watered often and plentifully. The norm for an adult liana is 60-70 liters of water every 2-3 days. Of course, if the weather is cool and damp, the intervals between procedures are increased - the plant does not like water that stagnates at the roots. The preferred method is sprinkling.

In extreme heat, it is also advisable to spray the leaves daily in the evenings. This procedure is very useful for young plants planted in the garden this year.

If technically possible, Chinese schisandra is watered by sprinkling, simulating natural rainfall

The day after watering, the soil in the near-stem circle needs to be loosened to a depth of 2-3 cm, if necessary, weed. To save time on weeding help mulch. It retains moisture in the soil.

Top dressing

If the landing pit was prepared correctly, there will be enough nutrients in the soil of Chinese magnolia vine for the next two years. They begin to feed the plant from the third season of being in the open ground.

From fertilizers, culture prefers natural organics. Chinese magnolia vine grows quite quickly, so during the summer every 15-20 days it is watered with infusion of cow manure, bird droppings, nettle leaves or dandelion. In principle, any weeds can be used. The raw materials are insisted for 3-4 days, before use, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 (litter - 1:15). You can also use complex fertilizers with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus - Nitrofosku, Azofosku, Diammofosku. Once every 2-3 years at the beginning of the active growing season, 25-30 l of humus or rotted compost are distributed in the near-stem circle.

Nettle infusion - a natural source of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus

After harvesting, the plant needs potassium and phosphorus. 40-50 g of simple superphosphate and potassium sulfate are diluted in 10 l of water or distributed over the near-stem circle in dry form during loosening. The natural alternative is about 0.5-0.7 liters of wood ash.

Prop for creeper

Schisandra is grown on a trellis, since without this it is impossible to get a crop. The average height of the supports is 2-2.5 m, the distance between them is about 3 m. It is advisable to limit Liana in growth, this simplifies the care of her. Between the posts they pull the wire horizontally in several rows - the first at a distance of 50 cm from the ground, then every 70-80 cm.

Schisandra chinensis on a trellis looks very neat and bears fruit abundantly

Shelter for the winter

Schisandra chinensis is successfully grown not only in regions with a warm subtropical climate (Ukraine, southern Russia). Frost resistance up to -35ºС allows cultivating it in the North-West region, in the Urals, in Siberia. In central Russia, the plant does not need shelter for the winter, the vine is not even removed from the trellis. But where severe and prolonged frosts are not uncommon, it is better to hedge nevertheless. It is worth remembering that the main danger to the culture is not winter cold, but spring return frosts. Therefore, do not rush to take cover.

The shoots are carefully uncoupled from the support, laid out on the ground, covered with a layer of mulch about 10 cm thick, covered with straw, spruce or pine spruce, foliage on the top and covered with burlap, any other air-passing covering material. Preliminarily, water-charging irrigation is carried out, spending about 80 liters of water on an adult plant.

Harvesting

The first crop is harvested 4-6 years after the Chinese magnolia vine is planted in the ground. The fruits are removed with whole brushes. Check if they are ripe, simple. You need to pull the shoot and lightly tap on it. Ripe berries showered. They have a very short shelf life. Fresh fruits need to be processed within the next 2-3 days so that they do not become moldy and do not begin to rot. Most often, they are dried, sometimes frozen, rubbed with sugar.

Schisandra pruning

The first time pruning lemongrass is carried out when planting, then - for the third season of being in the open ground. As a rule, by this time the plant manages to form a developed root system and "switches" to shoots. 5-7 of the strongest and most developed stems are left on the vine, the rest are removed to the point of growth. In the future, pruning is carried out regularly, in spring and autumn. It is impossible to neglect the procedure - much less flowers are formed in dense thickets, their pollination is practically impossible, and accordingly, productivity is also reduced.

Cutting is carried out only with a sharpened and disinfected tool

They carry out the procedure at the very beginning of March: they get rid of all branches frozen out, dried up or broken under the weight of snow. If you do not have time before the start of active sap flow, you can destroy the plant.

In autumn, after the leaves fall off, the shoots are intertwined, interwoven, poorly located, weak, deformed, affected by diseases and pests, “bald”. Also cut off that part of the vine, which bears fruit over the past 3 years. This is necessary for the proper development of new shoots and plant rejuvenation.

The purpose of pruning Chinese schisandra is to form a bush uniformly lightened by the sun

If the liana forms too many new shoots, pruning is carried out in the summer. Each of them is shortened, leaving 10-12 growth buds. Also, do not forget about the fight against basal shoots. Only the strongest layering is not cut, so that later they replace the old branches.

After the plant reaches the age of 15-18 years, a radical anti-aging pruning is performed. Only 4-5 healthy strong fruiting shoots are left this year, the rest are cut to the point of growth.

Breeding methods

Amateur gardeners most often propagate Chinese magnolia vine by vegetative methods. You can also try to grow a vine from seeds, but in this case, the preservation of varietal characteristics of the parent is not guaranteed. In addition, this process is quite time consuming.

Vegetative propagation

For vegetative propagation, basal shoots, cuttings and layering are used.

1. As a rule, Chinese Schisandra in abundance gives basal shoots. This method of reproduction is provided by nature itself. It is only necessary to carefully dig out the soil, separate the "offspring" from the adult plant and immediately plant it in the chosen place. In regions with a warm climate, the procedure is carried out both in early spring and after fruiting. Where it does not differ in softness, the only suitable time is the beginning of March.
   

   Propagation by basal shoots - the easiest way to get a new Chinese magnolia vine

2. You can use root cuttings. The root is cut into pieces 7-10 cm long. Each should have 2-3 growth points. Planting stock is kept for 2-3 days, wrapped in a napkin moistened with a solution of any biostimulant, then planted in open ground or in a greenhouse horizontally, keeping a distance of about 10-12 cm between cuttings. They are not buried in the soil, sprinkled with a layer of humus or rotted 2-3 cm thick compost. Caring for cuttings is basically regular watering. Those of them who will shoot will be transferred to a permanent place next spring.
3. For propagation by layering, only non-lignified green shoots at the age of 2-3 years are used. The procedure is carried out in the fall. The branch is bent to the ground, fixed at a distance of 20-30 cm from the top, this place is covered with humus or fertile soil, watered abundantly. In spring, a new layering should appear. By the fall, it will get strong enough, it can be separated from the mother plant and transplanted to a permanent place. You can bend to the ground and fill the whole shoot with soil. Then he will give not one, but 5-7 new seedlings. But they will not be so powerful and developed.
   

   Reproduction by layering - a method used not only for Chinese magnolia vine, but also for most berry bushes

Seed germination

The seeds of Chinese lemongrass retain their germination for a very short time, literally 2-3 months. Therefore, it is best to sow them immediately after harvest. At home, seedlings are not grown, planting material is planted in a bed under the winter. They are deepened by a maximum of 1.5 cm, they must be sprinkled with snow on top, as soon as it falls enough.

The seeds of Chinese Schisandra before planting must be thoroughly cleaned of pulp and dried to avoid the development of rot

Experienced gardeners recommend mixing lemongrass seeds with dill. The latter rises earlier. This trick allows you not to lose the place of planting, and later on the plants form a kind of natural "canopy", providing seedlings with the partial shade necessary for them.

You can save seeds until spring, but stratification is mandatory - an imitation of the cold season. During the winter, seeds are stored in a refrigerator in a small container filled with a mixture of peat crumbs and sand, constantly maintained in a slightly wet state and pre-sterilized.

There is another interesting way to prepare for landing. Until mid-winter, seeds are not extracted from the fruit. Then they are thoroughly cleaned of the pulp, placed in a linen bag or wrapped in gauze and for 3-4 days placed under cool running water (a toilet bowl will do). Then the seeds in the bag are buried in a container with moistened sand and kept at room temperature for a month. After that, they are buried about the same amount in the snow.

After stratification, the skin of the seeds begins to crack. In this form, they are planted in individual peat pots filled with a mixture of humus and coarse sand. The first seedlings should appear after 12-15 days, but if the seeds were not in a humid environment constantly, the process can stretch for 2-2.5 months. Seedlings do not differ in growth rate, stretching only 5-7 cm per year.

Stratification positively affects seed germination

Further care is to provide protection from direct sunlight, maintaining the soil in a moderately wet state and periodically watering with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate to prevent fungal diseases.

Chinese lemongrass sprouts can be expected long enough, they do not differ in growth rate

In the first ten days of June, seedlings are transferred to the garden, leaving at least 10 cm between them. During the summer they are protected from the hot sun, and in winter they build shelter from frost. After 2-3 years, stronger plants can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Typical diseases, pests and their control

Schisandra chinensis is naturally immune. Due to the high content of tannins in the tissues, almost all pests bypass it. The fruits of the birds are also not to their taste. Breeders have learned to protect plants from mold and rot. All modern varieties are rarely affected by these diseases. However, the list of fungi dangerous for culture is not limited to them. Schisandra chinensis can suffer from the following diseases:

• Fusarium Most often, young plants become infected with the fungus. They stop in development, the shoots darken and thin out, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. The roots turn black, become slimy to the touch. For prophylaxis, the seeds are planted in the Trichodermin solution for 15-20 minutes before planting, and soil is shed on the garden bed. A diseased plant must be immediately removed from the garden and burned, eliminating the source of infection. The soil in this place is disinfected by pouring a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• powdery mildew. Leaves, buds and stems are covered with spots of whitish plaque, similar to sprinkled flour. Gradually, it condenses and turns brown. Affected parts of the plant dry and die. For prophylaxis, the vine and soil in the garden are dusted with crushed chalk, sifted wood ash, and colloidal sulfur once every 10-15 days. To combat the disease at an early stage, use a solution of soda ash (10-15 g per 10 liters of water), in severe cases, fungicides (HOM, Topaz, Skor, Kuprozan);
• leaf spot (ascochitosis, ramulariosis). Brownish-beige spots with a black-brown border appear on the leaves of an irregular shape. Gradually, the tissues in these places from the inside are covered with small black dots, dry out, holes form. For prevention, the seeds are soaked for 2-3 hours in a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, Alirina-B. Having found alarming symptoms, even minimally affected leaves are cut and burned, the plant is sprayed 2-3 times with an interval of 7-12 days with a 1% solution of Bordeaux fluid or copper sulphate. Also used are fungicides of biological origin.

Photo gallery: symptoms of Chinese magnolia vine diseases

It is only necessary to use any chemicals to fight diseases as a last resort, because they have the property of accumulating in plant tissues. The best prevention is competent care, and this is what we need to focus on. Infected parts are burned as quickly as possible, rather than being stored somewhere in the far corner of the site.

Chinese magnolia vine is a plant that not only decorates the garden, but is also very useful. There is nothing complicated in regularly getting a crop of berries rich in vitamins, microelements and organic acids. The plant does not make any unusual requirements for agricultural technology, it successfully adapts and bears fruit in a variety of climatic and weather conditions.