All varieties of this plant are commonly used as decorative ornaments in gardens and home gardens. It is mainly used to create hedges. This plant is perfectly combined with deciduous shrubs of red and golden colors, as well as with coniferous trees.
In addition to some of its varieties, children make beads. This plant is called goof. Flowering shrubs (perennials) also have some useful properties.
General information
Loch is a deciduous or evergreen shrub or tree belonging to the Loch family. The plant grows in China and Japan, as well as in Europe, Russia and North America. There are more than 50 species in total.
The plant (including prickly goof) is widely used in landscaping gardens and park areas.
Origin of the name
"Elaiagnos" is a Greek word consisting of the terms: "elaia", "agnos". The first word is translated as "olive tree", and the second means "Abraham's tree". The sucker got its name due to its similarity with the olive tree.(especially leaves and fruits).
In Central Asia it is called “jigda”, “jigida” or “jida”.
Types of sucker
The most famous and common plant species:
- thorny goof (grows in Japan);
- umbrella (common in East Asia);
- silver (found in North America);
- narrow-leaved (places of growth - the south of Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia);
- multiflorous sucker (common in Japan and China).
General Description
Most often, a sucker is a not very tall tree with a spreading openwork crown or shrub. This plant is not tall, but occasionally there are specimens reaching a height of up to 8 meters or more.
The branches have a gray-brown tint. The leaves grow in length from 3 to 10 centimeters. Flowering, during which the branches are densely covered with fragrant flowers, occurs in May, June and July. In August, fruits appear that are edible and tasty. In terms of their chemical composition, they are quite rich, but people rarely eat them, since they have a large bone and little pulp. There are varieties of "cacti" among these plants. Below is a more detailed description of them.
Prickly Goof
The plant reaches a height of up to 7 meters. It is an evergreen deciduous shrub with spreading branches studded with short, thick spines. Another feature of this variety is the frequent appearance of shoots with side branches pointing down, thanks to which the goof clings.for various objects and plants. Its elliptical-shaped leaves of a dark green shade in length reach up to 10 centimeters. They sparkle beautifully in the sun. Due to its ability to cling to any object, this species can reach a height of up to 10 meters.
The Loja flower, exuding a rather strong aroma, has a golden hue in the middle, and silver-white petals on top. Bunches of inflorescences consist of two or three flowers. After flowering is completed, greenish-brown fruits first appear, which turn into a beautiful red tone as they ripen. For such an unusual color and unpretentiousness, the plant is revered by landscape designers, who use it mainly to create hedges.
Prickly goof is a shade-tolerant and drought-resistant plant, undemanding to soils. It is able to tolerate frosts down to -18 ° Celsius. As noted above, a plant that perfectly takes root in urban conditions is widely used by humans in the design of parks and gardens.
Landing
The planting of the prickly sucker, as well as other varieties of the plant, is carried out in the spring, because during the autumn planting, the seedlings that have not gained strength by that time die.
The place for them is chosen well-lit. The distance between seedlings should be at least 1.5 meters, otherwise, with a strong growth of the crown, the plants can shade each other. When choosing a landing site, the composition of the soil should also be taken into account. For heavyfertilized soil will have to additionally use fertile additives.
In the summer, mulching with humus or peat should be done, and in case of hot weather, slurry should be used as top dressing.
Features of care
Despite the fact that the sucker is an unpretentious plant, it still requires some care. The plant is quite sensitive to weeds, and therefore, you should regularly monitor the cleanliness of the soil near the plant. Annual top dressing, which is produced with organic fertilizers, is also welcome. Consumption - for one plant about 20 kg or more. You can add superphosphate (up to 500 gr.), Potassium s alt (about 200 gr.).
Annually (more often in spring) old branches should be pruned. Upon reaching the age of 15, it is necessary to rejuvenate the plant, removing about a third of the old branches.
In autumn, the branches of the prickly sucker, as well as other types of plants from the family, must be tied up with a rope or pinned with hooks and, having laid them, put tops, raspberry shoots, brushwood and so on on top of them. To avoid damping off, do not cover the plant with burlap or other dense materials. After the winter period, the sucker quickly recovers shoots.
With proper care, the plant can grow for 25 years, while giving good fruit.
Methods of reproduction
The goof is propagated by seeds, cuttings and root suckers. Mostthe best way is seed. Sow them should be in September-October. In the case of spring sowing, it is necessary to pre-stratify the seeds for 3-4 months. The temperature should be kept within 10-15 degrees Celsius.
Evergreen varieties of this family are propagated by cuttings.
Useful properties
Prickly goof, like other plant species, is a valuable plant. These are fruits, flowers, resin and leaves. They contain a large amount of ascorbic acid, especially in the autumn period of the year. Pre-dried leaves of the plant can be brewed as a tea.
Loch is a wonderful honey plant with unique healing properties. Almost all parts of this plant are used in folk medicine. Leaves are harvested in the first half of summer, flowers - from May to early June. It is recommended to dry the preparations under a canopy or in special devices.
Loh is used as a good astringent, antiviral and antibacterial agent. The leaves are good for making decoctions and infusions that reduce the temperature in case of fever and colds. Externally used for sciatica, rheumatism and gout. At the same time, lotions are made from the leaves of the sucker. The flowers are used to make decoctions that heal wounds. They are also used for colitis, edema and hypertension.
The most valuable part of a plant is its fruits. The fruits are good for improving memory, they also have expectorant and diuretic properties. Delicious berries rendertonic and restorative effect. They are also useful in diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Fruit decoctions are effective for colitis, diarrhea and various inflammatory processes. They perfectly destroy pathogenic microbes. You can increase the tone and strengthen the immune system by eating juices from the goof berries.
In closing
This amazing oriental plant has long been popular in European countries and many other parts of the world. Landscape designers appreciate it for bright fruits and unusual leaves, beekeepers for fragrant flowers rich in nectar, and traditional healers for the beneficial substances contained in almost all of its parts.
The wood used in crafts has good hardness and density. Various crafts and musical instruments are made from it. Gum goes to the manufacture of glue. Beads are made from some varieties (for example, the Bukhara dzhida, which has a striped color). Due to the fragrant aroma of the flowers, the plant is used in the manufacture of perfumes. The sucker is especially attractive to gardeners. Maybe you should take a closer look at this plant?
