Rogersia is a beautiful perennial with carved large leaves. It belongs to the Saxifrage family. Its homeland is the expanses of Japan, China, Korea. Rogersia grows mainly along the coasts of rivers and fresh water bodies, as well as on the lawns of a humid forest, where the sun's rays fall only in the morning or at sunset. It is used to decorate a shady garden, because the plant is actively developing even in deep shade. When the flowering season begins, high inflorescences bloom above the foliage, they well complement the exquisite crown.
Plant description
Rogersia is a perennial herb with a rooted root system. Over the years, horizontal branches with new growth buds also appear on the rhizome. The flower forms a sprawling shrub due to erect, branched shoots. The height of the shoot along with inflorescences reaches 1.2-1.5 m.
The main decoration of Rogersia is its foliage. The diameter of the cirrus or palmate leaf plate can reach 50 cm. The leaves are located on long petioles. Smooth leaf blades of a bright green or reddish hue sometimes change color throughout the year. In shape, the leaf of Rogersia resembles a chestnut.
Flowering begins in July and lasts a little less than a month. During this period, complex paniculate inflorescences, which consist of many small flowers, bloom over dense greenery. Petals can be colored in pink, white, beige or greenish. Flowers exude a delicate, pleasant aroma. After withering flowers foliage with even greater activity starts to grow.
As a result of pollination, miniature seeds in the form of stars are tied. At first they are covered with light green skin, but gradually turn red.
Types of Rogersia
Rod Rogersia has a total of 8 species. In addition to them, there are several decorative varieties.
Rogers are horse chestnut or chestnut leaf. The plant is especially popular in our country. Shoots grow to a height of 0.8-1.8 m. They are covered with large bright green leaves, in shape resembling horse chestnut foliage. Seven-fingered leaves on long stalks cover the stems along the entire length. Young foliage contains bronze stains, which disappear in the summer and return in the fall. Peduncles 1.2-1.4 m high carry dense panicles of white or light pink flowers.
A popular variety of horse chestnut rogers - Henrici or Henry has a more modest size. The leaves have dark petioles and coffee-colored foliage. In summer, the foliage strikes with bright greenery, and in the fall it becomes bronze. In the inflorescences are cream or light pink flowers, the color of which is affected by the composition of the soil.
Rogers cirrus. This undersized variety, along with inflorescences, does not exceed 60 cm in height. The fractions of its leaves are located further from each other and resemble the shape of a rowan leaf. In spring and autumn, leaves have reddish stains on the edges. Small inflorescences consist of cream or pinkish buds. Spring awakening and flowering in the species begins later than the rest. Popular varieties:
- Borodin - more magnificent snow-white panicles of inflorescences;
- Chocolate Wings - fawn-pink and wine-red inflorescences are located above the lush crown, which in the spring and autumn acquires rich chocolate shades;
- Superba - large and lush pink inflorescences grow over leaves that are edged with a terracotta border in spring.
100% Rogersia (Japanese). The plant is able to withstand a slight drought. Its crown up to 1.5 m high consists of glossy leaves with a bronze hue. During flowering, greenish-cream flowers bloom.
Breeding
Rogers can be propagated by seed or vegetatively.
Seed propagation considered the most time-consuming, as it requires lengthy preparation. Sow seeds in the fall, immediately after harvesting to a depth of 1-2 cm. Boxes with fertile and light soil after sowing are left on the street under a canopy from rain. Cold stratification occurs within 2-3 weeks. After this, the crops are transferred to a warmer place (+ 11 ... + 15 ° C). In a few weeks shoots will appear. When the seedlings grow to 10 cm, they should be peaked in separate pots or disposable cups. In May, seedlings are transferred to the street, but transplantation into the open ground is carried out only in September. Flowering is expected only 3-4 years after transplantation.
Division of the bush. As the Rogersia bush grows, it needs to be divided. This is also a way of rejuvenation and reproduction. The procedure is carried out in the spring and immediately divide the delenki into the open ground. You can divide in the fall, but then the roots for the winter are left in containers with soil. The bush should be completely dug up and freed from an earthen coma. The root is cut so that at each site there is at least one growth point. So that the rhizome does not dry out, it is immediately planted in the prepared soil.
Cuttings. A leaf with a petiole and a heel is able to take root. This method of reproduction is used in the summer. After cutting, the cuttings are treated with root and planted in containers with moist, light soil. Only well-rooted plants are planted in open ground. When transplanting, you should save an earthen lump.
Seat selection and landing
In order for the bush of Rogersia to reveal in all its glory, it is necessary to choose the right place. The plant feels better in the shade or in places where the sun only appears in the morning and evening. Good draft protection is also needed.
The soil should be loose, well-drained and fertile. It is good if there is a small freshwater pond nearby, but the roots should not constantly come into contact with water. Close occurrence of groundwater is also undesirable. Before planting, you need to dig and level the soil. Peat, compost and humus are added to it. Sand and gravel are added to heavy clay soils.
Young plants are planted to a depth of 6-8 cm. Since Rogersia is large, it is necessary to maintain a distance between seedlings of 50-80 cm. Immediately after planting, Rogersia is watered and mulched on the ground near it.
Care Secrets
Rogersia is quite unpretentious, so taking care of it is easy even for a novice gardener.
Watering. The plant needs regular watering so that the soil never dries out completely. On dry days, irrigation can be supplemented by spraying.
Weeding. Mulching the soil will help prevent excessive evaporation. It will protect against weed growth. If mulching has not been carried out, it is recommended once a month to weed the ground under the thickets.
Fertilizers On nutrient soils, Rogers does not need regular feeding. It is enough to introduce compost and a universal complex of mineral fertilizers into the soil in early spring. Additionally, you can make 1-2 feeding during active growth and flowering. Formulations with a high content of copper, potassium, zinc, magnesium, nitrogen and phosphorus are suitable.
Wintering. Rogersia can tolerate severe frosts, but needs to be prepared for the cold season. Leaves, part of the shoots and inflorescences are cut, and the remaining crown is covered with peat and fallen leaves. In winter, you can fill the bush with snow. If winter is expected to be snowless and frosty, you should additionally cover the plant with non-woven material.
Diseases and pests. Rogersia is a natural antiseptic, so it rarely suffers from diseases. Only dense thickets with waterlogged soil lead to the development of rot. Affected leaves and stems should be cut and destroyed, and the rest of the crown treated with fungicide. On moist soil, slugs that feed on the succulent shoots of Rogers can settle. From them, ash or egg shells can be scattered on the surface of the earth.
Rogersia in the garden
Large leaves of Rogers will not go unnoticed. It can be planted under trees, near the shore of a reservoir or along the fence. Lush vegetation will serve as an excellent background for a flower bed or hide the space under the trees. Rogersia go well with ferns, bluebells, frankincense, periwinkle, medunica, and also coniferous and deciduous shrubs.
