Shepherdia is a sprawling perennial shrub from the Sucker family. It grows in North America, but is successfully cultivated in Europe. Shepherdia is also known as "buffalo berry" or "soap berry." In appearance, shepherd is very similar to sea buckthorn, but the fruits of the plant contain much more nutrients and have a pleasant taste. It is not difficult to take care of the shrub, he will regularly present the owner with a plentiful harvest and delight with a beautiful appearance. It is enough to observe a few simple rules in the care, so that shepherdia has been decorating the garden for several decades.
Plant description
Shepherdia is a perennial shrub plant 3-7 m high. Evergreen and deciduous forms are found in the genus. Thin branches are covered with a rough yellowish-gray bark. They are highly branched along the entire length and covered with long spines. The branches are densely intertwined and bow to the ground, forming an impenetrable prickly fence.
Shoots are covered with lanceolate or oval bright green leaves. Foliage on short petioles is opposite. The length of the dense leaf plate is 4-7 cm. On both sides or only from below there is a silver coating in the form of short scaly villi.
From the end of March, miniature axil flowers bloom, gathered in spike-shaped inflorescences. Flowering occurs before the leaves. The buds are attached to the shoots with short pedicels; they densely cover the branches. Shepherdia is a dioecious plant, that is, there are instances exclusively with male or female flowers. To achieve fruiting, it is necessary to plant at least one male plant in the garden for 7-10 female individuals. Women's buds open a little earlier than men's. Pollination occurs with the help of insects, after which small rounded berries ripen.
On the surface of the red skin of drupes there are many small white dots. Delicate edible flesh has a sweet and sour taste. Due to the pronounced astringency, the fruits of shepherdia are often consumed not in raw form, but as part of jams, jellies and compotes. Fruits are stored on branches until frost. Low temperatures make them more tender and sweet. Inside contains the only flattened seed. Flowering and fruiting occurs 2-3 years after planting. Ripe drupes are easily crushed from branches, which facilitates harvesting. One plant can produce up to 15 kg of fruit per season.
Common species
The small genus Shepherdia has only 3 species.
Shepherd is silver. The species got its name for the whitish pubescence that is present on young branches and leaves on both sides. This thorny shrub can grow up to 6 m in height. Flowering begins in mid-April. On male plants, flowers are collected in miniature spikelets. Women's buds are located singly. In September, the fruits ripen - red or yellow-orange berries. The decorative Goldeneye variety is very popular. Ripe fruits on it are painted bright yellow.
Shepherd Canadian. This form resembles a sprawling tree. Branches are covered with brown bark. The upper part of the leaves is smooth, dark green. Bottom leaflets are covered with silver pile and yellow scales. In mid-April, small green-yellow flowers bloom. In September, dark red oblong berries 4-8 mm long ripen.
Shepherd is round-leaved. The species forms a tall, sprawling shrub. The branches are tightly intertwined. They are densely covered with rounded dark green leaves. On the surface of a dense leaf plate, numerous warty growths are visible. The species is characterized by very abundant flowering and fruiting. Under the weight of the fruit, the branches slope down to the ground. Round-leaf Shepherd almost never occurs outside the Colorado Plateau.
Breeding
Shepherdia can be propagated in several ways.
- Sowing seeds. Seeds should be sown in November in open ground. They are embedded in the soil to a depth of 1.5-3 cm. In winter, it is recommended to cover the sowing place with snow. By mid-April, the first shoots will begin to appear. In September, the length of the seedlings will be 10-15 cm. If necessary, they are transplanted to a permanent place. Flowering and fruiting is expected in 4-6 years.
- Rooting cuttings. This method is good because it allows you to immediately determine the male and female plant. For rooting, choose green cuttings with 2-3 buds. Their length is usually 8-12 cm. During the first day, the branches are kept in Kornevin, and then planted in sand and peat soil. The shoot should be deepened by 3-4 cm. At the end of September, the cuttings will develop strong roots and they can be planted in a garden in a permanent place.
- Department of root processes. Every year, several children are formed at the roots of Shepherdia. In March-April, strong plants can be planted from the main bush to a new place. A transplant can also be scheduled for early fall.
Shepherd Care
Shepherdia is unpretentious and adapts well to living conditions. It can grow on any soil, but it is recommended to add sand or gravel to heavy soils for better drainage. To fruiting was plentiful, and the berries more sweet, you should choose an open, sunny place. All types of shepherdia are resistant to cold and do not require additional shelter for the winter. Drafts are also not afraid of plants.
Shepherdia is resistant to drought and does not like waterlogging of the soil. Usually she has enough natural rainfall. Only in long, hot and dry weather, especially during the ripening period, can bushes be watered with an average portion of water.
For normal development, the plant needs regular weeding and loosening of the soil. This procedure will allow air to penetrate to the roots. Care must be taken to remove weeds and loosen the soil, since the roots lie quite close to the surface of the soil.
In order to maintain an attractive appearance, the shepherd must be cut off. In the garden, plant height is often limited to two meters. This makes it easier to care for and harvest. You should also thin out the crown, otherwise the branches will become tangled and will lean towards the ground.
Plant in landscape design
The dense thickets of shepherd are attracted by silvery foliage and scarlet fruits. They look good on the background of conifers, as well as shrubs with red foliage (barberry, snowdrop, weigela). The plant is conveniently used to create green hedges around the perimeter of the garden. Low forms are suitable for creating a background in the flower garden.
Beneficial features
Shepherd berries are in the lead in the amount of ascorbic acid. In addition to it, the fruits contain:
- tannins;
- vitamins A, P, E;
- pectin;
- organic acids.
The use of the fruits of shepherdia helps to strengthen the immune system, take care of the state of the vessels, and normalize blood pressure. Berries can be consumed raw, made from them alcohol tinctures, and cook all kinds of sauces, jams and preserves. They are more a food product than a medicine, so they have no contraindications. Caution should be exercised only by people prone to allergic reactions.
