Amur velvet

Amur velvet is a prominent representative of the Rutov family. It is generally accepted that the Amur velvet originated in the Far East. This culture has a synonym, Amur velvet is often called the Amur philodendron. This subgroup has other similar varieties. Such plants can be found in the Khabarovsk region, China, Primorye, Japan. As a rule, Amur Velvet berry prefers to grow in deciduous or mixed forests, on plains, as well as on slopes that do not exceed seven hundred meters above sea level.

Amur velvet: description of the plant

Berry Amur Velvet: photo of a plant

Amur velvet is a representative of a relict species that exists on Earth even before the ice age began. Such a tree, as a rule, in its height can reach about twenty-five to twenty-eight meters.

The barrel is about one and a half meters thick.

Amur velvet is quite picky about the soil. For successful growth, this crop requires a loamy soil with a lot of nutrients. Velvet cannot be grown on sandy ground.

Amur velvet is a light-loving plant, and a sufficiently large amount of moisture is also needed for the normal growth and development of the plant. At the same time, the tree is able to tolerate dry weather very well. This is due to the fact that the root system of this culture has a pivotal shape and goes deep into the ground.

The period of life of the Amur velvet is from two hundred and fifty to three hundred years.

If you grow Amur velvet in the middle lane, then in its height such a plant will reach from six to ten meters.

The surface of the wood is gray with a silvery tint. The texture of the bark is rather soft, thickened. In young plants, the bark has a smooth surface and a light color. Over time, the wood becomes darker and more grooved. The surface resembles a cork in its structure, it is velvety, it can be easily separated. The bark of aged trees can reach a thickness of seven centimeters.

Single trees have branches that run almost horizontally. At the same time, the crown in its shape resembles a tent or umbrella.

The foliage has a dark green color, a complex structure. The tops of the leaf plate are pointed, the shape is rather narrow. The leaves are arranged alternately on the petioles, which are located in the central part. The blooming of the leaves occurs quite late, in early June. On the contrary, foliage falls early. With the onset of October, as a rule, foliage is already absent.

Amur velvet is a dioecious crop. Flowering occurs in July. At the same time, the brushes are not very expressive in appearance, small in size. The first flowering can be expected only after sixteen to eighteen years. Amur Velvet flowers have a strong specific aroma that few people like. Leaves with wood have the same smell. This feature is inherent in most of the root crops.

After pollination has passed with the help of insects, fruits begin to set. They are small berries, colored black. They have a shine, reaching up to one centimeter in size. Such spherical fruits are grouped in medium-sized brushes. Each such berry contains about five seeds.

Ripening occurs in early October.The berries of the Amur Velvet stick to the shoots until the onset of frost. This culture bears fruit quite abundantly, annually one adult plant gives from eight to ten kilograms of fruit.

Amur velvet: application

Amur velvet: photo of a plant

All parts of a given culture are used for different purposes.

The surface of the bark has a very beautiful pattern from nature, the structure wood appreciated for its technical characteristics. The central part is in great demand, as a rule. The wood is painted in a light brown shade, has dark strokes and patterns. The slices have a velvety texture. When the wood is dried, it hardly deforms.

Wood is well able to tolerate high humidity and is not attacked by fungal infections. Such wood can be easily turned and cut. It can be glued, impregnated. This culture resembles ash in its properties.

However, the velvet wood is darker in color and softer to the touch. For construction purposes, this species is not often used due to the fact that the shape of the tree has too many knots. This wood is sometimes used in the furniture industry.

On an industrial scale, velvet wood is used as a soundproofing and heat-insulating material for decoration. The quality of such wood is no worse than cork. The required layer is removed from the plants without cutting down. Thus, the plant grows further and does not die.

Fruit Amur velvet is not suitable for eating, their taste is very bitter, and the aroma is not very pleasant, with a hint of resin. If you eat three or four berries, then intoxication can begin. Most likely, this will be followed by vomiting, pain in the abdomen and head.

At the same time, Amur Velvet berries have useful qualities:

• Fruits, foliage and bark contain a lot of tannins, as well as essential oils and alkaloids.
• The fruits of this culture are used to cure diabetes mellitus, dermatitis, and fever. Such berries are indicated for people with kidney disease, high blood pressure.
• Decoctions made on the basis of velvet berries, as well as its foliage, have a powerful bactericidal property.

Flowers Amur velvet is an excellent honey plant for bees.

How to plant and propagate Amur Velvet

Amur velvet looks very harmonious on any site. This tree will be a wonderful decoration for a particular neighborhood. Growing velvet is not particularly difficult. Amur velvet will fit well with other cultures.

This plant looks beautiful in the vicinity of conifers, maple, birch, oaks. Amur velvet, as mentioned above, grows quite strongly in breadth. In this regard, it is necessary to lay a certain distance relative to fences, buildings and other crops growing nearby.

Utilities located underground should be located at a distance from the landings.

The best thing plant Amur velvet in spring (April) or in autumn (in the first half of September). When choosing planting material, it is better to give preference to one-year and two-year-old seedlings. The planting hole should be about sixty centimeters wide and deep. The hole is filled with a nutrient mixture, which includes humus, a small amount of sand, turf and leafy soil. The planting hole should be prepared seven days before the intended planting of trees.

Reproduction this culture occurs by seed or cuttings.

If you chose the first option, then the seeds of Amur Velvet must be collected in the fall, after which stratification is carried out. Seeds are stored for about three months in a room where it is cool and there is good air circulation.

If this event was not carried out for some reason, then before sowing the planting material, you need to leave it in the water for five to six days. In this case, the water must be hot.The seeds of Amur Velvet are planted in well-fertilized soil, which will contain humus, peat and garden soil.

It is allowed to sow Amur Velvet seeds directly on an open area. The embedment depth is three to five centimeters. At first, young shoots need to be closely monitored and properly cared for.

From time to time, the plants need to be watered, the soil should be loosened, and the weeds should be removed. Before the onset of the winter period, the plants are insulated with a mulch layer.

As for the method cuttings, then the segments are usually prepared in the spring or summer, in early June. Until the cuttings take root, they need to be dug into moist soil for three to four weeks.

How to properly care for Amur Velvet

Berry Amur Velvet: photo of a plant

To water young plants are needed from time to time during the first two seasons, as well as during dry weather.

Feed nutrient-rich velvet is needed on a regular basis. For this purpose, you can use rotted manure, compost, urea. It will not be superfluous to periodically add top dressing in a complex based on mineral elements.

Periodically you need to carry out loosening near the trunk zone, so the root system will better receive moisture, as well as oxygen. To prevent the soil from drying out too quickly, you can lay a mulching layer in the trunk circle. For this, you can use needles and sod land.

Young velvets are gaining in growth quite actively. After the plant has been planted, in the first season, the tree grows forty to fifty centimeters. And after a couple of years, they can grow up to one and a half meters.

Process trimming must be neat. This procedure is done only if you need to remove shoots that are too low to the ground. In addition, dry and broken branches should always be removed. Where the cut was made, it is necessary to carry out processing with the help of a garden varnish.

An adult plant is not too afraid of low temperatures, but frosts are dangerous for young trees. Winter damage also requires treatment.

Several years must pass from the moment of planting the Amur Velvet for the plant to get strong enough and gain strength. An adult plant has a very strong immunity against not too favorable weather conditions, gusty winds, bright sunlight and arid pores.

If you want to receive Amur fruits from Velvet, it is recommended to plant representatives of both sexes in the neighborhood.