Tree plier is an ornamental vine with picturesque fruits, low care requirements and relatively fast growth. This article provides information about the cultivation and care, types of round-leaved wood pliers.
Where did such a strange plant name come from?
The deciduous liana received such a frightening name for the ability of its sickle-shaped hooks to grow into the trunk or branches of a tree, braid them and literally suffocate the plants with its arms until they die. Therefore, the round-leaved tree plier is not recommended to be planted near valuable garden trees, such as:
- Apple tree.
- Pear.
- Plum.
- Apricot and others
Description of wood pliers
This is a fast growing vine, deciduous and evergreen. This is a very large species of this plant, reaches a length of 12-18 meters. The stems of the creeper cling to any support, braiding it and each other. In the upper part of the plant, a strongly branched crown is formed, in diameter it reaches 3 meters. If there are no supports, wood pliersround-leaved (Celastrus orbiculatus) will spread along the ground, forming huge impenetrable thickets with its branches. The stems of mature plants are usually 1 to 4 cm in diameter. Shoots can be long and curly. There are quite a few leaves on them, but there are a lot of leaves on short and straight shoots.
The bark of the stems is dark, with deep longitudinal cracks. The young shoots of the woodworm are green at first, and then they turn orange-red or brownish-brown. Liana wood is hard whitish-yellow, with a brown core in the middle.
The round-leaved tree plier has dense, bright green, rounded and oblong leaves with a pointed tip 5-10 cm long and the same size wide. Foliage turns bright yellow-orange in autumn.
The woody liana blooms in June-July with inconspicuous greenish (whitish or pinkish) flowers. 8 days after the start, fruits are formed in the form of a spherical box. It was at this time - during the fruiting period - that the unpretentious vine is especially effective and good.
At the end of August, the boxes become bright yellow. And then they open in a very unusual way - three wings. They hang from long stalks and show bright red, fleshy seeds. They do not crumble even in winter and stand out beautifully among the snow-covered branches. Because of these seeds, the tree plier has another name - the red bubble. Each box contains 3 seeds. By the way, the seeds have germination for 3 years. The fruits of the tree pliers are eaten with pleasure by birds in the autumn-winter period. creeper grows enoughfast - from 1 to 5 meters per year.
Use of wood pliers
The plant is widely used in landscape design and has great potential in this direction. In summer, the liana is a wonderful backdrop for a flower garden and pleases with its green leaves. In the autumn, the wood pliers are full of bright colors. In winter, branches with beautiful seeds are often used to make various compositions, bouquets, flower arrangements. Very often, the Hercules round-leaved tree plier is used for vertical gardening. It perfectly decorates nondescript buildings, as well as:
- Fences.
- Pavilions.
- Arches and others
Tree liana is often used as soil cover on slopes, embankments and retaining walls. Preparations from the seeds, roots, leaves and shoots of the woodworm are used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat various diseases.
Homeland of the plant
In Russia, in its natural habitat, woody liana (round-leaved tree pliers) is found in the Primorsky Territory and Sakhalin. The homeland of the wood pliers are:
- Equatorial and South Africa.
- Central America.
- Southeast Asia.
This type of liana is most common in a narrow strip of the sea coast and in river valleys, as well as:
- In the sparse forests.
- Thickets of shrubs on a sandy-pebble deposit.
- Rocky and rocky slopes.
Plant species
Tree pliers are resistant to various diseases and are practically not attacked by pests.
Several types of plants are grown, these are:
- Brush-shaped.
- Round-leaved. Seeds of this species (for example, such as Monarch round-leaved tree pliers) can be ordered on specialized sites.
- Wickered.
- Climbing.
- Curly.
- Tough.
In Russia, only 2 types of frost-resistant tree-like vines are common - this is tenacious and round-leaved. Outwardly, these two species are almost indistinguishable.
Care
This frost-resistant species does not require shelter in winter. But sometimes young shoots in severe frost can freeze slightly. Although later they easily depart and are restored. The round-leaved tree pliers tolerate transplantation in spring and autumn very well, especially if it is 2-3 years old. The crown of the creeper, especially if it has grown a lot, can be thinned out, while removing dried branches and stems. The plant grows well both in partial shade and in the sun.
Propagation of tree vines
The plant is propagated by both seeds and cuttings. Seeds can be sown immediately after they ripen in autumn. Spring (April) is also a great time to plant a round-leaved tree plier. Growing a plant is as follows. Seeds before spring planting are hardened for 2 months at a temperature of 2-5 degrees or kept in wet sand for 30 days. Seedlings already begin to emerge in May, by autumn the seedlings will reach a height of about 80 cm.
The first 3 years are the most dangerous for young plants. So that they do not freeze, seedlings must be sheltered from severe frosts. For the first time, the tree plier blooms only at 7 years old. Cuttings of vines are carried out in early spring. Semi-lignified shoots are suitable for cuttings. Cuttings 7 cm long are planted at an angle in the soil as a whole. A month later, the first shoots and roots appear. For the winter, young plants also need to be covered.
Seedlings in the nursery are grown for 4 years, then sold. If there is a desire to buy a round-leaved wood pliers, then it is best to choose a plant grown in a trusted nursery. After 4 years, this plant will already bloom.
If seedlings are planted in a row, then the distance between them should be about 1 meter. The soil is prepared as follows. Drainage is poured at the bottom of the pit - sand, crushed stone, caramzite. Then nutrient soil is poured in.
Liana loves loose soil. Therefore, the ground under it must be regularly loosened. In spring, the plant can be fertilized. In summer, in dry weather, the round-leaved tree pliers require abundant watering. When planting this plant, you must immediately take care of its support.
Drevogubets can grow on any soil, also on drying ones. It will be better if the plant is planted in "poor" soil, as it grows very strongly on fertile lands. The tree liana also adapts well to acidic soil.
Somewood pliers features
The tree pliers plant is a dioecious species of vines. In order for them to please the eye all year round, you need to acquire several seedlings, for example:
- 2 plants - round-leaved tree pliers Diana is a female species.
- 1 plant - Hercules tree pliers - male tree.
Female species of vines will delight in the fall with their beautiful fruits. Trees actively bear fruit only if there is a "male individual" nearby. After all, only she is able to pollinate female flowers. No fruit is formed on the male tree. It is clear that if only female trees are present, then they will not bear fruit. And vice versa, if you purchased a round-leaved Hercules tree plier, that is, a male-type liana, then you will not wait for colorful fruits. The male and female individuals of this plant must be present, then in the fall you will enjoy the abundance of colors. Although if the vines are used only for landscaping, then you should not bother about this. Just fruit-bearing pliers are more decorative and look more spectacular.
Today, the wood pliers are not very popular in our gardens, but its demand is gradually growing. It is advisable to purchase a plant from a nursery and avoid buying plants of unknown origin.
