The name Polygonum comes from the Greek words "polys" - a lot of and "gonos" - knee; given for a knotted, cranked stem. As for their generic Latin name, botanists have not yet come to a consensus. In various foreign publications, the highlanders are found under the names Polygonum, Persicaria, Fallopia, Reynotria, Tovara.
The genus includes about 300 species of annual, perennial herbaceous plants, less often shrubs and lianas, widely distributed throughout the globe. They can be found in different parts light - in the meadows and along the banks of rivers, in forests and in the highlands.
There are about 20 species in cultivation. Stems erect or prostrate, sometimes curly. Leaves are simple, alternate. The flowers are small, in few-flowered whorls, often collected in racemose or paniculate inflorescences. The fruit is a nut. In 1 g up to 100 seeds.
Highlander changeable
Prehistory
Highlander snake or Sakhalin buckwheat, the second name is Siberian bamboo - rubbish forever
Until some time, my attitude towards the highlanders was, to put it mildly, cool. This was explained by my absolute loss to my own wife in the question of a place in our own garden Sakhalin mountaineer, or, as it is often called, "Sakhalin buckwheat" (Polygonum sachalinense). The wife was guided by undeniable arguments: “How beautiful she is!” and “Well, look how fast it grows!”. My weak defensive statements, such as: “She will strangle the whole garden for us” and “It’s better to plant a drowsy,” were cracking at the seams. Therefore, the Sakhalin highlander prospered with us for five years. No weeding and other local methods of struggle did not lead to the destruction of the Far Eastern aggressor.
Highlander snake or Sakhalin buckwheat, the second name is Siberian bamboo- extremely showy plant. beautiful foliage nice bloom
The plant is aggressive, its roots are 1.5 -2 meters deep, red, hard and large, like a shrub or a small tree. It clogs everything, nothing grows under it, bare earth. Grows from a microscopic piece, mowing does not help. The plant, of course, is beautiful like bamboo, but its roots go down 2 meters down.
I must say that objectively, abstracting from my personal antipathy, the Sakhalin mountaineer is quite beautiful: arcuate stems, raising delicate fragrant inflorescences to a height of more than two meters. Large leaves give the whole plant a certain exotic charm. But irresistible aggressiveness, a tendency to rapid expansion made the very phrase "Sakhalin buckwheat" a synonym for a malicious weed!
As you know, there is only one step from love to hate, and my wife with the words “You planted her wrong, so she flooded” allowed me to wage a war to defeat. No sooner said than done! Herbicide helped to quickly get rid of the aggressor. And I began to be firmly convinced that there would never be plants with the generic name Highlander (Polygonum) in my garden.
chance meeting
Literally next spring, my neighbor, who considers herself to be in the category of people who know best what others need, with the most solemn look gave me ... a mountaineer root. True, it was a different species - the "variable mountaineer" (Polygonum polymorpha), but nevertheless, I did not experience joy from the gift. Seeing a slight annoyance on my face, the neighbor added fuel to the fire: “Don’t be afraid, it will grow quickly!”. I couldn't tell her that this is exactly what I'm afraid of!
Highlander is changeable. Do not judge a plant by annoying "relatives".
In the year of planting, flowering occurred in mid-summer. The bush reached the size of a meter and a little, and obviously did not spoil the overall picture of my “natural garden”. But the most important thing is that for the third allotted to him square meter he didn't get out!
Highlander changeable
One of the most interesting views. This is a large perennial, a luxurious shrub which can grow to almost a height of 2 m. Strong, hollow, straight, strongly branched in the upper part of the stems with a diameter of more than 2 cm are covered from top to bottom with oblong-lanceolate leaves (more than 10 cm long). Huge complex paniculate inflorescences, consisting of small white flowers exuding a spicy aroma, resemble a white cloud. This mountaineer blooms in late June - early July and is in bloom until mid-August. However, even after that, his fluffy panicles remain decorative. It has a powerful root system that goes into the soil to a depth of 30 cm. These highlanders are unpretentious, winter without shelter, grow well on any soil.
Declaration of love
The next year was a turning point. Of course, I watched the “gift horse” with particular passion, but the mountaineer behaved and looked beyond praise. In May, bright green shoots with attractive leaves appeared. The growth was extremely rapid: by mid-June, the bush had reached a height of one and a half meters and was clearly not going to stop. A week later, numerous grayish-white inflorescences appeared, similar to clenched fists. In July, the development of the plant reached its culmination: a two-meter bush was covered with snow-white flowers, exuding a clear honey aroma, which was felt from a distance of several meters. By the way, the flowering of the changeable mountaineer lasts almost 2 months, and everyone who comes to my garden at this time without fail dips his nose into fragrant inflorescences. It is understandable: not only is the smell very pleasant, but also the flowers are just at the level of the face of an adult.
Happily ever after…
This plant is extremely plastic. Can also grow on a cultivated lung sandy soil(as in my case), and on loam. Tolerates partial shade, but prefers direct sun. The mountaineer has a powerful rhizome, so it needs additional watering only in extremely dry summers. It is winter-hardy in the conditions of central Russia without any shelter, but it is better to cut off the aerial part for the winter. Although you should not rush into this - despite the fact that flowering ends in early autumn, even withered inflorescences do not spoil general form. It's just that the plant continues to correspond to the current season: in spring - rapidly growing greenery, in summer - abundant and spectacular flowering, and in autumn - slow, majestic falling asleep ...
Colors od Andrey Ganov
Botanists of the world have not yet come to a consensus on what Latin name to assign to this plant as a generic one. In various publications, the mountaineer from the Buckwheat family is called Persicaria, Reynotria, Fallopia, Tovara, most often Polygonum. The last name comes from the Greek "polys" - many, "gonos" - knee, this term is assigned to the plant for the cranked, knotted stem.
Highlander - decorative flower
Highlander has about 300 species. More often it is a herbaceous, annual or perennial plant, less often a vine or shrub. It has spread widely around the globe, growing in forests, on the banks of rivers, meadows and highlands.
Stems prostrate or erect, occasionally curly. Leaves alternate, simple. small flowers collected in racemose or paniculate inflorescences. The fruit is a nut with many seeds.
Highlander is interesting for its surprisingly diverse species and distribution under a variety of conditions. natural conditions. It can meet you on the street in the village in the form of grass-ant, or it can create three-meter thickets of Sakhalin buckwheat. It grows modestly near swamps and lakes, and can proudly stretch out as a 15-meter liana, which quickly braids buildings, fences, trees growing in the neighborhood.
About 20 types of this are used in decoration. amazing plant. It is quite unpretentious, successfully grows in different zones, perfectly enduring pruning and maintaining decorativeness all season.
Decorative plant species
Highlander alpine
Polygonum alpinum is found in the wild in mountain meadows and forb steppes of the Northern Hemisphere in the temperate zone. It grows into a powerful sprawling bush with a height of one and a half meters. Numerous stems are branched in the upper part. Foliage lanceolate-ovate. Roots strongly creeping, cord-like.
Blooms profusely in mid-summer. White flowers are numerous, in large panicles. Highlander is frost-resistant, does not need shelter for the winter.
The plant is a weed, aggressive, unpretentious, but very decorative. It is good to plant it near outbuildings, fences. Looks great in cut bouquets.
Highlander Ayan
Aconogonon ajanense grows in Japan, Siberia, on Far East, in China. It can be seen on gravelly talus, rocky slopes in the subalpine and alpine mountain belts.
The plant is perennial, reaches 40 cm in height. The stem is erect, with splayed branches, covered with short hairs, sometimes with the addition of long hairs. The leaves are elliptical, pointed, broadly cuneate at the base. Grow on short petioles, may be hairy, sometimes naked. Flowers form racemes located at the tops of the branches and the main stem.
Perianths pinkish or white.
Highlander lingonberry
Polygonum vaccinifolium is native to the Himalayas. It is a herbaceous creeping perennial growing up to 15 cm.
Forms large groups. Blooms small in late summer pink. Flowers gather in dense inflorescences.
Fairly frost-resistant, but requires protection from moisture in winter.
Weirich Highlander
You can see Polygonum weyrichii in the wild on the grassy slopes of the Kuriles, Sakhalin, and Japan. Forms powerful thickets up to 2 m tall. The stems are branched, the leaves are oval, elongated, sessile. Cord-like creeping roots. Blooms in late summer. The racemose inflorescences consist of very small nondescript white flowers. The highlander is winter-hardy, it is not required to cover.
The plant is very unpretentious, although it prefers rich loam soils. It is good to decorate fences, outbuildings with it.
Highlander viviparous
Polygonum viviparum grows in Europe, North America, Asia. It grows in swamps and swampy meadows, in mountains and forests.
Perennial plant, about 50 cm tall. The erect stem is simple, glabrous. The leaves are flat, sometimes with curled edges, the blades of the leaflets are rigid. At the root, the foliage is elliptical, pointed, rounded or wedge-shaped at the base, the petioles are longer than the plates. Stem leaves are linear, on short petioles. Inflorescences loose, narrow. Perianth pale pink or white. The fruits are triangular.
Viviparous highlander blooms in June. Sometimes, instead of flowers, small bulbs are formed, thanks to which the plant multiplies rapidly.
East Highlander
India became the birthplace of Polygonum orientale. This species is annual, herbaceous, quite tall (up to 2 m). It blooms with small red flowers, gathering in drooping paniculate inflorescences. Grows well in nutritious, deeply cultivated, moist soils.
The species is propagated by spring (in May) by sowing seeds immediately to a permanent place. In addition to decorating fences and walls, they are used to create a background when forming mixborders.
Highlander capitate
Polygonum capilatum is little known, but at the same time it is a very elegant annual plant, which has a rare quality among annuals - it is able to quickly close the soil.
The plant is heat-loving, grows well in sunny places, loves moisture. In partial shade, the color of the leaves becomes less decorative.
Highlander branches abundantly, spreads, grows small - 15 cm in height. The leaves are small, with reddish stripes and spots. The inflorescences are small, round, collected from small light pink flowers located above the leaves. Highlander is decorative from June until frost.
Well propagated by seeds, cuttings. Sow seeds in March for seedlings in pots. After 10-14 days shoots will appear. AT open ground it is better to plant in early June, placing sprouts at 15-20 cm. Water when the soil dries up. During the growth period, feed the plant 2-3 times.
A beautiful border can be formed from a mountaineer, as it tolerates pruning well.
You can also land on an empty place in a mixborder, in a garden vase, from where the shoots will hang beautifully.
Highlander changeable
Polygonum polymorpha is native to East Asia. This is a very unusual plant - a large, luxurious perennial bush that grows up to 2 m. The stems are straight, strong, hollow, strongly branched at the top. root system very powerful, goes to a depth of 30 cm. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate. The inflorescences are huge, paniculate, complex, formed from small white flowers with a spicy aroma. The plant blooms in June and continues to bloom until mid-August. Fluffy panicles retain their decorative effect for a long time.
The mountaineer is changeable unpretentious, it is not necessary to cover in winter, it grows well on any soils.
Highlander related
Polygonum affine is native to Nepal, Himalayas. This species is perennial, herbaceous, reaching 25 cm in height. The stems are rising. Leaves oval-lanceolate or oblong, evergreen. In dense spike-shaped inflorescences up to 10 cm long, the flowers are pale pink, small, darken towards the end of flowering to a pinkish-red hue. The related mountaineer retains its decorative effect after flowering due to the fruits and leaves that acquire a dark red color.
are beautiful decorative varieties:
- Darieeling Red - with deep pink flowers;
- Donald Lowndes - with a pink-red tint of flowers.
Kindred Highlander prefers shady places, however, grows well in the sun. Not picky about soils, just does not like their acidification. If the sites are well drained, then it develops well. It is resistant to droughts and does not tolerate stagnant groundwater.
It is frost-resistant, but does not tolerate snowless winters very well. For prevention, it is better to cover with coniferous spruce branches. Overwintered leaves should be shaded in spring.
Highlander is great for ground cover groups, planting on wide terraces in rocky gardens. Can also be used for cutting and creating dry bouquets.
It is decorative in the design of coastal zones of small reservoirs when planted next to low perennials, bulbous plants. It forms a green dense carpet, elegant inflorescences are wonderfully combined with medium-sized hostas, astilbes, virgin tradescantia. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that, growing strongly on fertile soils, the knotweed can overwhelm species that are less hardy.
Highlander splayed
Polygonum divaricatum originated in Mongolia, China, and the Far East. This species is perennial, has many stems up to one and a half meters high, with brownish bark. The leaves are lanceolate, the upper ones are up to 6 cm long, the lower ones are longer - up to 10 cm. The small flowers are whitish, gathering in highly branched dense panicles. Because of the wide branching, the highlander got its name.
Highlander Sakhalin
Polygonum sachalinense is otherwise called Sakhalin buckwheat. It grows respectively in the south of Sakhalin, and is also found in the Kuril Islands and in Japan.
It is a herbaceous plant, perennial, with a creeping root. The stems are hollow, straight, strong, up to 3 m, brown or green. The foliage is large, about 20 cm wide leaf blade and 30 cm long, broadly oval, on a short petiole. Off-white flowers small size form 20 cm paniculate inflorescences. Sakhalin mountaineer blooms in July. The fruit is a dark brown trihedral nut.
Sakhalin mountaineer grown for decoration and camouflage of outbuildings, the formation of thickets. At the same time, keep in mind that it is growing rapidly, its development must be restrained, since the Sakhalin giant is able to capture large territories. Usually it is enough to dig the limiters to a depth of 30 cm.
Highlander candle-shaped
Polygonum amplexicaule is native to the mountain meadows of the Himalayas. This bushy perennial plant has straight tall stems (up to 1.2 m), wide lanceolate leaves that turn yellow in autumn. The decoration of the bush is bright spikelets-inflorescences that appear in mid-July and turn red until the end of summer. The rhizome is powerful, horizontally growing, slowly developing, and the bush grows quite compactly.
When planting a candle-shaped mountaineer, deepen the rhizome buds 8-10 cm from the surface of the earth to protect it from freezing. In the autumn, insulate the bush, for which you need to spud it with earth and cover it with lutrasil.
In decoration, spectacular varieties of this highlander are used:
- Album - the color of the inflorescences is white;
- High Society - crimson flowers;
- Roseum - accordingly has pink flowers;
- Jo and Guido's form - boasts large beautiful flowers scarlet shade;
- Inverleith- dwarf plant with bright red flowers.
Highlander virginian
Polygonum virginianum is very unusual and beautiful perennial. He has multi-colored foliage, for which he is valued in decorative gardening. The flowers are greenish-white and appear late in summer and do not add any significance.
For the formation of bright decorative foliage, it is recommended to plant in sunny places, allowing for light partial shade. It tolerates drought well, but it is better that the soil is moist.
To achieve the greatest effect, it is better to plant in large groups.
Different varieties foliage color:
- Lance Corpora - yellowish-green leaves with rich red-brown spots in the center;
- Painter's Palette - variegated leaves with black and red markings, white stripes. In late summer, aerial stems appear with a large number of red flower beads, which adds to the showiness of the shrub.
Small-Headed Highlander "Red Dragon"
The Red Dragon (Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’) originated in China. It is actively used in floriculture, as it is not aggressive, unlike relatives, it grows slowly, does not form seeds.
Perennial has parameters of 90 cm in height and in width. Dark red shoots appear in early spring, they bloom heart-shaped pointed beautiful leaves of plum-red color with a metallic sheen. The foliage is velvety, looks spectacular on red stems. In summer, it becomes greener, while retaining a red edge and a tri-color silver-green-brown coloration. During hot nights, the color of the leaves is not so bright and saturated. Flowers that bloom in August-September are small, white, and have no decorative value.
Highlander is undemanding to conditions, soils, even grows on heavy clay. Although it prefers moist soils, it can adapt well to dry conditions.
In winter, it is advisable to shelter in very coldy.
In ornamental gardening, it is good to plant in a group with plants with silver foliage, yellow flowers.
Newly grown variety "Silver Dragon", different from the "Red Dragon" more silvery leaves with red edge.
Highlander Japanese
Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum Persicaria japonica), despite its name, came from East Asia. In the state of Washington (USA) is listed as a weed.
2 varieties are common:
- Variegata. In the spring, this variety has leaves with shoots of bright coral color, slowly changing to green with many white spots that merge into whole sectors, all this gives it a fantastic look. Sometimes plants are obtained with leaves of creamy white tones.
For the good development of the bush requires constant foliar top dressing because there is not enough chlorophyll. The bushes are stable, compact, they do not need to be tied up. Likes partial shade and good soil moisture. During the summer it grows up to 120 cm, in winter the shoots die off completely.
- Highlander Japanese compact. Distinguished by bright purple petioles, stems and leaf veins. The leaves of a young plant are purple, then turn green, leaving a crimson edging along the edge, which disappears closer to autumn. The compact highlander looks beautiful during the flowering period: light coral flowers are then replaced by bright crimson fruit boxes.
Highlander Sakhalin (video)
Highlander Aubert
Polygonum aubertii is native to Western China. This is a shrub liana, low, curly. The trunk lignifies slightly, the shoots are even less.
Leaflets are ovate, with wavy edges, at first reddish, later bright green.
Numerous brushes, formed in the upper part of the shoots, consist of greenish-pale, sometimes pink, small flowers. Forms a fluffy flowering solid wall. The fruits are inconspicuous, whitish, small.
The plant is propagated by seeds. Grows well on fertile, moderately moist soils, can grow in partial shade. In winter, in frosts, the aerial part dies off, then quickly grows back.
In ornamental horticulture, it is highly valued for its dense bright green foliage, planted to create low hedges, planted with mountaineers lower part walls.
Highlander baljuan
Polygonum baldschuanicum is also called Baljuan buckwheat. He came from Central Asia. This is a vine with stems growing up to 15 m.
Young shoots are green, smooth, turning gray with age.
Broadly oval leaves are pointed, spear-shaped or heart-shaped at the base, light green. White flowers have a pinkish-lilac hue, they are small in size, collected in rather large paniculate inflorescences. Sometimes it blooms twice: in May-June and September-October.
SIBERIAN BAMBOO
This is what the neighbors call the plant on my site with stems 3 meters high and 3 cm thick, with thickenings characteristic of bamboo
On the in fact, this gigantic plant is called Sakhalin mountaineer or Sakhalin buckwheat (Poligonum sachalinense). In Russian nature, it is found only in the south of Sakhalin. But, due to its exceptional attractiveness, it has long been introduced into culture, and feels great in the Russian expanses from the shores of the White Sea to the shores of the Black.
Looking at this 3-meter giant, it is hard to believe that this is not a tree, not a shrub, but grass, i.e. the aerial part dies off for the winter, and in the spring growth resumes from a powerful root. I have already mentioned the cranked stems and the characteristic knobby thickenings on them. By the way, thanks to this particular feature, the Sakhalin highlander belongs to the buckwheat family or polygonums, which in Latin means “multiple generations”. Attached to these thickenings on short petioles are broadly oval, pointed at the end, very large leaves that can hardly fit on a writing sheet of paper. By autumn, short panicles of small white flowers appear in the axils of the upper leaves. At home, seeds have time to ripen - trihedral (like most highlanders) shiny nuts. in Siberia and middle lane Russian seeds do not ripen.
This wonderful plant has many uses. First of all, I would note his outstanding decorative qualities. This powerful fast growing plant, depending on where you plant it, forms a picturesque curtain on a lawn or near a pond, a dense screen covering outbuildings, or even hedge. Moreover, despite the seasonal growth, Sakhalin buckwheat serves as an ornament all year round. In autumn, only the leaves fall, and the thick, woody, dark brown stems remain standing as a wall all winter, and it is then that their resemblance to bamboo becomes especially noticeable.
It doesn't matter what it is useful plant is edible. Young leaves are used for food until they are unfolded and rolled up, and a young stem until it becomes fibrous and easily broken with fingers. At this time, the delicate skin covering the stem is easily removed. The taste of juicy stems is peculiar, slightly sour. The main advantage of buckwheat is the early spring period of its use, when there are no other vitamin products from the garden yet. Already in early May, soup, cabbage soup, compote, jelly jam can be prepared from it, in the fillings of pies much earlier than rhubarb and even sorrel.
I will give a couple of recipes for dishes with Sakhalin buckwheat from the wonderful book by Zamyatina N.G. Robinson's Kitchen.
Soup. Pour barley groats into boiling water (per 2 liters 3 tablespoons), cook until soft. Put 3 potatoes cut into cubes and cook for another 10 minutes. Add finely chopped, peeled buckwheat and cook for another 3-5 minutes. When serving, salt to taste and season with sour cream.
Kissel. Peel 0.5 kg of young shoots of buckwheat, finely chop and stew with 0.5 cups of water. Dilute the resulting puree with 1 liter of water, add 0.5 cups of sugar, boil. Stir in cold water 1 tablespoon of starch and pour into boiling jelly while stirring. Add cinnamon to the tip of a knife.
It is certainly necessary to tell about some more facets of the use of Sakhalin buckwheat. The stems that have stood the winter, I cut down in the spring and use them as pokes for peas in the summer. And in the fall, I cover perennials with bunches of stems for snow retention, requiring warming for the winter. And, in the end, I put the spent stems in the base compost heap where they serve the last, very important service (even two) - they provide drainage of excess moisture and air flow into the heap, without which it is impossible to obtain high-quality compost.
That's what a wonderful plant in all respects - Sakhalin buckwheat! She is also remarkable for her exceptional vitality. Requires absolutely no maintenance. It is winter-hardy and is not exacting to the soil. True, on open places, with fertile and sufficiently moist soil, it works better. Propagated by creeping rhizomes vegetatively. There are legends about the aggressiveness of a newcomer from Sakhalin, some claim that you just have to let her into the garden, and she will force you out of it, like a fox hare from a bast hut. In fact, buckwheat can easily be kept in its designated place. It is only necessary to remove the young shoots at the beginning of summer, preventing them from maturing, when it will really be difficult to uproot a powerful root. I find buckwheat in indestructibility positive side and I’m not at all worried that it may suffer from a fierce winter, rodents and other misfortunes.
Unfortunately, planting material Sakhalin buckwheat does not exist in garden shops and almost nowhere to buy it. To everyone who is interested in this beautiful, useful and unpretentious plant, I will gladly send the roots for propagation. They, as well as planting material for more than 200 other decorative, medicinal, spice plants, vegetables, flowers and shrubs can be ordered from the catalog. Send an envelope with your address - in it you will receive a catalog for free. The catalog can also be found on my website: http://sem-ot-anis.narod.ru
Anisimov Gennady Pavlovich
634034, Tomsk, PO box 343
Email: [email protected]
mob. (MTS) 8913 8518 103
City phone 412-436