In landscape design climbing ornamental plants occupy a special position. With the help of such vines camouflage fences, outbuildings, make beautiful compositions. One of the brightest representatives of such plants is calistegia, which will be discussed in this article.
Brief description and application in garden design
This perennial herb belongs to the Povoy genus and the family of Vyunkovyh. It is also known by the names new, french rose, birch. 
The use of kalistegii in design There are several types of kalistegiy. All of them are distinguished by curly stems, stemmed leaves of a triangular or triangular-ovate form and rather large (up to 10 cm in diameter) flowers of white, pale purple or pink color. The flowers can be bell-shaped or double, resembling the flowers of a rose, their blooming continues until frost.
Kalistegii root system is well developed, so new shoots can sprout a relatively large, up to 1.5 m, distance from the planting site. The scourge of this creeper reaches 5 m in length, they are covered with reddish skin. Fetus type - a four-folding box. In winter, the ground part of the plant dies, and in spring a new cycle of its development begins.
The Vynukov family also includes such plants as: yam, ipomoea, field bindweed, and ampelous amber.
This plant is widely used for decoration of territories. Overgrown with this creeper landscape designers like to cover nondescript buildings, decorate gazebos, balconies, arches and fences. One of the interesting applications is flowering thickets that surround the porch of a house.
In decorative compositions, calistegia combines perfectly with climbers such as clematis and campsisses. It is often used to create a backdrop, against which are planted roses, marigolds, petunias, etc.
Video Review of Kalistegia Plant
Choosing a landing site
For this plant, the best area is considered to be illuminated by direct sunlight in the morning and shaded after dinner. If it is planted in a completely shaded place, its flowering will begin later and end earlier, while it will be less bright.
Kalistegia prefers light loamy, well-drained soils, the proximity of groundwater affects it negatively. At one place it can grow about 10 years.
Soil preparation
Usually, Kalistegia is planted in May, at the beginning or in the middle, depending on local climatic conditions. Before planting, they dig up the plot and apply fertilizer. For bait use complex fertilizers, for example "Bona Forte", as well as ash (2 tbsp per 1 sq. M).
Important! In order to prevent excessive growth of the root system of a given plant and its transformation into a weed, the landing site is fenced off. For this, sheets of slate, plastic, etc., dug in to a depth of 30 cm, are used.
Planting division of rhizomes
The best way to breed all types of calistegia is the division of rhizomes. For this, in the fall (at the end of September or at the beginning of October) the plant is dug out, the ground part is cut. The rest together with the earth is placed in a container, which must be kept in a cool place all winter. During storage it is necessary to moisten the soil periodically with the plant. 
In March, the rhizomes are freed from the soil and cut into about 5 cm fragments, and the sections are sprinkled with ashes. These fragments are planted in a common container or individual pots to a depth of 5 cm in a horizontal position. As a substrate using a mixture of sand, humus and sod land in the ratio of 1: 2: 2.
After planting, containers or pots are covered with film and left in a warm room, at a temperature of + 22 ... +25 ° C. Substrate should remain slightly moist.
Did you know? In the forests of Cuba, Jamaica and other islands of the West Indies vines make up 33% of the total number of plants. In European forests, their number is estimated at 1.8%.
After emergence of shoots the film is removed. When the sprouts reach a height of 5 cm, they pinch. In May, seedlings are planted in open ground. The distance between the planting of individual seedlings - 20-30 cm.
Sometimes Kalistegiya planted in the fall, at the end of the growing season. For this, a part of the root system is freed from the soil of a growing plant.
A fragment of a horizontal root with shoots is selected and separated, the cut points are treated with ash. This root is planted on the prepared, as described above, the plot to a depth of 15 cm in a horizontal position. The landing site for the winter is covered with a covering material.
How to care for liana
Vertical tensioned wire, coarse mesh, arched structures, elements of garden arbors are used as supports around which this vine climbs. 
The diameter of the support should not exceed 10 cm, otherwise it will be difficult for a calistegic to twist. It is better to arrange supports immediately after planting the vines.
Kalistegii is watered regularly, but moderately, and during the drought - abundantly. If regular precipitation falls in the summer, you can do without watering.
In general, the plant is quite able to endure a short dry period without irrigation. In the spring, prior to the active growth of calistegia, they loosen the soil around it and bring in mullein.
Important! Kalistegia also finds its use in traditional medicine, but because of its toxicity, it is strongly recommended that it is not recommended for people to prepare medical preparations.
During the flowering period, regular (every two weeks) dressing of calistegia is recommended. To do this, use complex mineral fertilizers for perennial plants, for example, "Bona Forte", "Etisso" or "Agricola Aqua". At the end of September it is recommended to add ash to the soil at the rate of 2 tbsp. on 1 square. m
Periodically, you have to remove dried flower buds, otherwise they interfere with the emergence of new flowers and spoil the appearance of vines. In addition, as necessary, they trim the calistegy, forming the desired form of planting and removing the whips that are out of the composition. 
This plant tolerates the winter cold, however, it is recommended to cover it with some covering material in a snow-free, harsh winter, with a spunbond, sackcloth, and sphagnum moss. When the growing season ends and the plants begin to die off, they must be cut off.
Pests and diseases: prevention and treatment
Of the diseases, calistegia is most susceptible to root rot and powdery mildew. The risk of their occurrence increases with cold, wet weather. For the prevention of diseases, the vine is treated with "Fitosporin". Among the pests are slugs and snails. They are fought with insecticides. This may be Thunderstorm or Confidor.
We advise you to read more about how to deal with slugs in the garden.
Main types
Cultivated a number of types of kalistegii, differing mainly in the type and color of flowers. A brief description of the most popular of them is given below.
Fluffy
Kalistegiya fluffy comes from China. Its difference - long shoots reaching 4 m, and pale pink, double, slightly fragrant flowers. Based on this species, several varieties have been developed, the most popular of which are: Flore plena. 
Hairy
In the wild, this species grows in the Altai and southern Primorsky Krai. The length of the stems of this plant does not exceed 80 cm, they hover only from above, therefore the garter of shoots is practiced. The flowers are bright pink, bell-shaped. 
Fence
Another name of the species - new fence, it is ubiquitous in Europe. Shoots reach 3 m, white flowers, bell-shaped.
You may be interested to learn how to remove the weeds from the garden, which herbicides will help get rid of them, what tool to choose to remove weeds from the roots, as well as what lawn grass will help to destroy the weeds.
The plant develops very quickly and aggressively wins the territory, forms a well-branched root system. Therefore, it is often perceived as an unpleasant weed. 
Japanese
This species is also known under the name of calistegia ivy-leafy for the characteristic three-lobed leaf shape. The length of the lashes in it reaches 2.5 m, the flowers are double, light pink. 
Multiplex
Signs of this species are large double pink flowers, expanding up to 10 cm in diameter. They grow very tight, which gives the plant a spectacular look. Scourge can grow to 3.5 m. 
So, various types of kalistegii are actively used in landscape design. They can decorate arbors and arches, cover not too aesthetic facilities, become the backdrop for other flowers.
We advise you to familiarize yourself with the features of the cultivation of terry Kalistegii.
At the same time the plant is very undemanding to care and, being a perennial, can decorate the garden for many years.
