Deren
Derain (lat. Cornus) is a spectacular shrub or woody plant from the Dogwood family.
Description
Derain is an evergreen or deciduous shrub, although in some cases it can also be a tree. At the same time, this plant does not lose its decorative value throughout the year: in the summer it pleases the eye with amazing white flowers and magnificent foliage, and in the fall its foliage acquires a burgundy or pinkish color and small drupes ripen on the plant, which can be either blue or white. And in the winter season, derain shoots are painted in bright green, yellowish, burgundy or rich red tones.
Most often, dera flowers are white or golden-yellowish in color and are collected in beautiful umbrella-shaped inflorescences.
Where does it grow
In nature, it is not difficult to find this plant in the Northern Hemisphere (to be more precise, in its temperate regions). Occasionally, deren can be seen in Central Africa, and even in South America.
Popular varieties
Derain is white. It is a shrub reaching two to three meters in height and three to five meters in width. Rooting of its branches occurs upon contact with the soil. The dark green or bluish leaves of this variety of derena are ovoid in shape, and its flowers and fruits are always white.
Derain Chinese. It is a tree or shrub, the height of which can reach from five to eight meters, and its width ranges from four to five meters. This tree differs from other varieties in having white apical leaves, and sometimes such leaves can acquire a pleasant pinkish tint.
Canadian dogwood. The height of this dwarf ground cover shrub varies from ten to fifteen centimeters — this property allows it to form luxurious flowering carpets. The miniature elliptical leaves of the plant are painted in dark green tones, and its greenish-whitish flowers are surrounded by four white bracts. And the fruits of the Canadian derain look like scarlet berries that are not at all poisonous.
Application
Derain is a very popular ornamental plant — it is used both as a tapeworm and in luxurious group plantings. In addition, it makes excellent hedges and incredibly colorful undergrowth. And Canadian turf is an excellent alternative to a traditional lawn, as it is famous for its unprecedented shade tolerance, unpretentiousness and frost resistance.
Growing and care
Derain is absolutely unpretentious and does not require any special care at all. This amazing plant can adapt to almost any conditions. True, it is necessary to trim it from time to time. As for propagation of the tree, it occurs by cuttings (that is, vegetatively). It is best to use green cuttings for this purpose, but woody or root cuttings will propagate just as well as turf. For the winter, such cuttings are usually taken to heated greenhouses or basements, and in the spring they begin to be planted.
This plant boasts impressive shade tolerance, but the degree of its shade is determined based on its variety. For example, variegated varieties will thrive in partial shade or sun. Deren is also undemanding in terms of soil composition, but at the same time it is extremely partial to acidified substrates. Despite their drought resistance, plants planted in well-moistened soils will develop best.
Derain does not attract pests at all and is practically not susceptible to various diseases. Only occasionally can its young shoots be attacked by fungal diseases or aphids.
