Sorbaria sorbifolia var. stellipila

The plant Sorbaria sorbifolia var. stellipila, a subspecies of the Sorbaria sorbifolia belongs to the Rosaceae family. It originally comes from the temperate regions of Asia, especially from northeastern China, Siberia and parts of Koreas and Japan. This shrubby plant is valued because of its striking, fern -like leaves and its decorative inflorescences in both the wild and in gardens. The Stellipila variety differs from the ordinary species by the star -shaped hair of its leaf stole and younger shoots.

Morphology

Sorbaria sorbifolia var. stellipila is a deciduous, fast growing shrub that can become up to 2 meters high and wide. The plant forms thick tufts of upright, strongly branched drives. Their root runners enable a quick spread, which makes them an excellent choice for embankments or as a soil cover in difficult locations.

The leaves of the star -haired feather pure are twice feathered and are strongly reminiscent of the leaves of the Mountain ash, from which the name sorbifolia ("with leaves like a sorbus") comes. The leaves reach a length of up to 25 cm and consist of 9 to 13 narrow, lanceolate petals. These leaves have a serrated edge and are often slightly hairy on the underside. The new leaves will appear in a bronze -colored to reddish shade in spring before taking a lush green in summer. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow to orange, which gives the plant additional decorative value.

The flowers of Sorbaria sorbifolia var. stellipila appear in high summer in striking, panicle -like inflorescences. These panicles can become up to 30 cm long and consist of many small, white flowers with a diameter of about 5 to 7 mm. The flowers are hermaphrodite and very fragrant, which attracts numerous insects, especially bees and butterflies. After flowering, the plant forms small, dry capsule fruits, which, however, have no special decorative value.

Habitat and distribution

Sorbaria sorbifolia var. stellipila is native to the cool, moderate regions of Asia. It thrives in damp forests, along river banks and on open clearings. This plant prefers well -permeable, humus -rich soils and grows both in full sun and partial shade. Due to its robustness, it is often planted in garden culture in less optimal soils or at locations with fluctuating water conditions.

Their ability to quickly spread through root runners makes them particularly useful for stabilizing slopes or embankments, where erosion could be a problem. However, this property can also lead to an invasive spread, which is why it should be checked in some regions.

Ecological meaning and use

In its natural environment, Sorbaria sorbifolia var. stellipila offers living space and food for different types of insects. The dense inflorescences attract polliging insects and the dense growth form of the plant offers protection for small animals.

In the garden culture, the star -haired feather pure is valued because of its decorative leaves and flowers. It is well suited for natural gardens, forest gardens or for greening embankments. Due to its joy of propagation, it can be used in landscapes where ground cover is required to prevent erosion or green open areas. It is an easy -care plant that can adapt well to different location conditions.