If among plants we held a competition for uniqueness and originality, then skumapia would rightfully take first place. This miracle tree is associated with a giant rainbow dandelion and surprises with a variety of forms throughout almost the whole year. Culture has a high aestheticism, decorative properties and occupies one of the leading positions among the objects of gardening. Attractiveness is not its main trump card: skumpiya is easy to maintain and grow. Consider how to properly organize the process of care for this beauty in different regions, in particular, in the suburbs.
Biological description and features
Sump grows in the form of a shrub or deciduous tree and is a member of the Sumakhov family. Her homeland is Eurasia and North America. In nature, there are only two types of culture, but the processes of selection and hybridization have helped nature to increase the number of this exclusive. 
Important! Sumpus differs in anti-erosion and soil-protective capabilities due to powerful branched root system. In this regard, it is advisable to plant the culture at the places of securing slopes, scree and ravines, in shelter belts.The height of the shrub reaches 3 m, and the height of the tree can even be 6 m with a crown diameter of 3-4 m. The crown of the tree impresses with its umbrella-shaped form, while the bush grows in a circle. Stems and shoots are decorated with ovate or obovate leaves.
In late spring - early summer, exotic plants are delighted by gardeners with their amazing flowering. Small white flowers of yellowish or greenish shade are collected in fluffy paniculate inflorescences. It seems that a clouded cloud caught on a bush or tree. 
The original appearance of the plant led to many of its names: tannery or smoky tree, zheltinnik, wig bush After withering, the fruiting period begins: on a long stem, covered with a reddish nap, the fruit is fastened. At first, it has the appearance of a small, green drupe, but it turns black in the process of ripening. During the formation of the fruit the tree is as if enveloped in a red fleecy mist.
In the fall, the leaves are striking in their variegated colors: orange, red, yellow, purple, and scarlet shades are reunited in a harmonious textural ensemble.
Did you know? Sugar - long-lived. She, like a man, can live to be a hundred years old. The average period of her life is 50-70 years.
Winter-hardy species and varieties
Mature plants skumpii not afraid of the winter cold. But the young should take care and prepare them for the winter. As a precautionary measure, experienced gardeners advise to study in detail the description of varieties and types of skumpiya for successful cultivation in various regions, for example, in the Moscow region.
So, winter hardy types of culture:
- American Sumac It has large green leaves, about 12 cm in length. In the autumn the bush turns into a red flame due to the bright color of the foliage. The inflorescences of this variety are much smaller than those of leather, about 15 cm in diameter. The plant is quite cold-resistant and is afraid only of very strong frosts.
Shrubs such as barberries, holly and acacia, as well as American skumpia, are cold-resistant and can safely and without any problems endure the harsh winter.
- Leather skumpiya, or ordinary can grow in the form of a round bush, as well as a tree with an umbrella-shaped crown. Its foliage can be both green and purple, up to 7 cm in length. But it should be remembered that plants with purple leaves painfully endure the winter cold. During flowering, this species is decorated with small yellow or green flowers, gathered in panicles up to 30 cm long. This species is quite sun-diving and drought-resistant, does not require special care, the main thing is to avoid over-wetting.
Did you know? Tannery garment received this name due to the fact that its roots, foliage and stems contain a large amount of natural dyes, as well as tannins, which were used for leather manufacture.Tanning look different many breeding varieties, among which qualitatively stand out:
- "Lady Young" - skumpiya-chameleon. The flowers of her fluffy inflorescences change color: at the beginning of flowering they are green, then cream, at the end - pink;
- Golden Spirit. The variety is unique yellow color foliage. Each leaf is as if trimmed with an orange rim. In autumn, the foliage fascinates with all the colors of the rainbow, among which the sumptuous purple shade stands out most brightly. Feels good in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region, despite its fragility;
- Grace. Gets the shape of a giant bush up to 5 m tall. Attracts attention with huge purple-pink inflorescences;
- "Royal Perple", unlike its predecessor, growing only up to 1.5 m, is a dwarf. Differs in a red-brown color of leaves and red inflorescences, as if covered with silver.
Application in garden design
The unique appearance of the plant is associated with its high popularity among gardeners. Sumpia is widely used in the most fabulous landscape designs. It looks spectacular in single plantings, as well as in combinations with other floral or woody plants. 
If you choose neighbors among the flowers, then landscape compositions with irises, roses, dog roses, anemones and dahlias will look great.
Culture can serve as a fabulous backdrop for tall woody plants. 
Did you know? Flower growers often dry branches of skumpia so that later they can be used for decorative purposes (home decoration, creation of original flower arrangements). In order to preserve the integrity of the inflorescences and protect them from crumbling, they are advised to spray them with ordinary hairspray.
Choosing a landing site
The choice of a seat for skumpii is not a delicate matter. Just keep to the simple rules.
Lighting
For the rapid and qualitative growth of skumpii it is necessary to ensure plenty of sunshine. Therefore, the place for planting culture should be well lit, partial shade is allowed.
You should protect your pupil from winds and drafts.
In addition to skumpii, sun-loving plants are also: young, carnation, Alpine aster, thyme, bell, juvenile, stonecrop, edelweiss, sage (salvia) and geyhera.
The soil
Culture prefers a light, permeable soil with a neutral level of acidity, although it can also grow on acidic rocky soils. It is quite drought-resistant, but does not tolerate excessive moisture of the earth. The seat should be provided with a well-established drainage system and deep groundwater.
Neighbors
Sumpia well gets on with any plants. But it is worth remembering that it is impossible to plant it near the poplar, mountain ash, thorns, maple, as it releases substances that can adversely affect these plants. 
The process of planting seedlings on the site
It is recommended to plant skumpiya with an open root system in early spring or at the end of autumn, but so that it can take root before the onset of winter. Planting plants with a closed root system can be carried out from spring to autumn. The day before planting, the seedlings should be placed in a bowl of water so that the roots are moistened, after which the seedling is removed from the water and the root system is carefully inspected. If it has dried or diseased roots, they need to be removed. Slices need to be treated with a fungicide.
In parallel with the preparation of seedlings need to do and bringing to normal the seat. There is no need to take care of the preparation of the substrate for the culture, as it takes root in any soil, and poor soils will even benefit her (something like hardening). It is enough to dig a hole, the size of which should slightly exceed the volume of the root system of the seedling. Moisten the pit with enough water (several buckets), then place the seedling in it. It is very important when planting carefully straighten the roots of the culture. Then you need to tightly fill the roots with the earth, leaving “free” only the root neck (2-3 cm above the ground). Over time, under the influence of watering, it will be equal to the soil.
Care Tips
Planting and caring for skumpii in the open field is not difficult. One has only to stock up on knowledge of the characteristics of culture.
Watering
Immediately after planting, the bush needs abundant and frequent watering, as its rhizome must adapt to the new place of residence. Adult smoky tree needs watering only during a long absence of rain: it must not be allowed to dry out or suffer from excess moisture.
Top dressing
Wigs can tell you about their need for dressing with depressed appearance. But do not wait for this state. Experienced gardeners advise feeding skumpii with nitrogen fertilizers in the spring, at the beginning of the growing season, and in the summer they recommend giving her a portion of potash-phosphorus, mineral or organic dressings. 
Trimming and haircut
Trimming is practically the only requirement for caring for skumapia. It should be carried out every 2-3 years. Frozen winter branches also advise pruning. The plant recovers pretty quickly after pruning, even on a stump.
Important! Thanks to pruning culture, you can give the most unusual and original forms that will qualitatively improve your landscape design.
Shelter for the winter
Gardeners with experience are advised to cover only plants for winter, after planting which 2-3 years have not yet passed. It is also necessary to warm their rhizome with humus. Adult shrubs and trees do not need shelter. 
Diseases and pests
Since skumpiya migrated to us from other countries, it is not afraid of local pests and practically does not get sick. Its only enemies are the mackerel leaflet, the small pistachio bark beetle and the oak fawn leaf beetle. To eliminate such uninvited guests will help insecticides, for example, "Karbofos" or "Decis".
Vegetative breeding methods
Sumper reproduces by seed, generative and vegetative ways. But in our area it is advisable to propagate the culture vegetatively.
Layering
Reproduction by layering - pretty simple process. To implement it, a longitudinal incision is made from the outside on a low-growing branch of a bush. Then the incised segment is chained with special clips to the ground and watered abundantly throughout the entire growing season. After the appearance of the roots, the finished seedling is cut off from the maternal branch. 
Cuttings
Propagation by cuttings carried out in June. Cut the green cuttings and place them in a heteroauxin solution for one night. In parallel, you need to prepare containers with a special substrate (peat, sand and sod land in equal proportions). In the morning, the cuttings are placed in containers and covered with a film to create a greenhouse effect. Regular watering and airing - the main rules of care for cuttings. For three weeks they must take root.
Important! Skumpii cuttings take root pretty hard. Of the total number, only about 30% take root.Many people think that the more exotic and unusual the plant looks, the harder it is to care for it. But, as you can see, it is not. And skumpiya - a vivid example. It would seem that such a unique culture with rich decorative inclinations was created only for exotic places. But, as experience shows, she feels great in almost every corner. Therefore, you should not hesitate whether it is possible to plant skumpiyu in the suburbs. Moreover, growing and caring for her is a fairly simple and not painstaking business, even amateur gardeners can.
