Fat men turn out to be perfect plants in the right location, because they require little maintenance. Your site requirements are high because the evergreen subshrubs are sensitive to a number of factors. The plant clearly shows this to the gardener through changed appearances.

The fat man is a pretty, undemanding ground cover

Table of Contents

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  1. origin
  2. growth
  3. leaves
  4. blossom
  5. fruit
  6. use
  7. ground cover
  8. Is fat man poisonous?
  9. Which location is suitable?
  10. What soil does the plant need?
  11. What is the best planting time?
  12. planting distance
  13. propagation
  14. sowing
  15. cuttings
  16. Fat man in the pot
  17. Pour fat man
  18. Fertilize fat man properly
  19. Cut fat man properly
  20. hardy
  21. How do I plant correctly?
  22. Diseases
  23. fungus
  24. Yellow leaves
  25. sorts

    26. origin

    The fat man goes by many names. It is referred to as Dickanthere because of its conspicuous stamens and because of its location requirements it was given the name Shadow Green. The scientific name Pachysandra terminalis provides information about the genus affiliation. Ysander species are boxwood plants. Known to botanists as Japanese Ysander, the plumper grows in the humid forests of China and Japan.

    growth

    The shade green is a semi-woody shrub with shoots that grow upright or creep along the ground. This evergreen subshrub grows between 15 and 30 centimeters high. Its branches form a dense bush. The perennial plant forms underground rhizomes that serve as energy storage and dispersal organs. The root nodules form runners that run through the substrate. In this way, fat males develop area-wide growth.

    leaves

    Pachysandra terminalis develops leaves that are divided into leaf blade and stem. The simply constructed leaf blade is only slightly notched at the top. It grows between six and ten centimeters long and is lanceolate in shape.

    The leaves are alternate or clustered in groups of four or six, on short, woody shoots. Their blades appear leathery, thickened and coarse. They serve as a water reservoir and remain on the plant even in winter. They decorate the garden all year round with lush shades of green. If the location is too sunny, the foliage will turn yellow.

    blossom

    As a monoecious plant, the Japanese Ysander develops unisexual flowers. Male and female flowers crowd together in a spiked inflorescence. This is between two and four centimeters long and grows upright in height. It sits terminally on the shoot and is supported by bracts.

    The flowers of the fat man are inconspicuous. The male flowers consist of four white to greenish colored tepals and the same number of stamens that appear remarkably thick. The female counterpart consists of four to six light green bracts and an ovary that ends in two to three styles. Many varieties have lost their ability to reproduce through breeding. They develop sterile flowers that cannot produce fruit.

    Particularities:

    • sometimes blooms from February to May
    • candle-shaped inflorescences
    • Inflorescence with more than 15 male flowers
    • one to two female flowers sit below the male flowers

    fruit

    After the flowers have withered, small and inconspicuous drupes with a white outer skin develop on the inflorescences. They are five to six millimeters long, ovoid and contain two to three black colored seeds. The stylus remains until the fruit is fully ripe.

    use

    Shade green is a popular ornamental plant for underplanting trees. The fat man thrives in these shady and damp places. It is also planted in slightly sunny open spaces. In many gardens and parks, the plant is not combined with other plants, but planted as a single variety. In this way, uniform and area-wide carpets with dense foliage are created, which radiate a harmonious character. These carpets adorn the subsoil of higher-growing shrubs.

    The Japanese Ysander serves as a grave plant and ornamental leaf shrub, whose densely leafed shoots adorn bouquets of flowers. Dickmannen are also flowering ornamental plants that set the scene for themed gardens in spring. They provide color accents in forest gardens, formal bed arrangements and in the rhododendron garden.

    Perfect plant neighbors:

    • Spanish bluebell
    • Corydalis
    • grape heather
    • Japanese holly

    ground cover

    Due to its willingness to grow and spread, the fat man is often planted as a ground cover. It greens fallow areas in a very short time and covers unsightly spots in the garden. The plants have earned the nickname leaf eater because fallen leaves on the ground are quickly decomposed.

    Is fat man poisonous?

    The fat man develops steroid alkaloids, which are concentrated at different levels in the different parts of the plant. Serious symptoms of poisoning only appear after the consumption of large quantities. However, you should be careful that your pets do not nibble on the leaves or that children do not accidentally taste parts of the plant.
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    Which location is suitable?

    Shade Green grows in partial shade and does well in dark corners of the garden. The plants have adapted to the lack of light and can also carry out photosynthesis in shady locations. A sunny location causes problems for the subshrubs. Root pressure doesn't bother them. The plants are suitable for the urban climate.

    What soil does the plant need?

    Pachysandra terminalis likes a well-drained soil with medium permeability. The substrate may be humus and should ensure fresh to moderately moist conditions. Dry conditions are detrimental to vitality. Fatty males only tolerate small amounts of lime in the soil. They grow on substrates with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. A slightly acidic environment is tolerated by the plants.

    What is the best planting time?

    Schattengrün can be planted in the garden all year round, as young plants that have been brought forward are continuously available in containers. Planting is also possible in winter, provided the ground is not frozen.

    planting distance

    So that fat men form a dense carpet as quickly as possible, you should plant seven to twelve plants per square meter. Make sure there is a distance of 20 to 30 centimeters between the young plants so that they can root well and expand unhindered.

    How to plant fat man:

    • Planting hole should be deeper than the height of the root ball
    • Insert the plant with the substrate
    • Fill gaps with excavation
    • Press the substrate lightly
    • irrigate pervasively

    propagation

    Dense stands can be divided in spring and autumn as the plants develop underground stolons. You don't have to dig up the entire root ball, just part of it. Use a sharp knife to cut off a root sucker that has already developed fine roots. Make sure that as few roots as possible tear off the runner when you pull them out. Plant the piece of root in the desired location and keep the substrate well moist. Fill the dug hole with soil.
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    sowing

    Sowing from seed is possible if your plant produces fruit. Since this propagation method does not produce offspring of the same variety, fat mans are preferably propagated via cuttings and root suckers. Seeds are rarely offered commercially. Swap meets are a good place to go to get seeds of special strains.

    cuttings

    Between May and June you can propagate fat mans with head cuttings. The shoots should not be lignified yet, since hardened branches take root very poorly. Take cuttings about seven centimeters long from a vital and strong mother plant and remove the bottom leaves.

    Fat man in the pot

    Ground covers like the fat man also cut a fine figure in the bucket. Choose the largest possible planter and use one plant per pot. The densely growing shrubs create a magnificent picture in the planter, which is particularly suitable for shady balconies or north-facing house entrances.

    Pour fat man

    The water requirement of the plants is moderate. The dense foliage protects the plants from drying out. A humid microclimate develops under the leaf canopy, from which not only the subshrubs but also the soil organisms benefit. Since fat males prefer to grow in shady locations, there is a low risk of dehydration both in summer and in winter. You should water the plants additionally in particularly hot months when periods without precipitation last for a long period of time.

    Fertilize fat man properly

    Shade green requires hardly any nutrients to grow. Young plants are placed in a humus-rich substrate to support them in their growth phase. In the autumn of the first year, you can treat the young plants to some additional compost. From the second year, the plants are no longer fertilized.
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    Cut fat man properly

    The Japanese Ysander delights every hobby gardener with undemanding care. Young plants can be pinched regularly to encourage dense branching and bushy growth. In the further course of growth, no regular cutting measures are necessary. If necessary, you can loosen up stocks that have become too dense, shorten plants that have grown too tall or cut back loosely growing specimens.

    The ideal time for pruning is after flowering between April and May. Bare shoots can be cut off just above the ground all year round. If the plant forms uncontrolled offshoots that sprout outside the stand, these can be torn out.
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    hardy

    Although the plants are evergreen, they are unfazed by freezing temperatures. Dickmales are hardy and survive temperatures down to -28° Celsius. Additional protection is not necessary. The dense foliage protects the soil from temperature fluctuations. If the plants grow under trees, the falling leaves cover the ground between the fat men. This creates a natural mulch layer.

    How do I plant correctly?

    If the subshrubs have to be moved, you can easily dig up and transplant the individual plants. Be careful not to damage roots. The older the plant is, the more fine roots run through the substrate. Since fine roots are always lost with this measure, the plant has to regenerate after transplanting. Therefore, you should think about propagating with the help of root suckers. It is possible without any problems and rejuvenates the stock at the same time.

    Diseases

    Fat men often suffer from chlorosis, which is also known as jaundice or chlorosis. This deficiency symptom indicates an insufficient proportion of chlorophyll. The dye makes the leaves appear green and is essential for photosynthesis. If there is no chlorophyll, the leaves can no longer use the sun's energy.

    symptoms

    Affected plants develop yellow leaves that wither and die as the disease progresses. The plant sheds leaves and flowers and stops growing. The reasons for this disease are varied. In the fat man, a calcareous soil causes chlorosis. The plants cannot absorb iron in a substrate with too high a pH value, resulting in a deficiency symptom.

    prevention

    If you notice chlorosis on your plant, you should improve the substrate with rhododendron earth. Alternatively, you can cover the soil with needle litter. The needles are decomposed by the soil organisms and the acidity of the soil increases.

    How to help your plant:

    • ensure optimal site conditions
    • avoid fertilizers
    • fight pests
    • remove diseased shoots and leaves

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    fungus

    The microclimate between the fat men also offers mushrooms optimal growth conditions. Certain factors also promote fungal infestation. Affected plants should be dug up and completely freed from the old substrate. Cut off affected parts of the plant and put the fat man in a new location.

    volutella

    The fungal spores of the species Volutella pachysandrae survive in the substrate for a long time, so that they can infect cuttings and young plants at any time. Infected plants show typical signs of damage. Their leaves get brownish spots with concentric rings that can be round or oval. If the disease is more advanced, brown discoloration occurs at the base of the stem. The shoots gradually die off.

    Severely infested plants should be dug out of the ground and discarded. Also remove the surrounding soil to eliminate as many spores as possible. As soon as you see the first signs on the leaves, you should use fungicides as a preventive measure.

    Phytophthora

    This fungus is responsible for root rot. Its spores settle on already rotten roots and penetrate the organism. The plant is visibly weakened. She loses leaves and flowers. If left untreated, the plant dies. Since there are no fungicides approved in Germany, you should take preventive measures. The fungal spores feel particularly comfortable in the wet substrate. Make sure that no waterlogging forms.

    Yellow leaves

    Discoloration of the foliage is not only caused by deficiency symptoms, but also due to incorrect site conditions. If the plants get too much sunlight, the pigment chlorophyll is broken down. Other pigments stand out, making the leaf appear yellow. This form of chlorosis is equally harmful to the plant, since its photosynthetic metabolism no longer functions.

    As a treatment measure, transplanting to a shady location is recommended. Here the plants recover quickly. The yellow-colored leaves will no longer turn green because the plants do not rebuild the dye. They fall off and are replaced by fresh leaves that glow green in the shade.

    tips

    There are plants that are very similar to the fat man. The three-leaved waldsteinia or the small periwinkle are also suitable for area greening under trees. Plant several of the same species alternately in small groups to create a colorful patchwork quilt. This plant arrangement creates a good mood.

    sorts

    • Green Carpet: Small, narrow leaves. Low and compact growth. Grows up to 15 centimeters high.
    • Variegata: Slower growing, less dispersal. Leaves with irregular whitish to yellow margins, fine light veins.
    • compacta: Low stature. Flowers smell like lilac. Growth height between ten and 15 centimeters.
    • Silver Edge: Slow growth, suitable for balcony boxes. Colorful foliage. Up to 20 centimeters high.

Category:

Vegetable garden