Knifofia berry flamenco planting and care in the open field

Every year, the list of exotic and unusual plants in our flower beds is replenished. What was inaccessible just a couple of years ago is now in the order of things. Guests from Africa, Australia, South America bloom with bright spots, delighting others with their spectacular appearance. One of the most curious examples is knifofia. Growing, planting and caring for it is not so difficult, but the appearance can become a real decoration of the territory and its highlight. A large number of bred hybrids, differing in flower shape, size, color, allow you to create amazing compositions.

Growth area and name

Known now as the flowers of knifofia (planting and care, cultivation - hereinafter referred to in the text), the plant is a perennial herb from the genus of the same name and subfamily Asphodelova. Natural habitat - East and South Africa. At the moment, the genus has about 75 species, several of them are especially common in horticultural culture. The unusual name is associated with the name of the 17th century German botanist. Johann Jerome Kniphof.

Biological description

All species are perennial grasses, with some being evergreen. As a rule, they are tall (1.5-2 m), but there are also low species. The largest plant is Knifofia Thompson, whose peduncles reach a height of up to three meters. The leaves of the plants are collected in a root bunch (rosette), from the middle of which unusual and spectacular flowers appear. By themselves, small, but high decorativeness is achieved due to the fact that they are collected in an inflorescence of ears, located at the very top of a high stem. Knifofia, planting and caring for which will not take much time, vaguely resembles the shape of lupines, but the inflorescences are more graceful, as if ruffled.

Berry knifofia

One of the species of the named genus. Distributed in southeastern Africa. All over the world it has been cultivated as an ornamental plant since the beginning of the 18th century. It is on its basis that a large number of hybrids have been bred by breeders. The plant is tall, up to 1.2 m in height with a powerful yellowish rhizome. The leaves are lanceolate, serrated at the edges, gray-green. Flowers in buds are red, then they can turn into orange, yellow, carmine shades. Berry knifophy, planting and care in the open field, which is simple, will decorate any site. Almost all hybrids bred on its basis are distinguished by their high growth (up to 1.5 m in height) and good survival rate. The most popular varieties are:

• D-r Kerr - has a powerful meter-long peduncle with an inflorescence up to 20 cm long, lemon-yellow color (pictured). Duration of flowering - up to 60 days (from mid-summer).
• Orange Beauty is a hybrid with similar characteristics, the color of the flowers is bright orange.
• Fire Flame - the same flowering time, meter-long peduncle, but the inflorescence is slightly larger (25 cm) and has a scarlet-red hue.

Site location and soil

Most of the exotic plants in our gardens were originally brought from countries with hot climates. Knifophia is no exception.Planting and caring for it in the open field, in this regard, acquire its own characteristics. It is recommended primarily in southern regions with hot summers and short, warm winters. The further into the northern zone, the more difficult its vegetation process will be. In the middle lane, for example, the probability of wintering in the soil is very small.

In any case, choose open, sunny places for the plant in an area where there are no cold drafts. It absolutely does not tolerate lowlands, stagnant moisture and dampness. Therefore, the soil requires nutritious, with good air and moisture permeability.

Growing seedlings

In order to grow an adult plant from seeds, experts recommend using purchased planting material. This is due to several factors. Knifofia, planting and care in the open field for which is very simple, is still a southern plant, and in the conditions of the middle lane the seeds simply do not have time to ripen. However, assuming there was enough time for the flower, collecting material from the hybrids is a futile exercise. In the second generation, they give a splitting of characters and do not have the external properties of the parent specimen.

Sowing seeds is carried out in late March – early April in a shallow container with a loose and light substrate. You do not need to deepen them, just distribute them evenly over the moistened soil surface and only lightly sprinkle them. Cover the top with plastic foil and place in a warm and well-lit place. Seedlings usually appear after 2-3 weeks. Seedlings must be gradually accustomed to room conditions by opening the film. As soon as three real leaves appear, they must be dived into separate pots.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

The most relevant method of plant propagation in central Russia. As already mentioned, the seeds do not have time to ripen, but the rejuvenated bush will delight with its flowering next year. The optimal timing is late April – early May. The mother bush must be dug up and with a sharp knife separate the daughter rosettes formed in the axils of the lower leaves. The cut can be slightly dried and sprinkled with charcoal. After a few hours, start planting the plant in a permanent place.

Knifofiya: planting and care in the open field

Frost resistance in knifophya is weak, therefore, the care of the plant, depending on the climatic zone in which it is grown, will be slightly different. Planting seedlings in the ground is carried out only after the threat of recurrent frosts has passed.

The soil must first be dug up, if required, a good humus must be introduced and drainage done. The depth of the fossa depends on the size of the plant. In any case, they need to be filled with fertile soil, watered and then planted with young plants. At first, they must be shaded, gradually accustoming to the sun's rays. Leave the distance between plants 30-40 cm, flowering occurs the next year after planting.

If you want a spectacular, unusual and at the same time unpretentious plant in your garden, then let it be knifofia. Planting and caring for a flower is elementary simple. During the growing season, it is important to take care of three aspects.

First, regular and abundant watering. It is essential for succulent leaves and abundant flowering and is best done in the early morning hours. In parallel with it, carry out two fertilizing with fertilizers. The first application of nitrogen preparations should take place as soon as the leaves appear in the spring. Second, after flowering, use potash fertilizers and, for example, ash.

Secondly, weeding, loosening and mulching the soil. Keeping the peri-flowering space in order not only improves the aesthetics, but is also beneficial for the plant itself.

Third, a shelter for the winter. In the southern regions, it is optional, but starting from the middle lane it is simply necessary.The plant is evergreen, so in no case should the leaves be cut off, they are carefully folded, bending to the ground. Otherwise, next year, the knifofia, of course, will come to life, but it is unlikely to bloom, as it will actively increase the green mass. Use peat chips and coniferous spruce branches for shelter, and on top of a special material that does not allow moisture to pass through.

Timely and proper care of bniphophy will provide you with a stunningly unusual and amazingly beautiful plant. The flower looks equally good, both in single plantings (large sods), and in group - around reservoirs, in mixed flower beds. It can be used for cutting into bouquets.

Probably, every gardener who is fond of growing flowering plants, upon reaching a certain experience, wants to move to a qualitatively new level and start planting exotic plants on their own plot, whose homeland is distant countries and other continents.

One example is the "guest" from Africa - knifofia, a plant that can be grown both at home and in a garden bed in the open field.

An exotic plant with a strange name

Knifofia is a plant native to the African continent. Another name for this flower is tritoma. It belongs to perennial plant species. A distinctive feature of the knifofia are the amazingly beautiful flowers located on a thick peduncle emerging from the central part of the rosette of leaves. Stem length can reach one and a half meters, while the varietal diversity includes very undersized plants and varieties, such as Thomson's knifophia, which grow up to 3 meters high.

Berry knifofia

At the top of the peduncle, buds bloom, collected in an inflorescence-like spike. A distinctive feature is that the flowers do not open all at once, but gradually, from the bottom to the top, or, conversely, depending on the specific species. If we consider a separate flower, then in appearance it resembles a bell, which has a drooping shape.

The range of colors is varied. At the moment of opening, the flower has red shades, as it blooms, they change from orange to yellow-green.

If you look at the photo of the plant, you can see that it is a bright, colorful sight in the form of large, sultanoid inflorescences located on a long stem. Dense gray-green leaves are gathered in a dense bunch, which gives the plant additional aesthetics.

Kniphofia rooperi, East Cape Poker

Types and varieties

In total, there are about 70 species of this plant, most of which are found exclusively in the wild and grows in the hot and dry climate of Africa. Among those cultivated in the middle lane, the following varieties can be noted:

• berry knifophya (Kniphofia uvaria). This species is one of the tallest, growing more than two meters. This variety began to be cultivated back in the 18th century. The most popular varieties are: berry knifofia Eskimo, berry knifofia Martian, Dr. Kerr... At the same time, depending on the difference in varieties lies in the varied color of flowers;

• knifofiya Tukka (K. tuckii)... Another variety that is most often found on window sills. This species is one of the most cold-resistant, and resistant to changes in climatic conditions. It is also distinguished by low height, rarely exceeding 80 cm;

You can see her in the title photo.

• hybrid knifophy (K. hybrida). This variety includes artificially created varieties based on berry knifophy. The most common are Fleming Torch, Alcazar, Seliano.

Features of the cultivation of knifofia

Since the homeland of the flower is a hot climate, this criterion should be taken into account when breeding and planting knifophya.For planting, you can purchase seeds at a regular flower shop, where it is easy to find a mixture of several varieties.

Planting seedlings begins at the end of March with seeds in soil mixture. You can take the usual floral primer, for example, from Terravita. In general, the plant is unpretentious and does not require the preparation of any special mixtures, it is important that the soil is sufficiently loose, nutritious, and moisture-permeable.

After planting, containers with young crops are covered with foil to create an ideal microclimate and left for two to three weeks. It is periodically recommended to moisten the soil and ventilate the greenhouse.

After the appearance of the first shoots, the seedlings must be gradually transferred to contents at room temperature. In education the first two leaves young shoots dive into separate containers. Planting in open ground is carried out around the month of July.

Reproduction

This culture can propagate by seeds or vegetatively... Most often, in conditions of the middle lane, the duration of summer is not enough for the full maturation of the seeds, therefore the plant is mainly propagated by dividing the bush.

Each adult bush of cniphophia over three years old periodically forms stolons, which are used as planting material for propagation. The separation of the daughter sockets is made in the beginning of May.

Landing in this case is done in pre-prepared holes, which are filled with nutrient soil. At first, the cuttings require abundant watering, which is reduced as the plant matures. Also, immediately after planting, it is required to artificially shade the seedling. The first flowering with this method of reproduction occurs one year after dividing the plant.

Kniphofia "Poco Yellow"

Kniphofia "Poco Orange"

Planting and caring for the plant

Since the plant belongs to the thermophilic species of perennials, its planting should be approached very carefully. There are several important principles that are recommended for planting:

1. The soil. It is best to plant the plant in sandy soils, they should first be fertilized and loosened well;
2. Moisture. Knifofia does not like excess moisture, therefore it is recommended to plant it on heights or organize a sufficient amount of drainage in a flower bed to remove excess moisture;
3. Wintering. A prerequisite for the normal growth and development of a plant is its shelter for the winter. Before creating protection, it is recommended to collect all the leaves in a single bunch and tie on top. This helps prevent the rhizomes and center of the bush from excess moisture. Further, the bundle is covered over with spruce branches and a layer of roofing material, which also will not allow water to penetrate into the bush;
4. Pruning. There are several stages of pruning, the first of which occurs in the spring after removing the winter shelter. At this stage, frozen and yellowed leaves are removed. It is also necessary to trim the peduncles after flowering, which are removed to the very bottom. If you want to get seeds for seedlings, you can leave a couple of peduncles;
5. Top dressing. The application of bait is carried out without fail at the stage of planting and in the future, potash fertilizers are applied after the completion of the flowering stage. Organics and nitrogenous fertilizers are best applied to the soil in early spring before the appearance of green shoots or at the time of bud setting;

A feature of the plant is a high degree of susceptibility to diseases and pests. With proper care, knifofia rarely gets sick. In rare cases, leaf-eating insects may be affected. In such a situation, it is recommended to spray with insecticides. If watering is abused, the likelihood of root rot development is high, the salvation from which will be fungicide treatment. In cases where the plant is incurably ill, then it should be immediately removed from the flower garden in order to prevent the disease of "neighbors".

Kniphofia "Orange Vanilla Popsicle"

Knifofia is a widespread perennial ornamental plant native to Africa. This is a rather unusual plant, from 50 cm to 3 meters high, with a spike-shaped inflorescence of tubular flowers. Flowers periodically change their bright color from red to orange and yellow, which can be clearly seen in the photo. Flowering lasts almost all summer - from July to the beginning of frost.

Knifofiya: planting and care in the open field

Despite the fact that the cultivation of plants is recommended mainly for southern regions with warm winters and hot summers, knifofia takes root well in the more northern zone.

Exist about 75 varieties of this flower, which are divided into several main types:

• Tukka is the most frost-resistant variety; it takes root well in Central Russia. Up to 80 cm high, the inflorescence of cniphophia reaches 15 cm, flowering begins in July and lasts more than a month.
• Berry is a tall, hardy plant (up to 2 m), grown in the open field. It has a large inflorescence up to 25 cm, the flowering period is 65 days, it is the most decorative of all species. On its basis, most hybrid varieties have been bred.
• Hybrid - a group of garden plants bred by crossing the berry variety with other species. The height is less than natural (up to 130 cm), the flowers have different shades, all the main qualities of the cniphophia are preserved (the duration of flowering, the size of the inflorescences, etc.).
• Macowena - has a length of 80 cm during the flowering period, the inflorescences reach up to 10 cm.The buds are orange-red, yellow when blooming. It tolerates moisture well.

Reproduction and planting of cniphophia

The plant is grown by seeds and vegetatively (by dividing the bush). Seeds are sown in the second half of March - early April in specially prepared boxes or pots. Sowing soil cniphophy should be loose and light, the seeds are evenly distributed over wet soil, without deepening, lightly sprinkling with earth. To speed up sprouting, they are covered with foil and placed in a warm, well-lit place.

The seedlings appear in about three weeks, after which the film is removed. After the formation of 2-3 leaves, plants are planted in another place for better acclimatization. The first inflorescences appear only after 2-3 years. At the end of May, seedlings are planted in open ground. Planting bushes of cniphophia is done at a distance of 20-35 cm from each other.

The division of the bush is carried out in late April - early May. To do this, the bush is first taken out of the box, and then carefully separate the daughter sockets, the cuts are dried and sprinkled with charcoal. After a few hours, you can start planting plants for growing in a permanent place. As a result of this procedure, the plant can bloom next year.

Knifofia is a thermophilic plant and it is quite sensitive to low temperatures, therefore, planting of bushes in open ground is carried out after the end of frost (not earlier than mid-June). Loamy soil mixed with sand is best suited for this. You can prepare a mixture of turf, leafy soil, sand and humus. To prevent water from stagnating near the roots, drainage should be done to ensure good water permeability.

Plants are planted on the sunny side, and since the cniphophy is quite large, there should be enough space between the bushes. The plantings are planted at a distance of 30-40 cm and watered abundantly. For some time, the sprouts are shaded from the sun's rays so that they take root better.

Plant care

Growing by seeds and vegetatively, caring for plants is not particularly difficult. It is only necessary water regularly, weeding and mulching the soil. Watering should be moderate, as excessive moisture negatively affects the plant. However, on sunny days, it is made more abundant.

For the winter period, the knifofia is prepared in a special way in order to protect it from freezing. After flowering, the flower stalks are cut off from the plants, the leaves are tied in bunches and everything is covered with sawdust, fallen leaves or spruce branches of coniferous trees. The top is additionally covered with roofing material, leaving small ventilation holes to avoid overmaturity.

If the winter is with little snow or too wet, then the plants may die from freezing. To be on the safe side, knifophia bushes are transplanted into special containers in which the soil periodically needs to be moistened... The containers are kept in a dry basement at a temperature of 1-8 degrees. Planting of plants for growing in the open field is carried out only at the end of May - beginning of June.

If the bushes remain hidden in the ground, then they must be gradually opened to acclimatize to sunlight. It is not recommended to prune the leaves for the winter period, since knifophya is an evergreen plant. Otherwise, it can negatively affect flowering. In the spring, before the start of the season, plant care begins, they are examined, dry leaves are removed and healthy ones are cut.

Top dressing and fertilization of knifophytes

Fertilizing is done twice in the entire season. After the appearance of young leaves, fertilizing is carried out with mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen and organic substances. Diluted chicken manure can be used. As an organic fertilizer compost, humus, peat are used... In the second half of summer, after flowering, potash fertilizers or ash are applied, which helps the plants to endure the winter. Dark stones can be placed near the cniphophies, which emit additional heat necessary for growing flowers.

Pests and diseases

If the plant receives proper care, regular watering, and feeding with the necessary fertilizers, then it is not susceptible to diseases and feels good. Excessive watering can cause root rot.

In this case, the method of treating cniphophia is fungicide treatment. If the plant is no longer amenable to treatment, then it must be urgently removed, as there is a risk of contamination of other flowers.

Of insects that can harm a plant are aphids, spider mites, thrips... They are destroyed by spraying with an insecticide.

Plant care and growing tips

• It is better to plant bushes or seeds of cniphophia in an elevated, sunny place; there should be no cold drafts on the site.
• For better flowering, the plant must be watered regularly and abundantly, it is better to do this in the morning. At the same time, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is applied.
• Knifofia does not tolerate stagnant moisture and dampness, so the soil must be nutritious, moisture and air permeable.
• It is necessary to check the moisture content of the soil to avoid rotting plants, rotted weeds can also be the cause of this, so flower care and regular weeding are needed.
• Seed propagation, division and planting of the cniphophia bush is done every five years.
• If in winter the air temperature drops to -15 degrees, then it is better to transfer the plant to a special room.

Growing and caring for the flowers of knifophia is not very difficult. For several years, the plants continue to retain their decorative properties. In landscape design, they are often used both in a single form and in combination with other plants... In the photo you can see the compositions of the kniphophies in the form of an alpine slide or rockery.

Cnifofia flower

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Probably, in every garden, among the flowers familiar from childhood, there is a corner with exotic plants from other continents.The garden literally transforms before our eyes and ceases to seem too ordinary, like everyone else. Plant an African guest with a knifophia. This article will tell you how to grow knifofia in the open field, as well as how to choose the right variety for further reproduction with the necessary care for the plant.

Knifofia: varieties and varieties

Some species of this African plant, as well as hybrids of perennial bniphophy, are distributed throughout the globe as ornamental garden plants.

Types of kniphofia are divided into groups:

Berry. This is the tallest group. Some popular varieties:

• Dr. Kerr Lemon;
• OrangeBeauty Orange;
• Macowen.

Berry knifofia

Tukka. This is the most stable species for our climate.

Knifofia tukka

Hybrid. Most of the hybrid varieties are bred on the basis of berry knifofia. The most popular varieties:

• Cobra;
• Cardinal;
• Rocket;
• Atlanta.

Hybrid knifofia

Attention! Existing plant names: knifofia, kniphofia, tritoma, notoskeptrum.

Planting a plant

Knifofia prefers moderately humid sunny places, sheltered from the wind. The soil must be nutritious and free of moisture stagnation. At the end of May, seedlings of knifofia are planted in a permanent place. The distance between the bushes is 20-35 cm. If a rosette obtained by dividing the plant is planted, then the distance should be about 30 cm between the bushes.

Plant care

Cultivation of knifophy does not require any special hassle. The difficulty lies only in preparing the plant for winter. The main care includes weeding from weeds, mulching and timely watering, fertilizing with fertilizers twice a season.

Every 5 years, the plant requires division and reproduction of the bush with rosettes. At the end of flowering, the peduncles are cut off, and the leaves are tied in a bunch for the winter and covered with sawdust or leaf litter, coniferous spruce branches. Cover from above with any waterproof material.

The main task of the gardener is to protect the knifofia from freezing in winter.

But if there is little snow in winter or a wet winter, then the knifofia can die from freezing or from damping off. It is better to play it safe and transplant the plant into a container for the winter period. Tie the leaves and place the container in a dry room with a constant temperature of 1-8 degrees. It will periodically need to moisten the soil. The plant is planted in open ground at the end of May. If there are sheltered plants in your garden, then you should gradually open them so that they get used to the sunlight. After the appearance of the first leaves, fertilizing is performed.

Fertilization and feeding of knifofia

In the spring, when the first green leaves appear on the plant, it is necessary to feed the cniphophy with nitrogen fertilizers. This can be an infusion of chicken manure, diluted in the right proportion, or mineral fertilizer bought in a store. The plant responds well to the application of organic fertilizers:

• compost;
• humus;
• peat.

For the rapid development of the plant, spring feeding is required.

In the second half of the growing season, potash fertilizers or ash can be applied. This will help the plant to better endure the winter dormant period.

Reproduction of the plant of knifofia

Perennial bnifophyia in the open field can be propagated by seed or by dividing the bush.

Seeds Knifofia is rarely grown, since in the middle lane the seeds of the plant do not have time to fully ripen. Therefore, it is possible to plant perennial knifofia only by using purchased seed material. Seeds are sown in seedling pots in early spring to speed up seedling, cover with glass. After three weeks, the first shoots will appear, the film is removed, and when the plant has three leaves, it dives. In early summer, the plant can be planted in the garden in a permanent place. After 2-3 years, the first inflorescences will appear.

Seeds of knifophy

Dividing the bush allows you to achieve flowering cnifophya within a year after planting.In early May, the bushes are dug up and the daughter sockets are separated from them. They are planted in prepared holes at a distance of 30-40 cm and watered well. After planting, young bushes should be shaded for the first time, so they will take root better.

Advice. Knifofia loves moderate watering, excess moisture can lead to the death of the plant.

Diseases and pests

With good care, timely watering and top dressing with potash fertilizers, the knifofia will not be capricious and sick in the open field. With excessive watering, the plant can get sick with root rot, if this does happen, then immediately take treatment measures - pour it with fungicide. If time has already been lost and the plant is not subject to recovery, then remove the affected plant from the flower garden as soon as possible so that other flowers in your garden do not get sick.

Spider mite

Insects are also not averse to feasting on an African beauty. These are mainly leaf-eating and sucking insects: aphids, spider mites, thrips. Spraying with an insecticide will help here.

Attention! All sucking insect pests love plants overfed with nitrogen and other fertilizers.

Knifofia: combination with other plants

When composing a composition for a mixed planting of knifophya with other plants, one should take into account the flowering time, as well as the care and watering requirements for the plants to be comfortable.

Knifofia in the flowerbed

In landscape design, knifofia is often combined with other perennials:

• sage;
• bearded iris;
• gypsophila;
• decorative cereals;
• eremurus;
• lupine;
• dahlias.

Knifofia in landscape design

Perennial knifophia does not lose its decorative effect throughout the growing season, therefore it is often used in landscape design. She looks great as a solo soloist on the lawn, as well as in combination with other plants in flower beds, she feels good near reservoirs and in dry gardens.

Knifofia feels good in different conditions

Tall varieties can be used as a screen, but low-growing varieties in landscape design can decorate a rockery or an alpine slide. Knifofia looks great not only in the garden, cut inflorescences will stand in a vase for at least two weeks as a home decoration.

Planting knifofia: video

Types of bnifophy: photo