Liatris spikelet alba planting and care in the open field

In many garden plots, you can find such an amazing plant as lyatris, which looks very beautiful both in the photo and in person. This decorative flower has a pleasant aroma and unusual flowering, moreover, it is not capricious. Planting Liatris on time will allow you to enjoy the original flowers from the beginning of July to the end of August.

This perennial has a large number of different varieties, planting seeds of which and caring for sprouts does not require much effort. Thanks to this, this culture is considered quite popular. Let's try to figure out what a liatris is, planting and care in the open field of which will also be considered.

Variety of varieties

The homeland of Liatris flowers is North America, so it takes root well in our country. It is a perennial plant erect erect stem, which is decorated with numerous inflorescences, and in height it can reach 2 meters. Many gardeners plant the plant in groups, which looks very beautiful. It is also planted in separate flower beds and is often used for bouquets. To keep it in the vase longer, the water is diluted with a small amount of fertilizer.

This plant is represented by varieties, the number of which is more than forty. The most common types are:

• spicate;
• filmy;
• rough.

Spikelet is the most common type of liatris, the height of adult inflorescences in which is 80 cm... It begins to bloom in late June and lasts until mid-July. The shades of this species are quite diverse. Liatris spikelet blue (bluish color) goes well with white, purple lilac, pink and purple flowers.

Filmy. A distinctive feature of this species is the leaves, which can reach a width of 3 cm. Some varieties can reach a height of one meter. The most popular variety of this species is "Alba", which has white fluffy inflorescences. It is very easy to care for it, just like planting and growing.

Rough - this variety is tall, the stems of some varieties can reach a height of 2 meters. The upper part of the stem is covered with small purple flowers, which are collected in lush inflorescences.

Methods for growing Liatris at their summer cottage

This culture can multiply:

• seeds;
• tubers;
• dividing the bush.

Planting a plant is carried out in different ways and it depends on which method is chosen.

Growing liatris from seeds in the open field

This method is considered the simplest, and adult flowers can be obtained in the second year. Since seedlings are not afraid of frosts, many gardeners sow them in the ground in late autumn... Still, it's better to do it in the spring. A place for growing a crop is prepared in advance by digging it up and applying fertilizer (1 bucket of humus per 1 m2).

The seeds need extra care. Before planting, they should be soaked for 8-10 hours in plain water or in a growth stimulator. Seeds are planted in holes 1 to 1.5 cm deep.Once they are planted, the beds are evenly covered with soil.

Reproduction of Liatris tubers

This method is ideal for those who have an adult plant on their site, for which they provide the necessary care. Tubers as planting material are best taken from flowers that are more than three years old. When placing them in the ground, you should find a small depression on the tubersfrom which shoots will sprout. They are planted in pre-prepared pits with a depth of 10 cm, a third of which must be filled with humus. If everything is done correctly, then the first shoots can be expected in about a month.

Dividing the bush

In this case, young shoots of an adult plant, together with roots, are used as planting material. The bush is divided in such a way that the young shoot has a powerful part of the mother plant and it can root well.

For planting such shoots, holes are prepared with a depth of 10 - 20 cm, located at a distance of 30 cm from each other. The well, as in the previous case, is filled with humus by 1/3, after which this culture is planted. After all the shoots are planted, the beds should be mulched using humus. Later Liatrice transplanted in early spring or at the end of autumn. Reproduction in this way must be carried out every 3-4 years.

Care

If this flower is planted in open ground, then caring for it is as follows:

• regular watering;
• weed removal;
• hilling a bush.

Since the root system of Liatris is superficial and can be exposed during rains, it should be regularly added to the soil on the site. Tall peduncles sometimes need to be tied to a support. It is also advisable to mulch the site, in this case the roots will be protected and receive additional nutrition.

Liatris needs to be fertilized regularly. Doing so recommended 12 times a week and it is best to combine this with watering, which at the beginning of the growing season contributes to the formation of a powerful root system. But you should not moisten the plant too much, as in this case the roots can rot.

It is necessary to feed liatris with fertilizers in the spring, which are purchased in a specialized store. Excessive feeding can lead to the fact that thorns will fall off the flower. Also, caring for the plant consists in weeding and removing dried inflorescences so that the flower does not lose its decorative effect even after its flowering and delights the eye with its bright green foliage for a long time.

Diseases and pests

Liatris is unpretentious and resistant to various diseases, but they can greatly harm him snails and bears... To get rid of them, you need to use the following folk method: a 100 ml bottle of beer is dug into the ground at an angle of 45 degrees so that the neck is 2 - 3 cm below the surface level.Snails and bears will crawl to the smell of beer, as a result trapped. It is only necessary to regularly change the beer in the baits.

Sometimes from waterlogging the plant begins to rot. In this case, all rot is cut off on the flower, after which it is treated with a fungicide.

Thus, we have sorted out what liatris is, its features, a photo of this flower was presented in the article. This exotic plant takes root well in Russian household plots, as it resistant to various adverse conditions... The process of growing from seeds is quite simple and even a novice gardener can handle it.

Spikelet liatris

Anyone who at least once in his life has seen in a garden or in a photo how liatris blooms will hardly ever forget its beauty.

Although it is a rarity in private plots, it is certainly a great honor for true connoisseurs of flora to have it in the collection.

Especially considering that this plant belongs to perennial and frost-resistant, and its height reaches about 2 meters.

Seedling preparation

It has been noticed that only 50% of the seeds germinate, so they should be harvested with a margin.

Also, it is not advisable to immediately place it in open ground: although Liatris Spicata is not afraid of cold weather, it is still better if the ground is warmed up.

To germinate seeds, take a container or wooden box and fill it with a mixture of humus and river sand.

Before planting, the seeds of the plant are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate and left for 8-10 hours. Barren flower seeds will float immediately, and full ones will remain at the bottom.

Disembarkation in a container

Once everything has been prepared, the lyatris seeds can be planted.

Before this, the soil is well moistened, after which the seeds are spread on it in a small layer. To retain moisture from above, they are covered with sawdust.

In about a week, the first young shoots will appear, and the container is moved to a place where there is a lot of light. After 14 days, you need to dive the plant.

A number of gardeners do not transplant sprouts into pots, but immediately plant them in the soil, however, the temperature below +5 degrees, threatens the death of the plant.

To obtain selected seedlings of such varieties as Liatris Spicata Alba or Blue (Liatris Spicata Blue), you can start germinating seeds in containers already in March.

Planting in open ground

The soil for liatris should be prepared in the fall, when it is dug up with humus.

And in the spring, before planting, the beds are dug again and abundantly moistened. Further, at a distance from one another, holes are made and seedlings are placed in them.

The seedlings are immersed in the ground to the very lobe leaves, and the rhizomes are abundantly covered. All plant species are watered abundantly for two to three days for the liatris to take root well.

After that, watering should be carried out from time to time, about twice a week. As a rule, the cultivation of liatris in the open field takes place without top dressing, only if the leaves lose their dark green color, nitrogen fertilizer can be added to the soil.

How to care for a plant

In addition to watering and occasional feeding of flowers, regular weeding is required, and wilted inflorescences must also be removed.

If necessary, in the spring you can feed the lyatrice with nitrogen fertilizer, in the summer with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, and in the fall again with nitrogen fertilizer.

Note: you can give the flowers a rich color using

mulching

and paddling to the soil tubers.

It is not recommended to loosen the ground, as this injures the nodules, and, accordingly, the liatrix itself. Also in the fall, sprinkle the roots with a ten centimeter layer of compost.

How to use in design

Liatris Blue and Listris Alba are widely used in landscaping.

Design options can be seen in the pictures on the Internet. The crop is grown in tubers and has very beautiful candle-shaped flowers.

As a decoration for a garden plot, liatris can be used as an independent plant, or phlox, anaphalis, gypsophila and various herbs can be planted next to it. Spikelet flower looks great in bouquets and is stored for more than a week.

In addition, liatris is used in the formation of winter bouquets. It will look beautiful with wildflowers. The plant can also be grown solo, planting longitudinally along the line of the sun. It can be planted next to a fence, small buildings, in a flower bed.

How to grow and propagate

Liatris seeds

There are several ways to breed Liatris:

• seeds;
• bulbs;
• rhizomes.

Planting materials are sold by specialized stores. This plant is a perennial, so you need to choose high-quality source material and create conditions for planting.

In the description of the advantages of liatris, it should be included that in the open field it begins to bloom in the first year. So "Picador" gives bright and juicy buds.

It is ideal to plant the plant in an open, sunny area, since it loves heat and does not tolerate cold well. However, the distance between each flower should be 15-20 cm.

Recommendations: both spring and autumn are suitable for planting Liatris in open ground. In the second option, this should be done without waiting for frost.

Consider the breeding options for Liatris in detail:

1. Growing a plant by dividing a bush

This method is recognized as the best because of its simplicity, since a mature flower simply needs to be divided into several parts. The main thing is that all parts of the plant are with a root collar and tubers.

The site where the planting is planned must first be dug up with humus, after which holes 20 cm wide are made, into which the root of the plant is planted. Reproduction in this way is used once every 4 years, which allows you to achieve very beautiful flowers already in the first flowering season.

1. Growing a culture from rhizome

Under the ground, liatris has rhizomes, tubers and many processes. A tuber is a bulb slightly flattened at the edges. The rhizome can and should be divided into parts, this does no harm, but, on the contrary, helps the lyatrix to grow and grow stronger.

For example, division allows you to grow pink flowering liatris in the first year. Therefore, this method is considered more productive than using seeds for these purposes. In this way, various plant varieties can be grown.

After the green mass dries up, rhizomes are dug up in autumn, cleaned of the ground, dried and sorted. RIt is recommended to choose Liatris tubers at least 2 cm. If there are no such ones, it is better to buy them. Small tubers are best used for growing.

Good to know: adult plants are recommended to be divided into tubers approximately once every 3 or 4 years. For this, the plants need to be dug up, dried and divided. This applies to any method of planting a plant, since tubers are formed in any way.

Before planting, you should carefully examine the tubers, identify possible rotting or mechanical damage. It is very important to position the root correctly, because if there is a depression on it, it must be in the ground. It is important to carry out proper care and watering, especially in the first period.

How to help over the winter

As soon as the plant is ripe, the leaves will turn yellow, wither and begin to fall off, it needs to be cut off. The soil in the flowerbed is mulched with peat, compost, dry leaves or spruce branches.

Straw should not be used because of possible rodent nests that will feed on rhizomes. The mild winter climate does not require mulching the plant, as it is able to withstand slight cold without damage.

He is not afraid of even light frosts, since Liatris normally tolerates climate changes.

How to divide lyatrice tubers, see the following video:

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Each flower has its own benefits. For some it is a scent, for others - useful properties, for others - external beauty, for others - it is simplicity and unpretentiousness in planting and growing in open ground, a variety of varieties. And there is a flower that combines all of the above. This is a handsome Liatrice.

Features and varieties of liatris

Liatris is shaped like a candle. The multi-leaved straight stem ends with a bright rosette of inflorescences, which, at the moment of flowering, seem to "light up" with different colors. A flower blooms from the top, resembling panicle tassels.

Liatris is very reminiscent of delicate and romantic wildflowers

The subtle scent of Liatrice is reminiscent of vanilla with subtle, subtle notes of hay. The thing is that the leaves of Liatris contain coumarin, which is widely used in perfumery. Liatris is also actively used by cosmetologists, because its broth has a high tonic effect.It is widely known that this flower helps with kidney diseases, and as a medicine against malaria and even sexually transmitted diseases. Root lotions help with wound healing.

The most popular are three types of this flower:

Spikelet liatris. This species reaches a height of 80 cm, its stems are densely covered with leaves, and the inflorescences come in 6 different colors: purple, lilac, pink, violet, azure and, considered the rarest, white.

Liatris spikelet white

Filmy liatris. Bright pink or white "candles" of this type of liatris can reach a meter in height. Differs in very wide leaves.

Grungy Liatrice... The tallest member of the family. Its height reaches two meters. Its purple small flowers are collected in fluffy panicles.

Grungy Liatrice

Liatris is jokingly called the flower of lazy people, because it is unpretentious in care and is not susceptible to disease. Besides all this, Liatris is a wonderful honey plant. This flower is also great for cutting. Flowers can stand in a vase for up to two weeks.

How to plant Liatrice

When planting liatris in the open field, it should be remembered that the flower feels best in a well-lit place: it is not afraid of direct sunlight. But the shadow can adversely affect the shades of inflorescences, the growth and development of culture. Therefore, he should be given the sunniest place on your site, for which he will certainly thank you with all the variety of his flowers and fluffy bushes.

Bicolor liatris

You can plant liatris in open ground with tubers or seeds. Planting with seeds is recommended as follows:

1. Sow flower seeds in a cold greenhouse or directly into open ground in late March or early April.
2. Seedlings, which will sprout, are grown until mid-autumn, and after that, when the greens die off, the tubers are dug up and stored with the ground until mid-spring.
3. Then they are planted in a prepared place.

The sprouts of Liatrice before disembarking to a permanent place

Liatris prefers dry soil, without the proximity of groundwater. The plant does not tolerate heavy clay soils.

Suitable care

Caring for a lyatrix is ​​not a big hassle. It is enough to water the plant as needed when the ground around the bush is dry. In most cases, the rains are enough for the lyatrix. Abundant watering can lead to rotting of the flower.

Liatris requires minimal maintenance

Closer to autumn, when the liatris finishes flowering, the corollas of the inflorescences are cut off so that the wind does not spread the seeds throughout the site. And at the end of the season, the plant is cut to the root and covered for the winter with a 10-15 cm layer of humus or foliage so that the tubers do not freeze in frost. Frosts below -5 C can harm the plant. So if winters in your area are frosty and snowless, then it is better to cover the plant in autumn. If the climate is temperate, then liatris will be able to overwinter without shelter.

Top dressing and fertilization

Liatris is fed three times a season with phosphate-potassium fertilizers. If you notice that the leaves of the flower have begun to fade, it is worth feeding the bush with nitrogen fertilizer. Liatris no longer needs any fertilizers. Just add a little earth to it, because the tubers are close to the surface and can be washed out by rains. For the same reason, weeding of lyatris must be done with care. Many gardeners recommend not weeding at all, but limiting ourselves to mulching.

Liatris will feel more comfortable if the soil is mulched

Reproduction of Liatris

Liatris can be propagated by tubers and division.

If you already have bushes older than three years on the site, then take tubers directly from their roots for propagation. Tubers must be chosen with a diameter of at least 2 cm. They are planted in a hole of 8-12 cm, one-third filled with humus.

Attention. Before planting a tuber, carefully inspect it and find a depression. This will be the top side of the tuber.If the groove is not visible anywhere, then it is better to plant the tuber sideways.

The second method of breeding lyaris is no more difficult. It is necessary to separate the young growth from the mother bush. Choose shoots that already have a hardened root collar with tubers. Plant the shoots in the holes, the intervals between which should be at least 30-40 cm, fill the hole with humus by a third.

Corm lyatrice

Liatris is transplanted either in early spring or late autumn, and no more than once every 3-4 years. The transplanted bushes bloom the next summer.

Diseases and pests

Liatris, planting and caring for which does not bring any hassle, is also not susceptible to disease. However, this does not give him immunity from pests such as the bear. As well as from other insects that prefer to feed on garden plants.

Snails can significantly damage the Liatris root system

Also, snails and even field mice can show an increased interest in the roots of liatris. Therefore, it is worthwhile to take all measures in advance that will help prevent such attacks on your plants. The resistance to diseases in liatris is still poorly determined, but cases are known when leaf diseases were transmitted to liatrix from infected plants growing in the vicinity.

Liatris: combination with other plants

Liatris gets along well with other perennials that prefer sunny areas with loose soil and tolerate drought better than excess moisture. Liatris also grows amicably with field specimens, gypsophila, chamomile and other flowers.

Liatris in landscape design

In general, liatris is a very harmonious flower. The main thing is to choose the right neighbors for him in the garden, paying attention to the height, color and flowering period.

Liatris in snow-white or purple shades is perfect for creating expressive compositions with double red-orange daylilies or yellow evening primrose. Hosts with their lush inflorescences look picturesque next to the lyatrix.

Liatris is very often used to decorate parks and squares.

Variety "Picador", which is the owner of bright red-purple inflorescences, will perfectly contrast with the snow-white bells and delphinium. It also goes well with stock roses and pale pink mallow.

In mixed-type flower beds, white liatris will look very beneficial together with purple and red monards or cherry yarrow.

Attention. The white Liatris variety is considered the most finicky, and does not often grow into a fluffy bush.

Low-growing varieties of Liatris, planting and caring for which are the easiest, look amazingly harmonious in rockeries among strong boulders. The most suitable variety for rockeries is "Kobold", which grows no higher than 40 cm and is the owner of bright violet-lilac and purple inflorescences. In rockeries, it will serve as an excellent background for blue-gray fescue with a Carpathian bell, shading them and complementing them.

Landings contrasting in color look beautiful

Another option for using liatris in landscape design can be longitudinal plantations - along house buildings, flower beds or fences.

Advice. Plant liatris along the line of the sun, whichever landscaping option you choose.

Liatris came to our gardens from North America relatively recently, therefore it can be rarely found in the flower beds of neighboring gardeners. However, such underestimation of this flower is completely unjustified. Indeed, in addition to easy cultivation, unpretentiousness in care and watering, this flower has an excellent aroma and original look. He is increasingly seen in wedding photos in a bridal bouquet. Liatris begins to take pride of place in flower beds and rockeries. Having grown these plants in your flower garden, you will not regret it, and maybe someone will come to visit you to take a photo against the background of your amazing flower bed with lyatris.

Unpretentious Liatrice: video

Liatris: photo

Liatris is a perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. During the flowering period, liatris releases a long straight arrow, which begins at the base as a multi-leaved stem, and closer to the middle, smoothly turns into a huge variety of small flowers. Which, blooming, cover the entire peduncle with thin long hairs. It's just an incredibly beautiful sight.

General information

This delicate and fluffy flower will decorate any flower bed. You can choose a variety of color combinations, since the gamut of shades is the brightest, most saturated: white, pink, violet, purple and red. And that's not all of its advantages.

In addition to the abundance of bright colors, Liatrice boasts an unusually sweet aroma of vanilla with spruce, perceptible notes of freshly harvested hay. This is the result of the release of a natural flavoring agent such as coumarin (used to make essential oils) from the leaves.

An undoubted advantage is the fact that the scent of this flower drives away moths. Therefore, it will be enough to put one branch of lyatris in a wardrobe with clothes and forget about the existence of a moth for six months. Moreover, this applies to both fresh and dry twigs, since even when dried, this flower retains its incredible aroma. Two in one: pleasant scent and protection for your belongings.

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Varieties and types

Liatris spikelet - is a tubular inflorescence, densely covered with small flowers around the stem. This species has well-leafed stems about 80 cm long, on which there are panicle inflorescences 20-25 cm long. Flowering occurs for about two months (from June to July). Depending on the variety, there are white, purple, purple, lilac, pink and azure inflorescences.

Liatris crayfish - has wider leaves and fluffy white inflorescences, and a certain variety September glory boasts a rather high peduncle reaching one meter in height and having bright pink flowers.

Liatris grungy - the highest view. You can find specimens reaching two meters in height. It has a powerful erect stem with glossy lanceolate leaves and small (about 1 cm in diameter) purple flowers, which are collected in long inflorescences, but do not grow as abundantly as the previous species.

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Liatris planting and care in the open field

The flower feels great both in a sunny area and in the shade. For good growth and vivid flowering, liatris needs fertile and well-drained soil.

To do this, do not forget to apply fertilizers before planting and periodically during the phase of active growth and flowering. In rich soils, the plant can grow up to two meters in height.

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Watering Liatris

Liatris is a moisture-loving plant, although it easily survives a slight drying out. But what you shouldn't do is overmoisten. Excess moisture can promote rotting of tubers and roots.

The amount of water for each bush depends on how widely it has grown. On average, one bucket of water is enough. Pour until the earth absorbs. It is better to water more often and little by little than to overfill and injure the plant.

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Fertilizer for Liatris

Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers for flowering plants is carried out three times per season. The amount and consistency of the drug is indicated on the package. If the leaves of Liatris begin to lose brightness, then it is recommended to fertilize the bush with nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 20 g of the drug per square meter.

Do not forget about the need for periodic hilling of the bush and adding a little fresh soil. This is due to the fact that the root system is located very close to the surface and with each watering or rain, the tubers and roots are too bare.

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Pruning Liatris

This flower is suitable for making bouquets.The stems, cut and placed in water, can be pleasing to the eye for a week or two. You can also use Liatris to create Ekibana, as it is able to retain its decorative effect even when dried.

Just don't just lay out freshly cut specimens on a flat surface (table, floor). For proper and even drying, each stem must be hung on a rope, cut up. The room must be dry and dark. The height at which the trimming is done depends on future use.

As for the inflorescences, if you did not use them in the bouquet, then they must be cut off immediately after the end of flowering. Otherwise, the seeds will scatter in the wind throughout the entire area and the flower will sprout in the most unexpected or undesirable place. Since this does not cut off the entire stem, but only the inflorescences, the plant will continue to delight the eye with green foliage, until winter comes.

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Liatris wintering

At the end of the season, in preparation for winter, the liatris must be cut at the root. The plant is winter-hardy, therefore it does not require any complex additional shelter, just cover the already trimmed bush with dry foliage from the garden (or you can use humus), a layer thickness of 10-15 cm will be quite enough.

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Liatris growing from seed

First, before sowing, the seeds must be soaked in a humate solution overnight. Secondly, pre-dig the earth with humus (assuming that one bucket should go for one square meter of soil). In the morning, you can start sowing. The seeds are evenly poured into holes 1-2 cm deep and closed (sprinkle with earth on top).

When propagating by seeds, one should take into account the fact that liatris gradually increases in growth, only in the second or third year does it gain full height. Therefore, do not worry if in the first year the flower is not the height that you expected.

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Liatris reproduction by dividing the bush

Dividing a bush is a fairly simple breeding method. In this case, the required number of shoots is carefully separated from the mother plant (without damaging the neighboring shoots). So that each of them has its own healthy and well-developed root collar.

Then holes are dug at a distance of at least 30-40 cm from each other, taking into account the fact that the lyatris grows very well and new root tubers with young shoots appear around each bush. When planting, the shoot deepens by 10-15 cm, depending on the density of the roots. Then a third of humus is poured there and sprinkled on top with the rest of the soil.

The number of parts to be separated from the bush depends on the age of the flower, therefore, such reproduction is recommended no more than once every 3-4 years. During this time, the bush will be able to grow enough so as not to suffer from division. Separate no more than a third from the entire bush.

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Reproduction of Liatrice tubers

Choosing the right tuber for breeding is the most important task. The ideal one is considered to be one that has a diameter of 2 cm and if it grows on an adult plant (at least three years old). Selected tubers are planted in holes to a depth of 8-10 cm and covered with humus by a third and the rest with earth.

An important point is the correct location of the tuber in the hole. Before planting, you need to inspect the bulb and make sure that the notch (you need to find it) is located at the top, because it is from it that the shoot will begin to germinate. The first shoots will begin to hatch in a month.

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Diseases and pests

Attacks occur from pests bear and snails... In the fight against them, folk methods have proved to be effective. One is to use a bottle half filled with beer.It is buried in the ground at 45 ° angles, so that the neck is in a small hole 2-3 cm below the ground level.

The fact is that the smell of beer lures these pests. It is imperative to change the fluid every day, while destroying those pests that have managed to fall into the trap.

Another method is to put a damp cloth around the bush and wait for slugs to collect there. Just don't leave the rag overnight. At night, cooler temperatures and a damp cloth on the tubers (roots) can lead to disease.

One of the ailments is considered decay from waterlogging. To do this, it is necessary to cut off all decayed areas and treat with a fungicide.

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