Types and varieties of salpiglossis with photos and names
It was already mentioned above that only salpiglossis notched is cultivated by gardeners. You can see a detailed description of this type at the beginning of the article. He has the following garden forms:
- Large-flowered. The height of the bush can reach 100 centimeters, its stems are branched. The flowers are large.
- Superbissima. Quite large flowers have corrugated petals.
- Salpiglossis is low. Bushes are highly branched and reach a height of 0.4 m. It blooms very luxuriantly.
The most popular are the following hybrids and varieties:
- Kew Blue. The height of the undersized bush does not exceed 0.3 m. The flowers are painted in various shades of purple from purple to pink-lilac. Their throat is dark in color, and on the surface there is a rare mesh of yellow veins.
- Casino mix. The height of the compact bush is from 0.45 to 0.5 m. The color of the flowers can be very different, even yellow. These colors need support.
- Festival and Flamenco. The height of the compact bushes of this plant does not exceed 0.3 m. The color of the flowers is varied.
- Bolero. The height of a lush flowering bush is about 0.6 m. The stem is quite stable.
- Ali Baba. Such an exotic annual plant reaches a height of 0.8 m. On the surface of the flowers there are contrasting veins, they stand very well in cut.
- Velvet Dolly. The height of the bushes is about 0.4 m. The diameter of the velvet flowers is about 60 mm, they have a bizarre appearance.
- Fireworks. Such a branchy plant blooms very luxuriantly and has a height of about 0.6 m. The diameter of the flowers is 60 mm, they can be colored purple, deep red or light pink, on their surface there are yellow-golden or dark purple streaks.
- Magic. The height of the bush varies from 0.4 to 0.6 m. The color of the flowers is snow-white, red, scarlet or purple, on the surface of the pharynx there is a marble pattern of yellow veins.
Alyssum - growing conditions
It is good news that this plant is unpretentious and can be grown in different territories. It is not afraid of drafts, rocky soils, arid areas, sun and neighborhood with other plants
When figuring out how to grow alissum, it is worth noting that if you want to enjoy bright colors for a long time, then you should pay attention to the quality of the soil in the selected area.
Alyssum soil
Before planting, you need to prepare the soil.
- When growing an alissum plant in the open field, humus or compost must be introduced beforehand. This procedure should be carried out one month before sowing.
- Experienced gardeners recommend improving the drainage properties of the soil, for which expanded clay, river sand or small pebbles are laid.
- After that, digging and leveling of the soil with a rake is mandatory. For alyssum to develop well, planting should be carried out in non-acidic soil, in which the pH value should be at the level of 6-6.3.
Is alyssum pinched?
If the seedlings are too elongated, then it is recommended to pinch the main shoot. It is necessary to remove 1/3, and in some cases 1/2 of the stem, leaving 3-4 pairs of true leaves with axillary buds. This happens if the seedlings were grown in a lack of light or too high temperatures. After the procedure, the plant will begin to bush and form side shoots.
Alyssum, which must be properly cultivated and cared for, includes pruning and should be done regularly.Thanks to this procedure, growth will increase and flowering will be more lush.
It is important for all types of this culture to remove up to 8 cm of shoots. The only exception is rocky alyssum
For rejuvenating pruning after the wilting of the inflorescences, all shoots are shortened by 1/3.
3. White flower - planting and care in the open field
White flower does not tolerate flooded areas, therefore flower bulbs should not be planted in lowlands and in those places where rain moisture accumulates and lingers. Previously, the earth is dug up and prepared for planting. Too heavy and dense loams are mixed with river sand, and nutrient-poor lands are enriched with humus. Since the flower does not like a substrate that is too acidic, you can first spill the earth with milk of lime or add a little dolomite flour.
For growing a flower, you can choose both sunny places and areas that are in the lacy shade of trees and shrubs.
For planting, prepare planting holes about 10 - 15 cm deep, depending on the size of the bulbs and at the same distance from each other. In general, the planting depth should be 2 to 3 times the diameter of the bulbs, but on too heavy soils, the bulb can be placed higher. Too shallow planting (less than 5 cm) entails chopping the bulbs, however, they will form more babies than with too deep planting.
You can plant 5 - 8 bulbs in each hole - the white flower looks very good in small group plantings. Cover the bulbs with earth and tamp it lightly, and then water. Plantings can be mulched with a small layer of straw or cut grass, only 1 cm thick, in order to prevent weeds and too rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil surface.
3.1 When to plant
The timing of planting in open ground will depend on the timing of the onset of flowering. It is advisable to plant spring-flowering varieties in the second half of summer - early autumn. Thus, before the onset of the first frost, the plants will have time to form a root system and prepare for winter. You can do the same with summer-flowering plants. The bushes that form flowers in the autumn months are planted in the spring.
Before planting, it is worth inspecting the bulbs - they should be strong, dense, covered with dry, with well-fitting scales and short roots or without them at all, without signs of mold. There should also be no superficial damage to the bulbs.
It is worth paying attention only to the planting material that does not yet show any signs of growth - such bulbs can be stored in a cool and dark place, sprinkled with sawdust and placed in a small paper or cloth bag before planting in the ground. If the bulb has small shoots, then it will need to be planted immediately.
3.2 Caring for plants in the garden
Caring for a white flower plant is not difficult - it is enough to weed the area from weeds, loosen the soil and carry out timely fertilizing. The time for feeding will depend on the time of flowering. Early flowering plants are fed even through the snow - they sprinkle the snowdrifts with granules of mineral fertilizers for flowering plants.
For summer and autumn white flowers, the first feeding is carried out with the appearance of the first leaves. The second feeding is advisable when flower stalks appear on the plants - fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus are used. The last, third dressing is carried out after flowering to allow the bulb to store nutrients and prepare for the dormant period, as well as form new roots for the next season. From time to time, as needed, the flowers are watered.
Every 5 - 7 years, the primrose must be transplanted, more frequent transplants should not be done - the white flower does not like this.Transplants are due to the fact that over time the bulbs divide, forming daughter plants next to them, they become cramped and there is a nutritional deficiency. The lack of nutrients will immediately affect the flowering - it will become a judgment or not at all. Such dense bumps are dug out after flowering, but before the leaves completely die off - otherwise it will be difficult to find them.
Bushes examine and separate healthy and strong bulbs, simultaneously destroying rotten and diseased material. Next, the bulbs are washed with water, disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. If the plants are damaged during division, the wounds are treated with coal powder or wood ash. Then the planting material is dried for a couple of days and planted in small groups.
It is worth preparing plants for freezing only in regions with little snow. In places where there is a sufficient amount of snow, the white flower can easily endure even very harsh winters. Preparation for wintering is that before the onset of frost, the area where the flower is planted is covered with dry leaf litter or spruce or pine spruce branches.
Perennial plants for rock garden
Pupavka (ANTHEMIS). Aster family (Compositae).
A large (about 200 species) genus, the species of which are found in Europe, Asia and North Africa. Bushes 50-80 cm high from light pinnately dissected leaves and peduncles bearing single large yellow baskets.
Types and varieties:
Growing conditions. Sunny places with neutral rocky soils. On rich soils, it grows faster and falls out. Does not tolerate stagnant moisture.
Reproduction. Seeds (sowing in spring), seedlings bloom in the 2nd year, and by dividing the bush (spring and late summer). Transplant and division in 2-3 years. Planting density - 12 pcs. per 1 m2.
Pushkinia (PUSCHKINIA). The family of hyacinths (liliaceae).
There are two species in the genus, growing in the mountain meadows of the Caucasus and Turkey. These are small bulbous herbs that bloom in early spring and lose their leaves in mid-June (ephemeroids). Bell-shaped flowers in dense inflorescence. The bulb forms 2-4 peduncles.
Types and varieties:
Reproduction. Seeds (sowing before winter) and bulbs. Transplanted after 5-7 years, when the "nests" of the bulbs grow. Planting density - 25 pcs. per 1 m2.
Equicarp (ISOPYRUM). Buttercup family.
Growing conditions. Shady areas under the canopy of trees on well-drained soils.
Reproduction. Sections of rhizomes with a bud of renewal after the end of flowering. Planting density - 25 pcs. per 1 m2.
Grouse, fritillaria (FRITILLARIA). Liliaceae family.
There are about 100 species of bulbous perennials in the genus, but in central Russia only a few representatives of this genus are promising for cultivation, since they are very demanding on soils, poorly resist weeds, and in central Russia they are often cut out in late autumn or early spring.
Types and varieties:
The last three species are plants of floodplain meadows of southern Russia and are quite stable in culture.
Growing conditions. Sunny areas with rich, well-drained soils.
Reproduction. Seeds (sowing before winter), seedlings bloom in the 3-4th year, and with bulbs, "nests" are divided every 4-5 years. Planting density 5-12 pcs. per 1 m2.
Look at the photo of these alpine flowers:
SILENE. The carnation family.
About 400 species of this genus grow in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, but mainly in the Mediterranean. Of the perennials, about a dozen species are widely grown in culture, from rocky habitats, with a "pillow" of shoots with silvery leaves and a taproot. Bloom all summer.
Types and varieties:
Growing conditions. Sunny areas with loose fertile, sufficiently moist soil. Grows well in moist air and soil, without overheating and stagnant moisture.
Reproduction. Seeds (sowing in spring), seedlings bloom in the 2nd year. Plant immediately in place (does not like transplanting) with summer cuttings.Planting density - singly among stones or 16 pcs. per 1 m2 - to create a carpet in a gravel garden.
Alyssum: plant features
Of the 5 existing species in the garden, lobularia sea, or sea alyssum, is most often grown. The bushes grow no higher than 30 cm, they are very lush and densely covered with small flowers, exuding a pleasant honey aroma. The leaves are small, grayish-green, covered with light hairs.
Alyssum loves light and is resistant to cold weather. Drought, as well as high humidity, the plant tolerates normally, but only if these phenomena are not too long. Lobularia marine is an excellent melliferous plant, grows well in open sunny places in slightly alkaline or neutral soil. Flowering lasts from May to October.
Growing alissum from seeds at home
Seed material of Alyssum has good germination and does not require special preparation before sowing. You can buy seeds in stores or collect them yourself.
Preparation of soil and containers
For small Alyssum seeds, choose wide containers. Cells they may have different: large and small. The containers are pre-treated with a manganese solution. Several holes are made at the bottom to prevent water accumulation.
The soil will need to be loose and light. You can purchase a special substrate for flower seedlings at retail outlets.
To speed up the process of germination of seeds, the soil mixture is watered with hot water.
How to sow correctly
Alyssum seeds do not need to be pre-soaked before sowing. Their germination is excellent, and besides, it is quite difficult to sow a miniature caliber when it begins to hatch - the risk of damaging the sprouts is too great. The seeds are just rarely sprinkled.
- The soil is prepared in advance, leveled, slightly moistened so that the seeds have better adhesion.
- Small seeds are placed less frequently, trying to maintain a distance of 10 cm.
- The sowing field is carried out by lightly pressing the seeds into the soil, but they are not sprinkled on top: they should germinate in natural light.
- Top containers are covered with glass, transparent film.
With enough moisture and light, the first shoots should be expected in a week.
If excessive thickening is observed, then the crops must be thinned out so that they do not get sick. The optimal distance between the bushes should be about 20 centimeters.
Seedling care
When the sprouts have just appeared, they need minimal care - very careful loosening, removing weeds with tweezers. Excess greens should be observed daily and eliminated.
When a seedling forms 2-3 leaves, it is usually dived from the general container. However, this procedure is not mandatory, since at this age the seedlings are most often transplanted to a permanent place.
There are times when, even with proper care, Alyssum stretches. Then the main shoot is immediately pinched: a third, or even half of the stem is removed. After the procedure, the flower begins to bush, more intensively forming side shoots.
Planting flowers before winter
The autumn planting of flowers is practically no different from the spring planting, although it is not so pleasant due to the weather conditions. However, if everything is done on time, this process will not take much of your time, and next season you will be able to admire the flower garden earlier than usual.
Where to plant flowers in autumn
Sowing flowers before winter can be carried out immediately at the intended place of growth, or it is possible in a special seedling school.
If you do not like replanting annuals from place to place, prepare your flower beds in the fall. To do this, weed, dig up and loosen the allotted area, then level it with a rake. On a flat area with the edge of a hoe or flat cutter, outline the drawing of the future flower bed. Try to make it deep and clear so it doesn't get washed out by the autumn rains.When the pattern is ready, draw the holes for the seeds - they should be twice as deep as usual, since the earth will sag and cake over the winter.
Flowers can be sown immediately in the pots allocated for them, but the pots themselves will have to be buried in the ground for the winter.
If you have not yet decided where your summer plantings will be located, sow flower seeds before winter in any dedicated ridge or greenhouse. In the open air, it is advisable to use high ridges, or at least fence them with boards so that the seeds are not washed away by autumn-spring precipitation, you can do without this in a greenhouse. Using polycarbonate, slate, plywood or curb tape, divide the bed into separate sections and stick into each a plastic plate with the name of the plant you are sowing here. Leave the prepared ridges until stable frosts are established.
How to prepare the soil for flowers
Soil preparation for the autumn planting of annuals begins in late September - early October in the middle lane, and in early November in the southern regions. If your fall is warm, dry, you can prepare the ridges whenever you like. Of course, it is advisable to do this while the outside temperature is dry and stable.
In addition to the garden bed, you will also have to prepare the substrate for backfilling the seeds. It is also worth doing this in mid-autumn, before frost. You can mix garden soil with peat and sand (1: 2: 1), or you can buy a ready-made seedling substrate - it will also work. It is advisable to store the mixture indoors so that it does not freeze and harden.
When a stable negative temperature comes, and there are no thaws in the forecast at least for the next couple of weeks, start sowing. In the fall, the seeds should be sown twice as thick as in the spring planting. Spread them over the frozen wells and cover with the mixture prepared in advance.
Flowers planted in autumn always bloom a couple of weeks earlier than others, but if you want to bring the riot of colors in your garden even closer, in spring, cover your crops with arcs and tighten with foil or dense spunbond - this will give you another 1-3 weeks of head start.
Popular species and varieties
All types of Alyssum are divided into:
- Annuals. The most popular, as they allow you to often change landscape compositions.
- Perennials. Among these species, you can find very undersized - 8 cm, and dwarf shrubs, reaching 80 cm in height.
Ornamental floriculture prefers 6 types of Alyssum.
Alyssum the Rock
Perennial herbaceous densely branched plant no more than 20-25 cm high. The plant forms compact and very beautiful spherical yellow bushes. Alyssum Rocky blooms in late spring. Flowering lasts about 1-1.5 months. Quite often, it blooms again in August. The plant is considered unpretentious. Minimal care is required, which does not take much time from flower growers.
Rock Alyssum is represented by varieties:
- Gold wave. Flowering begins at 2 years of age.
- Compactum. A very fragrant plant, up to 18 cm high.
- Plenum. The inflorescences are yellow terry, the growth reaches up to 30 cm.
Alyssum Gmelin
It is considered the smallest frost-resistant species among perennials. The height of the flower stems reaches 15-20 cm. The pubescent gray-green foliage covers the creeping stems. The dense yellow buds often bloom as early as April, exuding a strong honey scent.
Alyssum Marine
Although this species is a perennial, in temperate regions it is cultivated as an annual. Lush bushes with silvery, oval, slightly pubescent leaves bloom from April to September. The color of the petals depends on the variety, it can be white or light purple.
The most common varieties among florists:
- Violet Konigin has bright purple flowers, grows up to 15 cm.
- Tiny Tim is very low, only 8 cm, and is distinguished by abundant snow-white blooms.
- Princess in Pearl is grown in hanging flowerpots.Long, almost half a meter shoots are strewn with light lilac fragrant flowers.
Alyssum ampelous
It is considered the most decorative type. Its highly branching long shoots look great in hanging containers. In them, it looks like a huge blooming ball.
Common varieties:
- Crystal White Wave is a compact plant, up to 25 cm high, forming a continuous blooming ball. The lashes are large with white fragrant inflorescences and reach a length of 35 cm.
- Esther Bonnet Pastel. The plant is highly branching, forms shoots up to 25 cm long, Flowers are small in pastel colors.
Alyssum snowy
This species is also called the snow carpet, since the miniature alissum, exuding a strong honey scent, covers the soil with a snow-white carpet. Blooms for quite a long time: July-October.
