Features of the cortaderia
The herbaceous plant cortaderia, belonging to the Cereal family, attracts the attention of gardeners with spectacular lush panicles that form during the flowering period. The bushes are vigorous, they can reach a height of about 300 centimeters
A highly overgrown plant forms a difficult-to-pass sod from leaves and stems. Due to its unusual appearance, the people still often call it "pampas grass".
The root system of the cortaderia is well developed. At the same time, the growth of its roots into a large number of adventitious ones is observed. That is why this perennial is very fast growing. Before you plant it in your garden for the first time, think about the fact that it will be extremely difficult to get rid of it if necessary.
The stems are quite thick and very stiff. Narrow leaf plates, tapered to the top, in length can reach about 150 centimeters. Most often, they grow only in the lower part of the bush. On one plant, many long leaves are formed, which, over time, are able to recline to the sides from the middle of the bush. The sheet itself is thin and hard, its surface is rough to the touch, and jagged on the edge. Most often, foliage is painted in a dark green tint, in some cases it can be greenish-blue with a matte finish. In some varieties of cortaderia, a strip of light shade is located along the median vein of the leaf plate.
Thick, upright stalks rise above the leaves, and can reach a height of about 300 centimeters. They form dense, lush panicles on the tops. They are painted in a silvery shade. In length, each of the inflorescences can reach about half a meter. Inflorescences do not die off even in winter. Female peduncles retain their decorative effect until the very first frosts, and male peduncles lose it already at the beginning of September.
The flowers of the cortaderia are small. In this case, one inflorescence can include up to 10 flowers. They can be colored pink, white, lilac, gold or silver. Bushes bloom from late August to mid-October. Female flowers differ from male flowers in that they have spectacular hairs. That is why female inflorescences are many times superior in their decorativeness to male ones. And since the cortaderia is a dioecious plant, then on one bush only female or only male inflorescences can be located.
This crop can grow on any soil. But clayey soil is best suited for it, which includes a lot of sand and stones. In nature, pampas grass prefers to grow in acidic soil. It can be found in open parks, meadows and fields. However, it grows poorly in swampy areas.
In the open field, the cortaderia is cultivated exclusively as an ornamental plant. It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, while in culture such a grass is capable of growing in a variety of climatic conditions. It has long been grown in western Europe and North America. Some species and varieties are cultivated in Australia. Russian gardeners also quite often grow cortaderia on their plots.
In nature, such a herbaceous plant is found only in South America. But there, local residents consider it a weed and try to completely exterminate it or recycle it for domestic use.
Diseases and pests
All dicenters are remarkably resistant to common garden pests and typical diseases of cultivated plants in the middle lane. Aphids and snails can pose the greatest danger to healthy plants.However, they are easily remedied with readily available drugs that can be purchased at most specialty stores.
In case of violations of the maintenance regime, plants can be affected by viral infections. One of the ways to prevent them can be a thorough weeding of the area where the dicenter is planted, as well as the timely removal of all withered and dying organs.
Varieties
There are more than 20 varieties of dicentra. About 10 of them are cultivated plants. The names of the varieties fully describe the beauty and grandeur of these flowers.
For example, the dycenter Stuart Butman, the planting and appropriate care of which does not differ from other varieties of plants planted in open ground, is a chic shrub of elite origin. You can be convinced of this from the photo.
The center is magnificent
It is a perennial plant that stretches up to 20 cm in height and has fleshy shoots. The leaves of the dicentra are finger-shaped and represent a lush basal rosette. The inflorescence in the form of a one-sided brush is curved in an arc, the length of which can reach 15 cm.
Small pink flowers hang along its bottom edge. Their diameter does not exceed 2.5 cm. The magnificent dicentra blooms at the end of May and for three months decorates the garden with its lush flowering. Despite the fact that the plant is resistant to frost, it is recommended to sprinkle it with mulch in the fall.
This species can have not only pink flowers, but also white ones, and therefore it is also called the bleeding center White, planting and care in the open field is the same as that of a magnificent representative of the variety. Below are photos that show flowering bushes.
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The center is beautiful
This plant variety was introduced to Europe from British Columbia. With timely planting in open ground and proper care, the bushes of beautiful dicentra can reach 30 cm in height (photoplants will help to distinguish the variety from the rest). The leaves are palmate-divided, bright green on the front side and gray-gray on the back surface.
Arched inflorescences of a plant planted in open ground, in the form of a brush and reach 15 cm in length.All of them are strewn with small pink or white flowerswhose diameter does not exceed 2 cm.
If you follow all the recommendations for planting and care, then the dycenter will bloom beautifully all summer, from the end of May to the beginning of autumn. The variety is considered frost-resistant, however, experienced flower growers still recommend covering it for the winter. How to do this is shown below in the photo.
Dicenter nodular
The homeland of the nodule variety is the eastern part of North America (states of Washington and Oregon). The root system of the plant contains small tubers. The leaves are cut into thin slices of a gray-green hue. Forming a root rosette, they create the appearance of a fluffy pillow.
The shoots of the plant reach 30 cm in height and are covered with many small white flowers with long spurs. Florists very often grow this variety indoors.
Interesting! There are varieties of dicentra klobuchkovaya with pink flowers, and not so long ago, another species with lemon-yellow petals appeared.
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Dicentra Golden vine or golden-flowered
The homeland of the flower is Mexico, as well as the slopes of California. Plants of this variety can reach a height of 45 to 150 cm. The golden vine bleeding center blooms in late spring. Flowering lasts until autumn. The bizarre petals have a deep yellow tint, which is where its name comes from.
In the natural environment, this dicenter is most often found in areas affected by fire, and it grows in open ground at lightning speed. Therefore, it does not require special skills in planting and leaving. The photo shows a beautiful golden representative of the flora.
How to take care of it properly?
It is believed that the more exotic Asian dicenter requires more careful maintenance.
American species and varieties based on them are considered more unpretentious, although there are plants in this group, the cultivation of which can be a real challenge for the grower.
Watering
When watering, one should be guided by weather conditions and the forecast, since abundant watering in combination with equally abundant atmospheric precipitation can cause the rhizome to rot and die of the plant. The normal watering regime is 1-2 times a week. When the air temperature drops, the irrigation intensity should also be reduced. That is, in August and September, the plant will need less water than in June or July. When going into a state of dormancy, when the shoots begin to die off, watering, in general, should be stopped.
Top dressing
All dicenters are very demanding on the mineral composition of the soil and are responsive to feeding. In the place where the dicenter will be planted, it is recommended to scatter organic fertilizers, for example, mullein, as early as autumn, and urea before planting.
When planting or transplanting plants, complex fertilizers must be applied to the hole. In the spring, to make the flowers brighter, superphosphate must be placed under the plant. This fertilizer will also be useful during the summer, 3-4 more times.
The newly planted plant must be fed with nitrogen fertilizers, and they will not be superfluous at the end of flowering before the transition of the dicenter to a dormant state.
Pruning
On the site of the dicenter, it should attract the eye, so you should not leave the bush unattended for a long time. In a wild state, one plant can contain unopened buds, flowers in all their glory, and already fading inflorescences that form fruit pods. Gradually, in addition to live shoots and peduncles, withered leaves appear.
Periodically, the dicenter must be trimmed, removing all dead parts. Their presence not only looks unaesthetic, but also in the climate of the middle lane can cause the appearance of diseases, since dead shoots and inflorescences perfectly absorb moisture, becoming a breeding ground or refuge for all sorts of pests.
It is imperative to cut off all aboveground shoots for the winter - the lower the better.
Transfer
To rejuvenate the plants, it is recommended to periodically replant them. If this is not done, their lifespan will not exceed 6 years, in most species it is shorter. In this case, it is necessary to revise the state of the rhizome, since it is its aging that is usually the cause of the withering of the entire plant and, as a result, its death. All rotten parts of the root must be removed, and the root must be slightly dried. They are transplanted into a hole prepared in the already described way, as when planting a new plant, into newly prepared soil.
It is better to do this in the spring before flowering, when the soil has already warmed up enough, although some growers recommend replanting the dicenter in the fall before the plant transitions to a state of winter dormancy, so that it has time to take root in a new place.
After flowering
After flowering, it is necessary to carefully care for the plant, first of all, remove all dead shoots, peduncles, inflorescences and leaves. This will allow young leaves to grow in all their glory, and the dicenter, even without flowers, will delight the eye.
If the flowering period is long, then it is necessary to remove the dried parts of the bush during flowering.
Some early flowering varieties can be fertilized with nitrogen fertilizers to help them blossom into more lush foliage.
Types and varieties of dicentra with photos and names
Dicentra excellent (Dicentra eximia), or exceptional dicentra, or excellent
Its homeland is considered to be the western regions of North America. Such a perennial reaches a height of only 20 centimeters. Fleshy leafless shoots. Finger-separated leaf plates consist of small lobes, while they are part of the lush basal rosettes. The diameter of the pink flowers is about 25 mm, they are part of the arcuate inflorescences that have the shape of a brush and reach a length of 15 centimeters. It begins to bloom in the third decade of May, while the duration of flowering is equal to three months. This plant highly resistant to frost (withstands up to minus 35 degrees), however, it is recommended to sprinkle the soil surface with a layer of mulch in autumn. It has been cultivated since 1812. There is a white-flowered form.
Dicentra beautiful (Dicentra formosa)
The species came to European countries from British Columbia. There, the plant can be found from central California to humid forests. The height of the bush is about 0.3 m. The green, palmate-separated leaf plates have a slightly bluish seamy surface. They have long petioles and are part of the rosette. The length of the inflorescences is from 10 to 15 centimeters. They consist of small pinkish-purple flowers, the diameter of which is 20 mm. Flowering begins in the last days of May and lasts until autumn. They have high winter hardiness, but still need shelter for the winter. Cultivated since 1796
Popular varieties:
- Aurora. The petals located at the bottom are white in color, and at the top they have a light pink tint next to the peduncle.
- King of Hearts. Bright pink flowers and bluish light blue leaf plates.
This species has a subspecies - oregano dicenter. It is endemic to California and southwestern Oregon. The flowers are deep pink or white-cream with pinkish rime. The Alba form has white flowers.
Dicentra klobuchkovy (Dicentra cuccularia)
Originally from eastern North America from the states of Oregon and Washington. The rhizome contains small nodules. Greenish-gray thinly dissected leaf plates create pillows from rosettes. The height of the peduncles is about 0.3 m, they have white flowers with very long spurs. Often this species is grown at home. This species has a Pittsburgh cultivar, its flowers are pink. Recently, a form with lemon yellow flowers has appeared.
Dicentra golden-flowered (Dicentra chrysantha)
The homeland of this species is Mexico, and also the slopes of California (at an altitude of 1700 meters). The height of the bush can vary from 0.45 to 1.52 meters. Flowering begins in the second half of the spring and lasts until the first autumn days. The flowers are deep yellow and have 2 unusually curved petals. When grown in a garden, such a plant is whimsical, in natural conditions it quickly grows in places of fire.
Dicentra one-flowered (Dicentra uniflora)
In nature, you can find in Idaho, in northern Utah, and in North America from the Sierra Nevada to Washington. Such a plant is still popularly called the "ox's head" as it has an unusual shape. The appearance of single flowers occurs in February – July, while the length of the peduncles is only 10 centimeters. Separately from the peduncles, feathery leaf plates grow. This type is quite effective, but it is very difficult to care for it.
Even dicenters are sometimes cultivated: few-flowered, whitish-yellow and Canadian.
Dicenter. Planting and leaving.
Features of growing dicentra as a horticultural crop
Dicentra is rightfully one of the most popular and beautiful ornamental plants for a garden plot. It can grow equally well both in dark areas of nearby trees and in well-lit areas. Despite the fact that this is a representative of the exotic flora, it is not at all difficult to care for it.Having familiarized yourself with all the rules and recommendations, even a novice gardener can cope with such a task without any problems.
The inhabitants of Europe are well acquainted with the dicenter since 1816. In different countries this decorative flower they call it differently: in France "Jeanette's heart", in Germany "flower of the heart", and in Great Britain "lady in the bathroom". Also, other names are often found - "broken heart", "crying heart", "flower-lyre", "locks and keys", "heart-flower", "two-spur", etc.
Role in landscape design and photo examples of application
Dicentra has become one of the favorites among the plants used for landscape design due to its beauty and unpretentiousness. It is a herb for outdoor use. It looks very impressive both in group and single landings.
One of the most popular methods of using the dicentra is the arrangement of beautiful alpine slides, where it is assigned a leading role.
How best to plant - in open ground or in a tub
Various Dicentra varieties have cultivation features... Most species do great outdoors when planted. However, some varieties are suitable for indoor cultivation - therefore, tubs are used for this purpose.
In any case, the place for planting must be selected in advance, with an emphasis on the type and quality of the soil - it must be fertile and well-drained.
Planting should be carried out in the spring. Therefore, in the previous autumn, it is necessary to dig up the soil in the selected planting place and apply high-quality mineral fertilizing. Due to the fact that a developed root system is characteristic of the dicenter, the diameter and depth of the planting hole must reach at least one meter. The roots of the plant are sensitive to excess moisture in the soil, so drainage will be required.
When and for how long a herbaceous plant blooms
Different varieties have different flowering periods. Dicentra Magnificent pleases the eye with its flowers literally from the first days of May to mid-June. Dicentra Beautiful begins to bloom in early summer and ends in autumn. After the plants have faded, their ground part is in a state of hibernation until the next spring. True, in some cases, in August, there is a repeated flowering, which continues until the end of September.
Spectabilis variety with its luxurious inflorescences is very thermophilic
What climate is this flower suitable for?
Dicentra, being a thermophilic plant, prefers a subtropical climate. It also thrives in temperate climates, but can only be grown as an annual plant.
What kind of care does Dicenter require?
Watering the plants with moderate, soft water, keep the soil moist constantly. Even on dry days, it is necessary to ensure that there is no overflow of water, the roots rot from its excess. Loosening of the soil under the bushes is required, because the roots require oxygen. Of course, weeds must be removed. In spring frosts, young shoots should be covered overnight. Since the Dicentra winters in the open field, new plantings are also made immediately in the garden, and they are cared for according to general requirements.
Fertilizing the plant at the beginning of its flowering is carried out with nitrogen fertilizers, during the period of full flowering, the bushes are fed with superphosphate, in the fall around the trunk of the bush they are watered with mullein infusion, the soil is mulched with humus. To prolong flowering, it is necessary to cut off fading inflorescences in time, the plant immediately throws out new shoots of flowers.
Bushes do not need to be transplanted for 5-6 years
Then the bush is dug up, the dying, lonely rhizome is carefully divided into several new seedlings with 3-4 buds, they are planted in a new, pre-prepared place. The place of the cut must be sprinkled with ash. Dicentra is planted immediately in the open field, and requires little maintenance
The Dicentra transplant is carried out with the onset of the autumn cold snap, as soon as the bush stops blooming. Shrubs can be transplanted in the spring - on warm April-May days. The dicenter is planted in the open ground and given the necessary care.
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Disease control also belongs to care, although the plant is resistant to various diseases. Nevertheless, sometimes tobacco mosaic, ring spotting appears on it. Much less often, the bushes are exposed to mycoplasma disease, from which the peduncles are bent, the growth of the plant slows down. The dicenter is planted in open ground, and care includes cultivating the land from pests.
Prevention is the correct watering of flowers, exclusion of excess moisture. For prevention, the soil is spilled with a formalin solution, but this is done at least 4 weeks before planting the seedlings. Of the many insects, this plant only loves aphids.
Remember! Means against aphids destroy insects by spraying the bushes with solutions of Antitlin or Biotlin.
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How to plant in open ground
What time to disembark
The plant is planted in open ground from the last days of April to the first days of May, and even in September. When planting in autumn, it should be borne in mind that the flower should take root well and develop a root system before the arrival of winter frosts. For such a plant, you can choose a well-lit area or located in a small shade. However, in a sunny place, the blooming of the dicenter can be seen much faster. This plant can be grown on any soil, but light, well-drained, moderately moist and nutrient-rich soil will be the best option for it. The soil for planting should be prepared in advance. If you plan to plant a plant in the spring, then take care of preparing a place for it in the autumn months, and vice versa, if the planting is scheduled for autumn, then you need to prepare the site in the spring. The earth must be dug to the depth of the bayonet of the shovel, while humus should be added to it (per 1 square meter from 3 to 4 kg of fertilizer), then the earth must be spilled with a nutrient solution prepared from mineral fertilizer (20 grams of substance per bucket of water).
How do they land?
The first step is to prepare planting holes for flowers. Their diameter and depth should be equal to 0.4 m, while it is necessary to maintain a distance between the bushes - 0.5 m. At the bottom, you need to make a drainage layer of broken brick or crushed stone. Then a layer of garden soil is poured into it, which must first be mixed with compost. Then you need to lower the plant into the hole and fill it with the same mixture of garden soil with compost. In the event that the soil is too heavy, then it can be combined with sand, and if you add limestone chips to the soil, then the dicenter will only get better from this.
