Horny Goat Weed

Horny Goat Weed is a well-known large-flowered plant that, according to Chinese traditional healers, can be considered an effective remedy for men's health. Let's take a closer look at this unusual culture.

It is a common perennial herb that has unusual openwork leaves, and for this external feature, the culture is often called the flower of the elves. Besides, this herbaceous plant also has another botanical name - epimedium. It belongs to the Barberry family. In summer, the culture begins to bloom and is covered with blue, pink or white flowers with a diameter of about 2 cm. You can admire the flowering for more than two months. The leaves retain their decorative effect throughout the season, they entangle the stem and sharpen at the ends, and with the onset of autumn they turn dark red.

Another plus of the mountain woman is its medicinal qualities. Experts have proven that the flower helps to solve the following problems:

• thins the blood for blood pressure problems;
• has a healing effect on kidney diseases and problems with urination;
• it is considered an effective remedy in cosmetology: moisturizes the skin, prevents the appearance of wrinkles, rejuvenates the body;
• relieves stress and fatigue, strengthens the body;
• increases the sensitivity of nerve endings, which has a positive effect on male potency;
• can be used to treat infertility, as well as to improve the condition during menopause.

The use of a flower as a means for men's health has become widespread, and this is facilitated not only by its effectiveness, but also by its safety. Unlike tablets, the plant has a more gentle action for the body, although before using it, you should definitely consult a doctor, since the plant is also not devoid of contraindications.

One of the popular varieties that can be used in the garden is called Lilafi. The seeds can be easily found in flower shops or ordered from the online store. The presented variety reaches a height of 20-30 cm and has lilac-purple flowers.

This crop prefers to grow in the shade, it tolerates drought well, and therefore caring for the plant usually does not cause problems. The soil for planting should be rich and well-drained, the acidity should be neutral. Water the Horny Goat Weed in moderation. It is important not to overdo it with moisture, since even in nature the plant does not tolerate swampy soil. Abundant irrigation is required only at the stage of transplanting a flower during the reproduction process.

There is no need to fertilize the bushes, it is enough to add a layer of mulch before the onset of winter, which will serve as both a source of additional nutrition and drainage. Complex mineral compositions or organic matter will be useful, but only after wintering. By the way, the foliage of the plant itself can be used as mulch for other crops.

The flower survives the winter well, but if a variety with weak frost resistance is used for cultivation, then it is better to cover it with fallen leaves or needles during frosts. If the winter is snowless, then it is recommended to protect the crop from the cold, regardless of the variety. The shelter is removed immediately after the snow melts.

Horny Goat Weed is bred by dividing a bush or seeds. The division is carried out immediately after flowering, usually this period falls in August or September. By the second year, a dense cover is formed on the plant. It is necessary to divide the bush so that each part contains roots and at least 2-3 buds. The lobes are planted in holes covered with compost or other organic matter.

When breeding by seeds, the planting material must first undergo stratification. To do this, the seeds are placed for three weeks in a room with a temperature of + 15-20 degrees, and then for another 30 days in a place where the thermometer shows + 2-5 degrees. Sowing is carried out in the fall, leaving a distance of 30 cm between future bushes.

The culture represented is growing well and rapidly. She can green the shaded areas of the park, use it in rock gardens and rockeries. The mountain goat weed will give a picturesque look if you plant it near fescue, milkweed or flowers that are grown in containers.

Lilac flowers when using the Lilafi variety, as well as its delicate foliage, will perfectly cover the empty space in the flower arrangement, while it can be combined, for example, with lungwort, primrose or hosta. Often the culture is used when decorating a mixborder, it will look especially beautiful under the crowns of trees.