Lily of the valley and care for it

Having studied the lily of the valley loosestrife, planting and caring for it, you can get a very good result. In addition to cultivating the cage-like white perennial loosestrife in the open field, you need to pay attention to its description. The use of this plant in landscape design also deserves attention.

The botanical description emphasizes that the lily of the valley loosestrife is a typical perennial herbaceous shrub. Curiously, it is quite rare. Basically in Russia, this species settled in Primorye. It is often cultivated in gardens and ordinary household plots. The plant is well accepted in shaded areas.

The cage-like loosestrife becomes the center of attraction for various butterflies. Because of this, he turns out to be very colorful. Such a plant forms lush bushes that can grow rapidly. It will take up all the free space in a short time. The usual height of the loosestrife is 1.3 m.

Light green shoots are very intense. The stems grow straight and are characterized by rigidity, strong structure. They are not prone to decay, and the crown retains its shape. Shoots have a small edge. Inflorescences appear at their ends, and up to 3 lateral processes that can bloom are formed closer to the top.

Lily of the valley loosestrife is characterized by the appearance of flowers of small size, having a milky shade... They form an inflorescence in the form of an ear. It has a pyramidal shape. The sharp top of the head, 0.3 m high, droops. Flowering continues throughout the summer.

The cage-like loosestrife produces light green foliage. Its usual length reaches 15 cm. The leaves are relatively thin and have the shape of a lancet. They develop sharp ends, but the edges are quite even. Such leaves are placed according to the next scheme, very densely. In the autumn, the crown acquires a bright yellow color. Leaves fall off only when severe frost occurs.

On the basis of the wild-growing loosestrife, breeders have created a type "Lady Jane"... This plant gives dense bushes, growing up to 0.9 m.The foliage is whorled on them. Inflorescences can reach 0.9 m. The flowers are white, and the middle is pink or even red; decorativeness is preserved throughout the growing season.

"Verbeynik Geisha" in height reaches 0.9-1 m. This plant has foliage with a cream border. Inflorescences are white. Their length reaches 0.2 m. Typically, varietal species are used together with the original biological variety.

It is generally accepted that the lily of the valley loosestrife is unpretentious and little picky about the conditions of open ground. A clear selection of the site and adherence to the deadlines for the completion of work allow us to guarantee good development. It is recommended to plant a crop in the spring... After the soil has completely thawed, you can start planting purchased or divided seedlings. The plant takes root very quickly.

With proper planting, the culture will be able to grow roots before frosts begin. Sometimes planting is carried out in the fall, when flowering ends.But such a step is practiced only in warm areas, where autumn gives way to winter almost in accordance with the calendar. Otherwise, a season with little snow can destroy the loosestrife; when using seeds, it is better to wait until September or October.

Experts advise thoroughly moistened loams. Preparing the territory for the procedure implies:

• digging;

• making humus or compost;

• removal of any stones, debris and dry grass;

• weeding from weeds.

The planting hole is made slightly larger than the root system. A small amount of wood ash is poured at the very bottom to strengthen the plant. Dry roots are cut off, and excessively long ones are shortened. The plant must be placed in the pits strictly vertically. It is supposed to be sprinkled with earth, which is tamped a little; the newly planted crop should be thoroughly watered.

Both wild and selective loosestrife in the open field require high humidity. The structure of the soil and its fertility are almost irrelevant. With good moistening of the earth and placement not in brightly lit places, problems usually arise. It is most correct to use areas with light loam. Stagnation of moisture in the soil for this species is not scary, as well as a high level of groundwater.

The estimates of the drought tolerance of loosestrife in different sources do not coincide. There are statements about both its low water requirement and the need to actively irrigate the crop. In any case, complete drying out of the plant is best avoided. Sprinkling treatment is allowed. The regularity of watering is more important than their volume.

Such a plant does not need additional fertilization. It is necessary to introduce organic matter or mineral mixtures only on depleted or initially poor lands. Fertilizers are used once at the beginning of spring. The criteria are the appearance and development of the plant. With a lack of trace elements, growth is inhibited, but one cannot count on active flowering.

Lily of the valley loosestrife can survive the frosty season well. Before the onset of early cold weather, dried inflorescences and the same leaves are cut off. It is recommended to loosen the earth. The plantings are covered with fallen leaves, not forgetting to carry out preliminary water-charging irrigation. During the winter period, the shoots usually die off, recovering in the spring, and they are usually cut off without hesitation; in areas with severe winters with little snow, hilling with soil or backfilling with peat mulch is encouraged.

Gardeners often use cuttings. For this purpose, they take planting material that is already collected during the spring and autumn pruning. The length of the shoots should be 10-15 cm. They are placed in glass jars with water. As soon as roots appear, such material must be planted in moist soil.

The reproduction of loosestrife by cuttings in the fall has its subtlety. At this moment, he must stay in the pot until the end of the frost. Only in the spring is the final place immediately assigned to culture. They resort to dividing the bush in the spring, before the first leaves appear. If this moment is missed, you must wait until the end of flowering in the fall.

In such a situation, it is advisable to keep the plant in a pot in a warm room until spring. At the very landing, leave gaps of 30 - 40 cm. Seed breeding of loosestrife is rarely practiced, because it is very difficult. The seeds are kept cool for 7 or 8 weeks to be stratified. Then they are placed in the open ground, or at the junction of February and March they are planted for seedlings.

The initial period after transplanting to the final site is critical. Only after making sure that the plant has taken root and has taken root, you can breathe calmly.Until this happens, it is necessary to monitor the constant maintenance of humidity. Watering should be done regularly.

This plant has a high natural immunity. It is easy to care for him - you just need to follow the basic recommendations for growing, and infections will not infect him. Loafers may suffer from attacks aphids... This insect absorbs juice from inflorescences and young leaves.

Sometimes aphids infect plants in large quantities. In this case, the tops of the shoots are covered with its colonies. Such a development of events inevitably deprives the culture of its aesthetics and may even destroy it altogether. A well-known drug often comes to the aid of gardeners. "Actellik"... Bushes can also be processed instead. "Antitley" or "Biotlin".

Work with such funds should be carried out in dry weather, and you must definitely wait for a calm. Some of those trying to breed loosestrife also complain about weevil attacks. This insect is nocturnal. Usually, its presence is noticed late, when the foliage becomes lethargic, and the plant itself loses its decorative effect. Weevils are collected and burned after sunset, otherwise they will only spread.

The functionality of the lily of the valley loosestrife is very great. Basically, you can see it on a flower bed in dimly lit areas of home gardens and parks hidden by thick shade. The shade from a dense tree will not harm this crop in the least, and other plants do not do well in such difficult conditions. Verbeynik is often planted next to walls and fences, and is also used as an element for framing water bodies and decorating borders.

Florists have other options as well. For example, start up a solid floral carpet. Or plant a group of plants. Sometimes loosestrife is used as a tapeworm, then it should be the center of the lower composition. Other moisture-loving plants will become excellent neighbors for such a culture: highlander, bell, different types of ferns.

It is also used to decorate:

• ordinary balconies;

• glazed balconies;

• verandas.