Content
It is not difficult to find varieties of the Creeping Zest with photos and names. It is more difficult to deal with the species of plants of the Ayuga genus, so as not to make a mistake when buying. Only one representative of Zhivuchek is bred as a decoration for the garden, but due to the variety of varieties it is often difficult to recognize what the seller is offering.
What a tenacious looks like
This name does not hide a specific flower, but a botanical genus, which includes 71 species of plants. The Latin name is Ajuga. Zhyvuchka also has several other Russian names:
- oak tree;
- Dubrovka;
- rejuvenated;
- Vologodka.
Not all types of Ayuga, of course, bear this name. Only 5 species are widespread in Russia.
Due to the large number of plant species in the genus, descriptions of Ayuga can vary greatly. The tenacious ones are:
- perennial and annual;
- with creeping or erect stems;
- yellow or blue flowers;
- smooth or pubescent, broad or needle-like leaves;
- appearance - grass or shrub.
But the survivors also have common features. The very ones that made it possible to define all these diverse plants in one genus.
Botanical description of the tenacious
The height of these one - and perennial grasses is 5-50 cm. The leaves are always opposite. Flowers sit on the tops of the stems in false whorls.
Corolla bell-shaped with 5 teeth. After flowering, it dries up. The color of the petals is:
- blue;
- yellow;
- purple;
- blue.
Stems can be creeping, erect, or erect.
The foliage is the most diverse among the tenacious. It is divided into basal and stem. The first group is large. It can be spatulate, with jagged edges. Able to winter. The second is smaller than the basal, few in number. It has an oval or reverse heart shape. Gradually passes into the bracts.
Wild ayuga creeping - a nondescript plant, garden options are more beautiful and, like their wild ancestor, frost-hardy, which allows you to grow flowers without shelter for the winter
Types and varieties of tenacious
In fact, only one type of Ayuga is grown in the gardens: the creeping tenacious. This species has many varieties, while others cannot boast of such a variety.
Tenacious creeping
In Latin, Ajuga reptans. There are also popular names "gorlyanka" and "gorlovinka". The range of the wild variant of the creeping Ayuga covers the whole of Europe. The tenacious creeping grows on forest edges, clearings and among bushes. It is a perennial herb.
Its feature is polymorphism, that is, the ability to greatly change the phenotype. The creeping insect can have different leaf pubescence, the color of the corolla and leaves, and the flowering time. Creeping shoots, for which this type of Ayuga got its name, are absent in some cases.
Leaves are oval, soft. Their edges can be wavy and short-toothed edges. Pubescence is present on both sides or only on the top.
Long creeping shoots grow from the root outlet, the height of which is no more than 8 cm. The tenacious uses them for vegetative reproduction. Its rhizome is short and has no stolons.
Flowering begins in spring. From under the basal rosettes, stems no more than 35 cm in height begin to grow. Peduncles can be pubescent. Or not.
Basal leaves have long petioles, stem leaves are "sessile". Bracts are ovoid, whole. The lower ones are longer than the flowers, the upper ones are shorter.
The two-lipped flowers are located in the axils of the bracts and are actually quite inconspicuous. Corolla color varies:
- blue;
- blue;
- purple.
Much less common, but pink or white flowers are also found.
Inflorescences are spike-shaped. The dried corolla does not fall off, but remains with the fruits. Its average length is 1.5 cm. The fruit is a round nutlet of light brown color. In fact, it consists of 4 lobules, each of which is a separate seed. The length of the lobule is 2.5 mm.
The seeds of ayuga creeping are small, but have good germination.
In Central Russia, flowering lasts from April to July.
Ayuga creeping in horticulture is used as a ground cover and early flowering plant. It can also be a honey plant. But this is when the bees have no other choice. There is little nectar in flowers, and it is difficult for insects to get it. Thanks to the use of the plant in landscape design, more than 10 decorative varieties have been bred. These varieties do not require any specific planting and care techniques. Outwardly, they also do not differ much. Therefore, it makes no sense to describe each of them separately. It is enough, along with the photo, to indicate the name of the creeping tenacious variety:
- Atropurpurea / Purpurea;
The creeping Purpurea differs from its wild ancestor in violet or purple leaves that do not harmonize well with the color of the flowers
- Black Scallop;
The description says that Black Scallop has large, brown leaves, but the latter is hardly true, rather, they are purple
- Multicolor / Rainbow;
The main distinguishing feature of the creeping tenacious variety Multicalor is multicolor, the rich blue color of the corollas is lost against the background of stem leaves painted in purple, white and pink.
- Burgundy Glow;
In the color of the variegated leaves of Burgundy Glow, cream and burgundy colors alternate, against this background the blue petals of the corollas are lost
- Catlin's Giant;
At first glance, the Caitlins Giant variety does not differ from the wild creeping Ayuga, its leaves are larger, and the peduncles are 45 cm high, while the prototype has no more than 35
- Jungle Beauty;
Jungle Beauty differs from the wild prototype and other varieties of the creeping tenacious in dark green leaves with a burgundy tint, large size and rapid vegetative reproduction
- Braun hertz;
The main difference between Brown Hertz is very dark, almost black, burgundy stem leaves
- Pink Elf;
Compact undersized variety Pink Elf is distinguished by light or dark pink flowers
- Variegata;
This mutation Variegat is the most common among garden and indoor plants: parts of the leaves are discolored
- Rosea;
Rosea has pale pink flowers and light green foliage, otherwise the plant is very similar to the original version of the creeping Ayuga
- Alba;
The name Alba directly indicates the white color of the corollas, the variety looks more advantageous than creeping tenacious with corollas of other colors
- Chocolate Chip;
Chocolayt Chip is the smallest variety of creeping Ayuga, the height of peduncles does not exceed 5 cm
- Arctic snow.
What distinguishes Arctic snow from the Alba variety is that the former has a larger area of discolored leaf areas, but the flowers, if any, are unlikely to attract attention.
Hairy tenacious / geneva
In Latin, Ajuga genevensis. A close relative of the creeping tenacious, with which it forms hybrids. Perennial grass.
Peduncle height up to 0.5 m. Rosette leaves obovate or oblong-spatulate. The edges are crenate-toothed, rarely almost entire. Stem: lower oblong, upper crenate-dentate.
Bloom from April to June. The petals are blue. Fruits are hairy dark brown nuts up to 3 mm long.
It is found throughout Europe from France to western Russia. Grows in dry forests, meadows and bushes. Naturalized in America, "escaping" from the gardens.
Although the furry ayuga is often grown in gardens along with creeping, it does not have varieties. But this species of tenacious has two wild varieties: A. genevensis var. arida and A. genevensis var. elatior.
The first subspecies grows in mountain meadows. Leaves and stems are covered with short silvery bristles. The second is also a mountain plant, but the stems are pubescent only selectively. Both subspecies differ slightly from each other in the shape and size of the leaves and bracts.
Ayuga geneva is very similar to the creeping tenacious, but its leaves and flowers are located at a greater distance from each other
Pyramidal tenacious
It is also often grown in flower beds along with creeping and Geneva tenacious. It is a herbaceous perennial plant. The root is vertical. Stolon-like shoots and roots are absent. Peduncles from 7 to 30 cm high. Ribbed stems. They can be pubescent or naked.
Rosette leaves obovate. The average length is 6x3 cm. The edges are solid or obtuse. Do not fade for a long time. The upper bracts are ovoid, bluish or reddish-purple in color. Rarely, their color can be green. The edges of these leaves are solid or serrated.
The inflorescence is dense, whorls consist of 4-8 flowers with a corolla length of up to 3 cm. The color of the petals is pale bluish-lilac. The fruit is a yellowish-brown nut with an obovate shape. The surface is shiny, mesh. Length up to 2.5 mm.
In nature, Ayuga pyramidal grows at an altitude of 300-2700 m above sea level. In fact, its range is all of Europe, where there are deciduous forests, as well as alpine pastures and meadows.
Against the background of large colored leaves, the flowers of the wild pyramidal tenacious are almost invisible, although they are larger than those of the "relatives"
A wild Ayuga looks like a small, strong turret that is not easy to break. Of course, this is not so, the stem of the grass is thin. This is clearly visible when you look at the most popular cultivar of the pyramidal tenacious: Metallica Crispa.
Metallica Crispa
This mutation is more like the Geneva Ayuga, but it is not. The rest of its characteristics correspond to the wild-growing prototype.
The leaves of the Metallica Crisp variety are shiny, bronze-purple in color, this is the most famous and decorative variety of the pyramidal Ayuga
Turkestan tenacious
It is rarely used in landscape design, although the plant is elegant. It is a low-branched perennial shrub with high, from 10 to 50 cm, stems and a powerful rhizome. It will be difficult to remove it as unnecessary. The diameter of the stems is 3-5 mm. The color is usually light brown. May be reddish. And very rarely whitish underneath. Pubescence is absent everywhere, except for the very top of the branches with young thinnest leaves. Shoots are not lignified. There are no thorns.
Flowers are planted on stalks. Corolla color pink or purple, length 25-40 mm.
In the wild, the Turkestan tenacious is found in Central Asia. On the territory of the former
The shrub is decorative enough to decorate a flower bed.
The aerial part can also be used for making tonic tea. Dried leaves and flowers are used for diarrhea as an astringent and for rinsing the mouth for inflammation.
Herringbone tenacious
She is Ajuga Chamaepithys Schreb. It is found in the southern regions of Russia and sometimes in the Central zone. A perennial herb with a height of 10-40 cm. At first glance, the stems really look like young Christmas trees. Single yellow flowers at the ends of the shoots usually bloom in May. Stems are rectangular, reddish-purple. Needle-like leaves 4 cm long are divided into three lobes. When rubbed, they have a coniferous smell. Seeds are black, shiny.
Herringbone Ayuga has tonic and diuretic effects, but it is dangerous for pregnant women, as it causes uterine contractions
Pseudo-Chios tenacious
She is Ajuda chia schreiber. Distributed mainly in warm regions:
- Asia Minor;
- Southern Europe;
- in the Caucasus;
- in Iran.
It is also found in the south of Russia. Prefers open, dry areas with relatively poor soil.
Stems are erect or ascending, up to 20 cm high. There are two options for pubescence: evenly in a circle or alternately on both sides. In the latter case, the bristles may be compressed.
The shape of the rosette leaves is varied. They can be oval, solid, or split into three prongs at the apex. Taper towards the petiole. The stem is usually three-toed, with narrow lobes. Hairy with long bristles.
Yellow flowers are located in the axils of the upper leaves one by one or in a bunch of 2-4 pieces. Whisk up to 25 mm long. A distinctive feature - purple stripes and specks on the lower "lip". The fruits are relatively large, in comparison with other types of tenacious - 3-4 mm. Oblong. The surface is wrinkled.
Flowering time: May-September. Ripening of nuts: June-October.
Due to its unpretentiousness, the pseudo-Chios tenacious is well suited for growing in large rocky gardens
It is necessary to monitor the growth of the species, since it quickly forms a continuous soil cover and is able to drown out more valuable plants.
Laxmann's tenacious
Latin name Ajuga laxmannii. Steppe plant. In Russia, it is found in the southern regions.
Laxmann's tenaciousness is perennial. Stems with many large pubescent leaves. The shape of the latter can be ovoid or oblong. Solid edges. Due to the dense pubescence, the leaves have a silvery tint. The height of the stems is 20-50 cm.
Laxmann's tenacious grows in small clumps, which look very decorative in the garden, but are completely lost in the steppe grass
Small inconspicuous flowers are lost against the general background of leaves, but upon closer inspection they are not inferior in beauty to other types of tenders
Eastern tenacious
She is Ajuga orientalis. Growing area - Western Asia and Southern Europe. In Russia, it can be found in the mountainous Crimea. The height of the peduncles is 10-30 cm. The upper leaves are divided into segments. Blue flowers are relatively rare on the stem.
The eastern tenacious is a bit like a creeping one, but in the wild it is completely lost in dense grass
Planting and leaving
Wild tenacious creeping unpretentious. It grows well both in the sun and in partial shade. It is also undemanding to the soil. But a lot depends on the variety. Ornamental varieties are sensitive to light intensity. But most varieties of creeping tenacious prefer partial shade.
In gardens, it is often planted in the trunks of fruit trees. Growing ayuga creeping drowns out any weeds.
Ayuga creeping is planted in loosened moist soil. At first, the seedlings need to be watered often so that they take root better. Further, watering is carried out rarely and only during a prolonged drought. The creeping insect easily endures the absence of rain for a month.
Seedlings of creeping Ayuga are planted in April-May, without fear of spring frosts. This is a frost-hardy plant that can easily withstand temperatures down to -10 ° C.
Caring for the creeping auga takes a little time and basically comes down to weeding it. The plant was not just called tenacious. Thanks to the stolon-like creeping stems, capable of rooting, it very quickly captures free space. If not controlled, it will quickly drown out all other plants. You can reduce the "appetite" of the creeping tenacious by making a barrier for it from special materials.
The growth of the aggressor is hindered by what does not allow him to take root: slate, stones, concrete, synthetic material.
Conclusion
Varieties of creeping tenacious with photos and names are difficult to list.Due to its unpretentiousness and endurance, this type of Ayuga is very popular among gardeners. During its cultivation, many varieties have been bred and new ones continue to appear.
