Content
Veronicastrum virginicum is a unique representative of the flora world. The unpretentious perennial culture is appreciated by modern landscape decorators for easy maintenance and a very harmonious appearance.
Beautiful lancet inflorescences of veronicastrum exude a pleasant honey aroma that attracts insects
Description of veronicastrum
The veronicastrum plant belongs to the Norichnikov family. In its natural environment, the culture lives in North America, Eurasia. A perennial bush looks massive, like a column, while it does not require support and tying. It is characterized by the following features:
- the root system is powerful, stiff;
- stems are straight, strongly leafy from bottom to top;
- arrangement of leaves "floor by floor", 5-7 pieces;
- leaves are smooth, lanceolate, with a pointed end;
- the color of the leaves is bright green;
- inflorescences spike-shaped, located at the top of the stems, with small flowers;
- inflorescence length up to 20 cm;
- inflorescence color - various shades of white, pink, red, lilac, purple, blue, blue;
- fruits - boxes of brown color with small, black, oblong seeds.
Wild varieties of veronicastrum produce flowering inflorescences over 2 meters
Types and varieties of veronicastrum
There are two main types of perennial veronicastrum:
- Siberian (Veronicastrum sibirica) is a species whose homeland is considered to be the vast territory of Russia. A powerful frost-resistant plant can withstand temperatures as low as -30 30С. The Siberian veronicastrum is characterized by a powerful root system, erect stems up to 2 m in height, inflorescences-spikelets up to 30 cm in size with pale blue flowers. The undersized variety of Siberian Veronicastrum Red Arrows (Red Arrows) with crimson inflorescences is very beautiful. The height of the bushes is up to 80 cm, the color of the leaves is green, the color of the shoots is purple.
Under natural conditions, Siberian veronicastrum forms dense thickets
- Virginia (Veronicastrum virginicum), is frost-resistant, tolerates sub-zero temperatures up to - 28 ⁰С. The height of the stems is up to 1.5 m, the color of the leaves is dark green.
The color of the inflorescences of the Virginian species depends on the variety
The most popular varieties of Virginia Veronicastrum
The variety of varieties of Virginia Veronicastrum makes it possible to use the plant to design various stylistic directions of landscape design:
- The Temptation variety is characterized by columnar inflorescences with lilac or light blue buds, light green foliage.
The height of the veronicastrum bush of the Virginian variety Templetation is up to 1.3 m
- Veronicastrum Erika is distinguished by the pink color of the inflorescences. The color of the petals located at the top of the spike-shaped inflorescences is darker and richer than the color of the lower petals.
The height of the Erica veronicastrum bush is 1.2 m
- Veronicastrum Virginia Fascination is distinguished by the pink-lilac color of the inflorescences. The inherent gray color of the foliage.On one shoot of Fascineishion veronicastrum, together with the central spike-shaped inflorescence, several dozen lateral spikelets are formed.
The height of the Veronicastrum Virginia Fascineyshion bushes is 1.3 m
- The Album variety of Virginia Veronicastrum is distinguished by strong stems with dense, dark green leaves, as well as white inflorescences.
Veronicastrum of the Virginian variety Album is characterized by a bush height of up to 1.3 m
- The Virginia variety Veronicastrum Apollo (Apollo) is distinguished by a green tone of foliage, a rich lilac shade of lush inflorescences.
Veronicastrum Virginia Apollo variety is characterized by a height of bushes up to 1 m
- The variety of Virginia Veronicastrum Cupid (Cupid) is distinguished by a juicy shade of green lanceolate foliage, a magnificent lavender-purple color of paniculate inflorescences up to 15 cm in size.
Virginia Veronicastrum of the Cupid variety is characterized by a height of bushes up to 0.9 m
- The Virginia veronicastrum variety Lavendelturm (Lavendelturm) compares favorably with other crops with a light purple shade of panicle inflorescences, lanceolate green leaves.
The height of the bushes of the Virginian variety Veronicastrum Lavendelturm is up to 1.5 m
- The variety Veronicastrum Virginia Adoration is characterized by a delicate lilac color of spreading spike-shaped inflorescences. The Adoration variety is one of the most spectacular during flowering: first, the central inflorescence blooms, after the flowers open on the lateral panicles, the flower "cloud" increases several times, attracting bees and other insects with the honey aroma.
The height of the bushes of Virginia Veronicastrum of the Adorition variety is up to 1.4 m
- Veronicastrum Virginia Pink Glow is a real giant. The variety is characterized by white (with a faint pale pink tinge) color of the inflorescences. The leaves of plants of the Pink Glow variety are lanceolate, bright green, with a whorled arrangement.
The height of the pink Glow veronicastrum bushes reaches 1.5 m
- Veronicastrum Roseum is characterized by a pink color of paniculate inflorescences, a classic lanceolate form of green leaves, powerful stems.
The height of the veronicastrum bushes of the Virginian variety Roseum is 1.2-1.5 m
Veronicastrum in landscape design
Among landscape designers, culture is very popular not only because of its global size. The columnar figure of veronicastrum is able to successfully exist in single plantings, it is perfectly combined with other plants in flower beds, mixborders, beds. Tall bushes of Virginia Veronicastrum are used for various purposes:
- for zoning the territory;
- as a green fence;
- for camouflage of outbuildings and other unattractive architectural forms;
- to create natural tall thickets;
- to create natural borders;
- for the design of reservoirs;
- to decorate the background (back) of the flower garden;
- for the most harmonious and contrasting combination with brightly flowering plants (echinacea, phlox, astilba, climbing roses, lupine, delphinium) and large cereals.
Group plantings of veronicastrum of decorative varieties (5-6 bushes each) look beautiful
Reproduction methods
Veronicastrum reproduces in two main ways:
- seed;
- vegetative (cuttings, dividing the bush).
Seeds are pre-sown for seedlings, followed by moving into open ground.
Vegetative propagation is carried out in early spring or late autumn.
Cuttings are cut and rooted in prepared soil (loose, fertilized with organic fertilizers). Beforehand, cuttings can be placed in water until roots appear. Cuttings are carried out in early spring to ensure the rooting of the shoots.
Bushes grown from cuttings in the fall can be mulched so that the plant does not freeze
The division of the bush is carried out in the fall after the end of flowering. The selected mother plant is removed from the ground, divided into parts. Individual plots must contain viable shoots.Rough roots should be separated with a shovel or ax.
Veronicastrum plots should be planted in the ground so that the roots do not wind and dry out.
Nuances of growing seedlings
Veronicastrum seeds are sown for seedlings in disinfected containers with prepared fertile soil mixture in February. Algorithm for sowing seeds for seedlings:
- drainage is placed on the bottom of the container;
- the soil mixture is disinfected and placed in a container;
- the seeds are buried in the soil by 0.5 cm;
- crops are spilled with water;
- the container is covered with foil or glass.
After the appearance of the first shoots (10 days after sowing), the shelter is removed, moderate watering is provided.
Veronicastrum seedlings are moved to open ground in the last decade of May.
Before planting young plants in open ground, the seedlings of Veronicastrum virginiana are gradually hardened
Planting and caring for veronicastrum
Veronicastrum virginsky is an unpretentious, frost-resistant, shade-tolerant, drought-resistant plant that does not require significant maintenance. The culture is suitable for summer residents and gardeners who have the opportunity to take care of the plants once a week.
Beautifully flowering veronicastrum bushes bloom all summer long with little or no regular maintenance.
Recommended timing
The optimal time for moving seedlings into open ground is the end of May, after the establishment of a stable warm temperature of the soil and air.
Since the seeds of veronicastrum are sown for seedlings in February, by the end of spring, the bushes have enough time to get stronger and take root.
Ready-made seedlings purchased in specialized stores are transferred into the ground during the entire vegetative period.
Site selection and preparation
Perennial veronicastrum prefers sunny or slightly shaded areas of the local area.
A light, fertile, moisture-consuming, slightly acidic or neutral soil well fertilized with organic mixtures with the addition of peat is suitable for the culture.
The plant does not "like" sandy, sandy and clayey soils.
Veronicastrum does not bloom well and develops in dense soil
Next to what you can plant veronicastrum
Veronicastrum is best placed next to such crops:
- spectacular and tall cereals;
- multicolored asters;
- stylish pink echinacea;
- bright phlox;
- solar rudbeckia;
- bright orange helenium;
- classic nivyanik (garden chamomile);
- juicy and colorful lupine;
- expressive delphinium.
Climbing roses can be perfectly complemented with stylish, columnar veronicastrum bushes.
Hydrangea bushes with lush blooming foam of inflorescences harmoniously coexist with giant Veronicastrum candles
Landing algorithm
The seedlings are moved into the prepared holes along with a lump of earth, observing the scheme 50x60 cm. For 1 sq. m. you can place up to 5-6 bushes of veronicastrum.
If plots are transplanted, the size of the planting holes depends on the size of the root system. The growth point is not deepened, the root system is carefully distributed and sprinkled with earth. The soil around the plant is compacted, spilled with water.
It is recommended to mulch the planting site with needles, foliage, sawdust, dry grass
Watering and feeding schedule
Virginia Veronicastrum prefers moderate watering - once a week. During the hot period, water the plants as the soil dries out. To ensure longer moisture retention, the soil around the bushes is mulched.
Perennial bushes need periodic feeding, 2-3 times during the growing season. Plants are fed with organic fertilizers, avoiding fertilizing with a large amount of nitrogen.
Nitrogen in complex fertilizers promotes foliage growth to the detriment of flowering
Pruning
Experienced flower growers recommend removing faded central shoots with peduncles. This stimulates the flowering of lateral shoots, which significantly prolongs the overall budding period.
Preparing for winter
After the first frost, the shoots and leaves of veronicastrum turn black.In autumn, after the end of flowering, foliage and shoots are cut at ground level. The soil is mulched with foliage, grass, hay or sawdust.
Pests and diseases
Virginia veronicastrum is a unique plant that is almost never more and is not attacked by pests.
In rare cases, the culture is affected by the following ailments:
- The cause of the appearance on foliage of white, brown, black or brown spots (mottling) are pathogens of a fungal, viral or bacterial disease.
For the treatment of leaf spot, modern preparations containing copper (copper sulfate, Barrier) are used
- Powdery mildew, or ash, is characterized by the presence of white spots that grow over the entire surface of the leaves.
Vectra and Topaz preparations are the most relevant for the treatment of plants affected by powdery mildew
Conclusion
Veronicastrum Virginia is an attractive and stylish modern garden plant. A variety of decorative varieties allow you to decorate the local area with minimal labor costs. The elegant shrubs are beautiful at any time of the year. In spring, red-burgundy shoots are harmoniously combined with bulbous primroses. Throughout the summer and until late autumn, giant paniculate inflorescences delight the eye with the flowering of white, blue, lilac, pink, purple, blue flowers.
