Liatris is a flower from perennial varieties; it is part of the Asters or Asteraceae family. Under natural conditions, it grows in Mexico, North America, and the Bahamas. There are about 20 subspecies of the plant.
Description of the lyatris: varieties and varieties
Liatris perennial flower hit the gardens in the 18th century. Its leaves are collected in a rosette, from which hard shoots come out with inflorescences growing from 0.6 to 1 m. The foliage of the culture with a dark green color is dense. The individual leaves are narrow. It does not belong to the evergreen subspecies, which does not prevent it from being popular with gardeners. Flowers are collected in spikelets, in length from 15 to 30 cm.
What does a lyatris look like
There are several common subspecies of culture.
Liatris spikelet
Decorates flower beds with flowers during June-July. Their color depends on the variety and is pinkish, white, purple, lilac, lilac, azure. The pedicel resembles a tube, covered with small flowers along its entire length. The stems grow to 80 cm, completely covered with foliage. Paniculate inflorescences of spikelet liatris reach 25 cm in length.
The well-known subspecies of the spiky variety developed on the basis of the varieties of Spicata lyatris (spicata) include:
- Floristan Violett (Floristan Violett) - with petals painted in a different shade of blue and purple;
- Florian Weiss - the stems of the culture reach 90 cm, large inflorescences resemble snow-white candles;
- Liatris Kobold (kobold or cobalt) - has flowers of lilac-pink color, located on stems with a length of 40 cm.
It's important to know! The spikelet lyatris has an unusual snow-white shade of flowers and growth from 50 to 80 cm.
Liatris membranous
It has large and wide leaves, pedicels - fluffy and whitish. Inflorescences in appearance resemble balls consisting of minimal flowers of lilac and pink tones. Filmy varieties are preferred to use in landscape design, when creating alpine slides or single flower beds.
Popular varieties of Liatris membranous are represented:
- September Glory - growing up to 1 m, with large flowers of a pinkish tint;
- Lyatris Alba (alba) - the variety is determined by large pearl petals and unobtrusive aroma.
Liatris grungy
Belongs to the tallest, in nature there are options up to 2 m high. The culture has strong shoots and foliage with a green tone. On long pedicels are small purple flowers. The representatives of the species include Uyat Spyr, which has snow-white buds. Of particular interest is the purple Picador. Its distinguishing feature is considered to be high and bright inflorescences and a love of moderate watering, easy reproduction.
Liatris Kobold
Landing location, soil
Planting and caring for the lyatris begins with the selection of a suitable site. He prefers fertile soils with easy permeability and slightly acid reaction, in the range of 6-6.5 units. Culture loves sunny places where the rays fall on the bushes for 6 or more hours.
On a note! When growing on sandy and dry soil, in partial shade, the lithium (Liatris flower) blooms weaker. If it is planted on sandstone, then growth slows down, and inflorescences are shortened.
The long-living variety does not tolerate boggy and heavy soils - in such places it is at risk of the spread of tuber rot. When planted in flower containers, the substrate is made of peat, clay and perlite (sand).
Sowing the seeds of lithium in open ground
Seed is sown in late autumn or early spring - they are not affected by frost. Before work, they are soaked for 8 hours in a humate solution. The landing site is pre-excavated, humus is added to it at the rate of 1 bucket for each m2. Grooves are made in the soil to a depth of 1.5 cm, after planting the seeds, they must be sprinkled. With the seed distribution method, the culture will receive full growth no earlier than 2-3 years after planting.
Lyatris seeds
Landing Liatris in the open ground
The culture can be grown in seedlings, young animals 50-60 days old are planted in the ground. The seed material is pre-hardened, treated and sown in containers with disinfected soil.
Sowing is carried out in January or March, when planting, the seeds are buried by 1 cm. The containers are covered with glass or plastic wrap and sent to a warm room with a temperature regime of 22-25 ℃ above zero.
Additional Information! When the first sprouts appear, the temperature is lowered to 16-18 ℃ above zero, the boxes are transferred to a lighted place.
After the formation of the first two leaves, young animals are planted in separate pots, a month later they are sent to a larger container. Landing under the open sky is carried out after the threat of the return of night frosts is over. When planting procedures between the bushes observe a distance of 20 to 25 cm.
Landing
Watering and loosening the soil
The culture will easily survive a small drought, but it belongs to moisture lovers. Overflows are dangerous by the development of rot on the root system. The volume of water when moistening the soil depends on the size of the crop - one bush accounts for a bucket of water. The liquid is poured until it is absorbed into the ground.
Hilling and loosening of the earth is carried out periodically, with the addition of a small amount of soil. Due to the proximity of the root system, it can be exposed regularly, especially after prolonged rains.
Breeding methods
There are several ways to get young individuals.
Tuberous
Material is bought in a flower shop or independently procured in the autumn. For the procedure, bushes of 2-3 years of age, starting from 2 cm in size, are suitable. Small bulbs are made in the bulbs - shoots will go from them. Landing is carried out in the spring or in September-October, before the onset of cold weather.
If desired, nodules can be germinated in advance. In tanks they are planted at a distance of 15 cm in a soil mixture, which includes peat, river sand and humus. The bushes need to provide good drainage. Tanks are sent to a cool and darkened room until the first shoots appear. After the emergence of young shoots, it is planted under the open sky.
Bush division
The shrub is completely dug up, shaken off from the adhering earth and cut with a shovel. The root is divided into 2-3 parts, preferably uniform. Separated pieces are planted in previously prepared soil, fertilized with organic matter to a depth similar to that of an old bush. Flowering should be expected in the same or next season, depending on the selected division time.
Important! At one and the same place, culture grows normally and develops no more than three years. The shrub can multiply by dividing the bush and this method will not cause problems for inexperienced gardeners. Directly launched non-stop landings quickly lose their attractiveness and die.
Bush division
Feeding and transplanting
Liatris planting and care in the open field involves the application of fertilizers. Top dressing is carried out three times per season, using potassium phosphate solutions. When changing the standard shade of foliage to pale, nitrogen fertilizer must be applied. Culture does not need other useful substances.
Transplant operations are carried out in conjunction with the division of an adult shrub into parts every 3 or 4 years. If you ignore this requirement, then the bushes will eventually become smaller and disappear in a few years. The transplant is carried out according to the algorithm:
- the adult is carefully removed from the ground and the root system is cleaned of it;
- use a sharp knife to divide it into parts - a root neck with roots should be located on each site;
- young animals are planted in pre-prepared holes, to a depth of 10 cm, observing a distance of 25-35 cm;
- pits are filled a third with humus and soil, rammed;
- carry out watering and mulching.
Note! This type of transplantation is best done in October - before the new season the bushes will have time to grow stronger and please their owner with flowering. If the process is impossible in the autumn, it is carried out in the spring - in most cases, the appearance of buds must be expected next year.
Plant transplant
Liatris pruning
Some varieties of crops can grow up to 1 m, which requires binding. Strong sticks are driven near the shrubbery and a tight rope or wire is pulled. Shoots are tied to the resulting structure. If the procedure is not carried out, then under adverse weather conditions or under the weight of its own mass, the shoots may break, and the bush may die.
Pruning is recommended after the flowering of individual inflorescences. This approach will improve the appearance of the entire bush, help the foliage acquire a brighter color. After the growing season, many gardeners prefer to carry out a complete crop pruning.
Pests and diseases
Diseases practically do not affect the bush, the main problems are presented:
- root rot - which occurs when a crop is planted in places with heavy, poorly ventilated soil located in the shade;
- powdery mildew - the disease affects the foliage in constantly rainy weather.
Fungal infections often occur on weakened or old bushes. Compliance with agricultural regulations and the timely division of adults is the best prevention of various diseases.
Dangerous pests of culture include:
- Vole mice who like the sweetish taste of tubers. Professionals prefer to plant bushes in special baskets previously buried in the soil.
- Bear - soil parasite insect likes to gnaw the root system of the culture.
- Slimer - their appearance is often associated with rains and bad weather.
You should know! To control pests, experienced gardeners prefer to use Medvetox and Thunderstorm.
Vole Mouse - Lyatris Pest
How to prepare for wintering
At the end of the growing season, all bushes are pruned. They easily survive the cold months and do not require specialized shelter. The remaining part is covered with dry foliage or humus, laid out in a layer up to 15 cm.
Flowering period and care after
During the formation of the buds of the culture, it shoots arrows with inflorescences. The flowers of the lyatris begin to bloom from the bottom to the top. The average length of each peduncle is 40-50 cm. Outwardly resemble spikelets consisting of several levels of flower groups.
The duration of the flowering season takes about 30 days, for individual subspecies - up to 1.5-2 months. Time depends on the place of shrub planting, but most often the appearance of buds occurs in June or July. At the end of the season, boxes with seed material are formed, covered with a small pile.
After flowering and decay of the leaves are completed, the ground part is cut off, the surface is mulched by spruce branches, peat or compost. In the absence of severe winters, shelter is necessary.
On a note! Straw cannot be used as mulch - the most common pests of the culture, voles mice, nest in it most often.
Use in landscape design
White and other subspecies of the lyatris are popular among landscape designers. Shrubs are widely used for decoration:
- flower beds;
- flower garden;
- alpine hill;
- registration of a border.
The culture can be planted as a single composition or mixed with other similar species. The variety can be combined with unpretentious wildflowers, plant them in the composition. This approach reduces the time and effort spent on caring for the flower garden, and gives the homestead an unusual appearance.
When forming a flower bed, one should not forget about the combination of shades. Most varieties of Liatris are painted in snow-white, violet and other colors, you can add yellow or red subspecies to them.
Interesting! Tall species are used as the center of flower beds, undersized - at the entrance or for the design of garden paths. When creating flower beds, the main rule applies - a large number of plantings will spoil the whole impression, crops should be located on the territory deliberately, without excessive crowding.
Liatris as an element of landscape design
Cultivation in regions with difficult climates
Liatris can grow in Siberia, the Urals and the Far East. Florists recommend planting in cold regions special frost-resistant varieties: Albu or Burning Star. The only feature of the cultivation is a short flowering time and the absence of seed material ripening.
Particular attention is paid to the winter preparation of the shrub: with the advent of September, it is fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer, and closer to winter, they carry out high hilling of residues. Before the frosts, the culture is covered with dry foliage and special agrofibre.
Liatris deservedly enjoys the love of professional gardeners and landscape specialists.
On a note! Bushes do not require specialized care, are practically not susceptible to serious diseases.
Prolonged and plentiful flowering allows them to decorate personal plots, to create innovative compositional solutions.
Compliance with the rules of detention will avoid most diseases, prevent the destruction of shrubs by mice and bears. The right approach will make the infield attractive and unique.
