Loosestrife

The loosestrife is a very beautiful ornamental plant that can most often be found as part of a flower garden. It is very simple to explain this popularity - the plant attracts with its decorative features, and at the same time it is completely unpretentious in care. In this article, we will dwell on what characteristics this plant has, what types there are, how to plant a loosestrife and propagate it. We will also talk about how to use the loosestrife as a garden planting.

The main characteristics of the loosestrife, its types

Derbennik is the most typical representative of the Derbennikov family, whose homeland is Eurasia. This plant is very popular just for the simple reason that it can be used to decorate almost any part of the garden. It perfectly and quickly adapts to environmental conditions, to the environment of its growth, and it is almost impossible to damage it - neither pests nor diseases succeed. At the same time, the loosestrife is completely unpretentious - he should be given the most elementary caring aspects in order for him to demonstrate all his greatness and decorativeness.

The plant is distinguished by a sufficient variety of species, and thanks to this, gardeners can decorate their plots, flower beds and flower beds not only very attractively and decoratively, but even effectively, creating original compositions. Due to the fact that flowering can stretch for a rather long period, the plant can for a long time remain not only very attractive, but also picturesque and, of course, please the eye of not only the grower himself, but also his guests, who will not remain indifferent to these landings. In this article, we will tell you what the loosestriders are like garden plants, how to plant them and properly care for them in order to get an excellent decorative result. If a florist treats all the advice with attention and understanding, then he certainly will not have absolutely any difficulties in growing this culture on his own site. Of course, these tips will also help him grow culturewithout having any experience at all.

In more natural conditions, loosestrife can be distributed almost everywhere, and our country is no exception in this case. In nature, the loosestrife grows as a herbaceous culture, most often it can be found on very moist and fertile soils, in areas that are perfectly illuminated by sunlight. Also, loosestrife can be found on the banks of rivers, near lakes and streams, near other bodies of water, so we can immediately conclude that this is a plant that prefers moist areas.

Today this genus includes about thirty species, some of them are valued by flower growers for their decorative effect, and there are types of loosestrife, which are distinguished by useful, medicinal properties. Moreover, all species are ideal honey plants, so you should remember this if the plant is needed as an attraction for pollinating insects - bees, bumblebees and others. The height of the plant is from one meter to 115 centimeters, its stems are very thin, straight, densely leafy. The leaves are painted in a rich green color, solid, slightly oblong, arranged alternately on the branches, which also looks quite neat, although the main highlight of the loosestrife lies in its simplicity.

In order to understand what kind of flowers the loosestrife has, it is best to refer to their botanical description. They are solitary, rather small in terms of their size.They have the shape of stars, while the shade of the flowers is lilac or pinkish. Flowers are formed mainly in the axils of the leaves, they are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, they look very cute and attractive. The flower cup is tubular in shape, and sometimes resembles a bell in shape. Flowering usually begins in July or August, not the longest, but even during this time the gardener manages to appreciate all its attractiveness and interesting moments. The fruit is a round capsule, sometimes slightly oblong, filled with seeds, which are ideal for self-seeding. But if the gardener himself does not want this, then in principle he can cut the boxes and dispose of the seeds.

As we have already said, a fairly large number of species are included in the genus, therefore, we will consider them, as well as some varieties, just within the framework of this article. Let's start with willow loaf. It is a perennial herb that has a very strong, thick root that is very similar in structure to a tree. The stem has four faces, straight, there are stems quite branched, usually up to one meter in height. On very saturated fertile soils, which are also sufficiently moistened, the plant can stretch up to 120 centimeters, so, as we can see, the composition of the soil and its condition determines a lot. On average, up to fifty shoots can grow from one rhizome, so this plant is distinguished by sufficient thickening, which also attracts attention. The leaves grow very narrow, sessile, lanceolate, their tips may be slightly pointed. The color of the leaves is dark, green, but when the autumn period approaches, the leaves can be overpainted in a dark red tint. The flowers are located at the very top of the stem, in the branches they are collected in whorls. Very dense flower brushes are formed, their diameter can reach from one and a half to two centimeters, while the corollas are painted in a crimson color, it cannot be said that they are too large. They consist of six to ten petals. The flowering of the perennial is quite standard - it lasts from July to August, but even during this time it manages to pleasantly surprise both the flower growers themselves and those who visit their plots as guests. This species grows mainly in waterlogged, damp places, it can often be found on the coastal parts of lakes and reservoirs, and at the same time, the loosestrife is really very, very common.

Among the people, this type of loosestrife has another name - plakun-grass. This is due to its peculiarity: in especially hot and dry periods, the leaves can emit water droplets that flow down the plant. Hence the impression is created that the loosestrider simply burst into tears. But in fact, the plant has water tubules, and through them the plant gets rid of too much excess moisture, which accumulates in it due to its proximity to water bodies. The varieties of loosestrife are distinguished by the fact that their flowers are painted in very bright shades, but still most of the varieties are painted in a pink shade, which, of course, looks very attractive and sophisticated.

We list such varieties of willow loafer as Brighton - the flowers are painted in a purple pink hue; Roberta - this variety is considered almost the most spectacular, reaching a height of sixty centimeters. The inflorescences are very attractive and spectacular - they have a coral, completely atypical color. Roseum superboom - based on the name, you can understand that this plant is painted in very bright pink flowers, while the inflorescences are combined with many other garden flower plantings. A pink pearl - a gigantic bush in height - more than 120 centimeters, flowers of pink and lilac shades, insanely attractive and, of course, interesting, especially if we consider them not in a single, but in a group planting with other tall and medium-sized flowers. Rocket - the height of the bush reaches one and a half meters, the inflorescences are very large, have a deep burgundy color, but it is more likely for an amateur of such shades. You can also mention a variety called Faykerts - this is a very abundantly flowering shrub, its height is about eighty centimeters.The buds are abundant, colored in a pink-red hue. Flowering is long - sometimes it reaches two months, if the plant grows in favorable conditions, then flowering can be even more abundant and lasts even longer. Stickflame is a rather tall bush with large purple flowers that bloom at the same time, which makes the bush look like a torch that burns with pink fire. Blush - this loosestrife bush differs in that, when flowering begins, the flowers are painted in a very delicate, pink shade, which looks more like a blush. Ogenvide - this variety of willow-leafed grass has purple decorative inflorescences, and you can also notice bright red tan on them - it really looks incendiary and bright, very decorative. The willow loosestrider as a whole looks very impressive on the site, in single and group plantings, so the choice of gardeners falls on this particular species, although there are other, no less attractive types of loosestrife.

Swallowtail loosestrife is the second type of plant. This species grows as a compact bush, its height is usually no more than 120 centimeters, and the shoots are very branched, due to which the bush itself becomes very thickened and dense, almost impenetrable. The leaves of the plant are dark and very rich, they are oblong, dense, lanceolate, they look very fresh and attractive. The flowers are dark pink in color, almost purple, collected in attractive racemose inflorescences, and in general, if you look at the whole composition in full, we can say that this type of loosestrife is really very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing from it and from its contemplation you can get great pleasure. Again, it is worth taking care of the plant properly in order to get the most positive and decorative result from planting, the rules of planting and agricultural technology cannot be ignored, because the future development of the plant and its growth depends on this. Below we will give several varieties of twig looser and give them small descriptions. Thanks to such a memo, the gardener will be able to choose the varieties he likes and replenish his collection of perennials with them. Among the varieties, we will highlight in particular such as:

- Helen is a very undersized variety, almost dwarf, its height does not exceed half a meter. The inflorescences of this variety are saturated purple-pink, they can be spotted from afar, they look so bright and decorative and attract everyone's attention

- rose queen - the height of the bush can be higher than 70 centimeters, while the flowers have a bright pink color, which can be immediately understood from the name of this variety - translated from English it just means “pink queen”

- modern pink - another variety, whose inflorescences are painted in a pink or lilac-pink shade. The bush itself is bright green, its height is about one meter, but on condition that the plant grows in the most comfortable conditions for itself. If the gardener cannot create them, then, of course, the plant will not be so bright and attractive.

- dropmo pearl - the variety is distinguished by purple pink flowers, they are quite small, but the inflorescences in which they are collected are impressive in size, special attention should be paid to them. Of course, the whole point here also lies in the conditions in which this plant grows - as a rule, you need to create comfort and sufficient moisture for this variety, and then dropmo purple will reward the grower with a very bright, abundant and long flowering.

There is also another variety called Art Nouveau Glim. Its flowers are pure purple blooms, also small, and in the same way collected in very abundant and large inflorescences.This variety looks great both as a single planting and as part of a group planting - there is a place for it everywhere, as it is really very attractive. The flowering of the variety is long, which is also its undoubted advantage. In addition to the varieties that we have listed in this part of the article on loosestrife, there are still a large number of very different species and varieties. Among them, the Californian and creeping loosestrife stand out, as they perfectly acclimatize, adapt to our conditions, and in general the plant feels very good in various regions and latitudes of Russia.

Using a loosestrife in the garden

The loosestrife is a culture that is distinguished by its ability to adapt to almost any conditions of its growth, and to experience them completely painlessly, which favorably distinguishes the loosestrider from other plants. But in order to get abundant and lush flowering, it is worth knowing about some of its features and preferences. It is thanks to these subtleties that the florist will be able to choose the ideal place for planting and the soil that will meet all the needs of the plant. Next, we will look at some of the features that you should always pay attention to.

Planting location - the flower responds very well to excellent lighting, and in general it can grow quite calmly even in partial shade, without losing its decorative features and characteristics. When a gardener grows a loosestrife on a plot, he should not forget that the plant will feel very uncomfortable in the shade - it will suffer from a lack of sunlight, and this will have a very negative effect on its decorative features and characteristics. In this case, the loosestrife will bloom unevenly, rarely, but in sunny areas it will be able to reveal all its characteristics and features in full force. It grows well in moist soils, especially near bodies of water, rivers, lakes or reservoirs.

As for the soil, well-drained soil is ideally suitable for loosestriders, but if we talk about the most ideal option for growth and development, as well as for revealing the entire range of decorative features and characteristics, then in this case, very moist soil is ideal for it, in which there will be contain a large amount of humus. The loosestrife practically does not develop in dense soils, which, moreover, are practically not moistened. So in the case of the selection of a soil mixture, you should also be extremely careful, because the future of the plant, the splendor of its flowering and many other decorative features and characteristics depend on this.

When a gardener waters a loosestrife, he must always remember that this plant is moisture-loving, it must be constantly watered or moistened. Irrigation is carried out at least once a week. On especially hot and dry days, irrigation should be done even more often - about two or three times a week. The culture can endure even super strong moisture, so it can be planted even in reservoirs to a depth of about thirty centimeters, no more. After the watering of the plant has been completed, the soil around should be loosened, and all weeds should be removed. Gardeners who already have experience in growing loosestrife, to retain moisture in the soil, pour a large amount of peat or straw into the trunk circle, as well as other substances that can serve as a mulching material.

Top dressing is another important condition for the plant to feel good and comfortable. Loosestrife is usually fed in June or July. You can apply top dressing right before the loosestrife is planted in open ground, nitrogen-containing mixtures, ash or humus are suitable for this, and you can also use compost. In the spring, the soil should be enriched with minerals and microelements, so that the mineral complex will come in handy here.

With the onset of spring, all lateral shoots should be cut off, as they can interfere with the normal formation of the shrub. Also, in spring and autumn, all the stems are cut at the root - you don't have to worry about the consequences of this procedure at all, since the plant calmly reacts to pruning and recovers very quickly. Shoots that stick out directly from the ground are able to hold snow masses, and therefore the plant can overwinter without loss, even if suddenly the frost is too strong, and there is a great risk that the plant will freeze, this still will not happen.

The plant is generally very winter-hardy, it can tolerate a drop in temperature down to -35 degrees, and sometimes even lower. For him, you should not organize some kind of shelter for the winter, since it will still not be useful, and the plant will calmly wake up in the spring and will continue to function quite calmly, exactly as it should. This is another advantage of the loosestrife.

Reproduction

The loosestrife can be propagated in different ways - both by seeds, and by dividing the shrub, as well as by cuttings. Dividing the bushes is best done either with the onset of autumn, or already in the spring. To do this, on the site of all plants, it is necessary to choose the most overgrown and strongest, as well as the plant that will differ in health. It is also worth considering the fact that the loosestrife has a very strong root system, which, in addition to its power, resembles a lignified tree, and this root goes right deep into the soil. In order to separate the roots, a very well-sharpened and pre-disinfected instrument should be used. The bushes are divided into two or three parts, and in this way it is worth dividing so that each part has points of growth - either one or several at once. There are gardeners who usually divide their bushes into four or more pieces. But, as experience shows, this division is not entirely advisable, since small divisions can spend much more time on adaptation and rooting. They are also susceptible to diseases, or they may not take root at all in the new conditions, which means that an attempt to reproduce will be in vain. So it is not recommended to divide the bushes too much. In general, dividing bushes is a rather laborious way of reproduction, because it is quite problematic to dig a bush out of the ground without losses, and for inexperienced gardeners it can be difficult to separate the bushes neatly without causing them even more damage from such manipulations. Therefore, it is also worth using an alternative method of propagation of shrubs, which is also vegetative. This is pruning root cuttings with a growth point. In this case, the cuttings will root much easier and faster, it will be enough to place them in a container, which will be filled with useful and nutritious soil in advance. Top should be covered with either polyethylene or glass. After the seedlings are planted in open ground, they will need to be carefully looked after and, of course, looked after. Timely watering is important exactly until the loosestrife seedlings finally take root and take root. Only then it will be possible to understand that the plant is safe, and it will have enough strength to function normally and correctly, revealing all its decorative features and characteristics.

Reproduction of a loosestrife by seeds - in general, in nature, a loosestrife reproduces easily by self-sowing. When the seed box is fully ripe, it bursts, and from it all the available seeds are scattered right on the ground. Some loosestrife can safely root very close to the mother plant, and there are those seeds that are carried by the wind over very long distances, but even there shoots appear after a while. They appear especially quickly if it is a very humid area.

In the garden, reproduction of a loosestrife with seed is almost a common practice. This method is very effective, thanks to it, healthy and decorative flowering plants appear, and this is very important. Planting material is placed directly in the ground, you can also plant seeds in containers in advance to get seedlings, and after that, the seedlings are placed in open ground, in a pre-prepared place. In order for the seeds to stratify in natural conditions, they should be planted in open ground in late autumn, right before the onset of frost. For seedlings, seeds are sown in the March period. Sowing is carried out in small cups or containers, which are filled in advance with sufficiently loose and very nutritious moist soil, which will be light and will be able to pass enough oxygen. The seeds are very neatly scattered on the very surface of the soil, while you should not sow them too often, so that later it would be more convenient to dive and choose the most viable seedlings. The distance between plantings should be approximately two to three centimeters. The seed spills out onto the surface, does not deepen, but you can slightly level the soil with your palm. After planting the seeds, the soil should be slightly moistened - for this, water is sprayed from a spray bottle.

Before planting in open ground, a pit is prepared in advance. It is worth adding a small amount of organic feeding to it, and after planting, the plants are very abundantly watered with settled water at room temperature. The distance between the bushes should be up to half a meter, because then it will be more convenient to look after the bushes, and they will also look great and demonstrate their decorative features and features, which is also, of course, very important.

The loosestrife flower is one of the most attractive among all garden plantings and garden perennials, which are located on the backyard. It has a huge number of positive traits and pluses that make it such a favorite plant for many gardeners. Among the advantages of this plant are attractive bright foliage, spectacular inflorescences, long flowering for a long time. Also, loosestriders are extremely unpretentious, they perfectly tolerate temperature extremes and freezing, for which they also received recognition. The culture is planted on personal plots, looks great both in group and in single plantings. It is very picturesque and interesting. You can plant loosestriders near water bodies, in water at shallow depths, as well as in glades, if we are talking about undersized varieties and types of loosestriders. As for the neighborhood with loosestrife, then the same moisture-loving crops fit best here - marsh gladioli, hunners, irises and astilbe, as well as other plants. Also, when choosing neighbors, gardeners always rely on color colors, because the plantings should look not only rich, but also very harmonious. Thus, loosestrife plants are excellent plants with a huge number of advantages, and they are recommended for planting even for those gardeners who do not yet have enough experience in such activities.