Description and medicinal properties of common lumbago, growing from seeds

Common lumbago is an unusual lush plant, about which there are legends and fairy tales. This early-blooming windflower or sleep-grass, as it is also called, saves you from insomnia if you keep it under your pillow. Our ancestors believed in this.

The common lumbago has a sufficient degree of resistance to adverse environmental factors and is unpretentious in care. Even a novice plant growing enthusiast can grow it.

General information about the plant lumbago

Common lumbago belongs to perennial crops; it is extremely rare to find it in the natural environment. All 45 of its species are in the Red Book. In nature, common lumbago grows on mountain slopes, in forests and meadows in the form of entire plantations. It decorates the area near the house, front gardens, and flower beds.

The homeland of this amazing and useful plant is Siberia; it grows both in the Caucasus and in Europe.

In home floriculture, the common lumbago appeared in 1530. Its root system is oblong, sometimes oblique or very vertical, which allows the flower to conquer rocks without problems. In addition, the decorative crop adapts quite quickly to new conditions and is capable of being without moisture for a long period.

There are types of lumbago with an erect or slightly curved stem, on which light fluff is visible. It reaches a height of 30 centimeters; the leaf plates collected in a basal rosette are distinguished by their green color.

The bushes are almost 50 centimeters in diameter and consist of many lacy petals and flower stalks that germinate almost immediately as soon as the snow thaws.

The light fuzz on the buds disappears after they bloom. The flowering phase of the common lumbago begins in April and continues until the beginning of the summer season.Single buds reach 9 centimeters in diameter, they have fluff, and come in a variety of colors: white, purple, lilac, scarlet.

Medicinal properties

Thanks to its rich chemical composition, in particular the presence of saponin, tannins, protoanemonin, micro- and macroelements, lumbago has such medicinal properties as:

• antimicrobial;
• anti-inflammatory;
• sedative;
• diuretic;
• painkillers.

Preparations using sleep herbs are effective for depression, headaches, diseases of the stomach, gall bladder and liver, kidneys, bladder, as well as for hives, frostbite, and eczema.

Varieties of varieties and characteristic features

It is not for nothing that the lumbago flower is considered one of the most beautiful alpine plants. The leaf mass is mostly finely dissected, the flowers are quite large with soft pubescence on the outside. This cold-resistant perennial surprises with its variety of varieties and high decorative value.

Ordinary

The lumbago height reaches only 30 centimeters. Its flowers are distinguished by silvery-white pubescence. The leaf mass is rich green in color, almost 20 centimeters long, collected in a rosette. The flowers are painted white, light violet or purple, and they are up to 9 centimeters in diameter.

Grows best in well-drained and limed soils. There are specimens of lumbago with red flowers. Their blooming phase occurs in April. The plant can withstand temperature drops down to -23 degrees.

Spring

The height of the lumbago does not exceed 30 centimeters. It is not worth planting it on alkaline soil, otherwise it will often get sick. The diameter of the flowers is only 6 centimeters, they are colored white and purple.The best option for planting spring shoots is an open area. Bronze-golden pubescence gives even more originality to the plant.

The leaf blades are almost 12 centimeters long and their color is bright green. They are collected in a rosette. Spring lumbago is unpretentious and quite beautiful in appearance.

Multi-notch

The highly decorative lumbago is distinguished by blue-violet flowers that have the shape of wide-brimmed bells. After some time they become open-star-shaped. Flowering stage May-June. In nature, it is found on rocky slopes, gravelly tundras, meadows, and screes.

The plant is 12-30 centimeters in height. The diameter of the flowers is almost 4 centimeters. The lumbago has proven itself to be a hardy and frost-resistant planting.

Pink

The perennial attracts attention with pink bell-shaped flowers. Their diameter is 8 centimeters. Peduncle stems appear as soon as the snow thaws. The buds are quite fluffy, the leaf blades are dark green in color. It is recommended to grow lumbago in sunny meadows with calcareous, well-drained soil.

Red

The plant stands out for its bright red flowers with a diameter of 8 centimeters and large leaf mass. You can see the luxurious flowering of lumbago in early spring. The stems are 30 centimeters long and have strong pubescence.

The leaves grow feathery in shape. You should choose a site for planting it with a sufficient level of illumination and calcareous, loose soil.

Feathers

Semi-double flowers are 4-6 centimeters in diameter, they are collected in inflorescences, but they also come in single form. They are painted pink, red or white. They bloom in April-May in the second year of life.

The stems and dark green leaves have pubescence.It is grown in partial shade on fertile and well-drained soil.

Pulsatilla Spring Sensation

The unusual flowers of the variety consist of more than 20 oval-shaped petals. Their diameter is 5 centimeters. Colors include: pink, crimson-red, white. The height of the stems is 25 centimeters.

The leaf mass of the lumbago attracts attention with its delicacy and splendor. Grows best on sandy soil in partial shade.

Lugovoy

A distinctive feature of the plant is its drooping heads, the diameter of which is 5 centimeters. They are painted in pale lilac, dark red or greenish-yellow.

Narrow-leaved

A plant with erect stems begins to bloom in early spring - April-May, and the fruits ripen in May-June. Perennial lumbago has a powerful root system. The leaf plates are collected in a rosette and have a green color. The lumbago is decorated with light yellow flowers.

Albanian

The height of sleep grass is 5-18 centimeters, and during the fruiting period - 30 centimeters. The length of the basal leaves is 2.5-6 centimeters, they are oblong, pinnately dissected. The perennial is distinguished by yellow, bell-shaped flowers. Their blooming phase is observed in May-July.

Chinese

The height of the herbaceous plant is 7-25 centimeters, its massive rhizome has a cylindrical shape. Stems are erect. 4-5 root leaves are formed on densely felt petioles. The flowers are medium in size, erect, blue-violet or dark purple in color. Their blooming phase occurs in March-May.

Shooting in landscape design and floristry

Because of its original appearance, lumbago is especially valued by modern florists and gardeners. It is often used in flower arrangements.Sleep-grass is used for the spectacular design of rocky hills, gravel gardens, in combination with alpine plants. Windflower looks best against the backdrop of tall plantings.

What is required to grow a flower?

Despite the undemanding nature of the plant, proper planting and care allow you to grow a lush and beautiful decoration in your garden.

Climatic conditions

Lumbago takes root equally effectively in regions with a moderately humid climate and in drier places. The main thing for him is a sufficient amount of light.

The soil

For normal growth and development of sleep grass, the soil must be moderately nutritious. But you shouldn’t overdo it with organic fertilizers. Lime must be present in the soil for better rooting of the flower. To increase the air and moisture permeability of the soil, sand or gravel is added when digging.

Illumination

When choosing a place to plant lumbago, preference should be given to sunny meadows. It is possible to plant the plant in partial shade under tall plantings.

Desirable and Undesirable Neighbors

It is recommended to plant lumbago near crocuses, scylla, and pushkinias. It also grows well together with primroses, gentian, heuchera, saxifrage, and armeria. To avoid cross-pollination, you should not place different colors of sleep grass next to each other.

Planting a plant in open ground

When planting flowers in open areas, you need to know both the timing of the work and the technology.

Site selection

It is recommended to plant lumbago on the south side of the garden plot. The place should be well lit, protected from draft winds and with close groundwater.

Deadlines

Sowing of seed material is done in late April to mid-May.It must be collected 4-5 weeks after the end of the flowering phase. It is recommended to lightly dry the seedlings and place them in the ground.

Planting technology

To achieve the desired result, you should adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

1. Form shallow grooves up to 1.5 centimeters in the prepared area.
2. Distribute the seeds at intervals of 20 centimeters.
3. Sprinkle with soil.
4. Moisturize.
5. Mulch with dry grass and straw.

Sowing in late autumn is ineffective; it is better to do it in the spring.

Cultivation care

It is not difficult to care for the lumbago, the main thing is to regularly water it, fertilize it and protect it from various kinds of problems and harmful insects.

Watering

Irrigation should occur as the top layer of soil dries. Overwatering can cause root rot.

Fertilizer and feeding of lumbago

In the spring, it is advisable to add lime and nitrogen in small doses twice a month. Twice in the summer it is advisable to fertilize with a potassium-phosphorus composition.

Diseases and pests: control and prevention

Against blackleg, the soil is treated with a fungicidal agent before sowing the seeds. It is good to fight rodents with Tornado, Testox, Amus. Slug Eater, Thunderstorm, helps against slugs.

Reproduction methods

You can propagate lumbago in two ways: vegetatively and with seeds.

Seeds

It is better to sow fresh seeds in the ground, then the germination rate will be higher. The plant will bloom in the second year. The seed grows at a temperature of +21-25 degrees. There is no need to make deep grooves; 1-1.5 centimeters is enough.

Cuttings

The vegetative method of propagation, unlike the seed method, requires a different approach. The recommended time for taking cuttings is spring, when the flowering stage ends, or in August.Before being buried in fertile soil, the wound surface is disinfected with ash.

Lumbago is an amazing and unpretentious plant with beautiful flowers. Thanks to the wide range of varieties, choosing the right one will not be difficult.

Even novice gardeners can grow dream grass. The main thing is to correctly decide on the location and adhere to the landing technology.