Description of types and varieties of loosestrife, planting and care in open ground

Loosestrife is a persistent, hardy and noble plant. It grows rapidly, opens its buds, delighting with beautiful flowering. If you want to decorate your garden or summer cottage with loosestrife, you need to familiarize yourself with the intricacies of planting and caring for perennials.

Description

Loosestrife is one of the herbaceous perennial plants of the Primrose family, which has 150 species. Some varieties of this culture are characterized by such common features as yellow flowers united in spike-shaped, corymbose inflorescences, powerful straight stems, simple, opposite leaves. But there are varieties that differ significantly.

Types and varieties

Common cultivated species and their best varieties.

Ordinary

Loosestrife is characterized by straight, pubescent shoots up to 1 m high, whorled, oval-shaped leaves, collected in 3-4 pieces. In June, complex pyramidal inflorescences containing small yellow flowers bloom.

Spot

Perennial loosestrife with straight, weakly branched shoots up to 80 cm in height. The foliage adheres tightly to the shoots. The flowers are small stars, collected in bunches, and are characterized by a golden color.

It fascinates with the beauty of its blooms from June to the last days of August. The best varieties of this variety are considered:

• Loosestrife Alexander (lysimachia);
• Golden Alexander.

coined

Perennial loosestrife, forming thin stems, 30-40 cm in length. The bushes are decorated with round leaves, light green in color, in the form of coins, growing in pairs on small petioles that are opposite each other. The frequent loosestrife flowers with five yellow petals that flaunt in the axils of the foliage attract attention.

Aurea

The perennial loosestrife Aurea is considered an ornamental plant with a recumbent stem up to 30 cm long.The oval-shaped leaves are on short petioles. The variety is prized for its single, axillary yellow flowers. It blooms in June for about 20 days.

Goldilocks

An ornamental variety with unusual greenery with a golden tint. The flowers of this variety have a rich yellow color.

Cletroform

Perennial loosestrife bushes up to 1.2 m in height. An interesting variety is its oval lanceolate leaves 15 cm long, which are placed alternately on straight shoots, and snow-white inflorescences with drooping tops. Blooms in July - August.

Purple

Purple loosestrife has straight stems up to 50 cm in height and paired broad-lanceolate purple foliage. The loose inflorescences consist of small yellow flowers with a lemon tint.

Loosestrife flowers bloom in August and are pleasing to the eye until the onset of the first frost.

Black-magenta

Perennial loosestrife, whose height varies from 45 to 90 cm, has spike-shaped inflorescences consisting of burgundy, almost black flowers, and green lanceolate leaves with a silver tint. Interesting corrugation along the edge of the leaf plate makes this type popular.

Blooms from July to August. The most common variety is Beaujolais.

Ciliated

Firecracker ciliated loosestrife has a straight, powerful stem and large, oval brown leaves. Flowers in the form of yellow bells are collected in dense inflorescences that are placed at the tops of the stem. Blooms in September.

Dubravny

The perennial loosestrife Dubravny has a non-branching stem that can rise 10-30 cm above the soil. It is valued for its large, wide leaves and yellow single flowers that bloom in May and bloom until July.

Ephemerum

Loosestrife is up to 1 m in height, quickly forming dense thickets.The stem is straight, the foliage is elongated-lanceolate, having a silver color. At the end of summer, five-petalled, white flowers with long stamens are formed, which are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences.

Racemotaceous

This variety of loosestrife is characterized by rapid growth, has straight, powerful stems up to 60 cm high, narrow, lanceolate leaves and fluffy inflorescences consisting of yellow flowers with protruding stamens. This is the only variety that blooms in the last ten days of May.

crowded-flowered

A spectacular loosestrife with stems up to 40 cm long, at the ends of which original yellow flowers with reddish strokes at the base of the petals bloom in abundance from May to September. The foliage is characterized by juiciness and rich green color.

Lily of the valley

This type of loosestrife is considered the most growing of all available, since it has branched roots, colored pink, similar to lily of the valley. That's why it got its name. A perennial with a straight, strong stem, up to 50 cm in height, and spike-shaped inflorescences consisting of snow-white flowers, the length of which is 20 cm.

It blooms in July for about 20 days. Well-known varieties include:

• Lady Jane;
• Geisha.

Alexander

The Alexander variety is characterized by unusual green foliage framed by a white border. The culture has a straight, slightly branched stem, the top of which is decorated with many star-shaped, bell-shaped yellow flowers. The flowering will delight you at the end of June.

Creeping

This type of loosestrife is characterized by a tetrahedral creeping, slightly branched stem that can grow up to 50 cm in length. Its bushes are decorated with round opposite leaves with short petioles. At the moment of flowering, it boasts golden bell-like flowers.

Whorled

Loosestrife bush from 30 cm to 1 m in height with an elongated root. It is distinguished by a straight stem, ovate-oblong leaves on long petioles, collected in a whorl. The leaf blade is softly pubescent on the underside. Regular flowers in whorled inflorescences, with pedicels noticeably lengthening at the time of fruiting.

Peculiarities

Due to its natural characteristics, loosestrife is able to grow on infertile soils. Even its inconspicuous appearance is enviably popular, and the secret is that it pleases with abundant, long-lasting flowering and requires virtually no care. The lower flowers bloom first, then the upper ones open; it blooms for about 30 days.

Growing in open ground

Growing the crop will not be difficult even for a beginner, since the plant takes root easily and quickly.

Selecting a location

To grow loosestrife, you need to choose a shady place with moist soil enriched with nutrients.

Soil requirements

If there is infertile soil, before planting, equip it with a complex of mineral fertilizers. The main condition is very moist, moist soil with good drainage. Do not plant the crop on clay soils.

Seed preparation

To grow healthy loosestrife bushes, you need to first prepare the planting material by carrying out stratification - hardening the seeds in the cold at temperatures of 8-10 degrees for 1-2 months.

Planting scheme

Planting loosestrife is carried out in the spring according to generally accepted rules and involves the following actions:

1. Take small boxes and fill them halfway with a mixture of peat and sand.
2. Sow the seeds, leaving a gap of 2-3 cm between the units.
3. Sprinkle 0.5-1 cm of soil mixture on top.
4. Cover the containers with glass and send them to a place where it is warm and light.
5. After 2 weeks, shoots form, the shelter must be removed immediately.
6. Dive when 2-3 true leaves are formed.
7. A week after picking, begin to harden the seedlings by taking them out into the fresh air for 2-3 hours.
8. Hardened seedlings can be planted in a flower bed. To do this, make holes, keeping a distance of 40-60 cm between them, then place them in the holes and, sprinkled with soil substrate, lightly compact them.
9. Moisten and loosen the soil.

In the fall, you can plant the crop using cuttings or shoots. The ideal time for landing is September.

Growth limiters

Loosestrife forms a powerful root system that tends to cover most of the territory. Therefore, to preserve the beauty of the flower garden, its growth will have to be regularly limited by removing excess shoots. You can also dig in limiters, which can be slate, brick, stone, buried 20 cm.

When cultivating a crop, it is imperative to prevent the spread of roots across areas.

Care

Loosestrife is unpretentious in care, since the crop grows and reproduces independently in an open-air flower bed. But in order for a perennial to sparkle with all sorts of colors, it is necessary to surround it with care and attention.

Watering

The perennial does not require abundant watering, since for planting sites preference should be given to areas fed by groundwater. The soil should be additionally moistened during the dry season.

Top dressing

Loosestrife does not need fertilizing; only if there is poor soil, it is recommended to use special fertilizers. Apply them between May and June, no more than once every 14 days.

Trimming

At the end of flowering, it is necessary to trim off the faded inflorescences of vertically growing specimens. Dried leaves and injured parts of the flower must also be removed. And in the fall, cut off the stems completely, leaving 2-3 cm, and sprinkle with compost.

Transfer

For full growth of loosestrife, it must be constantly replanted. Although it can grow in one place for 10 years, 2 years after planting it will grow and form many children. It is recommended to replant such a bush. It is recommended to carry out the event in spring and autumn, when the leaves have fallen.

Mulching

In spring, you can mulch around the bushes; this will retain moisture in the soil for a long time.

Wintering

The frost resistance of loosestrife allows it not to be covered for the winter. It easily tolerates wintering, which is why it does not require additional shelter.

Reproduction

Loosestrife is propagated by dividing the bush; it can also be propagated using cuttings or seeds.

Seeds

When propagating a crop with seeds, this should be done in late autumn by sowing in open ground - this way the planting material will be subjected to natural stratification.

You can sow in February - March, using containers filled with a soil mixture consisting of sand, peat, and garden soil. Send boxes with crops to a cold room for 30 days, then place them on a windowsill illuminated by the sun and create a temperature of +18-20 degrees. Then the seedlings need to be picked and planted in the garden at the beginning of June.

Vegetatively

Loosestrife can be propagated by dividing the bush and growing side shoots. It is better to perform this procedure in the spring. You can also cut the crop by using young shoots.

Diseases and pests

One of the positive aspects of this crop is its resistance to diseases and pests.

Weevil

Loosestrife can be attacked by weevils. The signal about their invasion will be eaten foliage. Also, beetle larvae undermine the roots. The insect is active at night, so it must be collected after the sun has set.

Aphid

Aphids can become a dangerous enemy for loosestrife. This is evidenced by the unhealthy appearance of the bushes. This insect must be combated with modern chemicals.

Caterpillar

Gluttonous, uninvited guests are caterpillars, which, if uncontrolled, can harm loosestrife bushes. They need to be combated using folk remedies or insecticides.

Usage

Thanks to its fascinating appearance and undemanding nature, the culture is popular in landscape design. And the ability to treat many diseases makes the plant a medicine that should be in every home medicine cabinet.

Landscape design

Due to its unpretentiousness, frost resistance, unusual beauty and adaptability, gardeners often give it preference when creating landscape design. It decorates buildings in the garden, gazebos, and small fences. Serves as a living decoration for fountains and artificial reservoirs.

ethnoscience

Loosestrife belongs to medicinal plants that are used in traditional medicine recipes, as well as for the preparation of cosmetics. To extract maximum benefits, you need to take into account existing contraindications.

Herbal infusion

To make an infusion, take 1 tsp. herbs and pour 250 ml of boiling water, set aside for 1 hour.Drink the medicine 50 ml per day for anemia, stomach diseases, arthritis.

Vitamin tea

To get healing tea, you need 1 tbsp. l. pour loosestrife into a glass of boiling water. Leave to infuse when the product has cooled, filter and drink 1 tbsp before meals. l. for liver diseases and gastrointestinal disorders. You can use the tea externally to gargle and as an antiseptic for wounds.

Decoction

A medicinal decoction can be made from the aerial parts or roots. Pour boiling water over 20 g of the crushed plant and keep in a water bath for 30 minutes, filter. Drink 1/3 cup 2-3 times a day for colds and stomach and intestinal disorders.

Combination with other plants

Loosestrife looks great next to shade-loving perennials under the canopy of trees. Creates a wonderful tandem together with a plant such as fern. Looks spectacular surrounded by phlox, sedge, and dwarf irises.

Answers on questions

Gardeners often ask these questions:

• How to prune loosestrife correctly? The plant needs to be pruned. The operation is carried out after flowering, removing dry branches, and for the winter, completely cutting off the bush at the root.
• Do you need to replant the crop? When growing, you should take into account the degree of growth of the plant; it is recommended to transplant young branches from the mother bush. If this is not done, the loosestrife will take over all the flower beds in the neighborhood and choke out other crops.
• How to deal with caterpillars? They pose a threat to loosestrife and caterpillars. To combat them, you can resort to mechanical methods: remove damaged parts of the plant, dig up the soil near the bushes, destroy discovered nests with eggs and larvae.A folk remedy is also effective: treating the plant with an aqueous solution of liquid soap.

Growing loosestrife will be a pleasure, since its advantages in undemanding care, beautiful appearance and quick adaptation to various weather conditions have captivated many gardeners. And the mass of beneficial properties is of great interest to traditional medicine healers.

Reviews

Marina: “I planted loosestrife in the garden near an artificial pond. Its bushes look original and do not require special care. Bright flowers make me happy all summer long.”

Vladimir: “Only the lily-of-the-valley type of loosestrife caught my attention. His spectacular appearance won my heart. I don’t consider other varieties for growing on my plot.”