Armeria is a perennial shrub with a cap of bright flowers. Armeria flowers: types and varieties, planting and care
In many parts of the world you can find a delicate armeria - a plant with a cap of unusual bright inflorescences and a rosette of delicate needle-like leaves. This culture has long been loved by Russian flower growers: armeria is not only beautiful, but also easy to grow.
The cold and drought-resistant armeria perfectly tolerates the harsh winters of central Russia. Moreover, many types of armeria originally grew in Siberia, the Arctic and the mountainous regions of Mongolia. In addition, the vast majority of species are perennials, which means they do not require a debilitating annual transplant. And even though the plant does not have any medicinal properties and is not used in cooking, the unpretentiousness and beauty of this flower made it a welcome guest in many Russian gardens.
According to the botanical classification, armeria (lat. Armeria) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the lead family (lat. Plumbaginaceae). Its closest relatives, known in ornamental gardening, are guinea pig and goniolimon.
It is believed that the word "armeria" can be translated from ancient Celtic as "living near the sea." According to other sources, the name of a flowering plant is consonant with the French name of the Turkish carnation, which Armeria is a bit like. In English-speaking countries, the perennial has several nicknames: "girl's pillow", "economist" and "sea rose". As the name suggests, in Europe this flower often grows along the coasts.
Low bushes of armeria form extensive curtains and continuous flower carpets. It has a powerful, vertically downward root, neat narrow leaves, collected near the ground in lush rosettes, and elongated stems. Small flowers form rather large spherical inflorescences at the top of each stem, which makes the armeria shoots look a bit like green onion arrows.
Types and varieties of armeria
Armeria has a very high species diversity. Of the more than 90 species of this plant, at least 15 are used in cultural floriculture. The most popular are the following:
Armeria maritime(lat. Armeria maritima). Perhaps the most common garden species. As the name suggests, this flower usually grows on the sea coasts. It differs in the compact structure of the bush, reaching a height of no more than 20 cm. Narrow leaves form a dense basal rosette, and ball-shaped inflorescences are located on long peduncles. Blooms from late May to July inclusive. Flowers, depending on the variety, are painted in a wide variety of shades:
- "Alba" (Alba) - snow-white flowers.
- "Düsseldorfer Stolz" (Pride of Düsseldorf) - bright pink flowers.
- "Splendens" (Brightness) - various tones of pink, from delicate to saturated.
- "Corsica" (Corsica) - salmon-colored inflorescences.
- "In the Red" (In red) - flowers of carmine tone.
A. "Alba", A. "Düsseldorfer Stolz", A. "Splendens" Armeria soddy(lat. Armeria juniperifolia). The second most popular variety, considered one of the most capricious: the plant is thermophilic, but it does not tolerate direct sunlight and an excess of moisture. Differs in small (no more than 15 cm in height) size and very lush and abundant flowering, lasting from July to August. The leaf rosette is painted in soft green, and the flowers collected in lush inflorescences are in various shades of pink or red. Popular varieties:
- "Alba" (Alba) - compact bushes with snow-white flowers.
- "Bevan's Variety" (Variety of Bevan) - bright pink inflorescences.
- "Brookside" (Brookside) - creamy pink petals.
- "Rubra" (Rubra) - salmon-pink flowers.
- "Beechwood" (Beechwood) - light cream inflorescences.
- "Brno" (Brno) - lavender inflorescences.
A. "Alba", A. "Bevan's Variety", A. "Brookside" Armeria alpine(lat. Armeria alpina). Low (up to 30 cm) bushes strewn with pale pink or salmon inflorescences on long pedicels. It blooms not very long - from late July to early August.
Pseudo-armeria or beautiful armeria(lat. Armeria pseudarmeria). Plants are taller (about 40 cm) and are distinguished by dense green foliage, collected in dense rosettes, as well as beautiful globular inflorescences on long shoots. The period of mass flowering is June, early July.
Armeria Siberian(lat. Armeria sibirica). Very frost-resistant and unpretentious. Inflorescences have a soft pink hue. The maximum height of peduncles is 30 cm, and the flowering time is from June to early August.
A. alpine, pseudoarmeria, A. sibirica Armeria prickly(lat. Armeria pungens). The foliage of this species has an unusual bluish color. The plants are quite tall (up to 30 cm), and the inflorescences are large. Petals are painted, as a rule, in various tones of pink.
Armeria Velvicha(lat. Armeria welwitschii). Distinctive features of the species are large sizes and elongated grayish-green leaves. It blooms almost all summer and early autumn.
Armeria berlenga(lat. Armeria berlengensis). Endemic to the Portuguese Berlenga archipelago. An elegant plant with elongated leaves and pale pink inflorescences on a long pedicel.
A. prickly, A. Velvicha, A. berlengskaya Armeria in landscape design
Neat, squat bushes of armeria are ideal for decorating alpine slides, rabatkas and rock gardens. The best company in such compositions will be creeping plants (periwinkle, yaskolka,). The flower is very often used to create flower borders along garden paths or bordering lawns.
Many gardeners have armeria next to, phlox or Carpathian bell. Such compositions look very authentic, reminiscent of a natural mountain landscape. You can also try to play in contrast and plant an armeria next to a decorative bow. Their spherical inflorescences will look very original together.
A more classic version is a mixborder in which the armeria grows in the front row, and behind it are taller plants with openwork foliage and delicate flowers. For such compositions, some varieties, hydrangeas or irises may be suitable.
Solid floral carpets from armeria also look very impressive. To create such flower beds, you can use varieties with flowers of different shades: pink, purple, salmon, white.
In addition, tall species of the plant, such as pseudoarmeria, are often used for cutting, while shorter ones are grown in containers and boxes.
Growing and caring for armeria
Among gardeners, armeria is considered a fairly unpretentious perennial, but there are still some subtleties in caring for a flowering plant. Particular attention should be paid to the acid-base balance of the substrate and the irrigation regime.
Location, soil
Under natural conditions, the flower usually grows in meadows, so try to find a warm, bright area for the armeria, but protected from direct sunlight. The east or south side of the garden is best suited for planting. In too dark places, the plant simply stops blooming, and its foliage becomes more faded. An exception to this rule is soddy armeria, it must be reliably protected from ultraviolet radiation.
The soil should be moderately moist and slightly acidified. If necessary, spill the ground with ammonium nitrate or a solution of acetic acid. Surprisingly, armeria feels great in sandy and rocky soil. The main condition for the soil is good drainage. The flower extremely poorly tolerates stagnant moisture at the roots. Therefore, in swampy gardens, armeria is planted on a hill or in a raised flower bed. If you have chosen an overseas army for your garden, try to find a humid place for it, preferably near a reservoir.
Watering, feeding
The first month after planting, the armeria is watered quite often. In the future, it will require much less water: an adult plant has enough of the moisture that it receives from precipitation. Therefore, watering is done only in hot weather, only as the soil dries. It is preferable to do this in the evening.
[!] After each watering, do not forget to loosen the ground to prevent stagnation of moisture at the roots.
Shortly before flowering, armeria is fertilized with any mineral complex. And in order for the plant to have enough strength to form buds throughout the summer, about once every 2-3 weeks, armeria give additional top dressing.
Trimming and shaping
In order to improve the decorative properties of armeria, it is necessary to regularly cut drooping flower stalks with secateurs, without waiting for them to dry. This will not only make the plant neater, but also allow new ovaries to develop faster.
Care after flowering, seed collection
The collected seeds are usually planted immediately before winter, but if desired, they can be stored in a dry, dark place. They will keep their viability for about 2-3 more years.
Wintering
Wild armeria can be found even in Eastern Siberia - it is a cold-resistant flower that does not require any special conditions for wintering. It will be enough just to cut off the dried flower stalks and throw more snow on the flower bed.
[!] The only exception is the soddy armeria, which cannot stand the cold. It winters in much the same way as roses: the bushes are covered with peat, spruce branches or greenhouse film.
Certain precautions will be required in regions where temperature drops are often observed and there are thaws every winter. A plant in such conditions can become covered with an ice crust or simply rot. To avoid this, cover the armeria with the same spruce branches or dry leaves.
Reproduction and planting of armeria
Armeria can be propagated by both sowing and vegetative methods.
seedling method
Seeds are sown at the very end of winter. It is recommended to place them in the refrigerator for a week beforehand. Thanks to this, the seedlings will be hardened and hardy. And shortly before planting, the seed is soaked in warm water for about 5-7 hours.
The ideal soil for seedlings is prepared as follows: 2 parts of soddy soil are mixed with the same amount of sand and a little sawdust is added. Sand will provide the necessary circulation of moisture, and thanks to sawdust, the soil will remain loose and breathable.
Since the germination percentage of this plant is very high, it would be more appropriate to plant one seed per individual cup. And if you decide to use containers, make sure that plantings are not too frequent. Seeds are sown to a depth of no more than 0.5 cm, and then lightly sprinkled with earth. After that, the containers are exposed to a warm, bright place. The ideal temperature for seed germination is around +18°C.
You can cover the containers with plastic wrap, but do not forget to raise the shelter from time to time to allow air to the seeds and get rid of condensation. Watering is recommended moderate, drip, it is produced as the soil dries. If all the necessary conditions are met, seedlings will appear within 2-3 weeks. After the seedlings acquire the first pair of true leaves, they dive into the greenhouse.
In the second half of May, when the danger of spring frosts has passed, seedlings can be planted in open ground. The site is dug up in advance, loosened and weeded, and organic fertilizers are applied to the soil. The distance between the planting pits can be from 15 to 40 cm, depending on whether you want a solid flower meadow or a few single bushes. At the bottom of the holes, lay some sawdust, hay and rotted needles. This mixture will provide plants with useful substances and will not allow moisture to stagnate in the soil.
Seedlings are placed in the pits along with an earthen clod. When planting, do not deepen the root neck of the plant; the rosette of leaves should in no case be covered. Then fill the hole with soil and lightly tamp. After planting, water the armeria.
Since the armeria will gain strength all the first summer, flowers with the sowing method of reproduction will appear only in the second year of the plant's life.
Sowing in open ground
In regions with severe winters, armeria is usually sown in the fall so that the seeds go through a natural cold stratification. Keep in mind that seedlings hatched in spring will look like ordinary weeds, so weed the flower bed very carefully.
Winter sowing is not suitable for areas with a mild climate: seeds can germinate as early as November and die from the cold. Therefore, armeria is traditionally sown here - in March. The site is prepared in the same way as for seedlings, with one exception: organic matter, which in the first case is laid at the bottom of the planting pits, this time is simply added to the soil before digging.
Sowing is done immediately to a permanent place of growth; the flower does not need further transplants over the next three years.
Division of the rhizome
Once every 3-4 years, the armeria must be divided, otherwise its roots will be subject to numerous fungal diseases, and the aerial part will grow, stretch and lose its decorative effect.
The easiest way to breed armeria. You can cut the shoots throughout the summer, it is best to use young basal rosettes for these purposes, which will constantly form on the mother bush. In the heat, the stalk is enough to simply stick into the ground. And if the weather is cold, cover the shoots with banks or plant them in a greenhouse. If you carried out the procedure in the spring, then by the end of the first summer you will be able to admire the flowering of your cuttings.
Pests and diseases
Armeria is resistant to most diseases and is not particularly interested in insect pests. Occasionally, aphids can disturb a flower, in which case an infusion of tomato leaves or tobacco will help you.
Sometimes a flower growing in too alkaline soils becomes ill with spotting. This means that the soil needs to be urgently acidified, and the plant itself needs to be cut off.
In some cases, armeria suffers from root rot. The appearance of the disease suggests that you overdo it with watering or did not take care of the drainage. In this case, the bush is dug up, and the affected part of the root is cut off, after which the plant is transplanted to a new place.
Armeria is ideal for beginner gardeners. It is unpretentious and easily takes root in any conditions. With proper care, armeria will delight you with its flowering from May to September.
Thrift(Armeria) is a pretty perennial flower that, with proper care, can be an excellent decoration for an alpine slide.
His little linear leaves grow from a basal rosette and form a fairly dense cushion, from which tall flower stalks later appear, and on them there are large bright flowers that look like carnations.
Only attention, love and care can ensure the lush flowering of armeria and its bright unusual colors: silver, green or pink-red.
Species and varieties
Armeria Primorskaya(Armeria maritima) grows on the coast of North America and northwestern Europe. It reaches a height of 20 cm. It has flat, narrow, linear leaves with blunt tips. Inflorescences are pink-lilac with membranous bracts. Most of the varieties are derived from this type of armeria: snow-white Alba, dark pink Lauchana, fluffy RoseaCompacta, red Bloodstone, carmine SolendensPerfecta.
Armeria Alpine(Armeria alpina) - graceful, tiny, up to 10 cm tall and up to 30 cm in diameter with an ideal rosette shape with a thousand narrow lanceolate leaves, most of which remain green in winter. The flowers are small, collected in heads up to 3 cm in diameter on high (up to 30 cm) peduncles. Varieties: pink Rosea, white Alba, dark pink Lauchana.
Armeria the Beautiful(Armeria formosa) is a plant that looks defenseless and fragile. It has small rosettes of evergreen thin leaves, whimsically curved and drooping. Peduncles are rigid, erect, inflorescences are small - up to 5 cm. It blooms for more than 5 months a year and retains its decorative effect throughout the season.
Location and growing conditions
Armeria very fond of the sun, able to withstand drought. They cannot bloom in shading - they stretch out, lose the brightness of the color of the leaves. These flowers seem to be specially created by nature to decorate the slopes, constantly illuminated by bright sunlight. Therefore, it is better to plant armeria in the southern part of the garden, in open areas.
There is one exception- whimsical and intolerant of ultraviolet radiation soddy armeria, which needs good daylight and shelter for the winter, excluding the ingress of snow and moisture.
The soil for armeria it should be light, loose, sufficiently moist, with a slight acid reaction. Since this plant categorically does not tolerate lime, the soil must be acidified before planting by any of the available methods (nitric, otophosphoric, sulfuric acid, etc.)
Landing
Landing armeria- the process is simple. The soil must be well loosened and organic matter added a couple of weeks before planting. The method depends on what you want to get - a solo plant or a dense picturesque carpet.
For soloists armeria landed at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other and from neighboring plants.
For this they dig shallow pits, install seedlings or delenki in them so that the sockets are at some distance from the ground, then fall asleep, tamp and water.
For carpet installation plants are planted densely (up to 20 cm) in continuous trenches using the same technology. In the first 7-10 days, seedlings need to be watered regularly, but without excess moisture and waterlogging of the soil.
reproduction
Armeria breed freshly harvested seeds, cuttings or dividing the bush.
Sowing produce in open ground before winter or early spring, and for seedlings - in February - March. Sow shallowly and sparsely, covering only 0.5 cm with soil and providing regular watering.
While the seedlings do not reach a height of 5-6 cm, they are grown in containers in a bright place, then dive into a greenhouse or greenhouse.
To a permanent place young specimens can be identified only after the appearance of strong leaves. Plants grown from seedlings will bloom for 2 years, and sown in November or March - in the same year in the fall.
Armeria Ability propagate by self-sowing can be successfully used in the design of alpine slides. Cuttings are cut almost the whole year (except for winter), but they are cut not with shoots, but with small daughter rosettes of adult plants.
Wintering
Armeria they love warmth very much, but they also tolerate cold winters well (with the exception of the armeria already mentioned by us, which must be covered in the same way as roses - with agrofiber or several layers of spruce or pine spruce branches).
All other varieties dont need in warming in the conditions of the middle zone of the former CIS with its long and snowy winters.
If you live in areas with large winter temperature fluctuations and a lack of snow, then it is better to cover the armeria branches.
Unfortunately, in this case you will not be able to admire in winter the bright green rosettes of leaves that retain their attractiveness all year round.
Some features of care
Armeria grow and develop best if the soil near the root is slightly moist, so during periods of drought they need to be watered systematically.
Trim the buds need immediately after flowering, this will help to stimulate another re-blooming in the fall. The more carefully you cut off each inflorescence after withering, the longer the flowering will be.
Armeria is unpretentious, hardy and feels great without top dressing.
And yet, care and attentive care for it will provide more lush and beautiful flowering. Fertilizers are applied during the budding period and 2 more times during the summer.
Remember the more different the soil on the site from sandy loam ideal for armeria, the greater the need for top dressing.
Important about armeria
Armeria needs rejuvenation every 5-6 years. This procedure is very simple:
- carefully dig out the flower;
- divide the rhizome into several parts;
- plant in sunny areas in the garden (necessarily in new places).
disembarkation should be done in the fall, after flowering. Armeria has an excellent ability to root quickly, so you can safely divide the bush into small parts with just a few leaves.
Diseases and pests
Diseases and garden pests almost do not affect armeria. The only exception- in winter, during dormancy on insufficiently acidic soil and with an excess of moisture, plants can be affected by aphids and spotting. The best way to deal with this problem is cardinal pruning.
And for the curious, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the video about armeria
Armeria is one of the most beautiful and delicate flowers that can please the gardener's eye for more than one year. Its name can be translated from Celtic as "close to the sea". And this is not surprising, because the most common type of army is seaside. Another version of the origin of the name of this plant says that translated from French "armories" is one of the varieties of cloves that has an external resemblance to armeria.
So, if an armeria has settled in your garden, the cultivation, care, reproduction of this flower and its features should be well known to you.
Appearance
Reaches a height of up to 50 centimeters. Has a small root. The stem is straight, may be smooth or pubescent. The flowers are small, collected in rosettes, their shades vary from white to purple, collected in inflorescences. Form round spherical "pillows". Due to its low growth and brightness, it can act as a site if the landing is tight enough. Looks good in the neighborhood with creeping plants.
Armeria blooms in May - August. There are more than 60 species of this plant, the most common are soddy, alpine, prickly and seaside.
Growing from seed
A well-groomed armeria can become a decoration of any garden. Planting and care, cultivation features should be studied by the gardener before he decides to acquire a flowering beauty. For those who do not want to buy ready-made seedlings, it is possible to grow armeria from seeds on their own.
Seed propagation can be carried out by seedling and non-seedling methods. Seeds are planted in open ground before winter or early March. If it is planned to grow seedlings in greenhouses, then the sowing of seeds takes place at the end of February.
Flower seeds are planted in wooden or plastic containers. Keep in a dry warm place. After the seeds have sprouted a little, they are covered with a film or gauze, creating And only after that the sprouts can be transplanted into open ground.
Reproduction of armeria is carried out by seeds or division, divided in spring or early autumn, put in water and waiting for sprouts to appear, and then planted in the ground. Each bush is best divided into small parts that can easily and quickly take root.
Landing features
What kind of soil does armeria love? Planting and caring for this flower should be done in areas with moist, light, not very alkaline soil. The place should be chosen open and sunny, only a slight dimming is possible. The soil should be kept loose and moist all the time, it is better if it is sandy and rocky areas.
Some types of plants require soil rich in calcium. During the preparation of the site for planting armeria, great attention is paid to drainage, since the flower does not tolerate accumulation of moisture at the roots.
Armeria plant is considered unpretentious. Cultivation and care for it can be carried out both during periods of drought and in frost. However, despite this, in hot, dry weather, the flower must be watered regularly.
What else can the armeria demand? Planting and caring for a flower also includes fertilization. Top dressing is carried out before flowering. During the season, organic and applied about 2-3 times. Much attention must be paid to top dressing if the armeria grows on peat, clay and loamy soils.
plant care
If there is an armeria on your site, planting and caring for it will not take much effort and time, since this flower is quite unpretentious. In order for the plant to distribute all its forces to the formation of new buds and please with long flowering, it is necessary to remove wilted flowers in time, as well as flower stalks, on which new buds will no longer form.
When the armeria reaches the age of five, it must be dug up, divided into several small parts and seated. In the future, this procedure must be carried out every 2-3 years, otherwise the plant will grow.
Since armeria is frost-resistant, no special shelter is required for the winter. But the plant does not tolerate winters with little snow, ice crusts, long wet periods. Therefore, it would be right to plant a flower on the hills, and in snowless winters cover it with leaves or spruce paws.
There is an opinion that armeria should not be grown in one place for more than 7-8 years. So after this period, it is better to transplant the plant.
Armeria: planting and care in the open field
Plant seeds are planted in open ground in late autumn or early spring. Top lightly sprinkled with earth. It is very important to keep the beds constantly moist, but you need to water very carefully so as not to wash the seeds and bury them far into the soil. Before sowing, the seeds are kept in the refrigerator for about a week. After that, they are soaked in water for 6-7 hours, and then planted.
If planting in open ground is carried out not with seeds, but with seedlings, then armeria are placed at a distance of 20 centimeters from each other to create a dense flower carpet. Landing is done in rows, in shallow trenches.
In the first weeks after planting, regular plentiful watering is necessary. However, waterlogging of the soil should be avoided.
Armeria are used for planting in borders, rockeries, in crevices of walls and between slabs of paths.
Diseases and pests
Armeria is not at all afraid of diseases or pests. Planting and caring for it only on acidic soils with stagnant moisture in winter can cause the flower to become weak and vulnerable to aphids. Fighting this pest is a complete pruning of the plant. Preventive treatment of the flower in early spring also helps well.
Armeria maritime
A surprisingly beautiful view is the seaside armeria. Planting and caring for it do not require knowledge of special agrotechnical rules. This plant is quite unpretentious and frost-resistant. Under natural conditions, it grows in Europe and North America on sea dunes and coasts. The height does not exceed 20 centimeters, the flowers are pinkish-purple. Flowering continues almost all summer.
So, there are many varieties of armeria. All of them are distinguished by their unpretentious disposition, resistance to various weather conditions. The plant has perfectly taken root in our climate and is able to bloom throughout the summer, it perfectly coexists with other flowers. With minimal care, these delicate flowers will serve as a real decoration of any garden and delight you for years.
Armeria flower - description
The armeria plant reaches a height of 15 to 60 cm. It has a short stem rhizome, and numerous linear-lanceolate sessile whole-leaf leaves, collected in a basal rosette, form dense curtains - pillows. The stem is straight, smooth or pubescent. Small flowers of white, pink, purple flowers and their shades are collected in capitate inflorescences. The fruit is single-seeded. The flowering of armeria begins in May and ends at the end of summer. The most popular species in culture is the seaside armeria (Armeria maritima). The cultivation of coastal armeria is carried out in the same way as the cultivation of any other type of armeria, the only difference is that it is preferable for coastal armeria to grow near a reservoir.
Growing armeria from seeds
Sowing armeria.
Seed propagation of armeria is carried out both in seedlings and in seedlings. Armeria seeds are sown in open ground at the end of autumn (so that they undergo natural stratification during the winter) or in spring, at the beginning of March. Armeria seeds are sown for seedlings in greenhouses in late February or early March. In addition, armeria reproduces well by self-sowing. Wherever you sow the seeds of armeria - immediately into the ground or into a container for seedlings - close them up shallowly, sprinkling half a centimeter of earth on top. Seed germination is high.
Seedling of army.
If you want to get friendly shoots, keep the seeds of armeria for a week in the refrigerator, and just before sowing, soak them for 6-8 hours in warm water. Armeria seeds sown in boxes and lightly sprinkled with soil are kept in a warm, bright place. When the seedlings reach a height of several centimeters and they have a pair of true leaves, the seedlings dive into greenhouses and grow until they get stronger.
Planting armeria in open ground
When to plant armeria.
As soon as you make sure that the leaves of the armeria in the greenhouse have become strong and strong, and the frosts have completely receded, you can start transplanting seedlings into open ground. Determine for the armeria the warmest and sunniest site with a light, slightly moist, sour soil - sandy or rocky soils are most suitable. If the soil is lime, try to fix it before planting, as the armeria does not tolerate lime. To neutralize, add ammonium nitrate to the soil for digging or spill the area with a solution of acetic acid.
How to plant armeria.
Two weeks before planting, thoroughly loosen the soil in the area and apply organic fertilizer. If you decide to grow armeria as solo plants, they are planted in holes at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other and from other plants, setting the seedling in such a way that the rosette of leaves is not lowered into the ground and the root collar is not deep. The holes are covered with earth, the soil is tamped around the seedlings and the planting is watered. If you want the armeria to grow in a continuous carpet, then you need to plant seedlings densely so that there is a distance of no more than 15-20 cm between specimens, and not in holes, but in shallow trenches. For the first three weeks, try to water the armeria often, but let the soil dry out between waterings. Armeria from seeds usually blooms the next year after planting. Seaside Armeria is grown from seeds according to the same rules as any other species.
Armeria - care
How to grow armeria.
Caring for an army is not difficult. Before it blooms, apply a full mineral fertilizer to the soil as top dressing, and then repeat the top dressing one more time or two. Remove wilted flowers in time and cut flower stalks that will no longer have flowers so that the plant directs all its strength to the formation of new buds. If the summer turns out to be dry, water the armeria, but try not to overdo it with moisture. When the plant reaches the age of five, it must be dug up, divided into parts and planted, and then do this every 2-3 years, otherwise the armeria will grow. This is how armeria is planted and cared for. Everything is simple.
Pests and diseases of armeria.
Armeria is not afraid of either diseases or pests, but if it grows in insufficiently acidic soil, problems with aphids or spotting may arise, which are best dealt with by radical pruning of the shoots.
Armeria after flowering
How and when to collect armeria seeds.
Perennial army in winter.
Armeria is a frost-resistant plant and may well overwinter without shelter, especially if there is a lot of snow in winter. The only exception is the soddy armeria, which must be covered. Dry peat, spruce branches and non-woven materials are used for shelter. If, according to forecasts, winter is expected to be snowless, it is better to cover other types of armeria with spruce branches: they will be warm and calm.
Types and varieties of armeria
About ten types of armeria have become widespread in culture. They are used in group plantings, discounts, rock gardens, rocky gardens, and also as colored borders.
Armeria alpine (Armeria alpina)
- a perennial plant that forms dense cushions up to 30 cm in diameter and about 15 cm in height. Many of the linear-lanceolate leaves endure winter. The flowers are light pink, collected in axillary capitate inflorescences up to three centimeters in diameter. Peduncles up to 30 cm tall. Blooms for three to four weeks from June. Varieties:
- - "Alba" - white armeria;
- - "Laucheana" - armeria with carmine-red flowers;
- - "Rosea" - a variety with bright pink flowers.
Pseudoarmeria, or beautiful armeria (Armeria pseudarmeria)
- a plant reaching a height of 40 cm with rosettes of evergreen leaves and inflorescences of white or pink flowers. Blooms from early to late summer. Varieties:
- - "Joystick White" - a variety with white spherical inflorescences, can be grown as an annual;
- - "Thrift" - a low-growing variety with a height of only 20 cm;
- - "Red Planet" - a perennial with red balls of inflorescences on peduncles up to 35 cm tall;
- - "Bees Ruby" - bright pink armeria up to 60 cm tall.
Seaside armeria (Armeria maritima)
grows naturally on sea coasts. Its height is not more than 20 cm, the diameter of the outlet is the same. The leaves are narrow, linear, flat, blue-green. The flowers in capitate inflorescences are pink-lilac, covered with filmy bracts. Blooms in May and fades after about seventy days. Sometimes re-blooms in autumn. Varieties:
- - armeria louisiana - a variety of seaside armeria with pink flowers;
- - "Dusseldorf Stolz" - a variety with dark red flowers;
- - "Vindictive" - red armeria;
- - "Bloodstone" - dark red army.
Soddy armeria, or juniper leaf armeria (Armeria juniperifolia = Armeria cespitosa)
comes from the highlands of Spain and Portugal, it is a perennial up to 15 cm high with narrow linear leaves collected in a rosette up to 20 cm in diameter. Red or pink flowers in capitate inflorescences are framed by membranous bracts, peduncles up to 6 cm tall. The flowering is so plentiful that sometimes because of the flowers with bracts, the leaves of the armeria are not visible. Blooms for forty to fifty days from July. Does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the roots. A hybrid of soddy armeria and seaside armeria called Zunderman's armeria is popular. Varieties of armeria soddy:
- - "Brno" - undersized variety with purple double flowers;
- - "Bevanz Variety" - double flowers, pale pink.
Armeria welwitschii (Armeria welwitschii)
- one of the tallest types of armeria - up to 35 cm in height. The leaves are large, reach a length of 10, and a width of 5 cm. Pink flowers up to 2 cm in diameter make up a capitate inflorescence. Flowering is plentiful and long from June to the beginning of winter. This species requires calcium-enriched soil.
Armeria ordinary, garden (Armeria vulgaris)
grows up to 60 cm in height, linear entire leaves reach 12.5 cm in length and 1 cm in width. Bare peduncles are crowned with capitate inflorescences of carmine-pink fragrant flowers, which can be up to 40 on one plant.
Armeria beautiful (Armeria formosa)
forms compact rosettes of narrow-linear evergreen leaves. Stems are rigid, rounded, erect. Inflorescences up to 5 cm in diameter, white, red or pink, bloom profusely until October.
In addition to the listed types of armeria, Japanese, Siberian, prickly, onion-shaped, arctic and others are also known.
Armeria (Armeria) is a perennial ornamental flowering plant, widespread in Europe, America, Siberia and even the highlands of the Arctic. It is a bush with a strong tap root system, long linear leaves (about 10 cm), which are collected in one dense rosette in the form of a pillow. Inflorescences with a diameter of 2 to 5 cm on thin pubescent peduncles, surrounded by membranous dry bracts. The flowers in inflorescences are small in white, pink and purple shades. It grows in natural conditions in America, Europe, Siberia and the Far East (pictured).
Origin: Europe, America, Siberia.
Flowering: every year from May to September.
Height: undersized.
Light: well lit place without direct sunlight.
Watering: required every evening in hot weather.
Top dressing: mineral fertilizers in early spring.
Transplantation: better in autumn.
Reproduction: cuttings, dividing the bush, seeds.
Kinds
There are two versions of the origin of the word "armeria". According to one of them, the name came from the Celtic language: "ar" means "about", and "mor" - "sea". According to another version, from the French name of the carnation "armoires", which is similar to armeria.
Armeria has more than 90 species. The color of the flowers is usually pink. The duration of flowering is from May to September, which is what makes it attractive to designers who use armeria to decorate alpine slides and simply for landscaping areas (pictured).
The most common types of armeria are: alpine, soddy, seaside, Anna Maria.
- Armeria alpine. Armeria alpina.
A low flower with narrow long leaves, in the shape of a sword, which are collected in a dense rosette with a diameter of 20-30 cm. It blooms in June-July with light pink flowers. For more than 250 years, it has been grown in gardens and alpine hills. The most popular varieties:
- "Alba" - white flowers;
- "Rosea" - carmine-pink flowers;
- "Laucheana" - flowers are carmine red.
In nature, it grows in alpine meadows.
Armeria seaside (brilliant). Armeria maritima.
It is mainly found growing wild on the shores of the seas in North-Western Europe and North America. Perennial, reaching no more than 20 cm in length and 15 cm in width. It has thin, xiphoid leaves, greenish in color. The inflorescences are shaped like heads. Peduncles high reach 20 cm, lush (pictured). Flowering begins in May and lasts for 2-2.5 months, autumn flowering is rarely observed.
Armeria seaside white.
The most popular varieties among gardeners:
Cotton Tail - white flowers;
Rosea Compacta - pink flowers;
Vindictive - red flowers;
Rubrifolia with reddish leaves.
- Armeria Louisiana (beautiful)
This species has the largest flowers up to 4 cm in diameter (hence the name), flowering begins in June and lasts until the end of summer. A plant up to 20 cm high, tolerates winter well, but does not tolerate dampness and waterlogging.
- Armeria Siberian - A. Sibirica.
It originates from the mountainous regions of Siberia and Mongolia.
Herbaceous perennial shrub with small pinkish flowers, tall stems. Flowering lasts approximately 40 days from June. hallmark is that it is this species that bears fruit.
- Armeria soddy (armeria juniper leaf). Armeria juniperifolia.
The homeland of this type of armeria is considered to be the regions of Spain and Portugal, which are located high in the mountains. Perennial, which forms a tight cushion, reaching 5-15 cm in height and 20 cm in diameter. The elongated sheets create a rosette. Head-shaped peduncles usually have scarlet or pinkish flowers that bloom so profusely that they can completely cover the green rosettes (pictured). Peduncles are small, reach 5-6 cm tall. Flowering begins in July and lasts for 1.5-2 months. Faded inflorescences, as a rule, fall apart from the middle. It easily tolerates winter, but this requires good drainage. Like all other varieties, stagnant water harms.
Armeria soddy -Armeria juniperifolia
Armeria Anna Maria. (Armeria formosa)
Compact low plant, pink shades (pictured), flowering mainly in July, but rare flowers appear before frost.
- Armeria Velvicha - Armeria welwitschii.
It is the highest growing type of armeria. The leaves are quite large, reaching up to 10 cm in length and about 5 cm in width. The flowers are usually pink, small up to 2 cm in diameter. The stems reach 35 cm. As a rule, there are a lot of flowers, the flowering time is from the first month of summer to the first frost.
- Armeria arctic - Armeria arctica.
As a rule, it can be found in areas with rocky soil in the Arctic, Siberia and the Far East.
Herbaceous perennial with a root system growing vertically, thin sword-shaped leaves. Near the beginning of the shoots, the leaves are twisted. The small flowers create a tight, globular head that resembles an onion inflorescence. Under the inflorescence there are bracts, slightly dried. The inflorescences are small in diameter, about 2-2.5 cm. There are about a dozen peduncles that reach about 20 cm. Flowering usually continues during the first summer months, seeds ripen in early autumn.
- Armeria prickly - Armeria pungens.
A rather high type of armeria - reaches about 30 cm in height. Up to 15 small rosettes are usually collected in one bush. The leaves are not very long with a bluish tinge. The best way to propagate this species is to divide the bush.
- Armeria bulbous - Armeria alliacea.
Homeland are the highlands of Europe.
Evergreen, herbaceous perennial shrub. Sufficiently tall, about 0.5 m tall. It blooms with flowers of pink shades, starting from May and ending in July. You can find white bouquets.
- Armeria beautiful - A. formosa (Armeria pseudarmeria ‘Formosa’)
The bush is low 13-19 cm. The leaves are evergreen. The stems are straight, fairly rigid, rounded. Abundant flowering begins in June, but a small number of flowers can be observed in October. This species has inflorescences of various shades from white to scarlet. Beautiful and long flowering, frost resistance make the beautiful armeria the most suitable and in demand in the design of rocky gardens and plots.
Elegant bush of blooming armeria
Care and cultivation
Armeria is a beautiful and unpretentious flower, but you still need to take care of this plant. First of all, for the cultivation of armeria, a light composition of the soil, moderate moisture and acidity is necessary.
In too warm and dry summers, armeria should be watered, preferably in the evening, but it is important to prevent waterlogging of the soil and stagnant water. This can lead to rotting and death of the roots.
To prolong the flowering of the bush in the spring, cut off the faded flower stalks, without waiting until they dry out. To stimulate autumn flowering, the plant should be pruned after flowering.
In order to achieve long and lush flowering, armeria should be fed with mineral fertilizers. This must be done before laying the flower stalks. But you need to pay attention to the fact that even without additional feeding, the armeria will delight you with flowers.
Once every 5 years, the armeria should be rejuvenated, because during this time the bush grows strongly. The rejuvenation of the bush is carried out by dividing it into several small plants.
If armeria bushes are planted in the right place, then pests and fungal diseases rarely affect them. If this still happened, then the problem is solved by cardinal pruning of the plant. After that, this issue should be resolved.
Although Armeria is thermophilic, it usually endures winter very well. If there is a lot of snow in winter, then you should not additionally cover the plant. But in case of too little snow cover, armeria should be covered with fallen leaves and needles.
It is also important not to allow the bushes to be under the ice crust, otherwise the roots may rot, which will lead to the inevitable death of your plant.
Armeria flowers are indispensable in landscape design, because they are very beautiful (as in the photo), bloom for a long time, are not picky and do not require special care.
A mixture of different types and colors of armeria looks especially good in the design of alpine slides.
Reproduction and planting
Armeria reproduces in several ways:
The division of the bush - is carried out in early spring or early autumn, and also possible immediately after flowering.
- You can divide those bushes that were planted at least three years ago. These bushes are divided into small parts, while removing rotten roots.
- Each part of the bush sits in a separate place.
Armeria is unpretentious, takes root without any problems. But still, autumn planting gives the best results, since these flowers tolerate wintering well.
Cuttings - can be carried out throughout the summer. For this, basal processes are used. In order for the rooting of the cuttings to go better, they need to be cut with a “heel”.
Growing from seed is a great way to propagate armeria.
- Seeds are sown in late February or early March.
- Before sowing, the seeds should be placed in the refrigerator for a week. After that, the seeds should be soaked in water for several hours.
- Seeds are sown to a depth of 0.5 cm. Seeds should not be sown too thickly, as the germination of seeds of armeria is usually good.
- After the leaves appear on the seedlings, the plants should be transplanted into a greenhouse, greenhouse (pictured) or into the ground, while covering with a film.
It should be noted that plants that are planted from seeds usually bloom only in the second year. It rarely blooms in the fall of the same year. You can use a mixture of seeds to get more variety.
Photo 4.
When planting armeria in a permanent place, you should choose a well-lit area, but avoid direct sunlight and stagnant moisture. Bushes should be planted at a distance of 35 cm from each other, in the case of planting in groups, this distance is reduced to 20 cm, and if carpet planting is provided, then the distance is reduced even more. Deep planting armeria bushes is not worth it.