Lavatera hatma (Lavatera): varieties and cultivation. Lavatera perennial (Hatma) - "Wild Rose": planting, care and cultivation

From our article you will learn a lot of interesting things about the Lavater flower: how to grow a crop from seeds, when to plant and how to care for it.

Lavatera is a bushy plant that blooms all summer. By selecting varieties of different colors, you can transform the flower garden, decorate the flower bed, give the lawn a well-groomed appearance.

Description

Lavatera belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is represented by only 25 species, among which there are herbs, shrubs and even trees.

The leaves of the plant are lobed, the flowers are solitary or collected in inflorescences. Breeders have bred varieties with the most diverse corolla colors - purple, yellow, pink, raspberry, white. They bloom in June and continue to bloom until the first frost in October.

Some types of lavater are perennial plants, they are covered for the winter. Annuals are planted annually in the spring using seeds or seedlings.

This is interesting: lavatera flowers do not lose their freshness after cutting for more than seven days.

Growing from seeds

In order to get seedlings, the seeds are planted in boxes with soil. They start doing it in March.

Sowing

Drainage is placed at the bottom of the boxes, filled with light soil from a flower shop and seeds are sown, deepening them by no more than 1 centimeter. The soil is moistened and covered with glass or oilcloth. Seedlings should appear in two weeks. The soil is moistened as needed.

picking

Seedlings dive when two pairs of true leaves appear. The root is pinched, leaving 2/3 of the length, and the bushes are planted in separate pots.

When the soil warms up enough, seedlings are planted in an open flower bed. In the southern regions, this is the end of April, the beginning of May, and in the northern regions, the end of May.

Seedling

In order for the seedlings to grow healthy and strong, they are placed on a well-lit window.

Use additional illumination, without it, plants can stretch out strongly and grow weak.

Landing dates

Lavater is planted in a flower bed in May, when persistent warming comes. To do this, use seedlings or seeds. A plant grown from seedlings blooms earlier and pleases with its flowering for a long time.

Step by step description of the process:

• the soil is dug up before planting, cleaned of weeds;
• make humus or compost (1 bucket per 1 square meter) and nitrophoska (50 g);
• seedlings are planted at a distance of 20 centimeters between the bushes, if the variety is tall, they establish a support for seedlings.

Planting seeds in open ground

Seeds in open ground planted in May. The procedure for preparing the soil is the same as when planting seedlings. Dry seeds are sown in furrows 1 cm deep, watered.

From above, the seeds are covered with earth mixed with humus in equal proportions, and covered with a transparent oilcloth. Seedlings appear after seven days. After another week, the film is removed, the seedlings are thinned out and spud.

flower care

Light-loving and drought-resistant plant will not tire you with complex care. For the entire growing season, the lavater needs to be fertilized only twice: before planting in a flower bed and before flowering begins. When the first buds appear, a bucket of water with sodium sulfate and potassium sulfate (1 tablespoon each) is added under each bush.

During flowering, faded buds are removed and the bushes are watered once every seven days in dry weather. Lavater does not need pruning and shaping a bush. Seeds are collected in autumn and perennials are prepared for frost.

Please note: lavatera does not like excess moisture, it tolerates drought more easily than waterlogging.

Diseases and pests

The plant is resistant to diseases, and is rarely affected. garden pests. Possesses strong immunity. Sometimes bushes can suffer from aphids or rust infestations.

When the leaves of aphids are affected, the bushes are treated with Akarin, Aktara, Aktellik or Biotlin. In case of severe rust infection, leaves or even whole plants are removed from the site and burned, the remaining ones are treated with Topaz or Bordeaux liquid.

Please note: for the prevention of diseases, it is recommended to plant a lavater every year in a new place.

After flowering

In autumn, when flowering ends, seed pods remain on the plant. Ripe seeds in them have a grayish-brown color. They are collected, dried indoors and stored in linen or paper bags.

When to collect seeds

Green seed pods gradually turn brown after the flower wilts. When the seeds from the ripened boxes, when pressed, easily spill onto the hand, they can be collected. Shelf life harvested seeds quite large - up to 5 years.

Please note: lavatera can grow next year on a self-sowing site, to prevent this, the seed pods are tied with gauze or removed before ripening.

perennial plant in winter

Before the onset of cold weather, perennial plants are removed from the support and bent to the ground, covering with spruce branches or other covering material.

Species and varieties with a description

Most often grown in middle lane use a three-month-old or Thuringian lavater. The first species is an annual, and the second is a perennial.

Lavatera trimestris

The height of plants of this species is from 20 centimeters to a meter. Flowers appear at the end of the stems, thanks to their abundance, the bushes look very elegant.

Lavatera trimestris

Popular varieties:

"Novella", bushes about 25 centimeters in height, have large pink flowers. Perfect for growing on loggias and balconies, as well as indoors with windows to the south.

"Ruby Queen", high bushes about 1 meter, flowers are red, large, up to 10 centimeters in diameter.

"Moonlight", tall plant, up to 1.2 m with silver-pink flowers, blooms all summer until frost.

"Bride", the height of the bushes is about 70 centimeters, the flowers are white, large.

Lavatera thuringiaca

A powerful plant up to two meters in height. Flowers different varieties represented by all shades of pink.

Lavatera thuringiaca

Popular varieties:

"I Catcher" has large flowers of rich pink color.

'Barnsley Baby' blooms with large pink and white flowers.

"Lilac Lady" has flowers of tender lilac color.

Reproduction methods

The plant is propagated by seeds or purchased seedlings. Seedlings are also grown independently from seeds in order to get flowering bushes as early as June.

Lavater does not propagate by cuttings. Seedlings, as well as seeds, are planted in open ground in late spring.

Growing a perennial lavater from seeds is as easy as growing an annual. Ripe seeds collected on the site in the fall remain viable for a long time.

Note: seedlings are planted in a flower bed when the air temperature is at least 15 degrees.

You will fall in love with the lavater for its beauty and unpretentiousness. And for those who are interested folk medicine, it will be interesting that the leaves of this plant are used to treat wounds and purulent boils, are used to make tinctures for coughs and headaches, and for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

These flowers are excellent honey plants, and bees are happy to use them to make honey.

How to care for lavater, see the following video:

Flowers lavatera (lat. Lavatera), or hatma, or wild Rose, belong to the genus of trees, shrubs and herbs of the Malvaceae family. The genus is not numerous, there are only about 25 species, growing mostly in Australia, East Asia and the Mediterranean. The Lavatera plant was named after the Lavater brothers, famous naturalists and doctors from Switzerland in the 17th century. IN garden culture the plant has been known since the 16th century, but it got into the trend about twenty years ago - then these tall beauties with bright and delicate flowers did not grow in a rare yard. Lavatera is just as popular in the garden today as it was two decades ago.

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Planting and caring for a lavater (in a nutshell)

• Landing: sowing seeds in the ground - at the end of April or early May: sowing seeds for seedlings - in early March, planting seedlings in the ground - from mid to late May.
• Lighting: bright sunlight.
• The soil: loose, light, well-drained, not too fertile.
• Watering: moderate, but in drought - regular and plentiful.
• Garter: tall varieties need to be tied to supports that are installed during planting.
• Top dressing: only when grown in very poor soils once every 4-8 weeks with a complex mineral fertilizer.
• Reproduction: seed.
• Pests: aphid.
• Diseases: rust.

Read more about growing lavatera below.

Lavater flower - description

Thanks to the ongoing work of breeders, today among the representatives of the Lavater genus there are many annual and perennial herbaceous plants reaching a height of 50 to 150 cm, with a well-developed root system, a powerful crown and strong branches. The leaves of most species are lobed, covered with hairs and arranged in the next order. The flowers are large - up to 10 cm in diameter, yellow, white, crimson, purple or pink, growing singly or in several pieces from the axils of the bracts and forming spicate or racemose terminal inflorescences, bloom in early summer and bloom until mid-autumn. They say that the lavatera flower is a plant for the lazy or for those who never have time, and to some extent this statement is true - the lavatera is unpretentious in care, undemanding to the soil, drought-resistant and not afraid strong wind. Lavatera flowers look fresh cut for more than a week.

Growing lavatery from seeds

Sowing lavatera

Lavater flowers are planted in open ground in regions with a warm climate in late April or early May. Before planting a lavater, in the ground for digging for one square meter bring in a bucket of compost or humus and 2 tablespoons of nitrophoska. Then the soil is leveled, grooves are made in it 1 cm deep, they are shed warm water and sow dry lavatera seeds, and then sprinkle them on top with a mixture of garden soil with humus in equal proportions, close up and immediately cover the crop with a transparent film. Lavater from seeds germinates, as a rule, in a week, and when the seedlings reach 5 cm in height, the shelter is removed, the seedlings are thinned out and the area is loosened with light hilling. If you were unable to contribute to garden soil fertilizers before sowing seeds, the first dressing in the form of a complex mineral fertilizer is applied after removing the covering material.

Lavatera seedlings

To achieve the most early flowering, there is a seedling method of growing lavatera. When to sow lavatera? If you plan to plant seedlings in open ground in May, planting lavatera on seedlings is carried out in early March. Before sowing the lavater, it is necessary to place drainage on the bottom of the seedling boxes, and on top - the soil purchased in the flower shop for seedlings. Then the soil should be poured with warm water and, deepening dry seeds literally one centimeter into it, cover the crops with glass or film and put in a bright place. Remove condensation from the glass and moisten the soil as needed. After two weeks, seedlings will appear, which may need additional illumination for successful growth - in case of insufficient illumination, the seedlings are too stretched and thinner. As soon as the seeds germinate, the glass can be removed. Lavater care before transplanting it into open ground will consist in periodically moistening the soil and turning the container with seedlings around its axis to achieve uniform seedling development.

Lavater pick

Growing Lavater flowers by seed does not involve picking seedlings - grown and strengthened seedlings are immediately planted in open ground.

Planting Lavater

When to plant lavatera

Landing lavater in the ground is carried out when the threat of frost has passed - from the end of April in areas with a warm climate and at the end of May in areas with cooler conditions. Lavater prefers a sunny location with light, loose, well-draining soil. If you are planning to plant a tall lavatera variety, you will need to install stem supports right away.

How to plant lavatera

To plant a lavater, use the 20x25 scheme - this distance between seedlings and rows will be enough for the plants to look compact when fully developed.

Lavatera - care

How to grow lavatera

Lavater care consists of watering the plant as needed. Lavatera is a drought-resistant plant, but still she needs to drink it too - in dry times once a week at the rate of 2-3 buckets per one big bush, and if the summer is not too hot, then it can be less often. Tie large, spreading shrubs to supports so they don't look messy. The soil near tall plants can only be loosened until the plants reach a meter height, because the superficial root system of the plants can be damaged. Remove wilted flowers in time, which become limp after rain, turning into a slimy mass that leaves burns on the leaves. As for fertilizers for lavater, the first time it is fed, as soon as it gets stronger after planting, with a solution of a tablespoon of nitrophoska and a tablespoon of urea in 10 liters of water, but this is only if you did not fertilize the soil before planting. If you dug up the soil with fertilizers, then the first top dressing can be skipped. The second time you will need to apply fertilizer at the very beginning of the bud formation process. Composition: one tablespoon of sodium sulfate and potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water is the norm for one large bush.

That, perhaps, is all the trouble with the lavater.

Pests and diseases of lavatera

As you have already seen, planting and caring for a lavater is within the power of even a beginner. The fight against pests and diseases will not exhaust you either, since the lavatera is extremely rarely affected by both. Sometimes there is an invasion garden plot aphids, then the lavater also gets it. You can get rid of this misfortune by treating plants with systemic preparations of actara, biotlin, or combined preparations of actellik or akarin.

Sometimes the lavatera suffers from rust infection, which appears brown, brown, or yellow spots from the underside of the leaves. It is necessary to remove all parts affected by the disease, and treat the plants with Bordeaux liquid, cuproxate or topaz. It is better to remove specimens that are heavily affected by rust from the site and burn them.

Lavater after flowering

How and when to collect lavatera seeds

After the flowers of the lavatera wither and fall off, green boxes with seeds are found in their place, which must be allowed to ripen. An indicator of seed maturity is a dried box that has changed color from green to brown. Open one of them: if the seeds are gray-brown and easily spill out of the box, you can start collecting them. This usually happens in early autumn. The boxes are carefully cut off, seeds are poured out of them onto paper, which are dried in a dry, ventilated room on a newspaper, and then stored in a paper bag or linen bag.

Annual lavatera in winter

The one-year-old lavater is to be disposed of, and the area from under it is to be digged. Keep in mind that lavatera reproduces by self-sowing, and next spring a flower bed may form in this place without your participation.

Perennial lavatera in winter

Perennial lavatera winters in the ground. It is necessary to bend its stems as low as possible to the ground, fix them in this position and cover with dry foliage, spruce branches or covering material.

Types and varieties of lavatera

Three types of lavatera are grown in culture: annual lavatera, which is represented by the three-month-old lavatera, perennial lavatera, represented by Thuringian lavatera, and two-year-old lavatera, the only representative of which is tree lavatera.

Lavatera three-month (Lavatera trimestris)

- an annual up to 120 cm high. The lower leaves are heart-shaped or rounded with teeth along the edges, the upper ones are three- or five-lobed. Flowers solitary, funnel-shaped, up to 10 cm in diameter, growing from leaf axils. The closer to the top of the plant, the thicker the flowers grow and the shorter the flower stalks. Five-lobed corolla carmine, white or pink. Cultivated since 1620. Blooms very profusely from July. Varieties:

• Silver Cap- pink lavatera with burgundy veins and a silvery sheen, up to 70 cm high;
• Mont Blanc- white flowers with dark veins 60 cm high;
• Lavatera Ruby Queen- a variety with powerful, branched stems up to one meter tall and with rich carmine flowers;
• Lavatera Pretty Woman- a mighty bush with large sparkling inflorescences of white, carmine or pink color;
• Lavatera Goddess of the Sun- a mixture of tall lavatera seeds. The height of the bush is 110 cm, beautiful dark green leaves, the diameter of the flower is 6 cm. Lavatera The goddess of the sun is represented by a wide palette of colors;
• Novella- pink low-growing lavatera up to 20 cm high, which can be grown in containers, but in the garden it grows to a more substantial size;
• White Sherub- undersized variety up to 35 cm tall with large flowers white color. Suitable for growing in containers and pots.

Lavatera thuringian, or dog rose (Lavatera thuringiaca)

- a powerful branched perennial up to two meters high with heart-shaped and rounded hard-pubescent leaves of gray-green color. The lower leaves are lobed, the upper leaves are entire. Single pink flowers up to 10 cm in diameter appear on long pedicels from the leaf axils. Varieties:

• Lilac Lady- lilac lavater;
• Ai Catcher- lavater with dense pink flowers;
• Burgundy Vine- pink flowers with dark purple veins;
• Barnsley Baby- a variety with delicate white-pink flowers;
• Bregon Springs- tall luxurious variety up to 130 cm in height with powerful strongly branched bushes with dense three-lobed leaves of gray-green color. It blooms profusely and for a long time with pink-lilac flowers with crimson veins. Drought tolerant, hibernates under light cover.

Tree Lavatera (Lavatera arborea)

- a two-year-old lavatera with a straight slender stem up to two meters high, oval leaves up to 20 cm long. Reddish-purple flowers with darker veins look like hibiscus flowers, and globular fruits that form in their place after flowering look like cheese heads. Blooms from early June to mid-September. There are variegated forms. Varieties:

• Rosea- lavater with spectacular pink flowers;
• candy floss- light pink lavender.

Lavatera seaside (Lavatera maritime, or Lavatera bicolor)

In warm regions, another type of lavatera grows - seaside lavatera. She received the second name for the two-tone color of the flowers - two shades of lilac. In height, the seaside lavater reaches one and a half meters.

Lavatera Cretica (Lavatera cretica)

Can be grown in our climate also Cretan lavater, herbaceous plant up to 1.8 m high with erect, branched felt-pubescent stems, the same fleecy rounded five-lobed or seven-lobed leaves up to 20 cm in length, with a heart-shaped base and a blunt apex and with small teeth along the edge. Her flowers are up to 3.5 cm in diameter, purple or lilac, collected 2-8 pieces in the axils of the leaves.

Lavatera Mauritanian (Lavatera mauritanica)

In the warmest regions of our country, you can also grow Mauritanian lavatera, a low plant up to 80 cm tall. Its stems are felt-pubescent, erect, branched, the leaves are rounded, lobed, with a pointed apex. Purple flowers up to 3 cm in diameter.

Lavater is interesting not only for its decorative qualities, but also healing properties: drugs with its content are used in the treatment of coughs, colds, headaches, intestinal disorders, aching joints and muscles, gastritis and gynecological diseases. Fresh leaves of Thuringian Lavater are effective in the treatment of non-healing wounds, lichen, boils and other purulent formations.

The melodic romantic name "Lavatera" actually means the surname Lavater (Lavater). It was worn by a family of wonderful doctors who lived in Zurich in the 18th century. They were respected by the notorious naturalist and biologist Carl Linnaeus. He came up with the idea of ​​giving such a name to the flower in order to perpetuate the Lavater family. Linnaeus was also not bypassed - one of the species of this wonderful plant was called "Lavatera or Malva Linnaeus." The flower is more familiar to the people as a khatma or dog rose. By the way, the dog rose is called the well-known rose hip with which Lavater has absolutely nothing in common. Photo: Lavatera - a flower after the rain

LAVATER ANNUAL - Lavatera trimestris

It is difficult to say how popular Lavater is among gardeners and flower growers, some are delighted with it, others bypass it. The fact is that there are two main types of lavater, annual And perennial . Although they have the same name, they have significant differences. One-year-old (it is often called three-month-old) can be safely called a beauty. It grows in lush bushes up to 1.2 meters high. Her flowers are solitary, rather large, up to 10 cm in diameter, "sit" in the axils of the leaves and outwardly resemble gramophones. The corolla consists of five petals with a well-defined center, which contains a fluffy pistil and many stamens. To some, the flower of the annual lavatera remotely resembles a hibiscus, only in a smaller version and with a shorter pistil. The color of its petals is white, red, lilac and all shades of pink. The annual lavatera blooms very luxuriantly, which makes it look unusually impressive. Her leaves are also pretty, rich green in color, the lower ones look like hearts, the upper ones look like sharp triangles. This beauty pleases its owners with a magnificent bright carpet from the beginning of June until the first frosts. How can you not love her? Photo: Lavatera annual - three months

One-year lavatera, or "three-month-old", boasts an abundance of varieties. Most popular in Russia:
- "Mont Blanc" - stretches up to 1 meter in height, densely strewn with white flowers;
- "Silver Cap" - a low variety with pink and carmine petals with darker, well-visible veins, the height of the bushes is up to 70 cm;
- “Pink Beauty” - the name itself says that these lavatories have petals of rich pink hues;
- "Tanagra" - bushes up to 50 cm tall, rich red petals;
- "Barnsley" - on one bush there can be a lot of buds of different degrees of opening, which creates the illusion of roses;
- "Parade" - grows up to 90 cm in height, flower petals are white, red and all shades of pink;
- "Twins Hot Pink" - undersized variety, bushes only up to 40 cm high, corolla petals are rich pink. Very showy flowers, ideal for borders;
- "Beauty" - bushes up to 60 cm tall, petals of pink shades;
- "Novella" - one of the shortest varieties, the height of the bushes barely reaches 20 cm, the flowers, however, are large, pink in hues;
- "White Sherub" - also a low-growing variety, the height of the bushes is up to 35 cm, the flowers are white.

PERMANENT LAVATER - Lavatera thuringiaca

The perennial Lavatera is more modest, its appearance is more reminiscent of mallow, to the family of which it belongs. It is she who is known as the dog rose or Chatma Thuringia. In height, a perennial lavater can stretch up to 3 meters. Her flowers are not single, but collected in loose brushes. The diameter of the corolla is smaller than that of the annual lavater, in some varieties it barely reaches 1.5 cm. The color of the petals is from white to deep pink or purple. Lavatera perennial is not as spectacular as her one-year-old "sister", but she helps her owners cope with ailments. Decoctions are prepared from its roots, which are used to treat coughs, headaches, joint, muscle, stomach pains, rheumatism, colds, and scrofula. The flowers of the perennial lavatera are also used to treat stomach pains, and the leaves help with abscesses, rheumatism, boils, abscesses. The medicine is prepared very simply - the leaf is torn off, washed well under running water, crushed and applied to the diseased area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe body, and wrapped with cellophane and something warm on top. It turns out a kind of compress. Dry lavatera leaves can be crushed and mixed with oil. Get a healing ointment. So in vain some flower growers do not pay due attention to this flower.

Photo: Perennial Lavatera - Thuringian "Barnsley Baby", landing in a container

Perennial lavater is also honored by breeders. Most often, Thuringian hatma is grown in Russia. The most popular varieties of perennial beauty:
- "Laylak Lady" - flowers of lilac shades;
- "Ai Ketcher" - a plant with pink flowers;
- "Barnsley Baby" - the flowers are very delicate, barely pink;
- "Mystic Merlin" - up to 1.8 meters high, flower petals from purple to purple, a very showy variety.

LAVATER BIO-YEAR - Lavatera arborea

Rarely, but in our gardens you can meet biennial lavater, or tree-like. Its natural region of "residence" is the Mediterranean and the islands of Macaronesia (Canaries, Madeira, Azores). This plant is quite powerful, for which it got its name. The lower leaves of the biennial lavatera can reach 22 cm in length. The stem stretches up to 3 meters, the flowers grow in bunches of 2-7 in one, sometimes singly. Their diameter is small, up to about 5 cm. The color of the petals is purple, pink, purple. The most famous varieties:
- "Candy Floss" - the petals of the corolla are soft pink;
- "Rosea" - flowers of a spectacular salmon shade;
- "Lavatera Linnaeus" ("Malva Linnaeus") is a biennial, and in northern latitudes annual. The plant is up to 3 meters tall, the flowers are solitary, located along the entire stem, the diameter of the corolla is 3-3.5 cm, the color of the petals is pink and lilac.
At home, the flowering time of the tree-like lavater is April-June, but breeders have bred varieties that delight in lush color until September.

Photo (davesgarden.com): Lavatera tree "Variegata" in the San Francisco Arboretum. 5 frost resistance zone, grows up to 1.8 meters in height.

GROWING LAVATER

Care

Each type of lavater has its own zest. But both annual, perennial, and tree-like have a unique quality for flowers - absolute unpretentiousness and unpretentiousness. Lavatera is almost the only one garden flower, which suits any conditions of detention. All she needs is earth, air and some moisture. You can plant it as a border, in the center of a flower bed, around bushes and trees, along the walls of buildings, near fences, where it is hard for other flowers, anywhere. Lavater will grow and bloom in any light, on any soil. It doesn't matter if the owner went away for a long time or simply forgot to water it, plus, he didn't bother to fertilize it. Both the shy woman and the beautiful Lavater will endure everything, forgive everything, will grow and bloom in the same way, producing seeds and waiting for attention. Nevertheless, like any living creature, the lavater is pleased with the care, to which she responds with more magnificent and long flowering. Caring for her is incredibly easy. Although the flower is not capricious about the light, it feels more comfortable in sunny or slightly shaded areas. He also loves not all soil, only light, loose, rich in organic matter and well-drained. The plant also needs watering, at least once a week. Here, in principle, and all the difficulties of care. The owners of the lavater do not even have to deal with pest control, since this flower has practically none. The only thing that can sometimes happen to him is the attack of caterpillars and rust. Get rid of pests by spraying the flower beds with the appropriate preparation. If the plant is affected by rust by more than 40-50%, it is removed from the flower bed. It is not recommended to re-sow Lavater in an area where rust has been noticed.

How can you pamper your garden beauty? First, top dressing. Mineral mixtures are suitable for this, but the flower will not refuse organics either. It is best to feed the plants in spring and summer, when seeds begin to form. Also, caring owners should monitor the weeds. Here it must be taken into account that the roots of the lavater are located close to the surface, so weed grass must be removed with care, and it is not necessary at all to loosen the ground near the flower bushes. And the last little nuance of care - it is advisable to pluck fading flowers from the lavater. This is done to improve the appearance of the flower bed and to extend the flowering time.

Lavater planting. Growing from seeds

Are you already dreaming of having a clever Lavatera in your garden? There is nothing easier. It is well propagated by seeds, which are freely sold in flower shops. Lavater is sown before winter or in spring, as soon as the snow melts and the soil moves away from frost a little. The seeds of this flower are large enough to be placed in the ground carefully, observing the required distances. Most often, gardeners make shallow, but wide holes at a distance of 30-40 cm. 2-3 seeds are placed in each hole about 15 cm apart. With this method, the bushes are especially lush and beautiful. In general, the distance between seeds depends on the variety. For dwarf lavatores, this is only 7-10 cm, and for large-growing varieties, especially tree-like and perennials, the distance between plants of 40 cm should be minimal.

In order for the lavatera to bloom earlier, it is planted with seedlings. To do this, the seeds are sown somewhere at the end of March in boxes or in special plastic cells. You can keep them in the house on the windowsill or in the greenhouse. After about 10 days, sprouts hatch from the seeds, which quickly begin to gain strength. The timing of landing in open ground in each region is different. This can be done when, not only during the day, but also at night, the air temperature is stable from +7 and above.

Photo (Udo Schröter, commons.wikimedia.org): perennial Lavatera - Hatma Thuringian - Dog Rose

Planting a perennial lavater

Perennial lavators are also propagated by rhizomes. They are sold in flower shops in special packages with peat. Flower growers will have to mess with planting lavater only the first time. Further smart plant relieves its owners of this as well, as it reproduces well without outside help by self-sowing.

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Breaking a flower garden, gardeners pick up beautiful, long-flowering and unpretentious varieties colors. Among the huge variety, many of them choose lavatera. In another way, it is called "wild rose" or "hatma". Lavater perennial - a godsend for flower growers. It blooms from June until the first frost, ideally complement and decorate any corner of the garden. Thanks to great choice varieties, everyone can find a suitable one for color scheme and the size of the plant for outdoor cultivation.

flower description

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, it was created a large number of perennial and annual varieties, reaching from 20 to 150 cm in height. Each of them has a powerful root system, a strong stem and lobed leaves, which are arranged in a regular order.

The flowers are large, reach 18 cm in diameter and have a variety of colors: yellow, white, pink, purple, red or crimson. Depending on the variety, they can be located singly or in several pieces, forming spike-shaped inflorescences. They begin to bloom in the first half of summer and bloom until the first frost.

Lavatera is a plant for the lazy. It is undemanding to the soil, unpretentious in care, drought- and frost-resistant. The culture can grow both in the sun and in the shade, is not afraid of gusty winds. It looks attractive not only in the gardens, but also in the cut. Flowers in a bouquet remain fresh for 7 days.

Varieties and types

The discoverers of the flower were brothers named Lavaters. They discovered it in Europe, near Zurich. Later it began to be found in Australia and North America. The plant can be either annual or perennial. Each species has its own varieties with individual characteristics.

Lavatera Three-month

Powerful annual, reaches a height of more than a meter. The lower leaves are heart-shaped, upper leaves- three- or five-bladed. Flowers solitary, large, up to 10 cm in diameter. The closer to the sun, the more abundant flowering and shorter flower stalks. The five-petal inflorescences of the three-month-old lavater have a carmine, white or pink color.

The most common types:

silver bowl

Beautiful drought-resistant plant up to half a meter high. Funnel-shaped flowers are large, pale pink with dark veins. They appear from the axils of leaves up to 15 cm in diameter. The Silver Bowl variety is planted along the fence or in flower beds. Flowering occurs in July and lasts until October.

Silver Cap

Cold-resistant variety with large branched shoots, reaches a height of 70 cm. purple flowers large with dark veins and a silvery tint. Flowering occurs in June to September. Looks impressive in group plantings and mixborders.

ruby queen

Low growing, attractive, floriferous variety. During flowering, single pink-carmine flowers cover the entire plant, from which it is impossible to take your eyes off for a whole summer. This splendor is planted in flower beds next to bright annuals, group plantings and in mixborders. The flower harmoniously looks against the background of roses, iris and fragrant tobacco.

Novella

A new low-growing variety that can be grown both in a flower pot and in the open field. Flowering is abundant and early. The first flowers appear when the plant grows to 20 cm. They are large, pink, do not fade for a long time. Decorative look retains all summer, regardless of weather conditions.

White Sherub

Low variety with numerous snow-white flowers. It is ideal because it can be grown at home and in open ground.

Mont Blanc

Strongly branched, undersized annual with large snow-white flowers and large emerald leaves. Unopened buds are pink. The variety is planted in flower beds with other bright annuals, to create borders, group plantings for cutting and in flower pots. When grown in a container, the plant will be more compact and will not grow more than 20 cm in height.

Lavatera Thuringia

Powerful tall perennial, reaches a height of up to 2 meters. Large silver-green leaves, heart-shaped and lobed. Solitary, large pink flowers appear from the axils of the leaves on long stalks.

This type includes:

Bregon Springs

A powerful tall variety, reaches a height of 150 cm. Silver-emerald large leaves are located on long strongly branched shoots. The variety blooms profusely and for a long time with pink-lilac flowers with crimson veins. Winters without shelter.

Lilac Lady

A tall cultivar with large purple flowers that bloom directly from the axils of the leaves. The flowers are large - up to 15 cm in diameter, the bush is powerful - up to 120 cm. Silver-emerald leaves are large, in the lower part of the plant - lobed, on the top - entire.

Barnsley Baby

Compact medium-sized bush, reaches a height of 80 cm. Large white flowers have bright pink eyes. The flowers are beautiful and delicate and can be grown in containers, but they will look better in flower beds next to sage, catnip and cereals.

Lavatera arborescens

A two-year view with a straight powerful stem, reaching a height of 2 meters. Pale emerald leaves are large and fleshy. The flowers are red-purple with dark veins, very similar to hibiscus flowers. After withering, the variety forms fruits in the shape of a cheese head. Flowering begins in mid-June and lasts until the end of September.

Rosea

Tall biennial with a powerful lignified root system. The slender erect stem reaches a height of 150 cm, completely covered with soft five-lobed gray-olive foliage. Cup-shaped pink flowers of medium size. tree variety cover for the winter, and pruned in the spring.

Lavater breeding methods

A flower can be grown in two ways: seeds and seedlings.

1. 1. Seed method - planting in open ground is carried out only in the southern regions in late April - early May. Before planting the seed, they dig up the soil, add 10 liters of compost and 2 tbsp. l. nitrophoska per 1 sq. m. On the prepared land, a shallow trench is made, watered with warm water and dry seeds are sown. Fall asleep with nutrient soil and cover with covering material. IN good weather sprouts appear after 7 days. After they reach 5 cm, the film is removed, and the seedlings are thinned out.
2. 2. Seedling method - this method is used for earlier flowering. When planting seedlings in May, the seeds are sown in containers in mid-March. Before sowing, it is necessary to prepare nutrient soil, and lay a layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot. Seeds are sown in moist soil to a depth of 1 cm and covered with glass. The container is placed in a well-lit warm place for 2 weeks. After germination of seedlings, the shelter is removed, and the seedlings swoop down in separate containers.

Seedling care is easy. It consists in timely watering and additional lighting.

Landing and care

On the open beds lavateru is planted when the soil warms up to + 10-15 degrees. For a flower, a sunny place is selected, protected from gusty winds. The earth should be light, well-drained. When growing tall varieties, a support is immediately established for each plant.

Planted according to the scheme 20 by 25. This distance will allow the flower to fully grow and develop, as well as look decorative and compact.

Lavatera is an unpretentious plant. At the beginning of growth, care consists in the timely removal of weeds, careful loosening of the soil and watering when the earth dries 10-15 cm deep.

In order for it to bloom luxuriantly and profusely, faded inflorescences are removed, and the soil is fertilized. The first feeding is carried out during the growing season. To do this, use nitrophoska diluted in a bucket of water. The second - during the formation of buds. For one bush take 1 tbsp. l. potassium and sodium sulfate per 10 liters of water.

The older the plant, the darker the leaves. Pale green foliage indicates a lack of nitrogen and phosphorus.

Lavatera is a plant that is rarely attacked by insect pests and various diseases. Sometimes aphids appear on it. To get rid of it, the bush is sprayed soapy water or drugs Biotin, Aktellik or Akarin.

If the crop rotation and care rules are not observed, the flower may appear fungal disease- rust. On the inside sheet plate orange pustules appear, which, when ripe, scatter spores, which can lead to mass infection. If rust is detected, all affected leaves are removed, and the bush is sprayed with fungicides.

What to do after flowering

After withering, a seed box appears in place of the flower, which must be left for ripening. An indicator of ripe seeds is a dried box Brown color. It is carefully separated from the bush, opened and the seeds are poured onto a newspaper to dry. The prepared material is stored in a dry place, in a paper or linen bag.

If annual varieties are planted in the garden, then at the end of the season they are dug up, and the soil is carefully dug up.

Lavater can be planted in the same place for 4 years.

Perennial varieties for the winter are bent to the ground and covered with foliage or spruce branches. Before shelter, the plant is fertilized with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Culture is interesting not only for its own decorative look but also medicinal properties. The leaves of Thuringian Lavater heal wounds, skin diseases and purulent formations. Decoctions from the roots are used for colds and gastrointestinal diseases. The infusion has an anti-inflammatory effect.