At first glance, armeria can be easily confused with cloves. This resemblance is reflected in the very name of the plant. According to one version, the name comes from the French word "armoires", which translates as bearded carnation. Another version says that the word "Armeria" is formed from a pair of Celtic words, which in translation mean "near the sea." This is possible because in natural conditions some types of armeria have chosen the seaside dunes.
The genus Armeria has up to ninety plant species. They grow in the coastal and mountainous regions of Europe, the Mediterranean, Mongolia, Siberia and the southern regions of South America.
Description of armeria
Armeria is a low perennial grass of the Plumbaginaceae family, forming thickets. Its height is 15-60 cm, depending on the species. Root - rod, short. Smooth erect stem. Sometimes it can be pubescent. The leaves forming a basal rosette look like dark green grass. They are collected in dense curtains (pillows). Inflorescences of red, white, pink or purple. The flowers are small, connected in inflorescences in the form of a ball. The flower is photophilous, tolerates drought well. Blooms throughout the summer.
Armeria planting methods
There are several traditional ways to do this:
- planting seeds in open ground;
- growing with seedlings;
- reproduction by dividing the bush.
To germinate as many seeds as possible, a week before sowing, they should be placed on the vegetable shelf of the refrigerator. And then, immediately before sowing, soak in warm water with the addition of "Zircon" or another similar preparation for 7-9 hours. This manipulation must be carried out both for seeds that will be sown in open ground, and for seeds from which seedlings will be grown.
How to plant armeria for seedlings
Armeria growing from seeds
- In prepared soil, covered in shallow containers, sow seeds to a depth of two centimeters.
- Place the containers in a warm, bright place and wait for seedlings. After the seedlings rise and they have two true leaves, they must be planted in separate pots or in a greenhouse and grown up.
- Sowing seeds directly into the ground is possible in spring, but it does not give good germination even from prepared and treated seeds.
- Grown, strengthened seedlings can be planted on personal plot as soon as the threat has passed spring frosts. First you need to decide on a place in the garden where your perennial will grow. It should be with soil in which there is a lot of sand and stones. Warm and not shaded. Ideal - an alpine slide or a flower bed near a reservoir.
For reference: armeria flowers do not like alkaline soil. Planted in such soil, they get sick and lose their decorative effect. If your garden has limestone soil, you need to neutralize the lime by watering with a solution of vinegar. Or adding to the soil, when preparing the site for planting, ammonium nitrate.
Add organic matter to the soil a few days before planting.. If you like landscape design er, we decided that the armeria would grow in a group and cover the ground with a carpet, it was necessary to plant the plants in a checkerboard pattern in increments of 15-20 cm. To do this, you can divide the planting site with lines, and plant seedlings at their intersection. If the plants should stand out, they are planted one at a time at a distance of up to forty cm.
When planting armeria, it is impossible to deepen the root neck y. Compact the soil around the seedlings and water them. For the next three weeks, you need to remember to water the "beginners", preventing the soil from completely drying out.
Planting by dividing the bush is performed in the spring when young shoots begin to break through the ground. A young plant under the age of five years is dug up and divided into several parts. Then the plants are planted in the holes. It is desirable to make the size of the holes larger than the diameter of the "beginner" roots. This is necessary to spread and spread the roots well. Be sure to tamp the earth and water the flower.
In all the cases described above, it is desirable to mulch. This will protect them from drying out and limit the growth of weeds, which are very inconvenient to choose from a thick leaf rosette of armeria.
Plants obtained from seeds bloom, usually in the second year., and those that are part of an adult bush may bloom this summer.
Armeria care
Armeria is undemanding in care. It is necessary to perform a number of simple procedures, and your plant will always look attractive.
- Before flowering, it is necessary to feed it with mineral fertilizers.
- Feed a couple more times during abundant flowering.
- It is necessary to remove wilted flowers so that the armeria does not waste strength on them. And sent them to the birth of the next buds.
- In dry summers, regular watering should be done, but the plant cannot be flooded.
- After the armeria has been growing in one place for five years, it needs to be updated. To do this, the flower is dug up, divided into parts and seated. That is, transplantation by dividing the bush is a mandatory procedure for armeria.
- The plant is not afraid of disease or pests. Only alkaline soil poses a threat. In it, the plant can become weakened and then aphids appear on it.
Collection of armeria seeds carried out, probably, only breeders. If you need seeds for what purposes, then you need to do the following:
- tie a wilted flower with a cloth so that the ripened seeds do not fall out;
- wait for it to dry completely and cut it off;
- untie the fabric over a sheet of paper, remove excess;
- dry the seeds;
- pour them into a paper bag, sign the date and name.
Wintering army
It is worth focusing your attention on one more important issue. Namely: how does the army winter?
If the winter is snowy, then the plant can overwinter without shelter. It is necessary to cover only one variety - soddy armeria. For covering material, you can take: spruce branches, overripe leaves, etc.
AND ordinary gardeners, and experienced landscape designers to decorate rock gardens, rocky gardens, flower borders, flower borders have at their disposal a dozen types of armeria flower. Alpine Armeria, Beautiful Armeria, Seaside Armeria, Soddy Armeria, Common Armeria, Beautiful Armeria, Japanese Armeria, Siberian Armeria, Arctic Armeria and others. Even just reading the name of the species, I want to buy a flower and plant it in my house.
Popular types of armeria
Armeria alpine (Armeria alpina)
This is a perennial. It grows in the form of dense curtains about 15 cm in height and 30 cm in diameter. Some of the leaves remain green after wintering. The flowers are soft pink, connected in inflorescences, the circumference of which is 3 cm. The length of the stem is about thirty centimeters. Flowering in early summer. The small height of the plant makes it suitable for use in the form. It is possible to distinguish the variety "Laucheana" with carmine-red inflorescences.
Armeria beautiful (Armeria pseudarmeria)
This type of perennial reaches a height of up to 40 cm. At the same time, the height of its varieties varies from 20 cm (Thrift variety) to 60 cm (Bees Ruby variety). Leaves winter well under the snow. This plant is evergreen. Inflorescences are white, pink or red (for the Red Planet variety) color. Blooms all summer. Bright pink, tall 'Bees Ruby' armeria can be used in single landings.
Seaside armeria (Armeria maritima)
In nature, it is found along the shores of the seas. It forms low and fairly dense thickets, up to 20 cm high. The circumference of an individual outlet is also about 20 cm. Inflorescences - balls have a purple or pink color. The flower is unpretentious and does not require special care. Drought tolerant. The plant is decorative even when not in bloom. The flowering season starts in May and ends in mid-July. Sometimes seaside armeria also blooms in autumn. Varieties "Dusseldorf Stolz", "Vindictive", "Bloodstone" bloom with flowers of various shades of red. Primorsky armeria varieties are perfect for use in and near artificial reservoirs.
Soddy armeria, or juniper leaf armeria (Armeria juniperifolia = Armeria cespitosa)
It is a perennial plant native to the Pyrenees. There it forms low, dense thickets (pillows). A single plant has a height of up to 15 cm and a diameter of up to 20 cm. It blooms profusely with pink and red flowers, connected in inflorescences - balls. There are sometimes so many flowers - balls that the green leaves are not visible. It turns out a real flower carpet. Flowering begins in July and lasts 40-50 days. Armeria soddy does not like an excess of moisture in the soil and needs shelter in winter. Among gardeners, a hybrid of soddy armeria and seaside armeria - Zunderman's armeria - is popular. Its distinguishing feature is large pink flowers that form a ball. Among the varieties, Bivenz Variety should be distinguished with double, pale pink flowers. Soddy armeria is used in landscape design in mini-rock gardens and in portable rock gardens.
Armeria beautiful (Armeria formosa)
Perennial with evergreen leaves. Leaf sockets are small. The leaves are narrow, like grass. Stems are straight and tough. Inflorescences are large balls (diameter 5 cm). They are painted in white, red or pink shades and bloom all September. Armeria beautiful is used for landing in the crevices of artificially constructed rocks.
Armeria arctic (Armeria arctica)
In nature, it is a herbaceous perennial. The circumference of the inflorescence is 2-2.5 cm. Height is up to 20 cm. During the flowering period, the plant throws out up to 10 peduncles. Blooms for the first two summer months. Winters with green leaves. When cultivated, the plant behaves like a biennial, i.e. dies off in the second year after flowering. Interesting for use in rocky gardens.
Popular varieties of Armeria
Armeria ballerina Red
A luxurious decoration of a flower bed, perfectly coexists with any neighbors, will become a unique decoration of an alpine hill. Beautiful contrasts are obtained with white varieties, forget-me-nots, argyrantemum, anemones.
armeria louisiana
Armeria louisiana growing from seeds
It grows no higher than 20 centimeters, densely pleases with spherical flowers. You can sow before winter or in spring, just in the garden without covering with a film. It begins to bloom only in the second year, propagates by self-sowing.
Armeria is a wonderful garden plant. The variety of its species makes it possible to show imagination. The difference in shades and a long flowering period, combined with unpretentiousness, makes armeria a versatile plant for rock gardens and rocky gardens. And in the "team" with the Byzantine chistets, wormwood, catnip and bluebells, you can create a corner of the garden, perfect in beauty and charm.
Video about growing and caring for armeria:
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 Far East(on the picture).
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 form 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 most large 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. Small flowers create a tight head spherical shape, which 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.
Enough high view armerium - 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 reproduction of this species is the division of 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 starts in June, but a small number of flowers can be observed in October. This species has various inflorescences. different 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-term 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. Thereafter this problem must decide.
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.
The mixture looks especially good. different types and colors of armeria 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 anyway top scores gives an autumn planting, 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.
Armeria - very beautiful flowering ornamental plant. It belongs to herbaceous perennials, the height of an adult plant can reach 30 - 35 cm. It is classified by botanists as flowering, belonging to the genus of lead. It has round inflorescences, their colors are very bright and varied, without exaggeration it can be called the decoration of any flower garden. Armeria is grown from seeds or by dividing the bushes.
Where is armeria used
Armeria is a fairly common plant, it has about a hundred varieties. The following varieties are most often cultivated:
- Siberian
- seaside,
- prickly,
- soddy.
All of them look great as decoration for borders, borders, alpine slides, rockeries, rocky gardens. In order to emphasize the beauty of armeria, saxifrage, creeping plants and plants are planted next to it.
Armeria flowers are located on leafless peduncles, its stems are very short, as well as the rhizome. If you plant plants close to each other, then during their flowering the entire area will turn into a bright solid carpet. Armeria blooms for 4-5 months, from about May to September.
Growing a plant - a requirement for soils
If you plan to plant armeria, then it is best to allocate moist areas for it, with light soil. The plant loves loose soil, you can plant it on rocky and sandy soils.
Despite the high requirements for the plant, it does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the root layer. Therefore, it is desirable to make high-quality drainage on the site. Armeria is resistant to frost, can withstand up to minus 15 degrees, it tolerates dry periods relatively easily.
To ensure normal growth and flowering, of course, systematic watering is required.
Florists note that the most capricious look is the soddy armeria. It does not tolerate direct sunlight, it is advisable to plant it in partial shade. In the conditions of alpine hills, it is planted on the eastern slopes.
For the winter, this species should be covered, because. it does not tolerate damp conditions warm winters. The basal neck is prone to decay, which ultimately leads to death. Usually used for cover polyethylene film or spear.
Plant propagation
Armania is grown from seeds, which are sown immediately after harvest in a permanent place. You can do this in spring or autumn. Before planting, the seeds are poured with warm water and kept for 8 hours.
With the seedling method of growing, seeds are sown at the end of winter in pots or boxes and placed in greenhouses.
Seeds germinate at a temperature of 16-20 degrees. When the seedlings grow up, they are planted in open ground and covered with a film. Such plants will begin to bloom in next year, very rarely flowering can begin in the fall of the same year.
The second way to propagate armeria is cuttings or dividing bushes.
It can be performed from the third year of life, in the fall, when flowering has already ended, or in the spring - before flowering begins. It is recommended to give preference to the autumn transplant.
In any case, the division of the bush should be carried out, if this event is abandoned, then in a few years the armeria will grow.
If desired, the bushes are divided into small parts, they all take root perfectly in new places. The distance should be observed when planting new bushes - about 20 cm. Cuttings can be practiced throughout the growing season, for this, plant rosettes are used.
Care
Armeria is very sensitive to top dressing, it is recommended to perform them before the start of active flowering. In total, two or three top dressings can be made during the growing season, while organic fertilizers or complete mineral complexes can be used. Loamy and clayey soils and peat soils are in particular need of fertilization.
To ensure a long flowering period, it is necessary to cut off faded inflorescences, this procedure will stimulate the formation of new buds. The decorativeness of the plant persists for a long period, its sockets remain attractive and green even in winter. With favorable weather conditions flowering may repeat in autumn.
The plant is rarely affected by pests and diseases. Sometimes the appearance of leaf spot is observed, and aphids can attack from pests.
Armeria is used to decorate flower beds, terraces. She looks great in bouquets. In this case, the peduncles are cut off in the phase of opening the buds. You can dry the flowers in a warm, dark place, then use for winter bouquets.
Foreword
There is beautiful flowers, but very capricious, caring for them is difficult and time-consuming. Armeria does not belong to such garden crops, therefore its popularity among beauty lovers in the garden is constantly increasing. Under natural conditions, it prefers to grow on sea coasts or near water bodies. But you can find it in many areas. the globe: in the Mediterranean, in Canada, in the Far East and even in Mongolia. This unpretentious plant looks elegant, easy to propagate and grow.
Features of growing crops
It is believed that the name "armeria" is taken from the Celtic language. The word "ar" in this dialect means "nearby" or "together", "mor" is the sea. There is another theory according to which the name of the flower comes from a variety of French carnations similar in appearance. The plant really reminds her a little, but in general it is an independent culture, which has about 90 species.
Gentle armeria fits perfectly into the landscape, it is unpretentious and aesthetic in appearance.
According to the classification, it is a low perennial herb of the gilly family. By the nature of growth forms beautiful thickets. Height varies from 15 to 60 cm, depending on the species. The stem is usually erect, but sometimes it is slightly drooping. The leaves form a basal rosette and resemble dark green grass. They are collected in the so-called "pillows", which, like flowers, are very attractive. Inflorescences are pink (most often), red, white or purple. Connected in the form of a characteristic ball. Flowering occurs throughout the summer season.
The plant tolerates drought well, but under natural conditions it grows well where there is a lot of sunlight. Therefore, caring for him, you should not choose shaded places for planting.
Application in landscape design
In the design of the garden plot, this flower is used very often. It looks equally good both in single plantings and in combination with other crops:
- the neighborhood with alliums looks elegant, the inflorescences of which also have a spherical shape;
- armeria goes well with phlox and Turkish carnations;
- ground cover crops (creeping thyme, Carpathian bell) complement the originality of the flower very favorably.
To decorate a rocky garden, a few copies of the plant are enough. On alpine hills, it is better to plant it from the eastern slope.
Armeria will look great with garden plants, you just need to choose the right neighbors for her
Armeria is interestingly combined with fern and decorative moss. These compositions are Lately are gaining great popularity.
How best to grow
Armeria is unpretentious and takes root equally well in open field, and in a tub. It is believed that the soil method of growing is more suitable for her, as she loves light and space, and easily tolerates winter.
The soil for the plant should be slightly sour, for this it is advisable to use special preparations.
In the open field, you can not care about reproduction and the appearance of new shoots: the flower regenerates itself with the help of seeds. However, for the aesthetics of the beds behind the plant, some care is needed.
Bloom
Under favorable weather conditions, the plant begins to bloom in May. June - early July is the peak of flowering, but this process successfully occurs throughout the season, until October.
Climate
In warm climatic zones the plant calmly transfers planting directly into the ground and calmly emerges. But even in a temperate climate, it takes root well - it tolerates both rainy weather and drought. The plant withstands severe winter frosts, only for this period it needs to be covered.
Armeria harmoniously looks and grows well in natural and artificial reservoirs
Based on the natural habitat conditions, the flower grows especially well on summer cottages, which are located near the ponds, or where equipped artificial waterfalls and small ponds. Next to the water, this culture looks fantastically beautiful.
Varieties: plant photo and description
Since there are many varieties of armeria, they can be conditionally divided into some types, selecting the most popular among gardeners in our country and neighboring regions.
Primorskaya
Delicate pink flowers of Armeria Primorskaya will complement the stylish landscape design of the site
Armeria Primorskaya is considered one of the most popular of its kind. It has a number of hybrids with beautiful lilac-pink inflorescences. It is best to grow near water bodies.
Alpine
Alpine Armeria blooms in June-July
Armeria Alpine reaches up to 30 cm in height, very unpretentious. It has both pink and white inflorescences, but red ones are especially attractive. It tolerates frost well, remaining an evergreen plant.
Beautiful (Louisiana, pseudoarmeria)
Armeria Beautiful can be short or tall, depending on the variety (Thrift or Bees Ruby)
A hybrid variety, which is also called pseudoarmeria or Louisiana. Popular subspecies "ballerina" - red and white. beautiful armeria has many different shades, so it is recommended to plant mixtures of different seeds on the garden bed.
Siberian
Armeria Siberian is one of the most undersized varieties plants
Under natural conditions, Siberian armeria grows on the mountain slopes of Mongolia and Siberia. The plant is low with small pink flowers, which, however, look very peculiar.
Soddy or juniper-leaved
Gentle, but unpretentious inch - Armeria Soddy
Armeria Soddy comes from Portugal and Spain, where it also prefers mountainous terrain. Flowers are red and pink. Sometimes there are so many of them that the grass cover is not visible.
The flower needs more potassium in the soil than other varieties.
It is interesting in that it has powerful grass stems, wide and dense. Often gardeners use it precisely to create a beautiful grass cover, and not flowers. Requires soil rich in potassium, otherwise it may not even take root.
Beautiful Anna Maria
Armeria the Beautiful is well suited for decorating Japanese gardens and alpine slides
It is considered a cultivated species with ideal proportions. Long narrow leaves are perfectly combined with graceful inflorescences. The color is pink, white or red. Begins to bloom in early May and ends in late October.
Arctic Armeria takes moisture from the depths of the soil, so it is convenient to transplant
It blooms only two months and grows only 2 years, but it is very frost-resistant. beautiful flowers, planted with single grassy caps, especially look in rock gardens.
Armeria Ordinary - rarest species plants
This is the so-called wild species, which grows better in nature than in a garden plot. Listed in the Red Book.
Flower planting methods
You can plant armeria both with the help of seeds and using seedlings.
Seedling at home
When planting seeds for seedlings, it is advisable to adhere to the following rules:
- a week before planting, it is advisable to remove the seeds in the refrigerator, and before sowing, soak them in a warm solution of potassium permanganate for 8 hours;
- optimal sowing dates: end of February - beginning of March;
- seed does not need to be applied deep into the soil, just cover it with earth;
- until the emergence of seedlings, keep the bowls with the material in the brightest and warmest place;
- dive to produce after the appearance of the first 2 leaves.
Even the seedlings of this flower look beautiful. In just a few weeks, she is destined to become a bright "beacon" in the flower bed
Planting seedlings in the ground is advisable after the complete cessation of frost, in different regions this period occurs in different time. Here, too, the procedure is defined:
- a sunny area is selected for the garden;
- the soil should be slightly rocky and acidic; to raise its acidity, you can water the bed with a weak solution of acetic acid;
- before planting, they dig up the earth and add organic matter;
- planting holes are located 30 cm apart;
Seedlings should not be planted too deep, in which case they will inevitably die. For some time after planting, seedlings should be watered abundantly so that they take root well. But it is also not necessary to fill in the bed, the plants may begin to rot.
Planting armeria with seeds: video instructions
Armeria seeds can be sown in open ground in spring and autumn. autumn sowing usually produced in the second half of October, and spring - depending on the warming of the soil. As a rule, plants planted in open ground with the help of seeds begin flowering only for 2 years.
Caring for armeria in the garden
Looks great Armeria and next to low Christmas trees
During growth and flowering
This horticultural culture does not require increased attention. Before flowering, it is recommended to fertilize with complex mineral fertilizer. Then it is advisable to repeat the procedure every 2 weeks.
If the season is rainy, the culture may not require extra moisture. And in a drought, regular watering is especially important, but you should not fill the bed, it should not be constantly damp.
The accustomed Armeria reproduces by self-sowing, so there is no need to collect seeds
If you want to bloom for a long time, faded stems should be cut off.
If the planting site is chosen correctly, the soil is acidic to the required degree, these plants rarely get sick. But if, nevertheless, rot or fungus affects the culture, the problem is solved radically by complete circumcision.
After flowering
After the flowering period has completely passed, you need to take care of collecting seeds. If you want to use them on your own site, do not worry: the plant reproduces well by self-sowing.
If it is necessary to transplant the plant or pass it on to someone else, tie them up with gauze before shedding, and then calmly take as much as you need.
Preparing for winter
Although this garden culture loves heat and light very much, it also endures winter calmly, remaining an evergreen culture. True, before frosts it is desirable to support it by covering it with spruce branches or non-woven material.
Make sure that an ice crust does not form near the landings, this greatly harms the roots.
Possible problems
Armeria is disease resistant, so care for it narrows down to timely watering.
And to diseases, and to temperature extremes, all types of this culture are very resistant. But sometimes there are fixable difficulties:
- the plant begins to dry due to insufficient watering or too hard soil;
- excessive watering leads to rotting of the roots, and the plant dies;
- if the bush is not planted periodically, it loses decorative look, the growth of the herbal part increases, and the flowers, on the contrary, become smaller;
- aphids are a common pest; when it is detected, the plant should be cut off completely.
Armeria - perennial herbaceous plant from the pig family. It forms amazingly dense grassy sods, over which balls of dense bright inflorescences rise on thin peduncles. In nature, the plant most often lives on mountain slopes near the sea, in the Mediterranean, North America, Mongolia and Eastern Europe. Dense green pillows can be used for landscaping the garden and decorating the flower garden. Even in a temperate climate, the armeria feels great and tolerates wintering in the open field. Caring for her does not require much effort.
Botanical description
Armeria is a genus of perennial herbs. The height of the sod is about 15-20 cm, and during the flowering period it can reach 60 cm. The plant has a shortened taproot. Above the soil surface is a dense leaf rosette of narrow linear leaves. They are bright green or bluish in color and form a dense cushion, under which it is difficult to distinguish the ground.
Armeria begins to bloom in May and pleases gardeners with fragrant bright inflorescences until the end of summer. A long erect stem grows from the center of the leaf rosette. Its smooth bare or slightly pubescent surface is colored dark green. Flowers on short pedicels are located close to each other, so the inflorescence resembles a perfect ball. Bisexual buds are painted in purple, pink, lilac or white colors. Corolla bracts fuse into a small tube, and 5 stamens are located in the center. After pollination, fruits ripen - dry one-seeded boxes.
Types of armeria
Botanists have registered about 90 species of Armeria. The most popular is . It forms dense dark green sods. The height of the plant does not exceed 20 cm. The linear, slightly flattened foliage is colored blue-green. Capitate inflorescences, towering on pubescent peduncles, have a pink-purple hue. Flowering begins at the end of May and may be repeated in September. Popular varieties:
- Vindictive - blooms with large blood-red flowers;
- Louisiana - blooms with pink inflorescences;
- Alba - a variety with snow-white inflorescences;
- Solendens Perfecta - produces miniature light lilac flowers.
Armeria maritime
The species lives on mountain slopes and is compact in size. The height of the turf does not exceed 10 cm, and the diameter reaches 30 cm. Many narrow bright green leaves persist even in frosty winters. In early June, a smooth peduncle 30 cm long grows from the center of the rosette. It carries a capitate inflorescence with a diameter of no more than 3 cm. Small bells in it are painted in light pink tones. Popular varieties:
- Rosea - the turf is covered with many bright pink inflorescences;
- Laucheana - blooms with carmine flowers;
- Alba - with snow-white buds.
The plant is found in the highlands. It forms a dense curtain less than 15 cm in height. But the width of the bush can be 20 cm. Narrow dark green foliage is collected in dense rosettes. Inflorescences rise above it on short (about 6 cm) stems. This species blooms in July and pleases with flowers for up to 50 days. Flowering is so abundant that under the many inflorescences it is difficult to distinguish the leaves. The variety is distinguished by the most capricious character. For normal development, she needs partial shade and shelter for the winter, as severe frosts can destroy this plant. Varieties:
- Bivenz Veraeti - white-pink terry flowers;
- Brno - terry flowers of a lilac shade.
Growing from seeds
Armeria from seeds can be grown through seedlings or sown directly into the ground. The latter is possible only in the southern regions, since the seeds germinate with the first warm days, but may later suffer from return frosts. Sowing in open ground is carried out in November, so the seeds will undergo natural stratification and seedlings will appear in March.
Growing seedlings begin in mid-February. The seeds must first be stratified at a temperature of +2…+8°C during the week. Then they are soaked for a day in warm water and sown in a container with a sand-peat mixture to a depth of 5 mm. Sprouted at a temperature of +16…+20°C. Shoots appear within 2-3 weeks. In greenhouses, seedlings continue to be grown until mid-May, when the plants are strong enough and the likelihood of frost disappears.
Vegetative reproduction
Shrubs form many basal shoots every year. Dense turf can be divided into several parts and seated in different parts of the garden. The first division is made at the age of 3 years. The procedure is carried out at the end of summer, at the end of flowering. The bush is completely dug up and divided into several parts. All delenki should consist of plants with a strong root system. The distance between new landings should be at least 20 cm.
Throughout the summer, you can propagate armeria by cuttings. This implies the separation from the sod of a young rosette without roots, or with an underdeveloped rhizome. Rooting is done in open ground. Having planted the stalk in loose, well-drained soil, it is covered with a cap for 1-2 weeks, but aired and watered daily as needed. Rooting is pretty fast.
Landing in open ground
Armeria is a photophilous plant, therefore, open, well-lit areas of the garden are selected for its planting. It is recommended to immediately take care of protection from drafts and strong gusts of wind. The soil for armeria should have a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. The presence of lime in the soil is undesirable. To prepare alkaline soil, ammonium nitrate and acetic acid are added to it. Sandy rocky soils are most suitable for growing armeria. If there are none on the site, a layer about 20 cm thick can be created independently from a mixture of river sand, turf and greenhouse land.
A few days before planting, the soil is well loosened and a complex of organic fertilizers (crushed sawdust, hay, needles and humus) is applied. To get isolated sods of armeria, the distance between seedlings should be about 40 cm. To form a continuous carpet, it is cut in half. Planting holes are made shallow so that the root neck is located above the soil surface. The soil is compacted and moderately watered. You can scatter pebbles on the surface or make masonry.
plant care
If the place for the armeria is chosen correctly and the planting conditions are met, it will be easy to take care of the armeria in the garden. She needs moderate watering. In rainy weather, natural precipitation is enough, but in summer heat and drought it is recommended to irrigate the bushes by sprinkling. The soil should dry out between waterings.
Every 1-1.5 months, the armeria is fertilized with mineral supplements for flowering plants. The fertilizer solution is poured into the soil instead of watering. Thanks to this, the leaves will be especially bright, and flowering will be plentiful. On peaty and loamy soils, the need for top dressing is not so great, because the plants get everything they need from the nutrient soil.
After flowering is completed, fading inflorescences should be cut off immediately. This can not only increase the attractiveness of the green cover in the garden, but also achieve reappearance at the armeria of flowers in August or early September.
Army winters in middle lane Russia and more southern regions under snow, without additional shelter. For soddy armeria, cover with spruce branches or non-woven material is provided. They will save other species in severe frosts. It is desirable to prevent the accumulation of moisture near the plants, since during the dormant period the armeria does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil.
Armeria in the garden
Armeria is beautiful with its dense bright vegetation. It is used in mixborders, discounts, rocky gardens and rock gardens. Plants also look good on rocky masonry or natural mountain slopes. Dense foliage preserves beauty all year round, forming a solid green carpet. In summer, a pattern of bright, fragrant inflorescences of an unusual shape blooms on it.
In the flower garden, armeria goes well with undersized flora (phlox, thyme, saxifrage, bluebells). You can also create a composition exclusively from armeria of various types and varieties. Inflorescences are well preserved after drying, so they are used in dry compositions. To do this, they are cut at the peak of flowering and dried, hanging upside down.