Carpet honey plant in a country flower bed - perennial alissum
Ground cover plants are an essential element of a beautiful flower bed. Among them, perennial alissum stands out favorably for its unpretentiousness and long flowering. Its other names are beetroot, lobularia, stone stone. The strong honey aroma emanating from alyssum attracts pollinating insects.
Description of perennial alissum
Perennial varieties are low - only 20-40 cm. Alyssum starts growing in early spring and blooms quickly. The homeland of the flower is the mountains of Southern Europe. Therefore, it looks beautiful on alpine slides, in curbs, rabatkas. On the flower beds, it creates a continuous carpet of delicate and bright colors. Photo of alissum in landscape design:
Among the perennial representatives of the genus, the following species are popular: rock, mountain and sea.
Rock alyssum
A perennial shrub with highly branching stems up to 30 cm in height. With age, the plant requires rejuvenating pruning, as the stem is bare. Popular varieties of alissum rock:
- Golden wave - sprawling bushes up to 20 cm high. In this variety of alyssum, a golden cloud of inflorescences appears in late spring - early summer. Blooms in the second year after planting. Pubescent leaves of a silvery-green tone. The plant tolerates drought well and is easy to care for.
- Aphrodite - low compact bushes with purple flowers. Blooms in early June. Needs a little shading in the midday heat and moderate watering. Prefers fertile soil. It responds well to feeding with complex universal fertilizers. Dilute 20-40 g per bucket of water.
- Plenum - the variety is distinguished by double golden inflorescences.
Alissum mountain
Frost-resistant perennial no more than 20 cm in height with creeping stems and densely pubescent leaves, which makes them appear grayish. Flowering begins at the end of April. Inflorescences are yellow, with a strong sweet odor.
Alyssum Marine
This type of beetroot reaches a height of no more than 20 cm. As a perennial plant, it is grown only in southern latitudes. In central Russia, it is popular in an annual culture. It has firm, almost recumbent stems. Small flowers with a honey smell are collected in dense numerous brushes. It blooms from June to the onset of frost with white, pink, lilac and purple inflorescences. Alyssum marine - a mountain plant reproduces easily. For abundant flowering, it needs bright sun and nutritious soil with a neutral reaction.
This type of lobularia is especially effective in wide ribbons, arrays, borders. It is irreplaceable as the lower tier of uneven flower beds.
Tiny Tim variety - snow-white flowers cover the bushes like a hat. This creeping variety no more than 8 cm in height creates a complete illusion of sea foam among the boulders in the rock gardens.
Violet Koning - an ampelous variety creates whole lilac waterfalls in hanging pots.
Princess in Purple is another ampelous variety. In pots, this variety forms long, hanging purple shoots.On a flower bed, it will look like a solid carpet.
Reproduction of perennial alissum
This plant is propagated in three ways:
- seeds,
- cuttings,
- dividing the bush.
Seeds are sown in open ground in early spring, after the threat of frost has passed.
For germination, the seeds of perennial alissum need sunlight, so the seeds are scattered over the soil surface and lightly pressed with your hands.
To increase germination, it is better to cover the sowing site with plastic wrap. A few days later it is removed. Seedlings do not dive, so it is undesirable to sow them thickly. Excess seedlings are weeded out, leaving at least 10 cm between the shoots.
Propagation by cuttings is suitable for an adult, mature plant. This procedure can be combined with formative pruning at the beginning or end of summer. With a sharp pruner, cut out the excess branches and root them in the ground. The resulting young plants are planted in a permanent place not closer than 30 cm from each other.
The division of the bushes is carried out in April. The bushes are dug up and chopped up with a shovel. Several shoots should remain on each part. Delenki are seated in the same way as rooted cuttings. After planting, the alissum is watered.
How to properly trim alyssum
All varieties and varieties of lobularia need regular pruning. It promotes strong growth and better flowering.
Bushes that are not pruned begin to lose their decorative effect over time. Their stems become bare and the number of inflorescences decreases. In addition to trimming faded brushes, shoots are additionally shortened to 7–10 cm, at the same time forming beautiful, lush and moderately sparse bushes. Correct pruning increases decorative effect and significantly reduces the likelihood of powdery mildew disease. Rock alyssum after flowering is shortened by a third of the length.
Alyssum pests and diseases
Like all plants of the cabbage family, the alissum flower suffers from the cruciferous flea. To protect it from fleas, it is sprayed with infusion of garlic, wormwood, tobacco dust. In case of severe damage, chemical agents are used: "Aktara", "Aktellik", "Fitoverm".
With high humidity and thickening, the beetroot suffers from root rot and powdery mildew. Rot is manifested on it by yellowing of the leaves. Sick specimens are dug up, the roots are washed in a pink solution of potassium permanganate and planted in another place.
With a disease with powdery mildew, the leaves become covered with a whitish bloom and eventually become fragile and brittle. Severely affected plants are destroyed, the rest are treated with a fungicide solution. In the future, it is necessary to observe the watering regime and try not to thicken the planting.
Alyssum perennial in landscape design
Designers prefer to combine perennial alissums with ampel and ground cover petunias, pelargonium, turkish carnation.
A favorite place for Alyssum is the alpine slides. A dense scattering of delicate flowers exquisitely frames the stones, covering everything with a solid carpet.
High varieties are traditionally cut, adding honey notes to the aroma of bouquets. In flower beds, they are combined with irises, tulips, begonias.
When choosing a site for planting lobularia, you must take into account its strong sweet aroma. Neighboring plants should not interrupt him.
In addition to perennials, the annual varieties of white alissum Snow Carpet and Esther Bonnet are very popular among summer residents.
Planting a perennial alissum in the summer cottage will allow you to enjoy lush flowering and a delicate honey aroma from early spring to the very frost.