Armeria: planting and care in the open field, description of 25 species and varieties, reproduction

Armeria is a flowering perennial herbaceous type. Externally, the plant looks like a carnation, but forms smaller flowers. It is not difficult to grow an armeria in your area, it is important to follow the basic rules for planting and caring for a seaside beauty. An amazing flower has good frost resistance. Armeria is a great addition to alpine slides, presented in various colors: from white and pink to bright red shades.

Description and features

Armeria is a representative of the Svinchatkov family. Place of natural growth - the coast of North America. Short description:

• The bush forms grassy thickets.
• Plant height from 20 to 60 centimeters.
• The root system is pivotal.
• Upright smooth stem.
• Flowers are small, collected in spherical inflorescences.
• The flowering period is from May to September.
• The plant is photophilous, frost-resistant, drought-resistant.

The genus of armeria includes more than 90 species. The seaside beauty is a metallophyte, that is, it can grow on soils with a high degree of pollution with heavy toxic metals: lead, zinc and many others. Armeria cleanses the soil by processing harmful compounds.

Growing seedlings

The seaside beauty is bred in several ways:

• seedlings;
• sowing seeds directly into the ground;
• dividing the bush.

A convenient way to propagate armeria is to grow seedlings from seeds. Sowing in seedling boxes begins in mid-February. The procedure begins with the preparation of seeds, which are soaked for several hours in warm water and disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Timing

Mid-February or early March - the optimal time for sowing seeds in seedlings, after 7-10 days the first shoots appear, which begin to grow rapidly, by early April the seedlings are ready for planting in open ground.

Soil preparation

Armeria prefers nutritious, non-alkaline loose soils. Before sowing seeds, the ground in seedling boxes is disinfected with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate. Peat soil mixed with sand is used to grow seedlings.

How to plant

It is not necessary to pick young bushes, so sowing can be done in individual containers immediately.If a seedling box is used, then the distance between the sprouts is left at 3-4 centimeters. Seeds are sprinkled with earth to a depth of 1.5-2 centimeters and watered abundantly. Seedling containers are covered with foil until germination and placed on a warm windowsill.

Temperature and light conditions

Armeria is a photophilous plant, regular lighting is necessary for seed germination. The optimum soil temperature is +20 ^{С. When growing seedlings in partial shade, the sprouts are strongly stretched, the plant develops a fragile stem and a weak root system.}

Landing in open ground

Strengthened and hardened seedlings are planted in open ground in early May. Pre-select a place for young bushes and prepare the soil.

When to plant

In the spring, as soon as the soil warms up to +10 ^{С and the threat of frost has passed, the armeria is planted in a permanent place. In areas with a temperate climate, for several days after planting, the plants are protected from possible frosts with additional shelters.}

Choosing a seat

Herbaceous shrub is picky about light, a place for planting it is necessary to choose a sunny one. The flower grows well on slopes and small hills.

Important! Avoid stagnant moisture at the roots of armeria, install drainage. The plant will die in swampy soils.

Soil Requirements

Armeria does not tolerate alkaline soils, the plant does not take root well, loses its growth rate and decorative effect. In this case, the lime in the soil is neutralized with vinegar or ammonium nitrate. The best option is slightly acidic soil with the addition of sand and peat.

Plant pattern

Seaside beauty forms a fairly lush bush, it is recommended to maintain a distance between plants of at least 35 centimeters. To create a carpet, the interval between the bushes is reduced to 20 centimeters.

Care

Herbaceous flowering perennial with low care requirements, suitable for beginner gardeners, successfully grown in city beds.

Irrigation

For armeria, the statement is true: "it is better not to add than to overfill." Plants are resistant to drought, and from high humidity, the shrub rots and dies. Watering armeria should be moderate.

Feeding

Shrubs are fed three times a season with a complex of universal mineral fertilizers. The plant does not tolerate excess organic matter.

Important! The use of dolomite flour and wood ash as fertilizers is contraindicated.

The loosening procedure is often combined with mulching plantings with a mixture of peat and sand.

Cutting

To give a neat look to the shrub, the armeria is cut as the faded stems accumulate. With regular preventive pruning of the plant, the flowering period noticeably increases, the shrub looks well-groomed and retains its decorative appeal.

Transfer

In one place, the armeria grows no more than 5 years, then the bush degenerates, the number of buds noticeably decreases. 3-4 years after planting, the plants are rejuvenated and new seedlings are obtained by dividing the bush.

Diseases and pests

Steady immunity to diseases and pests is a hallmark of this flowering perennial. Armeria can get sick if the rules of care, agricultural technology and when grown on alkaline soils are not followed.

The main ailment affecting a beautiful flower is root rot. Do not allow waterlogging of the soil, more often loosen the soil. All damaged stems and leaves are removed from the plant with a pruner. In severe cases, fungicides are used - Bordeaux liquid, Fitosporin.

From insect pests, aphids should be wary, it destroys the flowers of the armeria. In this case, the bushes are treated with Aktara or other insecticides.

Preparing for winter

For the winter, armeria bushes are covered with dry leaves or spruce branches. All faded stems must be removed. Armeria is a frost-resistant plant that tolerates Russian winters well.

Collecting seeds

You can collect the seeds of armeria in a simple way: put on a kind of “cap” made of gauze or soft fabric on the flower. As soon as the seeds are ripe, they fall off and remain inside the cap. It is enough for the gardener to untie the device and pour the seed.

Views

There are more than 10 varieties of armeria, which are used in various landscape compositions. The flower looks great in rocky gardens, alpine slides, group and individual plantings.

Alpine

Perennial, forming flower-bearing stems 30 centimeters in height. Inflorescences are large, delicate white with a pink tint. Blooms all June. Due to the original shape of the leaves, it is highly decorative even without the presence of flowers.

Beautiful

Evergreen perennial that blooms all summer. The height of the plant depends on the variety: from 20 to 60 centimeters. The species is characterized by good frost resistance and strong immunity to fungal diseases. Beautiful armeria is often used in individual plantings.

Seaside

Magnificent flower blooms from mid-May, can form ornamental thickets. Peduncles are elongated to a height of 30 centimeters, form beautiful spherical inflorescences. Armeria maritima is an unpretentious plant with a high degree of drought tolerance. Bushes look beautiful in individual plantings along the edges of artificial reservoirs and in alpine slides.

Surky

Short perennial used for carpeting. Blooms from mid-July to late September. With proper care, it forms a large number of flowers, due to which the leaves become invisible.

Juniperleaf

The birthplace of this species is Spain and Portugal. Bushes of low growth, completely covered with large spherical flowers. Suitable for making carpets. The leaves resemble juniper needles.

Beautiful

Evergreen undemanding perennial with leaves shaped like grass. Forms long stems with spherical inflorescences, the diameter of which can reach 7 centimeters. In landscape design, it is used to decorate rocky gardens.

Arctic

Biennial herbaceous flower up to 20 centimeters high. In the second year, the arctic armeria fades and dies; under natural conditions, it can grow for several years. The diameter of the inflorescences is 2 centimeters, during flowering it gains up to 10 peduncles.

Velvicha

Tall herbaceous perennial, reaching a height of up to 50 centimeters. The leaves are pointed, elongated, but wide enough for armeria. Blooms profusely all summer. The diameter of spherical inflorescences is 2.5 centimeters.

Common

The second name is garden armeria, it can reach a height of 60 centimeters. During the flowering period, it forms up to 40 peduncles. The flower has a fragrant aroma and resistance to cold snaps and temperature extremes.

Popular varieties

All varieties of armeria are represented by different varieties. The choice of variety depends on the purpose of growing a flower and its use in landscape design.

Red Ballerina

Luxury original flower, decoration of alpine hills and rocky gardens. Spherical inflorescences of bright red color attract the eye, with the help of armeria of this variety, you can make color accents in the flower beds. In group landings, they go well with forget-me-nots.

Louisiana

Short representative of the armeria family, used for cultivation on alpine slides. It begins to bloom in the second year, pleases with flowers all summer. Differs in high winter hardiness, propagates by self-sowing.

Alba

The variety captivates with spherical flowers of delicate pink color, there are snow-white varieties. Blooms from May to mid-August. The height of flowering stems is 20 centimeters. Can winter without additional shelters.

Rosea

Bright, catchy pink flowers are designed to create a color accent in flower beds. The variety is used in individual plantings and decoration of city flower beds. The height of the peduncles is 20 centimeters.

Joystick White

Armeria variety is beautiful, has high decorative qualities, forms snow-white spherical flowers up to 40 centimeters high. Flowering time - from June to September.

Thrift

Considered one of the shortest members of the family. Suitable for making carpets. Does not tolerate excess moisture, is characterized by increased drought resistance.

Red Planet

Herbaceous perennial up to 35 centimeters high. Forms medium-sized spherical flowers of red color with a diameter of 4 centimeters. Suitable for decorating alpine slides and city flower beds. Does not tolerate alkaline soils.

Bees Ruby

Tall perennial with pink flowers. The representative of the Armeria species is beautiful. Reaches a height of 30 centimeters. The plant is unpretentious, grows in one place for more than 3 years. Tolerates drought and temperature fluctuations.

Dusseldorf Stolz

Variety of seaside army. Cushion-shaped herbaceous undersized perennial. Blooms from May to early August. It differs in the original color of the inflorescences - a bright raspberry-red color. The height of the peduncles does not exceed 20 centimeters.

Vindictive

Representative of seaside armeria with delicate scarlet flowers. A low-growing variety with narrow decorative green leaves. Drought-resistant, does not tolerate stagnant moisture at the roots and soil with low acidity.

Bloodstone

Herbaceous perennial with burgundy flowers, belongs to the varieties of seaside armeria. Flowers with a diameter of 4 centimeters are able to completely cover the bush. The plant is planted along the edges of artificial reservoirs and in individual plantings on alpine slides.

Brno

Soddy armeria variety. The leaves are shaped like needles, the flower is planted to create carpets. Brno is a ground cover plant. Forms pink flowers, drainage is required.

Bevanz Variety

Representative of the juniper-leaved species, forms dense cushions covering the soil with a continuous carpet. The variety is ideal for alpine slides and rocky gardens. Bivenz Variety is planted in sunny areas, in the foreground from other plants.

Mar Splendens

Perennial herbaceous plant with a strongly developed tap root.The beginning of flowering is May, the duration of the period is 70-80 days. Splendens forms spherical inflorescences of pink-purple color. Tolerates cold winters with little snow. In drought needs additional watering.

Anna Maria

A graceful representative of the beautiful army. The height of an adult plant is 35 centimeters. It begins to bloom in the second year from mid-May. Flowering time is 70-80 days. Forms inflorescences of a spherical shape of pink or white. In landscape design, they are used as a border plant.

It's hard to imagine an alpine hill without armeria. The plant is unpretentious, quickly takes root, has high decorative qualities in terms of both flowers and the shape of the bush. It is not difficult to take care of the plant, it is important to choose the right place for planting and observe the sowing dates.

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