Foxtail pennisetum: description of varieties and species, planting, cultivation and care

Gardeners have long begun to plant not only flowers and ornamental shrubs, but also cereals on their plots. One of these cereals is the foxtail pennisetum, this is a spectacular plantation with fluffy spikelets of various colors. Plants are highly decorative, especially during the flowering period, for which they are loved not only by amateur flower growers, but also by landscape designers.

Description and features

Pennisetum (peristoschetinnik) foxtail - a cereal plant. It is a plantation with an upright stem up to 1 meter high and narrow long leaves.The top is crowned with spike-shaped inflorescence of beige, lilac, violet or red-brown color. During the dissolution period, it has a high decorative effect.

The inflorescence opens in late August or early September. But even with the onset of frost, the plant retains a spectacular appearance. The color of the vegetative parts changes to yellow, but the integrity of the plantation is preserved.

Additional information. The literal translation of pennisetum from Latin is a feather and a bristle.

Growing seedlings

When planting hardened young bushes in a flower bed, the development of pennisetum will begin earlier than when sown in open ground with seeds.

Timing

To plant pennisetum bushes in open ground, seeds are sown in early April. Then the seedlings will have time to grow and get stronger before planting in the ground. Young bushes are planted on the site in May.

Soil preparation

Loose soil is used to grow pennisetum foxtail seeds to make it easier for seedlings to develop. You can prepare the substrate yourself from a mixture of garden soil, peat and sand, or purchase soil for seedlings at a flower shop.

How to plant

You need to plant the seeds in separate small containers, because the bushes take root for a long time after transplanting. To do this, you can take 200-gram plastic cups or peat pots. When using peat pots, landing on the site is carried out without taking out an earthen clod. Seeds spilled on the surface are buried by 2-3 millimeters.

Irrigation

Seeds are planted in moist soil. When the top layer dries out a little, it needs to be moistened with a spray bottle. Water before irrigation is settled for at least a day.

Temperature and light conditions

Pots with seedlings are placed in a warm room, which is well lit by the sun. If the growing region is northern, then the containers are covered with film or glass and illuminated with phytolamps.

Ventilation

The mini-greenhouse needs to be ventilated every day, while removing condensation from the glass. If this is not done, pathogenic microorganisms may appear inside the containers that harm crops. When sprouts appear, the shelter is removed.

Landing in open ground

Bushes grown in a warm room are planted in the ground after the onset of heat. In order for them to adapt faster, they are hardened 2 weeks before planting, taking them out into the air for half an hour.

When to plant

Pennisetum foxtail is planted in open ground after the threat of frost has passed. In the southern regions, this may be the end of April, in the northern regions - mid-May. By this time, seedlings usually reach a height of 10-15 centimeters.

Choosing a seat

In nature, pennisetum grows in a hot climate, so a well-lit sun is selected for its landing site. The plant does not make great demands on the composition of the soil, the main thing is that it should not be too moist.

The constant presence of roots in moisture contributes to the defeat of their fungus.

Plant pattern

Since the pennisetum can grow strongly, the distance between the bushes is kept in the range of 50-90 centimeters. A dense planting is needed if a hedge needs to be organized from a plant. The depth of the planting hole is determined so that the seedlings have enough space for the development of roots.

Advice! If the distribution of the plant over the site is not planned, the planting area is fenced with slate, digging it to a depth of 50 centimeters.

Care

Caring for foxtail pennisetum does not take a lot of time and effort from the gardener during the season.

Irrigation

You need to moisten the earth only if there is not enough natural precipitation. In hot, dry summers, foxtail pennisetum is watered once a week.

Loosening and weeding

While the bushes are small, the soil around them needs to be constantly loosened. During this procedure, air enters the roots, and they develop better. In the same period, weeding is needed, otherwise the weeds will take away sunlight and moisture from young bushes.

Feeding

Foxtail pennisetum planted in fertile soil for the first years can not be fed. Adult bushes are fertilized in the spring with organic matter, for example, humus or manure. In summer, they are shed once a month with complex mineral dressing.

Diseases and pests

Pennisetum is rarely attacked by pests and diseases. In too dry summers, spider mites can appear, which are easily washed off with a stream of water. Young plants can choose aphids, which are removed with soapy water.

Cutting

Pruning the stems of foxtail pennisetum for the winter is not necessary for several reasons:

1. Dry wood prevents excessive moisture of the roots.
2. Keeps kidneys from freezing.
3. The plot looks decorative not only in summer but also in winter.

Cut only damaged leaves for the winter. In the spring, the entire ground part is completely cut off so that young stems can develop.

Mulching

To keep moisture in the root growth area in the hot summer, the bushes are mulched with peat, tree bark, sawdust. In addition, the mulch will prevent the soil layer from crusting after rain or watering.

Preparing for winter

Before the onset of frost, the trunk circle is additionally sprinkled with dry foliage, and covered with a special flooring. Another necessary procedure is abundant watering of the roots, because if the ground around them is wet, they are less damaged by frost. To prevent the tall stems from bending under the pressure of snow in winter, they are tied with a rope.

Reproduction

You can breed pennisetum foxtail in the garden in 2 ways: by seeds and by dividing the bush.

Seeds

You can propagate pennisetum seeds by planting them first on seedlings in April, or sowing directly into the ground in May. When using the seedling method, peat pots are used, which then rot in the ground, forming additional nutrition for the bushes.

Pennysetum can reproduce by self-sowing, spreading its seeds far.

Dividing the bush

Reproduction by dividing the bush is done when the plant has grown too large, and the stems have begun to shrink because of this. To do this, the plant is dug up, divided, and each division is transplanted into a separate hole. Care is the same as for adult plantings.

Pay attention! You need to divide the bushes with a sharp, disinfected tool.

Views

Of the many species in gardens, only a few are cultivated.

Foxtail

The height of the bushes varies between 40-100 centimeters. The color of fluffy panicles is red-brown or purple. In autumn, the foxtail pennisetum changes the color of the plates from green to yellow.

Oriental

The height range of the bushes is from 15 to 80 centimeters. Blooms in August with a pink-purple palette. As it grows, it forms extensive sods.

Shaggy

Plantings grow up to half a meter. Paniculate inflorescences have a white-golden color. Often grown as a container plant.

Simple

Tall plant produces erect stems. Spikelets are thin, elongated, appear in June. In autumn they turn yellow-brown.

Glue

Powerful shrub grows up to 2 meters. The name was given for the wide leaves of a bluish color. Spike-shaped large inflorescences are painted in burgundy-bronze shades.

Bristly

Very decorative look of tall pennisetum. Its entire ground part is painted in pink-purple colors. Beautiful flowers are used in winter bouquets.

Popular varieties

The following are some of the most popular varieties in demand by gardeners.

Hameln

This variety belongs to the leaf-tailed pennisetum. It has elongated spikelets with a light color. The leaves are narrow, rough to the touch.

Red Head

Globular bush, from its base grows a large number of trunks with smoky purple spikelets. The leaves are narrow, long, their color is gray-green.

Purple Baron

This is one of the varieties of gray pennisetum. Trunks and leaves are green with a purple bloom. The color of the long spikelets is ruby-purple, their ends are whitish.

Maudry

Pennisetum foxtail variety Maudri is decorated with pink-purple spikelets. The leaves are light green, with purple patches. A bush grows up to 90 centimeters.

Rubrum

All parts of pennisetum bristle grade Rubrum are colored red-violet. Developing, paniculate inflorescences create a semblance of a fountain.

Viridescence

Dense leaves of this variety are green at the beginning of the growing season, then turn purple. Panicles of inflorescences in Pennisetum foxtail Viridescens are black-purple, slightly arched. The height of the bush is 70 centimeters.

Ornamental

Pennisetum bluish variety Ornamental grows to a height of 1 meter in height and 40 centimeters in width. It has broad, bluish-green leaves. Dense spikelets are colored purple.

Moudry

The basal rosette of the foxtail pennisetum variety Maudri consists of green leaves and pink-smoky spikelets. The inflorescences are large, fluffy, densely cover the bush.

Hameln

Pennisetum foxtail Hameln consists of narrow green leaves that change color to yellow in autumn. The color of spikelets is light cream or beige. Handles winter well.

Landscape use

Pennisetum foxtail is used on the site as follows:

1. As a material that reinforces soil on slopes.
2. Landed on the banks of water bodies, forming a natural landscape.
3. Serves as a backdrop for low-growing flowering plants.
4. Planted as foreground for taller flowering shrubs.
5. Used in creating smooth transitions in flower beds.
6. Planted singly against the background of the lawn.
7. Growed in large flowerpots. For the winter, plants can be brought into a cool room.

Pennisetum foxtail blends well with the surrounding plantings, it looks spectacular, it is easy to care for. For these qualities, gardeners fell in love with him, using him in various compositions on their plots.

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