Asclepius flower. Wadders in all their splendor. Growing and caring for ornamental vines

This plant, as, indeed, most of the genus of milkworts, is common in North America. It came to Europe at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century. It quickly spread to England, Germany, France and Finland. In Europe, the cottonwort was first imported as an industrial crop. From the stems, fibers for coarse fabrics, ropes, stuffing for upholstered furniture and toys.

(Asclepias syriaca) is one of the most cold-resistant and drought-resistant species of the genus (Asclepias). It was grown mainly as a pleasant-smelling, but, in general, it is not clear what useful plant. Indeed, its flowers, collected in spherical inflorescences, have a delightful scent of hyacinth. in Nikitsky botanical garden in the 30-50s, it was studied as an essential oil plant. Of the 26 studied species of the genus Asclepias L. (this is how the genus is called in Latin) it turned out to be the most promising. The harvest of flower raw materials amounted to 40-50 kg / ha, however, at a very low content, only 0.05-0.1% essential oil. But it is obtained by extraction, which makes it possible to obtain a substance containing not only volatiles, the so-called concrete.

The essential oil was obtained from the inflorescences. Therefore, the milkweed belongs to the group of flower raw materials. On the fourth day, from the opening of the first buds in the inflorescence, more than 90% of the flowers bloom. It is at this moment that the content of the concrete is maximum, and its perfume rating is the highest.

In all parts of the flower, the content of concrete varies from 0.34 to 0.54% of the raw mass of raw materials; pedicels, calyxes, corollas also have a different smell. For example, corollas and inflorescences have a strong heliotropic smell, calyxes have a slightly heliotropic smell, and flower stalks have a resinous-terpineol tint.

The concrete of the Syrian milkweed from the inflorescences is solid yellow-gray color with a very pleasant resinous-hyacinth smell with a note of heliotrope. The inflorescences are extracted with petroleum ether for 30 minutes. followed by washing. After distillation, a hardening concrete is obtained.

In the 30s, this plant was studied in detail for various purposes - it was proposed to use the fluff from leaflets with seeds to warm the clothes of polar explorers (the Arctic was then in vogue) instead of eiderdown. And indeed, it practically does not get wet and holds the volume well. Something like a modern synthetic winterizer.

The cottonwort was used as an anti-erosion plant, since its horizontally diverging rhizomes and roots are arranged in several tiers and fix large volumes of soil. Recommended for landscaping.

Another direction of its then study was the production of rubber. All parts of the plant secrete milky juice, and the USSR in the 30s was in great need of rubber. And as its source, they studied the Central Asian dandelions kok-saghyz and tau-saghyz, and, at the same time, the cotton plant. He still has more mass.

The whole plant contains triterpene saponins, which have an irritating effect, flavonoid glycosides, lignans, milky juice contains the poisonous glucoside asklepiadin, the seeds contain a brown dye, up to 20% fatty oil, which was tried to be used in the textile industry, to obtain solid fats, to manufacture - protective coatings.

Vatochnik - beautiful honey plant, the productivity of one hectare is 600 kg of honey, which differs strong aroma and does not dry out during storage.

And now only a decorative function remains.

botanical portrait

Va-tochnik Syriac (Asclepias syriaca) L. from the dove family (Asclepiadaceae)- perennial herbaceous rhizome plant with a height of 0.7 to 1.8 m. The tap root penetrates to a depth of 3-4 m and has a system of horizontal roots that extend from the main one almost at a right angle and are located in the soil in tiers in the amount of 3 to 5. The first is at a depth of 8-10 cm, the second is 16-18 cm, the rest are deeper. On the core part and side branches, a large number of buds are formed, from which vertically standing stems develop.

The leaves are entire, oblong-elliptical in shape, short-pointed, rounded, with a thick midrib, whitish from below due to dense tomentose pubescence, covered with scattered hairs above, short-petiolate.

The flowers are collected in dichasia with very short internodes and form a cymose inflorescence - a false umbrella. Each flower sits on a pedicel attached to a flowering stem, which is 4-8 cm long. Both pedicels and flowering stems are densely pubescent. Inflorescences are located in internodes mainly in the upper part of the stem. Flowers large, white to purple. Although I personally came across only plants with dirty pink flowers.

The fruit is a multi-seeded elliptical leaflet 6-10 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm wide, slightly drawn to both ends, whitish from dense short and soft pubescence. Seeds are flattened, ovoid, with a wide wrinkled margin and with elongated, keeled, darker tubercles on both sides.

Cultivation and reproduction of the Syrian milkweed

Vatochnik grows on slightly acidic dry sandy and sandy loamy soils, it develops better on alkaline, well-aerated soils, worse on wet heavy ones. This should be taken into account when choosing a site on the site. It is better to choose a sunny place. In one place it is advisable to grow 10-15 years. Before planting, it is necessary to clear the soil of weeds and apply mineral and organic fertilizers. In summer, keep the site clean from weeds.

For sowing it is better to use seeds with a one-year storage period, then their germination is from 80% and above. From the emergence of seedlings to the formation of the first pair of true leaves, an average of 10-12 days passes. By the end of the vegetative period, the Syrian milkwort has one stem 20-40 cm high with 8-11 pairs of leaves. One-year-old plants develop a tap root going deep into 30 cm, a system of horizontal rhizome lashes (3-4) 25-30 cm long and small suction roots (up to 60) with a diameter of 0.5 mm.

In October-November, the leaves completely fall off. The underground part of the plant overwinters, on which the renewal buds are located.

When breeding segments of rhizomes less hassle than using seeds. Rhizomes cut them into segments 5-10 cm long with 2-3 nodes on each. best term planting rhizomes - October-November. Their rooting rate ranges from 62 to 100%, depending on the length of the cut. In general, it is better not to make the segments too small, greed is not appropriate here. spring good results obtained by planting with segments of rhizomes 7-10 cm long. The depth of embedding is determined by the type and moisture content of the soil and should be at least 10 cm.

Rhizomes are planted in moist soil. The row spacing is 70 cm, the distance between plants in rows is 40-50 cm. The cotton plant is responsive to organic fertilizers.

The milkweed begins to grow at an air temperature of +11 + 13 ° C. It grows most intensively in the third decade of May and early June, and when budding and flowering occurs, growth stops.

The duration of flowering of one inflorescence is 4-8 days. But there are many inflorescences, therefore, in general, the duration of flowering is long.

In some years, the milkweed can be affected by dry spotting, a fungus from the genus Alternaria tenuis, fusarium, fungus Fusarium sp. Infections by fungal diseases are not widespread and usually do not require any measures.

An unpretentious and attractive culture is a rattan (pictured), planting and caring for which are surprisingly simple.

In nature, there are about 90 of the most diverse varieties of plants.

The second name of this culture is Asclepius. The plant is unpretentious and can grow in any garden plot, even on a poor substrate.

However, the use of a cotton swab in landscape design difficult due to its rapid growth to large sizes.

Description

America is the birthplace of culture. Most plant species grow in the Central and South America. About 90 species grow in nature, some of them are used in decorative floriculture.

The plant is quite large. It can grow up to 150 cm in height. Decorative foliage culture. The shape of the leaf plate is elliptical or ovoid. The leaves are quite large. The foliage of the yarrow is similar to the foliage of the rhododendron. The stems are thick and the roots grow horizontally.

It is important to know: parts of the plants contain a toxic substance, so it is recommended to be careful and wear rubber gloves when working with the plant.

Small flowers form umbrella inflorescences. The colors are varied: red, white, orange and pink. Inflorescences have a thin and very pleasant aroma.

Varieties

Syrian squid

There are over 80 species in the genus. In culture, four species are usually grown. Among them, three species are perennials, and only one species is annual.

In decorative floriculture, the following varieties of quilt are grown:

Landing features

Note: stagnant moisture in the soil is dangerous for the plant, so the groundwater level should be low.

It is better to grow a succulent in a site well lit by the sun. Growing in the shade will result in late flowering and less intense flowering.

The plant is very strong and fast growing. The distance between the side shoots and the main stem can be about one and a half meters. Therefore, when choosing a place, it should be remembered that the culture can harm nearby growing crops.

It is advisable to plant a plant near outbuildings in the background of flower beds.

Boarding process:

1. The soil needs to be dug up and cleared of weeds.
2. It is desirable to introduce into the ground.
3. The plant is planted at a distance of at least 60 cm from each other and from other plants.
4. Planting can be done after the end of frost.

Features of care

Vatochnik - unpretentious culture. But in order to get a healthy and profusely flowering bush and enjoy bright and fragrant inflorescences for many years, you need to follow a number of rules for caring for it:

• irrigation regimen depends on the varietal variety of the plant. So, the meat-red milkwort needs more frequent and plentiful watering than the Syrian one. However, all varieties do not tolerate overflows and overdrying;
• before flowering and after it is necessary to make top dressing. Before flowering, it is recommended to feed the plant, and after - nitrophoska;
• in spring and autumn, it is recommended to remove all old, dried shoots;
• for the winter it is recommended to make a shelter, especially in regions with a cold climate. As a shelter, you can use spruce branches.

Periodically, it is required to loosen and weed the soil around the bush.

Growing conditions outdoors

It is recommended to comply following conditions cultivation:

1. Observe the irrigation regime, preventing the soil from drying out and an excess of moisture;
2. Feed the plant in time;
3. Remove wilted buds and old shoots;
4. Plant a cotton plant in a sunny area or in partial shade;
5. Some species are not winter hardy, so they need to be covered for the winter.

In general, the vatochnik - unpretentious plant, which even not the most experienced grower can grow.

Reproduction and transplant

The plant propagates in the following ways:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• division of the root.

Seeds can be sown before winter or early spring. Sow them in a moist substrate. It is recommended to keep crops at a temperature of about 17 degrees, but not higher. Periodically it is required to moisten the substrate, avoiding overflows.

Seedlings are planted in the ground after the end of frost. The seeds are of low germination. This is especially true for seeds that were purchased at the store.

Keep in mind: if you sow the seeds of the tuberose Asclepius, then flowering can be seen in the summer. Other species bloom 4 years after sowing seeds.

Cuttings are harvested in early summer. The length of the cutting is no more than 20 cm. They are immediately planted in moistened sand, without waiting for the milky juice to dry out. AT open ground they are planted after rooting.

In spring or late autumn, you can propagate the plant by dividing its root system. The rhizome is divided into several parts no larger than 15 cm in size. Each part must have buds. The resulting parts are planted in permanent places of growth. The culture will bloom in the summer.

In one place, the milkweed grows for 15 years, so during this time it is not necessary to transplant it without the need.

Diseases and pests

whitefly

Asclepius is highly resistant to different kind diseases. The most common pests are:

• spider mite;
• whitefly.

It is necessary to fight them through the use of insecticidal preparations. From folk remedies soap solution is effective.

Possible difficulties

The culture is unpretentious, so the owners rarely encounter difficulties.

Among the problems are:

• Falling and yellowing of the leaves is a sign of insufficient air humidity;
• If the leaves become moldy, then the humidity of the air or soil is excessively high;
• Dropping buds is a sign of a prolonged drought;
• If the plant does not bloom or blooms for a very short time, the plant is probably not getting enough sunlight and warmth.

Vatochnik or Asklepias is an unpretentious and spectacular culture that is actively used in decorative floriculture and landscape design. These are large bushes with bright and fragrant inflorescences that require a minimum of care.

About fragrant plant Vatochnik see tips experienced gardener on cultivation and agricultural technology in the following video:

Asklepias (Asclepias), or vatochnik - is a perennial shrub. It is considered to be North and South America.

The Syrian milkweed grows up to 0.8-1.5 m, this type of Asklepias is a long-liver. He lives up to 30 years. Its stems are erect, with often planted oblong-shaped leaves. The length of the leaves is 14 cm. They are dark green in color and are very similar to the foliage of rhododendron.

The difference of this species is the fall of the lower leaves and, as a result, the exposure of the root part of the shoot. Flowers Syrian milkweed color pink with a diameter of 8-10 mm. Collected in an inflorescence, the flowers of the vine form an umbrella. Flowering begins in July and continues until the first frost.

Features of caring for a cotton pad

Asklepias has an amazing exotic beauty and is completely undemanding in care. He endures various weather and climatic features region. Does not require a strict watering schedule and sunlight. It grows well on both loamy and fertilized soils.

The weed is growing fast

Since the offspring of the milkweed can appear at any distance from the main bush, it should have enough space on the site. 60 centimeters in all directions is quite enough for a vatochnik.

Vatochnik does not tolerate neighborhood with any cereal crops. A with decorative flowers he will be comfortable. The best neighbors become aconite or bell.

Growing Asklepias for seedlings

The seeds of the plant are sown in March in a container and grown like ordinary seedlings.
After the appearance of two true leaves, the plant must be seated in separate cups. As constant heat is established, sprouts can be planted in open ground by transshipment.

Sowing in open ground

You can sow the seeds directly in open ground. To do this, it is necessary to hold the seeds in moist sandy soil a month before planting. After the emergence of shoots from seeds, the plant is capable of flowering only after 3-4 years. Therefore, it is better to propagate Asklepias by dividing the bush.

For decorative purposes, the plant is usually pinched. So it will form beautiful lush bushes.

reproduction

• cuttings

In order to divide the milkweed into cuttings, it is necessary at the beginning of June to cut the young shoot into pieces, each 15 cm long. Remove the lower leaves on them, and insert the cutting into wet sand. Such a reproduction procedure must be carried out quickly, because if the stalk loses a lot of milky juice, it will take a long time to take root. Cuttings take root for about 20 days.

• The division of the bush

They are engaged in dividing the bush late autumn when the flowering period is over. The bush is dug up, the rhizome is divided into parts, the stems are dismantled and the already divided parts of the milkweed are planted on permanent place residence.

There should be new buds on each part of the rhizome. This method of propagation of the plant helps it take root well, and young bushes are capable of flowering as early as next summer.

Grow a cottonwort in the garden or on suburban area- not very difficult, even a novice gardener can do it. In addition to watering and fertilizing, the cotton plant needs pruning to form a neat bush. If you need to rejuvenate the plant, all ground parts of the shoot should be cut off, then the root will start new shoots. Gardeners recommend cutting flower stalks after flowering, but only if seed collection is not planned.

Watering

Immediately after planting, the plant should be watered regularly. A young plant has a branched powerful root system, which will be able to provide the plant in the future. necessary quantity moisture. But you should always monitor the condition of the soil: with a strong daytime heat, the cotton wool should be watered in the evening.

Transfer

The bush lives in one place for 15 years. Unless necessary, it is not transplanted. The transplant procedure is well tolerated. Transplanting is best done after watering, so that the earth remains on the roots. After transplanting, the plant needs abundant watering.

When and what to feed

Immediately after the snow melts in the area where the cotton plant is planted, it is necessary to remove the covering material from the plant. This will provoke the growth of young shoots. After the appearance of young greenery, you can add fertilizer to the soil from complex mineral fertilizers. So the stems and leaves will begin to grow faster, and the flowering of the milkweed in the summer will be lush and plentiful.

Shelter for the winter

In order to keep the fleece on land plot and on next year was lush and blooming, it must be well covered for the winter. Dry leaves, sawdust or dried tree bark can serve as a covering material. Before you hide the plant from frost, it is advisable to cut dry shoots at a height of 10 cm from the ground, this will preserve the decorativeness of the plant, and the old cut stems are suitable for shelter.

Growing problems

• The worm is rarely affected various diseases and pests. However, a bite to the rat can attack small fly- whitefly, which sucks all the juices out of it, which leads to the drying of the plant. The preparations "Fufanon", "Rovikurt" or "Aktellik" will help to destroy the pest. They must be cooked strictly according to the instructions.
• Another problem is inadequate air humidity. With an excess of it, the plant may become moldy, and with a deficiency, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and fall off. In the first case, you need to lower the humidity level, you need to find a drier place, in the second, systematic spraying will be required.

Vatochnik or asklepias is far from the most famous flowering plant for gardeners and flower growers. Its flowering is not as lush and bright as that of luxurious lilies or roses, and the color palette is not rich - pink, purple and orange. At the same time, the bushes themselves grow large and spread out, occupying a lot of garden space. And, although the plant does not claim to be the main roles on stage garden design, it is in its own way very attractive and original. At the very least, the vatnik is certainly worth being at least paid attention to as a modest, but not at all superfluous extra on the plot.

general description

Another name for the quilt is the gospel. Belongs to the Kutrov or Lastovnevy family. The plant is powerful, bushy and tall enough for a herbaceous perennial, reaching a meter or more in height. sitting in pairs large leaves have an oval or longitudinal shape. The rhizome is strong, thickened, grows horizontally and can go to considerable distances from the central bush. The inflorescences are complex-umbrella, fragrant, attracting bees, and are excellent honey plants. Painted in brown-red or dirty pink, less often greenish-purple with long pointed leaves. Flowering occurs in the second half of summer and early autumn.

The plant got its name for the characteristic tufts in the seeds, resembling cotton wool. The people often used them in this capacity. Seed pods are large, up to 10 cm, self-opening. After opening, the pubescent seeds are dispersed by the wind over long distances, however, under conditions of middle latitudes, self-sowing culture practically does not spread due to cold autumn.

Vatochnik has medicinal and technical application. In addition to a cotton substitute in living conditions, it, along with other threads, was used for the production of yarn and fabrics. There were attempts to obtain rubber from the milky sap of the plant, but the idea was unsuccessful.

Varieties of milkweed

There are more than 200 natural varieties of Asclepias. Both the American continents and Africa are their homeland. In nature, the plant can be both deciduous and evergreen, sometimes taking a shrub form. It was brought to Europe for the purpose of technical use, but the expectations were not met and interest in culture was lost. Despite this, Asklepias found his niche in amateur design park areas and personal plots, and in domestic use, and for medicinal purposes.

At present, several species of the most cold-resistant and decorative species are cultivated in Russia.

The plant is native to the North American continent, and its Asian name received by pure misunderstanding.

A plant breeder from Italy, Cornuti, confused it with another crop - kendyr, which grows in Syria. The error was discovered by K. Linnaeus during the classification, the genus of the plant was changed, and the name was saved. This is a tall and even somewhat majestic variety, growing almost to human height. It has erect densely leafy powerful stems and large, relatively wide leathery leaves deep green color. As it grows, the lower rows of leaves begin to fall off, exposing the stem. The flowers are light pink, large enough, collected in spherical umbrella-shaped inflorescences with a luxurious aroma. It blooms in early July and blooms all month, actively attracting bees.

Despite the fact that the autumn cold does not allow falling seeds to take root, the Syrian milkwort reproduces perfectly with the help of a creeping rhizome. Sprawling into different sides, the roots give young shoots, which can sometimes be found at considerable distances from the bush itself.

Another North American variety. The stem is branched, tall, densely leafy. The leaves are elongated, slightly pubescent. This type less winter-hardy, but more moisture-loving, in winter it requires shelter with mulch. Umbrellas of inflorescences are painted in pink-purple tones. The aroma, compared to the Syrian species, is less pronounced, but more subtle, and the bush itself is less prone to capturing territories and grows compactly and densely. Among artificially grown varieties, Ice Ballet is especially interesting - tall and blooming with snow-white balls.

A small decorative showy variety with rich orange flowers that stay on the stems for a very long time and can be grown for cutting. Requires good hiding place into winter. In very frosty winters can freeze even under a thick layer of mulch, so it is not recommended for planting in regions with a very cold climate. There are varietal groups with other colors of buds - yellow, pink, red.

Of all the varieties of culture, this one presents the most high requirements care.

From a botanical point of view, this is not a separate species, but many beekeepers call this plant that way, as well as the Crimean or Siberian doves. It is a valuable honey plant due to its increased drought resistance. When other melliferous crops are already drying up and stop producing nectar, this species is still feeding the bees with its nectar. Honey from it is fragrant, gives a fine-grained cage.

Moisture-loving evergreen variety with rich green even elongated leaves and very bright flowers in red-orange palette. It can be grown as an annual, as it throws out the first buds 4.5 months after sowing with seeds. It is undemanding to soil fertility, but less drought-resistant than other species.

It should be borne in mind that the seeds of the Croissave variety germinate for a long time, up to 3 months.

Relatively short perennial with narrow hairy leaves and greenish-purple inflorescence balls. It is frost-resistant, well stands in cut, exacting to moisture.

Selecting a landing site

Caring for a cotton pad starts with right choice places. If it is a perennial or rhizomatous variety, it can live in one place for 10 years or more, and this must be taken into account. Culture loves open areas, but tolerates partial shading. Consideration should be given to the tendency of some species of Asclepias to grow and capture territories. At the same time, it does not form a dense curtain in one place, but releases child layers that can grow in the most unexpected places far from the main plant. If this is undesirable, you need to set a limit in advance, for example, dig pieces of old slate around the flower bed or a special garden tape to a depth of 30-40 cm.

Almost all varieties of the plant contain poisonous white juice in the stems and leaves, which can irritate the skin and mucous membranes, and cause dermatitis. It becomes especially dangerous on sunny days.

Soil Requirements

The ideal option would be slightly acidic loam. Yet for the right choice suitable place and substrate should be guided by a specific variety of Asclepias, since they may have different preferences. For example, planting and caring for a drought-resistant Syrian or spicy milkweed are very different from the agricultural practices of growing a moisture-loving meat-red species.

Watering

Irrigation requirements are completely dependent on the needs of a particular species, therefore general recommendations can be reduced to ensuring good drainage and compliance with the agricultural practices of the varietal group.

top dressing

After the snow melts, it is recommended to add rotted organic matter, such as compost, under the bushes. In the future, two top dressings will be optimal - before the start of flowering with the inclusion of potassium sulfate, nitrogen and urea, and again after the end of flowering - with nitrophoska.

Transfer

Despite the long lifespan perennial varieties, the milkweed, unlike many other centenarians, is recommended a rejuvenating transplant with a frequency of 4-5 years. This allows not only to extend the period of its life and flowering, but also gives it a more presentable, neat appearance. The new place should not be fundamentally different from the old one in terms of soil, light or substrate moisture, because the transplant itself is stressful for the plant. But in general, the culture tolerates it well.

Wintering

Not all types of Asclepias are well tolerated. winter cold. The only "Siberian" among the varieties of culture is the Syrian sheepwort. It can be left to winter as is. The rest require varying degrees shelter, which is well suited for fallen leaves, sawdust and other materials as a thick layer of mulch. Before shelter it is necessary to cut off all shoots current year up to 10 cm from the ground. They are also left in the garden for warming.

Reproduction from seeds

Growing a milkwort from seeds is one of three possible ways, along with dividing the bush with the root and the rhizome itself. This method is preferable for more southern latitudes, since in middle lane heat for the full ripening of seeds and the appearance of ovaries may not be enough. Stratification is mandatory for a month in a wet substrate (sand, sawdust). In March, they are planted in a container with a light substrate. Good fit ready mix for indoor flowers, sprinkled on drainage layer. The depth of seed placement is no more than 2 cm. Further equipment is common with the arrangement of a mini-greenhouse, airing and watering every 2-3 days. Shoots appear in 10-14 days. Recommended picking with pinching the root at the stage of 4-5 leaves. Removal into open ground is carried out with the onset of stable heat, closer to the beginning of summer.

Expect first bloom seed propagation maybe 3-4 years.

Division of the rhizome

The most effective way of reproduction, the best time for which is autumn, after flowering has ended. Especially good if it rained the day before. A good, developed, strong bush is dug up with a rhizome, which is washed and divided into parts with the obligatory presence of at least one kidney. Landing delenok is done immediately. Watering young bushes is done frequently until the roots reach the desired depth for self-feeding.

Reproduction by cuttings

The cuttings are cut in June in 15 cm segments. After removing the lower leaves, they are placed in a moist nutrient substrate. After about 3 weeks the young root system will be formed and ready for transplanting to a permanent place.

Medicinal use

Lastoven or vatnik gives a valuable medicinal raw material, which is used as an expectorant, antispasmodic, analgesic and antimicrobial agent. For this, medicinal infusions decoctions. At the same time, it is extremely important to be guided by proven recommendations and advice from a doctor. It is especially important to keep in mind that the plant is poisonous, so you need to use it for any purpose with extreme caution and knowledge of the matter.

Potential Growing Problems

• Whitefly. Signs of damage are the drying of the stems, from which the insect sucks the juices. You can fight the pest with Aktellik, Rovikurt and other specialized insecticides.
• Mold on the ground. If mold appears on the ground near the bush, you should be afraid that the root system is starting to rot. At the same time, yellowing and leaf fall can be seen. The reason is waterlogging.
• The plant drops unopened buds. The reason is that it is too dry. The bush should be watered abundantly once, and then the watering regime should be restored gradually, avoiding new stress for the weakened plant.

Family Lastovnevye.

The plant vatochnik or asklepias is an infrequent guest on garden plots, because many gardeners consider it a weed, not realizing what are the possibilities for creating decorative flower arrangements provides them with an unpretentious and in its own way interesting culture. In addition, Asclepias does not require constant care and attention, it is able to grow quickly and bloom for a long time. It suppresses the growth of weeds, saving the gardener from having to weed the area where he grows.

About what types and varieties of the flower of the milkwort are used in horticulture, as well as how to properly grow this crop will be discussed in this article.

Origin of the milkweed

Homeland - America, several species from Africa. In nature, there are 80 species this plant. For cultivation in the garden, 3 perennial species and 1 annual species are used.

The generic scientific name is given by the name of the god of healing Asclepius, or Aesculapius (Greek - Asclepios, Latin - Aesculapus), for medicinal properties its types. The ripened seeds of the butterflies are covered with fibrous cotton-like fluff, for which the plant got its name.

The first came to Europe in the 17th century. as a technical culture and quickly spread to France, Germany and other European countries. It can be assumed that the cottonwort was soon brought to Russia. At first, the stems were used to make fibers for coarse fabrics, ropes, stuffing for furniture and soft toys. Later, the tufted fleece went to the production of film, various rescue equipment, since they practically do not get wet. The hairs of the tufts were added in the manufacture of silk, cotton, woolen and other yarn, and from these “mixtures” amazingly beautiful, shiny fabrics were obtained, but, alas, fragile. In some cases, the hairs of the tufts were used instead of cotton wool.

Botanical description

According to the botanical description, it is a perennial herbaceous plant, often up to 2 m high, with simple, opposite, large, thick oval and oblong leaves, about 12 cm long, covered with felt pubescence on the underside. The upper part of the leaf plate is dark green, the lower part is gray-green. The leaves have a distinct central vein. The leaves are held on a short petiole.

The root system is strong, pivotal, with root processes extending to the side. The stem is thick, hollow, and milky juice protrudes at its break.

The flowers of the Asklepias plant are bisexual, small, spindle-shaped, fragrant, red, white, orange-lilac or pink-lilac. Collected in cymose umbellate inflorescences. Perianth five-membered, double. The calyx is divided. Stamens 5.

The fruit is a sickle-shaped box with a corrugated surface, about 12 cm long. A fully ripe box bursts, dark brown seeds with white pubescence scatter from it.

Blooms in July - August. Blossom given culture starts 2-3 years after planting.

You can see in more detail the structure and color of the inflorescences of the plant of the milkweed in the photo below:

Types and varieties of cotton wool

The meat-red or incarnate milkweed (Asclepias Incarnata L.) In the US, it is called marsh milk plant, pink milk plant, marsh silk plant. Distribution and habitat Homeland - eastern and central regions of North America.

Perennial herbaceous plant up to 120 cm high. The leaves are opposite, slightly hairy, elongated or broadly lanceolate. The flowers are red or pink-purple with a pleasant aroma, collected in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence up to 6 cm in diameter. Blooms in July-August. There is decorative varieties with white flowers. The meat-red milkweed has a milder flavor than the Syrian milkweed, and most of all resembles fresh chocolate butter.

Varieties of the meat-red rattan:

"Ice Bucket" - white flowers collected in umbellate inflorescences;

"Sinderella" - pink flowers.

The meat-red view of the flower of the milkweed is shown in the selection of photos below, where you can also consider its varieties.

Syrian milkwort (Asclepias Syriaca L.) In the US, it is called the common dairy plant. Syrian milkwort is also known as Aesculapius, milkweed and swallow grass. The Syrian quilt has nothing to do with Syria. The Italian traveler and naturalist Kornuti mistook the yoghurt for another plant - "kendyr", growing in the Middle East, in particular in Syria. Carl Linnaeus established that these are different, although close plants, and assigned it to the genus "Asklepias", but left the definition "Syrian" behind it. Distribution and habitat Homeland - the eastern states of North America.

The Syrian milkwort is a perennial herbaceous plant for open ground up to 150 cm high, which has oblong-elliptical dark green, leathery leaves 10–15 centimeters long and 5–7 centimeters wide. Flowers up to 1 cm in diameter, light pink, fragrant, collected in large umbellate inflorescences. Blooms in July 30-35 days. The fruit is a swollen sickle-shaped green box with a corrugated surface, 10–12 centimeters long, which opens laterally when ripe. Numerous dark brown seeds are covered with long snow-white silky hairs. The wind carries the seeds over long distances, but in the middle lane they, unfortunately, ripen only in those years when there is a long, dry and warm autumn.

tuberose tuberose- perennial herbaceous plant, reaching up to 70 cm in height. Possesses orange flowers collected in dense inflorescences umbrellas. Flowering lasts from July to October. The species has an average frost resistance, therefore, in central Russia for the winter, it is required to cover it with spruce branches or dense material.

In gardens, the most common variety of tuberose "Gay Butterflies" - with fiery red flowers

Curassavian milkweed (A. curassavica). Perennial 70-90 cm high. It has graceful, openwork inflorescences with red-orange flowers that can stand for a long time in the cut. Grow the species as an annual.

The following varieties are in the greatest demand:

"Ballet on Ice" - with white inflorescences;

"Soulmate" - light lilac upper petals of flowers and rich lilac - lower ones;

"Magaraja" - orange flowers;

HERE TEXT

"Boa" - top part the flower is white, the lower one is purple.

The described types and varieties of the Asclepias flower are shown in the photo below, by looking at which the gardener can better imagine their purpose in the garden:

Requirements for environmental conditions and caring for the milkweed

Like many other perennial herbaceous plants asklepias is unpretentious and quite capable of successfully growing, developing and blooming even in the absence of good conditions and care. This is not surprising, because the flower is often found in nature, choosing areas that are not entirely favorable for many plants. He easily tolerates the negative impact environment, has the ability to quickly recover, does not require frequent watering, fertilizing and lighting. The most demanding care is Asclepias tuberous. Detailed information for gardeners on how the planting and caring for it is given below.

Location. Asklepias is photophilous, it is planted only in sunny areas, although the meat-red species tolerates some shading. When planting, you need to take into account that the Syrian milkweed is growing quite aggressively, capturing new territories. Therefore, if you want to have a more or less compact "bush", the plant should be limited by digging a curb around it, or grown in a container dug into the ground with good drainage holes. It is possible to plant a vatochnik away from others ornamental crops, in tapeworms, but it should be borne in mind that new shoots can form very far from the mother bush. In other words, the Syrian quilt needs a lot of space, about 70 cm in all directions.

The soil. They are undemanding to the soil, any nutrient soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction are suitable.

Watering. The meat-red Asclepias species is moisture-loving, the Syrian species is drought-resistant.

Top dressing. When caring for a cotton plant, it is enough to fertilize 2 times per season: the first time before flowering using urea and potassium sulfate, the second time after flowering using nitrophoska.

In early spring to stimulate growth and abundant flowering it is recommended to pour organic fertilizer under the bush, for example, compost.

Transfer. A transplant is required in order to rejuvenate the plant and give it a neat appearance. Flowers are planted in a new place in 4 to 5 years, however, many gardeners transplant this crop even after 10 years.

Winter hardiness. In order for the vatnik to successfully overwinter and next year could again please with its flowering, its shelter should be well prepared. All species, except for the Syrian, must be preventively mulched with sawdust, covered with a dry leaf or dried tree bark. Before you cover the plant, you need to cut its stem up to 10 cm in length. Cut stems can be used as a covering material. The Syrian species is frost-resistant, so it does not require shelter for the winter.

Breeding problems. In the process of growing a milkweed, the gardener rarely encounters any difficulties, but sometimes asclepias in the garden can infect the whitefly, which feeds on the juice of this crop, sucking it out of the stem. This causes the flower to dry up. In the fight against pests, drugs such as Aktellik and Rovikurt are effective.

One of the possible problems when breeding a plant is the appearance of mold on the soil, shortly after this, rotting of its roots can be observed. This comes from constant waterlogging of the soil caused by excessive watering. With excessive moisture, the leaves turn yellow and gradually fall off.

Sometimes the gardener notices that the Asclepias drop their buds. The reason for this is the drying of the soil. It is necessary to immediately irrigate and monitor the condition of the earth under the bush in the future.

Conditions for growing a succulent from seeds

Propagated by seeds and vegetatively - by dividing the bush, a segment of rhizomes. It is preferable to divide in spring or in the second half of summer. Transplant tolerates well.

In the warm regions of Russia, the cultivation of the seedlings from seeds is quite successful, while in the middle lane this method is impractical, since the ovaries may not appear.

For seed propagation, it is recommended to pre-stratify the seeds for a month in wet sand. In March, they need to be planted in containers with light soil. You can use ready-made soil for home flowers. At the bottom of the container, you must first pour a layer of drainage, then the soil. Make small furrows in the soil and fill them with seeds. The embedment depth should be 1.5 - 2 cm.

After planting the seeds of the flower of the milkweed, carry out care: moisten the soil, cover the container with seedlings with a film to create a mini greenhouse, ventilate the greenhouse daily, removing the film for several hours. Watering should be carried out after 2 - 3 days, checking the condition of the soil, how dry it is. It is useful to spray the soil with water at room temperature.

When sprouts appear, remove the containers to a room with a temperature not exceeding 18 degrees and sufficient lighting.

Seeds sown at home in such conditions sprout together and fairly quickly, in about 10–15 days. After the plants get stronger, the film can be removed. The grown seedlings must be dived in individual containers with a layer of drainage and nutrient soil. To stimulate growth, the top must be pinched.

In early June, with the advent of real heat, the plant is given a permanent place in the open field.

In warm regions, you can immediately plant the seeds of the milkwort in open ground, then take care of the crops. This work is best done in early spring, immediately after the snow melts. Prepare the site for planting in advance: dig, remove weeds, loosen. After that, make deep furrows, moisten them and sow the seeds to a depth of 2 - 3 cm. Then sprinkle the seeds with earth. In the first weeks after planting, water the seedlings daily, except on rainy days.

With seed propagation, they bloom in the 3rd - 4th year, with vegetative propagation - in the year of planting or the next year.

Other methods of reproduction of the milkweed

Most effective way reproduction of the milkwort is the division of rhizomes. The best time for this - late fall when the plant has already flowered. It is recommended to perform work after rain or watering. To do this, choose a strong, well-grown bush, carefully dig it out, divide the rhizome into several fairly large parts, each of which should have its own bud.

Each part is placed in a pre-prepared hole, watered and covered with soil. In order for the asclepias to easily take root in a new place, its stem is cut off, leaving no more than 10 cm. After planting, it is important to regularly water the planted young plants until the root system grows and can independently extract moisture from the deep layers of the soil. Fortified bushes are watered only during dry periods.

When propagating by cuttings at the beginning of summer, young shoots are cut into cuttings about 15 cm long. The lower leaves are removed, the cutting is immediately placed in wet sand. The cutting takes root in about 3 weeks.

The following selection of photos shows how the plant is planted and cared for until the young plant is fully rooted:

The use of a milkweed

Asklepias on the site has always had a wide range of uses due to its beautiful variegated inflorescences and openwork foliage. This is a universal flower that can be used both in group and single landings. Thanks to its amazing ability to grow quickly, it can be used to create a lush, massive carpet of greenery, filling in the voids in the garden.

It is planted in cases where it is necessary to enclose a certain place, for example, a resting place, in order to be able to retire with a company from prying eyes, or a compost pit so that it does not spoil the view in the garden.

It is also suitable for creating rocky slides.

The padded jacket is combined with many perennials and helps to make unusual, vibrant compositions. It looks most harmonious with cereals, tall flowers, asters, aconites, echinacea, tall bells, miscanthus.

In addition, asklepias is grown in the garden and as medicinal plant, from the parts of which medicinal infusions and decoctions are made. They have antimicrobial, expectorant, antispasmodic effect.