All about the Lavatera flower. Lavatera perennial (Khatma) - “Wild rose”: planting, care and cultivation
Lavatera flowers are also found under other popular names, such as wild rose or Khatma. This is an elegant plant that does not require particularly careful care, but is a decoration for any flower garden. Today, thanks to selection, you can find a fairly large selection of varieties of perennial and annual lavatera, so every gardener will be able to choose a suitable plant for cultivation.
The best varieties and types
Lavaters are annual and perennial; the height of the bushes, depending on the variety, can vary from 50 to 200 cm, the branches of the plant are strong, and the crown is powerful. The main part of the varieties has lobed leaf blades that are covered with small hairs; they are located alternately on the stems. The flowers are large in size, usually their diameter reaches 9-11 cm, the color is yellow, crimson, white, purple and pink, they can grow alone or in 3-4 pieces. Flowering lasts from June to October.
Annetta
An annual flower, it is a member of the mallow family. The height of the erect stem usually does not exceed 65 cm, and there are many branches on it. The bush is completely covered with short and stiff hairs, the shape of the flowers is funnel-shaped, their shade is light pink. The bush is almost completely covered with flowers. The plant is not demanding in terms of care and can grow in partial shade or light.
Barnsley
This variety is a hybrid, the plant is perennial and looks quite powerful, its height can reach two meters in height. The leaf blades are gray-green in color, often round in shape, but can also be heart-shaped with fluff. The flowers are quite large (8-9 cm in diameter), grow singly, their color is pinkish-white, and the pedicels are long. Flowering can be observed from July to the beginning of autumn.
Sun Goddess
The plant is an annual plant, the stem height is about 115 cm, the leaf blades are dark green, large in size, the stem is highly branched. The flowers are funnel-shaped, they are located in the axils of the foliage, the diameter does not exceed 6-7 cm. The plant loves sunlight and is resistant to cold weather and dry weather. This variety is often used in group plantings.
Moonlight
Belongs to the group of annual lavatera, the flower is very branched and powerful, the stem grows up to 125 cm in height. Flowers large sizes, their shape is funnel-shaped, diameter is about 10 cm, the color of the petals is soft pink, there is a silver tint. The flowering period lasts from the beginning of July until the onset of persistent cold weather. The flower tolerates cold and drought painlessly and grows well in a lighted area.
Melange
The plant is strong, highly branched, grows up to 90 cm in height. The diameter of the flowers varies from 6 to 9 cm, their shape is funnel-shaped, the color is white, pink and red. It begins to bloom in mid-summer and ends with the onset of cold weather. The variety is cold-resistant, tolerates heat well, and grows on almost any type of soil.
Parade
The height of the stems of this variety usually does not exceed 80 cm, the bushes are medium-branched, quite compact, strewn with medium-sized flowers (5-7 cm in diameter), the color of the inflorescences is white, dark pink and red-pink. The stems are covered with short hairs. The plant can grow in a partially shaded area without compromising flowering.
Ruby
An annual flower, the stem height can reach 1 meter in height, the bush looks powerful, all strewn with beautiful inflorescences. Large (diameter 8-10 cm), funnel-shaped flowers have a rich ruby hue. The leaf blades are jagged, angular-heart-shaped. The plant grows well in lighted areas and blooms throughout the summer.
Silver bowl
The plant is medium-sized, the height of the branching stem does not exceed 65 cm. The flowers are large, funnel-shaped, open, their diameter is about 9-10 cm, they have a delicate salmon-pink color with dark veins, the flowers are located in the axils of the leaves. Like most varieties, this variety is cold-resistant and drought-resistant.
tanager
An annual plant, the height of a powerful branched bush is about 100 cm. It is completely covered with large (7-10 cm in diameter), located singly, funnel-shaped flowers of a rich purple-pink hue with noticeable veins on the petals. You can admire the flowering from the second ten days of July until the middle of autumn.
Thuringian
Representative of the group of perennials. The stem of the bush is erect, its height is about two meters, the leaf plates are gray-green, formed in the shape of a heart. The flowers are medium in size (diameter 5-6 cm), have a pale purple hue, long stalks, and grow singly. You can observe flowering already in mid-summer, it lasts until autumn.
Enchantress
The plant is bushy, its height is less than a meter, the leaves are lobed. The flowers are medium in size, as their diameter is 4-6 cm, the color can be pink, white and crimson. The top of the bush is more dense with flowers than the lower part. The plant is unpretentious to the composition of the soil on which it grows and tolerates cold and drought.
Tree-like
A biennial plant with an erect stem on which velvety oval leaf plates are located, their length is 15-18 cm, and the height of the bush is about two meters. The flowers are hibiscus-shaped, up to 5 cm in diameter, reddish-purple in color with veins purple, are arranged in inflorescences of several pieces. Unfortunately, flowering is quite short-lived: it begins in July and ends in August.
Growing seedlings
Lavatera is grown in seedlings to achieve earlier flowering. Seeds should be planted in the spring in the first ten days of March in order to plant seedlings in the flower garden in May. It is better to grow plants in purchased special soil; there must be drainage at the bottom of the container. Before sowing, the soil is watered, and the seeds need to be deepened no more than 1 cm. In order for seedlings to appear faster, you need to create greenhouse conditions; for this, the container is covered with a transparent film or glass, and it is better to store the container in a place that is well lit. Condensation that forms on the glass must be removed and the soil must be moderately moistened. After 14 days, the first shoots should appear, which may require additional lighting for normal development. After germination of the seeds, the glass can be removed.
Scheme of transfer to the ground
Lavatera seedlings can be planted in a flower bed when there is no threat of frost returning. Planting dates depend on the region, where the climate is milder it is the end of April, and in more severe conditions the end of May. It is better to have a sunny area for flowers; they will grow well in loose, light and well-drained soil. There are tall varieties of lavatera, so to grow them you will need to install supports. In order for the bushes to grow and develop normally, it is recommended to plant seedlings according to the 20×25 pattern.
Seedless method
Lavatera seeds are sown in the ground at the end of April or at the beginning of May. The soil needs to be prepared in advance; for this, the area is dug up, adding a bucket of humus or compost plus 2 teaspoons of nitrophoska per 1 m². After this, the soil must be leveled and furrows made on it, the depth of which is no more than 1 cm.
Before sowing the seeds, the beds are watered with settled water, and after it they are covered with a mixture of humus and garden soil in equal parts, sealed and covered with film. In such conditions, seedlings will appear after 7 days, when they reach a height of 5 cm, the film is removed, and the seedlings must be thinned out, after which the soil is loosened and the beds are lightly hilled. If no fertilizers were applied during planting, then feed the plants after removing the films, using mineral fertilizers.
Further care
When caring for lavatera, whether annual or perennial varieties, there is not much difference, but there are nuances that should be taken into account.
For annual flowers
Flowers tolerate drought well, but still need watering, although not as regularly as some crops. In hot summers, it is worth watering the plantings once every seven days, spending two buckets of water on a powerful bush. If there is no excessive drought, you can moisten the soil as needed.
Loosening the soil is carried out only when the bush has not yet grown to a height of 100 cm, so as not to harm the root system, which is located superficially.
To stimulate the formation of new buds, you need to cut off those that have already bloomed.
If no fertilizers were applied during planting, then the first fertilizing is done using Nitrophoska and Urea (a tablespoon each), which are diluted in a ten-liter bucket of water. The second feeding is carried out before the formation of buds with sodium and potassium sulfate (a tablespoon each), diluted in 10 liters of liquid.
After flowering has finished, the top part of the plant can be cut off.
For perennial flowers
Loosening, watering and feeding perennial lavatera is carried out similarly to annual flowers.
Sometimes mature bushes may need to be supported, this usually happens when the plant grows about 1.5 meters in height.
There is no need to trim perennial lavatera bushes, but it is practiced to remove dry or damaged branches in order to prevent diseases, which, by the way, rarely affect the plant. But still, if the bushes are attacked by aphids, they should be treated with drugs such as Aktara, Actellik, Akarin or Biotlin according to the instructions.
You need to collect lavatera seeds after the flowers fall, in the place of which there are boxes that ripen for some time until they become dry and acquire a brown tint. When opening one, pay attention to the color of the seeds; if they are gray-brown, then collection can continue. After completing the procedure, I usually dry the seeds and store them in a linen bag or paper.
The dream of many gardeners is an elegant flower bed that does not require any hassle. A real find in this case is Lavatera, or garden rose. The flower is as visually attractive as it is unpretentious, does not require complex care, and is undemanding to living conditions. Growing Lavatera, a garden rose, is possible even for a beginner and an extremely busy gardener.
It's worth taking a closer look at this garden flower– charming, unpretentious and diverse.
Varieties and advantages
Lavatera belongs to the malvaceae family. Found naturally in southwestern Europe. It has different popular and semi-official names - garden, wild or dog rose, botanical name - khatma, some gardeners call it stock rose. Perennial and annual varieties of the flower are grown in culture.
Variety of varieties and types
Herbaceous, shrubby species and small trees are known. Stems are erect, sometimes pubescent. The corollas of funnel-shaped flowers are from 6 to 10 cm in diameter. The colors of the flowers are varied, from white and soft cream to carmine and salmon pink, with some varieties having contrasting veins.
Low-growing varieties of plants do not grow higher than 60 cm, some shrubs and trees reach a height of 2 m. This, as well as the extensive color palette of flowers, allows you to create spectacular compositions both in company with others garden plants, and mono-ensembles.
Compositions in the center of which is Lavatera, a garden rose, are presented in photographs by designers and amateur gardeners.
Why choose Lavatera
All Lavaters have a number of common advantages:
- they are exclusively decorative throughout the warm summer season, and some species can be grown in pots and brought indoors for the winter;
- plants are resistant to adverse weather conditions - wind and rain, and quickly restore a neat, elegant appearance after bad weather;
- each plant is literally showered with flowers; many buds are simultaneously formed on the bush different stages flowering, therefore it blooms continuously and profusely from the beginning of summer until the first serious frost (below -5 0 C);
- they grow on any soil, and don’t even like excess humus;
- they prefer the sun, and bloom brighter in sunny flower beds, but they also perform quite well in partial shade;
- do not require abundant watering, can withstand moderate short-term drought, but cannot tolerate stagnant moisture;
- rarely get sick, are endowed with immunity to fungal diseases and high resistance to insect pests.
Attention! Lavatera blooms brighter and more abundantly on soils with average fertility.
Regardless of the variety, the Lavatera garden rose invariably captivates with its touching flowers of pure, delicate shades.
Annual plant varieties
More often found in domestic gardens is the annual, also known as three-month-old, Lavatera. Varieties from short-growing (up to half a meter) to quite impressive tall ones - up to 1.5 m. The following flower varieties have gained popularity among domestic gardeners:
- Silver Cup is distinguished by the complex salmon shade of its petals;
- Mont Blanc is memorable for lovers of snow-white flowers;
- Lovelines and Pink Beauty - owners of traditional mallow buds in pink tones;
- The ruby queen blazes with carmine;
- Sun Goddess is a varietal blend of Lavatera, a garden rose, that includes a wide range of shades.
This photo shows another version of the Lavatera garden rose mixture - “Silk and Cashmere”, a piquant harmonious composition of intense pink and salmon shades.
No less interesting varieties for gardeners:
Annual varieties of garden roses are herbaceous plants, usually no higher than 120 cm.
Perennial flower species
The perennial Lavatera is known under the common name Thuringian. Common varieties:
- Lilac Lady with unique lilac buds;
- Bregon Springs features interesting shades of pink;
- Burgundy Vine with deep pink flowers;
- Eyecatcher stands out with complex shades of pink.
These varieties grow up to 2 m in height, the stems are strong and woody. The root system is powerful and developed, sometimes reaching a depth of 10 m.
Photos of flowers of the garden rose Lavatera demonstrate the varied splendor of the palette and forms of this stunning garden plant.
Important! The perennial Thuringian Lavatera is not only an elegant decorative, but also medicinal plant, extracts of which are used to treat colds, gynecological, intestinal diseases, cough, joint, muscle and headaches.
Agricultural technology of culture
The flower is grown from seeds. Use the seedling method or direct sowing in the ground. Growing garden rose Lavatera from seeds begins with sowing in early spring.
To obtain early flowering, sow seedlings at the end or in March.
Growing Lavatera seedlings
A drainage layer (sand, fine gravel) is poured into the seedling container, then soil is added. The seeds are planted to a depth of 0.5–1 cm. The container is covered with film, and after the seedlings appear, the cover is removed.
Advice! To avoid having to thin out the plant seedlings, place the seeds in furrows at a distance of 2–3 cm.
Wild rose seedlings need additional intense lighting. This way they will not stretch out and will be stocky and healthy. The photo shows the stage of growing Lavatera (garden rose) from seeds:
Seedlings are planted in flower beds in May, when serious frosts have passed. Leave at least 20–25 cm between plants.
To get a beautiful curtain, proceed as follows:
- make small holes in a circle with a distance of about 20 cm;
- 5–6 plants are planted in each hole.
For tall varieties of Lavatera, it is useful to install a support: grown plants can be tied to a peg, so it is easier for them to withstand bad weather and maintain their decorative appearance.
This flower is grown by sowing the seeds directly into open ground. When to plant a garden rose lavatera depends on the climate zone and the characteristics of the variety, but usually it is the second half of March - early April.
Caring for Lavatera
Agrotechnical measures are very simple and not burdensome:
- watering plants moderately, infrequently; Do not allow water to stagnate in the soil;
- feeding no more than once every 1.5–2 months; after rooting of seedlings, apply nitroammophoska and urea (30 g per bucket of water), when buds appear - potassium and phosphorus fertilizers (30–40 g per bucket);
- loosening the soil - as necessary, to ensure breathability;
- removing old buds, this helps to prolong flowering and protects the plant from burns by the decay products of faded “boxes”.
Lavatera in the garden
Lavatera looks great in group plantings and flower beds, in accent and solitaire groups of plants.
Low-growing Lavatera varieties are planted in borders and in the foreground of flower beds. Varieties of medium height are used to design paths and the center of ridges.
Tall Lavaters decorate the backgrounds of mixborders.
Lavatera is a beautiful and unpretentious flower, suitable for growing in gardens, in home areas, as well as for use in floristry. It is not difficult to grow it even without experience in this matter. Today, breeders have developed many annual and perennial varieties of this plant.
Lavatera in landscape design
Lavatera is a flower classified as a mallow flowering variety. The plant originates from Northern Asia, but many varieties are also common in Europe. Lavatera blooms mainly in mid-summer, producing large (about 5 cm in diameter) 5-petalled flowers, which fall off by autumn. The average flowering period is 65 days.
It is very unpretentious to the conditions. Flowers tolerate drought well and even a significant drop in temperature in the spring or summer months. Even at a temperature of +10 or +12 degrees, the flower does not need additional shelter. The plant requires moderate watering; in most regions of our country, the natural level of precipitation is sufficient for it; additional care for the plant is only necessary if there has been no rain for 14 days or more.
Due to its resistance to influence environment, richness of varieties and ease of cultivation, Lavatera is quite actively used in landscape design. There are also annual ones. It is often planted in parks as a border crop (the shortest hybrids), and is also often added to bouquets and flower arrangements. Red, pink and white flowers are the most loved by florists.
Anyone can grow lavatera on their own plot. The culture is extremely unpretentious in care and feels good in any latitude.
Popular varieties
Several dozen garden varieties of this flower are known. However, several lavatera hybrids are especially loved by gardeners, including:
- "Tanagra". One of the shortest varieties, most often used as a border crop. Reaches no more than 0.5 meters in height. It has large 5-centimeter flowers, usually bright red.
"Tanagra"
- "Gorgeous". One of the fastest growing flowers, having white or pink large flowers. It reaches a height of over 50 cm, due to which it is very often used in various garden design projects.
"Gorgeous"
- "Mont Blanc". A variety with characteristics similar to Tangara is also a low-growing and easy-to-grow hybrid with large white flowers.
"Mont Blanc"
- "Barnsley"- a rare variety of lavanthera, which has several buds of different diameters on its stem at the same time. Its flowers can be of different shades. The most common are soft pink, red or lilac samples.
"Barnsley"
- “Silver cap”- a beautiful hybrid with pale salmon-colored flowers. Suitable for various climatic conditions, quickly and easily grown at home from seeds.
“Silver cap”
Hybrids retain their characteristics in the third and second generations. It is not difficult to grow such flowers; almost all of them reproduce well by seeds. Therefore, experienced gardeners should pay as much attention as possible to this type of Lavatera propagation.
The vast majority of varieties of this plant are annuals. Gardeners who want to observe lavatera on their site for more than one year without sowing it again are advised to pay attention to the hybrid called “Perennial”; this plant hides its roots in the soil at a depth of 1-1.5 meters and blooms annually as soon as the temperature on the ground reaches 15 degrees or more.
Features of flower propagation by seeds
Lavatera germinates very well from seeds if they were collected in September - early October and have time to ripen. You can determine their readiness for harvesting by the condition of the seed pod - it should dry out and turn brown. The same thing can be observed with . When tapped, the rustling of seeds should be heard.
During winter assembled boxes usually stored in dry and dark places. In the first months of spring, they are taken out and prepared for further planting. It can be carried out in two main ways:
- directly into the soil (in warm regions);
- by growing seedlings in greenhouses, including homemade ones.
Regardless of which option for growing lavatera the gardener chooses, he will be able to get healthy plants that exactly replicate the properties of the hybrid. Relying on the choice of a specific technique is necessary in to a greater extent to your climatic conditions.
Preparing seedlings
In cold regions where there are long-term frosts on the ground, as well as, it is recommended to initially prepare Lavatera, and only then transfer it to open soil. In order for the plant to grow well, provide it with plenty of heat, regular watering once a month and fertilization. The detailed procedure can be found in this article.
If you want lavatera grown in a greenhouse to produce flowers at the same time as plants planted directly on the ground, start working with its seeds in March. In this case, you will be on time.
Planting in open ground
If the gardener plans to plant lavatera on the ground, this event can be carried out in the spring. This should be done as follows:
- At the beginning of May, you need to plant lavatera in covering material: plant seeds are placed in furrows to a depth of 1 cm, after which the soil is watered abundantly and flavored with loose humus. After this, the beds are covered with dense material, providing an abundance of sunlight to the plants.
- As soon as the lavatera reaches 5 centimeters in height, the covering material must be removed, then the first fertilizers must be added to the soil, light hilling of the stems, and loosening of the soil.
- Next, the plant needs to be watered so that the soil at a depth of 5 cm remains moist. After just 30 days, the flower will fully sprout and soon begin to bloom.
For tall flower varieties, after removing the film, it is advisable to install additional supporting structures. With proper selection, they will ensure the correct growth of seedlings without spoiling appearance the entire area.
Otherwise, landing on the ground is quite easy and simple. Any gardener can cope with it, if, of course, he carefully follows these recommendations.
Video
A clear example of growing garden lavatera from seeds is shown in the video below.
Care before and after flowering
Lavatera is very unpretentious in care before and after flowering. In order for the plant to develop correctly and quickly, the gardener only needs to regularly water, as well as fertilize the flower and ensure timely removal of weeds and weeding of the bed.
It is recommended to irrigate Lavatera once every 7 days when normal level humidity. In the event of a mudflow, dry weather is observed long time, you can carry out additional watering. But do not overdo it in this matter - increased soil moisture can lead to rotting of the flower stems.
As for fertilizing, it should be done using organic matter and nitrogen during the period of active growth (this allows you to get a powerful root and stem). After the plant reaches the required height, it is recommended to add magnesium, potassium and phosphorus to the fertilizer, but it is recommended to reduce the amount of nitrogen in this mixture.
This regime should be followed throughout the entire flowering period and reduced only after the lavatera sheds its flowers. In preparation for winter, watering and fertilizing are gradually reduced.
Different varieties of lavatera have their own requirements for watering and feeding. The gardener needs to focus on them when caring for the plant.
As for weeding the lavatera beds, it is quite enough to do it just once a week; you can do this before watering. There is no need to carry out any other care measures for this flower. TO In winter, all you have to do is treat the beds again, collect the remaining flowers and weed.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is quite easy to grow a beautiful, spectacular lavatera on your site, even from seeds. To do this, it is enough to choose the right variety, provide it with the proper conditions for climbing, and then water and weed it in a timely manner.
This ornamental plant has another name - khatma. It is also meant when referring to the dog rose. Lavatera is a member of the malvaceae. It was used in landscape design back in the Middle Ages, but in private gardening it began to gain popularity relatively recently.
At the moment, a large number of varieties of khama have been bred, among which there are both perennial and annual plants. In its form, it is a grass that can grow up to one and a half meters in height.
Large flowers of predominantly pink, yellow and white colors can be collected in inflorescences or grown individually. Flowering begins in June and will continue until October. Bees usually swarm around flowers. This plant produces delicious honey and is considered medicinal.
Important! Dog rose does not need special care, is not afraid of dry summers and grows in almost any soil. A cut bouquet of lavatera flowers does not fade for more than a week. Hatma can either be a decoration or be used for landscaping balconies, loggias, and even be an indoor flower.
Most common varieties
- Lavatera variety called "Mont Blanc", presented in two types. One of them has silver-pink flowers, and the other has silver-lilac flowers.
- "Lavatera Thuringiana" grows up to 25 m. During flowering, an adult bush is strewn with small dark pink or white flowers, becoming lighter as time passes.
- Hatma bushes of the “Krasotka” variety reach just under 2 m in height. They bloom with large white, pink or red flowers.
- "Three-month-old lavatera" stretches more than 1 m in height. Produces large white or red bell-like flowers. The leaves have an original shape.
- "Pink Beauty" is considered a low-growing variety of dog rose. Its bushes grow less than 40 cm. The flowers come in both pink and purple shades.
Time to sow Lavatera seeds
Both annual and perennial khatma are bred using seeds. The seed should be planted in the spring season after the frosts have ended. You can speed up the flowering of lavatera. To do this, plant the seeds at the end of winter. In this case, the seedling method of growing wild roses is used.
Lavatera is best planted at the following times.
- End of winter or beginning of spring. Seeds are being sown for seedlings.
- During March or April. Suitable for southern regions. The seeds are planted immediately in the flowerbed.
- End of spring. Seedlings are transferred or seeds are planted in open soil.
Step-by-step instructions for planting in open ground
Lavatera will take root well and produce abundant flowering if planted in an area with good access to sunlight. The soil is preferably not acidic and with good drainage. Plants of tall varieties will require support over time. This needs to be taken care of in advance or planted near the fence.
Important! Perennial wild roses should be planted, maintaining an interval between rows of 30 cm, and between bushes - 25 cm. In this case, the plants will develop beautiful shape and they will not interfere with the development of neighboring bushes.
Lavatera tolerates soil that is poor in nutrients well; however, when planting the plant, it is advisable to prepare the soil. Seeds can be purchased at a specialty store or prepared yourself.
Table. Planting wild rose seeds in open soil.
Steps, photo | Description of actions |
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Using a shovel, you need to dig up the place intended for planting. |
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Mineral supplements and humus are used. Superphosphate, potassium sulfate, nitroammophoska and urea are taken in equal quantities. Distributed evenly throughout the planting area. |
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Level the ground and make depressions 1 cm deep, maintaining a distance between grooves of 30 cm. |
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It is done using boiling water. Seeds are sown in slightly cooled soil. |
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Seeds are placed in the grooves at a distance of up to 20 cm between them. If this condition cannot be met due to the small size of the seeds, then the grooves are simply filled with seeds, and subsequently the seedlings will need to be thinned out. The top of the seeds is covered 1 cm with soil. |
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This is done with slightly warmed water. After 2 weeks you can expect sprouts to appear. |
How to plant lavatera seedlings
At the end of winter, it is necessary to sow khama seeds for seedlings. To do this, you need to prepare elongated containers. At your dacha, you can plant seeds for seedlings in a greenhouse. You will also need a transparent film to cover the container until the sprouts appear. Containers are filled with soil containing humus. The seeds are immersed in this mixture and covered with a centimeter layer of peat on top. After watering, cover the container with heated water. After 1.5 weeks, the seeds will begin to sprout.
When transferring to open ground, an interval of up to 20 cm must be maintained between seedlings. This way, the plants will not shade each other and will develop well. In warm climate zones, seedlings can be transferred in early May, when temperature changes are excluded. In most of Russia, the most suitable time for planting lavatera seedlings in open ground is the very end of spring, provided that the seeds for seedlings were sown in the last days of March.
If the plant, which does not require special care, is periodically fertilized, watered on time and provided with access to sunlight, then it will delight its owners with lush bushes with a large number of beautiful bright flowers. In general, breeding lavatera does not seem to be a difficult task. Even a beginner in gardening can quickly grow a beautiful flower bed of wild roses from seeds or seedlings.
Lavatera - growing from seeds
Lavatera care
- Illumination. Khatma prefers places well lit by the sun. It is advisable to plant it in an area where Sun rays all day. Lavatera can only last for a short time even with slight shading. But more beautiful and longer flowering will occur only under conditions of maximum illumination.
- Irrigation. Wild rose loves regular, but not too much watering. If you don't water it for a long time, it can tolerate this period well. The plant feels best with weekly watering. If the soil does not have time to dry during this time, then watering should be done once every 14 days.
- Climatic conditions. Perennial varieties need winter shelter. Otherwise the plant will freeze. In summer it withstands both drought and cool weather. Optimal temperature for him - about +20°С.
- Fertilizer. During the growing season, it is recommended to feed the lavatera twice. Once - before flowering begins. Take a tablespoon of nitrophoska, dilute it with a bucket of water, and this solution is used for watering. The second time is when the buds begin to appear. This time you need to use potassium and sodium sulfate. The suitable composition of minerals for bait at this time is in the “Flower” complex.
- Air humidity. Lavatera is not capricious about this factor. Does well in dry climates, but prefers normal humidity. There is no need to spray.
- Garter. Large varieties of plants need staking, otherwise the roots may not withstand during strong winds. For tying, take wooden slats up to a meter long. Such support will be quite sufficient for the plant.
- Loosening the soil under the lavatera must be done until it grows 1 m in height. Then loosening is undesirable, since you can touch the roots of the plant located too close to the surface. During this procedure, weeds should also be removed when caring for very young lavatera plants.
- Perennial wild rose does not need pruning. It is still recommended to remove faded flowers so that new ones appear faster. It is especially important to do this after rain. Faded buds may, when exposed to moisture, begin to secrete mucus, which harms the leaves. Dry and damaged branches should also be disposed of in a timely manner.
Diseases and pests of Lavatera
Wild rose is a very unpretentious plant. It is easy to plant, easy to care for and care for. She gets sick quite rarely. Pests are also not particularly annoying.
Important! However, when aphids appear in the garden, it is recommended to protect the lavatera by treating it with special preparations, since this pest does not bypass this plant either.
Another scourge of clothes is rust (it is caused by rust fungus). It is characterized by the appearance of red or brown spots on the lower plane of the leaf. As soon as such symptoms are detected, the affected foliage should be immediately removed and the bush should be treated with Kuproxat. If the infection of a bush has reached a critical mass, it is uprooted and burned.
With a little effort and sufficient attention, Lavatera will invariably delight with its active development and bright lush color. Bright pink, white, and lilac flowers that look like large bells bloom until late fall, making this plant a wonderful way to decorate the landscape. garden plot. Low varieties will decorate flower beds, and tall varieties will serve as a beautiful frame for fences.
Video - Growing lavatera from seeds
Good afternoon, dear readers!
Any gardener strives to ensure that his garden looks well-groomed and beautiful, while requiring minimal care. That's why unpretentious plants enjoy well-deserved love and recognition. One of them is Lavatera. This beautiful flower as if it was specially created by nature for lazy or very busy people. Lavatera can be grown not only in the garden, but also on the balcony, as well as indoors.
There are both perennial varieties of this plant and those that are grown during one season. Choose any variety of lavatera and enjoy its vibrant beauty.
Lavatera, also called wild rose, belongs to the genus Malvaceae, which includes only about 25 species of plants that have settled on the Australian continent, in East Asia and the Mediterranean. The name Lavater was given in honor of its discoverers - two brothers, Swiss doctors named Lavater. The wild rose was discovered and described a long time ago - in the 16th century, but it gained particular popularity about 2 decades ago. And now it is difficult to find a garden in which these bright and at the same time delicate flowers do not grow.
Lavatera bushes can grow from 50 to 150 cm in height. The plant has powerful roots, strong branches and abundant green mass. Lobed, pubescent leaves grow in an alternate pattern. The flowers are large, up to 10 cm in diameter. In some species they grow singly, while in others they form spike-shaped inflorescences or racemes. The color of the flowers can be pink, yellow, white, crimson, purple.
The flowering period is long - from early summer to mid-autumn. Lavatera is suitable for cutting; the flowers remain fresh for more than a week. The plant can be grown in any soil and is resistant to wind and drought.
Types and varieties of lavatera with photos
Mont Blanc variety
In gardening, annual and perennial varieties and a species that is grown as a biennial are cultivated. The annual species is Lavatera trimonthis. “Lavatera arborescens” is grown for two seasons. And “Lavatera Thuringian” is a perennial.
An annual plant that grows up to 1.2 m. It has two leaf shapes: at the bottom of the bush they are heart-shaped or round-toothed, the upper leaves have 3 or 5 lobes. Flowers bloom in July. They have a funnel shape and a diameter of about 10 cm. The buds are formed in the axils of the leaves. The color of the petals can be white, pink or red. Flowering is abundant.
Popular varieties:
- Ruby Queen is a powerful branched bush that grows up to 1 meter in height; the flowers have a rich red color.
- The sun goddess is a large plant with a height of 110 cm. The leaves have a rich dark green hue. The flowers are 6 cm in diameter and come in a wide variety of colors.
- Silver Cup - the variety grows up to 70 cm. The flower petals are pink with darker veins and a silvery tint.
- Mont Blanc - the bush has a maximum height of 60 cm. The funnel-shaped buds have a delicate white color with dark veins.
- Beauty is a large plant with flowers of white, pink and carmine colors.
- Novella is a compact variety suitable for growing in flowerpots. Maximum height in a pot is 20 cm. open ground grows larger.
- White Sherub is a low bush (just over 30 cm) with single white flowers of a decent size. Ideal for growing in pots and flowerpots.
A biennial plant with straight 2-meter stems and oval-shaped leaves, up to 20 cm in length. Its flowers are shaped like hibiscus flowers. The color of the petals contains darker veins, the main background is most often dark purple. Flowering lasts from early summer to mid-September. Variegated varieties have been developed. The most commonly cultivated in gardens are:
- Candy Floss is a variety with pale pink buds.
- Rosea is a bright lavatera with a rich pink color.
Lavatera Thuringian
Large branched perennial up to 2 m high. The leaves can be round or heart-shaped, they have slight pubescence. The color of the leaf blades is greenish-gray. In the lower layers of the bush they have a lobed shape. The flowers are solitary, the buds are painted pink in various shades, the diameter of the inflorescences is up to 10 cm. The flowers are formed in the axils of the leaves, from where they grow on long stalks. Common varieties:
- Bregon Springs is a tall, powerful bush up to 130 cm in height. The leaves are three-lobed, with a grayish tint. The pink-purple flowers have visible crimson veins.
- Lilac Lady is a variety that blooms delicate flowers lilac shade.
- Barnsley Baby is a plant with white and pink buds.
- Burgundy Vine is a variety with pink inflorescences on which purple veins stand out.
- Eye Catcher - The flowers of this lavatera are a rich pink color.
In the southern regions of Russia you can find a plant called “Lavatera Primorskaya” (it is also called “Lavatera bicolor”). The bush of this variety grows up to 1.5 meters in height, the flowers combine two shades of lilac.
Lavatera Moorish, growing up to 80 cm, is also intended for growing in warm climates. It has pubescent stems and rounded leaves with a pointed tip. The flowers are small, dark red, about 3 cm in diameter.
Lavatera Moorish
Lavatera is grown by seedlings in order to get it to bloom faster, because in the middle zone you have to wait quite a long time for stable warm weather. Wild rose is not afraid of heat and drought, but can be sensitive to cold temperatures, since in wildlife it grows in warm climates. It is recommended to sow seeds in open ground in the spring, after the end of frost.
When growing lavatera in seedlings, sowing is done much earlier.
It is recommended to sow lavatera seeds for seedlings at home in late February or early March. It is necessary to take into account the timing of planting plants in open ground. If you sow in March, by mid-May you will have strong bushes that can be planted in the flowerbed. In warm regions, lavatera can be transplanted into the flower garden earlier. Therefore, it is better to start harvesting seedlings in February, and plant them in open ground in April.
The bottom of the seedling box is covered with a layer of expanded clay, and soil is poured on top. Lavatera is not picky about the composition of the soil, so for growing seedlings you can buy universal soil at a gardening store. The earth is pre-moistened. The seeds do not require soaking; they are sown dry, immersed approximately 1 cm deep. The top of the crops is covered with glass or film to create a greenhouse effect. Typically, seedlings appear 1-2 weeks after sowing.
The cover must be removed briefly every day to allow the plantings to be ventilated. Make sure the soil is constantly moderately moist. It is best to water the crops using a spray bottle with settled water at room temperature. Condensation from the glass or film is removed so that it does not fall on the tender sprouts, otherwise the seedlings may rot.
Helpful advice! Periodically turn the seedling box with the other side towards the light so that the seedlings do not bend.
It’s even better if you install additional lighting next to the seedlings. Make sure that the lamp is located no closer than 30 cm from the seedlings. As soon as the seedlings get stronger, the top cover is removed. Plants dive after the appearance of two pairs of true leaves, while pinching the root by 1/3.
Planting in open ground
Bushes are planted in open ground in rows, maintaining a distance of 20-25 cm between them. For tall varieties, support will need to be provided.
For a heat-loving plant, frosts are destructive, so lavatera is planted in open ground middle lane not earlier than the second half of May. Otherwise, all your work on growing seedlings may go to waste.
- Before planting, you need to dig up the ground with a bayonet-deep shovel.
- On 1 square meter flower beds need to add 5 kg of ready-made compost or humus.
- In addition, mineral fertilizers are scattered over the surface of the soil, mixing one tablespoon each of nitrophoska, urea superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
- All this will provide the plants with a supply of nutrients necessary for full growth.
Lavatera should grow in a sunny place, otherwise the flowering will be much weaker. Choose open, illuminated areas for planting it. All care comes down to watering in dry weather and tearing off faded buds. In hot, dry weather, the plant is watered once every 7 days.
On a note! Lavatera does not like excess moisture, so if you doubt the need for watering, it is better to postpone it for another couple of days - this way you will definitely not harm the plant.
There is no need to trim or shape the bush. In the fall, seeds are collected from the plant, which can be used later for planting. Closer to winter, lavatera prepare shelter for perennial varieties. The bushes are bent to the ground, fixed and covered with spruce branches on top or sprinkled with peat. You can also use dry leaves for this purpose.
Fertilizers
During the entire growing season, lavatera is fertilized twice: fertilizing is applied to the soil before planting seedlings and after the first buds appear on the plant. Flowering bushes are fertilized with a solution of sodium sulfate and potassium sulfate, adding 1 tablespoon of each fertilizer to a bucket of water. Fertilizing is especially important if lavatera grows in poor soils.
To the delight of gardeners, Lavatera is one of those plants that rarely get sick. The only pest that can attack it is aphids. At the first sign of the presence of a harmful insect, treat the bushes with a soapy solution or apply an industrial insecticide.
Rainy weather can cause rust to appear on lavatera leaves. Fungal spores ripen in yellow pustules that are located on the underside of the leaf. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, the disease will quickly spread to healthy plants. If a fungal disease is detected, all affected leaves and stems must be removed. After this, the bush is treated with a fungicide. The drugs “Topaz” and “Hom” help well. If the plant is severely affected, it is better to remove it completely.
Wild rose is good both in single and group plantings. With its help you can create a bright spot on a grassy lawn, or near tall bushes and trees. Some people use tall varieties of lavatera to decorate fences and outbuildings on their summer cottage.
You can successfully combine lavatera varieties with different flower colors in a group planting, alternately planting bushes with white, pink and purple flowers.
Tall and low varieties of wild roses are also combined with each other. The advantages of the plant include a long flowering period; lavatera can decorate the garden until the onset of frost. It also looks great in bouquets. Lavatera can be planted in group compositions with dahlias, phlox, asters, and nasturtiums. Its beauty is enhanced by irises, sage and lanster. Lavatera plantings can transform the most dull landscape.
Growing lavatera: video
If you want to have a beautiful flower bed on your site, but have absolutely no time to care for flowers, Lavatera will help you out. Those who like variety can plant annual wild rose varieties and then grow something else the following season. In the case when you want to plant beautiful flowers and forget about the hassle of planting for several years, you can safely plant perennials. Either way, Lavatera is a plant that will not disappoint you.