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Toothed buzulnik, or ligularia (Ligularia dentata), is a herbaceous perennial shrub that grows naturally in Europe and Asia. This plant has recently gained popularity as an element of landscape design, which is explained by its unpretentiousness, shade tolerance and long flowering. Planting and caring for the jagged buzulnik does not involve complex actions, but it has some features, so to successfully grow it you need to familiarize yourself with them in advance.
Buzulnik serrated can grow in one place for up to 20 years
Description of the toothed buzulnik
Ligularia serrata is one of the representatives of the Asteraceae family. The plant forms erect shoots 1.0-1.5 m high, they are green with a brown tint. The leaves of the jagged buzulnik are large, up to 60 cm, heart-shaped or triangular in shape.They are located in the lower part of the bush and form a lush basal rosette.
The leaves that grow on the shoots are much smaller in size. The color of the plates can be pure green or with a purple tint, depending on the variety. There is jaggedness along the edge. In some species, the main color of the plates may be green, and the veins may be reddish or purple. The leaves have long petioles from 20 to 60 cm.
The plant is characterized by corymbose, spike-shaped inflorescences, which consist of orange-yellow baskets with a diameter of 7-10 cm. They, in turn, include 2 types of flowers: tubular in the center and reed-shaped on the periphery. The seed fruits of this plant are formed in mid-autumn; they reach a length of 10 mm and have a ribbed structure.
The best varieties of serrated ligularia
In nature, there are about 150 species of jagged buzulnik, but only a few of them have high decorative qualities. Therefore, in landscape design, the most unpretentious and shade-tolerant varieties are used, which allows them to be used to decorate shady areas of the garden or area where other perennials die.
Toothed buzulnik Dark Beauty
A tall crop variety with large kidney-shaped leaves. The color of the plates is dark purple with a glossy sheen. The height of the bushes of the jagged buzulnik Dark Beauty reaches 1.0 m. The inflorescences are paniculate, the flowers are shaped like daisies, their diameter reaches 7-8 cm. Their center is light brown, and the edges of the petals are bright yellow. This variety belongs to the late-flowering category. The first buds on the bush open in August.Flowering duration is 30 days.
Buzulnik Dark Beauty is frost-resistant, but can freeze in snowless winters
Midnight Lady's Jagged Buzulnik
A spectacular variety with spreading lush bushes reaching a height of 80 cm and a width of 60 cm. According to the description, the leaves of the jagged bouzulnik Midnight Lady are large and contrasting. The upper surface of the plates is dark green, and the reverse is almost black. The inflorescences are paniculate, the diameter of the flower baskets is 7-8 cm. This variety looks impressive in group compositions and mixborders. Planting and caring for Midnight Lady jagged buzulnik is no different from other species.
Midnight Lady blooms from the beginning of July to the end of August
Toothed buzulnik Pandora
This variety of crop is one of the new ones. Pandora is distinguished by compact bushes 30-40 cm high, with small-sized jagged leaves of a dark purple color, which gives the bush a special decorative appearance. The flowers of this variety of buzulnik are large, rich yellow-orange in color.
Buzulnik serrated Pandora can be grown as a pot plant
Black purple
A spectacular variety of jagged buzulnik with a bush height of up to 1.0 m. The color of the heart-shaped leaves is dark purple, which look contrasting in combination with yellow-orange basket flowers. Landscape designers recommend using jagged buzulnik Black purple in group compositions with other decorative deciduous shrubs.
Black purple easily tolerates temperatures down to -30°C
Osiris fantasy
This is a dwarf variety of jagged buzulnik with a bush height of up to 50 cm.Osiris Fantaisie is characterized by medium-sized leaves, the upper part of which is green, and the reverse side is red-violet. The inflorescences are paniculate, the baskets consist of light brown tubular flowers and pale yellow marginal ones. This species has been cultivated since 1900.
The flowering period of the jagged buzulnik Osirius fantasy is 30 days
Desdemona
This variety is characterized by medium-sized bushes up to 1 m high. The inflorescences are bright orange. The color of the leaves is bronze-green on top and red-violet on the back. The Desdemona variety produces large leathery leaves 30 cm long. The inflorescences are corymbose, which include yellow-orange daisy flowers with a diameter of 5-10 cm. The buds on the bush are formed in mid-June.
Desdemona – early flowering variety
Britt Marie Crawford
One of the most spectacular types of jagged buzulnik. It is characterized by large dark burgundy leaves on both sides, which create a contrast with the apricot inflorescences. The height of the Britt Marie Crawford bush reaches 1.0-1.2 m.
Frost resistance of the Britt Marie Crawford variety reaches -29 degrees
Application in landscape design
The demand for jagged buzulnik in landscape design is explained by the high decorative qualities of the crop, which last throughout the season. The plant looks great in single plantings against a green lawn, as well as in group compositions, combining varieties with different shades of foliage and other garden crops.
Due to the fact that this plant loves high humidity, it can be planted on the banks of reservoirs, on the shaded side of fences and buildings next to marsh irises, hostas, heuchera, and ferns.
Toothed buzulnik is ideal for mixborders
Features of reproduction
You can get new buzulnik serrated seedlings by dividing the bush and using the seed method. In the first case, you need to dig up an adult bush in early spring at the beginning of the growing season. After this, clear the roots from the soil so that the recovery buds are visible. Using a shovel or a sharp knife, divide the bush into parts, each of which should have 2-3 shoots and the same number of root shoots. At the end of the procedure, you need to plant the divisions in a permanent place.
Growing serrated buzulnik from seeds is also not difficult. To do this, it is necessary to collect planting material at the end of October and plant it in the ground before winter. This way the seeds will undergo natural stratification and sprout in the spring.
If you wish, you can grow young seedlings using the seedling method. To do this, you need to plant them in wide bowls in January, and then put them in the vegetable section of the refrigerator for 1.5 months. When finished, place the containers on the windowsill. Transplantation of seedlings into open ground should be done in September.
Landing rules
Planting of jagged buzulnik can be carried out from May to September, subject to favorable conditions. To do this, you should choose biennial plants, as they easily adapt to a new location.
Serrated buzulnik develops well in partial shade. The plant also prefers well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Therefore, 2 weeks before planting, you need to dig up the area and add humus at the rate of 10 kg per 1 in. m. You should also prepare a planting hole measuring 40 by 40 cm and fill it 2/3 of the volume with a nutrient mixture of turf, peat, and leaf soil in a ratio of 2:1:1. In addition, add 30 g of superphosphate and 100 g of wood ash to each well, and then mix thoroughly with the soil.
Algorithm of actions:
- Make a slight elevation in the center of the planting hole.
- Place a seedling on it so that the recovery buds are at soil level.
- Gently straighten the roots.
- Fill the voids with soil, compact the soil surface.
- Water the plant generously.
Rules of care
This plant is undemanding to care and therefore does not require special attention. But in order for the jagged buzulnik to be able to fully develop and bloom profusely, you need to adhere to simple rules.
Watering and fertilizing
Soil moisture is very important for this crop. If there is a lack of moisture, the plant will not die, but its decorative qualities will decrease. Therefore, watering should be carried out regularly in the absence of rain, preventing the roots from drying out.
It is best to use organic fertilizers. To do this, you should dilute mullein 1:10 or chicken manure 1:15. If they are unavailable, mineral mixtures can be used.During active growth of foliage, it is necessary to use urea or ammonium nitrate at the rate of 30 g per bucket of water. And at the moment of formation of flower stalks - superphosphate 30 g and potassium sulfate 15 g for the same volume of liquid.
Weeding and loosening
After each irrigation, you should loosen the soil in the root circle to improve its aeration. It is also important to remove weeds promptly so that they do not take away nutrients.
Preparing for winter
With the onset of frost, the above-ground part of the plant must be cut off at the base. Then lay a 5-7 cm thick layer of humus or peat mulch on top. This cover will protect the buzulnik root in the event of a snowless winter.
Diseases and pests
This crop is highly resistant to pests and diseases. But in conditions of high humidity over a long period, the bush may suffer from slugs. To protect the plant, you need to sprinkle wood ash or granulated superphosphate at the base of the bush.
Slugs feed on young buzulnik leaves
Also, with a combination of high temperature and air humidity, buzulnik serrated can suffer from powdery mildew. The disease is easily recognized by the white coating on the leaves, which later becomes dirty gray. This leads to wilting of the plates. For treatment, “Topaz” or “Skor” should be used.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for jagged buzulnik is not difficult even for novice gardeners, so the popularity of the culture is growing every year. This is also facilitated by the fact that perennial shrubs can fully develop and bloom where other plants do not survive. Therefore, it can be used to improve shady places on the site.
