Marine alyssum (seaside): description, photos, varieties, growing from seeds

Content

1 Description of sea alyssum
2 Varieties of sea alyssum
3 Application in landscape design
4 Features of reproduction
5 Planting and caring for sea alyssum
6 Diseases and pests
7 Conclusion

Sea alyssum is a beautiful shrub strewn with small flowers of white, soft pink, red and other shades. The crop is grown in the central part of Russia and the south, because it loves light and warmth. Alyssum is unpretentious in care, so any summer resident can grow it.

Description of sea alyssum

Marine alyssum (seaside) is a perennial flowering plant, which is a low-growing shrub (20-40 cm). The stems twine and spread along the ground. The bush is quite compact. Lanceolate small leaves densely cover the shoots.

On each stem, 4-5 peduncles are formed with numerous small flowers collected in racemes. Flowering begins in June and lasts all summer, until the beginning of September. Coloring can be very different (depending on the variety):

white;
light blue;
lilac;
soft pink and others.

The history of the origin of marine lobularia is associated with Southern Europe (Balkans, Italy, Spain, Portugal). One of the names of this plant is translated as “stone stone”.The fact is that alyssum is indeed often found on rocky, depleted soils. Therefore, it is able to grow even with minimal care.

It is also known that in ancient times the word “alyssum” meant the dangerous disease “rabies”. Lobularia was often used to treat it, which is why the flower received its corresponding name in Latin.

Attention! Marine alyssum flowers give a pleasant honey aroma that can be felt even from a distance.

Numerous flowers of alyssum marine almost completely hide the green part of the plant

Varieties of sea alyssum

Marine lobularia alyssum has many varieties. Popular varieties include:

Sea white alyssum.
Alyssum cream.
Pink.
Red - a very beautiful seaside lobularia alyssum with bright scarlet flowers.
Purple.

Application in landscape design

Sea alyssum is an attractive plant. Numerous small flowers are collected in lush inflorescences. A long flowering period guarantees high decorative qualities. Therefore, alyssum is used both in single plantings and in other options:

floral arrangements with contrasting combinations;
complex flower beds with patterns and rocky surfaces;
mixborders with other colors;
paths made of sea allisum and conifers;

Features of reproduction

The main method is propagation by seeds. They are collected from dried fruits (pods) at the end of September. You can first lay a blanket under the alyssum bush or sweep away the already fallen boxes with a broom. Seeds are stored in the refrigerator in bags made of natural fabric.

Marine alyssum can be propagated by dividing the bush and cuttings.Cuttings are prepared at the beginning of summer so that they have time to take root before the onset of the winter season. You can divide the bush in mid-September. The resulting cuttings should have 2-3 powerful shoots so that they can successfully take root and produce new branches next spring.

Planting and caring for sea alyssum

To grow sea alyssum at home, seeds can be prepared in the fall or purchased at a specialized store. The next season, seedlings are grown from them and after 2 months they are transferred to open ground. Caring for seedlings is simple, so even novice amateurs can grow the crop.

Deadlines

Growing seedlings is carried out according to standard rules. Sowing should begin at the end of February or early March. The seedlings ripen in 60-70 days, and are planted in open ground in the middle or at the end of May (there should be no more frosts). In the south, sea alyssum seedlings can be planted at the end of April.

Advice! Even if this deadline was missed, the crop can still be grown in the same year. To do this, the seeds are sown directly in open ground - until mid-June. Even in this case, the plant will have time to bloom, although it will not be possible to collect seeds from it.

Growing sea alyssum seedlings

Growing alyssum from seeds is quite accessible at home. To do this, you need to purchase universal soil for seedlings or make it yourself from garden soil and peat (in equal quantities) with a small addition of sand. The mixture is first kept in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate for 8-10 hours. Then they are washed with water and dried for several days.

You can choose any containers for sea alyssum seedlings

Plastic cups, peat pots or tablets are suitable; you can also use regular seedling cassettes. It is not necessary to soak them - before sowing, you can only pickle them in potassium permanganate. Further sequence of actions:

Wash (and, if necessary, disinfect containers), wipe dry and fill with soil.
Moisten and distribute small seeds over the top layer and lightly crush them with earth.
Leave in a cool place at a temperature of 10-12 ° C (but not lower).
Install a phytolamp and illuminate the plants for 10-12 hours a day.
After the first shoots appear (you can expect up to 10 days), complex mineral fertilizer is added.
Picking is carried out after the formation of the third leaf.

Transplantation into the ground

When planting, it is important to remember that sea alyssum loves well-lit and fairly dry places. It is better to place it on a small hill, but not in a lowland. If possible, the place should be protected from drafts and strong shade.

In order for alyssum to form a flower carpet, flowers are planted at a distance of 20 cm

Seedlings must be transferred to open ground in mid-May, and in the south - at the end of April. Algorithm for planting alisum marine:

It is necessary to clear the weeds and dig up the area.
Make several small holes at a distance of 25 cm.
Lay a small drainage layer of small stones, broken bricks or expanded clay.
Root the seedlings and water them.

Also, in the middle or at the end of May, you can plant the seeds of sea alyssum directly in open ground. Grown seedlings are watered regularly and covered with film during the first two weeks. Ventilate periodically and then remove the protective layer.After this, they are planted and grown in a permanent place.

Important! Marine alyssum bushes should be watered sparingly. The plant does not like waterlogging, as this causes its roots to begin to rot.

Features of care

Marine alyssum does not require special care. It tolerates droughts, short-term cold snaps and grows even in depleted soil. However, for lush flowering you must follow several rules:

Water so that the soil remains slightly moist. Drying out and erosion should not be allowed.
Fertilizers are applied several times a season: before planting seedlings in open ground, a complex nitrogen composition is needed, at the stage of bud formation and flowering - superphosphate and potassium salt (every 2-3 weeks).
Pruning is done in early spring, before active sap flow begins. At this time, all old branches are removed, as well as shoots that spoil the shape of the bush.
The soil is mulched to retain moisture and suppress the development of weeds.
After each application of fertilizing, it is advisable to loosen the soil so that the nutrients are maximally absorbed by the roots of the sea alyssum.

Even minimal care will ensure abundant flowering of sea alyssum

Wintering

Sea alyssum is characterized by moderate winter hardiness. Therefore, it is grown in some regions of Central Russia, as well as in the south. It is not difficult to prepare it for winter:

The last feeding is applied in mid-August.
In September, moisture-recharging irrigation is carried out.
Gently bend the branches and fix them to the ground.
A layer of leaves, spruce branches, straw is thrown on top and covered with agrofibre.

Attention! Already in early spring, the shelter should be removed, since the plant can rot under a large layer of foliage.

Diseases and pests

Marine alyssum is resistant to diseases and pests. Various viral and fungal diseases cannot be ruled out:

late blight;
powdery mildew;
mosaic leaf disease.

To prevent these infections, it is recommended to spray the seedlings with any fungicide shortly before transferring them to open ground. After the first signs appear (for example, powdery coating on the leaves, spots and other obvious symptoms), urgent treatment with drugs is carried out:

Bordeaux mixture;
Thanos;
Cuproxat;
Ordan;
Maksim;
Fitosporin and others.

Important! It is advisable to spray the foliage of marine alyssum in dry and windless weather. To avoid causing burns to the foliage, the procedure is postponed until the evening hours.

Of the insect pests, alyssum is often attacked by caterpillars and the cruciferous flea beetle, which is especially dangerous. In this case, folk remedies are used, for example, weak (1-2%) solutions:

soda;
vinegar 9%;
ammonia;
dry mustard powder and others.

Important! The use of insecticides is undesirable, since they may cause the alyssum to stop flowering.

If the bush needs to be saved from a massive invasion, you will have to use chemicals. Then Aktara, Karbofos, Decis, Karate and others come into play. Operate in accordance with the instructions, and safety precautions must be observed.

Conclusion

Sea alyssum can become the hallmark of the site. Compact bushes with lush flowers look very attractive; with their help you can decorate even the most unsightly corners of the garden. Growing alyssum is quite simple, since the plant copes well with many diseases and pests.