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Curly aconite has many names: skullcap, wrestler, wolfsbane or wolfsroot. Greece is considered to be the birthplace of the plant. In Rus' it was called the royal potion because of the poisonous juice.
Description of climbing aconite
The plant is poisonous due to the alkaloids it contains. The substances affect the central nervous system, causing paralysis of the respiratory center and convulsions.
Important! The further south the climbing aconite grows, the more poisonous it is. In northern countries, the concentration of poison is much lower.
Aconite climbing is a perennial, belongs to the genus Borets, family Ranunculaceae.
The tubers of the flower are varied in shape: from spindle-shaped to ovoid, small, up to 2.5 cm long, up to 1.3 cm thick.
The stem of the plant is climbing, the upper part is more sinuous. The height of climbing aconite varies from 45 cm to 4 m. The stem is strong, with weak pubescence or bare.
Leaf blades are from 3 to 9.5 cm long, from 5 to 15 cm wide. The structure is complex, five-dissected, pinnately incised or ovate-lanceolate. The lobes are jagged, sometimes meeting leaves where the primary lobes are located on the petioles.
The flowers of the climbing aconite are large, 2-3 cm long, dark blue in color, collected in a raceme or panicle, reaching a length of 12-20 cm. The flower’s helmet has a rounded-conical shape. Nectaries on straight or curved nails, with slightly rounded tips.
The leaflets are slightly pubescent. The seeds are compressed, triangular, ribbed, with a serrated border.
Flowers of aconite climber appear at the end of July or the first weeks of August
Application in landscape design
Curly aconite goes well with peony, iris, daylily, delphinium, astilbe, and rudbeckia.
Curly aconite also looks very advantageous in single plantings. In group versions, it is used to decorate flower beds and mixborders.
The most common way to use a flower in the landscape is to place it along walls and fences, where it beautifully entwines a support
A beautiful design option is to place the plant around the gazebos: climbing aconite will entwine the walls, decorating the structure with bright flowers.
If you want to place a flower in the center of the garden, then you should provide it with support: a pole or trellis, where the plant will be comfortable
Using aconite climbing, you can create mixborders by planting it together with hollyhocks or other tall flowers. It is recommended to place daylilies, hostas, and garden daisies in the foreground in front of the fighters. Decorative yarrows will also highlight the advantages of the flower.
Features of reproduction
Curly aconite can be propagated in several ways. The most labor-intensive of them is planting the seeds of the plant.
Seed material must be stratified
Without creating a temperature and humidity regime, the germination of aconite seeds decreases sharply.
The preparation procedure consists of sowing the material into the ground before winter, or keeping it in the refrigerator in a container with soil. In April, the container with climbing aconite must be moved to a warm place to stimulate the growth process.
As soon as 2 true leaves appear, the plant is planted in separate pots. The seedlings are transferred to a permanent place only in August.
When sowing aconite climbing seeds, the first buds appear only 2-3 years after planting
If it is necessary to propagate an adult plant, then every four years the bush can be divided. To do this, using a sharp knife or shovel, the climbing aconite along with the rhizome is divided into several parts and transferred to a new place.
Pruning should be done so that there are at least 3 buds on each shoot
The root collar should be buried 2-3 cm into the ground.
Aconite is propagated by curly aconite and cuttings. They should be cut in May and, planted in a pot of soil, wait for rooting. It is recommended to cover the stems with agrofibre or film.
Planting and caring for climbing aconite
And although the plant is unpretentious, in order to achieve flowering, it is necessary to provide it with suitable conditions. Wolfsbane can be found in the mountains of Central Europe, where it prefers high-mountain, well-moistened meadows with fertile soil. In Russia it is cultivated exclusively for decorative purposes.
Recommended timing
The optimal time for planting is the end of August or the beginning of September.A young seedling needs shelter during its first winter. If a seedling needs to be transplanted, it is better to plan the procedure for spring so that the bush has time to take root.
Site selection and soil preparation
Curly aconite does not like bright sun, so it is great for creating a shady garden. It should be provided with shade or partial shade.
Gardeners often place a bush in the northern part of the site
The wrestler grows well on substrates, but does not tolerate sandy soils, clay soils, or crushed stone. The most abundant flowering can be achieved if you plant the bush in soil rich in organic matter and moisture.
To avoid waterlogging of the soil, you can add sand or sawdust to the planting hole.
Some gardeners prefer to sow seeds directly into the ground. Shoots may appear only after a year. The procedure is carried out in the fall, placing seed material in the ground before winter.
If the seedlings are ready for planting, then the plant is placed in a permanent place according to the 25*25 cm pattern
Landing algorithm:
- Dig a hole so that the roots fit freely along with a lump of earth.
- Transfer the plant to the hole, cover it with soil, and lightly compact the soil around the seedling.
- Water the climbing aconite.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Agricultural technology does not require much time: climbing aconite does not need constant attention.
During flowering and dry periods, it is necessary to prevent the soil from drying out. The soil should not be over-moistened: water should not stagnate at the roots.
When cultivating climbing aconite, fertilizing should be done in stages:
- In spring, use organic solutions. To do this, dilute 2 kg of manure in 10 liters of water. Water at the root.
- During the formation of buds, add a solution of nitroammophoska (40 g per 10 liters of water).
- During the flowering period, use phosphorus-potassium fertilizer.
If fertilizing is applied in dry form, then the soil around the bush should be spilled with water.
Loosening, mulching
The main requirement for caring for climbing aconite is to ensure breathability in the soil. For this purpose, gardeners regularly loosen the soil.
As an alternative, you can use mulch: a mixture of peat and sawdust
Installation of support
The plant has strong stems, so it needs support. Typically, gardeners tighten ropes so that the bush can crawl up on its own. But for climbing aconite, stronger support is needed: it is recommended to build a trellis.
Alternatively, you can stretch a net, or place the plant near a bush
Care during the flowering period
The buds of aconite climber bloom and fade one after another, which allows you to regularly admire the flowers. Wilted inflorescences should be removed by carefully picking or trimming them.
Diseased shoots and leaf blades should be destroyed outside the site so that the infection does not spread throughout the bush.
Preparing for winter
The fighter is winter-hardy, so care for it in the autumn is minimal. The top part of the plant should be cut off. Cover the remaining rhizome of climbing aconite with spruce branches. As a replacement, you can use peat, and later a layer of snow.
Pests and diseases
And although the fighter is very poisonous, it does not frighten pests and bacteria. The bush is often attacked by nematodes and slugs.
To get rid of nematodes and slugs, the above-ground part of the bush should be treated with onion infusion or fungicides
When climbing aconite is affected by powdery mildew, a white coating appears on the leaf blades and then on the flowers of the borer. As the disease progresses, the color of the spots becomes brown. The plant is difficult to treat; it is recommended to destroy the bush.
At the initial stages, you can treat the plant with drugs such as Quadris, Skor
Conclusion
Curly aconite is an ornamental perennial used to decorate the garden. The plant prefers shade or partial shade, goes well with tall perennials, and needs support. Aconite is poisonous; personal protective equipment is required when working with it.
