Content
- 1 Botanical description
- 2 Types and varieties
- 3 Application in landscape design
- 4 Reproduction methods
- 5 Growing dodecatheon from seeds
- 6 Planting dodecatheon
- 7 Aftercare
- 8 Pests and diseases
- 9 Conclusion
Due to its simplicity, planting and caring for dodecatheon in open ground is accessible to both experienced and novice gardeners. The plant is easy to propagate by dividing the bush or grown from seeds, which can be sown immediately in open ground. The original shape of the flower and tall peduncle make it possible to use the crop to decorate the garden. The leaves are used in folk medicine.
Botanical description
Dodecatheon is a genus of perennial plants from the Primulaceae Vent family.The name literally means “divine dozen”. It is probably associated with the twelve flowers that make up the inflorescence. In practice, another name is also common: rubbish, as well as goose color.
From the description and photo of dodecatheon it is clear that this is a rather exotic and at the same time “modest” plant. The peduncle, depending on the species, reaches 10–50 cm in height. The stem is long and dark red. At its top there are flowers of unusual shape, which make the dodecatheon attractive.
The leaves form only in the root zone, leaving the stem completely bare, which makes it even more interesting. The shape of the plate is broadly oval, sometimes elliptical, from 1 to 3 cm in length. The color is light green - against this background the bright inflorescences look especially beautiful.
Features of dodecatheon flowering
The dodecatheon has an unusually shaped flower, reminiscent of cyclamen. Consists of 4–5 petals of different colors:
- snow-white;
- yellow;
- purple-pink;
- raspberry.
The type of inflorescences is umbrella-shaped, the diameter is small - only 3 cm. They attract attention with their unusual structure: the petals are facing back, and the stamens and pistil, on the contrary, tend to the foreground. Flowering begins in mid-June and continues for more than a month. In August, barrel-shaped fruits begin to form. They contain many small seeds. Therefore, you need to collect them carefully.
Types and varieties
There are more than 30 different species in the Dodecatheon family. Among them, only some varieties are grown in culture, specially bred for different climatic conditions. The most common varieties with photos and descriptions will help you choose a crop for any region.
Alpine (Dodecatheon alpinum)
An interesting species, found mainly in the mountains.The flowers are soft lilac, with white bases, and the core is a rich yellow color. The stems are small in height - up to 30 cm.
Alpine dodecatheon blooms for 1.5–2 months - from June to August
Toothed (Dodecatheon dentatum)
Perennial species with pure white flowers. Distributed in the northwestern United States, it takes root well in most Russian regions. Produces beautiful inflorescences and numerous leaves of light green color.
Dodecatheon serrated is suitable for creating ground cover plantings
Dodecatheon Jeffrey
The species is distinguished by large light green leaves and pink flowers located on dark red erect peduncles. The plant is quite tall - up to 50 cm.
Dodecatheon Jeffrey especially loves moist soil, so it is better to plant it on the shores of water bodies.
Cleveland's Dodecatheon Clevelandii
Produces 5–6 powerful flower stalks up to 60 cm high. The flowers are attractive pink in color with a lilac tint. Their diameter is about 2.5 cm.
Cleveland's dodecatheon is found on the west coast of North America
Medium (Dodecatheon meadia)
The species is distributed in the eastern United States and Canada. Prefers drier, sunny places, which is important to consider when planting in the garden.
Dodecatheon medium has peduncles up to 50 cm long
The culture produces very large leaves. Their length is about 30 cm.
Dodecateon low flowered
This species produces only 8–10 flowers, while most other varieties produce 15 to 20 flowers. The leaves are oval, with a glossy surface, decorative.
Dodecatheon pauciflora produces pink-lilac inflorescences in May–June
Spreading (Dodecatheon patulum)
A low-growing plant with crimson-colored flowers.Popular with gardeners because of the bright inflorescences that appear in early summer.
Raspberry flowers of spreading dodecatheon harmoniously combine with light green leaves
Virginia (Dodecatheon Virginia)
A snow-white variety that grows up to 50 cm in height. Each bush produces 15–20 attractive inflorescences. Sometimes they have a soft pink tint.
Virginia dodecatheon produces flowers from late May to the second half of June
Samson (Dodecatheon Samson)
Medium-sized perennial up to 45 cm high. Forms flowers with a diameter of up to 3 cm. The color of the petals is soft pink, closer to lilac. Flowers appear from May to June.
Flowering of dodecatheon Samson begins only in the second or third year after planting
Sacred (Dodecatheon sanctarum)
A very hardy plant. It tolerates frost and temperature changes well during the warm season.
Dodecatheon sacred can be grown in regions with cold winters
Aphrodite (Dodecatheon Aphrodite)
Dodecatheon Aphrodite is a medium-height shrub (40–60 cm). The flowers are purple in color, with a yellow center. Inflorescences contain 10–20 buds. To grow a beautiful dodecatheon Aphrodite (pictured), you must follow the rules of planting and care. The main requirement is well-moistened and light soil.
The Aphrodite variety is suitable for garden decoration; it also looks good cut
Queen Victoria
Dodecatheon Queen Victoria is a very spectacular plant up to 30 cm high. The flowers are soft lilac and pink-purple. Appear from the end of May to the second half of June.
Dodecatheon Queen Victoria looks good in single plantings
Angel of heart
Low-growing variety (20–25 cm). Produces flowers of rich lilac color. Their diameter reaches 3 cm.Decorates shady places, fits well into flower beds and rockeries. They are often planted on hillocks and on the shores of water bodies.
Flowering of dodecatheon Angel of the Heart begins 2–3 years after planting
Hermit (Dodecatheon insulare)
Decorative thanks to its wavy leaves and petals of lilac or soft pink color. Height up to 45 cm, flowering lush.
Pink inflorescences of dodecatheon Hermit look nice against the background of light green leaves
Alba (Dodecatheon alba)
A variety with attractive white flowers on tall peduncles (50 cm). The plant is unpretentious, any gardener can grow it.
Snow-white Alba inflorescences go well with rich greens
Red Wings
Dodecatheon Red Wings is a low shrub (up to 20 cm) with bright purple inflorescences. Looks great in compositions. Dodecatheon red wings is also used in single plantings.
Red Wings is one of the most beautiful varieties that bloom in June
Application in landscape design
Dodecatheon is a peculiar plant that always attracts attention. It is often placed in single plantings, forming a flower bed of several plants of the same or different species. The flower can also be used in compositions. Some interesting ideas with photos:
- Dodecatheon on a rocky flowerbed.
- Decoration in the recreation area next to the gazebo and bench.
- Planting against the background of a lawn.
- Decorating a nondescript place in the garden.
- Planting option against a background of stones.
Reproduction methods
Different types and varieties of dodecatheon can be propagated:
- Dividing the bush.
- Seeds.
The first method is the simplest.To do this, choose an adult dodecatheon bush (3–4 years or older), dig it up at the end of October or at the beginning of April. Divide into several parts so that each of them has several healthy shoots and roots. Replant to a new location, water and mulch.
Growing dodecatheon from seeds is also quite simple. They can be planted directly in open ground or in a seedling container.
In favorable conditions, the plant reproduces by self-sowing. Therefore, if the fruits and seeds are not removed in time, the flower may take over excess space, crowding out neighboring plants.
Growing dodecatheon from seeds
Dodecatheon seeds can be purchased at the store or collected yourself. You should work with them especially carefully, since they are very small and can easily crumble.
Direct sowing into the ground
The most common method of dodecatheon propagation is direct sowing of seeds. The plant is unpretentious, so there is no special need for growing seedlings. The optimal planting time is September (before winter). Spring planting is also allowed. But in this case, dodecatheon seeds need stratification: they are collected from the boxes by hand, carefully transferred to bags made of natural fabric and stored in the refrigerator. Then they are sown at the end of April or at the beginning of May in a flower bed.
In both cases, the algorithm of actions is the same:
- Prepare the area: clean, dig, fertilize and level.
- Place the prepared garden soil in a box and place it in the flowerbed.
- Bury the seeds 1 cm (the distance between neighboring ones is at least 5–7 cm).
- Cover with a cloth or film and periodically moisten with a spray bottle.
- The first leaves of dodecatheon die off within two weeks. This is a normal phenomenon, so there is no need to worry that the seedling has died.
- Ventilate periodically, remove the film completely after the leaves appear for the second time.
- The seedlings dive to a permanent place.
- Cover with leaf litter for the winter.
Growing seedlings
In the case of growing dodecatheon seedlings, sowing begins at the end of February or in the first ten days of March. The soil is prepared in advance - it must be fertilized and loose. For example, you can mix turf (surface) soil with peat and humus in a ratio of 2:1:1. If the soil is clayey, you need to add some sand.
Then the soil is placed in boxes where dodecatheon seeds are planted. After this, they are covered with film and grown in the same way as when planting in open ground. They dive after new leaves appear (for the second time). 1.5 weeks after transplantation, complex mineral fertilizer is given. All this time they continue to monitor soil moisture.
Diving of dodecatheon seedlings is carried out after the secondary appearance of leaves.
Planting dodecatheon
Dodecatheon is transplanted into a flower bed in early May. There are no special requirements for the location - it can be either sunny or shady. The soil should be moderately moist (lowlands with stagnant moisture are undesirable). The holes are prepared in advance at a distance of 10 cm. The depth corresponds to the roots of the plant - up to 10–15 cm. If the soil is not very fertile, when digging in the fall or early spring, add 3–5 kg of humus per 1 m2. If the soil is clayey, add up to 800 g of sawdust per 1 m2.
Before transplanting, you need to thoroughly water both the hole and the dodecatheon seedling itself in order to preserve the earthen ball to the maximum.The plants are carefully transferred to a new place, buried and mulch is laid out - straw, sawdust, humus or peat.
Dodecatheon is planted in open ground in early May.
Aftercare
Caring for the dodecatheon plant is quite simple. In order for the flowering to be lush, first of all you need to organize good watering. During drought, water is given 2 times a week. If precipitation is heavy, then additional moisture is not needed. To prevent the soil from drying out too quickly, lay a layer of mulch on the surface.
Fertilize the flower 2 times per season - in spring (April or May) and autumn (September). It is recommended to lay humus or peat on the surface - such a layer not only serves as fertilizer, but also plays the role of mulch. Instead of organic matter, you can use complex mineral fertilizer - it is diluted with water and watered with dodecatheon once (at the beginning of flowering).
Wintering
In autumn, the flower continues to be moistened. Remove all flower stalks (this can be done in the summer). There is no need to trim the foliage. A week before the onset of frost, the plant can be covered with dry leaves, peat or other organic matter. In early spring, the layer is removed so that the plant does not rot.
Pests and diseases
Planting and caring for dodecatheon flowers includes protection against diseases. The plant has very good immunity. But if overwatered, it can suffer from rot. If the leaves die off or spots appear on them, you should stop moistening the soil. And if spots appear on the surface, it is necessary to treat the plant with fungicides:
- Bordeaux mixture;
- "Topaz";
- "Ordan";
- "Maksim";
- "Skor";
- "Fundazol".
Of the insects, the flower is attacked by ants. You can often find slugs in the flowerbed. To combat them, nut shells or eggshells are sprinkled around the planting. You can also make a “path” from wood ash.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for dodecatheon in open ground is carried out according to standard rules. This is an unpretentious plant that requires only regular watering. Periodically, the soil needs to be loosened and weeds removed, and you can feed it 1-2 times per season. The original shape of the flowers, combined with low maintenance requirements, make dodecatheon one of the best early flowering crops.
