Content
Echinacea Milkshake is a perennial that has gained wide popularity throughout the world due to its abundant, long-lasting flowering and unpretentiousness. In addition, the plant is characterized by increased endurance and frost resistance, and tolerates polluted air well. To successfully grow Echinacea Milkshake, you need to follow some simple growing rules.
Translated, the name of echinacea sounds like “milkshake.”
Origin
Purple coneflower has been cultivated since 1692. The wild form of the plant became the basis for the breeding of ornamental species. One of these is the Milkshake variety, which recently appeared on the market.
The range of decorative Echinacea species is expanding thanks to the efforts of scientists from different countries, especially Holland, America and Germany. However, who exactly is the originator of the Milkshake variety is unknown. And it is also impossible to say exactly what types of perennials are the basis for it.
Description of Echinacea Milkshake
Echinacea Milkshake is a herbaceous perennial shrub, the above-ground part of which dies off every fall and resumes its growing season with the arrival of spring. The height of the plant reaches 50-75 cm, and the width is 30-50 cm. The stems of Echinacea Milkshake are straight-growing, rough. Leaves sessile, petiolate. Two types of plates. The first are located at the base of the plant and form a basal rosette. They are broadly oval in shape, tapering at the base. The lower leaves have serrated edges and winged, elongated petioles.
The second type of plates in Echinacea variety Milkshake grows alternately on shoots. They are lanceolate, elongated, with a rough surface. Moreover, all the leaves have a bright green tint, the intensity of which remains throughout the entire season. Their surface is pubescent.
The flowers of the Milkshake Echinacea variety are large, pompom-shaped, and daisy-shaped. They are solitary and form on the tips of the shoots. The marginal reed petals are pointed, about 5-6 cm long, white-cream color. In the middle of the flowers there are tubular petals on a convex receptacle. They are milky greenish in color with an orange center. When the baskets are fully opened, their diameter reaches 8-12 cm.
After pollination of flowers, fruits appear in the form of tetrahedral boxes. They ripen in late summer or early autumn. Inside the fruit are dark brown elongated seeds.
The Milkshake variety can grow in one place for 5-7 years
Features of flowering
For echinacea, the flowering period begins in early July and lasts until the end of August. Moreover, the lifespan of each bud is one month.Timely removal of faded flowers stimulates the formation of new ones and allows you to maintain the high decorativeness of the plant. An adult Milkshake Echinacea bush produces up to 100 buds.
Growing regions
The perennial has high frost resistance. Echinacea purpurea variety Milkshake can withstand temperatures as low as -34 °C. In addition, the perennial tolerates drought well and is also able to adapt to any climate. Therefore, Echinacea Milkshake can be grown in all regions of the country.
Advantages and disadvantages
This variety has many advantages, which explains its popularity throughout the world. However, the variety also has certain disadvantages.
Echinacea Milkshake blooms for the first time in the second year after planting.
Advantages:
- endurance;
- frost resistance;
- unpretentiousness;
- long flowering;
- possibility of cultivation in all regions of the country;
- does not need shelter for the winter;
- easy to reproduce;
- low sensitivity to rain;
- Suitable for landscaping and cutting.
Flaws:
- needs periodic transplants;
- places increased demands on soil fertility;
- Requires good lighting throughout the day.
Landing rules
This variety is recommended to be grown in open areas, protected from cold gusts of wind, where water does not stagnate after rain or during thaws. The Milkshake variety prefers loamy, neutral soil rich in organic matter.
The area for planting Echinacea should be prepared two weeks before planting. It needs to be dug up and 10 kg applied per square meter. m, and with increased soil density also 5 kg of sand per area size. After this, it is recommended to level the soil surface well.
For planting, it is recommended to use 1-2 year old Echinacea seedlings with a well-developed root system. They need to be placed at a distance of 30 cm from each other. The procedure is recommended to be carried out in the spring, namely in mid-May. In this case, young plants will be able to get stronger before winter arrives.
When planting, Milkshake Echinacea seedlings must be carefully removed from the containers, keeping the earthen ball, and buried in the hole until the first leaves. After this, the roots need to be sprinkled with soil, all voids must be filled and the soil compacted at the base of the plants, and then watered abundantly.
It takes two weeks for Echinacea seedlings to take root in a new location.
Features of care
The perennial is unpretentious, so caring for it will not cause much trouble for the gardener. Watering Milkshake is necessary only during prolonged drought. The procedure is carried out strictly at the root in the evening. It is important that watering the Echinacea is moderate but frequent.
The perennial responds well to fertilizing. To do this, you can use both mineral and organic fertilizers, alternating them. At the beginning of the growing season, it is recommended to feed purple echinacea with chicken manure 1:15, and during the period of budding and prolonged flowering - Kemira Lux or Ava. At the beginning of autumn, wood ash should be applied under the bushes at the rate of 100-200 g per bush, followed by incorporation into the soil.
Flower stalks of Echinacea purpurea Milkshake may lie down in the wind. Therefore, to preserve the decorative appearance of the plant, it is recommended to use circular supports. It is also important to periodically clear the bushes of faded inflorescences.
Echinacea seedlings become frost-resistant as they mature.Therefore, it is recommended to cover young plants for the winter for three years after planting. To do this, in late autumn, their shoots need to be cut off at a height of 5-7 cm, and then the bushes need to be sprinkled with peat or covered with spruce branches.
Reproduction
Due to the hybridity of the Milkshake variety, it is recommended to propagate it vegetatively. And the best way to do this is to divide the bush. The procedure should be carried out in the spring with the beginning of the growing season. To propagate, you need to dig up the perennial from all sides, carefully remove it from the ground and use a sharp knife to cut the mother plant into pieces, each of which should have 2-3 growing points and well-developed roots. After this, it is recommended to immediately plant the divisions in a permanent place and water them abundantly.
Echinacea Milkshake in landscape design
This spectacular, unpretentious perennial is in great demand as an element of landscape design. It looks advantageous in group monoplantings against the backdrop of a green lawn, and also combines well with other garden crops.
Echinacea Milkshake can be used to decorate borders, mixborders, as well as camouflage fences and buildings
It can be planted with:
- phlox;
- monards;
- perennial asters;
- decorative cereals.
Echinacea purpurea does not react well to the close proximity of trees and tall shrubs
Conclusion
Echinacea Milkshake is exactly the plant that will not require complex care, but at the same time will delight you with long-term abundant flowering. Therefore, the crop is used for landscaping both household plots and parks, squares, and public flower beds.
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