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The night violet flower is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Brassica family. Most species are intended to be grown indoors. A few ornamental varieties are cultivated in open ground. The plant is modest in size, but despite this, it is often used in landscape design to decorate areas.
What does a night violet look like?
The Matthiola flower is a low-growing plant, up to 50 cm high. Night violet bushes have branched herbaceous shoots. The plant is erect with straight stems of dark green color. Their lower part is covered with numerous basal leaves. They are long, pointed, and light green in color. In the upper part of the night violet, under the peduncles, the leaves are shorter and have rounded ends.
Matthiola has simple four-petalled flowers. Their diameter is up to 4 cm. They form small brushes. Color varies from purple to pale pink.
Night violet blooms in the evening
The plant usually blooms in mid-June. In some regions, the flowering period is shifted. In the south it may begin at the end of May.
Other names
Perennial night violets are known by many names. This plant is often called noctule. This is explained by the fact that the flowers bloom after sunset and begin to exude a pleasant aroma.
Matthiola is also often called the left-handed one. This is the collective name of the night violet flower and all representatives of this genus.
Where and how does it grow
The plant was brought from the countries of Southern Europe. Night violet is common throughout the Mediterranean and nearby regions. It is known that the noctule plant was used for decorative purposes back in ancient Greece.
Night violet is not picky about growing conditions. In natural places, matthiol is prone to self-seeding. After summer flowering, seeds are formed. They spill out onto the soil, then germinate and take root.
Varieties and varieties
There are 2 known varieties of night violet. The first is Hesperis, or noctule. This is an erect herbaceous shrub up to a height of 50-60 cm. When flower stalks appear, it can reach 120 cm. The stems are narrow, with long green pointed leaves.
The main varieties of hesperis:
- Matron's noctule (Hesperis matronalis).
- Siberian (Hesperis sibirica).
- Persian (Hesperis persica).
- White noctule (Hesperis alba).
The second variety of night violet is Pink Mattiola. It is also represented by numerous varieties, the representatives of which differ in external characteristics.
Application in landscape design
Pink, purple and white night violets are used for decorative purposes.Varieties of other flowers are rarely planted in open ground. Many ornamental species are annual or biennial.
Night violets are planted in groups. They are usually placed in large areas at a distance from each other. Low-growing shrubs are planted next to hesperis: ferns, hostas, bergenia.
Mattiola is well suited for compact planting in flower beds
Night violet is suitable for group planting with other ornamental plants. They are used to create rock gardens, mixborders, decorate borders and artificial ponds.
Vegetarian flowers can be planted in flowerpots and placed on the veranda, balcony, loggia, or used to decorate the facade of the house. Designers recommend planting night violets near evening rest areas.
Features of reproduction
Night violets produce a large number of seeds. If the flower stalks are not cut, they end up in open ground, where they germinate and begin to bloom the next year. Night violet seeds should be collected for subsequent planting in early September.
If there is no matthiola on the site yet, it can be grown in seedlings. Seeds of a suitable variety can be purchased at a garden store.
Reproduction by division or cuttings of matthiola is not used. Any damage to the bush can lead to its death.
Growing seedlings
This method is not always practical. Seeds can be planted in open ground without prior preparation of seedlings. They are likely to sprout and grow in a short period of time.
For regions with unfavorable climatic conditions, it is recommended to grow Hesperis noctule matrona from seeds using seedlings.Sowing is carried out at the end of March or in April.
For planting use:
- seedling cassettes;
- food-grade plastic containers;
- peat tablets;
- small pots;
- plastic glasses.
The container should be filled with fresh garden soil mixed with river sand and compost. Water the soil well to keep it moist.
Sowing method:
- Soak the seeds in potassium permanganate for 20 minutes.
- Fill the seedling container with moist soil.
- Loosen.
- Make indentations 0.5-1 cm.
- Place night violet seeds inside.
- Cover the container with film.
Seedlings should be kept indoors at a temperature of 18 degrees. The seedlings need regular moistening from a spray bottle. Night violet picking is not required.
Sprouts with 3-4 true leaves are transplanted to a permanent place
Planting and care in open ground
The technology for growing hesperis from seeds is not difficult even for gardeners who have had no previous experience with such plants. Night violets grow well in almost any conditions and are not sensitive to negative environmental factors. When planting, it is enough to take into account a few simple rules.
Deadlines
Young violets obtained from seedlings need to be transplanted into the soil in early or mid-May. Then matthiola will have time to take root in a new place and will most likely bloom in the first year.
Sowing seeds in open ground can be carried out during the onset of persistent warming. The constant soil temperature should not be below 10 degrees. Seeds are usually planted in April, when the risk of night frosts has passed.
Site selection and soil preparation
Night violets are not picky.They can be planted in sunlit or shaded areas. It is not recommended to grow noctules in the shade, since a lack of light will negatively affect its condition.
Method of planting seedlings:
You cannot plant matthiola night violet flowers in lowlands. When precipitation occurs, liquid will accumulate there, which can cause rotting of the roots.
The sowing site must be protected from the wind. Otherwise, flower stalks should be removed from the bushes annually until the seeds form. Otherwise, the flower will reproduce by self-sowing.
Sowing seeds directly into the ground
This growing method is very simple. It is enough to prepare or purchase the required number of seeds.
How to plant night violet in the ground:
- Dig up the soil layer to a depth of 10-12 cm.
- Add compost, dry manure or peat.
- Loosen so that there are no large lumps of earth on the surface.
- Make 1 cm indentations at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other.
- Place the seeds in the holes.
- Sprinkle with loose soil.
- Add water.
When planting, you need to make sure that the soil has good air permeability. Otherwise, the seeds may not germinate.
Transplanting seedlings
The selection and preparation of the site is carried out in a similar way. Seedlings must be replanted in a timely manner, otherwise they take deep roots and are easily damaged.
How to transplant seedlings:
- Loosen and fertilize the soil on the site.
- Make planting holes or furrows.
- Remove the seedling plant with a knife, small spatula or wooden stick.
- Place it in the planting hole.
- Cover the roots with soil and compact lightly for stability.
- Add water.
It is believed that night violets grown by seedlings do not tolerate transplantation well.Therefore, the procedure should be carried out with care so as not to damage the flower.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Matthiola needs a lot of liquid after planting in the ground. Watering is carried out once every 2-3 days. In the future it is reduced to one per week. In the summer season, watering is carried out as the soil dries out.
Night violets bloom well without fertilizing
Fertilizers can be applied only to increase the duration of flowering. To do this, during the period of bud opening, a complex mineral composition with potassium and nitrogen is added. Wood ash acts as an auxiliary fertilizer. It is paid once a month.
To maintain soil moisture in the summer, it is mulched with tree bark and compost. In this case, you need to ensure that there is no stagnation of water in the roots.
Weeding and loosening
The area where the night violet grows is regularly cleared of weeds. Climbing, fast-growing plants are especially dangerous. They can wrap around thin stems, after which it is very difficult to free them.
As the soil compacts around the bushes, loosening is carried out. The optimal treatment depth is 8-10 cm. This improves air flow to the roots and prevents stagnation of liquid.
Diseases and pests
As can be seen in the photo, improper planting and care of night violet flowers can cause fungal infections. This usually occurs due to excessive watering or excessive soil density.
The main symptom of the disease is premature wilting
Some pathologies are accompanied by the appearance of growths, spots on the leaves and death.Sick specimens are recommended to be replanted, after removing the affected leaves and stems. The roots are soaked in potassium permanganate before planting.
Due to the close proximity of plants, powdery mildew may develop. To combat this disease, fungicidal agents are used.
It is advisable to treat night violet with insecticides. Due to its strong odor, it can attract butterflies, which will lay eggs on the plant. Larvae and caterpillars may eat foliage, which will affect the appearance. The treatment is carried out before flowering.
Conclusion
The night violet flower is grown with almost no effort. The plant feels good in poor soils and does not need frequent watering or fertilizing. At the same time, night violets are characterized by long-lasting flowering. They bloom in the evening, which distinguishes it from many other ornamental plants.
