Content
Sidalcea Brilliant is a herbaceous plant similar to a miniature hollyhock. It is valued for its bright, lush flowering and ability to fit seamlessly into any garden design.
Description of Sidalcea Diamond with photo
Sidalcea Diamond is a decorative representative of the Malvaceae family.
The natural habitat of the crop is North America
Its thin, strong stems form a vertical bush 0.9 m high, and a well-developed root system feeds a lush crown, the diameter of which can reach 45 cm.
The botanical description of Sidalcea Brilliant states that the perennial has green, opposite, narrow-lanceolate stem leaves.
The root plates of the plant are palmately dissected, large, veined
The perennial blooms for the first time in the second year of life and is characterized by continuous budding, lasting from July to September. In mid-summer, spike-shaped inflorescences appear on the bush, held on thin but strong shoots of peduncles.
The flowers, whose diameter reaches 5-7 cm, consist of five bright pink silky petals and are shaped like a gramophone
Winter hardiness of Sidalcea Brilliant
The plant belongs to frost hardiness zone 5a (USDA). Oregon-bearing sidalcea Brilliant tolerates temperature drops of -26.1-28.9 0C.
Methods of application
Sidalcea Brilliant is widely used for decorating the coastal zone of reservoirs, in group plantings and creating high borders that allow zoning of decorative flowerbed ensembles. It is also good for cutting.
Advantages and disadvantages
Sidalcea Diamond is valued for its high decorativeness and winter hardiness. Spectacular bushes with simple bright flowers are successfully used to create floral compositions and decorate personal plots.
Sidalcea Diamond is characterized by continuous flowering and produces a subtle aroma
Pros:
- frost resistance;
- highly decorative;
- abundant, continuous flowering.
Minuses:
- weak aroma.
Features of growing Sidalcea Brilliant
The perennial does not require complex care. When growing a Sidalcea Brilliant bush, attention is paid only to key points.
Landing rules
Sydaltsia Diamond is planted in a flowerbed no earlier than the night frosts have subsided and the soil has warmed up well. This is usually done from mid-May to early June.
To plant Sidalcea, choose a well-lit area with light, neutral, fertile, well-drained soil. If enough air does not get into the ground, the root system and stem part of the Diamond plant will not be able to develop normally.
Before planting, the flower bed is dug up and cleared of weeds. The soil is mixed with river sand and fertilized with humus or compost.The procedure itself is performed according to the following algorithm:
- In the prepared area, a hole is dug, the dimensions of which are twice the volume of the root system of the Sidalcea seedling. If you plan to plant several bushes of the Brilliant variety, the distance between adjacent holes should be about 50 cm. To prevent the seedlings from oppressing each other, they should not be placed closely. At 1 m2 plant a maximum of 4-5 bushes.
- Drainage from sand or gravel is poured into the bottom of the dug hole, and a nutrient substrate of compost and garden soil is placed on top.
- A seedling of the Brilliant variety, the roots of which are treated with a growth stimulant, is immersed in the hole. The resulting voids are filled with the remains of the earth.
The soil around the sidalcea is compacted by hand and generously watered with non-cold, settled water.
Care instructions
The unpretentious perennial Sidalcea Diamond requires minimal care, implying:
- Watering. At first, Sidalcea needs regular and intensive irrigation. When the bush takes root, the frequency of moistening is slightly reduced. The perennial is watered as the topsoil dries out, on average twice a week. In hot and dry weather, Sidalcea is moistened more often. The Diamond variety is watered in the evening or from morning to noon, until the flowerbed is illuminated by the bright rays of the sun.
To ensure that the soil under the Brilliant variety Sidalcea bush stays moist longer, the tree trunk circle is covered with a layer of mulch
- Soil treatment. After rains or watering, the soil under the perennial is well loosened to a small depth in order to ensure soil aeration and prevent the development of fungal diseases in Sidalcea.
The tree trunk circle of the Brilliant variety is weeded from weeds that slow down the growth of garden crops
- Feeding.Sidalcea Brilliant, growing in fertile soil, develops well without auxiliary fertilizers, provided that compost is added to the ground before planting. It is also advisable to mulch the plant with peat, which supplies it with useful substances.
When growing Sidalcea on depleted soils, it is watered with a vermicompost solution three times per season.
- Trimmings. Sidalcea does not require formative pruning. But at the flowering stage, faded buds are removed from the bush in order to prolong the decorative period and prevent the appearance of seeds. With the arrival of autumn, the perennial is cut almost flush with the soil.
If only the root system of the sidalcea remains underground, the plant will safely survive even the harsh winter and produce young shoots in the spring
- Shelter for the winter. Although Sidalcea Brilliant tolerates frosts well down to -28.9 0C, in many regions of the Russian Federation, after autumn pruning, the perennial is covered with a thick layer of sawdust or dry foliage. If a harsh winter is expected, the plant is additionally insulated with spruce branches.
The shelter over the Sidalcea is built after the arrival of the first cold weather and removed with the onset of the spring thaw.
- Preventive treatments. Although the plant is characterized by good immunity, under unfavorable conditions it can be affected by rust, root rot or slugs.
At the first signs of a fungal disease, the Diamond variety is sprayed with Fitosporin, Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate.
Reproduction methods
Sidalcea Diamond is bred in several ways:
- Dividing the bush. This method makes it possible not only to propagate the Diamond variety, but also to rejuvenate the perennial.It is acceptable for bushes no younger than 3-5 years old and is carried out in autumn or early spring. The selected plant is dug out of the ground and divided by its roots into several fragments.
Sidalcea cuttings are immersed in a solution of potassium permanganate to prevent rotting and planted in prepared holes
- Seeds. Planting material is stratified in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks, soaked in warm water with the addition of a growth stimulator and sown in containers filled with loose, nutritious soil. Sidalcea seeds of the Brilliant variety are lightly pressed with a finger and sprinkled with soil. The crops are moistened with a spray bottle and covered with film to create a greenhouse effect. After the sprouts of Sidalcea appear, the polyethylene is removed and the box is transferred to a lighted windowsill.
Sidalcea seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of May, after warm weather sets in.
Photos in landscape design
The perennial gets along well with other plants and looks good next to lupine, rudbeckia, coreopsis and St. John's wort. Sidalcea Brilliant can also be used as a component of a Moorish lawn or an element of a hedge or high seasonal border.
Sidalcea Diamond fits well into any landscape and looks impressive as a tapeworm
When creating compositions, it is better to place the diamond on the sides or in the background
It is not advisable to plant Brilliant plant next to tall shrubs and trees. In their shade, the plant will develop worse and will suffer from a lack of moisture and nutrients.
Conclusion
Sidalcea Brilliant is an unpretentious and hardy garden crop, characterized by abundant and long flowering.It is resistant to most diseases and pests and is actively used in floristry and landscape design.
Reviews of Sidalcea Brilliant
