Content
Imperial fritillary is a monocot flowering plant of the Liliaceae family and is popular in ornamental gardening. In nature, this perennial is distributed from the northwestern part of India to southern Turkey.
What does a royal hazel grouse look like?
Imperial hazel grouse is a bulbous herbaceous perennial. It looks like this:
- height up to 1.5 m;
- the shape of the bulbs is almost spherical, diameter up to 10 cm;
- leaves are collected in 4-8 pieces in 3-4 whorls;
- the shape of the plates is lanceolate;
- the umbrella inflorescence is single, consists of 3-5 buds, located at the top of the shoot;
- length of tripartite pistil up to 4.5 cm;
- a large number (up to 20) bracts, located above the inflorescence;
- perianth shape is bell-shaped, length up to 5.5 cm, color red, orange or yellow;
- the fruit is a winged capsule.
Flowering times depend on the specific variety. Usually the buds bloom in the second half of May. Flowering lasts approximately three weeks.
One of the features of imperial hazel grouse bulbs is their pungent odor, which repels some pests.
Varieties of imperial hazel grouse
The popularity of this perennial as a garden plant has led to the creation of many varieties. Their differences lie in the size and color of the buds.
Aurora
The Aurora variety grows up to 0.6-0.9 m. Its main characteristics:
- brick orange color;
- leaves broadly lanceolate;
- the diameter of the flowers is up to 4 cm, the length is the same or slightly less;
- on one plant there are six, less often - up to 12 buds.
Aurora and most other varieties belong to the fifth frost resistance zone and can withstand temperatures down to -28.9 °C
Rubra
The Rubra variety is distinguished by yellow or dark orange blooms. The height of the plants reaches 0.8-1 m. The diameter of the flowers is 10 cm. There are usually 3-8 of them on one plant.
The perennial variety Rubra blooms in May
Lutea
The Lutea variety has golden-yellowish blooms. The plant reaches a height of 0.9-1.2 m. The diameter of the flowers is 4 cm.
The flowering of the Lutea variety really resembles a golden crown - it is formed by six buds
Strip Beauty
The Striped Beauty variety has yellow or darker flowers with longitudinal thin burgundy stripes. The perennial reaches a height of 0.9 m. The inflorescence usually has up to seven, less often up to 11, buds.
The diameter of the flowers of the Strip Beauty variety is 10 cm
Raddeana
The Raddeana variety has straw-yellow flowers. Their diameter is 6 cm.
The Raddeana variety is quite low - the perennial grows up to 0.4-0.6 m
How to plant imperial hazel grouse correctly
There is nothing difficult in growing and caring for imperial hazel grouse if you organize the process correctly. Good growth and development of the perennial, annual flowering, and winter hardiness depend on this.
When to plant imperial hazel grouse in open ground
The optimal time for planting royal hazel grouse is autumn. Work is planned for September-October. In this case, the perennial will bloom the next year.
In the middle zone, it is better to plant during September so that the plant has time to take root. If everything is done too late, the risk of perennial death is high.
In the south, imperial hazel grouse can be planted until mid-October. In the Urals and Siberia, it is better to complete all work at the end of August or the first days of September.
When choosing the optimal time for autumn planting, the following factors are taken into account:
- night temperature not less than 5 °C;
- during the day the thermometer shows 10-15°C;
- There are at least 3-4 weeks left before frost;
- soil temperature 15 cm from the surface is 8-10 °C.
You can plant imperial hazel grouse in the spring. In this case, it will bloom only next season.
Choosing a location and bulbs
Properly planting the royal hazel grouse means choosing the right place for it. It must meet the following requirements:
- good lighting, partial shade is acceptable;
- no moisture stagnation;
- protection from strong winds and drafts;
- remoteness of groundwater;
- light and nutritious soil;
- loose soil;
- the optimal pH level is 6.5.
If necessary, organize drainage. It is recommended to add peat to the soil. If there is stagnation of moisture in the chosen place, then you should artificially create an embankment and plant hazel grouse on it. The same measure is resorted to if only lowland is available for planting. In such conditions, the underground part of the plant will rot.
If the soil is light and sandy, then it is necessary to add lowland peat or leaf humus. A bucket per 1 m² is enough. Excessively heavy soil is balanced with the same amount of coarse sand.
Perennial bulbs for planting are purchased or prepared independently. They must meet the following requirements;
- spherical-flattened shape;
- diameter 8-10 cm, not less than 6 cm;
- absence of mechanical damage, cracks, stains;
- Dry roots and scales are acceptable.
Holes remain in the bulbs from last year's peduncle - they can be through (the best option) or blind
Landing rules
Imperial hazel grouse should be planted in a pre-prepared area. It is dug up to a depth of 0.5 m and cleared of weeds and debris. Then apply fertilizers per 1 m²:
- humus (compost) – 1 bucket;
- wood ash – 0.2 kg;
- superphosphate – 30 g;
- potassium chloride – 15 g.
After applying fertilizers, the area is dug up again. Bulbs also need preparation for planting. It consists of the following points:
- elimination of dry roots, old scales;
- antifungal treatment - a strong solution of potassium permanganate (soaking for an hour), preparations such as Maxim summer resident, Fitosporin-M (use according to instructions);
- drying - the bulbs are placed in the shade for this.
When the site and planting material are properly prepared, the main part of the work begins:
- Loosen the soil.
- Level the surface.
- Dig holes. Orient the depth to the size of the bulbs, diameter 30-40 cm.
- Organize drainage from river sand at the bottom - use only coarse-grained material. A layer of 5 cm is sufficient.
- Sprinkle the sand thinly with soil.
- Place the onion in the hole, laying it on its side.
- Sprinkle with coarse sand.
- Fill the hole with fertile soil.
- Water generously.
An important point is the planting depth of the imperial hazel grouse. It should be equal to triple the height of the bulb. For low-growing varieties, the optimal depth is 10-13 cm, for tall varieties - up to 20 cm. This distance should not be to the top of the bulb, but to its bottom.
The bulbs are placed on their side to prevent excessive accumulation of water in the scales in the future.
How to care for imperial hazel grouse
Agricultural technology for growing imperial hazel grouse involves comprehensive care. The perennial is quite unpretentious in this regard.
Watering
Imperial hazel grouse is drought-resistant. It requires special watering only during dry periods. It is enough to moisten the plantings twice a month.
After watering and heavy rainfall, it is recommended to weed the imperial hazel grouse. Mulching will retain moisture and slow down weed growth.
Top dressing
They begin to feed the imperial hazel grouse the next year after planting. Fertilizers are usually applied three times per season:
- spring - nitrogen compounds to stimulate the growth of green mass, application in April is recommended;
- budding phase - organic fertilizers, usually using an infusion of mullein or bird droppings or mulching the flowerbed with compost;
- after flowering, a combination of potassium and phosphorus - it is convenient to use superphosphate, potassium sulfate.
It is also useful to feed imperial hazel grouse during flowering. It is good to use wood ash for this.
Preparing for winter
When the temperature in the fall becomes negative, the imperial hazel grouse plantings should be mulched. The following options are suitable for this:
- spruce branches;
- dry leaves;
- straw;
- sawdust.
Mulch is removed in the spring immediately after the snow melts. Otherwise, the layer of material will block access to sunlight.
Mulch is also necessary in winters with little snow. The optimal layer thickness is 25-30 cm. Such insulation is also necessary in regions where the temperature in winter can drop below the permissible limit (-28.9 °C).
Trimming
If you do not plan to collect imperial hazel grouse seeds, then after wilting, you should immediately cut off the flower stalks. This will support the decorative appearance of the perennial and increase the flow of nutrients to the bulb.
It is necessary to loosen the soil around imperial hazel grouse only when necessary.
Excavation
It is recommended to dig up imperial hazel grouse bulbs annually after flowering. Without such a measure, the buds may not bloom next year. The bulbs of the imperial hazel grouse are also dug up for the reason that, remaining in the soil, they are more susceptible to rot and pest damage.
Harvesting is carried out after flowering, when the petals fall off and the green parts of the perennial turn yellow. Another sign is drying out roots.
Typically, imperial hazel grouse bulbs are dug up in June-July.They need to be stored not until next year, but only until autumn.
Carefully dig up the bulbs, stepping 20-25 cm to the side. It is better to use a pitchfork for this. They pull out the underground part, grabbing the remains of the stem.
The dug up bulbs are cleaned of the outer shell, treated with fungicide or potassium permanganate and dried. Store them in a dry and well-ventilated place at a temperature of 25 °C.
After digging up the bulbs, it is recommended to sift the soil in this place to remove plant debris. Be sure to inspect the soil for separated babies. They can be grown.
When to replant imperial hazel grouse
Since the above-ground part of the perennial dies off, and the bulbs are dug up temporarily in the summer, it is convenient to combine such an event with replanting the imperial hazel grouse. To do this, you need to choose a place that meets all the requirements and prepare it in advance. The algorithm of work is exactly the same as for the initial planting of bulbs.
How does the imperial hazel grouse reproduce?
Imperial hazel grouse can be propagated by seed or by dividing the bulbs. The chosen option determines how much planting material will be available and when flowering will begin.
Bulbs
Gardeners usually propagate imperial hazel grouse by dividing the bulbs. They give birth to children rarely and in small quantities. The bulbs divide almost every year. It is recommended to plant them immediately after purchasing or digging them up without drying them out.
In order for the baby bulbs to grow, digging is carried out not every year, but every other time
Seeds
This option means that you will have to wait 5-6 years for flowering.This method is usually used only for breeding on an industrial scale.
If you plan to collect seeds, then the peduncles after wilting are not cut off. Harvesting is carried out when the boxes are completely dry. It is recommended to sow the seeds immediately after collection. They are planted to a depth of 1 cm, leaving 10 cm between rows. The seedlings are fed annually.
Diseases and pests
The imperial hazel grouse has good immunity, but its bulbs are susceptible to rot. It is usually discovered when digging up bulbs after flowering. The affected areas must be cleaned down to healthy tissue and treated with:
- iodine;
- brilliant green;
- crushed charcoal;
- potassium permanganate solution;
- ash.
After processing, the onion is dried. In the fall, it is better to plant it in a new place, and treat the soil in the previous area with fungicides.
During storage, hazel grouse bulbs are regularly inspected to see if rot has reappeared, but these areas are cleaned again
Among the pests, the imperial hazel grouse can be annoyed by the lily beetle. The pest is collected manually and destroyed or insecticides are used:
- Commander;
- Talstar;
- Confidor;
- Inta-Vir;
- Tanrek;
- Karbofos;
- Kinmiks.
The lily beetle and its larvae eat various above-ground parts of hazel grouse.
Photo of imperial hazel grouse in landscape design
For a long time, imperial hazel grouse has been planted as an ornamental plant in gardens in Europe and North America. The perennial is also popular in Russia.
Imperial hazel grouse is usually used for mixed plantings so that neighbors cover it after it wilts
Imperial hazel grouse look beautiful surrounded by related tulips
Imperial hazel grouse can be planted in the background, against the background of a fence or buildings
To create beautiful flower beds, imperial hazel grouse are planted with neighbors with consecutive or identical flowering periods
Conclusion
Imperial hazel grouse is a rather unpretentious herbaceous perennial. This plant is often grown in gardens; many varieties have been bred, differing in height and color. Hazel grouse is propagated by seeds or bulbs, which are recommended to be dug up annually after flowering.
