Content
- 1 Description of the plant
- 2 Types and varieties
- 3 Vatochnik in landscape design
- 4 Features of reproduction
- 5 Growing cottonweed from seeds
- 6 Planting and caring for cottonweed in open ground
- 7 Pests and diseases
- 8 Conclusion
The plant is a low, compact bush with graceful spherical inflorescences. Color: white, yellow, bright orange, red, lilac. Looks beautiful in single plantings and in compositions with other ornamental crops.
Description of the plant
Milkweed (Asclepias) is a genus of evergreen and deciduous perennial plants from the Kutrov family (Apocynaceae). It also has other names - lastoven, asklepias.The latter is associated with the medicinal properties of some types of cottonweed (named after the Greek god of healing, Aesculapius).
This is a powerful perennial shrub or subshrub with strong shoots. Depending on the type, the height can be 1 m or more. The rhizomes of the plant are located horizontally, diverge from the central shoot over long distances and provide the bush with water and nutrients.
The leaves are large (length 10–12 cm), oval or oblong, and are ovoid. They are located oppositely or whorled (growing from one point). The color of the upper side of the plate is dark green, the lower side has a grayish tint. The foliage has pubescence resembling cotton wool. The same layer covers the seeds, which is why the milkweed got its name.
Asclepias flowers (pictured) begin to appear in July. The process lasts 30–35 days. Inflorescences are racemose umbrellas of different colors. The size is medium: in diameter they reach from 2 to 10 cm. The last buds bloom in September.
Globular cottonweed inflorescences on thin stalks look good anywhere in the garden
Types and varieties
There are more than twenty species of cottonweed in nature, but most of them are not cultivated. Only certain varieties and varieties are used to decorate the garden.
Asclepias tuberosa
Tuberose tuberose is a low plant, the shoots of which reach 50–70 cm. The inflorescences are large, rich orange, red with yellow hues. Appear in mid-summer. The rhizomes form tubers, so the species has another name - tuberous milkweed.
If the autumn is warm, then the tuberose blooms until the beginning of October
The most popular varieties: Guy Butterfly, Maharaja.
Guy Butterfly (Asclepias tuberosa gay butterflies)
Tuberrose tuberose Guy Butterfly is one of the best options for decorating the garden. From a mixture of seeds you can grow several varieties with red, orange, yellow inflorescences.
The height of the Guy Butterfly bush is small - up to 70 cm
Maharaja (Asclepias tuberosa Maharaja)
Maharaja's milkweed is a compact bush. Its height does not exceed 50 cm. The inflorescences are bright orange umbrellas.
The Maharaja variety is suitable for designing paths and for planting in mixborders
Curassavia cottonweed (Asclepias Curassavica)
Kurasavskiy (Kurassavsky) milkweed is also called lastoven. This is a powerful shrub up to 100 cm high. The plant is evergreen, the stems are erect, the leaves are narrow, lanceolate, dark green. The description of this type of cottonweed (pictured) indicates that the plant produces orange flowers collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences with a diameter of 8–10 cm.
Lastoven has a long flowering period: from late spring to early summer.
Incarnate cottonweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Incarnate cottonweed is one of the most beautiful species. Its flowers are distinguished by their rich red color. Therefore, the plant is also called meat-red milkweed. The perennial reaches a height of 100–120 cm. It blooms for 30–40 days (in July and August). The leaves are oblong, large, bright green in color. Against their background, red inflorescences look very attractive.
The inflorescences of cottonweed incarnate are quite large, their diameter is 5–6 cm
Cinderella (Asclepias incarnata Cinderella)
The Cinderella variety produces pleasant pink flowers. The stems are thick and strong.The flowering of cottonweed incarnate occurs in August and early September. The culture prefers open areas, loose and fertile soils.
Cinderella bush reaches a height of 100 cm
White Superior (Asclepias incarnata White Superior)
The White Superior variety of cottonweed produces pure white flowers collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Bush of small height (up to 80 cm). Flowering occurs in the second half of summer. It is characterized by moderate frost resistance (up to -30 °C).
In regions with cold winters, White Superior needs to be mulched in late autumn.
Syrian cottonweed (Asclepias syriaca)
The description of the Syrian cottonweed (pictured) indicates that the culture forms pink inflorescences. The shrub reaches a height of 1.5 m. Flowers appear in July. The process lasts up to 35 days. If you plant the plant in the shade, the buds will bloom later, but they will bloom longer.
Syrian cottonweed is decorative not only for its inflorescences, but also for its large light green leaves with reddish veins
If necessary, you can quickly adjust the number of shoots by pruning.
Beautiful cottonweed (Asclepias speciosa)
This is a beautiful, small perennial shrub. Depending on the growing conditions, its height ranges from 30 to 70 cm. The flowers are of an interesting light green color. Inflorescences are spherical. Appear in July and August. The culture is winter-hardy and loves good moisture.
Due to its unusual coloring, the beautiful cotton grass is often used as a cut flower.
Sharp swallowtail (Siberian) (Vincetoxicum sibiricum)
Lastoven (cynanhum) Siberian is a species of the Kutrovye family, found not only in Siberia, but also in the middle zone and in the North Caucasus. The plant is cosmopolitan - it can be found in Europe, North Africa and some regions of Asia. The shape is a perennial herbaceous vine with creeping shoots and triangular leaves. The flowers are white, five-petaled, star-shaped.
Lastoven Siberian is decorative thanks to its elegant snow-white flowers
Therefore, children and pets should not be allowed on the site. If ingested, the leaves and stems are especially dangerous for dogs.
Vatochnik in landscape design
The cottonweed looks very beautiful both in single plantings and in combination with other ornamental plants: lilac, foxglove, maquea, mock orange, veronicastrum and others.
The cottonweed can become a decoration for a rocky hill
Asklepias looks good in a single planting
A composition with flowering crops will help you create a bright flowerbed.
Features of reproduction
The plant can be propagated in several ways:
- Rhizome division. The roots of all types of cotton grass are very developed, so dividing the bush is quite simple. Mature plants (over three years old) are dug up and divided into several parts so that each has several healthy shoots. They are settling in very well in their new place. It is necessary to water and mulch abundantly for the winter. Flowering occurs in the second season after transplantation.
Rhizome division is carried out in early spring or early autumn, after flowering has ended.
- Cuttings. It is recommended to obtain cottonweed cuttings in early summer. To do this, take young shoots up to 15 cm long.All lower leaves are cut off and the upper ones are shortened by half. Then they are planted in moistened sand and covered with a jar. They are grown until the end of summer, after which young cottonweed seedlings can be transferred to a new location.
The plant must be mulched for the winter.
Growing cottonweed from seeds
Growing cotton grass from seeds is quite simple. This method will take some time, but it is quite effective.
Grains are collected independently from ripened fruits or purchased in a store
There is no need to stratify planting material. It is recommended to immediately apply it to the soil or seedlings.
When to plant
You should start growing orange cottonweed or other species from seeds in the second half of March. Shoots will appear in 2–3 weeks, and they are transplanted into the ground towards the end of May. At home, seedlings will grow for about two months.
Preparing containers and soil
The cotton wool plant does not need special soil. Therefore, you can purchase a universal mixture for flower seedlings in the store or prepare the soil yourself. To do this, take turf soil, humus and peat in a ratio of 2:1:1.
The soil is disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate (1%) or placed in the freezer for several days
In the process of growing seedlings, diving is used. Therefore, initially the seeds are planted in common containers. These can be wooden boxes, plastic containers or cassettes. They can first be doused with boiling water or washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Planting cottonweed seeds
Cottonweed seeds are buried 1–1.5 cm (when planted in open ground - up to 3 cm). First, several furrows are made at a distance of 3–5 cm. After planting, the containers are placed in a cool place. The temperature should not exceed +18 °C. The surface is covered with a film with holes. If there is a lack of light, additional lighting is provided (up to 10 hours a day in total).
Caring for cottonweed seedlings
To get a beautiful and healthy plant, when growing cottonweed from seeds, special attention should be paid to caring for the seedlings. The culture is unpretentious, so the germination rate of even old seeds is more than 90%.
The plant requires only regular watering with warm, settled water. As soon as the seedlings grow 3–4 cm, the film must be removed. A few days after this, the seedlings dive into separate containers. At the same time, pinch the top to activate the growth of side shoots. The place is shaded. Two weeks before transplanting into the ground, plants can be periodically taken out to the balcony or outside for hardening.
Planting and caring for cottonweed in open ground
Most species and varieties of cotton grass are quite winter-hardy, so planting and caring for them in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region will not be difficult. To get a flowering plant, it is enough to follow some rules.
Recommended timing
The planting time depends on the method of propagation. Grown cottonwood seedlings are planted in the second half of May, when there are no longer frosts. Rhizomes take root well when planted in October (in the south - in November). The cuttings are transferred to a permanent place at the end of summer, watered regularly, and mulched for the winter.
Site selection and soil preparation
The cottonweed loves sunny, open areas. But light partial shade up to four hours a day is also acceptable.Therefore, the crop can be placed near bushes or medium-sized trees. The soil for the plant should be neutral or slightly acidic, preferably light, fertile loam. If the soil is depleted or has a heavy structure, it must be prepared in advance (in the fall). The area is cleared and dug up. Apply 3–5 kg of humus or 30–40 g of mineral fertilizer per 1 m2. If the soil is clayey, then add 500–800 g of sawdust or coarse sand.
Landing algorithm
Planting cotton grass is not difficult. Since the bush is not very spreading, it is enough to leave a gap of 50–70 cm between neighboring plants. Planting instructions:
- Dig holes of small diameter.
Recommended pit size – 50x50 cm
- Lay out a drainage layer of 5–7 cm.
Pebbles, broken bricks, and expanded clay are used as drainage materials.
- The seedlings are rooted and covered with fertile soil.
Gently press the earth in the hole with your hands
- Water abundantly and mulch.
Peat, humus, sawdust, straw, and wood chips are used as mulch.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
In order to grow a beautiful cotton grass with attractive flowers, as shown in the photo, after planting it is important to follow the basic rules of care and create optimal conditions. One of the main things is regular watering.
Milkweed is a crop that loves moisture
Water is given every week, especially in the first month after planting. Adult bushes do not need abundant watering, since the rhizomes grow well and extract moisture from the soil.
Plant nutrition is applied in early spring. To do this, you can use complex mineral fertilizer (for example, azofoska) or organic matter (compost, rotted manure, urea).
Weeding and loosening
It is recommended to loosen the soil periodically, especially after watering and heavy rains. Thanks to this, the plant’s roots will freely receive oxygen and nutrients. Weeding is carried out as necessary. To suppress the growth of weeds, the soil around the cotton grass is mulched with straw, hay, peat, and humus.
Care during flowering
During flowering, plants periodically remove wilted peduncles. This stimulates the growth of new inflorescences. The cut areas are sprinkled with charcoal or ash powder. To promote the formation of buds, the plant can be fed with superphosphate and potassium salt in the same ratio.
Wintering
In regions with cold winters, the crop is pruned in early October, leaving stumps 1 cm high. After this, the plant is insulated with leaves, sawdust, and spruce branches are laid (if available). In early spring this layer is removed.
Pests and diseases
The plant has good immunity. But sometimes it can suffer from whiteflies and spider mites. When pests appear, the crop is sprayed with insecticides: “Aktara”, “Fufanon”, “Aktellik”, “Decis”.
Conclusion
The cottonweed plant is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and winter hardiness. The bush is decorative thanks to its lush flowers that appear for 30–40 days or more. The variety of species allows you to choose from different colors - from snow-white to rich red.
