Content
Every year more and more exotic flowers are found in garden plots. The photo and description of the waxweed suggests that this is an unusual plant that is not difficult to care for and does not require special conditions for planting. An interesting color, which becomes more saturated in cloudy weather and evening hours, will be a real decoration of the garden.
Description of waxweed with photo
Cerinthe is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Borage family. It is a beautiful flower with an unusual blue-blue foliage color.
The natural habitat of the waxweed flower is southern Europe
The plant is characterized by a thin root system. It is located close to the surface of the earth. The stem is slightly branched. The bush consists of upright growing shoots that grow up to 50 cm.
The plant has a large number of leaves that are triangular or heart-shaped. They are rounded towards the top edge. The outer part of the leaf is glossy and has a slight waxy coating. Leaves are green.They have rich blue and purple shades, intensifying towards the top. The leaf blades are quite large, their length is about 15 cm.
At the tips of the shoots, inflorescences form. They consist of peduncles tending downwards. Small tubular buds form at the ends. The edges of the petals are bent outward. The size of the buds is about 3 cm in length. The flowers are yellow-violet in color. They open up gradually. New flowers appear in place of old flowers. The buds located in the lower part open first. The waxweed begins to bloom in June. This period lasts until the onset of frost.
Fruits form in place of faded buds. They are dark in color and have a round shape. The flower fruit size is about 5 mm.
Types and best varieties
The waxweed has several varieties. Only a few varieties have gained the greatest popularity.
Lesser waxweed
Small waxweed (Cerinthe minor) is a low plant, reaching 15 cm. The foliage has a bluish tint. The flower grows well on rocky soils. The color of the foliage is gray-blue, more saturated in the upper part. The flowers have a purple hue.
Lesser waxweed blooms from July to September.
Common waxweed
Common waxweed is a highly branched bush, reaching a height of 1 m. There are yellow spots on the surface of the leaf blade. Spike-shaped inflorescences consist of many tubular buds. Common waxweed grows well in marshy areas. The plant is toxic.
When flowering, the plant emits a rich, sweet smell.
Wax Tarot
Taro waxwort is a small bush, reaching a height of 40 cm. The foliage of the plant has a bright green color. There is a slight bluish tint on the top. The buds are purple. Closer to the edges it acquires a purple tint.
Despite its spreading nature, the plant is quite compact.
Marsh waxweed
The marsh waxwort is a massive shrub reaching a height of 1.5 m. The leaf blades have a rich green tint. The flowering period occurs at the end of March or beginning of April. At this moment, oblong earrings are formed in the leaves, reaching a length of 16 mm. This variety is actively used in folk medicine.
The marsh species is in the Red Book
Great waxweed
Cerinthe major is a spreading bush that grows 30-60 cm. The height of the flower is greatly influenced by external conditions. Green leaves have a faint blue tint. The flowers are deep purple. Large waxweed feels good in rocky soil.
At night, the blue parts of the plant acquire an even more saturated hue.
Methods for planting waxweed
To plant waxweed, you should choose well-lit areas. Light partial shade is allowed. The flower grows best in fertile soil. If the soil is not good enough, then before planting it is worth adding mineral or organic fertilizer to it.
There are two ways to plant waxweed: by seeds in open ground or by growing seedlings. Seed material can be purchased at the store or collected independently from existing shrubs.
It is worth planting seeds for seedlings at the end of February or at the beginning of March. This process consists of the following steps:
- The seeds should be kept on a clean, wet cloth for 24 hours.
- Prepare containers with soil. Bury the seeds 1-1.5 cm into it. The distance between them should be about 5 cm.
- Water the soil with a spray bottle.
- Place the plantings in a dark and warm place for germination.
The first shoots should appear after 10-15 days. They need to be moved to the windowsill so that they receive enough sunlight.
The air temperature in the room should vary from +15 to +20 °C.
14 days after the seedlings have grown stronger, they can be transferred to open ground. However, it is worth waiting for the moment when the likelihood of return frosts has passed. It is recommended to harden off the seedlings before transplanting. To do this, you need to take it outside for several hours during the week. When planting, you should leave a space of 20-25 cm between plants. The waxweed will begin to bloom in mid-to-late July.
Planting waxweed seeds directly into open ground is only suitable for regions with a warm climate. Planting time depends on climatic conditions. As a rule, this is mid to late April. It is important that the soil warms up enough to avoid the possibility of return frosts.
You can collect seeds for planting yourself. To prevent them from jumping out of the box themselves, it is recommended to pick them before they have time to fully ripen. They need to be removed from a warm, dry place. There they ripen and will be ready for planting.
An interesting feature of the waxflower flower is that the nuts are two-seeded. This means that when one seed is planted, two plants will grow.
An existing bush can be propagated using cuttings. To do this, you need to cut off small shoots from the top and keep them in a growth stimulator. After this, they can be planted in open ground and cared for like adult plants.
Rules for caring for waxweed
The wax flower is not particularly demanding in care. It adapts well to various conditions. The flower does not need constant watering. Most often, it gets enough moisture, which it receives from precipitation.
Additional watering of the plant is recommended only during prolonged drought.
In order for the root system to receive a sufficient amount of oxygen, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil. It is best to do this after watering or rain. It is advisable to mulch the tree trunk twice a summer. Leaf humus is best suited for this.
After ripening, the seeds spill out of the buds and scatter throughout the area. This leads to self-seeding. New bushes will appear next year. In addition, the flower easily pollinates with other plants in close proximity. This will lead to the fact that the new seedlings will have significant differences from the varietal specimens. To prevent such consequences, it is worth getting rid of the buds immediately after flowering.
Application in landscape design
Waxwort is a universal flower that is widely used in landscape design. Low-growing bushes can be planted along paths and borders.
They are suitable for use in group and single plantings
Waxwood goes well with a variety of flowers. It looks good with plants of both bright and calm shades.
When growing indoor varieties, it is recommended to take them outside for the summer.They can decorate a balcony, terrace, or place them along paths. It harmonizes perfectly with petunias and pelargoniums. It can be planted next to tall and short plants.
Waxwood fits perfectly into flower arrangements that contain stones
Conclusion
The photo and description of the wax plant indicates that this flower will fit perfectly into any garden. Even a beginner can cope with its cultivation. The plant can be pollinated by self-seeding, so every year the bushes will delight you with bright and abundant flowering.
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