Content
Lily of the valley (cletroides or clethroides) is a perennial herbaceous shrub. Rarely found in the wild. In Russia, the habitat of the main accumulation is in the Far East in the Primorsky Territory. They are grown in gardens and on personal plots. The design uses cultivars bred on the basis of a wild species.
Description of the cletra-like loosestrife
Lily of the valley loosestrife is a herbaceous plant intended for growing in open ground. The culture is used for landscaping shaded areas. During flowering, the plant attracts a large number of different butterflies, which gives the landscape a special flavor of wild nature.
Characteristics of culture:
- The perennial plant forms a lush, dense bush that grows quickly, occupying all available space. Reaches a height of about 1.3 m, the volume depends on the age of the bush, the average is 1.5 m.
- The culture is characterized by intensive shoot formation. The stems are erect, rigid, strong, do not fall apart, the crown holds its shape well. The shoots are light green, with small edges, ending in an inflorescence. Closer to the top, up to three flowering lateral shoots are formed on the stems.
- The flowers are small, milky in color, forming a spike-shaped pyramidal inflorescence with a drooping, sharp crown 30 cm high.
The flowering period of the lily of the valley crop occurs throughout the entire summer period.
- The light green leaves are long (up to 15 cm), thin, lanceolate with sharp ends and smooth edges. The location is dense, regular. In autumn, the crown turns bright yellow; the leaves do not fall off until frost.
- The structure of the root system resembles the root of a lily of the valley, hence the specific name. The system is superficial, creeping, and rapidly growing. Loosestrife, occupying living space, displaces any herbaceous plants from the site.
Lily of the valley loosestrife is decorative throughout the entire growing season. In spring it attracts attention with its delicate green crown; during flowering the bush is completely covered with white inflorescences; in autumn the yellow crown becomes a decoration of the empty garden.
Varieties of loosestrife
Loosestrife (clethroides) lily of the valley is rarely found not only in the field, but also in the natural environment. This is the most desirable specimen when decorating white gardens.
The only variety created on the basis of a wild species is Lady Jane loosestrife. The plant is distinguished by a dense bush about 90 cm high, with whorled leaves. The inflorescences are long – up to 35 cm, large.
Lady Jane loosestrife flowers are white with a pink or red center.
Lily of the valley loosestrife in landscape design
Lily of the valley is used to create white gardens. The plant combines harmoniously with shrub forms and wildflowers. The culture decorates areas of the garden or shady areas. Seedlings are used to decorate the banks of reservoirs and to cover waterlogged areas where nothing but loosestrife grows.
Examples of using lily of the valley in design:
- To design a garden recreation area.
Loosestrife planted at the edge of the forest to support large trees
- Use in composition with different types of flowering plants.
A corner of wild nature without a white flowering bush would look incomplete
- They draw up the foreground of the ridges.
Mass planting along the edge is used as a border option
- Flowerbeds are decorated with single plantings.
White tapeworm in the center of the flowerbed gives a neat, well-groomed look
- Planted in rockeries and rock gardens.
The plant goes perfectly with natural stone
Features of reproduction
Lily-of-the-valley loosestrife produces seeds in the form of capsules; they ripen in mid-September and are quite suitable for sowing. The Lady Jane variety is also suitable for generative propagation; the seeds retain the characteristics of an adult plant. Gardeners do not use seedlings. A lot of time passes from the moment the seeds are laid to flowering. The generative method is used in nurseries to produce a large number of seedlings.
It is possible to increase the number of loosestrife by cuttings, but this method is also not popular due to the length of the process.The plant quickly grows its root system; over the summer it can increase in volume by 2-3 times.
In spring, the mother bush is dug up, divided and planted around the site.
Lily of the valley quickly takes root, and the plant will bloom next summer. To stimulate shoot formation, it is recommended to plant the crop every three years.
Planting and caring for lily of the valley
White loosestrife lily of the valley is a field plant species; in the wild it is found near lakes, rivers, and in wetlands. Waterlogged soil is a biological requirement of the crop. If you create favorable conditions on the site, minimal maintenance will be required. The varietal representative has inherited all the characteristics of the species, so their agricultural technology and growing conditions are no different.
Recommended timing
Young seedlings, grown from seeds yourself or purchased from a retail chain, are best planted in open ground in late spring. By autumn, the loosestrife will take root and will not suffer from frost. In warm climates, the young plant can be planted in the fall.
Measures to divide the mother bush are carried out at the end of the season, i.e. immediately after flowering. The procedure can be postponed until spring, when the ground warms up enough to dig up the plant.
If the spring work was successful, at the end of summer the plot will begin to bloom.
Site selection and soil preparation
The composition of the soil and the acid-base reaction do not play a role for the lily of the valley loosestrife; the surface root system does not need aerated soils.According to the requirements of the culture, the site must always be moist; stagnation of water for loosestrife is a vital condition.
In a dry place, lily of the valley will grow only with constant, abundant watering.
Bright lighting and planting in an open sunny place are not suitable for the culture. Loosestrife's inflorescences begin to turn yellow and dry out, and the plant loses its decorative properties. Plant lily of the valley loosestrife in partial shade or shade. The culture feels comfortable under the canopy of trees or behind the wall of a building. The designated area is prepared before planting, it is dug up, organic fertilizers are applied, and grass roots are removed.
Landing algorithm
Loosestrife intended for propagation is dug up and divided into several parts. The soil is not shaken off or washed off with water. Remove damaged, dry roots, shorten those that go beyond the limits.
Sequence of landing work:
Prepare a hole 10 cm deep; the width of the hole should be slightly larger than the dimensions of the rhizome.
The bottom of the hole is covered with a layer of compost and peat, you can add ash
The loosestrife is placed in a hole, covered, and lightly pressed to the bottom of the hole. If there are young shoots, they are not covered with soil.
Features of cultivation
If the lily of the valley loosestrife is planted correctly, then the agricultural technology of the crop is standard. The plant is unpretentious, does not require constant attention and develops quickly. Basic care consists of fertilizing, weeding and watering.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
The crop is fed in the spring with nitrogen-based products. This is necessary for rapid shoot growth and green mass gain. At the end of June, organic matter is added.To make the inflorescences lush, use Agricola for flowering plants. In late autumn, you can feed the bush with organic fertilizers necessary for the formation of vegetative buds in the spring.
Herbaceous shrubs planted near water or on waterlogged soil should not be watered. The creeping root completely supplies it with moisture. On the dry site, activities are carried out every day.
Weeding and loosening the soil
If the weeds grow thickly, weeding is necessary. This event is relevant for young seedlings; adults displace not only cultivated species, but also weeds. Shallow loosening is also carried out for young representatives; for adults, aeration is not important. It is recommended to cover the root circle with mulch; it will prevent the evaporation of moisture from the soil surface.
Pruning and preparation for winter
The perennial loosestrife overwinters without additional measures. Before frost, the stems are cut off completely, watered, and in regions with abnormally cold winters, the top is covered with straw or peat. In the first year after planting, plots or seedlings are hilled up in the fall, fed with organic matter and covered with mulch.
Diseases and pests
Lily of the valley does not get sick, it can lose its decorative appearance only in bright light or during drought; infections do not affect the shrub. Among the pests, aphids may appear on the stems and leaves. If a pest is detected, loosestrife is treated with Antitlin. Shoots with a large concentration of insects are cut off.
Conclusion
Lily of the valley loosestrife is a bright ornamental crop with white inflorescences. The rare species is valued for its unpretentiousness, frost resistance and rapid growth of the bush.
