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The types and varieties of saplings currently available in ornamental gardening are represented by a rather large list of items. The love of florists and designers for this semi-shrub (less often herbaceous) plant is not surprising.
As a rule, sapling is a perennial whose dense spreading shoots hold their shape perfectly and allow you to create picturesque tall thickets in the garden. It blooms for a long time, on average from July to September, profusely and very beautifully. During this period, magnificent clouds of many small, brightly colored flowers bloom against a backdrop of dark green foliage. They are grouped into complex scutes, umbrellas or brushes.
Even after flowering stops, the window sill invariably remains decorative: the spent buds, drying out, acquire a silvery-white color and continue to serve as decoration for the area.If we add to all this a light pleasant aroma, ease of care, excellent winter hardiness, many interesting forms and the ability to harmoniously combine with a huge number of ornamental plants, then it will become clear why more and more gardeners are showing sympathy for this flower.
Types and varieties of saplings: names with photos
The genus Pokonnik (Eupatorium in Latin), belonging to the Asteraceae family, includes, according to various sources, from 36 to 150 species of herbs and subshrubs described by botanists. At the same time, scientists do not have a consensus on approximately 200 more plant names. Some classify these species as Eupatorium, while others isolate and group them into separate genera. The systematization of window sills remains a subject of scientific debate to this day.
Presumably, this plant originates from North America. More than 5 million years ago, one of the groups of its species migrated from this continent to Eurasia. In addition, this flower is also found in the wild in Tropical Africa.
Poskonnik is a tall, unpretentious perennial with straight, strong shoots and bright small flowers.
Currently, types of window sills are often classified as follows:
- North American - the most numerous group;
- European (the most famous of them is hemp sapling);
- Asian.
Other popular Russian names for poskonnik: fog, cap, petishnik, sedasha, horse grass, horse mane. In America, this plant is called “Joe Pye Weed”.This was the name of the legendary Indian healer, who successfully treated typhoid fever, which at one time was rampant in New England, with an extract from the saplings.
It is worth familiarizing yourself in more detail with the most common species of this plant and the varieties bred on their basis, which are popular in ornamental gardening.
Tubular
Tubular or fistulous sapling (lat. Eupatorium fistulosum) is a representative of the North American group of species. The height of its shoots is 0.6-2.1 m (on soils that remain moist throughout the season, they can grow more than 3.5 m). Smaller side stems extend from the massive central stem. The color of the shoots of this species can be bright green or light burgundy.
The wide, lanceolate, dark green leaves of this sapling are collected in whorls of 4-6 pieces around a straight stem, hollow inside. Their length is about 25 cm. The surface of the leaf blade is smooth, the edge is serrated.
Extensive arrays of flowers reach about 30-45 cm in diameter. They consist of many individual inflorescences, dome-shaped or bullet-shaped, on thin branches. Each of them contains from 5 to 7 small (0.8 cm) lavender-pink or purple flowers. The period of their appearance is from the beginning of July to the end of September.
Massive White (Album)
In sources, this variety is most often called the white form of the tubular sapling Massive White (Eupatorium fistulosum f. albidus ‘Massive White’). At the same time, the website of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain) officially lists the synonyms under which this plant can also be found:
- tubular sapling Album (Eupatorium fistulosum ‘Album’);
- Album spotted sapling (Eupatorium maculatum ‘Album’).
Obviously, this is the result of the fact that this variety, like many other saplings, is an interspecific hybrid.In this regard, it can be classified as either one or another species, depending on the researcher’s view of which of the characteristics predominates in this plant. A similar situation has developed with some other varieties of saplings, so their botanical definitions in different sources may differ significantly.
White tall sapling Massive White is often also found under the name Album
The Massive White variety, or Album, is a dense herbaceous perennial. The height of its bush is usually 1.5-2.5 m, although there are also specimens whose height reaches 3 m. The width of the plant is usually from 0.5 to 1 m. Its leaves are large, yellow-green in color, the blades have a jagged edge. Blooms late (August-September). Lush wide inflorescences consist of white flowers. Has good disease resistance.
Bartered Bride
Bartered Bride (Bartered Bride) is characterized by strong, upright stems of a yellowish-green color, sometimes with light purple stripes. The bushes of the plant reach 2.3 m in height and 1.1 m in width. The inflorescences are white, up to 23 cm in diameter.
Lush snow-white inflorescences of Bartered Bride resemble a bride’s wedding dress
Ivory Towers
The tubular sapling variety with the poetic name Ivory Towers (Ivory Towers) is famous for its milky white flowers and pale green stems. The height of the plant is 1.7 m, the width of the bush is about 0.75 m. The diameter of the inflorescence is 25 cm.The disadvantage of this sapling variety is its vulnerability to powdery mildew. Another important nuance noted by specialists from the Chicago Botanical Garden: dying flowers acquire a brownish tint, and the snow-white massif sometimes looks “dirty.”
The milky white domes of Ivory Towers flowers on tall stems look like majestic towers
Carin
The height of the bushes of the Karin tubular variety is more than 2 m, their width is about 1 m. The stems of the plant are dark purple, the flowers are pale pink, grouped into inflorescences with a diameter of about 22 cm. The flowering period is from early August to early September.
Delicate beauty Karin blooms dark purple
Selection
A massive plant reaching 1.8 m in height and 1.2 m in width. The strong stems of the Selection tubular sapling variety are colored in wine-burgundy tones. The dense clusters of its inflorescences are usually about 40 cm in diameter. The flowers are white or purple-white in color, attracting many butterflies. You can admire them from early August to mid-September.
Selection is a relatively young variety, the color of its flowers is characterized by wine-red tones.
Spotted
Spotted sapling (lat. Eupatorium maculatum) grows naturally in Canada, as well as in the central and northern parts of the United States. This is a large herbaceous plant, the bush of which reaches 1.8-2 m in height. The shoots are straight, powerful, purple-green in color. The leaves are arranged whorled on them. The plates are large, dark green, elongated, with a slightly pubescent surface and jagged edges.
The inflorescences are large, almost flat.The color of the opened brushes depends on the variety and can vary from white to purple. Flowering begins at the end of July. It lasts about a month.
Below are some varieties of this sapling with the brightest colors.
Atropurpureum
The stems of the sapling variety Atropurpureum are dark purple in color (sometimes even spotted), and the opened tubular flowers are very bright, mauve. They are collected in extensive inflorescences with a diameter of 25 cm. The average height of the shoots is 1.7 m, the width of the bush is about 1.5 m.
One of the most famous decorative varieties of saplings is Atropurpureum.
Gateway
The size of the Gateway spotted sill can vary widely. On average, the height of a plant of this variety is about 2 m, width - 1.5 m. The inflorescence in diameter often reaches 30 cm. The shoots of the Gateway variety are painted in deep wine-red tones. Unopened buds are usually purple in color, and the small flowers are purple-pink, creating a beautiful transition. It is believed that this hybrid grows more compact compared to many other varieties of spotted sapling: its bushes are denser and its inflorescences are denser.
Charming Gateway combines lilac and purple-pink colors
Phantom
The Phantom sapling variety is not as tall as a spreading plant: its shoots usually stretch upward by 0.8-1.3 m, while the width of the bush is on average 1.6 m. Thanks to this feature, it is grown not only in open ground, but also in large containers. Large shields of inflorescences, opening in mid-summer, allow you to admire mauve flowers that look very elegant against the backdrop of bright green foliage. This variety of saplings is excellent for cutting.
Phantom's soft pink airy inflorescences add a ghostly mystery to his image
Purple Bush
Purple Bush (Lilac Bush) lives up to its name: its lilac-pink flowers are similar to the previous two species. However, the size of its inflorescences is slightly smaller than that of the Gateway variety, approximately 22 cm, and the height of the bush is only 1.2-1.5 m with a 1.2-meter width. Black-crimson longitudinal streaks are usually clearly visible on the stems.
Dense bushes of Purple Bush will turn any sunny spot in the garden into a secluded corner.
Little Red
The spotted sapling variety Little Red (Red Baby) is distinguished by its relatively compact size: 1.2-1.7 m in height and 0.6-0.9 m in width. Its stems are garnet-purple in color and its leaves are green. Vast arrays of pale pink flowers reach 25 cm in diameter.
Little Red is not tall only in comparison with other saplings: its bush can grow up to 1.7 m
Purple
According to the main characteristics, the purple sapling (lat. Eupatorium purpureum) is very similar to the previously described species - spotted. Experts at the Chicago Botanical Garden note that gardeners often confuse them or treat them as synonyms.
A characteristic feature of the purple sapling is a smooth or covered with a few hairs green stem, not hollow inside, with purple spots only at the nodes. The leaves are matte, oval-lanceolate, with a serrated edge. They are collected in whorls of 3 or 4 pieces. Sweet-smelling lavender flowers are collected in inflorescences about 30 cm across. On tall (1.7-2.5 m) strong shoots they appear in mid-summer and decorate them until the beginning of September.
Little Joe
The hybrid Little Joe, or Baby Joe, is in most cases classified as Eupatorium dubium.At the same time, some scientists suggest that this is a variety of purple sapling. In the descriptions provided by plant nurseries, you can often find both such and such options.
The bush of this variety does not grow very large - only 1-1.2 m in height and about 0.9 m in width. Little Joe's flowers are smoky pink and the leaves are slightly rough and dark green. The shoots usually grow very densely. Flowering occurs in August and lasts 2-3 weeks.
Little Joe's inflorescences are painted a beautiful smoky pink color.
Baby Joe
Baby Joe (Little Joe) is a relatively young hybrid of Dutch origin. Like the previous variety, it is often classified as dubious sapling, although there are opinions that it is actually purple.
This is a low-growing compact bush, the height of which is 0.6-0.9 m and the width of 0.3-0.6 m. Its leaves are dark green in color. The diameter of the corymbose inflorescence is about 13 cm. The flowers of this variety are purple-pink.
“Little” Baby Joe is considered a dwarf sill
Euphoria Ruby
Purple sapling Euphoria Rabi (Euphoria Ruby) is a compact plant, usually not exceeding 0.75-1.2 m. The inflorescences of this variety are red-purple in color, the leaves are dark green. Stems are straight.
The patent for Euphoria Ruby states that this hybrid bears some resemblance to Little Joe. However, this variety of saplings is distinguished by shorter bushes, a darker purple shade of flower color and wider leaf blades.
The petals of the Euphoria Ruby variety play in the sunlight like the facets of a precious stone
Hemp
Hemp sapling (lat. Eupatorium cannabinus) is found almost everywhere in Europe.
A straight, relatively low stem (0.2-0.5 m, occasionally can exceed 1 m) is typical for this species. The leaves have short petioles and are located opposite.The plates are palmately dissected into 3 or 5 segments, their surface is slightly pubescent. The inflorescences are collected in corymbose panicles at the tops of the shoots. Pink flowers.
Hemp sapling is a honey plant, but honey from plants of this species, as a rule, is not eaten. Flowering period is the second half of summer.
Album Plenum
Album Plenum is a variety of hemp sapling that blooms with white or almost white flowers. The height of the bush is about 1.25 m. Flowering time is from July to September.
Album Plenum - a variety of hemp saplings, blooming white
Flore Pleno (Plenum)
Flore Pleno (otherwise Plenum) is an unusual terry form of hemp sapling. The variety is famous for its double flowers of bright pink color. The leaves are rich green. The height and width of the bush can be 1-1.5 m.
The variety Flore Pleno became famous thanks to its unusual double flowers.
Wrinkly
Wrinkled sapling (lat. Eupatorium rugosa) is currently renamed to highest ageratina (lat. Ageratina altissima) and transferred to the genus Ageratina. However, nurseries often offer this plant under the same name.
The distinctive features of this type of window sill are straight, vertically directed shoots no more than 1.5 m high. The stems are relatively weak and usually require support. The leaves are oval or heart-shaped, have a pronounced serrated edge, and are located opposite. Inflorescences are corymbose, dense. The color of the petals is white or light cream.The flowering period begins late, in September-October. In temperate climates it may not bloom at all.
Chocolate
The most famous variety of wrinkled sapling is Chokolet (Chocolate). Its glossy leaves are famous for their unusual color: dark green with a purple-brown tint. Young foliage and the undersides of the blades have a purple tint. They contrast nicely with the creamy white flowers that usually appear in October.
The height of the Chocolet sapling bush is about 1 m. This variety is frost-resistant and tolerates low negative temperatures well.
The color of the leaves of the Chocolet variety combines dark green with red-chocolate
Braunlaub
Wrinkled sapling Braunlaub grows up to 0.8-1 (according to some sources - up to 1.5) m. It is characterized by rich green leaves with a pronounced bronze-brown tint and white flowers. Grows densely, forms dense bushes.
The foliage of the Braunlaub variety is bronze-brown.
Lucky Melody
Lucky Melody (Happy Melody) is a compact, low-growing hybrid variety of wrinkled sapling. It reaches only 0.4-0.5 m in height. The color of the leaves is green, the inflorescences are snow-white. Flowering period – August-September.
Lucky Melody, blooming white - a very small variety of sapling, no more than 0.5 m in height
Fortune
Fortune's sapling (lat. Eupatorium fortunei) is a species of Asian origin. Its height usually varies from 0.4 to 1 m. The stems are straight, colored green or red-brown. They are slightly branched and covered with sparse fluff. The leaves are about 10 cm long. The blades are elliptical-lanceolate in shape, divided into 3 parts. Their edges are asymmetrically jagged.
The diameter of the united inflorescences is usually 3-6 (sometimes up to 10) cm. The color of the flowers is varied: from white to reddish.They have a pleasant aroma reminiscent of lavender.
Capri
The Fortune Capri sapling variety is quite compact - only 55-60 cm in height and about 45 cm in width. This allows it to be successfully grown as a potted crop. Its leaves are elongated, feathery, slightly wavy. They are colored in emerald green and pinkish tones. A beautiful creamy border along the edge of the plates adds even more decorativeness to them. The heads of the inflorescences are small, rounded, lavender-pink in color. Flowers appear from mid-August to late September.
Fortune Capri's sapling is distinguished by unusually colored leaves with a white border along the edges
Pink Frost
Fortune Pink Frost (Pink Frost) grows tall - up to 1.2 m. The width of the bushes of this variety reaches 0.7 m. The leaves are colored rich green with a creamy-white border along the edge. The inflorescences are small. The flowers are small, bright pink. They can be observed quite late: in August-September.
Bright two-color leaves of Pink Frost look very decorative
Perfoliate
The pierced or perforated sapling (lat. Eupatorium perfoliatum) is another species from the North American group. It has a straight stem about 1 m tall. The leaves are elongated and arranged oppositely on the shoots. They can be triple or solid. Baskets of 3-7 small white flowers form dome-shaped general inflorescences. The herb of this type of sapling is considered medicinal. Flowering time occurs from July to September.
JS Witte Walken
The bush of pierced-leaved sapling JES Witte Wolken was bred by the Belgian Jan Spreit in 2015. It grows up to 0.7-1 m in height and about 0.4 m in width.The leaves of this variety of saplings are characterized by a green color, while the flowers are white. The flowering time of the plant is from July to September. During this period, it attracts a large number of bees and butterflies.
Shoots of the JS Witte Volken variety grow thickly and luxuriantly
Milk And Cookies
Milk And Cookies was first introduced by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens Inc. (Association of Botanical Gardens Growing Native Perennials) in 2014 in Illinois, USA. This variety gets its name from the milky white flowers that appear in late summer and contrast with the unusual chocolate brown foliage. Under optimal conditions, the bush can grow up to 0.9 m in height and 0.6 m in width.
Based on the seedling of the Milk & Cookies variety (left), a new hybrid was bred in 2020 - Polished Brass (right)
Rules of care
Any of the varieties of saplings intended for the garden is hardy and unpretentious. It grows quickly, does not require shaping pruning and frequent replanting, and practically does not suffer from diseases and pests.
However, caring for this perennial still has certain subtleties that it is advisable to take into account:
- It is advisable to choose a site where the window sill bush will grow that is well lit and located in an open place.Its area must be at least 1 square. m. It is preferable that the soil is loose, fertile and has neutral acidity.
- Posonnik is a moisture-loving plant. It must be watered abundantly and often, especially in summer, on hot, dry days. The better care is taken to moisten the soil, the higher the shoots will grow. After watering, the soil at the roots of the sill should be loosened.
- Feeding is not necessary. If desired, you can fertilize the plant with complex mineral compounds 2-3 times per season.
- Some types and varieties of saplings require tying shoots to supports.
- It is recommended to promptly remove wilted inflorescences to prevent self-seeding.
- Most varieties of saplings are frost-resistant and winter well in an area without shelter. Before the onset of cold weather, the ground part of the bush is cut off.
- The sill can grow in the same place for up to 10 years without losing its decorative qualities. If necessary, dig up and divide an adult bush in spring or autumn.
Window sill in the landscape
The species and decorative varieties of this powerful, impressive-looking, lush-flowering perennial can be a real boon for implementing various design ideas.
A bush of a tall variety of sapling will perfectly act as a tapeworm on a lawn or lawn, attracting everyone's attention; its lush inflorescences will look especially bright against the backdrop of lush green grass
This plant is moisture-loving and will be a win-win solution for decorating the shore of a decorative pond.
Brightly flowering varieties of saplings are wonderfully suitable for mixed flower beds with the participation of tall ornamental grasses, as well as flower crops that harmonize with its color: heleniums, heliopsis, rudbeckia, goldenrod, astilbe, paniculate phlox, buzulnik, echinacea
A powerful, high window sill looks great as a background or background in multi-level group compositions
Planted against the wall of a house, near a fence or near any building, this beauty will be an excellent decoration for it.
Conclusion
The types and varieties of saplings that can be successfully grown as ornamental crops are very beautiful and varied. A tall, lushly bushing, unpretentious perennial, decorated with lush clouds of bright small flowers from mid-summer, will be an excellent solution for decorating various corners of the site. The main thing is to plant the window sill in a well-chosen place and provide it with the necessary minimum of care. Then this tall, handsome man will be able to truly transform the garden.
