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Some garden flowers attract with their elegant simplicity. Pink pearl loosestrife is one of the perennials that are not immediately noticeable, but look very attractive when used in compositions. Unpretentiousness in cultivation, preservation of decorativeness throughout the growing season and exceptional endurance make the plant popular among gardeners.
Description of loosestrife Pink pearl
Merlin (Lythrum Salicaria) fam. Derbennikovykh is a perennial herbaceous plant with tetrahedral erect stems 0.5-1.5 m high. In the wild, it is found in all climatic zones of Russia, excluding the regions of the Far North. Loosestrife is moisture-loving; its bushes are found in floodplains, in water meadows, along the banks of lakes and swamps.
The flower has a creeping root system located near the surface of the earth. Over time, the rhizome becomes woody.The bright green, lanceolate-shaped leaf blades, arranged oppositely or whorled, turn purple in autumn.
Variety Pink Pearl is a herbaceous shrub 1-1.2 m high, with lilac-pink flowers densely arranged on paniculate inflorescences. Flowers in the form of toothed cups measuring 1 cm with 6-12 stamens are located in the axils of the bracts. The fruit is a two-leaf capsule. Photo of loosestrife Pink pearls during the flowering period are striking in beauty.
Merlin Pink pearl has numerous inflorescences up to 50 cm long
Derbennik is unpretentious in care, is able to develop and bloom on any soil, and easily tolerates frost and temperature changes. It can grow in one place without rejuvenation for more than 10 years. The shrub received the popular name “plakun-grass” for the ability of stomata located on the inside of the leaf to release excess moisture. In the morning the plant is covered with droplets of water. Being an excellent honey plant, loosestrife actively attracts bees. All parts of the flower contain essential oils, flavonoids and glycosides. Merlin is used in folk medicine for gastrointestinal diseases, as an anti-inflammatory, sedative and diuretic.
Application in landscape design
The unpretentiousness of loosestrife and the long flowering period (July-September) make the flower a valuable element in the design of mixborders, flower beds and garden beds. Along with the Pink Pearl loosestrife, other varieties are used to decorate flower beds.
Pink pearl goes well with ornamental shrubs: mock orange, spirea, bladderwort and conifers. Derbennik successfully complements flower beds with daylilies, phlox, and astilbes. In the lower tier of the plant there are hostas, heucheras, and a decorative mantle.
Pink pearl bushes combined with decorative foliage plants
When designing compositions, the ability of the loosestrife to grow greatly in width is taken into account, suppressing the growth of weak plants. The bushes are planted with strong perennials: ornamental grasses, liatris, chrysanthemums.
Derbennik Pink pearl is used to decorate artificial reservoirs, placing along the edges along with iris, sedge and miscanthus. Merlin can become part of a decorative apothecary flower garden with other attractive medicinal plants: oregano, mint, echinacea and monarda.
Features of reproduction
Merlin Pink pearls can be propagated in several ways.
Dividing the rhizome - during the process, lignified sections of the root are difficult to cut; you need to use an ax or shovel. In this way, it is recommended to propagate young plants no older than 5 years. The event is carried out in spring or autumn, the resulting plants are planted at a distance of 50 cm from each other.
Cuttings - use root cuttings, which are cut in June-July and planted for rooting in moist, loose soil. The seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place in early autumn.
The plant is easily propagated by seeds, which you can collect yourself. To improve germination, the seed needs to undergo stratification. The seeds are placed in the refrigerator for a month or planted in open ground before winter. Young seedlings bloom 2-3 years after planting.
Young loosestrife seedlings look good against the background of other evergreen shrubs
Growing loosestrife seedlings Pink pearl
Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in February-March. The prepared container is filled with loose fertile substrate. Seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil and covered with a 2-3 mm layer of soil. The planting box is covered with glass or plastic film, placed in a bright place, and ventilated regularly.
At an optimal temperature of 15-18 ˚C, the seeds germinate in 20-30 days, the polyethylene is removed. In the phase of 2-3 true leaves, seedlings are planted in separate small pots. Young seedlings are planted in open ground in May.
Planting and caring for loosestrife Pink pearls in the ground
The peculiarities of cultivating the plant are not difficult; any novice gardener can grow a flower on his or her own plot. The plant does well in sunny areas with moist soil. The landing site must be protected from strong winds, which can break tall shoots.
Recommended timing
Planting and replanting are carried out in April-early May or in the fall, after flowering has ended. Before the event, flower stalks with ovaries are cut off and weak twigs are removed.
Site selection and preparation
Pink pearl loosestrife can grow in any conditions. You can achieve lush flowering and rapid growth of the clump by planting the perennial in well-lit areas with fertile, slightly acidic soil pH -7-7.5.The flower does not develop well on sandy soils that quickly lose moisture; it prefers podzolic soils or peat bogs. The selected area is cleared of weeds. Poor soils are dug up with the addition of high-moor peat and well-rotted compost.
Landing algorithm
Properly prepared planting holes ensure the organic development of plants for many years.
Step-by-step instruction:
- holes are dug in the soil 40 cm wide and deep;
- 2-3 kg of compost or humus are placed at the bottom;
- organic matter is mixed with fertile soil;
- rooted cuttings or divisions measuring 10 cm or more are planted in holes, evenly distributing the roots;
- The plants are sprinkled with soil and carefully watered, trying not to expose the root system.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Loosestrife is a moisture-loving perennial that requires regular, abundant watering. If there is a lack of moisture, the bush will not die, but the plant will not bloom.
The shrub develops well in moist soils near water bodies
Pink Pearl jackets are fed during the growing season: in the spring, before flowering, during, using complex mineral fertilizers. Fertilizing with organic matter is carried out no more than once a year; excess is harmful to the plant.
Weeding and loosening
Removing weeds and loosening the soil around the bush should be done with caution. The root system of Pink Pearl is superficial and easy to damage. Mulching the tree trunk circle with peat solves several problems at once: it stops the growth of weeds, eliminates the need to loosen the soil, and retains moisture in the top layer of soil.
Trimming
The perennial is prone to self-sowing; faded inflorescences are removed before the fruits ripen. In autumn, the above-ground part is completely cut out. To increase the number of inflorescences in spring, young shoots are shortened by 15-20 cm. The emerging lateral branches throw out a large number of flower stalks, the plant blooms more actively.
Wintering
Derbennik is characterized by increased winter hardiness. Even young bushes and plants after transplantation do not need shelter. The perennial tolerates frost well under the protection of snow cover.
Diseases and pests
The herbaceous shrub Pink Pearl has high immunity and is practically not affected by fungal and viral diseases. The main pest is green and black aphids, which are recommended to be combated with folk remedies: infusion of garlic, onion peels, tobacco dust. The use of insecticides on honey plants is undesirable - it can lead to the death of bees and bumblebees.
The bushes remain decorative throughout the growing season
Conclusion
Pink pearl loosestrife is a perennial whose unassuming beauty serves as a wonderful backdrop in a variety of compositions. Long paniculate inflorescences decorate the flower for more than three months of the year, and crimson foliage refreshes the autumn landscape. The shrub is not capricious, it grows for many years without causing much trouble and without requiring special attention.
Reviews of Merlin Pink Pearl
