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Bieberstein's parsley is a relatively little-known garden plant. It is more suitable for decorating large spaces in parks. But even there it is rare due to its demanding climatic conditions.
Description of the Bieberstein jar and characteristics
Perennial herbaceous plant of the Carnation family of the genus Jaskolok. Another name is Bieberstein's cornea. The international name Cerastium biebersteinii is given in honor of the German botanist Feodor Bieberstein. Having entered the service of the Russian crown in 1792, the scientist in 1793 began work on a major work on the Tauro-Caucasian flora. The book also included Bieberstein's perennial rant.
The grass is short. The height of its stems is no more than 25 cm. The leaves are lanceolate, with a pointed tip and entire edges. Length from 0.2 to 3.5 cm with a width of 1-9 mm. The white fibers covering the leaf blades give the impression of a “felt” surface. The petiole is missing.Because of the villi, the overgrown Bieberstein's moth forms loose turf similar to a silver carpet. Leaves die quickly in layers.
Flowering begins in the last ten days of April and continues until the end of May. In total it lasts 40-42 days. In some years, Bieberstein's parsley may bloom in mid-April or early May. It all depends on how cold the spring was. But continuous white cover can only be observed for three weeks.
The “snowdrift” effect is created by the gradual opening of the buds and the long lifespan of one flower: up to six days. The lifespan of an individual specimen depends on its position on the stem of the plant. The upper buds, opening at the end of May, remain decorative only for 2-3 days.
The individual flowers of Bieberstein's lily are collected in loose semi-umbrellas at the tops of the stems. The diameter of the corollas is snow-white in color from 1.5 to 3 cm.
The plant bears fruit abundantly. Bieberstein's cornea has a very short period from flowering to seed ripening. It takes only 17-25 days. The first seeds ripen by the end of May. But mass fruiting occurs in early June.
The blooming Bieberstein's cherry tree looks not like a carpet, but like unmelted snowdrifts
Stems creeping, stolon-shaped. They take root well as soon as possible. The root system of Bieberstein's cornea is powerful, but horizontal. Located shallow underground. It differs in that it easily penetrates into the smallest cracks in stones. And on occasion, it can also contribute to the splitting of rock.
Where does it grow
Biberstein's moth is a Crimean endemic that grows only in the mountains. Its natural habitat is yayla. The plant is a relic of the Tertiary period, which ended 1.8 million years ago.
It prefers to grow on crushed stone slopes and rocks. It can be found below the yayla, but always not far from its border. Related to species whose range is:
- in Transcaucasia;
- in the mountainous part of the Balkan Peninsula;
- in Asia Minor.
In the photo, Bieberstein's moth is very similar to other representatives of the genus. But their growing conditions are different.
The popular name for Bieberstein's chickweed is Crimean edelweiss, which it resembles in the color and shape of its pubescent leaves.
Bieberstein hornfels are not able to withstand the harsh northern conditions. It is a relative of southern species, similarities with which indicate connections between the Crimea and the Mediterranean in the distant past. However, Biberstein's moth is not found in the wild anywhere except the Crimean Peninsula. Due to its rarity, it is listed in the Red Book:
- Ukraine;
- Europe;
- Crimea.
The range of Bieberstein's hornfels as an ornamental plant is much wider. For acclimatization in other regions, since 1945, the flower has been grown in the botanical-geographical site “Crimea,” which was subordinate to the Central Republican Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. The seeds were obtained from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, the rhizomes were collected during expeditionary trips to the Crimean yayla.
The experiment was a success. In the Kyiv region, Bieberstein's lily grew well without watering and actively fruited.In this case, propagation was carried out by seeds planted in the ground before winter. The plant had a continuous growing season from spring to autumn. The lifespan of one specimen was five years. The very easy survival rate of Bieberstein's cornea when propagated by layering or dividing rhizomes was recognized as a particular advantage.
In culture, the plant is used for carpet plantings in dry, well-lit places. That is, where other ground cover plants die or lose their decorative properties. Due to the leaves, Bieberstein's cornea remains attractive even after flowering.
Reproduction methods
Bieberstein's cornea uses all possible methods to reproduce. This is typical for plants that live in harsh conditions. In its natural environment, the cornea can reproduce:
- seeds;
- with the help of stolon-like shoots.
When propagating in gardens, additional methods appear: cuttings, layering and division of rhizomes.
Growing Bieberstein's moth from seeds is the most labor-intensive way. Seedlings require special “mountain” conditions and do not tolerate excess moisture. But after the difficulties of the first year, the grass is propagated in other, more effective ways. If there is no one to buy planting material from, the seeds are worth the labor spent on them.
Spring is the ideal time to propagate Bieberstein's cornea by layering.You just need to wait until the new shoots reach a length of 15-20 cm. Since the stems of the grass are creeping and take root easily, it often propagates by layering without permission. That is, the owner doesn’t even have to make an effort to get a new bush. And to guarantee rooting, it is enough to sprinkle the layering with soil. In the fall, the new plant can be transplanted to a permanent location.
The transplanted Bieberstein's moth will take root better if you cover the borders of the joints from drying out
Cuttings are best done during flowering. If this is not possible, the procedure can be performed earlier or later. The moth will take root.
The shoot is cut off, excess leaves are removed from it and deepened into the soil. Here you need to maintain a balance: the soil should not be too wet or too dry. For better rooting, the cut stem is covered with a jar or a cut five-liter PET bottle, since the cutting needs a greenhouse effect. But you can root planting material in ordinary greenhouses.
Dividing rhizomes is best done in the fall after the seeds have ripened. Although the seedling can withstand the spring procedure. A horizontal root system greatly simplifies the task. In fact, the turf needs to be trimmed here. Under a part of the bush, the soil is carefully cut to a depth of about 20 cm. The separated seedling along with the soil is transferred to a previously prepared place, carefully laid, squeezed and watered with water to compact the soil.
Planting and caring for Bieberstein's parsley
Despite all the difficulties of growing Bieberstein hornfels from seeds, it is very popular among landscape designers.Overgrown clumps successfully mask landscape imperfections:
- hatches;
- slopes;
- boulders;
- unsightly areas of the garden.
But the parsley grows well not only in flower beds. It is often grown in pots and flowerpots. Although the plant has not been cultivated, a small amount of soil in flower containers does not bother it. She “equates” flower pots to cavities in rocks filled with earth. And uses this piece of soil to grow.
When to sow seeds
Seeds are sown in open ground before winter before frost or in April after the snow melts. The sprouts that have emerged are thinned out, since due to the small size of the fruits, the seedlings have to be sown more densely than necessary. In the phase of the 2-3rd true leaf, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving a distance of 5 cm between them.
To obtain seedlings in a greenhouse, seeds are planted in February-March. The resulting seedlings are sorted, since not all of them grow full-fledged. They are transplanted to a permanent place in July.
Soil and seed preparation
Since Bieberstein's cornea has not been subjected to selection, it requires the same conditions for growth as its wild ancestor. Yayla is a plateau open to the wind and sun rays. And the water there is very bad. All bodies of water are located below. The Crimean mountains are made of porous limestone, and water that falls on the yayla almost immediately seeps down into the karst cave system.
When growing Crimean chickweed, you need to take these nuances into account. Choose a well-lit place for the flower bed. If you don’t want to “chase” a plant throughout the garden. Bieberstein's hornwort planted in the shade will itself “crawl” to a lighted place, but it is unlikely to suit the owner of the site.
Partial shade is good for the tree, but you shouldn’t expect luxurious “drifts” in this case. Flowering will be relatively sparse, although the plant will not die.
It is better to choose rocky soil. If you remember the yayla, then loam mixed with limestone crushed stone is best suited. Bieberstein's moth grows well in poor soils, so you don't have to worry about the nutritional content of the soil. But good drainage is necessary.
Due to their size, Bieberstein's seeds are usually planted several at a time in one hole.
Planting Bieberstein's cherry for seedlings
To plant seeds for seedlings, prepare sandy loam soil that drains water well. They select containers meticulously. Moisture should not be retained in them. For germination, an air temperature of 20-25 ° C is required.
Caring for seedlings and planting in open ground
Seeds are planted in late February-April. The pots are placed in a sunny, warm place. If the temperature in the greenhouse is suitable, the containers can be placed there. Water no more than twice a week.
Seedlings are grown in portions: one container - one planting in the garden. Young shoots do not dive, so as not to damage the fragile roots. Under the open sky, a young chickweed is planted in early June.
Aftercare
Planting Bieberstein's seedling in open ground and subsequently caring for it is much easier than growing seedlings. After transplanting the grass to a permanent place, it is lightly watered. In the future, the hornwort will need water no more than once every ten days.
A heavily overgrown clump is trimmed. And they use the cut parts as cuttings. Trimming stems in order to force the plant to bloom a second time is a bad idea.Bieberstein's cornea is trimmed once: immediately after fruiting, to give it a decorative appearance. The regrown grass looks decorative and is able to provide the roots with nutrients.
The above-ground part of perennial plants helps the roots gain nutrients for wintering and starting a new growing season. Excessive pruning weakens the root system. Repeated flowering will not be as abundant, and new stems will be weak.
The moth also does not require winter care. It is able to withstand the frosts of the Middle Zone without shelter for the winter. It is enough just to remove the dried stems.
Fertilizer and feeding
Bieberstein's hornwort can grow in very poor soil. But he will not give up fertilizers. The plant responds well to the addition of organic matter: mullein solution after transplanting to a new place and during the flowering period. Mineral fertilizers are also suitable for grass. However, experienced gardeners advise not to fertilize Bieberstein's hornwort.
Diseases and pests
If Bieberstein's moth has natural enemies, they live exclusively on the yayla. As a garden crop, the plant is very resistant to pests and diseases. A fungal infection can affect Bieberstein's cornea only in one case: waterlogged soil. Dry soil is better for cherry blossoms than an abundance of moisture.
What plants does it go with?
In landscape design, Bieberstein's reed is used very widely. It is valued not only for its snow-white flowers, but also for its silvery foliage. On alpine hills and rock gardens it goes well with other inhabitants of alpine meadows:
- saxifrage;
- heuchera;
- sedums;
- bells.
The white flowers of Bieberstein's hornfels highlight the brightness of the leaves of other plants. But you need to select drought-resistant species to accompany the plant.
The white “drifts” of Bieberstein’s grouse set off any other bright colors well.
Conclusion
Bieberstein's plant is an original and unpretentious plant that can decorate any garden. Suitable for beginner gardeners due to its hardiness and good survival rate.
