Delicate miniature shoots, equipped with small oval-pointed leaves, crowned with touching little clouds-caps of inflorescences, have long and firmly taken their place in the Russian garden.
This is alissum, or marine lobularia, a representative of the Cabbage family, a magnificent honey plant, uniting more than a hundred plant species common throughout Europe, Asia and North Africa. The history of wild alissums dates back more than 20 centuries, but in the culture these wonderful flowers appeared not so long ago, but quickly gained popularity and recognition by gardeners. And nature did not deprive the plant of its merits: unpretentiousness, endurance, excellent aroma and cute decorativeness - everything is enclosed in this garden culture. We will talk about the cultivation and care of an interesting honey-shelter groundcover.
Species characteristics
Despite the fact that alissum is often called lobularia, these are different plants, but the closest relatives are very similar in appearance and united in one genus. They are distinguished only by the color of the flowers: cream or yellow in alissum, and white or lilac-pink in lobularia, although the efforts of breeders have brought forth new varieties and species with different shades of flowers. For example, sea white alissum pleases gardeners with excellent snow-white flowering.
Growing depending on the variety up to 15-40 cm, alissum is a short, well-growing groundcover with highly branched shoots, woody at the base. Small delicate flowers are collected in spectacular brushes, replacing one another throughout the summer season: the plant blooms in May and finishes flowering in late autumn. Seeds ripen in the fruit pod and retain high germination for more than three years. The decorativeness of alissum is emphasized by a pleasant aroma that attracts bees.
It is planted in discounts, on flowerbeds, used in border lines. In rockeries and on the Alpine hills, alissum replaces rapidly blooming dictates of bulbous crops.
Meet Alissum Rocky
Perennial and annual plants are cultivated. One of the common perennials is alissum rocky, forming decorative hemispherical crowns on low sprawling bushes. Blossoming in spring with bright yellow flowers, this groundcover reaches a height of 25-30 cm and a width of 30-50 cm. The flowering of rock alissum does not last long - 4-5 weeks, but pruning can achieve secondary flowering at the end of summer: the bushes are cut to leave above the ground surface of shoots 10 cm high. A lower cut will destroy the plant, so excessive zeal is not necessary here. The most famous varieties are Citrinum, Compactum, Golden Wave, Plenum.
Alyssum rocky is unpretentious and drought tolerant, it successfully tolerates harsh winters and is not afraid of sharp spring cooling, perfectly suited for the surroundings of alpine slides. The annual brothers of this honey plant are also decorative, but bloom much longer, as, for example, sea alissum. In warm regions, this plant is perennial, but in moderate latitudes it does not tolerate severe winters. It will be discussed further, although the recommendations on the agrotechnology of growing plants of this genus are the same for all species.
Alyssum Marine: Description
Growing only up to 20 cm in height, this plant diverges in width up to 30-35 cm due to strongly branching stems and forming fluffy bushes with dense oval, slightly pubescent leaves. Small flowers collected in a brush have an excellent honey aroma. Alyssum Maritime is a champion of the genus in terms of flowering time: reaching the vegetative age by the beginning of summer, he leaves under the snow with flowering tops of shoots. The rapidly growing alissum forms a continuous flowering carpet, perfectly tolerates sanitary haircuts and is instantly restored. Despite the fact that it is grown as an annual plant, in temperate climatic latitudes with mild winters sprouts self-sowing, freeing the gardener from sowing and seedlings. Usually, once a marine alissum has been planted, the gardener only has to renew the plantings once every 2-3 years.
Thanks to breeding developments, new varieties have appeared, the color of the flowers of which is very diverse and can be white, yellow, pink, lilac and even purple in different interpretations and intensities.
Popular varieties of alissum marine
The most famous and sought after:
• Tyney Tim - dwarf (up to 8 cm high) groundcover with white inflorescences.
• Easter Bonnet Deep Rose - Hot Pink Alyssum.
• Princess in Simple - ampel variety with hanging stems up to 35 cm long and fragrant lilac flowers.
• Violet Konigin - compact-branched alissum (up to 10-15 cm) with bright purple flowers.
How to grow alissum marine
They grow crops by seedlings, and in the warmer regions they use the seedling method, but flowering will be late, since seeds planted in May will take time to germinate, thin out, enter into force and the bushes will bloom only by July. Seeds are sown in the ground in prepared grooves, deepened by 1-1.5 cm. When seedlings appear, the plantings are thinned out, otherwise the plants will begin to oppress each other. More often, the seedlingless method is used for sowing perennial varieties in the winter: they are sown in November, during the winter they are stratified and germinate in the spring. But this does not apply to such a plant as sea alissum. Growing from seeds of this species is practiced extremely rarely.
The seedling method for temperate latitudes is more reliable and economical, since with it there are usually no extra seedlings. In addition, it allows you to get a flowering lawn by the beginning of summer. It all depends on the planting period, and in order to get a flowering honey plant earlier, seeds are sown for seedlings in March-April. Note that from the time of sowing to the beginning of flowering, 6-7 weeks pass.
Seedlings
The first step in growing seedlings will be the acquisition of a light nutritious soil with a pH index of 5.5 to 6.2. Seedling containers are disinfected and filled with soil for two-thirds of the volume. Then it is well moistened and sown seeds, controlling their uniformity on the soil surface. The seeds of alissum are small, so you can not fill them with earth, but only lightly press it to it. The containers are covered with any transparent material, creating the necessary microclimate, and placed in a cool (10-15 ° C) and bright place. Shoots appear after 6-9 days. From the beginning of seed germination, the covering material is removed, the seedlings are gently moistened, preventing their drying out.
With the advent of the first true leaves, the plant is fed organic-mineral fertilizer for flower seedlings. Suitable, for example, "Sakhalin Humate", a very effective drug for such a plant as alissum. Seedlings should be fed every 10-14 days. If necessary, the grown seedlings dive in separate pots when 3-5 leaves grow on the stems, but more often they are planted immediately on the flower bed.
Outdoor landing
Seedlings are planted in a permanent place when the danger of frost return is over. Alyssum sea prefers sunny places with water and breathable dry fertile soil. Soil reaction can be any - neutral, slightly acidic or slightly alkaline. Alyssum (the photos posted in the publication confirm this) grows well between stones heated in the sun, apparently preferences of wild brothers, prevalent mainly in the mountains and foothills, are affecting. Therefore rock gardens and rockeries for alissum are most preferable.
What to consider when landing
When planting seedlings, it should be borne in mind that the plant grows rapidly in all directions, and in order to avoid oppression by each other, it is necessary to observe intervals, focusing on the variety. For example, for dwarf species it will be 15-20 cm, and for larger - 35-40 cm.
Landing holes are dug with a size slightly larger than the roots of a plant with an earthen lump. Strong deepening is avoided, bushes should be planted, adhering to the level that was in the seedling tank or dive pot. After planting, the plants are generously watered. If the plants placed on the flowerbed have grown too much and disturbed the composition, they can be divided and planted by smaller independent plants. To avoid infection, root sections are treated with pharmaceutical greens or powdered with powdered coal.
Plant care
How simple the process of planting alissum is, how simple it is to care for it, consisting in timely watering, loosening the soil, weeding, top dressing and pruning. Water the plant regularly, and in dry, hot weather, the intensity of hydration is increased. Decorative culture directly depends on normal water exchange, and with a lack of moisture, the plant discards flowers and buds. These are the biological characteristics of a plant like alissum. Caring for the crop is also a necessary cultivation, since the roots need air access. Spend them after watering. Mulching plantings will free from loosening and weeding, and you will have to water much less.
The plant also needs high-quality nutrition. Alyssum marine blooms constantly, therefore, its nutrition should be intense. During the season it is fertilized 3-4 times: the first - during the build-up of green mass (mainly with nitrogen preparations or organics), the second - at the beginning of flowering, and then 3-4 weeks before the end of the season with complex mineral fertilizers.
Pruning
Decorative flower is supported by timely and proper pruning. After the first flowering wave, dried flower stalks remain, which should be removed to increase the formation of subsequent buds and prevent the formation of seeds.
Therefore, they carry out periodic pruning, shortening the shoots by 5-7 cm, stimulating branching and subsequent flowering. In addition, pruning will give the bushes a well-groomed and compact look.
When seeds are harvested
The end of September or the beginning of October is the time for collecting seeds. To do this, choose a calm day, cut off the plants and, rubbing the inflorescences with their hands, sprinkle seeds on a spread newspaper. Dry the seeds in a dry, well-ventilated area and store until planted in a bag of cotton cloth.
These are the features of the magnificent groundcover called the mysterious name alissum. The photos presented in the article convey the charm of this culture, but after seeing it live, every gardener will want to settle it in his garden.