In nature, many species of various stonecrops (sedums) grow. Most of them have remained wild. But one of them - the sedum visible (Sedum spectabile) - is a frequent visitor to personal plots. Many flower growers love him, because he is distinguished by a spectacular appearance and unpretentiousness.
Plant description
This plant belongs to the large genus Crassulaceae. This succulent is so unpretentious that it can survive even in mountainous areas and arid areas. Stonecrop prominent (sedum wonderful), unlike most of its undersized relatives, is characterized by rather long stems. He is a native of Northeast China. In the wild, this flower is found in Korea and Japan.
Stonecrop is visible, a photo of which attracts with its unusualness, forms compact bushes. The height of its erect juicy stems, depending on the variety, ranges from 30 to 80 cm. Moreover, they end with spectacular inflorescences.
This perennial plant has tuberous roots. Large flat oval leaves in most varieties are bluish-green in color. They are collected in 3-4 pieces in the so-called whorls. They are fleshy, juicy, densely cover the stems. In some varieties, the leaves are green, with bright spots, or maroon, with a grayish bloom.
Plant features
Stonecrop prominent is decorative at any time during the growing season. It becomes most spectacular after the appearance of numerous small flowers collected in umbrella inflorescences, up to 15-20 cm in diameter. They can have a pink-lilac, white, purple-carmine color.
Stonecrop prominent is characterized by rather long flowering. Its first buds open in July. It retains its decorative appearance until the onset of autumn frost. At the same time, its bright inflorescences remain colorful and juicy for a long time. Thanks to this plant, the flower bed retains its decorative effect for a long time. It attracts not only bees, but also a variety of butterflies.
The aerial part of this winter-hardy sedum dies off when severe frosts occur. Even at -7 ° C it retains its decorative appearance. This plant does not need shelter for the winter. After any frost in the spring, young stems always grow from the rhizomes. Stonecrop prominent is sometimes used for cutting. Its inflorescences retain their beautiful appearance for a long time.
Sedum varieties
Breeders have bred many new varieties of sedum. Stonecrop is prominent, the varieties of which differ among themselves not only in the color of the flowers, but also in the shade of the leaves, and may also differ in the height of the stems. The most common varieties of sedum of remarkable domestic and Dutch selection include the following:
• white: Iceberg (35-40cm), Frosty Morne (30-45 cm, with elegant green and white foliage), Best white (50 cm);
• cream: Star dust (height - about 35 cm);
• carmine pink: Diamond (30-40 cm), Carmen (50-60 cm);
• flaming pink: Purple emperor (50-60 cm, purple-red foliage);
• greenish-white: Frosty morning (35-40 cm, leaflets with a white border);
• red-purple: Xenox (30-50 cm, leaves and stems are dark purple);
• pink: Diamond Edge (25-30 cm, green leaves with cream marks on the edge); Variegatum (50-60 cm, yellow-green foliage); Matron (50-60 cm, leaves with a slight brownish tint).
Very unusual bright pink stonecrop prominent varieties Karl. It is distinguished by its increased frost resistance. So, its stems remain unchanged until spring. Stonecrop is prominent, the varieties of which allow you to compose a very spectacular planting, is gaining more and more popularity among gardeners.
Landing
Almost all varieties of stonecrop prominent have retained their natural unpretentiousness. When choosing a place for its landing, you should choose sunny places with good drainage. This plant also develops normally in areas with light partial shade. With a significant lack of ultraviolet rays, the color stain of the stonecrop flowers is lost, and its peduncles do not appear at all.
Any garden soil, fertilized with a small amount of compost or humus, is suitable for it. With regular application of organic matter to the soil, Sedum wonderful will delight the grower with its magnificent appearance. The best option for cleaning is sandy soil, fertilized with compost. Overripe manure is applied to the soil very moderately. The sedum does not need wonderful fertilizers.
Plant care
A scum is visible, care for which even a beginner grower can overpower, requires a minimum of attention. This drought-tolerant plant tolerates a lack of moisture in hot weather. It needs regular watering to maintain its decorative look. This flower does not need to be sheltered for the winter, as it perfectly tolerates any frost. In one place, he feels great for 5 years or more. Some gardeners recommend replanting a stonecrop prominent to another place every 5-10 years. Every few years they are re-marked to maintain an even carpet.
Planting varieties that do not differ in increased frost resistance are rejuvenated by adding fresh soil and cutting out old shoots. Care of a visible stonecrop consists in weeding (if necessary) and loosening the soil. All these actions are greatly simplified by mulching the root zone of the plant with aired peat.
Diseases and Pests
Stonecrop is prominent, the care of which, in view of the foregoing, is noticeably easier, practically not susceptible to disease. Pests are not afraid of him either.
Morphological features of sedum
Since any stalk of stonecrop prominent is able to quickly develop roots, many gardeners have to solve the problem of not propagating this flower on the site, but holding it back from overgrowth. If the overgrowth that has not appeared is removed in time, the sedum can very quickly capture quite large sections of flower beds. To prevent this from happening, you can limit the growth of the bush with the help of stones dug around it, pieces of tile or slate.
Reproduction of a stonecrop of a prominent
This plant perfectly reproduces vegetatively. Most often, 2 methods are used:
• summer cuttings;
• dividing the bush in spring or autumn.
Reproduction of the stonecrop of the prominent occurs by cutting healthy plant stems into pieces 5 cm long. They are planted in a specially prepared place (cuttings) located in partial shade. It’s even easier to get a visible stonecrop developing in a vase. In this case, propagation by cuttings does not require any efforts at all, since the cut stem of this plant very quickly takes root in the water and young shoots with developed root systems appear from the axils of the leaves. The florist can only carefully remove the new plants from the stem when they grow to 3-4 cm. Then they are planted on the flower beds.
If the bouquet of sedum was cut in late autumn, young stonecrops are planted in separate pots and left to winter until spring on the northeastern or western windowsills. This is due to the fact that on the southern window, the plant can stretch very much. In the spring they are planted in flower beds. This usually happens in May. Such a wonderful young sedum can bloom in the year of planting. Stonecrop is visible, the reproduction of which is absolutely not difficult, with one stalk can give about 10 new plants. Thus, you can quickly increase the number of bushes of the most valuable varieties of sedum. The main advantage of this method of reproduction is that the uterine bush is not subjected to summer cuttings or dividing and at the same time retains its decorative effect until late autumn.
Landing
This wonderful plant looks great both in single and in group plantings. Planted on a background of green grass and other plants as a tapeworm, it can revive any landscape. This sedum also looks great in a group landing with other succulents. As a rule, it is placed in mixborders, on sandy-rocky areas or alpine hills. In this case, the grower will not need to constantly monitor the condition of this plant.
Medicinal properties of stonecrop prominent
This flower is used not only as a decorative flowering plant, but also as a medicinal raw material. Almost all types of stonecrops are used to one degree or another in traditional medicine. From wonderful sedum prepare poultices, infusions and ointments. It is used for serious diseases such as epilepsy, ischemia, and digestive tract disorders. Preparations made from prominent sedum are used to treat burns, trophic ulcers, and bone fractures.
The beneficial substances that make up this plant, such as alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, organic acids and vitamins, relieve headaches, lower blood pressure, stop bleeding, remove toxins and soothe nerves. Drugs from this type of stonecrop are prescribed for pulmonary and heart failure, diseases of the gallbladder and liver. They have established themselves as a good restorative and tonic. Many healers use this plant to remove corns and warts.
There are certain contraindications to taking drugs from this plant. These include anacid and hypocidal gastritis and the presence of malignant tumors.
Cooking broth
With the weakening of the body, you can take a decoction of a visible stonecrop. To prepare it, scalp the stems of a fresh plant and grind them in a meat grinder. Juice is squeezed out of the cake obtained. It is mixed with an equal amount of pure water and boiled for 30 seconds. Ready broth take 1 tsp. three times a day with meals. To store this drug, vodka is added to it in a ratio of 1: 1. Such an infusion is taken 30 drops after meals 3 times a day.
To prepare a medicinal ointment, the juice of a fresh, visible stonecrop is mixed with melted butter in a 1: 1 ratio. This tool is applied to affected areas of the skin with ulcers, purulent wounds or various rashes.