Remarkable decorative characteristics and excellent medicinal properties make such a plant as cornflower more and more popular among flower growers. Landing and caring for it do not require special complicated recommendations, therefore it attracts the attention of many lovers of such beauty.
Cornflower: short description
The cornflower plant belongs to
the ranunculaceae family. This plant is distinguished by the following features:
- creeping rhizome;
- upright leafless stalk;
- stem, basal and openwork leaves resembling a triangle.
White, pale pink or purple coloring is different for this flower. Cornflower can have a height of up to two meters, and in some cases even more.
The main types of plants
Cornflower grass has about 150 varieties, but the following are the most popular:
- Cornflower Delaway - characterized by lilac and lilac flowers, a height of a maximum of one and a half meters.
- Small cornflower - blooms in yellow and grows to 1 meter.
- The cornflower is waterborne - it differs in white or pale lilac color of flowers, with a maximum height of 120 cm.
- Yellow cornflower grows up to 110 cm, has sharp-toothed leaflets of obovate shape.
- Hybrid cornflower is relatively large in growth, which sometimes exceeds a two-meter indicator. Flowers of two colors: light lilac and light yellow.
- The cornflower is smelly. The main feature of the plant is a peculiar unpleasant odor. The flowers are yellowish-purple.
Cornflower: planting and care
This plant is not too whimsical. But still there are some features of growing such a flower as a cornflower. Planting and care should preferably be carried out in partial shade, in addition, abundant watering is very important, especially in the summer months. If these simple conditions are violated, some problems may arise with your file:
- pallor of flowers in connection with a stay in a place open to sunlight;
- the flowering period is reduced with insufficient moisture.
The soil for the plant should always be loosened and clean of weeds. There are no special requirements for the composition of the soil. It is advisable to make top dressing on time, since it affects the splendor of the plant. Favorable time for fertilizing is spring. Nitrogen must be present in their composition.
Some varieties of cornflower, for example waterborne, need pruning.
Cornflower Delaware: cultivation, reproduction
This plant propagates mainly vegetatively, using the method of dividing the bush or cuttings. But another method of growing is also possible: by planting seeds.
The division of the bush is carried out in mid-spring or early autumn. They are planted in moist soil, at a distance of 40 cm from each other.
The cuttings should be taken in early spring. In their quality are young shoots that differ in not fully developed leaves. They grow well in open ground.
It is important to plant seeds before the onset of frost, but in late autumn, in open ground. Already in the second year, the cornflower plant will delight the eye with its flowers. They have a pleasant lilac-lilac color.
It should be noted that in the same place, the Delawey cornflower grows well for about 15 years. The plant tolerates frosts well. It is also important to water the plantings on time, since lack of moisture can provoke the invasion of a pest such as aphids.
Healing composition of cornflower. Medical use
In alternative medicine, a plant such as cornflower is readily used. Its properties have been known since ancient times. Basically, in alternative medicine, a common cornflower and a smelly cornflower are used. Its composition contains such basic components as:
- tannins;
- alkaloids;
- volatile;
- vitamin C;
- pyrocatechins;
- glycoside.
In the root system, researchers found talikmidin, talmin, thalictrimin, berbirin, talikmin, glaucin.
Infusions or decoctions of cornflower have the effect of:
- hypotensive;
- antispasmodic;
- antimicrobial;
- sedative.
Cornflower is used to treat the following diseases:
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- dysmenorrhea;
- uterine bleeding;
- other gynecological diseases;
- problems of ophthalmology;
- lung diseases
- neurological disorders;
- boils;
- purulent wounds;
- hypertension;
- heart attacks
- epilepsy;
- malaria;
- colds;
- swelling.
Decoction, infusions, ointments, medicinal powder are prepared from cornflower. But it should be remembered that the plant is still poisonous, therefore, it should be used carefully and only after consulting a doctor.
How to harvest a cornflower
For medical purposes, both the aerial part of the plant and the rhizome are used. It is recommended to collect herbs in the summer months, that is, during the flowering period. For the preparation of medicine, leaves are suitable until the middle of the stem. They are carefully cut, and the rest of the plant is thrown away, the roots are harvested in the fall.
Drying both roots and herbs is desirable under a canopy and always in the shade. Dry finished raw materials are distinguished by their preserved color, bitter taste and slight smell.
The shelf life of such a healing medicine is no more than three years.
Landscaping and cornflower
The plant is mainly used to create an original unique landscape design:
- registration of artisanal and grassy borders (large cornflowers);
- as solitary plants;
- planting in large tracts;
- for decorating and creating exquisite compositions of gardens (small cornflowers).
In landscape design with the help of this plant, gardeners-enthusiasts are able to create impressive compositions. Cornflower is suitable mainly for decoration of backgrounds or tapeworms. This plant is distinguished by its exquisite airiness of both flowers and leaves.
Shrubbery with dark foliage are excellent partners for cornflower. This is euonymus purplifolia, cotoneaster brilliant, mahonia. Also, this plant looks great with large-leafed perennials, such as, for example, buzulnik, castor oil plant or rhubarb. The cornflower is well combined with companions, which are Siberian iris, phlox, catchment, Asian bathhouse, gravilate.
Due to this diverse application, more and more often, many gardeners want to see among the plants in their landscape compositions a cornflower, planting and care of which are natural and do not require complex recommendations. Only abundant watering and providing a place in partial shade are the main requirements of the cornflower.