Mattiola is also called levka. The plant got its name thanks to the Italian botanist P. Mattiola. Flowers delight their owners with a pleasant aroma and beauty of flowering.
Honey inflorescences attract bees. The height of the mattiola reaches a meter.
The stem is straight, strongly branched, sometimes with an edge. There are a lot of oblong leaves, and flowers, pleasant to smell, are pink, purple or yellow. After flowering, a fruit with many seeds is formed from the inflorescences.
More than 40 plant species are accrued, but we will consider in detail the most popular of them.
Mattiola two-horned
An annual variety brought from Greece and Asia. The species is a low bushes about 40 cm. Green, slightly grayish leaves of a linear or serrated shape.
Inflorescences have small flowers with four petals, colored light pink. A pleasant aroma is felt several meters away at night.
It begins to bloom in mid-summer. If you plant given view mattiola near potatoes or eggplants, then in this way you will save the crop, and the Colorado potato beetle will become much smaller.
The main thing is to plant everything on time, so that by the time it is time to plant eggplant seedlings, Mattiola is already in bloom.
Levkoy gray
The annual variety was brought to us from the Mediterranean and Canary Islands... Mattiola of this species grows up to 70 cm. It has an erect stem with sometimes oblong pubescent leaves. Flower inflorescences can be completely different shades with four petals.
If the flower is terry, then they have 70 petals. The beauty of Mattiola pleases from mid-summer to October, but in the south, the variety blooms even in winter period... Seeds are collected from the flattened pod.
Mattiola Kverdlinburgskaya
Terry plants of this species are colored greenish. Sizo foliage is green, but the height depends on the variety of the variety.
Late mattiola grows more than 50 cm and forms a wide pyramidal bush with large flowers.
An early tall plant can have a stem height of up to 65 cm. They have large leaves and bright flowers in inflorescences. It begins to bloom in June and withers after two months.
The early low subspecies are spherical bushes not exceeding 50 cm in height. Pleases with flowering a little more than a month.
Hex-shaped matthiola
One stem plant is more than 70 cm long and differs from other species large inflorescences flowers. The flowering period begins in early summer with a duration of about two months.
How to grow matthiola and what to do for full growth?
Sow the plant in open ground, where the sun's rays fall. The flower is watered sparingly, but regularly, levkoy does not tolerate droughts, and may die from waterlogging. Feeding Matthiola every two weeks mineral fertilizers.
Flowers reproduce by seeds, already in April they can be sown in open soil and when the first shoots appear, they are thinned out so that the distance between each sprout is no more than 20 cm.
For permanent continuous flowering experts advise planting the plant in several stages.
If you need seedlings, you can sow flowers in containers. Thus, levkoy will bloom in early summer. Protect seedlings from frost, temperatures below 0C will adversely affect further development.
Treat pests and fungal diseases with matthiola in time.
Use fragrant flower for your own flower beds and flowerpots. In the evening, you will not be able to resist the smells that are heard everywhere.
Listen to the advice of experts, the mattiola plant is not demanding, and any novice gardener can grow it.
Photo of mattiola at the site
Evening on summer cottage, a cup of aromatic tea on open veranda, silence and an amazing aroma that cannot be confused with anything ... All this is about mattiola " Evening scent”, It is she who creates a special evening atmosphere in the country, at least in mine.
A flower garden without this plant, in my opinion, cannot be called complete - even if it looks inconspicuous during the day, but at night, Mattiola truly becomes the queen of flowers. I love this culture not only for its flavor, but also for its simplicity. Let's take a closer look at how to care for this flower.
The progenitors of mattiola grow on the territory of Greece and Asia Minor, mentions of this plant are known already in the 16th century. This annual is notable for its eccentricity, in the daytime the flowers are covered, but with the onset of evening they open and begin to exude a pleasant aroma.
The plant, depending on the variety, can be erect or spreading, with proper care it can reach 60 cm in height. The stems and leaves are strongly pubescent, the foliage is bright green, bordered by teeth.
The inflorescences are collected in a cluster of rather pale tones, the flowers are small, simple, sometimes double. Flowering begins in July and lasts until the first cold snap. After flowering, pod-like fruits with very small seeds are formed, the germination of which lasts for three years.
In nature, there are over 50 species of matthiola, it is also a fragrant violet, however, flower growers are engaged in breeding only two of them:
- Mattiola is two-horned;
- Levkoy or mattiola gray.
Now breeders have created dozens of all kinds of violets, each of which differs in appearance, color and aroma. Today we will deal with one of the two-horned mattiola varieties, namely, the "Evening aroma". This variety is distinguished by abundant branching.
The height of erect shoots reaches half a meter. The flowers are incredibly fragrant, medium-sized, pale lilac shades.
Scented violet seedlings
Most often matthiola is not grown seedling method, it is much easier to do this by simply sowing seeds into the soil. This is due to the fact that this plant has an extremely weak root system and most of the individuals often die during transplantation. However, if you need to speed up the flowering period, then you will have to take the risk and resort to just this method.
- Before planting seeds, prepare the substrate and containers for planting. The soil should be loose and fertile, well water and air permeable. Sowing boxes are disinfected with a hot solution of potassium permanganate.
- They begin to sow seeds from the beginning of February, if you plant them at intervals of a month, then flowering will last longer;
- Due to the fact that the seeds are very small, they are simply scattered over the soil surface with a distance of at least 4 cm, slightly sprinkled on top. They cannot be buried in the ground, otherwise you will not wait for seedlings. Crops are carefully sprayed warm water, cover with plastic or glass and put away in a warm, well-lit place. Before the first shoots appear, the seedlings are no longer watered.
- After the violet rises, it needs bright light and cold, it is better if the temperature does not rise above 12 degrees, then the seedlings will not stretch.
- If you originally planted matthiola seeds in a common container, then after two weeks it will have to dive. However, even with a very careful attitude during seating, some of the specimens will die. Therefore, it is easier and more reliable to plant seeds immediately in separate containers. In this case, 2-3 seeds are thrown into each pot, and then one of the strongest is left.
- If you still can't do without picking, water the seedlings well before that, so you will minimize the damage to the roots. Then carefully pull out one seedling at a time, being careful not to injure the delicate roots. In new containers, make small holes, place the plants there and sprinkle them with soil until the cotyledonous leaves. For better contact with the soil, press down gently. Water the violet gently.
- Matthiola is planted in a permanent place in late May-early June after the establishment of warm weather. They are planted, trying not to destroy the earthen lump with roots, at a distance of 15-30 cm from each other. To speed up engraftment, the violet is shaded for the first time.
Sowing with seeds in the ground
- First you need to find a suitable site for Matthiola "Evening aroma". It should be sunny so that the plants do not stretch out, protected from gusts of wind so that the bushes do not break.
- The soil at the planting site should be soft, loose and rich in nutrients. However, you should not bring humus under the culture, as this can cause infection of the violet with late blight. Matthiola grows well on loamy and sandy loamy soils with neutral acidity.
- Cultures preceding planting are no less important; areas where representatives of cruciferous plants were previously grown are not at all suitable. This can lead to damage to flowers by fungal diseases and keel.
- It is good if you prepare the soil on the site in the fall. Careful digging will rid the soil of fungi and black leg spores that are going to winter in it. It is necessary to dig it to a depth of 40 cm; simultaneous composting will give a good result.
- Matthiola "Evening aroma" does not have to be planted on a separate ridge, it will look much more interesting with other crops with large, bright inflorescences... It can be planted both in spring and autumn.
- The soil prepared for planting is well spilled with a strong solution of potassium permanganate, well loosened and shallow grooves are made. Their depth should not be more than half a centimeter, otherwise weak shoots will not be able to break through a thick layer of soil.
- For even distribution of achenes over the surface of the earth, they are mixed with sand and poured into the grooves.
- Next, the crops are carefully sprinkled with earth, its layer should not be more than 0.5 cm. In no case do not compact the planting, carefully water the ridge.
- Mattiola seedlings will appear by the end of May.
How to care for emerging seedlings
After the appearance of two or three real leaves on the "Evening Aroma" planting needs to be thinned out. A distance of at least 15-30 cm should be maintained between the bushes, this is taking into account their growth. Too thick planting due to difficulty in airing can be the cause of the development of fungal diseases.
Mattiola loves moisture, but does not tolerate stagnant water, its root system can simply rot. Likewise, it does not tolerate drought. Remove weeds regularly from the very moment of planting, they, competing with flowers for space, food and water, weaken them, and can also spread dangerous diseases.
Immediately after rain or watering, the soil under the violets must be carefully loosened, helping oxygen to penetrate to the roots.
Remove wilted brushes in a timely manner, otherwise they will take some of the nutrients from the plant, and the decorativeness of plantings suffers in the presence of dried inflorescences.
You cannot do without dressing; special formulations for home flowering plants are well suited. They need to be diluted in accordance with the directions on the package. In total, during the growing season, five additional dressings are needed, if the soil is not fertile, the number of feedings can be increased to eight.
The first time is fertilized three weeks after planting matthiola, then the flowers are watered several times during the formation of buds. It is strictly forbidden to use fresh organic matter to feed the "Evening Aroma".
Pests and diseases of the "Evening aroma", their prevention
This is not to say that matthiola is highly susceptible to attacks by harmful insects or diseases, but as with any other crop, you should always be on the lookout. The most common diseases are fusarium and keela, both of which are spore-propagating fungi. Unfortunately, spores easily overwinter in open ground.
Of dangerous insects you can distinguish cabbage, whitewater and cruciferous flea. The latter, along with caterpillars, can completely destroy crops of matthiola. To prevent this from happening, you must constantly carefully examine the plants. You can cope with all the problems with the help of special preparations from the flower shop.
Don't wait for insects and diseases to seriously damage your flowers, it is much easier to prevent any problem than to eliminate its consequences.
To do this, pay attention to several useful tips from experienced florists:
- As a prophylaxis for the disease with a keel or black leg, spill the earth with a saturated solution of potassium permanganate, wood ash or special fungicides;
- At the slightest sign of Fusarium infection, the bushes should be treated with preparations intended for this, having previously plucked and destroyed all damaged foliage;
- Two-horned matthiola belongs to the cruciferous family, and just like its relatives, it is attacked by cabbage and white butterflies. You can save yourself from them by spraying flowers with valerian tincture, since they cannot stand its smell. To prepare a magic solution, stir a small spoonful of valerian in a liter of liquid;
- You can scare off a cruciferous flea with ordinary wood ash. After watering and rain, simply dust the bushes with ash.
Two-horned matthiola is a herb known for its dizzying delicate aroma that intensifies with the onset of dusk. Summer residents love it very much and willingly grow it, despite the fact that in the daytime the flowers of mattiola close. Growing from seeds and caring for Matthiola two-horned is a job that even a novice florist can handle. In addition, every summer evening at your dacha you will feel the delicate pleasant aroma of flowers, which the poets sang in their works.
Mattiola two-horned - description
This plant belongs to the Cruciferous family, is an annual. Dear readers of "Popularly about health", take a look at the photo of Mattiola two-horned - its stems reach a height of up to 50 cm, they branch densely. Leaves are green, linear with large teeth. Inflorescences racemose with rather small lilac flowers, fragrant. The plant is of Greek origin, and it got its name in honor of the doctor and botanist who lived in the 16th century, Pietro Mattioli. If you want to enjoy the pleasant smell of the flowers of this plant in your country house, then plant it together with the brightly blooming representatives of the flora, since in the daytime Mattiola two-horned seems inconspicuous - its flowers open after sunset. How to grow and care for this plant?
Photo of Mattiola the Bicorn
Growing matthiola bicorn from seeds
This herb is cold-resistant, so there is no point in applying the seedling method to it. In addition, the night violet does not respond well to transplantation. Seeds are sown either before winter or in spring. If planting is carried out in the fall, then flowering will come much earlier. If you recently purchased seeds, then nothing prevents you from planting these flowers in April-May. Interestingly, some gardeners plant Matthiola bicorn in several stages at intervals of 18-20 days, so that the pleasant fragrance of lilac flowers lasts from early summer until autumn. You can follow their example.
Planting mattiola two-horned
As for the soil, a well-drained, sandy loam soil is suitable. Do not place these flowers in areas where organic matter was previously introduced or other plants belonging to the cruciferous family grew. Choose sunny or semi-shady places for sowing, as in the thick shade the plant will stretch out strongly, and its flowering will be poor. Seeds of mattiola bicorn are small enough, but they are distinguished by good germination, even if stored for about three years. They are mixed with sand and sown directly on the ground, without deepening. Sprinkle on top thin layer loose earth (no thicker than a centimeter). Watering the seedlings is carried out with a thin stream of water (watering can) so as not to erode the soil.
The first shoots usually appear as early as 10 days. When the sprouts have 3-4 leaves, they need to be thinned out, leaving a distance of about 15 cm between the plants.After the first shoots appear, flowering will occur in about a month and a half, in warmer regions this happens earlier. How to care for Matthiola bicorno?
Care features
Young plants often need weeding and loosening of the soil more often than usual. Since these flowers love moisture, water them regularly to avoid drying out the earthy coma. During periods of severe drought, do this more often, but keep in mind that you cannot turn the soil around the plants into swamp slurry, otherwise there is a risk of root rot.
If there is enough fertile soil on your site, feeding Matthiola two-horned is done about 5 times per season. Depleted areas are fed more often - 8-9 times per season. These flowers are fed only with complex mineral fertilizers, no organic matter is used. During the period of bud formation, fertilization is mandatory, then flowering will become more abundant. We add it to the soil along with water, following the dosage recommendations specified in the instructions.
Diseases
Matthiola two-horned is prone to root diseases - keels. The risk of infection with a fungal infection increases on acidic soils, as well as with regular waterlogging of the soil. If you notice signs of decay and wilting of flowers, diseased specimens should be removed by the root and burned, and the ground should be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate and limestone. Fungal diseases quickly spread to other plants, so you need to act immediately.
Mattiola leaves with characteristic small holes are a sign of damage by cruciferous flea beetles. You can get rid of them with the help of crushed wood ash, which is sprinkled on plants. If the flowers attack the cabbage, you will have to resort to the help of insecticides.
Popular varieties of mattiola bicorn
In flower shops you can buy seeds of Matthiola bicorn different varieties - "Lilak", "Evening aroma", "Darling", "Evening lights" and others.
Do you want your garden to be filled with the most delicate scent of Mattiola bicorno flowers in the evenings? Then take care of the purchase planting material, because very soon a favorable time for sowing will come - the end of April in warmer regions and the beginning of May in cold regions. As you can see, flowers do not require much attention - it is simple and quick to grow them from seeds, and difficulties in care can be caused by an invasion of pests and waterlogging of the soil on the site.
Mattiola is not one plant, but whole genus, uniting about 50 species of herbaceous plants of the cruciferous family. IN natural conditions can be found in Europe, the Mediterranean countries. In ancient times, the Greeks and Italians loved fragrant plants and decorated altars with them. A hundred years ago, mattiola was an indispensable decoration of gardens. Planted next to gazebos and terraces to enjoy the spicy scent of its flowers in the evenings.
Interest in scented matthiola diminished at some point due to the large assortment of colors that modern market for landscape design. Now the plant is becoming popular again and is successfully combined with many flowers in the design of mixed flower beds, lawns in the Moorish style, rabatki.
Mattiola are herbaceous plants that vary in height. These are also short species, the growth of which is no more than 20 cm. And rather high, reaching 80 cm. The stem is straight, herbaceous or woody, naked or tomentose-pubescent.
Leaves may have different shape: lanceolate, blunt or carved. Flowers (simple, double) are collected in inflorescences: racemose, spike-like. The color is varied: pink, white, purple, yellow. The fruit looks like a pod, contains flat seeds.
The flowering time of the species is different. In our climate, only plants that bloom in summer and autumn time. Summer views bloom after sowing after 50 or 70 days. The growing season of mattiola species in autumn is longer, blooming in autumn before frost.
Under natural conditions, 50 species of plants belonging to the genus Mattiola will grow, several species have been domesticated. In temperate climates middle band as decorative crops open ground, two types of plants are grown:
- matthiola two-horned;
- mattiola is gray.
Mattiola two-horned is an annual crop. Height about 50 cm. Sprawling, branched bush. Leaves are oblong, oval, pubescent. Blooms all summer, starting in June. Inflorescences racemose, composed of small flowers, greenish-purple, white or yellow.
A plant with a strong pleasant aroma, especially noticeable in the evening and at night, since the flowers open after sunset and are closed during the day. At the end of summer, fruits are formed. They are rather long pods with small horns at the top.
The seeds have flat shape, gray-brown color, small size. Seed germination lasts for two to three years. You can sow seeds in the ground in the fall. In the horticultural market, the species Matthiola two-horned is represented by several varieties. Most Popular:
- Evening scent.
- Star Light.
- Night violet.
- Lilak.
The most popular variety has a strong, pleasant aroma. Bushes of medium height - 45 cm, has an erect stem with large quantity branches. Lilac flowers, collected and loose racemose inflorescences, close at sunrise, bloom in the evening. Abundant flowering. Can grow in partial shade.
Mixture Starlight
The flowers of this variety have a low decorative effect, but they have an exquisite aroma, the colors can be very different. Height is no higher than 30 centimeters. The variety is recommended to be used to decorate lawns, balconies, garden paths... Usually flowers of this variety are planted near benches and under the windows of the house. The plant is not afraid of small cold snaps (-5 ° C).
Annual plant - mattiola Night violet low, maximum height 25 centimeters, cold-resistant, loves sunny places... The flowering period is long. When planted in late April, early May, it starts flowering in June and ends in September.
It grows quickly, reaching half a meter in height. Stems are densely branched, covered with large toothed leaves. The racemose inflorescences are closed during the day and bloom in the evening, spreading an exquisite aroma, can be used for cutting.
Mattiola Night Violet goes well with others flowering plants, can be used to decorate mixed type flower beds. The plant looks great against a green background lawn grass, next to gazebos, terraces, benches.
Mattiola Lilak cold-resistant, annual plantpreferring well-lit places. The stem is of medium height (50 cm), densely branched, covered with large, serrated leaves.
The inflorescences are racemose, lilac bloom at night, have a fascinating aroma. The beginning of flowering is early, only 60 days pass from sowing, and it is long (2 months). The Lilak variety is usually planted in flower beds located next to gazebos in combination with other flowers.
Matthiola two-horned is easier to grow by sowing seeds in open ground. There are several reasons for this:
- rises quickly after a week or a little more;
- not afraid of low temperatures;
- flowering occurs in 60 days;
- does not suffer from transplant.
When growing seedling method, flowering will come two weeks earlier than with direct sowing in the ground. This is the only bonus that the seedling method gives.
What to remember when choosing a site? Do not need too fertilized and fertile soil, do not apply fertilizer to the ground before sowing seeds, do not lime this first. The second precursor culture does not belong to the cruciferous family.
The explanation is simple if you plant this flower on too fertile soil, it will grow, flowering will come later than usual, there will be fewer inflorescences. There are no big restrictions regarding illumination. Prefers sunny places, but blooms quite well in partial shade.
Sowing should be started after the ground warms up and a positive average daily temperature is established. Dig up the earth, level it with a rake, compact and water. Observe the geometry, make rows for planting, it is not necessary that the seeds can be simply scattered on the desired area earth and sprinkle.
After the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings can be rowed, but only in the case of a large thickening, usually this is not done. While the plants are small and weak, monitor the soil moisture and water regularly.
Time and effort spent on growing seedlings will pay off early flowering... The garden will be filled with a delicious aroma two weeks or even three weeks earlier than with direct sowing in open ground.
When to plant seedlings?
A common question that arises from a novice gardener. In the case of mattiola two-horned, it is necessary to sow seeds to obtain seedlings in the second decade of March, but if it did not work out, you can sow at the end of the month. The deadline is early April.
Preparation of land and seeds
As usual, the soil must be prepared for seedlings before sowing. Any universal will do flower soilbought in a store. If preference is given to land from your site, then take ordinary garden soil (3 hours), add sand (1 hour) and peat (1 hour).
The land must be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and even better with the currently popular drug, phytosporin, this will increase the chance of growing strong seedlings.
You can not be lazy and prepare the seeds for sowing. First, soak them in water for a day, then drain the water, and wrap the seeds in a damp cloth and put in the refrigerator for several days. Seeds treated in this way germinate literally on the fourth day.
Pour the prepared soil into boxes for seedlings, level, water. Spread the seeds over the surface, sprinkle with a layer of earth (0.5 cm). Cover the box with a piece of cling film and place in a warm place.
Until the shoots appear, no work is necessary, just maintain the air temperature in the room at least 22 ° C. After the shoots appear, remove the film, lower the temperature to 15 ° C. The first watering should be carried out in a few days.
After two weeks, you can dive. The plant must have developed cotyledons. Dive into separate containers filled with soil with a drainage hole.
Further care of the seedlings is reduced to the usual activities: moderate watering, airing, hardening. Root system does not like excessive moisture, so do not flood the soil.
At the end of May, the seedlings are ready for transplanting to the flower bed. The weather is warm at this time. Best time for work in the evening or cloudy day. The bright sun can burn young plants and impair their adaptation.
The ground must first be dug up and leveled with a rake. The size of the wells corresponds to the volume of the pot. The planting scheme depends on the height of the variety. Low-growing varieties, it is permissible to plant at intervals of 20 cm, tall 30 cm.
Pour water well before transferring the plants. Seedling bushes, remove from the pots together with a lump of earth and carefully put in the liquid mud. Sprinkle the roots with earth, slightly crush the soil around the plants.
Taking care of any kind of matthiola in summer is not difficult. Agricultural engineering comes down to the usual activities:
- watering;
- loosening;
- weeding;
- topping;
- removal of faded inflorescences.
Watering subtleties, basic rules: moderation and regularity. The flower does not like both excessive moisture and overdried soil. Stagnation of moisture leads to root system disease. Suffers from dry soil appearance... Leaves curl.
Loosening the soil in a flower bed solves two problems. First, the roots receive more oxygen. The second is the absence of a crust on the surface of the earth. They always loosen after watering the next day. Weeding is a must. Weed removal is necessary for the flower beds to have beautiful view and the flowers received more nutrients and hurt less.
Removing wilting buds also helps keep the flower bed in perfect order and prolongs the life and flowering period of plants. Pinching the tops is carried out to accelerate the ripening of seeds, to improve the shape of the bush. One-time feeding with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers can be added to the main activities. It can be carried out once during the formation of inflorescences.
Like any plant, mattiola can get sick, or suffer from insects or pests, there are two main diseases. The first is cruciferous keels. The causative agent of the disease is located in the ground, it is often found in areas where cruciferous plants grow.
The root is affected first, then growths are formed on the stem. The plant loses its attractiveness, wilts, the leaves dry. The disease is not treated, diseased plants are removed and destroyed.
Preventive measures:
- observe crop rotation;
- do not overmoisten the land in the flower bed.
The second disease is black leg. Symptoms: dark spots on the stem, leaves, the prognosis is always bad, it is necessary to remove the diseased plant as early as possible, and treat the earth with the preparation "Hom".
A pest dangerous for matthiola is a cruciferous flea. You can determine the infection by the smallest holes in the leaves. Get rid of the usual wood ash, she needs to sprinkle the affected plants and the ground around them well.
Only when breeding matthiola through seedlings can you get your seeds, this is true for regions with a temperate climate. In the south, seeds will ripen when sown directly into the ground. In order to form fruits in the form of pods, it is not necessary to cut off the faded inflorescences.
After the fruit has formed, it must take enough time for the seeds to ripen. This usually happens in September. A sign of seed maturity - brown color fruits. Collect the pods on time, without allowing them to open. Then dry them in a dark dry room and select seeds from them. Seed germination lasts for 3 years.
Mattiola in landscape design
Mattiola, thanks to the variety of varieties differing in growth, color, type of inflorescences, is successfully used in decorative gardening for decorating pools, artificial ponds... Traditionally, these flowers are planted in groups or singly near gazebos and terraces.
The varieties of this species go well with other flowers. Common companions of matthiola:
- Nivyanik;
- Mignonette;
- Phlox;
- Lavender;
- Pyrethrum.
Good mattiola planted next to spicy herbs: rosemary, thyme, thyme. Aromas of herbs are mixed with a delicate floral scent.
Mattiola. Sowing matiola: video
A fragrant flower that does not require special care, delighting all summer with an exquisite aroma, deserves to be loved and used to decorate your garden.
Many people know this plant under a different name - levkoy. True, this is not one plant, but a whole genus. It belongs to the cruciferous family and includes more than fifty varieties and species. There are annuals, biennials and perennials.
Description
Outwardly, the flower looks rather modest - an erect stem from 20 to 80 cm in height, lancet-shaped leaves, carved or obtuse, green in color. Flowers are collected in an inflorescence brush or spike. Inflorescences, both simple and terry, depending on the variety, have a pink, blue, lilac, white or dark purple hue. The fruit is pod-shaped, the seeds are flat.
Matthiola appearance
Each species has its own flowering period, for our condition climatic zone mainly only those varieties are suitable, the flowering of which occurs in the summer or early autumn. The peculiarity of summer varieties is that flowering begins at least 50 days after planting.
In autumn species, the growing season takes more time - they bloom from the beginning of autumn to the very frost.
Types and varieties
As already mentioned, in the natural environment you can find more than fifty plant species related to the described flower. Of these, man has cultivated about a dozen species. But in the conditions of our middle latitudes, only two species can be grown in the open field:
- two-horned;
- gray-haired.
Let's analyze each type separately.
Mattiola two-horned, unlike, is an annual flower. It grows to a height of 50 cm, the trunk of the bush branches strongly. Leaves are oval in shape, somewhat oblong, slightly pubescent. Flowering begins in June and lasts all summer. Flowers are collected in an inflorescence brush, flowers small size... They have a greenish-purple, white or yellow tint. Read more about varieties and growing of annual flowers.
The aroma of the flower intensifies towards the end of the day and at night. The reason for this is that the flowers of this species open with the onset of darkness, but in daylight they are closed.
After flowering at the end of summer, fruits are formed - long pods appear in and swarms, in the upper part of which there are small formations in the form of horns. Opening the pod reveals small, flat, gray-brown seeds. Seeds can be stored for two to three years, it is at this time that they retain their germination.
The most popular varieties of this type:
- Distinctive feature varieties are strong aroma. The stems of the bush can grow up to 45 cm. The stem is branched. Erect. Flowers are lilac in color, collected in loose brushes;
Evening scent
- Star Light. The shrub grows up to 30 cm. This variety is recommended to be used as a decoration for balconies, garden paths or lawns. Although experts note that the variety is not very decorative. Not afraid of small (up to minus 5) frosts;
- is an annual bush with a height of up to 25 cm. loves the sun's rays, but withstands slight frosts. Differs in long flowering. If planted in the ground in late April - early May, then flowering begins in June and continues until the end of September. This variety is perfectly combined in a flower bed with flowers of other types. Therefore, it is great for mixed design of flower beds, flower beds, lawns;
- Lilak is also an annual plant. Gives preference to well-lit places. The trunk grows up to 50 cm, branched, leaves are large, have serrated edges. A racemose inflorescence with lilac flowers. From sowing to the beginning of flowering, no more than 60 days pass, while the duration of flowering is at least 2 months.
Gray Mattiola is an annual native to the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. Varieties of the species can grow from 20 to 80 cm.The trunk can be erect or spreading - it depends on the variety.
The leaves are most often lancet-shaped, bare or with a small downy. or simple - it depends on the variety. Petals have correct shape... White, blue, lilac, pink, yellow or deep purple. A double flower can have up to 70 petals. The flowering of the species lasts from June to October.
The fruit, like the bicorny species, is a polyspermous pod, flattened from the sides. But only varieties with simple flowers bear fruit.
Most popular varieties:
- Giant bomb-shaped - bush 45-60 cm wide pyramidal shape. Feature of the variety - flowering begins with the main inflorescence, which is located at the top of the bush and spreads throughout the plant. The flowering procedure lasts about 50 days;
Giant bomb-shaped
- Erfurt - this variety side shoots are located high, the main stem grows up to 40 cm. leaves are large in size, lanceolate. Refers to early varieties;
- Single-stem or excelsior - the stem grows up to 80 cm. Powerful racemose inflorescences are collected from large (up to 6 cm in diameter) flowers. Flowering is relatively short (about 30 days).
Sowing dates
They depend on which method of planting will be used: directly into the ground or seedlings. They are planted directly into the ground with the establishment of stable heat. Depending on the climatic zone, it starts from mid-April. Then the sowing is repeated every two weeks, in such a simple way the flowering is prolonged.
Video
For more details on growing matthiola, see the video.
Conclusion
Due to its appearance, Mattiola is widely used in landscape design. When planted next to herbs, they enhance each other's scent.This plant includes several dozen species, so you can easily find the right one. Moreover, the flower does not require complex maintenance.More useful information about growing garden flowers look.