Ptilothus is a pink-flowering shrub species from the family R.Br. (Amaranthaceae). He is popularly known as the "Royal Mulla Mulla". This sun-loving flower is native to Australia. This perennial is excellent as a potted plant, mixed combinations or in mass landscape plantings. Ptilothus has large 8-10cm bottlebrush pins in a bright silver tip in neon pink on attractive silver foliage. Growing 30-50cm tall, Ptilothus looks stunning in containers and mixes harmoniously in grouped plantings. Different species have many inflorescences. Flower seeds germinate easily and grow best in full sun. Also called Seed Ptilothus Joy, Hale Joy Lamb and Mulla Mulla.
Description
The Austrians call Ptilothus "foxtail" or "squirreltail". The inflorescences of the plant resemble fluffy panicles of green, purple, and pink colors. The bracts are densely covered with hairs and form a conical box.
The leaves are large, fleshy and pubescent, ovoid in shape, the stems are erect. The shoots need to be pinched in a timely manner so that the crop does not stretch, but branches. The plant blooms all summer.
Ptilothus "Exalted" delights with lanceolate leaves and bright red rosettes of inflorescences, grown as an annual. No less original “Platinum wallaby” is distinguished by large flowers and requires alkaline soil when planting.
Ptilotus Ptilotus
Amaranth family. There are about 100 species in nature. Homeland: Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia. Mostly perennials, less often annuals. The name comes from the Greek “ptylon” - feathers, for the appearance of fluffy inflorescences - ears. Most species are found in arid and semi-arid areas.
Ptilothus have spicate, spherical, or cylindrical inflorescences. The bracts are membranous, glabrous or covered with hairs. There are 5 tepals, fused at a short distance from the base, with varying degrees of pubescence. There are 5 stamens, sometimes 1-3, usually slightly shorter than the perianth, usually fused at the base.
Ptilotus is one of the most wonderful plants for the garden. Firstly, the seeds can be sown from the beginning of February until June. Secondly, if there is enough sun, the flowering is very abundant, and the bushes are decorated with dense fluffy ears. When cut or in bouquets, flowers last for several weeks; in addition, some types of ptilotus can be used as dried flowers.
Ptilotus exaltatus is an annual herbaceous plant, about 35 cm high, with rigid stems and leaves. The leaves are oblong-ovate, 4 to 15 cm long, silver-green in color, mainly at the base of the stems. The inflorescence is a spike, wide-conical, dense, up to 15 cm long. The flowers are pink or lilac. Blooms all summer.
Ptilotus exaltatus 'Joey' and Ptilotus exaltatus 'Platinum Wallaby' are popular.
Advantages of the plant
First of all, the flower attracts with its originality. Fluffy inflorescences grow on thin “spikelets”, which can be of different shades from greenish and soft pink to bright purple flowers. Depending on the type of flower bed, you can choose perennial, annual and shrub varieties. And also choose low-growing (30 cm) or tall (up to 1 m) species that will give your landscape design an individual style. Fluffy inflorescences are often used in alpine slides because they look harmonious with stone blocks or ceramic figures.
The unpretentiousness of ptilotus is also attributed to its advantages. Due to the fact that it comes from Australia, it tolerates any elevated air temperatures. And this is very important in connection with global warming and the lack of rain in many regions of Russia. Ptilotus grows even on poor and neutral soils, but with good acidity.
The flower is resistant to various diseases and pests.
Ptilothus
Ptilotus native to Australia, where it is widely distributed as a wild plant. During periods favorable for its growth, it forms pink-lilac fluffy carpets over vast areas. Jean Galbraith, flora researcher.
Australia, described this flower as follows: “ Ptilotus has huge inflorescences that look like fluffy cylindrical brushes.” The indigenous population calls it Mulla Mulla, which can be translated as “kitten tail” or “lamb tail.”
Ptilothus first described by the Dutch botanist Robert Brown in 1810. The genus Ptilotus has about one hundred species. In decorative floriculture, the most widespread is Ptilotus exaltatus - a powerful plant with a height of 30 to 130 cm with elongated ovate silver-green leaves.
All its stems are crowned with amazingly beautiful, conical in shape (10-15 cm in height, up to 5 cm in diameter), very bright inflorescences, consisting of many feathery flowers and replete with all shades from neon pink to ruby and dark purple.
Ptilotus , like many other “Australians”, is an exceptionally drought-resistant plant that can tolerate any heat. The most suitable for it are dry, light, well-drained, poor soils, close to neutral in reaction (pH 5.5-6.5). With a balanced diet and plenty of sunlight, ptilotus can please the owner with lush scatterings of flowers.
Most often, ptilothus is grown as an annual . Propagated by seeds. Small seeds, comparable in size to poppy seeds, are sown one at a time in slightly moist soil, preferably immediately in a permanent place or in pots. At high temperatures (25-27 degrees), seedlings appear on the 3-7th day.
Recently, flower growers abroad have been talking about the potential possibility of propagation by cuttings, but nothing is known about specific results yet.
Ptilothus blooms about three months after sowing. It is better to immediately determine the place where Mulla Mulla will grow. The plant, like most representatives of this family, has a powerful tap root system, so it does not like changing places. When transplanted, ptilothus may simply wither away.
The lush , drought-resistant ptilothus can be successfully grown in a container . Thanks to its tall growth and bright large inflorescences, it will play a prominent role in group plantings, especially where it is necessary to create cascades of flowers and colors. Ptilothus looks very impressive in combination with pentas, verbena and periwinkle. The fluffy tails of the plant are ideal for a rock garden.
Ptilotus is resistant to diseases and pests . You should not allow the soil to become waterlogged; in this case, the root system of the plant may become diseased.
Bordeaux liquid. Preparation - Our ancestors knew that spraying an orchard with Bordeaux mixture in early spring would protect it from scab and other harmful fungal infections. And timely covered hollows and damage to trunks will save trees from death. In the past, we prepared all the necessary supplies ourselves.
Landing
In favorable conditions, the flower can reach 1 m, depending on the variety. However, it is difficult to achieve the bush's natural environment of moist, oxidized soil.
Growing ptilotus - basic rules:
- temperature up to +24 °C;
- illuminated place;
- spacious capacity;
- moist soil;
- regular spraying;
- drained oxidized soil.
It is easy to obtain ptilothus from seeds; just bury them in a container, and after two weeks, plant them in separate containers. It is necessary to place the pots in a sunny place so that the crop begins to branch. There will be more flower stalks.
If seedlings are sown in open ground at the end of spring, then delightful flowering begins in August . High indicators of the crop are resistance to pests.
Breeding Tips
To obtain seedlings using the seed method , it is necessary to clean the seeds from the fluffy shell. Since they are very small, there is no need to process them in advance. Sow from mid-February to March in prepared light soil. Any garden substrate or leaf soil mixed with fine expanded clay is used. Some gardeners use a peat-sand mixture, where the components are mixed 1:1. The main thing is that the soil is loose and breathable.
The seeds are lightly pressed into the soil or sprinkled with a two-millimeter layer of sand. A thin layer is needed to allow light to penetrate to the seeds, otherwise they will not sprout. Then the containers are sprayed with warm water from a fine spray bottle, covered with film and placed in a lighted place. The desired air temperature is at least 22-25°C. The first shoots can be seen within a week.
The shelter must be opened slowly. First for 15 minutes a day, then for a longer time until the sprouts become stronger. After this, the film is removed forever. Avoid over-moistening the environment to prevent the sprouts from becoming covered with mold or mildew. Water with warm boiled water. After about a month and a half, the plant can be planted in open ground or in pots. Wait for the return frosts to pass. Flowering will occur within three months from the start of sowing.
Care
During the period of flowering and growth, the flower must be fertilized with complex mineral compounds every week. By spraying the plant, you can maintain the necessary air humidity for it - 60–70%. The flower can be sown next to landscape decorations - stone figures.
Shrubs, as a perennial plant option, are propagated by cuttings and seeds, but for annuals only the second method is suitable. To improve germination, the seeds are kept in the cold.
After flowering ends, the buds are cut off. The culture is suitable for forming dry bouquets.
Variety for bowls
Ptilothus looks perfect in baskets or pots
The new variety of ptilotus "Joy" is so far the only one that is intended for growing in pots. Only its small root system is ready for a “closed” space. A bowl with a flower can be placed outside, and at the end of the season, seeds can be collected from the plant.
For seeds to grow, you need to maintain a temperature of 24-25°C, and for sprouts to appear, provide access to light and moderate humidity. “Joy” is sown in plain garden soil with the addition of fine expanded clay.
For all foxtails, the soil must maintain acidity - pH 5.5-6.5. Humus, pine sawdust, and high-moor peat are suitable for acidifying the soil, but their effect occurs gradually. Among the fast-acting ones, you can add ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and ferrous sulfate. These fertilizers must be used according to the instructions so as not to overdo it.
The seedlings are planted in small pots with a diameter of 10-12 cm and placed in a lighted area. The plant begins to bloom approximately 3 months after sowing. Fluffy ears look great next to creeping periwinkle and low-growing verbena.
Let's look at the variety of colors of this unique plant.
Growing Ptilothus
All ptilothus reproduce by seeds and cuttings. The seeds are very small and do not require preliminary preparation. They are sown in wide bowls, on a mixture of leaf soil and coarse river sand (can be replaced with vermiculite), and are not buried in the soil. Spray with a spray bottle, cover with glass and place in a warm, bright place. Two or three times a day it is necessary to open the bowl for ventilation for 30 minutes.
Ptilotus is grown at a temperature of 24-25°C, in a bright place, moderately moistening the soil. Seedlings at the age of 1.5-2 months are transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of 10-12 cm, which can be placed on a common tray. Do not use pots that are too large. Gradually, the growing temperature is reduced to 20°C.
Ptilotus 'Joey' Ptilotus variety 'Joey' can be planted in leaf soil or regular garden soil, adding fine expanded clay (2-3mm). This variety grows in acidic soils pH 5.5-6.5. Water it as the soil dries out, avoiding waterlogging. In the spring, when the threat of frost has passed, you can plant ptilothus in the garden, in sunny places, in well-drained soil.
Ptilotus 'Platinum Wallaby' Ptilotus variety 'Platinum Wallaby' differs from the previous variety (although they are representatives of the same species) primarily in that it is a perennial plant and its inflorescences are larger. Growing conditions are also different: this is the only variety of ptilotus that loves alkaline soils and requires shading from direct sun!
