For the design of rock gardens and rockeries, a plant is used that does not require effort during propagation. The flower is an ideal garden ground cover, blooming elegantly. It spreads out in lush ridges covered with thick silvery fluff. During flowering, the foliage is camouflaged under a cover of snow-white flowers with yellow centers. The Balkans are considered its homeland, and is now widespread on almost all continents. Cultivating this hardy, unpretentious flower is not difficult.
Species diversity
The scientific name is Cerastium, which belongs to the carnation family. Flower growers know more than a hundred species, and according to some sources - 200, many of which are weeds. Gardeners cultivate mainly perennial species.
alpine jasmine
The bush is the northernmost representative of herbaceous plants found in the Arctic. The least capricious species, spreading in any conditions, in any soil, during the flowering period is a compact bush 15 cm high.
It stands out for its silvery, rounded foliage and large bell-shaped flowers, collected in compact inflorescences that bloom in May. Feels comfortable in direct sunlight, but does not tolerate stagnant moisture. It should not be covered for the winter so as not to rot. View corresponds to:
- planting on an alpine hill or rock garden;
- planting in a garden pot or container;
- effective in flower arrangements;
- attractive in a miniature bouquet.
Snow-white
The appearance of this variety, which blooms from the beginning of the summer season, resembles a silvery flower carpet. You can find a herbaceous perennial only on the slopes of the mountains of Greece. It is distinguished by grayish lanceolate leaves, large flowers with petals dissected at the top. It forms a dense carpet in the flowerbed, and when cut it looks beautiful in a bouquet.
Bieberstein
Among gardeners, the most common variety is a creeping herbaceous variety, with densely pubescent grayish-green oblong foliage and compact white inflorescences grouped into a small umbrella.
Their diameter is about 1.5 cm, the petals at the top are divided in two. With the beginning of summer, Bieberstein's parsley covers the flowerbed with a snow-white blanket. Flower growers have been familiar with this type of groundcover since 1820, the homeland of which is considered to be Crimea. Significant advantages of the variety:
- prolonged flowering from late spring for almost a whole month;
- rapid increase in volume;
- resistance to light frosts, allowing you to abandon winter shelter.
Felt
A favorite plant of landscape designers, a low bush, directed upward, with star-shaped flowers. This perennial is characterized by silvery-gray felt-like stems, which is how the species gets its name. The shoots spread along the surface, rising at the ends, and are capable of rooting parallel to the main root system. One bush 25 cm high grows over the surface into a dense cushion up to half a meter in diameter.
The plant has grayish compact oblong leaves, pubescent with a felt covering, and miniature white inflorescences. Flowering begins in May, lasts for a month, but even after completion it remains decorative. Felt grass does not require watering or fertilizing. Designers use it to create flower beds that imitate ponds, where snow-white curtains look like sea foam.
Large-flowered
Its homeland is the Balkan Peninsula, known as a cultivated plant since 1818. Its height reaches 20 cm, the inflorescences are quite large - up to 3 cm in diameter. Flowering is late - begins in July, but lasts until September.
The heat-loving plant prefers sunlit areas. It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness to dry weather conditions, not picky about the soil, however, it does not withstand waterlogging during the spring melting of snow.
A special feature of caring for the grandiflora is the inevitability of weeding and pruning of shoots due to its rapid growth and suppression of plants around it. When grown indoors, artificial lighting is required.
Field
It has a second name - meadow chickweed. It is found even in natural conditions and can grow from 10 to 40 cm. What distinguishes it from other species is its particularly long - 4-month - flowering from May to August. Characterized by spreading shoots, oblong foliage with short edges. The tops of the stems are crowned with white semi-umbrellas. You can meet her:
- in mountainous Central Asian regions;
- in the Siberian expanses;
- on Ukrainian territory;
- in the European part of Russia;
- in the Arctic.
Habitats are varied:
- steam fields;
- sparse forests;
- high mountain areas;
- meadows.
The plant is valued for its medicinal properties, especially sedative, which is why it is used in the manufacture of potions of traditional healers.
Purple
The variety, distinguished by its extraordinary expressiveness, is found in natural conditions in the Caucasus, Turkey and Iran. The height is small - 15-25 cm. It has miniature oblong leaves that remain green until wintering, and snow-white flowers resemble umbrellas.
Flowering occurs throughout June and half of July. Cerastium loves sunny areas, does not make any special demands on the soil, and is drought-resistant. The shrub looks impressive in rock gardens, forming flowing picturesque covers, and creates a colorful impression if planted between stones. When preparing for wintering, it is recommended to cover it with fallen leaves or spruce branches.
Features of the catch
The herbaceous plant has erect or ascending shoots, their height varies from 0.1 to 0.3 m, as a rule, they have pubescence, but they are sometimes bare. The root system is strong, but superficial; it can grow in rocky soil. Creeping stems take root very well. Opposite entire small leaf blades, as a rule, have dense pubescence. White flowers, up to 20 mm in diameter, have double-cut petals. The fruit is a cylindrical oblong capsule containing brown seeds inside.
Jaskolka Bieberstein. Planting, care and propagation
Conditions of care
Nature has created protection from heat and dryness for the spectacular cherry blossom with its silver foliage covered with fluff and a cloud of graceful snow-white flowers. It is one of the most light-loving garden flowers. Planted in the most open sunny places where light reaches most of the day.
The bush will feel comfortable even in southern areas; wind and drafts do not frighten it, thanks to its low growth. These factors must be taken into account when choosing a landing site. The best option would be an elevated area. However, she will also do well in a semi-shaded corner.
It is not recommended to allocate a heavily shaded and moist area - such conditions can simply destroy the plant.
The bush has no special complaints about the soil; it copes well with the harshest conditions - it grows on rocky, sandy, depleted soil. The key requirement is good drainage and no waterlogging.
Sand must be added to soil that is too dense to avoid water stagnation. The ideal soil for planting cerastium is sandstone with compost and humus added there. When planting plants on rocky soils, add ground peat.
Landing conditions
Preparing the soil for planting cerastium consists of pre-processing it (a month before planting):
- adding compost or humus;
- adding sand to insufficiently light soil;
- loosening to a depth of 20 cm.
On the eve of planting, the soil must be dug up and holes made at a minimum distance from each other - 30 cm, where the bushes are planted. After this, the holes must be watered to engraft. The method of planting seeds and seedlings is identical, however, when planting seedlings, flowering usually occurs earlier.
Winter-hardy qualities
Resistance to frost, winds and other unfavorable factors is due to its powerful roots and stems. They easily adapt to external stimuli, are able to creep in places with strong winds, and rise above the surface of the earth in protected areas.
Preparation for wintering depends on the variety: different species need different methods of shelter for the winter:
- Biberstein can easily withstand light frosts and does not require winter shelter;
- Alpine does not require wrapping at all, it can rot because of this;
- Felt needs to be covered with agrospan for the winter;
- Large-flowered also does not need winter cover;
- Purple is covered with fallen leaves or spruce branches during the winter season.
Care during the flowering period
The ease of caring for the plant after planting is its great advantage, which serves as an incentive for even novice gardeners to choose it. Key nuances that require attention during the growing process:
- systematic limited watering;
- weeding;
- loosening the soil;
- removal of dried inflorescences and foliage;
- shortening shoots.
Minimal watering is required, but you should not forget about it.
Uprooting weeds preserves the beautiful and healthy appearance of the tree and its picturesque appearance. Getting rid of weeds will also be an excellent preventive measure against attacks by pests and diseases.
Removing faded buds and leaves will help keep your flowerbed or rock garden looking attractive. If the shoots grow strongly, you can simply shorten the stems to create the desired shape. By loosening the soil, which is considered optional, you can achieve airiness and lightness of the soil and create favorable conditions for the growth of bushes.
Caring for the weed (video)
The most inventive flower growers make unusual compositions from the tree: they form the faces of animals, make a “cloud” from the tree, on which other flowers “travel”. True, with this approach, constant correction of flower bushes is necessary.
The cherry blossom has many fans, which is understandable - the flower is unpretentious, good-looking and serves as a neutral background for many flower arrangements. Such a blanket of snow will invariably please the eye, and its simplicity and fragility only decorate the flower.
Beautiful flowering on your site!
Reproduction methods
Cerastium propagation occurs in different ways, and their choice depends on the preference of the owner and the time of planting. Most often, gardeners use one of three methods:
- seed;
- division;
- cuttings.
It is possible to grow moths in open ground from seeds, but this is ineffective, time-consuming, and does not fully guarantee germination. The seeds are collected when the flowers are completely ripe. They are sown at the very beginning of the spring season in a greenhouse or as seedlings, the first shoots of which appear after two weeks.
It is planted in heated soil at a distance of 30 cm between the holes. If propagated in open ground, the seeds are sown in the fall or in April, which will make it possible to obtain a flowering seedling only by the third year after sowing.
They can also be propagated by cuttings in spring or autumn, and shoots planted in the ground must be covered with film, creating a mini-greenhouse, which is regularly ventilated, condensation is removed, and humidity is controlled.
The division of the seedling for propagation in the third way is done in the spring, at the very beginning of growth. The bush must be dug up with care, divided into several parts, each of them planted again.
Description of the plant
The genus of woodworms includes annual and perennial herbaceous plants. The flower is nourished by a fibrous, superficial rhizome. It is considered very powerful due to the horizontal branches that allow the splinter to spread over long distances. Creeping, erect or climbing stem branches from the base. The shoots are colored silver-green and covered with short pubescence.
Opposite leaves sit tightly on the stem or have short petioles. The oval, ovate or lanceolate leaf blade is pointed at the end and has solid edges. The foliage may turn dark green or silver. There are species with bare or densely pubescent leaves. Because of the softness of the foliage, the tree is sometimes called “mouse ears.”
From the first ten days of May, abundant and long-lasting flowering begins. Flowers may reappear in July. The buds are located at the ends of the shoots. Their diameter is 1-2 cm. The corolla consists of five petals and a core in the shape of a thin and short column. At the end of the core, a branching in the form of a five-pointed star is visible. The white petals are covered with several longitudinal stripes of green or brown. There are cuts from the edge of the petals almost to the middle.
As a result of pollination, the fruit ripens - a cylindrical seed capsule. It contains “horned” seeds with a brown surface. It is noteworthy that “cerastium” is translated from Latin as “horned flower.”
Diseases and pests
Resistance to diseases and pests is another advantage of growing on site. However, although rarely, troubles still occur. The invulnerability of the cerastium decreases if it does not receive sufficient care: watering, pruning, weeding. Overmoistening of the soil leads to rotting of the root system. An excess of weeds in the environment increases the risk of insects, such as cutworms.
Use in landscape design
Most varieties are weeds. The cultivated lily, grown by flower growers, is considered one of the fastest growing garden flowers. Fills the surrounding areas: a low 20-centimeter bush occupies a space up to 70 cm in diameter. This fact must be taken into account when combining with others.
It can simply choke out neighboring bushes. To prevent this from happening, its shoots are regularly pruned. The correct distribution of colors and their correct combination allows you to effectively use cerastium in landscape design when establishing alpine slides and organizing borders.
The central part of the flowerbed looks attractive, planted with a flowerpot, around which flowers of contrasting shades are located, for example, calendula or bright tulips. You can plant September flowers as a border to a flower bed. It adds grace to flower beds with daisies and daffodils, bluebells and sedums. Ideally, cerastium bushes are perceived in a rock garden, harmonizing with the stone and masking nondescript and unsightly places on the site.
Jaskolka not only decorates flower beds, it can refresh any terrace and balcony if planted in a pot or cache-pot. Growing a chickweed is not difficult - it is unpretentious and undemanding to care. It will bring great pleasure to admire her grace and attractiveness.
It looks great as a independently growing bush and, complete with bright neighbors, decorates flower beds, borders, terraces and balconies. Flower growers love it for its ease of cultivation, resistance to weather changes, diseases and pests.
Description of felt peg and characteristics
The plant is a representative of the Clove class. The length of the stems of an adult tomentosa reaches 30-45 cm. As the plantings grow, the stems intertwine, forming islands that visually resemble pillows.
The felt prickle received its name due to its unusual coating. The leaves have abundant pubescence, reminiscent of natural material to the touch. They have a characteristic narrow shape, the length rarely exceeds 3 cm.
During active budding, the tomentosa resembles a blooming carpet
The most important feature of the plant is its flowers. Multiple buds are collected in corymbose inflorescences. The diameter of each does not exceed 1 cm, however, due to the abundant quantity, it gives the impression of a blooming carpet. The period of active budding lasts from May to the end of June. Provided the climate is favorable, the plant can retain flowers until mid-July.
Important! Immediately after flowering ends, seed boxes form on the inflorescences, which can be used next year for sowing large areas.
There are several of the most popular varieties of decorative cherry blossoms. The main differences are habitat, appearance and duration of flowering. In modern landscape design, the following varieties of woodleaf are most often used:
- Felt field. The plant is a weed that grows in fields with perennial grasses. Distributed throughout Russia from the Far East to the European region. The ornamental value is low, so it is most often found in the wild or as an addition to English gardens. The height of the stems of an adult plant can reach 40 cm.
- Felt alpine. Most common in the Altai region. Small bushes up to 15-20 cm high with a short flowering period - 20-30 days in May. A rather capricious plant to care for with poor survival rate at home. Annual spring rejuvenation by cuttings or complete replanting is required. In cold winters with scanty snow cover, they most often die.
- Tomentose grandiflora. The peculiarity of the plant is the enlarged size of the buds compared to its relatives. The flower can reach a diameter of more than 3 cm with a stem height of 20 cm. The homeland of the species is the countries of the Balkan region - Albania and North Macedonia. This kind of felt peg is most often used to create alpine slides and lush flower beds.
- Felt Bieberstein. Crimean species listed in the Red Book of Europe. The length of the stems does not exceed 25 cm. A special feature is the rather early period of budding - from early April to mid-May. Due to its special protective status, it is quite rare among landscape designers.
- Terry stem. A species of tomentosa, native to the southern regions of Italy. The most decorative representative of the family. Active budding lasts up to 2 full months. Most often used to create alpine slides and flower beds.
A huge number of varieties of felt grass allows you to choose the ideal plant based on the goals of landscape design, as well as personal preferences. Almost all representatives will provide a bright flowering carpet that will delight the eye for a long time of budding.
