Abronia

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Abronia (Latin Abronia) - annual and perennial herbaceous plants or shrubs of the Niktagin family. The genus includes about 35 species that grow mainly in the subtropical regions of North America. Abronia was introduced into the culture in 1788. The name of the plant comes from the word "abros", which translates as joyful, graceful, cheerful.

Characteristics of culture

Abronia is an annual, less often a perennial semi-shrub plant up to 35 cm high with adjacent to the soil, forked-branched shoots, completely covered with small fragrant flowers. Leaves are oblong-oval or lanceolate, narrowed towards the base, there are species with heart-shaped leaves. The flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences, distinguished by special grace and beauty. In diameter, the inflorescences reach 6-12 cm, outwardly they are similar to verbena inflorescences. Abronia blooms in mid-summer, flowering lasts until the onset of frost. The fruits are small, the seeds are appropriate.

Amateur gardeners have a special love for the species Abronia umbellate (lat. Abronia umbellate). The species is represented by perennial herbaceous plants up to 20 cm high. Creeping stems, up to 50-70 cm long. The flowers are very small, fragrant. Petals fused at the base into a greenish tube. The flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences, reaching 10 cm in diameter. Flowering is long, occurs in late June - early July.

A no less striking representative of the genus is Abronia broadleaf (Latin Abronia latifolia). The species is represented by annual herbaceous plants up to 30 cm high. Creeping stems, bending even at right angles, up to 50 cm long. The flowers are fragrant, small, rich yellow. Abronia broad-leaved blooms from late May to August.

Growing conditions

Abronia is an unpretentious plant, but it feels better in open sunny areas. In partial shade and shade, plants develop very slowly, flowering is late and short. Abronia tolerates all types of soils, but blooms more abundantly on light, sandy, fertilized, moderately moist soils. The optimum air temperature is 25-30C. Abronia easily adapts to any external factors, especially in terms of drought tolerance.

Reproduction

Abronia is propagated by seeds. Sowing is carried out in seedling boxes or a warm greenhouse in March-April, or in open ground in May. Sowing before winter is not prohibited. Plants grown in the latter way bloom earlier and bloom much more abundantly than with spring sowing. With the emergence of seedlings, thinning or diving is carried out (depending on where the seeds were sown).

Application

Abronia is used to decorate various types of flower beds (flower beds, rabatok, rockeries, rock gardens, etc.), group plantings, patterned garden corners. The culture is perfect for curbs. It is often used as an ampelous plant.

Care

Abronia is drought-resistant, capable of independently extracting moisture, however, you should not refuse from rare watering and spraying. Fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers is also necessary, it is carried out in early spring or early summer, but before flowering.

It is fertilizers that lay the excellent potential for plants to bloom abundantly. From organic matter, it is preferable to use rotted manure, which will saturate the soil with nitrogen fertilizers. The culture is resistant to pests and diseases, rarely affected by aphids. You can fight it by washing the leaves with soapy water.