Adonis

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

Adonis (lat. Adonis) - flower culture; an annual or perennial plant of the Buttercup family. Another name for adonis. Under natural conditions, adonis grows in the Caucasus, Uzbekistan, Central and Southern Europe. Currently, 30 species are distinguished.

Characteristics of culture

Adonis is a herbaceous plant up to 40 cm high. The rhizome is short, erect, filamentous roots are brownish-black. Stem erect or deviated, rounded, smooth, glabrous or weakly branched, densely leafy with appressed shoots. The leaves are bright green, pinnate, broadly ovate. Basal leaves are presented in the form of brownish scales, the upper leaves are sessile.

Flowers are single, large, up to 40-80 mm in diameter, located at the top of the stem or lateral shoots. Sepals broadly ovate, slightly obtuse from the upper part, shortly pubescent. Petals are oblong, finely serrated, obovate, 25-34 cm long. The fruit is a wrinkled spherical or ovoid multi-root. Adonis blooms in May - August, which depends solely on the variety. The fruits ripen in June - September. A distinctive feature of adonis is that all parts of the plant are poisonous.

Growing conditions

For growing adonis, sunny areas protected from cold winds are preferred. Areas with light shading are not prohibited. Soils are desirable loose, calcareous, rich in organic matter. Most of the varieties of adonis are cold-resistant.

Reproduction and planting

Adonis propagates by seeds and dividing the bush. Sowing seeds is carried out in early spring or autumn under a thick layer of covering material in the form of sawdust, fallen leaves or peat. Autumn sowing is more effective, since in this case the seeds undergo natural stratification, the entrances appear faster and bloom earlier. The distance between plants should be 20-25 cm.

Division and transplantation is carried out after 4-5 years, although some gardeners advise replanting plants no earlier than after 8-10 years. Transplant adonis do not tolerate well, therefore it is not recommended to perform this procedure too often. Plants are transplanted along with a lump of earth; when digging, it is important to ensure that the roots of the culture are not damaged. In the first year after planting, adonis develop slowly and bloom poorly.

Reproduction of perennial forms of adonis by the seed method is somewhat difficult, since the seeds have low germination, moreover, some of the seeds germinate only in the second year. Sowing seeds of perennial adonis should be carried out immediately after collection. Also, seeds can be stored in a moist substrate in the refrigerator until spring, followed by germination in greenhouses or greenhouses at a temperature of 18-22C.

Care

Adonis can be counted among the cultures that do not require special care. The plant needs regular and moderate watering, the soil should be kept moist throughout the growing season. Adonis positively respond to feeding with complex mineral and organic fertilizers: the first feeding is carried out immediately after thinning, the second - during the budding period. It is important to keep the soil loose, compacted soil has an extremely negative effect on plant growth. Without a transplant, adonis can grow for several years, gradually expanding, forming a beautiful flowering meadow.

Application

Adonis is a beautifully flowering culture, it is used to decorate rabatki, flower beds, borders, as well as Moorish borders. Adonises look very interesting in group plantings and among rarely planted shrubs. Plants blend harmoniously into rocky gardens. Some species are suitable for cutting and the flowers are kept in water for three days.