2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Ayuga (lat. Ajuga) - belonging to the family Yasnotkovye ground cover herbaceous annual or perennial. The second name is tenacious.
Description
Ayuga is a herbaceous plant, the height of which ranges from five to fifty centimeters. It can be both an annual and a perennial, while the ayuga can be deciduous, semi-evergreen, or even evergreen.
Ayuga leaves can vary in color from reddish-brownish to bronze-green with a spectacular metallic sheen.
The two-lipped Ayuga flowers are located in false whorls, and their color is in direct proportion to the species - they can be either purple-blue or blue or blue. A beautiful plant begins to bloom in May.
Where grows
In nature, it is possible to see Ayuga in almost all corners of the globe - in Australia, in North Africa, in Asia Minor, and, of course, in Europe.
Usage
In culture, the most spectacular decorative leafy forms of Ayuga are mainly used. This plant grows excellently on the slopes, however, it looks no worse in gardens among stones, which is why it is often planted in rocky gardens. In addition, Ayuga is perfect for planting in near-trunk zones or in areas characterized by unfavorable growing conditions. And sometimes it is also used to create bright color spots in luxurious carpet flower beds - there it will form a dense and dense cover.
Ayuga is also used in folk medicine: it has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect, is an excellent diuretic and helps to cope with such ailments as malaria, diarrhea, peptic ulcer and various renal diseases. And the tenacious Laxman can be safely eaten - its young shoots and leaves are often added to salads and many other dishes.
Growing and caring
It is very easy to grow Ayuga - it easily adapts to any soil. Nevertheless, it is better to give preference to loamy fertile soils (from fresh to moist), since on poor soils the plant often thins. And adult plants can live for several weeks without water!
Despite the fact that Ayuga tolerates shading well, it is best to plant it either in partial shade or directly in the sun. It will grow especially well in humid and cool places.
The plant boasts excellent winter hardiness - Ayuga can easily withstand both late autumn and spring frosts. And with the onset of spring, Ayuga needs fertilizers, but in general, she needs the most minimal care.
Sometimes Ayuga is propagated by seeds (as a rule, this is done in autumn or with the onset of spring), but most often vegetative propagation is still used (the fact is that varietal specimens do not have the ability to repeat the original mother plants). The division of rhizomes usually begins in early spring, planting plants at a distance of twenty to twenty-five centimeters.
Ayuga is usually not susceptible to any diseases, but sometimes you have to fight with pests - the plant is often attacked by snails with slugs. To cope with these voracious creatures, when planting plants, it is necessary to properly drain the soil, and also promptly eliminate all leaves and debris from the site. Some summer residents use metaldehyde in the fight against them, but do not forget that it is very toxic and categorically unsuitable for use in areas where there are pets or small children.
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Creeping Ayuga
The Ayuga plant has so many qualities that are attractive to gardeners that it is simply surprising if it has not yet settled in your country house. For its unpretentiousness to living conditions, people call the plant "Tenacious". I am amazed by its ability to preserve decorativeness for many years without leaving one place, as well as winter hardiness and many other qualities
