2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Gaura (lat. Gaura) - a small genus of the Cyprian family. Includes twenty-five species in total. Natural habitats - southern regions of North America. Typical habitats are sunny slopes and forest edges. In culture, only two species are used, and only one has won the recognition of Russian gardeners and florists - Gaura Lindheimer (lat. Gaura lindheimeri).
Characteristics of culture
Representatives of the Gaura genus are represented by juvenile herbaceous plants, not exceeding 100 cm in height. The stems, in turn, are erect, strongly branched, crowned with pinnately dissected foliage on the lower part of the bush and solid on the upper part. The flowers are relatively small, in the form of funnels, with an elongated tube, outwardly very reminiscent of moths, the shade varies from snow-white to pink.
Flowering occurs in mid-summer, usually in the third decade of June and lasts until the first decade of August. When pruning, a second wave of flowering is possible - in early September. It is for this reason that the plant is recommended to be used when making an automnalia - a garden of autumn flowers. They will perfectly merge in tandem with large-headed lilac asters and even sage.
Culturally used species
Gaura Lindheimer (lat. Gaura lindheimeri) is represented by juveniles, which are grown in the Urals and Siberia as an annual. In the process of growth, the plants form sprawling bushes, completely covered with wavy, serrated, pinnately dissected foliage and pinkish funnel-shaped flowers, collected in an elongated raceme-shaped inflorescence. Seeds in the species under consideration are formed in large quantities. They are large, furrowed, brown in color, remain viable for 2-3 years.
Growing features
Gauru cannot be called a whimsical plant, however, in order to achieve abundant flowering and vigorous growth, it is important to comply with some requirements. It is preferable to plant a crop in sunny areas, protected from cold northerly winds. Areas with weak openwork shading are not prohibited, thick shadow is completely contraindicated. It is also not recommended to allot lowlands with stagnant cold air or precipitation for plants, because plants do not like excess moisture.
Soils, in turn, are desirable nutritious, loose, moderately moist, light, with a neutral pH reaction. Swampy, acidic, heavy, poor, damp and clayey soils are not the best solution. On such soil, plants will quickly rot or will significantly lag behind in growth, what can we say about flowering.
Gaura is propagated exclusively by seed, in Russia - through seedlings. Sowing is carried out in the second decade of March, using seedling boxes filled with a loose nutrient substrate. Crops must be covered with foil or glass, which are regularly removed for ventilation and watering. At an optimum temperature of 16-18C, seedlings appear in three weeks. With the emergence of one true leaf on the seedlings, a dive is carried out in separate containers. Seedlings are planted in open ground in the first decade of June, leaving a distance of 40-45 cm between young plants.
Crop care consists of simple procedures - watering, avoiding waterlogging and prolonged dryness, weeding as needed, light aeration of the soil and, finally, top dressing. The last manipulation is carried out three times per season. It stimulates abundant flowering and vigorous growth. Also, at the end of the first flowering, the culture requires rejuvenating pruning, which, as already mentioned, provokes a second wave of flowering.
