Belvalia

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

Belvalia (lat. Bellevalia) - flower culture; a rare guest of personal and summer cottages; genus of the family Asparagus. The genus got its name in honor of Pierre Belval - the founder of the French botanical garden, located in Montpellier. The genus has no more than fifty species (according to other sources - more than 60), most of which naturally grow in European countries. Slightly more than ten representatives of the genus are found in Turkey and Israel. In Russia, in particular in the Crimea and the Caucasus, you can capture only two views. Typical habitats are mountain slopes and steppes.

Characteristics of culture

Belvalia is represented by perennial bulbous plants, formed during the growth of lanceolate foliage, collected in basal bunches. The flowers, in turn, are small, larger at the base and small at the top, collected in weighty racemose inflorescences.

Flowers are endowed with accrete, tubular, bell-shaped perianth, endowed with straight teeth. The shade of the perianth depends solely on the species; it can be purple, blue, yellowish or greenish-white. The last two, at the end of flowering, acquire a brownish color.

The fruit is represented by tricuspid capsules bearing small, smooth, gray-gray seeds. The flowering of most representatives of the genus is observed in late spring, usually in the second - third decade of May. In culture, mainly those species are used that are endowed with a blue or purple perianth, because they have higher decorative properties.

Common types

• Bellevalia zygomorphic (lat. Bellevalia zygomorpha) It is represented by perennial herbaceous plants endowed with a large ovoid bulb covered with blackish-gray vaginal scales. The stem reaches a height of 50-60 cm. The foliage is wide, oblong, lanceolate or belt-shaped, collected in bunches. The brushes are loose, but contain a huge number of flowers. The perianth, in turn, has an irregular shape, it can be purple or blue, closer to flowering it acquires a brownish-green color.

• Belvalia long-columnar (lat. Bellevalia longistyla) It is represented by perennial bulbous plants no more than 40 cm high. They have a rather thick, succulent, hollow stem, the lower part of which is decorated with a bunch consisting of wide lanceolate foliage, narrowed at the base. The flowers are collected in multi-flowered long racemes with a pyramidal shape. The perianth is elongated, pale, lilac with a brownish tint, as it fades, it acquires a purple color with reddishness.

• Sarmatian Belvalia (lat. Bellevalia sarmatica) represented by perennial bulbous plants endowed with lanceolate foliage, collected in a bunch. Inflorescences racemose, moderately loose, multi-flowered. The perianth is tubular, bell-shaped, greenish-white or greenish-yellow. Pedicels are rejected, longer than flowers. Flowering is observed in the second decade of May. It should be noted that the species under consideration is found naturally in the Crimea, and in smaller numbers in the Caucasus.

• Bellevalia hyacinthous (lat. Bellevalia hyacinthoides) It is represented by perennial bulbous plants not exceeding 12-15 cm in height. According to its external characteristics, the plant resembles a hyacinth, therefore, it received this name. The foliage of the representative of the genus under consideration is elongated, juicy. The flowers are small, the perianth is blue with a dark stripe. Abundant flowering occurs in the third decade of May. The species is suitable for the decoration of an alpine slide or any other flower beds, including dwarf flower or ornamental crops.

Growing features

Balvalia is a light and heat-loving culture. It is recommended to plant it in well-lit areas with nutritious, moist, loose, light soils. Some species belong to the category of winter-hardy ones, they do not need to be digged in autumn, it is enough to cover the plantings with a thick layer of natural material, for example, spruce branches or fallen leaves. Non-frost-resistant species are recommended to be dug up, transplanted into a pot and brought into a warm room.

Caring for the culture does not present any difficulties. It is necessary to systematically and moderately water the belvalle, remove weeds and feed. Top dressing should be carried out every two weeks using mineral and organic fertilizers. If you miss the procedure, most likely, the plants will not please with active growth, and even more so with abundant flowering.