Brukentalia

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

Bruckenthalia - a genus of flowering ornamental shrubs of the Heather family. The birthplace of Brukentalia is Asia Minor and Central Europe. Typical habitats are mountains, coniferous forests and subtropical meadows.

Characteristics of culture

Brukentalia is an evergreen shrub up to 20 cm high with a compact crown, resembling Erica in appearance. Branches are thin, numerous, ascending upward. The flowers are small, light pink, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, have a pleasant rich aroma, and are located on the tops of the shoots. Brukentalia blooms in summer, in central Russia - in the tenths of August.

Brukenthalia spiky, or subulate (Latin Bruckenthalia spiculifolia) is one of the most common species. It is represented by an evergreen shrub 20-25 cm high with a wide rhizome and numerous shoots. The branches are brown, covered with densely-seated needle-like leaves of a deep green color, which give the plants a "fluffy" effect. Light pink flowers with a slight lilac tint are collected in loose spike-shaped inflorescences up to 3 cm long, rise above the foliage in even rows. The flowers have a strong but very pleasant aroma, which is preserved even when dried. The species does not differ in winter hardiness, however, one of the varieties, or rather the Balkan Rose variety, is able to withstand significant frosts.

Growing conditions

Brukentalia is a heat-loving and sun-loving shrub, some species also accept partial shade. Can develop normally in groups of other flowering low shrubs. Brukentalia is undemanding to soils, the only condition is soil with high acidity. The culture has a negative attitude to drafts and strong winds, as well as to external pollution and nighttime cold snaps.

Care

Brukentalia is watered only during drought, but this rule does not apply to young specimens aged 1 to 3 years, they must be moistened as the soil dries. For the winter, shrubs are covered with spandbod or spruce branches, the soil in the near-trunk zone is mulched with peat, fallen leaves or wood materials from coniferous trees with a layer of 10-15 cm. Top dressing is important, two dressings per season are quite enough. The first feeding is carried out in the spring, the second before flowering.

Subtleties of reproduction and planting

Brukentalia is propagated by seeds, cuttings, root layers and dividing the bush. The seed method is not always effective, but more than 50% of the seeds will necessarily germinate (subject to all conditions, of course). Cuttings are carried out in the summer. Cuttings are treated with growth stimulants before planting, otherwise the rooting rate will not even reach 40%.

Planting seedlings of brukentalia is carried out at a depth of 40-50 cm. At the bottom of the planting pit, an earthen roller is formed, the soil mixture for which is prepared from coniferous soil or compost, sand and peat in a ratio of 2: 1: 3. If there is clay and compacted soil on the site, it is imperative that drainage is made from stone chips or broken brick. It is not recommended to use crushed limestone as drainage. After planting, the soil in the near-trunk zone is watered and mulched with natural material.

Application

Brukentalia is used in landscaping gardens. It looks harmonious in group and single plantings, great in heather gardens. In the latter case, brukentalia will begin a parade of flowering of some representatives of the Heather family, in particular heather and erica. Brukentalia is combined with soil-bearing plants, as well as with tall herbaceous perennial crops. Brukentalia is also suitable for creating original borders, alpine slides and other types of flower beds.