2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Castilleja (lat. Castilleja) - genus of semi-parasites; represented by herbaceous plants of the family Barazikhovye. Typical habitats in the natural environment are forests, mountain steppes, forest-steppe, meadows and forest edges. Representatives of the genus are found everywhere, including on the territory of the Russian Federation - in Siberia and the Primorsky Territory.
Characteristics of culture
Representatives of the Castillea genus are perennial herbaceous plants endowed with straight, not too branched stems, pubescent with grayish hairs. They are characterized by relatively low growth - up to half a meter. The foliage, in turn, is sessile, alternate, linear-lanceolate, pointed, reaching 6-9 cm in length.
The flowers are small, yellowish, red, dark red, white, pink or pale green, equipped with a small corolla with a red speck, collected in racemose inflorescences. By the way, for this feature, representatives of the Castillea genus in their homeland (USA) are called Indian tassels, while the genus got its name in honor of the botanist of Spanish origin - D. Castillo.
It is worth noting that the species of the genus Castillea belong to the group of semi-parasites, since they are able to develop well on the roots of others, including cultivated plants. And, despite the small flowers, the plants are highly decorative due to the lush colored tassels, but they have not yet taken a firm place in decorative gardening and floriculture. Perhaps the most experienced gardeners try to decorate their garden with an overseas resident.
Known species
Currently, botanists distinguish over two hundred species of Castillea, but they all have similar external characteristics, as a result of which it is difficult for even an experienced gardener to determine a specific species. In the gardening and floriculture of Europe, the USA, the countries of South America and rarely in Russia, the following types are used:
Castillea dwarf (lat. Castilleja nana) represented by low-growing plants no more than 10 cm in height, bearing small pale yellow or white-yellow flowers. It is also possible to capture specimens whose flowers are endowed with a purple-pink color, depending on the climatic conditions of cultivation.
Castilleja applegatei (lat. Castilleja applegatei) It is represented by perennial plants up to 50 cm high, crowned with foliage with a wavy border and flowers of yellow or orange color. Also on the garden market there are several forms of applegatea castillea, the flowers of which have a rich red, copper-red and orange-red color.
Ash castille (lat. Castilleja cinerea) It is represented by dwarf plants no more than 10 cm high. Its unique feature is its red-black flowers and, of course, yellow-green corollas. Externally, the plants look very attractive and unusual.
Cobweb castille (lat. Castilleja arachnoidea) It is represented by perennial low-growing plants, not exceeding 30 cm in height. They are characterized by concave Lithuania and yellow-orange flowers. The flowers are collected in dense spikelets that have a rounded tip.
Castilleja haidenii (lat. Castilleja haydenii) represented by low-growing plants no more than 15 cm high. They are crowned with dark crimson flowers. Depending on the growing conditions, the flowers may have a different color - pink-crimson, lilac or lilac-crimson.
Growing features
Most often, castillas are propagated by means of seeds. They, in turn, are sown in the fall in order to undergo natural stratification. The soil for successful cultivation is desirable nutritious, moderately moist, loose, sandy, with a neutral pH reaction.
It is not forbidden to reproduce representatives of the genus by dividing the bush, but the latter must necessarily be well developed, powerful, with a large number of shoots. The material is separated along with the roots in the fall or spring, in the first case, the deleku is dropped into the sand and stored in a cool room until spring, in the second case, it is immediately planted in a permanent place.
Crop care is relatively uncomplicated. It is important to regularly irrigate, their lack or excess promises the death of plants. For the winter, plants are best insulated, for example, with fallen leaves. It will protect the growth buds from frost.
