2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Neopaxia (lat. Neopaxia) - a small genus of flowering plants of the Purslane family. Previously, the genus belonged to the genus Claytonia (lat. Claytonia), discovered in the middle of the 19th century and includes only 24 species. Later (to be more precise, in the early 1990s), some representatives were singled out as a separate genus. In nature, neopaxia grows mainly in Australia and New Zealand.
Characteristics of culture
Neopaxia is a very interesting and unusual plant. It is often confused with other representatives of the plant world because of its ability to change its "appearance" with a sharp change in climatic conditions. Moreover, the change concerns not one part of the plant, but all, including foliage, flowers and shoots. This factor once influenced the incorrect definition of the genus.
Among the most common species of the genus, it is worth noting
Australian neopaxia (lat. Neopaxia australasica) … In nature, the plant can be captured on mountain slopes and swamps. It is represented by perennial low-growing grasses, which do not exceed 10 cm in height. In the process of growth, they form abundant carpets, which delight with rich greenery and small white or pink flowers, collected in large inflorescences. The species is very popular among Russian gardeners, because it is unpretentious. Accepts shady areas as well as damp soils.
Of no less interest is the form -
neopaxia bent-pollen (lat. Neopaxia campylostigma) … It accepts mountainous areas and feels good in sand and even pebbles. Culture will not refuse from damp areas, since in nature it can be found on river banks. Bent-pollen neopaxia is characterized by perennial grasses that form loose, glossy pillows or rugs. They bear bright green lanceolate foliage and white flowers.
Do not take away the beauty from
neopaskia sessiliflora (lat. Neopaxia sessiliflora) … This is a very light-loving species. It grows naturally in southern New Zealand. He loves mountainous areas, rocks and places near mountain rivers. Dampness, like the previously described species, tolerates without problems. The plant is represented by perennial grasses that form dense carpets, which consist of spatulate foliage and white flowers with pink anthers. Outwardly, the appearance is very reminiscent of the neopaxia bent-pollen.
Neopaskia cup-shaped (lat. Neopaxia calycina) also boasts high decorative properties. In nature, it is found in rocky areas, mountain slopes, rocks and peat areas. The plant has narrow, oval, convex, glossy foliage (sometimes with a brown tint) and white flowers (the buds of which are pink in color). In the process of neopaskia, the cupped forms moderately dense rugs.
The subtleties of growing
Neopaxia is a moisture-loving crop, therefore, it should not be planted in well-lit and dry areas, otherwise the plant will not show true beauty, and in the absence of regular watering it will quickly die. It is optimal to grow neopaxia in semi-shady areas, near water bodies. Soils, in turn, are preferable fresh, well-cultivated, neutral, highly moist. The close location of groundwater is not a hindrance to active growth.
Sowing seeds is carried out directly into the open ground, deepening only by 0.3-0.5 cm. Since the seeds are small, they are mixed with sand before sowing in order to exclude frequent shoots, which will later have to be thinned out. Although the neopaskia forms abundant rugs as it grows, it should not be planted too often. The optimum distance between plants is 10 cm. Maintenance is simple, includes frequent watering, at first weeding. Fertilizers should be applied when preparing the soil, depending on its poverty.
