Thunbergia

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

Thunbergia - flower culture; a small genus of plants belonging to the Acanthus family. Representatives of the genus in nature can be captured only in the tropics, namely in some countries of Asia and Africa. The culture got its name in honor of the famous botanist and naturalist Karl Thunberg.

Characteristics of culture

Thunbergia is represented by annual and perennial vines or evergreen shrubs, endowed with whole or lobed foliage, located opposite. The flowers in the culture under consideration, as a rule, are solitary, less often collected in large inflorescences. The flowers have no cups, instead of them bracts are leaves that originate in the peduncle and overlap the bud. Petals in the amount of five pieces, accreted into a tube at the very base. The fruits are represented by two-nested capsules.

Common types

Currently, only four species are actively cultivated on the territory of the Russian Federation and European countries. Among them:

Thunbergia fragrant It is represented by an evergreen liana, reaching a length of 5-6 m. It is characterized by dark green, ovoid foliage, endowed with a whitish vein located in the middle. The flowers are single, small, snow-white, fragrant, no more than 4-5 cm in diameter.

Winged Tunbergia (or, as it is also called, black tunbergia) is represented by lianas covered with green foliage and small single flowers of orange, yellow, terracotta or any other color with a dark purple eye that forms in the central part of the flower. The people call this species the Black-eyed Suzanne. It should be noted that the considered representative of the genus takes an active part in breeding work.

To date, several elegant varieties have been obtained on its basis, for example, the Suzie Yellow variety. It has long shoots (up to 3 meters) and numerous yellow flowers. It is impossible not to mention the African Sunset variety. It is famous for its abundant and long flowering. The flowers, in turn, have an unusual terracotta color.

Tunbergia large-flowered are represented by plants with climbing shoots, topped with rich green foliage jagged along the edge. The flowers are purple or blue, endowed with a snow-white speck located in the pharynx. The flowers, in turn, are collected in small inflorescences.

Thunbergia Battiskomba represented by vines, the shoots of which bear wide green foliage. This species is one of the most attractive, because in the process of growth it forms medium-sized blue flowers with petals that have a mesh pattern.

Growing features

Representatives of the genus are grown mainly by seed method through seedlings. It is not recommended to sow crops in open ground, otherwise it will not have time to bloom. In addition, tunbergia does not belong to the category of cold-resistant, respectively, even a slight cold snap can destroy the plant. Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in the third decade of February or a little earlier. Since the seeds are not endowed with active and friendly germination, their growth should be stimulated by means of special solutions.

Sowing is best done in separate containers, such as peat pots. The substrate for tunbergia is made up of leafy earth, humus and river sand, washed with running water. First, the substrate is moistened, and then the seeds are sown, deepening by 1 cm. Immediately after sowing, the containers with the crops are covered with cellophane film or glass. The room temperature should be at least 18C, ideally 20-22C. Seedlings under optimal conditions and regular watering appear after 14-16 days.

When plants reach a height of 10-15 cm, it is important to pinch. This procedure enhances branching, which means it is the key to abundant flowering. Seedlings are planted in unprotected soil after the threat of frost has passed, usually in the first or second decade of June. It is preferable to choose a sunny place for planting, the soil should be fertile, loose, moderately moist, drained, neutral. The distance between the plants should be at least 40 cm. Simultaneously with planting, a support is installed along which the vines will curl.

Crop care is relatively straightforward. It is advisable to mulch the soil, then weeding and frequent watering can be avoided, because mulch retains the lion's share of moisture. The plants should be watered especially abundantly during the period of formation of the first flowers. Top dressing is also welcome. Complex mineral fertilizers are applied once a month. In order for the plant to bloom for a long time and please with an attractive appearance, dried flowers should be removed as necessary.