2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Sidalcea (lat. Sidalcea) - a flowering shade-tolerant perennial from the Malvovye family.
Description
Sidalcea is a medium-sized herbaceous perennial, somewhat reminiscent of miniature stock roses. The height of this beauty usually ranges from half a meter to a meter, however, individual specimens can grow up to one hundred and thirty centimeters in height. The rhizomes of this plant, although small, are very, very strong, and the leaves of the sidalese in basal rosettes are usually serrated, while its stem leaves are round or oval in shape.
Sidalese blooms usually in the second half of the summer season, and its five-petalled flowers, similar to mallow, have a pleasant-looking white, red or pink color. By the way, for the fact that almost any shade can be found in the color of the flowers of this plant, sidalese is often called the flower of the rainbow.
In total, the genus of sidalese includes about thirty species, with most of the sidalese being nothing more than varieties of sidalese malvoflower.
Where grows
In nature, sidalese grows mainly in North America. And in gardens, it can be found in the most diverse corners of our planet.
Usage
In culture, sidalese is grown both for cutting and in single or group plantings. In addition, it is great for planting along fences and for placement in mixborders or near water bodies. Sidalese will be especially well combined with sun-loving plants such as bell, cuff or loosestrife.
And white varieties of sidalese are very actively used on the American continent to decorate weddings - it is believed there that these amazing flowers will make a marriage long and light.
Growing and caring
Sidalcea will grow well on well-moistened garden soils (although in general this plant is completely undemanding to soils) with neutral acidity, in partial shade or in sunny areas. However, it is important to remember that in partial shade the flowering of this beauty will be less abundant and lush.
Sidalese should be watered regularly and abundantly (this plant does not tolerate drought), and when it fades, it is recommended to cut its stems to the very root. The fact is that after the seeds ripen, a very abundant self-sowing invariably occurs - in order to avoid such a nuisance, fading inflorescences are recommended to be cut off in a timely manner. And it is recommended to systematically loosen the soil around the plantings, while simultaneously removing all the weeds found.
As for dressing, the sidalese is usually fed first immediately before flowering, and then also in the fall, using complex mineral fertilizers for these purposes.
Propagated by sidalese either by dividing the basal rosettes, which is carried out in early spring, or by seeds, however, it is important to take into account that the seeds will germinate for a long time - as a rule, this takes from one to two months. But this plant almost never reproduces by seedlings.
Despite the fact that the sidalese is characterized by a very impressive winter hardiness (for example, the sidalese malvoflower is able to tolerate frosts down to minus twenty-eight degrees!), It will best of all overwinter with shelter. That is, for the purpose of prevention, it is still recommended to cover this beauty - at least a slight mulching with leaves or spruce branches will definitely not harm her. In general, it is a very durable plant, moreover, it is practically not affected by any diseases or pests, however, occasionally it can still be attacked by rust due to a lack of potassium.
