2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Stennik (lat. Iberis) - winter-hardy flowering plant from the numerous Cruciferous family. The second name is Iberis.
Description
Stennik is an incredibly showy and highly branched herbaceous plant, the height of which can vary from ten to fifty centimeters. In this case, the stencil can be both an annual and a biennial or perennial. And the next lanceolate leaves in this plant are either pinnately separate or whole.
Pink, purple, dark red or white stennik flowers gather in very graceful umbrella-shaped inflorescences. This plant blooms exclusively in summer, from June to August.
In total, the genus stennik combines about four dozen species.
Where grows
Stennik is especially widespread in Central Europe and the Mediterranean. And his homeland is considered to be Southern Europe.
Usage
In culture, mainly annual types of stennik are most often used: evergreen stennik, umbrella stennik and bitter stennik.
It is best to plant the stencil in small groups - in this case it will look more impressive, especially if you plan to place it in curb plantings or on lawns. Also, the wall panel will be a great decoration for the south side of rocky gardens. This plant also looks great on terraces or on retaining walls, and when trimmed, the wall panel is ideal for creating luxurious Japanese-style gardens. As for annuals, they will look gorgeous in Moorish lawns. The best partner plants for the stennik are pansies, petunias and ageratum.
In order for the stencil to retain its compactness, it must be cut off after flowering by about a third of its length. And those inflorescences that have already faded should be removed without fail, otherwise they will spoil the overall decorativeness of the stennik quite strongly.
Growing and caring
The stennik is quite light-requiring, but at the same time, it is endowed with the ability to tolerate light shading very well. However, it will feel best in areas under the open sun. The stencil is also undemanding to soils - this plant will grow equally well on absolutely any garden soils, except for too damp ones. And the stennik is also good because it grows well in the same place for up to ten years, and sometimes even more!
The stencil should be watered moderately and regularly. And the most optimal temperature for its full development and growth is in the range from eighteen to twenty-two degrees. By the way, in the winter season, resistant perennials tolerate temperatures down to minus five degrees very well!
Stennik propagation is carried out both by vegetative and seed methods. Large seeds of this handsome man can be safely sown immediately directly into the ground, not forgetting that later the stenic will need thinning.
Seedlings grown in pots should be immediately planted in permanent places - due to the fact that their root system is too deep, they do not tolerate transplants very well. As a rule, young plants begin to delight with their magnificent flowering from the second year.
In June, at the end of flowering, the stencil can be cuttings. However, perennial plant species are ideally recommended to be propagated by dividing the bushes, which is usually carried out in the spring.
Sometimes the stennik can attack earthen fleas, so from time to time it does not hurt to inspect a beautiful plant for the appearance of these uninvited guests.
