2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Stilgrass (lat. Xanthorrhoea) - an ornamental-leaved herb, widely used in floristry.
Description
Stilgrass is a rather spectacular perennial, endowed with high above-ground rounded trunks (which, however, may be completely absent) and rather powerful underground stems. In some species, aerial trunks can branch out fancifully.
Stilgrass leaves are very narrow and rather long - often their length reaches one meter. All leaves gather in small bunches at the very tops of the trunks and are somewhat reminiscent of reed leaves. It takes up to twenty to thirty years to form the most lush bunches of sultans in steelgrass.
Stilgrass flowers are always very small, either cream or white. They form inflorescences-ears of a very unusual spear-shaped form, and the height of these inflorescences can reach one or two meters, and sometimes even more! Moreover, these flowers boast the presence of impressive volumes of nectar, which invariably attracts hardworking bees!
Where grows
Most often, stealgrass can be seen in the vastness of North America.
Usage
Stilgrass is a magnificent ornamental greenery - today it has become one of the most popular and sought-after floristic materials. And all thanks to the fact that it looks equally good both in falling compositions and in an upright form. In addition, it is ideal for creating highly unusual arrangement forms and original weaves. The elements woven from steelgrass will look especially exquisite, invariably giving a unique grace to absolutely any composition! And still, steelgrass perfectly preserves the kinks, which in turn allows, if necessary, to introduce spectacular broken lines into the compositions. And another undoubted plus of steelgrass is its ability to favorably set off both flowers and any other plants that form luxurious compositions.
Also, since time immemorial, steelgrass has been widely used for weaving all kinds of products - its ability to maintain its plasticity and shape in any form has long opened up a wide scope for imagination and for folk art. And such products have always been highly appreciated for their naturalness and simplicity! And this amazing herb was considered a symbol of natural forces (both good and evil) and a valuable material for making a wide variety of amulets!
Growing and caring
Stillgrass is excellently preserved (in the cut, it will easily stand for two weeks or even more!) And is able to be without water for a very long period. And in general, he is very unpretentious in care and does not require increased attention.
Stilgrass will grow best in fertile, well-drained and moderately moist soils. Sandy or clayey soils, which are characterized by a slightly acidic reaction, are especially well suited for these purposes. Also, the area where the stealgrass will grow should be fairly light and slightly shaded.
It is not necessary to water the steelgrass too often and abundantly - once a week will be more than enough, since the soil should have time to dry out properly between waterings. As for drought, it does not have the slightest negative effect on this plant.
Every year, from March to April, this green pet is fed with organic matter, and from June to July, it should also be offered high-quality mineral fertilizers. It is permissible to refrain from fertilizing only if the soil is very fertile.
