2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Ferula (lat. Ferula) - a genus of perennial plants of the Umbrella family. The genus includes about 190 species, distributed mainly in Asia. Nine species are cultivated in European countries, and only six species in the Russian Federation. Translated into Russian from Latin, "ferula" means "rod", this is due to the fact that in ancient times dry plant stems were used to punish disobedient students.
Characteristics of culture
Ferula is a herbaceous plant with a thick and strong stem up to 4 m high. The leaves are multiple pinnately dissected, mainly basal, collected in a volumetric rosette. The flowers are small, polygamous, whitish or yellow, without a wrapper, collected in umbellate inflorescences. Petals are flat, less often depressed along the central vein, up to 3.5 mm long. The fruit is broadly ovoid, laterally compressed, usually smooth. The fruit is divided into flat-packed semi-fruits with sharp or filiform ribs.
Most of the genus in the process of growth form powerful bushes, which look very attractive during flowering. Under optimal growing conditions, ferrules reach enormous sizes. Ferula blooms only for 4-6 years, then blooms annually and abundantly. The average life expectancy is 10-12 years, although there are specimens that live up to 30-35 years.
Ferula are famous for their healing properties. Often they are used for landscaping gardens and personal plots. Ferula is introduced into the culture very slowly, since it reproduces only by seeds, which are rarely found on the free market. Experienced gardeners collect seeds from natural specimens.
The most interesting for cultivation are the following species: ferula clematidifolia (lat. Ferula clematidifolia), ferula finely dissected (lat. Ferula tenuisecta), ferula pinnate (lat. Ferula penninervis) and white-striped ferula (lat. Ferula leucogapha). Each of the species has its own characteristics of cultivation, which must be strictly observed. In this case, the ferrules will begin to grow in April, and at the end of May they will bloom. All of the above species are suitable for cultivation in central Russia.
The subtleties of growing
In general, the ferula is undemanding, lives a long time, withstands drought and frost. It develops well and blooms on well-drained, loose and slightly acidic soils. The location is shaded or open and sunny. It is not recommended to grow plants in dense shade. It is also not advisable to plant a ferula on highly acidic, waterlogged, marshy and saline soils.
Ferula is propagated only by seed. Seeds in most species have a reduced germination rate. Seeds are sown before winter or in spring with preliminary stratification. Seeds are stratified for two months in wet sand at a temperature of 2-4C. The hatched seeds are sown in a greenhouse or seedling containers, or directly into open ground, depending on the timing of hatching.
In the first year of life, the growing season is short, around mid-June, the plants plunge into a dormant phase. Ferulis are transplanted in early spring or after the end of the growing season. Transplanting is not recommended during flowering.
Ferula care consists in rare watering, which is completely stopped when the leaves and stems begin to dry out. Top dressing as needed. Loosening and weeding of weeds are periodic.
Application
Ferula has been widely used in garden design lately. They look especially good in various flower arrangements and against the background of the lawn. Feruli can become a real splendor of the garden, thanks to their splendor and airiness. Plants harmoniously fit into mixborders and rocky gardens. Ferula's best partners are carnations, chickweed, iberis, arabis, wild poppies, tblpans, peonies, corydalis, as well as undersized shrubs - almonds, cherries and Japanese quince.
