Ageratum Mexican

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

Ageratum Mexican (Latin Ageratum houstonianum) - flowering culture; a representative of the Ageratum genus of the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family. Under natural conditions, it is distributed mainly in South and North America, rarely found in India. It is actively used in ornamental gardening both in Europe and Asia. On the territory of the Russian Federation, it is cultivated as an annual. Introduced into culture in 1733. Other names are Longevity or Gauston's Ageratum. It is appreciated for its high decorative properties, a variety of varieties and colors of inflorescences, as well as for abundant and long flowering.

Characteristics of culture

Ageratum Mexican, or Gaustona, is represented by perennial herbaceous plants, dwarf shrubs or shrubs no more than 60-70 cm in height; dwarf varieties are also presented on the garden market, the height of which does not exceed 15-20 cm. It is distinguished by a powerful, highly branched root system and a pubescent aerial part (speech is about stems, petioles, foliage and pedicels). The stems of the species under consideration can be either ascending or erect, but always highly branched and in huge numbers.

They are practically covered with solid green foliage of a rhombic or triangular shape. The edge of the leaves is serrated, crenate or serrate, depending on the variety. Leaves of two types: upper - sessile, alternate; the lower ones are petiolar, equipped with petioles. The flowers are very small, tubular, they form cup-shaped inflorescences-baskets, which do not exceed 1.5-2 cm in diameter. Baskets are collected in complex corymbose inflorescences, they can be dense or loose.

Distinctive features of the flowers of the species under consideration are the presence of a perianth, which is shorter in length than a two-lobed stigma, a flat receptacle that does not have bracts, as well as a cupped envelope consisting of sharp leaves arranged tiled in two or three rows. The color of the flowers can be varied - blue, pale blue, pink, lilac, white, purple, sometimes salmon pink. The flowers have a fairly pronounced and pleasant aroma.

Fruits are elongated, wrinkled, wedge-shaped achenes, often curved, equipped with a tuft and containing small seeds that remain viable for up to three to four years. Ageratum Mexican blooms from mid - late June to the onset of the first frost. The species boasts drought tolerant properties, although abundant flowering and vigorous growth can only be achieved with regular and moderate watering. The rest of the culture is not too demanding, it needs the standard care inherent in many flower crops.

Popular varieties

Ageratum Mexican has many varieties and varietal groups that differ from each other in the compactness and size of the bush, the shape of the foliage, the timing of flowering and the color of the flowers. Among gardeners and florists of European countries and Russia, the following varieties are especially popular:

* Blue Adriatic (Blue Adriatic) - the variety is represented by low-growing plants no more than 20 cm in height, which are decorated with blue-purple inflorescences. Quite an interesting and attractive variety, suitable for flower beds and flower beds with dwarf plants.

* Summer Snow - the variety is represented by plants with a height of 40-45 cm, forming sprawling bushes, with inflorescences-baskets of white color. The variety is distinguished by long and abundant flowering.

* Blue Lagoon (Blue Lagoon) - the variety is represented by low plants up to 30 cm high, forming compact bushes, with large lilac inflorescences-baskets. Early flowering variety.

* Tetra Vary (Tetra Vary) - the variety is represented by plants that form compact bushes in the process of growth, over which a huge number of inflorescences-baskets of blue color flaunts. Quite a common variety.

* Blue Mink (Blue Mink) - the variety is represented by plants up to 25 cm high, forming compact erect bushes during growth, covered with large foliage and decorated with azure-colored inflorescences-baskets.

* Little Dorrit (Little Dorrit) - the variety is represented by low-growing plants no more than 20 cm in height, forming hemispherical bushes, with small inflorescences-baskets of pale blue color. Early flowering variety. Suitable for growing as a pot crop.

* Blue Angel (Blue Angel) - the variety is represented by low-growing plants no more than 15-17 cm high, forming compact bushes, over which blue dense inflorescences flaunt. Early flowering variety.

* Blue Ball (Blue Ball) - the variety is represented by dwarf plants up to 15 cm high, forming compact spherical bushes, with large inflorescences-baskets of lilac-blue color. Late flowering variety. Differs in high drought-resistant properties.