Aquilegia Discolor

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

Aquilegia discolor - a flowering culture belonging to the numerous genus Aquilegia of the Buttercup family. Another name is the Discolor Watershed, the Pyrenean Watershed or the Pyrenean Aquilegia (lat. Aquilegia pyrenaica). In nature, the plant is found in the Pyrenees, a mountain system located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Biscay, close to Spain and France. The species is highly decorative, it is actively used by gardeners and flower growers for landscaping personal backyard plots.

Characteristics of culture

Aquilegia discolor, or Pyrenean, is represented by perennial dwarf plants, reaching a height of 10-15 cm. During their growth, they form dense erect stems, on which a petioled, complex, trifoliate green foliage develops. No less attractive are the aquilegia discolored peduncles, they are long, bear small light blue flowers, the cup of which has a creamy shade. The flowering of the Pyrenean aquilegia is observed in late May - early June, the fruits and seeds ripen in the middle of summer, then they are self-sown.

It should be noted one of the popular varieties of the species under consideration - Kurilensis Rosea (Kurilensis Rosea). It is characterized by drooping pink-white flowers. This variety blooms at the same time as the species representative. But both deserve attention, together they will make a very romantic composition that will decorate any corner of the garden, including the side of the garden paths and the porch of the house.

They are also suitable for decorating ridges and alpine slides. Outwardly, the flowers look unusual, they are both bright and delicate, graceful and modest. By the way, in some countries, aquilegia is called doves, for its resemblance to flying pigeons, which can boast of the grace of flight. Like other representatives of the genus, aquilegia discolor belongs to the category of resistant plants, it can handle a long drought and short frosts. And by the way, culture does not need shelter, except perhaps while waiting for a harsh, snowless winter.

Subtleties of care

Aquilegia discolor is not whimsical, but active growth and abundant flowering is possible only with the manifestation of increased attention, which consists in systematic watering, weeding, fertilizing and loosening. Another procedure required by aquilegia discolor is the elimination of faded inflorescences. The fact is that all aquilegia are prone to self-seeding, untimely removal of inflorescences threatens the appearance of new specimens in the spring, which will be very difficult to eliminate, because they will appear in huge numbers. Therefore, this process must be "cut at the root."

It is also recommended to cut the stems to the very rosette of leaves. If you want to get the seeds, you should not wait for full ripening, you need to collect the fruits still green with a brownish tint. Seeds are dried indoors, and then sown in open ground or stored in a cool room, and in winter they are stratified and sown in seedling boxes filled with a nutrient substrate.

Division is considered an equally important action in care. This procedure is carried out immediately after flowering every 3-5 years. It is by this time that plants lose their decorative effect in the form of protruding roots from the soil, shrinking flowers and a decrease in their number. Of course, you can hide the bulging of the roots by adding a little soil to the roots, but at the same time it is impossible to achieve abundant flowering. Only division is effective here.

As already mentioned, aquilegia discolor refers to frost-resistant crops, however, in cold winters without snow, it needs shelter with dry fallen leaves, which are removed with the onset of warmth, otherwise podoprevanie cannot be avoided. It is also necessary to pay attention to the prevention and control of pests and diseases, especially in unfavorable years or with thickened plantings.