Alyssum Gmelin

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

Alyssum Gmelin (lat. Alyssum gmelinii) - a flowering representative of the genus Alyssum of the family Cruciferous, or Cabbage. Another name is Gmelin's beetroot. He is a native of European countries. Nowadays, it is actively cultivated on the territory of the Russian Federation, but especially in the central black earth zone, the regional center of which is Voronezh. In nature, the species grows in pine forests, steppe zones and areas with sandy soils. It is less common on sites where the soil contains limestone and chalk.

Characteristics of culture

Alyssum Gmelin is represented by perennial herbaceous plants, not exceeding 20 cm in height, forming pubescent recumbent or ascending stems during growth, topped with foliage of green or light green color pubescent over the entire surface. The leaves, located at the bottom of the stem, are petiolate, obovate. The upper foliage is still petiolate, but oblong lanceolate in shape.

The flowers of Alyssum Gmelin are small, collected in dense racemose inflorescences, giving the plant a zest and originality. That is why the species in question is loved by flower growers and gardeners of European countries and Russia. The color of the flowers is yellow, the petals are short, reaching a length of 0.5 cm. The fruit is an oval or spherical pod, covered from the top with star-shaped short hairs. Alyssum Gmelin blooms in mid - late spring, to be more precise in mid April - late May.

It should be noted that in some characteristics the species is similar to other representatives of the genus, for example, Alyssum lenense (lat. Alyssum lenense). This species grows mainly in Asian countries. Also, according to its external features, Alyssum calycinum is similar to Gmelin's alyssum, although gardeners consider it a weed and do not use it in ornamental gardening.

Growing features

Alyssum Gmelin, like other representatives of the genus, is not a whimsical plant. It develops freely both in shaded and sunny areas, although in the shade the flowers change their color to a faded one, but the flowering is no less active. Actually, the culture does not put forward requirements for soils, but it develops best on loose, fertile, moderately moist and light soils.

Alyssum Gmelin will not tolerate cooperation with waterlogged, waterlogged, saline, heavy, clayey and acidic soils. On them, the plants feel defective, practically do not bloom and are often affected by pests and diseases, which, by the way, do not often bother the culture with optimal growing conditions and proper care. And this is one of the main advantages of the species in question.

Caring for Gmelin's alyssum is as simple as two or two, it does not require much attention. Sufficiently moderate, but regular watering, dressing and weeding. Top dressing is carried out 2 times per season - the first in early spring with organic matter and mineral fertilizers, the second during budding - only with mineral fertilizers. But even if you do not carry out the second feeding, nothing terrible will happen, the plant will also delight with beautiful flowering, albeit not so lush.

It should be noted another important crop care procedure, called pruning. This process is necessary for absolutely all types of alissum, including annual. This procedure will prolong the decorative properties of plants, and they will decorate the garden with fresh greens a little longer, in fact, pruning will have a positive effect on flowering. Pruning is carried out at the time of fruit formation, shortening is carried out by about 5-8 cm, global pruning is not recommended.