Homeria Hill

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

Homeria hill (lat. Nomeria collina) - flowering culture; a representative of the Gomeria genus of the Iris family. Another name is Homeria breyniana (lat. Homeria breyniana). A native of South Africa. One of the most common types. Decorative look. In culture it is used as an annual.

Characteristics of culture

Hill homeria is represented by plants with rather thin but strong stems no more than 40 cm in height, and long, lanceolate, narrow, pointed green leaves. The corm in the species under consideration is covered with brownish-brown or grayish-brown scales of a fibrous structure, has a rounded shape, does not exceed 3-3.5 cm in diameter. Roots of two types: the first are formed from an old corm, they are filiform, thin; the latter are formed from a replacing young bulb, they are fleshy and thick. The flowers are small, up to 4-4.5 cm in diameter, yellow-red, single or collected in few-flowered racemose inflorescences of 3-4 pieces.

Homeria hill, or Brainian blooms in the first or second decade of June. Flowering lasts about 30 days. The species is not hardy enough, but it has high decorative properties. Suitable for creating bright flower arrangements on the lawn, looks great alone or in a group with other annuals. Also, Homeria hill fits perfectly into an alliance with trees and shrubs with an openwork crown. It is not forbidden to use the culture for cutting and creating bouquets, you can also grow it as a pot plant, for example, for decorating balconies, terraces, patios and verandas.

Forms

In horticulture, there are only three forms, but there are many more. So, the following forms deserve special attention:

* var. aurantiaca Baker - the form is represented by plants with thin stems, the base of which is enveloped by a very narrow leaf, and salmon-pink or pale red flowers, equipped with narrowish perianth lobes of the reverse lanceolate shape;

* var. ochrolcuca Baker - the form is represented by plants with stems no more than 70 cm in height and light yellow flowers, the perianth lobes of which are curly.

* var. bicolor Baker (bi color Becker) - the form is represented by plants with stems up to 50 cm high and light yellow flowers, the perianth lobes of which are lavender-pink in color.

Features of cultivation

The forms of Homeria hill are quite diverse and beautiful, they can be used in any compositions, but in order for them to please throughout the growing season, it is important to create a favorable environment and provide proper and regular care. There are no difficulties in the cultivation of this crop. It is preferable to land in sunny areas or in partial shade with diffused light, protection from the wind is required.

Soils should be loose, loamy, air and water permeable, loose, neutral. Heavy, waterlogged, highly acidic, saline or waterlogged soils will not work. You should also abandon the planting of Hill Homeria in the lowlands, where a large amount of water accumulates in spring and during rains. Excessive moisture can lead to decay of corms, then there can be no question of decorativeness, in such areas the plants will die.

In general, Homeria are moisture-loving, they should be watered at least 2 times a week. Feeding is no less important for them. During the growing season, 2 additional dressings are enough. The first is carried out when planting with organic matter and complex mineral fertilizers, the second, during budding, with an infusion of cow manure diluted with water 1:10. Mulching the soil is encouraged. Mulch will protect plants from slugs and exclude from care the not entirely pleasant procedure - weeding.

Corm storage

Homeria corms are dug up after the stems die off, after which they are cleaned of the earth and dried a little. If damage is found on the corms, they are sprinkled with wood ash. Then the corms are placed in sand (or sawdust) and sent for storage in a well-ventilated room with an air humidity of 60-70% and a temperature of 3-5C. The corms should not fade, this must be impeccably monitored, but if this happens, the sand or peat is slightly moistened.