Summer White Flower

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

Summer white flower (lat. Leucojum aestivum) - a representative of the genus Belotsvetnik of the Amaryllis family. In nature, it lives mainly in the Mediterranean, in the Balkans, in some Caucasian countries and the Crimea (mainly in mountainous areas). Typical habitats are mountain slopes, river valleys, wet meadows and other areas with well-moistened soils. Belongs to the category of bulbous crops.

Characteristics of culture

Summer white flower is represented by perennial herbaceous plants, which are endowed with an ovoid bulb, reaching a diameter of 4-5 cm. The foliage is green, with a bluish tint, elongated, narrow, formed from a membranous sheath in the amount of 3-5 pieces. The arrow is hollow, thin, flat, sharp at the tips, does not exceed foliage in length. The frog, in turn, is surmounted by a webbed wing and short greenish keels.

The peduncle of the summer white flower does not exceed 5-6 cm, the flowers are small (up to 3 cm in diameter), drooping, collected in umbellate inflorescences of 3-10 pieces. The perianth is white, bears wide lanceolate leaves, the apex of which is pointed. The buds are formed in the third decade of April - the first decade of May, enters the flowering phase in mid-May and later, which depends solely on climatic conditions. Flowering lasts no more than three weeks.

The fruits are represented by oblong small capsules containing black seeds, a distinctive feature of which are air pockets and peeling peels. Seeds remain viable for up to 3 years, they do not need cold stratification and other processing.

It should be noted that the species in question is used in breeding. Today there is a very interesting and attractive English variety on the market called Gravetye Giant. It is characterized by plants no more than half a meter high, crowned with large flowers with straw-colored spots.

Growing features

Unlike many flower crops, the summer white flower prefers semi-shaded areas with diffused light. On open sunny areas, small flowers are formed, they increase the green mass more, and require frequent watering. Soils are preferable to be well moistened, nutritious, drained, planting near artificial and natural reservoirs is not prohibited. It is great if the drainage is not small pebbles, but coarse washed sand.

It is not recommended to plant the summer white flower in areas with poor, dry, saline and heavy soils. In the first case, cultivation is possible if you add a portion of rotted manure and complex mineral fertilizers for digging. By the way, the culture also does not tolerate acidic soils, therefore, liming must first be carried out. The species under consideration does not have any other requirements for soil conditions.

Landing subtleties

The planting of the summer white flower is carried out in the fall, but it is not forbidden to carry out the manipulation in the middle of summer, but in no case in the spring. Bulbs for planting should be moderately dense, heavy, without roots, with a healthy bottom. Cuts are discouraged, especially those that are rough, soft to the touch and moldy, otherwise the material may rot and be unsuitable for planting.

It is necessary to plant immediately after purchase, a long stay in the open air does not bode well. If planting is not possible, it is important to place the bulbs in a container filled with sawdust. When planting, it is necessary to observe the optimal distance (20-25 cm), close planting is not welcome, the plants will interfere with each other, as a result of which it is worse to bloom, to lag behind in growth. The planting depth depends solely on the size of the bulb. The larger the bulb, the deeper the planting.