2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
The idea of “decorating clothes with all kinds of flounces and frills” was most likely seen by the designers from the plant with the mysterious name “Molukskaya Grass”. Its fragrant flowers hide in delicate shuttlecocks that abundantly cover the shoots and create a light green living frill
The genus Molucellus
Herbaceous plants of the genus Molucella (Molucella) or Molukskaya grass are perennial and annual. They have been cultivated in culture since the end of the 16th century, but they are not often found in our gardens. They are usually grown as annuals.
They are grown outdoors, where they can serve as a pale green background for brightly variegated and white-flowering ornamental plants, as well as in flower pots and containers. Picturesque shoots are suitable for cutting into bouquets of fresh and dried flowers.
The square stalks of Moluccas grow up to 90 cm in length. They are densely packed with spectacular green bell-shaped cups, which hide small white flowers, exuding a delicate lemon-vanilla aroma. For the fantastic green color of the plant, the Molucca grass is called Irish bells, although they were born far from the northern lands, in the warm Turkish and Syrian regions.
A large white seed appears to replace the flower at the bottom of the calyx, resembling a miniature hen's egg in a nest, for which the plant is sometimes called the "Shell Flower".
Molucca herb is considered a symbol of abundance and good luck
Annual varieties
* Molucella smooth (Molucella laevis) is a fast-growing, thermophilic, medium-sized species up to 60 cm high (can grow up to a meter) with branching erect stems, blooming in June. Fragrant small flowers are arranged in personal spectacular light green cup houses with a smooth edge, surrounded by round leaves on long petioles. When cutting shoots for bouquets, the leaves of the plant are removed, thereby giving a decorative delicacy to the bouquet.
* Molucella prickly (Molucella spinosa) - unlike the smooth molucella in this species, the bracts are armed with sharp spines that protect the velvety corolla of white flowers that bloom by the end of summer. Simple erect succulent stems of a quadrangular plant are covered with sparse green petiole leaves and grow up to a meter in height. The surface of ovoid and cordate, relatively large, leaves is smooth. This species is not as thermophilic as the previous one, it can withstand temperatures up to minus 12 degrees.
Growing
In order for Molucella to grow strong and hardy, you should choose sunny places for it.
The soil should be fertile, loose and moist, but well-drained. The plant needs regular watering, especially during a prolonged drought. In the spring, once every two to three weeks, a complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation. In addition, at the time of planting, complex fertilizer and peat are also added to the soil.
To maintain the decorative appearance, damaged, yellowed leaves and flowers that have served their life are removed.
Reproduction
Propagated Molukskaya grass by spring sowing seeds in open ground. For an earlier development of the plant, sowing is carried out in early spring, replanting the mature seedlings in a mixture of sand and peat in the ratio (3: 7). In May, the seedlings are determined for a permanent place in the open field.
When purchasing seedlings in horticultural centers and nurseries, choose compact bushes without signs of decay of the root collar.
Enemies
Molucella is quite resistant to pests and diseases. With an excess and stagnation of moisture in the soil, the roots can be affected by fungi. Therefore, while maintaining soil moisture, do not create stagnant water. A new planting site should be chosen every year.
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