2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
The tall arrows of the peduncles of the perennial delphinium attract attention at first sight. The aristocratic "appearance" of a noble plant will make even a modest flower garden play with bright colors. What features distinguish the delphinium from other cultures?
Beautiful legends
In Ancient Greece, there was a legend about a gifted young sculptor who was able to create the image of his deceased lover. The young man's noble heart revived the cold stone. The angry gods turned the man into a dolphin.
Once a resurrected girl came for a walk to the sea, saw a dolphin swimming. He gave her an azure flower of unearthly beauty. Since then, this plant has been called delphinium.
A bit of history
Botanists were the first to introduce into the culture annual forms of delphinium (eastern, dubious). Crossing allowed to create a variety of colors of buds: lilac, lavender, pink, white, purple, blue.
In the 17th century, perennial species became widespread: large-flowered, labiate, tall. By crossing them together, scientists have achieved amazing results. Currently, hybrids are popular:
• Belladonna;
• Pacific;
• Marfinsky;
• Scottish;
• New Zealand.
They have powerful long peduncles, dense buds "cobs". The color of the petals is 2-3 tones, with streaks, edging or overflows. Simple, semi-double or double structure of inflorescences.
Biological features
The height of the bushes, depending on the species, is from 0.5 to 2 meters. Taproot, branched. Finger-dissected leaves, alternate, located mainly in the lower part of the plant, bright green, fleecy. The stem is hollow inside.
Colored sepals (upper with a spur) in the amount of 5 pieces are mistaken by many for petals. Real petals are small, located in the center, have white, black colors, resemble a hardworking insect, therefore they are called bees. They are the ones that attract pollinators.
The buds, collected in the cob inflorescence, bloom, starting from the lower tiers, gradually rising upward. Flowering continues from early July for 1-1.5 months. Most hybrids form new arrows closer to September, blooming until the very frost.
At the end of August, small brownish flat seeds ripen, enclosed in fruits - many-leaved. In the phase of full ripeness, the valves open, the grains fall to the ground. In favorable winters, they remain in the ground, giving insignificant self-seeding in spring. The germination of the collected seeds lasts 3-4 years.
Habitat conditions
Most of the hybrids have good frost resistance in Central Russia. They hibernate without additional shelter. New Zealand specimens must be covered with non-woven material for safety net. In snowless winters, they can die.
Plant loss occurs in late autumn or early spring, when warm weather changes sharply to cold weather with heavy rainfall. Stagnation of water at the roots during this period causes them to rot.
Delphiniums love moisture in limited quantities. They especially need watering in dry summers. On fertile, fertilized loams, they give high peduncles. They prefer bright glades or openwork partial shade. They bloom weakly in full shade, the arrows stretch out, forming loose "cobs".
In one place, they grow safely for 4-5 years. Then the plants need rejuvenation by dividing the bushes.
Delphinium attraction
What are the properties of noble bushes:
one. Unpretentious care.
2. Excellent wintering.
3. Long flowering.
4. Beautiful, aristocratic appearance.
5. A good cut for bouquets (stand in a vase for up to 10 days).
6. Rapid growth of bushes.
All of these components attract the attention of gardeners to delphiniums.
We will consider reproduction and care in the next article.
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