Wonderful Prairie Flower. Decorative Varieties

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

The decorativeness of rod-shaped millet (panicum) does not decrease throughout the season: from germination to winter standing. The snow-covered bushes look especially attractive with the bright color of the leaves remaining. Sprinkled with hoarfrost, the seeds tremble in the wind like tears of a beauty. Where is this wonderful flower used in flower beds?

Landscape use

Great for background mixborders. From tall varieties, hedges are made, located along the fences, buildings. It well covers unsightly places: outbuildings, toilets, compost heaps.

Against the background of the lawn, freestanding bushes look especially impressive. Low-growing varieties are planted in containers located on the patio. In autumn, plants are buried in the ground together with pots for wintering.

It is combined with goldenrod, septenbrines (perennial asters), geyhera, echinacea, astilba, buzulnik. Combines well with dried flowers of rich colors.

Millet, planted next to trees, shrubs with bright crimson or purple-red foliage, gives the composition a special charm.

Varieties

Unfortunately, domestic varieties are not registered in the state register of Russia. Gardeners all over the world use German breeding.

Hybrids can be roughly divided into:

• high (over 2 meters);

• medium-sized (1, 5-2 m);

• conditionally low (1-1.4 m).

High Representatives

Cloud Nine. The height of adult specimens reaches 2.1 m. The funnel-shaped form of the bush does not fall apart. The foliage is greenish with a blue coating, becoming golden by autumn. The panicles are beige.

Blue Tower. The bush grows up to 2.4 m. The bluish glossy foliage does not change color depending on the season. Inflorescences are large, initially greenish-blue, later acquire a light brown tint. The original specimens were taken unaltered from the wild.

Medium-sized varieties

Prairie Sky. Erect bushes reach a height of 1, 6 m, under unfavorable conditions (wind, rain) they can fall apart. Leaves are bluish-green, wide by the end of the season, slightly yellow. Panicles are beige with a silvery sheen.

Heavy Metal (Heavy Metal). Plant height 1.5 m. Stems are straight, strong, not prone to lodging in heavy precipitation. Pericarp spikelets have a pinkish tone, the panicles themselves are beige. During flowering, they form a lush cloud. The greenish-blue foliage changes to copper-red in the fall.

Dallas Blues. The latest variety in terms of flowering time (mid-September - October). Plant height 1, 5-2, 0 m. Vase-like bushes perfectly retain their shape, actively growing. The wide green-bluish foliage turns bright yellow by autumn. Panicles are beige with a greenish tint.

Low hybrids

Rotstralbusch. The size of adult specimens is 1, 1-1, 3 m. Resistant stems keep their shape well. The green foliage changes early to a fiery red color, with the underside of the plants turning yellow. When blooming in early August, panicles acquire a beige-red tone, do not lose their decorative effect until the end of October. It grows well, forming lush curtains. Bred by scientists in 1968.

Rehbraun. Bushes with a height of 1-1, 2 m are distinguished by a compact form. Greenish leaf plates acquire a brownish-red hue by the end of the season. Since August, millet is decorated with dark purple panicles of inflorescences. Bred by breeders in 1957 in Hanover. Suitable for beginner florists. Perfectly adapts to habitat conditions.

Shenandoah. The height of erect, wide bushes ranges from 1, 1-1, 2 m. They keep their shape well, growing moderately. Grayish-green leaves begin to turn scarlet in early July, turn wine-red by autumn. Panicles are violet-red. Among other options, it is considered the most striking.

This list is far from all varieties bred by scientists over the past century.

We will consider breeding methods, caring for rod-shaped millet in the next article.