2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Externally, the inflorescences of Platicodon when closed resemble Japanese lanterns. The name is translated from Greek as a wide bell, due to the peculiarities of the structure of the flower, which is unusual for its closest relatives. The homeland of the wild form of a beautiful plant is Japan, Korea, China, the Far East, Siberia. It has been growing in gardens since the end of the 19th century
Distinctive features
The perennial plant form has a fleshy taproot similar to parsley. At the top are dormant buds, spilling out in spring, giving new shoots. Stems are smooth, straight, reaching a height of 60 cm. Leaves are narrow-ovate, opposite along the entire length. The edge is finely toothed, the surface is hard, smooth with a bluish tinge. When broken, a white, milky sap is released.
Large flowers up to 7-8 cm in diameter, crown the end of the shoot singly or are grouped in panicles of 3-5 pieces. The colors of the wild forms were blue-blue with 5 wide petals. Geneticists managed to create white, purple, pink specimens, sometimes with double buds. Close inspection reveals darker thin veins on the surface of the flower.
Blooms in mid-July. It continues to delight with bright colors for 2 months. At the beginning of autumn, fruits ripen in the form of a box with partitions. Seeds are black, shiny, flat, ovoid. One gram contains up to 750-800 pieces.
Growing conditions
Loves sunny glades, easily endures openwork partial shade. The close occurrence of groundwater, spring flooding - adversely affect the safety of the fleshy root. Leads to its decay.
Prefers dry growing areas with light, porous soil structure. Frost resistant. In snowless winters, it is better to cover the roots with dry leaves. Grows in one place up to 7 years.
The taproot, going to great depths, extracts moisture from the underlying horizons. It tolerates drought well, without the need for frequent watering.
Varieties
The successful work of breeders led to the creation of dwarf forms of Platycodon. There were varieties with double inflorescences (double row of petals). Plants with high and low sizes look equally beautiful. Hybrids differ from each other in stem height, color, number of petals. We list the most common varieties:
1. Shell Pink. The height of the bushes reaches 80 cm. Large pinkish bells look great against the background of dark greenery.
2. Album. The growth of the stems is 70-80 cm. The snow-white five-pointed stars have a diameter of 8 cm, decorated with blue thin stripes running from the corner to the center.
3. Mariesii Blue. Shoots are low 35 cm, crowned with bluish flowers with a dark veined pattern, blue columns.
4. Apoyama. Dwarf large-leaved cultivar 20 cm in height with blue-violet petals bent back. A great option for alpine slides.
5. Snowflakes. The growth of the stems reaches 50 cm. Semi-double white inflorescences consist of a double row of petals.
Use in the garden
The platycodon's peaceful nature makes it an excellent partner in challenging mixborders. Once planted in a certain place, it occupies a single position throughout its life, without spreading to the sides.
Looks great in combination with phlox, peonies, daylilies, Siberian irises, geraniums, cereals, wormwood, asters. Conifers, barberries, vesicles, purple, silvery, dark green foliage of which will favorably emphasize the dignity of the bell, will become an excellent background for Platycodon.
Dwarf forms are useful for alpine slides, flower garden foregrounds, miniature gardens next to deciduous, coniferous species. The border along the path made of low platycodon will decorate the interior near the house for several months.
We will consider the reproduction and care of a beautiful bell in the next article.
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