A Flower With A Punchy Character

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

The breakers are charming undersized plants with a "punchy character". They are able to live in ascetic conditions, conquering space for themselves on poor soil among rocks and stones. In Latin, they were named Androzatse, translated as "male shield"

Botanical description

Belongs to the Primroses family. There are over 100 species in the wild. The breaker is a close relative of primroses. Some representatives are very similar in structure to their relatives. Most live in mountains or foothills with a harsh climate, arid living conditions.

There are annual, perennial representatives of the genus. On the beds, in the form of weeds, thread-like, northern breaks grow. Small bushes with white inflorescence umbrellas.

The leaves form a rosette. Inflorescences are white, pink, red, solitary or collected in umbrellas. Seeds are round, small.

Variety of species

There are several species that have been cultivated in flower beds since ancient times. Everyone has different requirements. There are unpretentious plants for beginners. There are difficult ones - for experienced gardeners.

All types are conventionally divided into two groups:

• Offspring;

• Cushion-shaped.

Reproduction, the requirements for living conditions are different for them.

Offspring species

The most common in gardens are 2 representatives:

1. Youthful.

2. Primrose.

They are similar in type of growth - outwardly they resemble the structure of the rejuvenated. Broad leaves are arranged around the center. Each rosette sweeps antennae (stolons), new plants are formed at the end. When in contact with the soil, they release roots, gradually turning into an independent bush. Bloom in May with bright pink buds collected in umbrellas. They rise above the leaves by 5-7 cm. The overgrown curtain looks spectacular among the stones on an alpine hill.

Grown with light shading. Poorly tolerates drying, excessive soil moisture.

Cushion

A larger group consists of Asian, European, North American species.

Let's list some of the most common representatives in the culture:

• hairy;

• Kozo-Polyansky;

• meat-red (ruddy);

• silky.

We will give a description and requirements for the cultivation of each species in more detail.

Shaggy breaker

Grows in the Kursk, Voronezh regions on chalk deposits. Fluffy compact bushes form a pillow 5 cm high. They are practically the only plants on limestone scree. The location is sunny and dry. In early May, the rock becomes even whiter from blossoming snow-white inflorescences with a sunny center. In the process of growing up, the center turns from yellow to reddish. This property is inherent in almost all species. It grows best in the sunniest places of the alpine slides.

The hole of Kozo-Polyansky

Located on the territory of the Central Russian Upland. Occurs on chips, tops of small hills, in steppes with sparse vegetation. Listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Differs in dense bushes with numerous obtuse veined leaves. It blooms profusely every year, reproduces well by self-sowing. Individual shoots take root over time.

Silky break-through

Finely cut greenery looks more like moss from afar. Forms an excellent pillow. Inflorescences of different ages look original. White petals with a yellow or pink center stare in surprise from one bush. Plants tolerate winter conditions well. Propagated by seeds without stratification.

In the wild, the species grows on depleted soils with small granite stones. On dry and damp slopes along rivers. It successfully adapts to the conditions of the Middle Lane.

Breaker ruddy

Leaf pubescence is weak, elongated shape resembles spruce needles, forming compact rosettes (pads). The bright pink flowers gave the species its name. In nature, it is considered a minor, it is perfectly restored by self-seeding. Grown without problems in sunny places. There are varieties with white inflorescences.

The beauty of miniature, numerous inflorescences, unpretentiousness captivate gardeners at first sight. Try planting this plant in your garden on an alpine slide.