2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
All earthly flowers are drawn to the sun. But not many of them can boast of such an affection for him, which Heliotrope possesses. During the day, its flowers do not let our star out of their field of vision, repeating its heavenly path on Earth. For this ability, the plant received the name "Heliotrope", which translated from Greek means "turning with the sun."
Rod Heliotrope
The genus Heliotropium (Heliotropium) is represented in nature by annual herbaceous plants and perennial shrubs.
Short petiolate dark green leaves of an obovate shape are covered with hairs and have a wrinkled surface.
White or purple small flowers are collected in apical inflorescences, shields. The fruit is nutty.
Natural specimens exude a pleasant aroma, which some compare with the smell of vanilla, others with the smell of cinnamon. Hybrid varieties do not always have aroma, since breeders did not focus on smell, taking other properties of the plant as a basis, and therefore gradually deprived the plant of its aroma.
Some members of the genus contain toxic substances that can affect the liver and nervous system of a person.
Varieties
•
Stalk heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) - undersized (30 cm high) perennial shrub. In summer, the bushes are covered with inflorescences of small lilac flowers.
•
Heliotrope Peruvian (Heliotropium peruvianum) is the most popular type of Heliotrope. Densely branching bushes in open ground grow up to half a meter in height. When grown in pots, it is lower. A perennial shrub is often grown as an annual plant.
Weakly pubescent leaves have an elongated oval shape and are painted in two colors: the top is dark green, and the bottom is lighter. In early summer, dark purple fragrant flowers bloom on the bushes.
•
Shield heliotrope (Heliotropium corymbosum) - this species is not of interest to gardeners, but is only used by breeders to breed hybrid forms. As a result of crossing it with Heliotrope Peruvian, an evergreen hybrid was obtained, which is popular with flower growers.
•
Hybrid heliotrope (Heliotropium x hybridum) - hybrid species of Heliotrope, obtained by crossing different species, have a richer palette of shades. Their small, often fragrant, flowers, collected in corymbose inflorescences, can be white, blue, pink, blue, purple and even two-colored. Flowering lasts all warm season.
These can be herbaceous plants or low-growing shrubs with oblong-lanceolate leaves. For potted crops, plants with a height of 30-40 centimeters are chosen. In open ground Heliotropes grow up to half a meter in height.
Growing
Heliotrope likes places that are lit in order to be able to follow the sun.
The soil for it needs fertile, loose, rich in organic matter. For potted specimens, a mixture is made from turf, leafy soil and sand. To ensure sufficient soil moisture in the spring and summer, plants are regularly watered, especially those that grow in pots.
Before planting, the soil is fertilized with a complex mineral fertilizer, continuing to feed the plant during the growing season, combining top dressing with watering.
Can be affected by fungi.
Reproduction and transplantation
You can propagate by seeds, sowing in March. Seed germination is poor. Plants may differ from botanical species.
A more reliable and simpler way is reproduction by apical cuttings. Indoors, this is done in the spring, in the open field - in the summer, although, in principle, propagation by cuttings can be done at any time of the year.
If necessary, transplant into a large container, the transplant is done in March. If there is no need for a large pot, then the surface layer of the earth is simply renewed.
Usage
In summer cottages, in city parks and on flower beds, carpet flower beds are created from Heliotrope.
They are used to decorate dwellings, balconies, terraces, growing in pots and containers. In the cold season, the pots are brought into the room.
Recommended:
Acitandera (fragrant Gladiolus)
Acitander is not such a widely known flower culture, despite the fact that this plant is one of the varieties of the well-known gladiolus. Description Acitandera has graceful silhouettes and a surprisingly sophisticated scent of jasmine, especially active at night.
Heliotrope
Heliotrope (Latin Heliotropium) - a genus of flowering plants, among which there are grasses, dwarf shrubs and shrubs. The fragrant flowers of Heliotrope are distinguished by a special love for our luminary, constantly following his movement across the heavens.
Dichorizandra Fragrant
Dichorizandra fragrant is one of the plants in the family called commeline. In Latin, the name of this plant sounds like this: Dichorisandra fragrans. As for the name of this family itself, in Latin it will be like this: Commelinaceae. Features of plant care and growing It is worth noting that fragrant dichorizandra is a rather unpretentious plant to care for, however, in order for the plant to please with its development, you will need to follow certain growing rules.
Heliotrope Peruvian
Heliotrope Peruvian (lat.Heliotropium peruvianum) - a representative of the genus Heliotrope of the Borage family. The homeland of the plant is considered to be South America. The species takes an active part in breeding, to date, many interesting varieties have been obtained on its basis, which can please with a pleasant aroma that flutters over long distances.
European Heliotrope
European heliotrope (Latin Heliotropium europaeum) - treatment plant; a representative of the large genus Heliotrope, consisting of 300 species. Belongs to the Borage family. Another name is lichaeva grass. In nature, the plant is found in Central Asia, European countries and the European part of Russia.
