Beautiful astilba: landing, care, reproduction

This plant appeared in Europe more than two centuries ago, but now it does not cease to be the most necessary attribute of the shadow garden. Together with his companion - a host, annual calendula and marigolds, it usually begins to create a garden. And for gardeners this plant is just an invaluable find. After all, there are not so many flowers in the world that dream of settling in secluded corners, where lace shade prevails, and soils are more humid and rich. It's about astilbe - a beautiful plant of the family of saxifrage, a native of Japan - the country of the rising sun.

Astilba: planting, care, reproduction

Astilba - rather well-known in our region, an ornamental plant, suitable for planting as a curb plant or in mixborders. It looks great both in regular and in landscape gardens, as it keeps decorativeness during the season and blooms for a long time. It is a herbaceous rhizome perennial with a height of up to one meter. Blossoms from July to September with small white, pink, red or purple flowers, collected in panicles.

In floriculture there are now more than 200 varieties of Astilba: Arendsa , Tunberg, David, Chinese, Korean, Japanese. Varieties vary in height: from low - less than half a meter, to high - more than 1 m. They are diverse in color: from white to violet. And also differ in the shape and density of inflorescences, the color of the leaves and the duration of flowering.

We'll figure it out now, where a beautiful astilba can grow. Planting, caring for the plant does not require much trouble. At one place the bush grows over ten years. Most varieties are frost-resistant. The plant is shade-tolerant, prefers wet, loose, slightly acidic soils. And, if there is an empty shady corner in the garden, where no other cultures survive, it will be gladly taken by Astilba.

Reproduction of a plant is a simple matter. It is best to propagate it by dividing the bush in the early spring (or in September) or by cuttings in August. You can grow from seeds, but seedlings usually do not preserve varietal characteristics. The most suitable time for division is spring or autumn. From the rhizome of astilba cut a small, centimeters 10 slice, which must be at least one kidney renewal. Planted immediately. Sleeping buds will awaken even on a piece of rhizome without shoots. Astilbu Chinese, which has a dwarf form, it is easier to propagate by root offspring, growing in abundance near the mother's bush.

Seed breeding is used in selection work. Very small Astilba seeds are sown in greenhouses in February, not sprinkled with earth, tk. They need light to germinate. Seedlings appear in a couple of weeks, and adult plants blossom in less than three to four years.

Since astilba can tolerate transplantation even in a flowering state, it is possible to buy it with inflorescences, only when planting them it is necessary to cut them off. Before planting, the soil is well treated, enriched with useful substances, and peat or ash is added to it.

If there is an astilba on the site, care for it will be in a timely, carefully regulated irrigation. She is very fond of moisture, especially if planted in the sun. Without full irrigation, the astilba loses its decorativeness: leaf tips and stems dry out. But the increased humidity has a beneficial effect on it: it grows and grows well. Over time, the rhizome of astilba is denuded. Therefore, it is necessary or to regularly divide the plant, or sprinkle fresh soil under it.

Astilba is an outstanding example of shade-loving plants . Planting, care and agricultural technology should take into account this feature of this culture. Although individual cultivars are uncomfortable in dense shade, it is therefore necessary to carefully study each variety before planting the plant on the site.

Although the plant and frost-hardy, but if possible for winter it is necessary to cover it with lapnika. Not so to her our winters are terrible, like a cold, unstable spring. In spring, Astilba appears out of the ground early, and the icy cold very badly harms the young leaves. They, of course, grow back, but this is an additional stress for the plant. Therefore, in the spring it is recommended to cover the bushes with nonwoven material. If you follow this simple procedure, the result will be a lush and healthy astilba.

Planting, care and reproduction of this culture - the procedure is simple. Although, of course, like any plant, astilba requires attention. The soil between the bushes is well covered with pine needles, compost or other organic material.

Among the varieties of astilba can be found not one dozen snow-white, red, lilac, barely yellowish and pinkish or slightly beige. Annually breeders create modern varieties of this plant, so that the conveyor of beautiful astilba receipts into our garden will never stop.