Today, creating a beautiful flower bed on your site is not difficult. Thanks to the huge selection of flowering plants, you can arrange almost any pattern based on your own preferences. And among many plants of such a plan, the imperial hazel grouse (royal) stands out especially. He came to us from East Asia, where it grew mainly in mountainous regions. But oddly enough, the Italians were the first to notice this plant. According to scientists, this happened around the middle of the 16th century. To date, more than 12 varieties of this flower are known, and at the same time many have come down to us unchanged - in their original form.
The imperial hazel grouse for florists is a real historical value
Grouse flowers: description
Grouse (Fritillaria) is a perennial bulbous flower from the lily family. another name is the Tsar's crown. Flowers are collected in inflorescences on a powerful stem. The flower is shaped like a glass. The arrangement of inflorescences on the shoot resembles an opened umbrella.
Depending on the variety, they can be of different colors:
- yellow;
- red;
- lilac;
- green;
- white.
And also the color can be combined. Grouse blooms in the second half of May for three weeks. Grouse is a flower that cannot be overlooked in the garden. Long shoots of inflorescences immediately attract attention.
Choose a sunny landing site. The site must be protected from strong winds. They can damage the long shoots of the flower.
Plant features
In their appearance, hazel grouses resemble a miniature palm tree. Due to the unusual shape of the plant, the flower is also called the Royal Crown. At the top of a tall brown peduncle stem, a rosette of leaves and several large buds are formed. The latter hang down with an umbrella and dissolve the petals of white, yellow, crimson, orange, purple shades - monochromatic, striped, checkerboard colors.
Grouse Imperial Raddeana
Like many other perennial bulbs, hazel grouses appear in all their glory in the spring. The flowering period is the second-third decade of May, the duration is no more than three weeks.
Reference. The hazel grouses have a specific aroma. He is able to scare away pests and parasites such as shrews, mice, moles from the beds in your area.
Planting hazel grouses in the open field
Some gardeners recommend purchasing and planting flowering hazel grouse in the spring. They suggest doing this in order to be sure of the selected variety and color of the inflorescences. This method is practiced. But be prepared that your flower will wither immediately after planting in the ground.
When is it better to plant hazel grouses?
Start planting hazel grouse in late September - early October. By this time, the bulbs should have small roots. During these months, the soil is still warm, the planting material will not freeze and will be able to form a peduncle for flowering next year.
If you plant a bulb in November, then it may not please with flowering next season. It is imperative for late planting of hazel grouse to mulch the soil with peat, foliage or sawdust.
Planting hazel grouses
Planting recommendations:
- do not plant the bulb in cold and waterlogged soil;
- cover the bottom of the landing hole with sand. So you will save the bulb from decay;
- improve the composition of the soil by adding peat and compost to it;
- disinfect the planting material in a fungicide or in a solution of potassium permanganate;
- put it upside down so that moisture does not accumulate near the future peduncle when watering. Don't be afraid to do this. In the spring, the stem will turn in the right direction on its own;
- the planting depth of any bulb is two to three of its diameters;
- sprinkle the planting hole with soil and water lightly.
Landing
Gardeners prefer hazel grouse to other garden plants because of its unpretentiousness and beauty. Bulbs, consisting of several scales, contain buds, with the help of which they reproduce.
There are general rules for planting this plant:
- September-October are considered favorable months for planting hazel grouse, late planting will lead to freezing of the bulbs or lack of flowering.
- The place where the new plant is determined must be sunny, partial shade is allowed.
- Bulbs are handled with care, damage will lead to the death of the flower.
- Before landing in the ground, they are treated with a manganese solution.
- Too wet and cold soil for planting will not work, the bulbs will rot.
- Planting depth is about 12 cm for low flowers, about 20 cm for tall flowers.
- The bulbs are laid sideways in the soil, sprinkling with coarse sand.
In general, the land where the garden plant is planted should be nutritious and light. It is recommended to add peat to the prepared wells.
Grouse care
Grouse, like any culture, requires proper care. Let's consider the basic rules.
Watering
Organize regular hydration. The bulb should be kept in moist soil at all times. At the same time, do not allow the bulb to rot when planting. Even after flowering, in the absence of rain for a long time, water the soil around the bulbs twice a month.
Loosen the soil after each watering. Weeding helps the roots get oxygen and carbon dioxide from the air.
Fertilization and feeding
It is recommended to feed hazel grouses twice a season:
- Apply nitrogen fertilizer for the first time before flowering. It can be ammonium nitrate or urea. The application rate is 20-30 g per plant.
- Feed the plant a second time during flowering with potash fertilizer. Use potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate or wood ash.
How to plant hazel grouse?
The hazel grouse is dug out of the soil after flowering and drying of the leaves every year. From an adult bulb, only one large replacement bulb and several small children are formed. Therefore, it will not be possible to quickly propagate hazel grouses.
And also the bulb multiplies by dividing into scales and cutting it into pieces. In summer, planting material is stored in a warm room in sand or sawdust, at temperatures up to 30 ° C.
Diseases and pests
It must be said that the hazel grouse is resistant to fungal diseases. The hazel grouse is not exposed to viral infections at all.
What diseases are found:
- Bulb rot appear when the earth is excessively moistened, when overfeeding with nitrogen fertilizers. In this case, the onion is dug out, the damaged tissue is removed and treated with an antifungal drug (Maxim, Fundazol). Next, dry the onion and plant it in a new place.
- Fusarium - yellowing and decay of leaves and shoots. Observed during frequent rains.
- Doubling inflorescence - this anomaly can be observed at a storage temperature of the bulbs from 35 ° C.
There are also few pests in hazel grouses, thanks to its specific smell:
| Pest name | Description and fight |
| Lily beetle and onion rattle
| Description: The insect is a danger to flowers in the larval stage. They gnaw the flesh of the leaves for twenty days, feeding on the juices of the plant. Yellow damaged leaves are left behind, which dry out. Control measures:
|
| Clicker Beetle Larva (Wireworm)
| Description: One of the few insects that does not disdain the hazel grouse bulb. The wireworm eats into the bulb, makes moves in it, causes decay. The bulb becomes unfit for storage, gets sick during growth and does not bloom. Control measures:
|
Reproduction
The flower is propagated by seeds or bulbs. Both methods are good and will bloom quickly.
- The seeds are harvested as soon as the leaves of the plant turn yellow. Sowing is done in enriched soil. Two years after planting, the grown bulbs are dug up and stored in a warm, dry place.
- Bulbs of most varieties of hazel grouse increase in size over time, "babies" grow. After a couple of years, they are excavated and separated and then planted in the ground.
After flowering
After the flowers have faded and the boxes begin to dry out, the hazel grouse will delight for some time with its greenery. Then, around the beginning of July, they begin to dig up the bulbs and place them in storage. They are washed with warm water, dried and removed to a room where the temperature is not higher than 30 ° C, and a constant supply of fresh air is provided. New roots will grow back around the end of summer and the bulbs will become suitable for planting.
Reproduction of hazel grouse
Grouse reproduce in several ways: by dividing the bulb and by seeds. It is difficult to propagate hazel grouse seeds by seeds. This method is more suitable for professional cultivation of flowers for industrial purposes. In addition, it will take five to six years to wait for flowering.
The division of the bulb is carried out in several ways:
- Each year, an adult bulb will develop one large replacement bulb and several smaller ones. These children are separated and, after storage, are raised for three to four years, before flowering.
- In some varieties (Modest, Kamchatsky), the bulb consists of several scales. They are easily separated from an adult bulb and grow over a period of several years.
- Artificial division of the bulb. In the varieties Mikhailovsky and Shakhmatny, the onion consists of two fleshy scales that simply break in half. After dividing it, you need to dry it so that the wounds heal. And also, large onions of the Imperial, Edward varieties can be cut into several slices with a sharp knife. The main thing is to keep a piece of the bottom in each slice.
Description of the plant
The imperial hazel grouse (royal) is a herbaceous perennial, which is a bulbous plant. Its height can reach one and a half meters. The shape of the bulb is almost spherical, has a rather pungent odor, and its diameter is no more than 10 cm.
Lanceolate leaves are located on the stem of the plant. They sit in 3-4 whorls. The inflorescence is solitary umbellate. There are about 20 bracts above it. As you can see in the photo, the flower of the imperial hazel grouse has a bell-shaped perianth, the length of which can reach 5.5 cm.The color is orange or red, in decorative forms it is often yellow.
Bright flowers form in the leaf axils that line the plant's stem. Large buds sit, as a rule, in groups - 5-7 pieces each. In this case, flowers are not formed at the ends of the shoots - a deciduous mass grows above them.
The leaves of the imperial hazel grouse have an elongated shape, an emerald color and a glossy surface. Some varieties differ in that their leaves are arranged in two rows.
Varieties
Of the whole variety of imperial hazel grouse varieties, only a few are suitable for growing in our climatic conditions. Among them:
- "Garland Star". Plants of this variety are comparatively large, giving a powerful, strong, resistant stem. During the flowering period, flowers appear - large, bright orange in color. Unlike other varieties, this one is characterized by a luxurious crown of a large number of flowers.
Variety "Garland Star" - "Rubra". Representatives of this variety are the shortest - their height often does not exceed 70 cm.The flowers are orange or brick-colored, the petals are rather large crimson tones with barely noticeable veins on the inside. Because of this color, the plant looks very interesting and original.
Variety "Rubra" - Striped Beauty. For plants belonging to this variety, the golden color of the petals is characteristic. Bell-shaped inflorescences, consist of several flowers. Red stripes are visible on the inside and outside of the petals.
- "Raddeana". Incredibly delicate bell-shaped flowers, which can be up to 7 pieces in one inflorescence. The color of the petals is creamy yellow. This variety is distinguished by its high drought and cold resistance. A single plant can bloom for 15-20 days.
- "Lutea". During the flowering period, forms racemose inflorescences, which can contain up to 8 flowers. The buds are quite large, have a yellow color. In the zone of nectarines, a whitish border is visible, which can turn into a purple or greenish color.
Variety "Lutea"
Important! Remember that the imperial hazel grouse, despite the rather rich variety of shades, in color has its own limited spectrum - yellow-orange-red! Shades do not go beyond it. You need to know this in order not to become a victim of scammers who can offer plants with blue, purple or purple buds through online stores! Photos in this case will be simply edited!
Grouse after flowering
When to dig out hazel grouses?
- Cut off the peduncle immediately after flowering, unless you intend to get seeds from the plant.
- Leave the leaves to dry.
- In July, cut off the entire ground part of the plant.
- Dig up the hazel grouses after all the foliage has dried.
Storing grouse bulbs
Storage tips:
- After digging, rinse off the remaining soil from the bulb, check its integrity.
- Treat it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or Maxim for disease prevention.
- Dry the onion and place in a box of sand or sawdust in a dark, warm place.
- Inspect the planting stock for rot and insects once a week.
Diseases.
Almost all species of hazel grouse are resistant to pests, as they emit a specific aroma that repels them. But, to any other problem, the plant reacts by stopping flowering. Grouse do not tolerate waterlogging - because of this, root rot develops. For preventive purposes, the bulbs are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) immediately before planting.
Care and cultivation of hazel grouses is not an easy task, but with the right approach, you can enjoy their beauty for many years!
Possible growing difficulties
Why did the hazel grouses turn yellow and wilted? This phenomenon is observed when hazel grouses are affected by Fusarium and leaf nematode. With fusarium, yellowing appears on the lower leaves.
Gradually, the fungus covers the entire plant, the top turns black and withers. With a leaf nematode, pale yellow spots form on the leaves, the shoots become thinner and dry out.
Why did the bulbs crumble during transplantation? This can happen with the varieties Kamchatskiy and Modestny. Their bulb consists of many scales. They can crumble into small children when planting if the adult bulb has not been inserted deeply enough.
Why are hazel grouses not blooming?
Consider the main reasons for the lack of flowering:
- Frozen in the ground in winter. The reason for this phenomenon is that the bulbs were not immersed deeply enough in the soil during transplantation, or the winter was completely without snow. You need to dig up the bulb for the summer and store it in a warm room. The room needs to be ventilated regularly.
- There is a lot of clay in the soil and the bulb is rotten. In this case, the onion must be dug up, treated with a fungicide, dried and planted in another place.
- A small baby is planted with a diameter of up to 5 cm. Such a bulb will grow in mass for the first three years. All that remains is to wait and care for her.
- Very cold summer. The flower stalk, laid in the fall, froze out during growth.
- Incorrect flat planting of the bulb. It must be planted at an angle of 90 ° so that the bottom is directed downward.
- For several years, the bulb has not been dug out for the summer. In this case, the large flowering bulb will split into smaller bulbs and become smaller. It is necessary to dig up the hazel grouse bulbs every two to three years.
- The peduncle was not cut off after flowering. The bulb spends all its energy on the ripening of the seeds, and not on the setting of the peduncle.
Learn more about the reasons why the hazel grouse does not bloom from the video:
Description, features
A perennial plant that propagates using seeds or bulbs. Their structure is curious, since it does not have an upper cover and literally consists of many scales.
If you damage them, it will lead to the death of Grouse.
Some gardeners prefer to call the plant the tree of paradise because of the external resemblance to a lush palm tree. The flowers are drooping, differ in different shades, can be collected in groups or be arranged one by one.
Gardeners consider this plant to be necessary on the site, since, in addition to beauty, it also has benefits. It is believed that the smell emanating from the flower effectively expels the mole and bear. Some gardeners, planting it around the perimeter of the site, are trying to protect themselves from rodents.
Varieties of hazel grouse
All varieties of hazel grouse can be divided into several large groups, which include many varieties.
Hazel grouse
Other names are meleagris, variegated hazel grouse. This is a group of hazel grouses up to 35cm tall. The color of the petals resembles a checkerboard. Flowers are single bells bent downward.
Varieties:
- Alba and Aphrodite are varieties with white petals;
- Artemis - burgundy flowers with green color;
- Jupiter - large, deep red inflorescences.
Alba
Aphrodite
Artemis
Hazel grouse
Another name is imperial curly-haired. The size of the shoots is up to 1 meter. The bulb is large, with an unpleasant odor. Includes about 20 varieties. Flowers are arranged in a group around the stem.
Varieties:
- Aurora - 60cm, orange-scarlet petals;
- Lutea - up to 80cm, light yellow buds;
- Lutea maxima - up to 15 m, rich yellow inflorescences, consist of six buds;
- Rubra - 60 cm, dark, almost brown buds;
- Rubra maxima - the flower reaches 2 meters in height, the inflorescences are of a deep red color;
- Sulferino - orange flowers. Most often found on sale;
- Garland star - the petals are orange, the stem is very powerful.
Aurora
Lutea
Rubra
Rubra Maxima
Sulferino
Other species and varieties
Other species of hazel grouse that can be found on the plots:
- Persian - the only representative of the Theresa group. Peduncle height - up to 80 cm. Flowers are located at a distance from each other, on one shoot up to 30 pieces. The color of the flowers is almost black. The leaves are blue-gray.
- Russian... Plant growth - up to 40 cm. One shoot produces 3 - 4 flowers, brown-purple color. The upper leaves are in the form of tendrils, with which the hazel grouse clings to neighboring plants. A rare species, listed in the Red Book of Russia.
- Kamchatka... This group includes two varieties - Wayne Roderick (brown petals) and Limelight (green flowers). Plant height - up to 60 cm. The bulb of this group of hazel grouses is considered edible.It was eaten by the Indian tribes of North America. In appearance, the scales of the bulb resemble rice. So that the onion does not taste bitter, it was soaked in water and then dried.
- Uva Vulpis (Assyrian view) - up to 60 cm, the outer side of the petals is brown, and the inner side is olive;
- Mikhailovsky - low grade up to 20 cm. Inflorescences - burgundy with a yellow edge.
Persian
Russian
Kamchatka
Mikhailovsky
Uva Vulpis
Other varieties commonly found on sale:
- Akmopetala (needle-leaved) - narrow leaves are green-burgundy petals.
- Assyrian - green-flowered variety.
- Davis and Gusikh - dwarf varieties up to 15 cm.
- Pontic - the size of the shoots is up to 30 cm, the inflorescences are pale green with a brown edge.
Diseases and pests
The growing period of spectacular hazel grouses is very short, so they rarely get sick, unlike the rest of the bulbous culture. But still, there are a number of pests that flower growers may encounter.
Pathogens to watch out for:
- Onion cracker. It can bring a lot of trouble, they eat the foliage, which is why the plant simply dies. You can get rid of this insect by spraying. For this, a remedy that is used against the Colorado potato beetle is suitable.
- Rust. It is very simple to understand that the flowers are affected by this disease - the foliage of the vegetation begins to turn yellow. An urgent treatment is required here, for this a solution of biofungicides is being prepared.
- Rot. Another common disease that occurs when growing hazel grouses. As a rule, the reason is waterlogging of the soil, as well as clay soil. In addition, rot often appears due to improper preparation of the planting pit. In the case when the root neck of the flower begins to lose its elasticity, it is urgently necessary to dig out the seedling, and then treat the bulb with charcoal and fungicides.
And if a tick attacked the plant, then it is extremely difficult to cope with this pest. Large beetles can be removed by hand, but small ones live in the rhizome. They gnaw through its shell and penetrate into the very bulb. To save such a flower most often does not work. It must be dug up and burned. And do not plant new shoots in this place for several years, otherwise history will repeat itself.
Colored hazel grouses are very popular with Russian gardeners. Firstly, they look very impressive in flower beds, secondly, they tolerate winter perfectly, and thirdly, they do not require complex and painstaking care.
Flowers hazel grouse from rodents
There is an opinion that the hazel grouse bulbs and their shoots are able to scare off mice, moles, shrews from the garden. Indeed, the onion of the Persian, Edward and Imperial varieties has a pungent garlic smell.
Some gardeners are trying to protect the planted tulips, lilies, placing hazel grouses around the perimeter of the flower bed. It is difficult to say how justified this action is. But, it is known for sure that the bulbs of the hazel grouses themselves are not eaten by rodents and are bypassed.
Mr. Summer resident warns: mistakes that will prevent the flowering of hazel grouse
Some gardeners do not wait for the hazel grouse to bloom and this is due to several common reasons:
- cool and humid summer promotes decay of the bulbs (they are heated and dried naturally);
- small bulbs (if the size is less than 5 cm, there will be no flowering, the plant is gaining strength);
- growing in one place (they begin to divide and do not bloom, in order to avoid this, they dig up and store them before the autumn planting);
- wrong landing depth;
- unsuitable soil (arid, not enriched land is not the best place for flowers);
- winter with a small amount of snow (lack of snow cover leads to freezing).
In order for the plant to bloom and please the eye every year, you need to follow the rules of planting and care. They do not require much effort, but the garden will acquire extraordinary beauty.
Grouse flower in landscape design and compositions
Grouse looks interesting in a flower garden as a single culture and in plantings in a group. There are many options for planting a hazel grouse in a flower garden.
Let's consider a few of them:
- In the vicinity of late-flowering perennials - phlox, peonies, lilies, which with their shoots will mask its dying leaves.
- Low-growing varieties are suitable for planting on alpine slides. They are placed next to ground cover flowers, which will serve as a good backdrop for bright hazel grouses.
- A flowerbed of bulbs on the lawn. Use tulips, daffodils, hyacinths for compositions.
In summer, an empty space is filled with flowering annuals:
- gatsania;
- petunia;
- alissum.
The nuances of growing
Growing hazel grouses in open flower beds requires compliance with some rules, this is the only way to get abundant and annual flowering. Experienced agronomists recommend:
- It is best to plant the bulbs in the fall, the ideal time is late October or early September. But it is important to do this before the onset of the first frost, since the plant must have time to take root.
- After planting, it is imperative to mulch the soil. Otherwise, there is a great risk that the roots will simply freeze out.
- So that the planting material does not rot, it should be processed. Usually, potassium permanganate is used for this, which is pre-diluted with water. Biofungicides are also good. But after that, the flower bulbs need to be given time to dry, especially if the planting is carried out at sub-zero temperatures.
- Crushed charcoal is added to the planting hole, it will additionally protect the plant from possible problems, including pests.
- If stunted species are planted, then the hole should be made about 11 cm deep, for tall ones - more, about 15-18 cm.
As for the location, the flowers feel best in the sun. Although they will not die in a semi-shady area, the flowering will not be so abundant. It is also important to consider that hazel grouses do not like heavy acidified soils, especially if there is a close occurrence of underwater waters.
The main difficulties
In the process of growing, gardeners can face various problems. For example, in hazel grouse, leaves may turn yellow and wither. This problem occurs when infected with Fusarium or leaf nematode. Fungicides (Fitosporin) and proper care are saved from fungal infection.
Improper care
With an excess or lack of nitrogen in the soil, the leaves may turn yellow. In case of waterlogging of the soil, the bulbs will begin to rot. If the plant lacks moisture, it can wilt. It is important to apply sufficient fertilizer to the soil and water hazel grouses occasionally (once a week), especially in drought.
Freezing
If the bulb freezes in winter, the plant may not bloom in the spring. This usually happens if the bulb was planted shallow in the fall, and the surface was not mulched and covered with snow. It is important to bury adult bulbs 30 centimeters into the ground. Young, planted near the surface, the children are sprinkled on top with a thick layer of spruce branches or straw.
Transfer
It is advisable to plant the bulb in loose, loamy or sandy loam soil. If the soil is heavy and clayey, the bulb will start to rot. In this case, it needs to be dug up and transplanted to a new place. The transplant is carried out only in the fall (in September). The dug out onion is dried all summer. Roots may appear on it. They should not be deleted.
Two weeks before the transplant, the earth is prepared. The soil is dug up and fertilized with organic matter. A shallow but wide hole (30x40 centimeters) is made in the ground. The bottom of the hole is sprinkled with sand. An onion is carefully placed in the hole, a peg is inserted and sprinkled with earth.
Onion rattle or lily beetle
These are insects that feed on leaves, stems, buds, hazel grouse flowers.Gnaw leaves from the edges, gnaw holes in them. Can spoil daffodils, lilies, move to onions. They are somewhat similar to each other. Both beetles have bright colors - orange or red. Insects crack loudly when they see danger. They can fall to the ground and turn over on their back, against the background of dark soil they are not so easy to notice.
These are the grouse grouse's worst enemies. Spraying with insecticides (Iskra M, Aktellik) will save them from them. Usually 5 milliliters of the drug is diluted in 5 liters of water and sprayed with the plant solution.
general information
Breeders have bred many varieties of fritillaria, or hazel grouse, differing in many ways.
Many of them are named after the gods - Aphrodite, Alba, Jupiter, Artemis, etc. In total, there are about twenty different forms of plants with a high stem and large hanging flowers. Despite their amazing beauty, hazel grouses are extremely unpretentious. Any novice gardener can easily grow them in his flower bed. In our country, the imperial hazel grouse is the most common. A photo of the flower of this plant surprises with its unearthly beauty and exotic appearance, reminiscent of a royal crown. The people call this amazing variegated flower simply "pockmarked". The ancestors of this plant came to Russia from Turkey back in 1580. Grouse quickly spread and won the love of European gardeners. Today, breeders have presented about twenty species of this amazing culture. And one of them is the imperial or royal hazel grouse. This plant is often found in home gardens. Due to its unpretentiousness, it is highly valued by domestic gardeners.
Spring care
In spring, hazel grouses begin to water and apply a single dose of fertilizers (this can be a multicomponent mineral fertilizer or natural).
The rate of compound fertilization is 30 g / m², which ensures healthy development of plants and good flowering.
It is worth adding a fertilizer containing an increased dose of potassium (for example, fertilizer for tomatoes) to facilitate the recovery of bulb losses during flowering. You can feed hazel grouses until the end of May.
The crown is sensitive to spring frosts. If frost is expected, the crown is covered with straw, because it can freeze.
During flowering, you need to weed the flower bed, water the crown.
Types and varieties
Some flowers are good under tall bushes and trees, others - in a sunny meadow or in a flower garden. It is only important to choose the appropriate species, especially since now many varieties have begun to appear in garden centers and among collectors of rare plants.
Grouse imperial
One of the most popular and majestic is the imperial hazel grouse, or Turkish. A thick and strong shoot 1 meter high, and sometimes even higher, is decorated on top with a bunch of narrow leaves, like the crown of an emperor. Under this bundle hang large bell-shaped flowers of various colors - from bright red-orange to all shades of yellow. On the lower part of the shoot, narrow-lanceolate leaves are arranged in separate whorls. The shoot grows from the bottom of a large bulb, and a new bulb grows on the outside, so that when the shoot dies off, a hole forms in the center, and new buds at the bottom at the bottom.
Since the plant is powerful in order to keep it in the ground, the bulb should be planted deeply - at least 20-25 cm deep.
Flowers at the beginning of dissolution look down, and as they open, they deviate slightly to the sides along with the pedicel and ovary, and when the petals completely fall off, the ovaries continue to rise up until the formed seed pods generally “look” vertically upward.
The hazel grouse has many varieties, and they all differ in the height of the shoot or the color of the flowers:
- Rubra - with orange,
- Lutea - with yellow, etc.
There are varieties with variegated leaves - with a golden border around the edges - Aureomarginata.
There are recommendations that because of a hole in the bulb, where moisture can accumulate, it should be planted sideways, but this is not supported by all growers. It is believed that it is easier to prepare well-drained soil for planting, then the water will be well absorbed through the spongy bottom of the bulbs and rotting will not occur. On heavy clay soils, when growing a flower, it is imperative to add sand and compost soil. It propagates by separating daughter bulbs. The seed method is more often used in industrial plant production. Bulb formation is a rather long process, flowering occurs after a few years.
Hazel grouse
Among the large-sized fritillaria, the Persian hazel grouse stands out for its unusualness - on a fairly high stem, a huge number of drooping bell-shaped flowers, smaller in size than those of the imperial one. Most often on sale there is a plant with dark purple flowers, but there are varieties with pale greenish or yellowish flowers. The flower is extremely thermophilic, prefers a sunny location, without digging and warming the bulbs next year it will not bloom. For the winter, plantings must be mulched high with rotted humus or compost.
Hazel grouse
One of the most famous species that gave the name to the entire genus is fritillaria, i.e. chessboard and is Chess hazel grouse. Its drooping bell-shaped flowers have a checkerboard pattern on their petals in a variety of colors:
- pinkish
- purple
- yellowish
- white and
- greenish.
This pattern is found in many other species of this group. In Russia, the plant is called hazel grouse for the pattern, as on the feathers of these birds.
The height of the plant is usually 50-5 cm, the bulb is small on a thin, but strong shoot, long narrow leaves and, as a rule, a single flower, less often two. This species is one of the most stable in our climate, as it loves moisture-consuming land and is winter-hardy. There is no need to dig it out annually to dry it, but only to seat the children every 4-5 years. The plant looks very beautiful and delicate as clumps of one color or two contrasting colors.
Grouse has varieties:
- with pure white flowers Alba, Artemis;
- Mars - with purple flowers;
- Pink Evelein - with pinkish.
Grouse Mikhailovsky
One of the most spectacular miniature species. Its dark purple, with a bluish bloom, the petals of single bell-shaped flowers end in a bright yellow graceful limb. Despite its high resistance to our climate, it is advisable to dig it up and warm it up for better flowering. It gives little children, so it is more often propagated by sowing seeds. Has varieties of different heights, best suited for rockeries and rock gardens.
Although the species diversity of fritillaria is huge and they are all very beautiful, it is quite difficult to find other varieties on sale, they are often sold by individual collectors. The conditions for their maintenance are very different, so it is advisable to know the species in order to determine the requirements for agricultural technology.
But we are lucky - the most beautiful can grow successfully in our unpredictable climate, although they require attention and a little effort to care for.
Tip: during the regrowth of shoots, especially in prefabricated flower beds with a large number of plant species, put some pegs, since it is sometimes very difficult to find the place where the hazel grouse grows after the end of the growing season - the dry shoot and leaves quickly separate and disappear. A peg will help you know exactly where the bulb is sitting.
Does hazel grouse help from moles in the garden
Iris care after flowering - when to prune the leaves
Many gardeners are concerned about the problem of moles in their backyard. Most moles prefer loose, fertile soil. There are many remedies that favorably solve this problem. You can get rid of living creatures in this way - grow hazel grouse in the garden.Moles do not tolerate the smell of the Imperial hazel grouse. To scare off moles, you need to grow a plant around the entire perimeter of the site. The hazel grouse has a specific smell of bulbs, which the mole does not like. It will take several weeks, if not months, to completely get rid of these small animals. Although opinions differ regarding the use of the plant to scare off moles.
Fertilization
When the danger of frost has passed, feeding is included in the care. For hazel grouse, fertilizer is prepared from the following components:
- complex mineral fertilizer for flowering plants - 1 tbsp. the spoon;
- nitrophosphate - 1 tbsp. the spoon;
- humus - 10 liters.
The resulting composition is distributed over the surface of the soil with a layer of about 3 cm. It is undesirable to fertilize perennial hazel grouses by the foliar method. From this, the leaves can lose their decorative appearance, becoming covered with spots.
Grouse in landscape design
At the beginning of flowering, potash fertilizers and wood ash will be useful to hazel grouses. After the petals wither, the flowers will again need to be paid attention and fed - with superphosphate and potassium sulfate. This technique contributes to the formation of a healthy bulb for future reproduction.
Despite the fact that hazel grouses do not bloom for long, knowing the flowering periods of various varieties, they are successfully used in landscape design to create a continuously blooming flower bed. And for the flowers to be bright, large, fragrant, it is important to follow the fertilization scheme and not forget the rules for plant transplantation.
Reproduction methods of fritillaria: seeds and children
Unfortunately, it is not so easy to propagate the imperial hazel grouse, but this is because its bulbs are very reluctant to give children: you can dig up the bulbs for several years in a row after flowering and not find any divisions.
However, there is a certain way to stimulate the reproduction of hazel grouse bulbs: after you dig them up and dry them, you need to inflict mechanical damage, that is, slightly cut their bottom with a knife, into which you can additionally insert a coal so that the crack does not close. After you plant such a bulb in the fall, the likelihood of the formation of children will increase significantly.
By the way! In order for the baby bulbs to bloom, they need to be grown for another 3-4 years.
Of course, you can try to propagate and grow hazel grouse from seeds, but you will have to wait a long time, at least 5 years, and more often they bloom only for 6-7 years. To do this, after flowering, you need to leave a couple of inflorescences so that they form seed pods, and seeds ripen in them.
Next, you need to immediately sow more seeds into the soil, because their germination is very low. Next year, a grass-like plant with only one leaf will appear. After another year (when a small onion forms), the plant can already be dug up (kept warm and dry for a couple of months) and transplanted.
Video: how to propagate hazel grouses
Planting a flower hazel grouse
At the end of the growing period, the flower bulbs must be dug out of the ground and subsequently stored in a dry room with good circulation of fresh air, until root shoots appear from them. They are the characteristic indicator of the optimal time for planting. This happens most often at the end of summer.
The bulbs of the "royal crown" do not have integumentary scales for protection and therefore there is a danger of their drying out. In view of this, you should not purchase them in late autumn, because there is a high probability that they are overdried and will not give growth.
Therefore, if it was not possible to plant at the appointed time, then you can place the onion in a container with moistened peat and leave it in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment. The latest time for planting is considered the end of September, it is not worth planting later, since there will be no flowering. It is recommended to rinse the flower bulbs in a manganese solution before planting, then lightly roll them in chopped charcoal.
In order to plant hazel grouses, it is important to pre-prepare the proposed plot of land. To begin with, it is important to dig it up well, adding a small amount of sand, peat and humus to the soil, it is better to do this without fail regardless of the quality of the soil. The depth of the planting hole should be about thirty centimeters, a small layer of sand or wet peat is poured onto the bottom. After that, a bulb is placed in this composition, positioning it so that the bottom looks down, while it is important to carefully correct the root processes, and then sprinkle it with earth.
Features of hazel grouse
Such plants are outwardly similar to a small palm tree, at the top of which there are spectacular flowers. They are often referred to as the “tree of paradise”. The bulbs include several fleshy and relatively wide scales, which are updated every year. There are no integumentary scales on the bulbs, and therefore, if handled carelessly, they can be very easily injured. On the ground leafy stem, there is a large number of oblong-lanceolate or narrow-linear leaf plates, which are scattered or whorled. Hanging flowers can be single or part of a panicle or umbellate inflorescence, which look very impressive due to the rich color of the perianths of purple, red, yellow or white. These plants are ephemeroids, at the base of any of the leaf plates there is a nectary, which is a round, oval or triangular depression. The fruit is a hexagonal capsule, inside of which there are many seeds; it can be wingless or winged.
How to choose planting material in the store
Buying a hazel grouse bulb in a store, in fact, is the acquisition of a pig in a poke, because what kind of flower will be possible, we see only from the picture and from the seller's stories.
Let's try to protect ourselves as much as possible from choosing a low-quality bulb. To do this, you need to pay attention to its size - you should choose large samples. In addition, they should not show signs of any disease, and they should not be lethargic.
In the center there should be a hole in which it is possible to make out last year's peduncle.
It is not advisable to acquire them in late autumn, since there is a high probability that nothing will grow.
Description of the flower
Novice flower growers usually know only imperial hazel grouse with a "crown" (therefore imperial) of orange flowers and, perhaps, chess hazel grouse. In recent years, in the markets, you can find the imperial hazel grouse bulb with flowers of white, pink, lilac and even blue color. In fact, he cannot have such colors, only two are widespread: orange-brick and yellow. In Iran, there is a species with bright red flowers. There are other albino plants in nature, the flowers of which do not have a coloring pigment. Such specimens are found in many species. In nature, there is a Russian white hazel grouse.
Pros and cons
The hazel grouses are much inferior to tulips in terms of showiness and the number of varieties. Then they fade very quickly, by the end of May, their shoots dry up and there is an empty space on the site where the summer plants have to be planted. This moment stops me a little. But this flower is good because among them there are many small species, from five to fifteen centimeters, which are ideal for alpine slides.
Preparing for landing
Planting hazel grouses in the open field is preferable in a place well protected from drafts. Areas well lit by the sun and partial shade are acceptable. Soil quality needs to be investigated. The soil should be loose and fertile.
Grouse Chess
On heavy, poorly aerated soils, measures are taken to improve the drainage of the earth. For this, various leavening agents are used: river sand, humus. The last component is an excellent fertilizer for hazel grouses. It will need about 10 kg / m2.
Reference. High standing groundwater or stagnant moisture in the soil harm the bulb. Such conditions can be one of the reasons why hazel grouses do not bloom for a long time.
Accommodation in the country
Grouse prefer warm, semi-shady places in the garden. They look good in spring flower beds, where the imperial hazel grouse, up to 1 m high, can play the role of a seasonal dominant. Impressive hazel grouses are beautiful along garden paths, in spring ridges with crested grouses, muscari, anemones. Low species: Mikhailovsky hazel grouse and yellow hazel grouse are harmonious in rocky gardens. Many hazel grouses are used for forcing, cutting and in container culture.
When and how to land
The best time for this is early or mid-fall., this process should not be carried out later, as the flowers may not grow or bloom. Before planting, the bulbs should be disinfected with a manganese solution.
In order for the flower to develop correctly and feel comfortable on the site, it is important to correctly plant it. It is better to do this in the fall. Planting the imperial hazel grouse should be done as follows:
- Choose a place so that the sun's rays can easily penetrate it.
- The soil must be warm and not too moist, otherwise the bulbs will rot.
- The site must be dug up and a little sand added, it is also recommended to mix peat or humus.
- How deep to plant can be determined by multiplying the length of the bulb by 3.
- The bottom of the hole is covered with sand, after which the bulb is laid and covered with soil.
Autumn care, wintering
In Siberia, in the Urals and even in the Moscow region, to protect against freezing before the onset of winter, it is worth covering the planting site with mulch from bark or leaves and additionally covering it with spruce branches.
You can also cover the soil with rotted manure for the winter. The manure will protect the bulb from freezing during snowless winters and reduce fluctuations in soil temperature.
When transferring pots of hazel grouses to a warm room, it is important that the storage temperature of the bulbs does not exceed 20 ° C.
Flower names, spread in nature
The Latin name of the genus Fritillaria (Fritillaria) translates as "glass" and indicates the shape of a flower that really resembles a bowl or vessel for wine. ,
In nature, hazel grouses grow throughout the temperate zone of both hemispheres, they are found in the meadow and in the steppe, on the stony slopes of the foothills and on the forest edges of Europe, Asia and North America.
The plant got its name not at all in honor of the famous feathered, but because of the variegated color of flowers, especially the hazel grouse.
But the most important in the family, of course, is the imperial hazel grouse, which is also popularly called the royal crown, the paradise tree and Mary's tears.
Watering and feeding
It is necessary to cut the flowers of the imperial hazel grouse so that part of the leaves must remain on the stem. Bulbous maintenance involves moisturizing the soil only in dry weather. The imperial hazel grouse is no exception. Watering this plant can be minimized by covering the soil around it with mulch. Otherwise, regular waterlogging of the bulbs can lead to their rotting and to the death of hazel grouse. But in dry summer, the bushes need to be watered even after the stem dies. To prevent the onions from drying out in the ground, it will be enough to supply moisture twice a month.
After the last frosts, the imperial hazel grouse should be fed with a special mixture of humus, complex fertilizer and nitrophosphate. At the initial stage of flowering, the plant needs potassium and wood ash.And after flowering, to obtain healthy planting material, top dressing is performed with superphosphate or potassium sulfate.
The legend of the hazel grouse
The last of the names is associated with an amazing legend about the betrayal of Jesus Christ.
It seems that before the flowers of hazel grouse were blooming only white corollas, looking into the sky.
When they led past the captive Christ, he looked at the flowers with such sadness that they immediately blushed with shame and lowered their imperial crowns down.
His mother Maria, upon learning that her son had been betrayed to be crucified, sobbed inconsolably and bitterly. And the flower cried with her, which is why drops of nectar are still dripping so abundantly down to the ground.
Gourmet varieties
This perennial in most cases is represented by varieties of imperial hazel grouse - when the flowers are collected in buds at the crown and decorated with a bunch of leaves (crown).
The most attractive variety in all respects is Maxima Rubra: voluminous flowers - up to 5-7 cm long bud, bright orange with red hints and purple streaks... The cultivar is quite tall - up to 1.2 m in height. Maxima is considered a frost-resistant hazel grouse - tolerates up to -30 ° C, undemanding to soils. Will delight you with flowers in April.
The flowers of the hazel grouse by Maxim Rubr have a not very pleasant musky smell.
Variety Aurora - buds of a bright piercing carrot color, no more than 4 cm long, but by itself this cultivar is able to drive out the stem up to 1.5 m. Above, the peduncle, like most other varieties of imperial hazel grouse, is crowned with a light green bunch of leaves - the so-called crown. Flowering starts in the 1st or 2nd decade of April.
Grouse Aurora became famous for its beauty from Moscow to Vladivostok
The yellow-flowered variety Lutea is the brightest representative of the hazel grouse of all varieties with a light color. Lutea reaches a height of 0.8-1 m, blooms in early May (in the middle zone of our country).
Grouse Lutea - solar messenger of spring
Grouse Akmopetala is an amazing variety of hazel grouse in all respects. The flowers of the cultivar are drooping, pale burgundy with green markings (length 3 cm). The height of the Akmopetala variety does not exceed 0.4–0.5 m. The plant grows well in the shade.
Grouse Akmopetala - Mr.
Grouse Peach is called a funeral flower. But rather, it is mysterious: violet-gray small funnel-shaped buds densely cover the stem of a tall plant (height up to 1.1 m). Peach blooms in a temperate continental climate in early May.
Grouse Peach became famous for its unusual shades of petals
Meleagris Alba is a low-growing hazel grouse (up to 0.3 m), one of the most frost-resistant. This cultivar perfectly takes root in the conditions of Eastern Siberia, the Urals, in the North-West of Russia. The peculiarity of the variety is snow-white small bells with greenish tan marks. Meleagris prefers drained fertile soil and periodic moisture, blooms in late May - early June.
Grouse Meleagris Alba - tenderness itself
Grouse imperial Striped Beauty has peach-colored buds with expressive lines of brick-burgundy tones on the petals. The height of the variety is about 0.9 m, the flowers are collected in bunches at the crown, like other varieties of the imperial hazel grouse. This is a May variety.
Grouse Stripe Beauty has buds decorated with stripes
Further care
In the spring, a shelter is removed from young plantings. They are not afraid of morning frosts, and insulation will slow down the cultivation of a flower. If the grower notices that after the temperature has dropped, the leaves have bent to the ground, there is no need to panic. As soon as the sun goes out, the stems will stretch up.
Hazel grouse in the flowerbed
Leaving involves loosening the soil, but you should not rush with this agricultural technique. Growing from a bulb is a complex biological process, during which young roots sometimes appear close to the surface of the earth and are easily damaged.
Hazel grouses do not need a garter like many other tall flowers. He has a fairly strong stem.But the roots are quite sensitive, especially to dry weather. To prevent moisture evaporation, the soil in the flower beds is mulched.
Why isn't the crown blooming?
Crown bulbs with a circumference of 20 cm, stored in summer at a temperature of about 9 ° C, do not bloom, but they give quite a lot of babies. In order for the bulbs to bloom luxuriantly, it is recommended to store them in the summer at a temperature of about 25 ° C. For the same reason, wet and cool summers can cause poor or no flowering.
There are several reasons for the lack of flowers in hazel grouse:
- too light barren land;
- poor fertilization;
- acidic soil;
- high plant density;
- planting trees and shrubs in the root system;
- large fluctuations in temperature in the soil next to the bulb when planting too shallow;
- storing the dug out bulbs at too high a temperature.
Interesting Facts
Many gardeners pay attention to the fact that the planted flowers of the imperial hazel grouse, whose photos are admirable, help scare off garden pests that prefer an underground lifestyle: mice, moles, bears and others.
Planting plants around the perimeter of potato beds helps scare off even Colorado beetles and wireworms. Scientists believe that this fact is due to the unpleasant smell of fresh horse manure, which is emitted by the planted hazel grouse bulbs.
Features of cultivation
When preparing a seat for hazel grouses, it is important to remember: they do not tolerate stagnant water, because these are steppe and mountain plants! Repeated freezing and thawing of waterlogged soil in early spring and late autumn destroys their bulbs! Therefore, in an area where groundwater is located close, before planting, it is imperative to make drainage with a layer of 20 - 30 cm from crushed stone, broken brick or coarse sand. We prepare the top layer of the soil substrate with fertile, loose, well-flavored leaf humus (preferably from linden or hazel).
So, the planting site was prepared, purchased bulbs ready to bloom this spring or flowering plants in pots. Next, we plant only the bulbs. Planting depth of large bulbs 15 cm, distance between plants 35 - 45 cm; for small bulbs - 10 cm, the distance between plants is 15 cm. We bury the plant in the ground in the garden right with the pot and admire the flowering. We will plant it in a permanent place at the end of August (in the southern regions - in May), when the leaves naturally fade and turn yellow. It is then that the very tender point of growth of the bulb will no longer be so vulnerable.
Low-growing hazel grouses: p. Russian, p. chess, p. yellow is hardy enough and can winter in central Russia without shelter. Tall species: r. imperial, p. Persian (F. persica) require shelter with dry foliage, spruce branches.
When breeding hazel grouses, it is important to remember: cultivated species and forms are propagated by baby bulbs, and wild ones - by seeds. Plants from large bulbs bloom in a year, from small ones - after 2 years, small-bulbous species from seeds - for 4 - 5 years, large-bulbous ones from seeds - for 7 - 8 years. Interesting: the hazel grouse bulbs have an unpleasant, pungent odor, which is believed to scare off moles.
It is important to remember : hazel grouse seeds do not tolerate drying out, so they are sown immediately after harvest. Better yet, bury a box that is ripe and already cracked at the seams by 1 - 2 cm into the soil. Further, it is necessary to keep this place moist, avoiding waterlogging! The soil around them is loose, during the growing season we carry out 1 - 2 top dressing with full mineral fertilizer.
