Armeria is one of the most famous species of the Pig family. The ornamental plant Armeria will delight any gardener with its appearance and unpretentiousness. The name "armeria" translated from Celtic means "living along the sea." Herbaceous plants for open ground of this species tolerate cold and frost well. This plant is also found in the wild. It grows naturally in North America and Europe. Armeria is a perennial plant that consists of many small flowers on a long, erect stem among bright green pointed leaves, collected in one rosette. Colors range from pink to white. The flowers of this plant are undersized, reach a height of 20-40 cm, and during the flowering period up to 60 cm. The special arrangement of flowers on the peduncle makes it look like a ball. Today we will tell you all about herbaceous plant - armeria.
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Botanical description [edit | edit code]
Herbaceous plant or shrub with numerous stems up to 2 m in height. The rhizome is shortened, with yellow flesh, the lateral roots diverge around a meter, reaching a depth of 40 cm. The stems are lilac, cylindrical, smooth, short-branched in the upper part. Young shoots are glandular, pubescent. Adventitious roots may form in the lower part of the stem.
Leaves are opposite, spatulate, 5-8 cm long and 3-7.5 cm wide, with a serrate-toothed edge, pointed end, with a blunt base, dark green, sometimes slightly pubescent. Petioles 2-4 cm long, brown.
Baskets 5-6 mm in diameter, collected in corymbose common inflorescences up to 10 cm in diameter at the ends of the branches. Flowers (10) 50-70 per basket, corolla tubular, five-lobed, white.
Achenes are 1.5-2 mm long, blackish, pentagonal and penta-ribbed in cross-section, with a white tuft of 10 setae about 4 mm long, often easily falling off.
Deadly poisonous plant for horses, inedible for cattle.
Types of ageratum: photo
Distribution [edit | edit code]
The natural area of the plant is Central Mexico.
In the 19th century, it was introduced to many regions of the world as an ornamental plant, now it is widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia, Nigeria, Australia, New Zealand, and on many islands of the Pacific Ocean.
Ageratin was introduced to Australia around 1900, began to naturalize in the 1930s, rapidly expanding its range in the following decades.
By 1935, ageratin was occasionally noted as feral in California.
Armeria is one of the most famous species of the Pig family. The ornamental plant Armeria will delight any gardener with its appearance and unpretentiousness. The name "armeria" translated from Celtic means "living along the sea." Herbaceous plants for open ground of this species tolerate cold and frost well. This plant is also found in the wild. It grows naturally in North America and Europe.Armeria is a perennial plant that consists of many small flowers on a long, erect stem among bright green pointed leaves, collected in one rosette. Colors range from pink to white. The flowers of this plant are undersized, reach a height of 20-40 cm, and during the flowering period up to 60 cm. The special arrangement of flowers on the peduncle makes it look like a ball. Today we will tell you all about herbaceous plant - armeria.
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Ageratum as an element of landscape design
In landscape design, the ageratum looks very good as a background for flower beds, flower beds and works with perennial flowers. Low-growing varieties of ageratum are used to form decorative borders, and tall ones are grown for cutting.
Ageratum in landscape design
The combination of ageratum with calendula, zinnia, marigolds and other yellow-orange flowers will give a bright color to the flower bed. Ageratum is grown for landscaping balconies and is suitable for growing in flowerpots. Vases with a joint planting of ageratum and petunias will decorate the gazebos or the threshold of the house.
From the photo, the fluffy flowers of the agegatum look at us as something exotic, but in fact it is very easy to grow this culture that does not get tired of blooming. To do this, you only need to follow some simple rules, which are described above.
Popular types and varieties of armeria for growing in the garden
In gardens and flower beds, about 50 different types of armeria are grown, which differ in different stem heights, color of inflorescences and level of frost resistance. Consider the characteristics of the most popular species that gardeners use.
- Alpine armeria. This is a perennial herb that grows rapidly and forms lush clumps, reaching a height of about 15 cm. Peduncles grow up to 30 cm, the tops of which are crowned with light pink flowers collected in capitate inflorescences. The inflorescences reach about 3 cm in diameter. The leaves of the plant can withstand winter, provided that there is not severe frost. This type of Armeria includes several popular varieties: Alba - blooms with white inflorescences, Luceana - Armeria with beautiful carmine-red inflorescences, Rosea - with bright pink flowers.
- Armeria seaside. The plant is ornamental, perennial, it can reach a height of about 20 cm. In nature, this flower grows in the coastal dunes. A lush bush of bluish-green lanceolate leaves forms at the roots. Shoots or peduncles grow among the leaves, on which capitate inflorescences are formed, consisting of small mauve flowers. The plant has so many flowers that they cover the flowerbed with a dense carpet, even covering the leaves. Armeria seaside bloom begins in May and lasts only 10 days. Flowers of this species can bloom again in autumn. The main feature of the seaside armeria is the obligatory landing near the reservoir. Popular varieties include: Bloodstone - Armeria with dark red inflorescences, Louisiana - a plant with beautiful pink flowers, Elegy and Magnificent, Vindictive - with red flowers.
- Armeria is soddy. The plant is found in highland areas. It forms a dense curtain less than 15 cm in height. But the width of the bush can be 20 cm. The narrow dark green foliage is collected in dense rosettes. Inflorescences on short (about 6 cm) stems rise above it. This species blooms in July and pleases with flowers for up to 50 days. The flowering is so abundant that it is difficult to distinguish the leaves under the many inflorescences. The variety has the most capricious character. For normal development, it needs partial shade and shelter for the winter, since severe frosts can destroy this plant.
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- Bivenz Verayeti - white and pink double flowers;
- Brno - lilac double flowers.
- Armeria is bulbous.An evergreen, herbaceous perennial from 20 to 50 cm tall with pink flowers, blooms from May to July. There are varieties with white flowers. Requires an open, sunny location and well-drained soil. Frost resistant.
Reproduction
Ageratum Mexican can be grown from seeds and propagated by cuttings.
When sowing ageratum seeds, you can sow multiple seeds in a seedling cassette. The seeds are simply pressed into the ground, because light is needed for germination. When the seedling has two or three leaves, you need to remove weak shoots. Seedlings with even growth can be left to obtain a thicker bunch. When sowing into a container, a pick is required. You can dive 2-3 plants into one pot.
Reproduction of ageratum by cuttings is justified if an interesting variety was obtained. Plants made from cuttings are usually weaker, although smoother. Cuttings are planted in a substrate consisting of ¾ perlite and ¼ deoxidized peat. To obtain seedlings, you need to store the plant at a temperature of about 10 ° C in winter. In spring, 5-8 cm apical cuttings are taken. It is important to remember that the cuttings rot easily, with watering carefully, it is better to water the soil abundantly and wait until it drains. Then protect against moisture loss and do not over water. The seedlings take root quickly. When the seedlings grow, they are transplanted one by one into pots.
Choosing a place and preparing the soil for planting armeria
This plant is very fond of bright light, so it is advisable to plant Armeria in lighted areas so that the plant grows healthy and strong. An exception is turfy armeria, it can burn out under direct burning rays. It is correct to place this variety on the eastern or western slopes, or in the light lace shade of trees. Armeria needs light, well-drained, acidic soils. Stony, sandy soils are suitable for her, which are filled with a standard dose of mineral fertilizers before planting. To improve the moisture capacity of sandstones, peat is added for digging, it will also help to acidify the alkaline soil. Loam can be corrected by adding sand, perlite. On wet soils, the flower is planted on artificial embankments. At the bottom of the planting holes, an additional layer of expanded clay is poured for drainage. It is important to properly prepare the soil for the plant, because in one place the armeria will grow for 5-6 years.
Sowing ageratum seeds for seedlings
You can get an adult flowering plant from seeds. They are sown in the second half of March. The preparation of the land for cultivation will be as follows: mix the peat with sand and add humus. The components are taken in equal proportions.
Sowing seeds must be done very carefully, because their size is small. It is grown in a small box.
When planting, seeds are sown, after removing one or two centimeters of soil. When laying the seeds, we cover them with earth on top.
Growing seedlings of armeria
This planting method is especially suitable for the seaside variety: Before planting, the seeds are soaked in a nutrient solution for several hours. The earth is crushed about a week before the procedure, organic matter is introduced. Planting is carried out in peat pots. Planted sparsely, the seeds have good germination. When two leaves appear, the sprouts are seated. Watering should not be abundant, but moisture should be present at all times. Before planting, it is recommended to take the pots out to the balcony, loggia, yard during the day; so the sprouts will be hardened. Landing in open ground is carried out at the end of May, preferably in sunny areas, it is better not to plant flowers near fences
Reproduction of ageratum
The most common way of reproduction of ageratum is by seeds.
Growing seedlings of one-year ageratum at home will not cause difficulties. At the end of March, the seeds are sown in prepared boxes. The soil is suitable for this light, moderately nutritious.For example, a sand-peat mixture with the addition of humus in equal proportions.
Important! Ageratum seeds are very small, practically dusty. Therefore, they are not buried in the ground, but evenly distributed over the surface.
The seed boxes are covered with polyethylene and put away in a warm place for germination. After 7-10 days, the first shoots will appear, and the boxes can be put on the window. Ageratum does not tolerate excess air humidity, so you should not spray it. Watering is carried out only as the soil dries up, in moderation.
Ageratum seeds
A few weeks after the emergence of seedlings, the first true leaves will develop on the seedlings, and during this period the seedlings dive for the first time. The second pick is carried out when the young seedlings grow up a little. This time, each plant is dived into a separate container, since the further development of the seedling will be rapid.
Two weeks after the dive, it is advisable to feed the seedlings with complex mineral fertilizer.
As warm weather sets in, the seedlings are hardened by taking them out into the fresh air. Gradually, the "walk" time is increased.
Ageratum sprouts
In the case when it is required to preserve all the qualities of a rare variety of the mother bush, propagation by cuttings is possible. To do this, in the fall, the bush is sent to overwinter in a cool place, and in early spring shoots are cut off from it for cuttings. Cuttings germinate in a warm room in boxes of sand. In just a few weeks, the root system begins to develop, and after it shoots are formed.
Planting Armeria seedlings in open ground
Armeria is planted in open ground in May, small drops in temperature are not terrible for plants. The distance between the bushes for carpet planting is 15 cm, for single curtains - 30 cm. It is important not to deepen the root collar of the plant! By dividing the bush, the flower is propagated in early spring, as soon as young greenery appears on the surface of the earth. The bush is dug out in its entirety and divided into parts. The curtains are immediately planted in new areas, making sure that the divide is not too deep.
Secrets of planting a plant in a flower bed
Ageratum is an unpretentious flower for a flower bed. At the end of August, while the plant has not bloomed, you should dig out the bush completely and place it in a warm room for wintering. Prepare the soil for good rooting. To do this, you need to mix the sand with the earth and place the roots of the ageratum in this soil in the spring. At the end of spring, the plant can be planted in open soil for constant growth at a temperature of 15-20C. Thanks to the developed root system of the ageratum, the plant is not afraid of rainy weather or the sultry sun.
Sure, watering and drainage are prerequisites for growing a plant, but still ageratum is resistant to the vagaries of the weather. The main thing is to prevent frost at night when the plant is not covered by anything. You need to prepare for frost in advance: cover the ageratum with spruce branches, tyrsa, film, pieces of peat. The preserved roots of the plant will help restore the rest of the greenery if frost accidentally descends.
When seed propagation of ageratum, which is much easier for novice gardeners and amateur gardeners, it must be borne in mind that seeds keep germination for no more than 4 years. Seedlings need to be dived into cups after germination, but always in a greenhouse, until the root gets stronger for open areas.
The flower grows best on loosened soil that allows moisture to pass through, with well-fertilized soil. On chernozems with high humidity, ageratum loses its ability to bloom, and the foliage loses its color. Also, a soil with fine gravel and gray soil is not suitable for this plant.
Wells for ageratum should be located at a distance of 15 cm from each other. Before planting, water is poured into the hole and covered with humic fertilizer containing phosphorus. The place under the ageratum should be cleared of weeds and humus residues.With proper planting, the growth and flowering of ageratum will occur several times faster.
Armeria care
Armeria is an extremely unpretentious flower to care for, it survives perfectly during dry periods and in frosts down to -15 degrees, but in order for the plants to actively develop and bloom, it is necessary to take into account some of its features.
Care is the same as for other flowering plants: timely watering and feeding, destruction of weeds, the soil cover must be constantly maintained in a loose state, for longer flowering and activation of the formation of new buds, wilted inflorescences are removed.
Armeria should be watered so that there is no stagnation on the root layer of the soil. In order to avoid this, good drainage is laid before planting Armeria. The dry period Armeria is able to calmly endure. However, in hotter and drier weather, you should provide the plant with abundant watering. Some species of Armeria need to be sheltered for the winter, because they do not tolerate winter moisture well.
Armeria is demanding on the cleanliness of plantings, therefore, be sure to remove weeds and loosen the soil.
For feeding, it is best to use organic fertilizers, but if they are not available, mineral fertilizers are also suitable.
- To activate the growth of new buds and extend the flowering time, wilted inflorescences are cut off.
- Experienced gardeners recommend dividing large bushes regularly, every 3-4 years, otherwise the armeria degenerates and stops blooming.
- Armeria is quite frost-resistant and in the presence of abundant snow cover it winters well without additional shelter. But, if the winter turned out to be snowless, it is best to provide protection from frost.
Over time, the flower loses its decorative effect, so the plant is periodically divided, after 4-5 years.
One of the important steps in the care is the timely scheduled pruning. The pruning process takes place after the active flowering phase. Long stalks must be cut with secateurs, which will allow them to bloom again in one season.
Despite the high requirements for soil moisture, the plant does not tolerate moisture stagnation in the root layer. Therefore, it is advisable to make high-quality drainage on the site. Armeria is resistant to frost, can withstand up to minus 15 degrees, it tolerates dry periods relatively easily.
Care
Ageratum Mexican adapts to most soil types. To get carpet flowering, the plant will need heavy soil, too light soil should be mixed with compost, the addition of humus will better retain moisture in the substrate. Ageratum needs moisture in the soil for really intense flowering. During the summer drought, watering is required. On rich soils, a spring dose of fertilizer is sufficient. On light soils, a second dose of fertilizer is applied around mid-July. In the fall, flowering plants can be dug up and planted in pots. At home, they will bloom for a while.
For ageratum grown in a pot, the substrate should be constantly slightly moist. About 6 weeks after planting, ageratum is fed with fertilizer for flowering plants. Ideally, every second watering with half the recommended dose. When growing high varieties, experts recommend removing faded inflorescences to maintain intense flowering.
Diseases and pests of armeria
Diseases and pests usually bypass the army. But if your flower grows in insufficiently acidic soil, it can be attacked by aphids or mottled. It is better to deal with these misfortunes by radical pruning of the shoots.
Leaf spot is dangerous by slowing down or even stopping the development of a flower. It can be caused by regular flooding of the soil. If damage is found, immediately treat the bushes with fungicides.Aphid attacks help prevent preventive treatment of bushes with solutions of the following drugs: Karbofos, Kinmiks, Intavir and others. With proper care, small armeria will not lose its decorative appearance during the entire warm season. The root rosettes of the armeria will remain invariably lush and bright green.
Picking up ageratum seedlings
The fifth day, as a rule, marks itself as the day of the first shoots, and after a couple of days, still fragile stems will stretch to the sky. As soon as the stems have appeared, a heat-retaining film is removed from the mini-greenhouse.
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After the ageratum releases one or two leaves, it must be dived. Otherwise, the growing bushes will begin to interfere with each other or take an irregular shape.
It is better not to wait for the plant to grow, so the dive can be more gentle. When the flower grows, it begins to draw nutrients from the soil. This contributes to the interlacing of the roots and the death of every fifth seedling.
Do not forget that this dive is not the last one. The procedure is repeated a second time after 14-20 days after the first seedling.
Landing sites of ageratum
Ornamental culture is widely used for home and garden decoration. Most of all grows in a flower bed. When several varieties are planted, a beautiful flower meadow is obtained. The combination of plant varieties with red and yellow flowers of other cultures, elegantly and effectively decorates any flower bed. Also used for curbs and alpine slides.
To create expressive flower arrangements, ageratum is grown with other decorative flowers: zinnia, velvet, calendula and many others.
A light-loving plant requires a lot of sun and space. Planting in a shady place is not suitable for flowers, they stretch more in height, while losing their aesthetic appearance. For planting, choose a soil fertile and neutral in chemical composition. Rotted manure is used as fertilizer, which, unlike fresh manure, does not burn the roots of plants. Drainage is done on poorly ventilated soil to avoid rotting of the root system. For this, a layer of gravel is laid under the top layer of the earth.
The best varieties of ageratum are rightfully popular and in demand among many gardeners. An unpretentious plant, with timely planting and proper care, endows all its connoisseurs with an abundance of bright colors.
Planting ageratum
Planting ageratum in the ground is carried out when the night frosts remain behind. The site is chosen protected from drafts and brightly lit by the sun - if you plant the ageratum in the shade, the shoots will begin to stretch out, and instead of compact bushes, you will grow disheveled bushes that bloom somehow. The soil is preferable well-drained, nutritious, light and not acidic, but ageratum is not capricious in this matter. Before planting, thoroughly loosen the soil, dig holes at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other and plant the seedlings at the same depth as they grew in seedling boxes or pots. Ageratum will bloom in two months.
In the photo: Ageratum in the garden
The use of ageratum in garden decoration
Modern varieties are distinguished by a wide variety of bush shapes and inflorescence shades. Thanks to this, it can be considered universal and can be used both in single and in group flower arrangements. For example, marigolds, zinnia or calendula can be planted nearby (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Using flowers in garden design
In addition, ageratum can be used not only for decorating flower beds and borders, but also for decorating balconies, since this compact shrub can be easily grown in pots or boxes.
From the video you will learn how to plant and grow ageratum in more detail.
Features of the
The garden flower is directly related to the aster family. More than 60 varieties of this flower are known. It is grown for decorating plots, flower beds and other flower beds.
Ageratum Gauston
The plant has a variety of inflorescences: white, blue, burgundy, pink, blue and others. In its natural environment, the plant lives in the vastness of South and Central America. In our country, only a few varieties are widespread - Gauston's ageratum and Mexican. In nature, ageratum grows like a perennial. When growing a flower in conditions far from its native environment, protection from frost and shelter for the winter is required.
Important! Distinctive properties of ageratum are long flowering and long retention of shape after cutting.
Ageratum can be of different colors
Protection from pests and diseases
Although ageratum is unpretentious, it can be susceptible to various diseases. With excess moisture and cold air, root rot affects it. Fighting her is pointless. Affected plants are dug up and removed to prevent the disease from spreading further.
Also, the flower can be affected by the cucumber mosaic. Shoots become glassy, yellow spots appear on the leaf plates. The buds do not open. The diseased parts of the plant must be removed. And treat the rest with a fungicide or decoction of tansy, wormwood.
Common ageratum pests:
- spider mite;
- nematode;
- whitefly.
You can destroy parasites using insecticides:
- Intavir;
- Aktara;
- Karbofos.
Open planting
It is used quite rarely. Plants sown in this way are characterized by poor germination. Plants planted without seedlings suffer from diseases more often, and bloom much later.
On a note! Of course, it is better not to use this growing method, but it is still worth knowing about it.
Ageratums grown from seeds bloom later
Sowing is necessary when the air warms up to a temperature of 22 degrees. However, at night, the temperature still drops significantly, so the plantings need to be covered with a film. The seed material of the ageratum is rather small, because of this, the planting may turn out to be unnecessarily thick. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to mix the seeds with sand or starch before planting. It will be much easier for sprouts to germinate if the soil is mixed with humus or sand.
On a note! The seeds are sown in small grooves, which are then sprinkled with soil.
Seeds should be mixed with sand before planting.
Watering ageratum
Flowers do not tolerate increased water flooding. For the full development of plants, daily moderate watering is required. It is best to water in the morning. The moisture entering the soil gradually evaporates under the influence of the sun's rays, thereby allowing the flowers to receive important vital energy. During the flowering period, the dose of watering should be slightly increased. You should also maintain an evenly moist soil condition.
Top dressing
The introduction of humus contributes to the good growth of flowers. In the absence of this fertilizer, mineral or compost can be used, precisely observing the required dosage. An excess of fertilizers, including organic ones, can bring a small number of flowers to plants with increased growth.
what does ageratum look like
The result is not a flowering voluminous bush. Stable flowering ageratum brings the use of nitrophoska and ammophoska at the rate of 20 - 30 grams of fertilizer per 10 liters of water.
Loosening and pruning
Continuous maintenance requires periodic loosening of the soil and removal of weeds. During weeding, loosen the soil with care to avoid damaging roots that are close to the surface.
The restoration of the flower after trimming the overgrown upper part is painless and quick. Withered and dry flowers are removed from the plants.This will create an attractive appearance, keep the compact shape of the bushes, and also extend the flowering period.
Possible difficulties
When growing any flower crops, even the most unpretentious, problems can arise.
Errors when growing ageratum:
- Apply a large amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizers to the soil (excess nitrogen leads to the fact that the bush does not bloom, but it increases the deciduous mass). In addition, the plant has a reduced immunity to diseases.
- Ignore pruning (regular pruning of faded inflorescences promotes the appearance of lateral stems, making the bush more lush).
- Improper watering (excess and lack of moisture negatively affects the growth of the bushes).
With proper care, ageratum can be grown for more than one year.
Sowing ageratum
Most often, such a plant is grown from seeds. Sowing is carried out from mid to late March. In this case, the boxes must be filled with a mixture that includes sand, humus and peat (1: 1: 1). Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of soil. The container is broken up with glass or film and removed into heat (at least 15 degrees). Crops need daily ventilation. The soil should be slightly moistened all the time. Therefore, it must be systematically moistened from a spray bottle. The first shoots will appear in about 14 days, after which the shelter should be removed.
Varieties of Ageratum and a short description
To begin with, consider the undersized species:
Alba: the variety is dwarf, the shape of the bush is spherical, the buds are dense and white. Suitable for decorating curbs and paths. Photo:
Blausternchen: the variety belongs to the early, flowering begins in early June. Height no more than 15 centimeters, branching shoots, dark green. Inflorescences are blue with a lilac tint. Beautiful surrounded by low-growing roses. Photo:
Little Dorrit: height no more than 20 centimeters. The leaves are diamond-shaped. Inflorescences are small, sky-blue. This variety loves moisture very much, therefore it requires regular watering. It is better to plant it together with congeners, blue and white flowers. Photo:
Blue Ball: shrub in the form of a ball, with voluminous leaves. Inflorescences with a diameter of about 2 centimeters. Shades range from blue to deep lilac. Very unpretentious, calmly tolerates the lack of watering. It can bloom until frost. A beautiful combination with dwarf phlox. Photo:
Blue mink: compact bush up to 25 centimeters high. Sturdy stems with few bulky leaves. Inflorescences are small blue and lilac shades.
Now let's look at medium and high varieties.
Summer Snow: this variety is bushy, quite tall, up to 45 centimeters, white inflorescences, has earned the love of flower growers for the fact that it blooms very luxuriantly and profusely. The Delphinium planted next to it will only emphasize the chic volume of the blooming ball. Photo:
Fairy Pink: stems with small leaves, height from 30 to 35 centimeters. The inflorescence baskets are separated from each other. The color of this variety is pink. Photo:
Ageratum Blue Mink: small bushes up to 30 centimeters high, large inflorescences are located on dense shoots. Shades of lilac and blue are very soft and fluffy. The variety got its name from the delicate pom-poms and is one of the most beloved varieties of flower growers. It is quite resistant to heat, blooms profusely until late autumn. It is in perfect harmony with marigolds, zinnia and calendula.
Ageratum Blue mink in the photo
Ageratum Red bouquet: high shrub, branched 60 centimeters high. It has shaggy red inflorescences, it goes well with its congener Ageratum. White bouquet is also magnificent next to bright chrysanthemums. Blooms throughout the summer. Photo:
Growing methods in the Moscow region
Since ageratum is very thermophilic, even minor cold weather can destroy it. In our climate, it can only be one-year-old, but despite this, gardeners are actively planting a flower in their plots from year to year. Looks great on flower beds, borders, is used when laying out outdoor flower arrangements. It gets along well next to such plants as marigolds, calendula, verbena, rudbeckia, zinnia, antirrinum.
Luxurious flowering can be obtained on fertile land with a sufficient amount of organic matter. In terms of care, the plant is not whimsical. So, having landed it in good soil, it will grow by itself, without requiring special attention to itself. After transplanting, it begins to bloom again quickly.
If ageratum seeds are purchased in garden centers, then granular material should be preferred. This type of seed has already been properly processed and is very convenient for sowing. When planting, you can moisten the granule of the material and slightly break its shell with a toothpick.
In the Moscow region, ageratum takes root better if it is planted by seating. To do this, initially the seeds are sprinkled with earth, since they are very small. At home, it is sown at the beginning of April, covering the crops with a transparent film, thereby forming a greenhouse effect. After about a week, when the first shoots break through, the film must be removed and the temperature background reduced.
When one or two full-fledged leaves appear, the seedlings should be planted in containers or boxes at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other. Since the seedlings of ageratum do not tolerate excess moisture, they need to be watered sparingly and only in the morning.
The flower is planted in the ground at the end of May, at a daytime temperature of 22 ° C. If the frosts are still holding, then it is better to postpone the landing until the onset of favorable weather. A suitable distance between seedlings is 15 - 20 cm. Before planting, the boxes with the plant are taken out for several weeks outside for acclimatization.
Description and features of the ageratum
The plant of the Aster family is a bush up to 60 cm high, with triangular or diamond-shaped leaves, in some species of ageratum they have an oval shape. Numerous erect elastic stems are pubescent, on each a paniculate peduncle is formed. Complex corymbose inflorescences of small buds are collected in baskets from 1 to 1.5 cm. Depending on the variety, the petals are painted in white, pink, yellow, blue, purple. When the plant is pollinated, an elongated pentahedral wedge-shaped fruit is formed - an achene, in which a dozen small seeds are located.
The perennial does not tolerate subzero temperatures; in the cold season it continues to grow in greenhouse or indoor conditions. The flowering period begins in 2–2.5 months from the emergence of seedlings, and continues until frost.
Description of ageratum with photo of flowers
The birthplace of the perennial ageratum is considered to be the southern tropical countries: Mexico and South America. A wide distribution of flowers can also be seen in the eastern part of India. In the climatic conditions of Russia, due to poor frost tolerance, the plant is grown as an annual. A developed root system adapts well to a new place. A heat-loving culture in greenhouse and home conditions can grow for many years.
Ageratum blue in the photo
The appearance of the ageratum has a small bush shape with stems not exceeding 60 cm in length. Small bright green leaves from 3 to 4 cm completely cover the plant, creating a lush carpet. The decorativeness of the ground cover plant is given by soft fibers that envelop the leaves, stems and flowers. In the bushy part there are tubular flowers of blue and purple color, with petals in the form of long soft needles. The color scheme of flowers of ageratum varieties is represented by pink, white, lilac and other shades.Long flowering up to 5 months, starting from May - June and ending with October, pleases those around with its richness and amazing beauty.
The culture is widely used in landscape design. It goes well with many plants. Used in the design of carpet compositions. Able to harmoniously fill empty spaces among representatives of other cultures. It is in demand in the works of designers and florists.
Ageratum varieties
For landscape design, many varieties of flowers have been bred. Descriptions of varieties popular in Russia are given in the table.
| Variety name | Bush height (cm) / leaf shape | Bud color |
| Houston (Mexican) | 50 / triangular. | Light blue. |
| Alba | 20 / diamond-shaped. | Snow white. |
| Blue mink (dry variety) | 20-25 / rounded. | Deep blue. |
| Bavaria | 30 / in the form of a triangle. | The center of the baskets is light blue, along the edges are pale blue buds. |
| Blue bouquet | 45 / triangular. | Light or dark blue. |
| White ball (creeping variety) | 20 / rounded. | Milky white or snow white. |
| Pink fire | 60 / oval. | Delicate and bright pink. |
| North Sea | 15 / triangular. | Dark violet. |
| Alyssum (golden autumn) | 15 / oblong-wedge-shaped. | Sunny yellow. |
Home care
Although the plant is unpretentious, it also needs care.
- Watering
Ampel snapdragon - planting and care, cultivation
Due to its root system, the plant tolerates the absence of moisture well. It is better to water ageratum in the absence of bright sunlight - in the morning or in the evening. If the weather is hot, then humidification is done every day and 1-3 times a week in rainy seasons.
- Top dressing
The unpretentiousness of the flower also applies to its feeding. The plant does not like pure cow dung. You can fertilize them if you dilute it in water. Peat and humus should also be deleted from fertilizers suitable for ageratum. When treated with them, the leaves of the plant will look strong and healthy, but the flowering will be dull.
It is preferable to use special mineral fertilizers for annual plants, which are sold in specialized stores. You can feed a flower no more than once every three weeks.
- Pruning and pinching
In order for the ageratum in the flowerbed to grow voluminous and bright, it needs periodic pruning. In order for it to bloom profusely, dried inflorescences should be cut off. If the stems of the plant stretch up too much due to the lack of lighting, then it is also recommended to prune them.
Attention! Once a month, to give the desired shape to the bush, a rejuvenating or decorative pruning is performed.
To make the plant grow more voluminous, it is recommended to pinch it. In the stems that stretch up, the tops of the shoots are trimmed, while at least 6 leaves should remain on them for good growth. With the help of pinching, the growth of new bushes is ensured and the flowering period is extended.
Ageratum after flowering
On the eve of the first frost, transplant the most beautiful ageratum bushes into flower pots and bring them into the house, on the balcony or veranda - they will decorate your home until the end of autumn, and maybe even in winter. In March, you can cut cuttings from these bushes and root them in order to plant them in the garden after frost.
In the photo: Ageratum begins to fade
In general, ageratum is a thermophilic plant that does not tolerate even the mildest winters. Shelter won't help him either. Therefore, it will be necessary to clear the flower bed from the remnants of the ageratum and plant new plants next spring.
Growing ageratum
Long-flowered is a thermophilic plant. Ageratum flowers are small, collected in inflorescences. The pistils protruding above them give a special charm. A plant covered with such fluffy balls looks very unusual and bright. It is difficult to answer the question whether the ageratum is a perennial or an annual. It can be both, and sometimes it is able to reach the size of a small bush.
Ageratum can grow up to a height of about 70 cm.Long-flowering bloom is very long - from the beginning of summer to the first cold weather. With proper care, seeds may appear in September.
Ageratum
There are two ways a flower can be grown. And if grafting is used on an industrial scale, then germination from seeds is more suitable for amateurs.
Seed propagation is better than propagation by cuttings for several reasons:
- the flowering of the plant will occur earlier, since it takes longer to wait for the shoots during cuttings;
- by the seed method, you can plant many different species and varieties of ageratum on your site;
- the seeds are easy to obtain as they are sold at any specialty store.
How to collect seeds for seedlings
For seedlings, seeds should be collected immediately after flowering. This usually happens 15 days after the first flowers appear.
In order for seedlings to appear from the seeds, the plant must be pollinated. There should be no problems with this, since bees and wasps willingly collect nectar from the ageratum.
Attention! If the plant is indoor, then for pollination it must be taken out into the street or onto the balcony.
The seeds are oblong, very small in weight and size. Healthy seeds should be light brown in color. It is better to store them in paper or cloth bags until planting.
Seeds
Species and attractive varieties
The genus Ageratum has 40-60 species according to different classification systems. The most famous type of Ageratum Gauston (Houston, Houston) or Mexican (Ageratum houstonianum).
Attention! Ageratum houstonianum and Ageratum conyzoides are poisonous and carcinogenic.
Varieties are divided into groups by height
| Group | cm |
| tall | up to 60 |
| medium-sized | 20-30 |
| undersized | 10-20 |
Photo. Comparison of varieties by height
The most famous varieties of blue Mexican ageratum:
- "Artist Blue" Artist blue is a widespread variety of compact shape with blue flowers, reaching a height of 10-20 cm.
- "Tycoon" Tycoon - due to its small stature, it is considered as a dwarf variety (an average of about 10 cm), blue flowers.
- "Fields" Fields - a classic version with decorative leaves and blue flowers, up to 25 cm high.
- Bavaria Bawaria is an interesting variety with bicolor flowers.
Due to the color of the inflorescences, another widespread name under which the plant is known is Blue Ageratum. You can also find flowers in pink, white, purple, but they are not so popular.
Difficulties in growing and caring
With an early planting of ageratum, the color of the leaves may change to a lighter color, due to the low temperature at night. In this case, timely hardening of seedlings with shelter during cold nights will be an effective preventive measure. Targeted hardening is also possible with the removal of seedlings to the balcony. As a shelter, they use: cellophane, paper bags, cut bulk plastic eggplants.
With improper watering of the ageratum, blackening and decay of the plant is possible. Abundant watering from above leads to the retention of water droplets in the fuzzy upper part of the plant. With insufficient ventilation, the flower is covered with mold with further negative consequences. In this situation, only the root method is a prerequisite and correct condition for watering.
Ageratum: a general description of the plant
Externally, the plant is a small compact shrub with bright green toothed leaves. The stems are straight and covered with small hairs along the entire length. But the flowers of culture are of the greatest interest. They are small and collected in inflorescence baskets. The buds can be white or pink, but the traditional color is blue or purple (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Species diversity of ageratum
Since the crop is a tropical plant, in our climate it is grown only as an annual crop.This is due to the plant's thermophilicity and its inability to winter. At the same time, the flowering of the culture continues until the beginning of autumn frosts.
