Lamb - planting and care in the open field. Cultivation of a lamb from seeds, methods of reproduction. Description, types. Photo

The herbaceous annual or perennial lamb (Lamium) belongs to the Lamb family. The wild-growing spotted beetle is found in the Eastern European territory, and it grows along the river coasts. Its appearance resembles a simple weed of low height. However, the breeders have worked and showed the world different cultivated decorative varieties of the lamb, which have different colors, stem length and type of leaves. The bush remains green and beautiful all summer and spring. Varieties of low growth are cultivated as decorative ground covers, perennials of high growth are used to decorate flower beds and flower beds.

Botanical description

Lamb is a fast growing ground cover plant. Its lodging stems do not rise above the ground above 15-25 cm. During the year, the stem adds 0.5-1 m in length. A superficial fibrous rhizome can develop from each internode. Shoots actively branch out and quickly cover a large area.

Heart-shaped petiolate leaves have a soft, embossed surface and serrated edges. The main tone of the leaf plate is dark green; yellowish or silvery spots may also be present. The length of the leaf is 3-8 cm, and the width is 2-4 cm.

From internodes, erect peduncles up to 30 cm high grow. The shoot is covered with small foliage and flowers. The buds are collected in whorls and can be pink, purple or white. The two-lipped corolla grows 20-25 mm in length. 4 filamentous stamens with black-violet anthers peep out from the center. After pollination, the fruit ripens - coenobium (a box with four triangular nuts). Ripe fruits open on their own, which provokes self-seeding. Flowering occurs from late May to October. Fruiting begins in June.

Description of the cleaver

The plant is characterized by rapid growth, which indicates its similarity to common weeds. In height, the cleaver can only reach up to 25 cm. It has a fibrous root system, therefore, in a short time, it is able to fill a large area with its branchy shoots. The dark green leaves of the lamb are heart-shaped, the ends are jagged. Soft veins break through in the middle of the leaf blades, sometimes spotting is present on them.

Peduncles are formed from internodes, grow up to 30 cm long and are covered with small leaves and flowers, which are double-lipped corollas, painted in various shades. In the middle there are thin stamens with black-violet specks of dust. Corollas form whorls. In place of wilted whorls, a seed capsule is formed, in which triangular nuts are located. This is what the fruit of the plant looks like. After ripening, seeds are poured out of them, which provides conditions for self-seeding of the lamb. The duration of flowering is observed for several months. The ovaries of the first flowers appear on the peduncles in late spring, and the formation of the fruit begins in late June.

Types and varieties of yasnotka

The genus of the lamb includes 25 species and several decorative varieties.

White lamb ("deaf nettle"). A perennial plant is found in forest glades and meadows. It has erect, branched stems 15-45 cm high and a creeping rhizome.The upper part of the stems and foliage are covered with long hairs. Oval-heart-shaped leaves with a serrated edge are located on short petioles. The two-lipped white flowers are collected in the axils of the middle and apical leaves. They bloom in June-September.

Purple lamb ("red nettle"). The species lives for 1-2 years. It has a thin rhizome and flexible stem. The shoot can rise 5-25 cm in height. It branches from the base and is densely covered with small oval leaves. Whorled inflorescences are colored in various shades of pink or white. Flowering occurs in April-September.

Lamb spotted (speckled). A perennial plant has erect shoots 30-70 cm high. They are branched only at the base and covered with sparse pubescence. Along the entire length of the stem, petiole oval leaves with a serrated edge are located. A narrow silvery stripe is visible along the central vein. Light pink or purple flowers 2-3 cm long are collected in apical inflorescences. Fragrant buds attract a large number of beneficial insects. Flowering occurs in May-October. Decorative varieties:

Album - small snow-white flowers bloom on the tops of shoots 18-20 cm high;
Beacon Silver - almost all broad heart-shaped foliage is silver colored;
Aureum - on yellowish leaves, a light strip is visible in the center, early purple flowers dissolve.

Green lamb (yellow). A perennial with creeping shoots can root in internodes. Shoots and leaves are covered with soft nap. Ovoid leaf plates have a wrinkled surface. Sometimes there is a marble pattern on the foliage. Yellow flowers are collected in false whorls at the ends of the shoots. They have an ovoid upper lip and a pointed, three-lobed lower lip. Long bloom occurs from May to October and is divided into 2 stages. Decorative varieties:

Argentatum - leaves have wide silvery stripes closer to the lateral edge;
Silver Carpet - erect stems up to 20 cm high are covered with narrow serrated leaves with a silvery pattern.

Botanical description and distribution of yellow zelenchuk

Yellow lamb - herbaceous ground cover perennial, reaching a height of 0.2 to 0.5 m. The plant can be easily recognized by its fast-growing long shoots, elongated pubescent ovoid leaves with pointed ends and a silvery pattern at the base, erect tetrahedral stems and yellow spongy inflorescences collected in loose clusters. Quickly covering the ground with a variegated carpet, zelenchuk does not allow other plants, including weeds, to approach itself: this representative of the lamb family is extremely aggressive when it comes to proximity to other garden dwellers.

The yellow lamb is distributed over an impressive territory. It can be found in deciduous forests in Europe, in the Caucasus and even in Western Siberia, as well as in any part of Ukraine. The plant is annually decorated with flowers in May and blooms until the end of June, and the succulent foliage retains its decorative properties until the onset of frost.

Reproduction

Clapweed can be propagated by seed and vegetative methods. Seeds are sown directly into open ground. Do this before winter or early spring. It is necessary to dig up and level the soil, and then distribute small nuts on the surface. They sprout amicably enough. Flowering is expected in 2 years. Self-seeding occurs often, but it is undesirable to allow it. The lamb is cross-pollinated, after which the varietal traits disappear.

Dividing a bush is the more common breeding method. It allows you to preserve the varietal characteristics of the lamb In the spring, the overgrown bush should be dug up, divided into several parts and immediately planted in different parts of the garden. Rooting is not a problem. Flowering is possible in a year.

Rooting of cuttings and cuttings is rarely used and is not suitable for all species. Cuttings are cut in August and rooted in the open field with the addition of peat and sand. Regular watering is very important. Layers are made in September-October. When strong roots appear on the stem, it can be separated from the mother plant and planted in a permanent place in the open ground.

Propagation by cuttings

Cuttings are carried out at the end of August. Chopped cuttings are needed as planting material, which are placed in a mixture of peat and sand for germination and stored under a glass jar or plastic bottle for some time. Cuttings are regularly watered and ventilated if condensation drops appear. After the roots begin to form, the cuttings can be transplanted into the open ground. Before winter, rooted cuttings must be covered with dry leaves or spruce branches.

Care features

Lamb is quite unpretentious, but it is important for her to find the right place. The plant will develop well in a cool area with bright or diffused lighting. It is best to plant a ground cover under trees with a high and transparent crown.

The soil should be moist and loose. It is advisable to choose moderately fertile soils. Then the lamb will grow more slowly and retain the decorative color of the leaves. On fertile soil, the plant grows too actively and turns more green. In the spring and during the flowering period, it is recommended to feed the lamb with compost.

Good and regular watering is important. Water should not stagnate in the ground. During the drought period, the lamb dries out and becomes bare. However, it is worth watering it and the shoots are quickly restored.

Site selection and soil preparation

Zelenchuk is not only a shade-tolerant plant, but also shade-loving. If planted in a sunny area, the leaves will quickly burn in the bright sun, and all the beauty of the plant will disappear. They are planted in shady corners of the garden, under trees or bushes. As a ground cover plant, it quickly fills free space, decorating the foot of large perennials.

Zelenchuk is not picky about soils, although it prefers moisture-absorbing and fertile soils. The reaction of the soil should be close to neutral. Loams are suitable, and even heavy clay, with the addition of sand (up to 10 kg per square). On sandy loam, humus is introduced up to 12 kg per square meter, clay, as a moisture-retaining additive.

In low and swampy places with stagnation of spring melt water, it is impossible to plant a lamb.

Use in the garden

Lamb is very popular in landscape design. Variegated forms are of the greatest interest. They are used in mixborders, rockeries and for landscaping the space under trees. The best neighbors for yasnotka are geychera, lungwort, hosts, tiarella.

The plant can be grown not only in the open field, but also in pots, tubs or in ordinary home pots. Indoors, the flower will look very impressive, and long lashes can be hung over the edge.

Cultivation of a lamb on the site

Zelenchuk is not very whimsical to care for: loam or sandy loam soil is perfect for it; if the gardener is interested in the accelerated development and more abundant growth of the lamb, then you can plant it on fertile, well-drained soil of medium moisture. The plant prefers neutral or slightly acidic soil.

Lamb in landscape design (video)

Technology and timing of planting yellow Zelenchuk

It is best to choose a place in the vicinity of low bushes before planting it in open ground. It is not worth planting yellow zelenchuk under trees with a dense crown, because the plant, especially some of its varieties, does not tolerate moisture above average. The illumination in the chosen place should be good: the lucid loves bright or diffused light.

Yellow lamb is sown in early autumn, unlike other species that need to be planted in early spring. The technology of planting yellow zelenchuk is quite simple: the selected area is pre-drained (8-10 cm) and moistened, and then a plant is planted on it. You can press lightly on the seeds, but you should leave them close to the surface.... Since the lamb is resistant to low temperatures, the seedlings do not need to create a greenhouse environment. The first shoots of yellow zelenchuk will appear 45 days after sowing.

Rules for caring for yellow lamb

Despite the moderate whimsy, yellow zelenchuk requires attention and care, otherwise it will turn from a cultivated plant into an ordinary weed. Here are some guidelines for perennial care gardeners:

The plant needs to ensure regular and timely watering in small doses. Neither stagnation of moisture in the soil, leading to rotting of the roots, nor exposure of the stems during a prolonged drought should be allowed;
In the spring and during flowering, the lamb will respond gratefully to feeding with compost. In summer, it can be fertilized in June and then in August. From organic matter, it is better to use loose humus (100 g per sq. M.) - it is sprinkled directly on the foliage. As an additional fertilizer, a mineral mixture is used (8 g per sq. M.);
To maintain high decorative qualities and to avoid uncontrolled self-seeding, dried inflorescences should be cut off. This procedure can also provoke re-flowering;
Regular but moderate mowing or pruning will contribute to an increase in the density and bushiness of the shoots;
In the heat, whiteflies, mealybugs, scale insects and other parasites can settle among the foliage of yellow zelenchuk. In this case, it is necessary to take measures to disinfect the plant;
Once every 5 years, it is recommended to transplant the cleaver to a new place.

Medicinal properties and contraindications

Flowers and young shoots of white lamb contain many useful trace elements, among them:

alkaloids;
ascorbic acid;
flavonoids;
tannins;
essential oils.

Infusions and decoctions are made from the prepared raw materials. They are taken orally as an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic. Lotions are used to fight skin infections as well as to heal wounds. Rinsing, bathing and douching with a decoction of lamina help fight gynecological diseases and uterine bleeding.

The doctors did not reveal any obvious contraindications to the drugs based on the yarnotka. It cannot be taken only by people with allergies and individual intolerance.

On the edges of forests and along fences, bright green grass grows with noticeable fountains of white flowers. Her leaves are exactly like those of nettles, but you can touch them without fear - they will not burn. The people called the plant "deaf nettles", and in Latin - Lamium, lamb. The proposed article will tell you about the medicinal properties of the lamb, application in landscape design, as well as recipes for medicinal products based on this plant.

Application

Zelenchuk looks great as a ground cover plant, planted under trees and shrubs. Will harmoniously fit into rocky gardens and shady flower beds, in the company of hosts, brunners, lungwort.

You can plant a lamb in a container: its hanging shoots look very impressive.

White lamb is rich in vitamins and minerals. It is used in folk medicine as a diuretic, expectorant and hemostatic agent. It is taken internally in the form of tea and infusions, externally used for poultices, compresses and baths.

Tags: aggressive growthdecorative honey plantsperennialnational medicineneutral soilsoilcover self seeding

General description and types of lamb

The name of this herb gave the name to the whole family of Lamiaceae, which includes over 3500 species. The lambs themselves are no more than 30 species, they differ in the color of the flowers and the shape of the leaves.The most striking feature of these plants is the two-lipped flower. All five of its petals in the lower part grow together completely, in the upper part - partially, forming a semblance of the gaping mouth of a little dragon.

The tetrahedral stem, characteristic of Lamiaceae, bears several tiers of leaves arranged in pairs. In each tier, a dozen flowers are located in a circular manner. Their features make it possible to distinguish plants from each other:

white lamb ("deaf nettle") - perennial with small greenish spots on white corollas;
("Red nettle") - a perennial with purple flowers, the lower lip of which is decorated with a spotted pattern;
stalk embracing is an annual with flowers of pink-purple color, 2-3 per tier; has a pronounced honey smell;
yellow lamb, or zelenchukovaya, is a perennial with yellow flowers, it is distinguished by richer pubescence and a marbled leaf pattern.

The whole genus is characterized by creeping rhizomes, low erect stems 15-45 cm high and long flowering from May to September.

Lamb spotted cultivation

Sowing.

Flower propagation is carried out by seed. The grains are sown late in autumn or in the first days of spring, during these seasons the grains will sprout faster. Sowing is carried out not for seedlings, but straight to the garden plot.

The place is prepared before sowing. The soil is dug up and all weeds are removed. The surface soil layer is leveled, then grains are equally distributed over it. When growing up, seedlings are thinned out, if necessary. Seedling care is quite simple, it is only required to water in a moderate amount on time during drought. The surface soil layer should not be allowed to dry out, it is worth making sure that no stagnation of water occurs in the roots.

For the most part, the plant does not need to be weeded, since it can independently prevent the growth of weeds, and it will cover the growing area with a solid forest. But perennial weeds with powerful roots are removed from the territory.

The culture will bloom only next season after sowing. Professionals recommend making sure that the lamb does not sow uncontrollably on its own, since over the years it will begin to inhibit the growth of other vegetation that grows in the garden area and is located nearby. If it is decided to plant various varieties of a given culture, then select places for them that are located far from each other. Otherwise, the nearby development of these plants will have a negative impact on their beauty, since after they are cross-pollinated, varietal differences will be lost.

The chemical composition and distribution of the plant

The leaves of plants of the genus Yasnotka are rich in carotene and ascorbic acid; in spring they can be used as a source of vitamins. Flowers contain the following beneficial substances:

saponins with surface-active properties;
flavonoids with the effect of vitamin P;
mucus based on polysaccharides;
tannins;
essential oils.

Deaf nettle has a high degree of adaptability, therefore its range is very wide: almost all of Europe, the Middle East region, Transcaucasia, China, Mongolia. In Russia, the plant is found everywhere, with the exception of the tundra zone and dry steppes.

The shallow root system of the lamb requires sufficient soil moisture, which is observed on the edges of forests, in the shade of shrub thickets, along the banks of ravines.

This perennial plant is found in vegetable gardens, in gardens, willingly settles along hedges, in the shade of buildings, on compost heaps.

Reproduction and planting of a lamb

A semi-shady cool place on the east or west side of the site is suitable for planting a lamb.It is not worth planting a plant under the trees, since the leaves will be wet for a long time after the rain, but under the bushes the cleaver feels great. The plant does not have any special requirements for the soil.

Cleaver reproduces in three ways:

By dividing the bush.
By cuttings.
Seeds.

Dividing a bush is the simplest and most effective method of breeding a bush. The split-off part of the bush quickly takes root in a new place in spring. Superficially located roots grow rapidly, forming new shoots. Flowering occurs in the first year of transplantation.

By cuttings, the spotted beetle reproduces. Cut young shoots are planted directly into the ground. Cuttings are carried out during the entire growing season.

Lamb seeds are sown on moist soil superficially, slightly pressing down. Due to the cold hardiness of the lamb, no greenhouse conditions are needed for seed germination. Seeds are also capable of self-sowing, so excess seedlings around adult bushes must be removed. Growing lamb seedlings at home is possible, but not justified. The first shoots appear in 1.5 months.

Advice. Seeds of yellow ashberry are sown in autumn. It is preferable to sow the seeds of other plant species in early spring, as soon as there is an opportunity to enter the site.

Applying a clear note

In some European countries, deaf nettle is used in official medicine as a medicinal raw material for wound healing creams and vitamin dietary supplements for food.

Traditional medicine uses the lamb plant much more widely, since it:

helps well with colds and sore throats;
promotes the liquefaction of phlegm and its removal from the bronchi;
fights infection with inflammation of the urinary system;
promotes the regeneration of the skin and mucous membranes;
stops bleeding with hemorrhoids.

Deaf nettle is considered a natural antidepressant: it helps to overcome stress, neuroses, accelerates the processes of inhibition in the cerebral cortex. There is evidence that the infusion of flowers enhances the generic activity of the uterus.

Clarity varieties

About 80 species of this perennial plant are found in nature, but only a few of them are used in horticulture:

yellow cleaver - perennial plant, marbled foliage. The flowers are formed in the axils of the leaves, are two-lipped and have a yellow color;

Orval's cleaver - has bright green leaves and purple flowers. This type of lamb has a compact size, is less active during growth;

speckled (spotted) - a rapidly growing species, the foliage is green with a silvery "dusting". Depending on the variety, the flowers are painted in colors from white to poisonous purple.

Breeders have bred many varieties of yasnotka, each of which has its own unique characteristics. The most popular varieties: Florentium, Type Ronsdorf, Album, Roseum, WhiteNancy, Pink Pewter, Beacon Silver, Checkere. Photos of representatives of varieties will help you make the right choice.

The medicinal properties and harm of lamb

Deaf nettle is not included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation, however, active research is being conducted on its medicinal properties and contraindications, there is evidence of the effectiveness of the cleansing preparations as a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive agent.

The beneficial properties of lamb are associated with its chemical composition. Tannins determine its astringent properties and the ability to cleanse the skin from urticaria, eczema, and various kinds of inflammation. The presence of mucus explains the expectorant effect of the plant on the human body, and flavonoids - the ability to strengthen the walls of capillaries and lower blood pressure.

No poisonous compounds were found in the grass and flowers, however, their preparations are not recommended for increased blood clotting, chronic hypotension. An absolute contraindication is pregnancy, since the plant increases the risk of miscarriage.

Care: watering, fertilizing, pest control

Despite its unpretentiousness, the lamb requires some care.

It is interesting: Planting and caring for a Scylla in the open field, description of species and varieties

Watering. Lamb loves moist soil, but does not tolerate stagnant water. The plant can withstand a short drought. In this case, the appearance of the plant may suffer, but after watering the flower will quickly recover.

Top dressing. At the beginning of growth, the lamb is very responsive to feeding in liquid form. For these purposes, an infused mullein or a ready-made mineral fertilizer is suitable. You can't overdo it with fertilizers.

Attention! Too much fertilized soil makes the growth of the claw aggressive. The plant grows extremely quickly and is even capable of destroying garden flowers growing in its path. The size of the bush must be constantly adjusted by removing excess shoots.

The peculiarity of the lamb is the suppression of weeds in the perennial growth zone. Weeding is required only around the bush. If you do not pay enough attention to the bush, the bush itself can degenerate into a weed. To avoid this, the bush is cut off after flowering, and throughout the summer it is cultivated by trimming excess shoots.

With a long preservation of moisture on the sheets, the lamb can be affected by fungal diseases. And too dry weather contributes to attacks on the whitefly bush, scale insects and spider mites. At the first signs of trouble, the flower must be immediately treated with special means.

Collection, harvesting, storage and cultivation of lamb

The highest concentration of nutrients is found in the flowers of the plant, but collecting them separately from the grass is difficult. When harvesting, the upper third of the shoots of the lamb is cut off during the flowering period, which lasts all summer. Then the flowers are plucked and dried separately in the shade or in a dryer, at a temperature not higher than 35 degrees. Store in glass containers.

The use of lambskin in landscape design is due to the fact that it is quite decorative and appropriate in certain flower beds: undersized species as ground covers, larger ones in compositions of tall flower beds.

The flower is unpretentious, but it grows for a long time and steadily only in conditions of slight shading. Ideal options for him are a flower bed in the near-trunk circle of a fruit tree or completing the image of a hedge. There are more than ten varieties of the plant, for example Album with snow-white flowers or Silver with silvery-green leaves.

Lamb in landscape design

Variegated plant varieties are especially popular among gardeners. They are grown as a decorative greenery in free zones or in flower beds in the form of separate decorative groups. Yasnotka coexist well with lungwort, hosta and geyher. Often these flowers add beauty to gazebos, terraces and balconies. They are planted as an ampelous natural decoration.

Folk recipes with clear

The simplest thing that is prepared from deaf nettle is vitamin tea.

To obtain it, mix equal amounts of yarrow and yarrow flowers.
A couple of teaspoons of the mixture are poured with a glass of boiling water.
Insist 5-10 minutes - the tea is ready.

You can consume up to three glasses a day.

A similar infusion, but without yarrow, is prepared for bathsthat have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin. A tablespoon of dried flowers is poured with boiling water in a thermos with a capacity of 1.5 liters, insisted for half an hour. Baths with an infusion of lamina are taken every day for a week.

For cooking decoction:

A tablespoon of dried flowers is poured with a glass of boiling water.
Simmer for 15 minutes in a water bath.
Cool, filter, take for colds, tonsillitis, severe cough, 100 ml three times a day.

Alcohol tincture obtained by pouring 10 g of dry raw materials with 300 ml of vodka. Insist for a week, shaking every other day. It is taken for inflammation of the urinary system, 30 drops three times a day.

Lamb is always ready to help a person cope with an infection. All summer long she opens her flowers rich in nutrients. The plant is just waiting in the wings for the official medicine to recognize the healing power of "deaf nettle".

The herbaceous perennial or annual plant Lamium is part of the Lamiaceae family. Under natural conditions, this plant can be found in Eastern Europe, while it prefers to grow along river banks. Outwardly, it looks like a simple undersized weed. But as a result of the work of breeders, various cultural ornamental varieties of the beetle were born, which can have a different color, height of stems and the shape of leaf plates. The shrub remains green and showy throughout the spring and summer. Low-growing varieties are cultivated as ornamental ground cover plants, while tall perennial varieties are used to decorate flower beds and flower beds.

The use of Zelenchuk in medicine

Due to the composition of flowers and shoots rich in useful substances, in the art of treatment with folk methods, yellow zelenchuk has long been used as an expectorant, diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Herb infusion very effective in the treatment of acute and chronic cystitis and urethritis, prostate adenoma, incontinence in the elderly, glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis. In addition, fresh lambas treat skin infections and heal wounds. Poultices and compresses from yellow zelenchuk are an irreplaceable remedy for joint inflammation.

Fresh juice and decoctions from the leaves of yellow lamb can have a positive effect on those suffering from insomnia, depression and decreased appetite. In this form, Zelenchuk is recommended to be taken before meals and at night for 1 tbsp. spoon.

Peculiarities of the yarn

The lamb is very fast growing, which makes it very similar to a simple weed. The maximum height of such a plant is about 0.25 m. Its root system is fibrous, therefore it can very quickly fill a vast area, decorating it with its branchy stems. The dark green, heart-shaped leaf plates have a serrated edge. In the center of the leaves, soft veins are clearly visible, in some cases the plate is decorated with spots.

Peduncles grow from internodes, while in length they can reach about 0.3 m. They are overgrown with small leaf plates and flowers. Flowers can be painted in different colors, they are double-lipped corollas. In the center of each flower there are thin stamens with violet-black anthers. Flowers are collected in whorls. After the whorl withers, a seed pod is formed at this place, and in it there are three-sided nuts. This seed pod is the fruit of the lamb. When the fruits are fully ripe, the seeds spill out of them, thanks to which the plant reproduces well by self-sowing. Lamb blooms for a very long time for several months. The first flower buds are formed in the last spring weeks, and the beginning of the formation of fruits occurs at the end of June.

Lamb spotted characteristic and description

Lamb grows very quickly, therefore it resembles a common weed. The bush grows up to about twenty-five cm. The root system is fibrous, so the plant can quickly occupy a large area, decorate it with its stems that branch. The leaves are dark green in color, in the form of a heart, their edges are serrated. In the central part of the leaf, veins are clearly traced, it happens that the leaf is covered with specks.

Peduncles appear from internodes, upward they can be about thirty cm. Small leaves and flowers are located on peduncles. The color of the flowers can be different, the flowers themselves are represented by corollas with two lips. In the central part of the flower there are thin stamens with black-violet anthers.Flowers are collected in whorls. After the whorl withers, a box with seeds is formed in its place, and it contains nuts that have three faces. The fruit is a seed capsule. After the fruits are fully ripe, seeds are ejected, so the flower spreads by self-sowing. The flowering of the bush is long - several months. The formation of the first buds occurs at the end of the spring season, and the fruits begin to form in the last days of June.

Growing from seeds

Sowing

Lamb is propagated by seeds. It is recommended to sow them in late autumn or at the beginning of the spring period, at which time the germination of seeds increases significantly. Seeds are sown not for seedlings, but directly into the garden.

Before you start sowing, you need to prepare the site. For this, the soil is dug up and all weeds are removed. Level the surface of the soil in the area and distribute the seeds evenly. When the seedlings grow a little, they can be thinned out if necessary. It is quite simple to care for the seedlings, they only need to be watered moderately in a timely manner, if there has been no rain for a long time. Avoid overdrying the top layer of soil in the garden bed, but at the same time make sure that the liquid does not stagnate in the root system of the plants.

Most often, the lamb does not need weeding, because it itself can drown out the growth of weeds, while it covers the area with a solid carpet. However, perennial weeds, which have a very powerful root system, will have to be removed from the site.

Seed-propagated lamb blooms only in the second year after the seeds are sown. Experts advise not to allow uncontrolled self-seeding of this plant, because over time it can begin to suppress the development and growth of other crops growing in the garden and located nearby. If you decide to plant different varieties of lamb, then choose areas for them located further from each other. If they grow next to each other, then this can have a negative effect on their decorative effect, because after cross-pollination there will be no varietal differences between them.

Sowing seeds

The optimal time for sowing seeds is considered late autumn or early spring, then the germination rate will be much higher. Seeds are planted directly in open ground. To do this, you must first prepare a place for growing. The soil is carefully dug up and weeds are removed. The seeds are evenly distributed over the bed surface. After some time, when the first shoots become visible, too dense crops of seedlings can be thinned out. During the growing period, moderate watering is required if there is no natural precipitation. Drying out of the topsoil should be avoided, but at the same time, moisture stagnation should not be allowed.

As a rule, the lamb is not afraid of the effects of weeds, since it is able to drown out their growth on its own and cover the area with a solid green carpet. Exceptions are perennials with a powerful developed root system.

You can observe flowering only in the second year after planting the seeds. It is recommended to avoid uncontrolled self-seeding, as the plant in the future may inhibit the growth and development of other cultivated plants located nearby. It is better to place different varieties of lamb's in opposite corners of the garden in order to prevent cross-pollination, which will affect the disappearance of varietal differences between them.

Open field care

Illumination

Such a herbaceous perennial plant as a lamb is unpretentious in cultivation. For her, it is best to choose areas that are in the lacy penumbra of tree crowns.

Priming

On the site, a suitable soil for growing such a flower should be moist and loose, it should contain a moderate amount of nutrients, including trace elements.If the soil is overly fertile, then this will lead to a rapid growth of the lamb, which can interfere with the normal growth and development of other flowering crops on the site.

Watering

Such a flower is watered systematically and abundantly, but make sure that the water does not stagnate in the root system for a long time. During the dry period, the foliage dries up and curls, and the shoots are still exposed. Shortly before flowering begins, the plant must be fed with organic matter.

Care

Zelenchuk is picky about the frequency of watering, although it is not necessary to shed the plant abundantly. The root system is superficial, small portions of moisture are enough for it.

Top dressing is not required. It is enough every spring to mulch abundantly with rotted compost or manure.

It is better to mow the faded shoots. This will avoid unnecessary self-seeding and keep the bushes beautiful.

Zelenchuk is not affected by pests. With excess moisture, it can suffer from fungal infections.

For the winter, the bushes are not covered, they winter well under the snow cover.

Reproduction methods

Dividing the bush

Lamb can be easily propagated by dividing the bush. This method of reproduction among gardeners is very popular, because the bushes multiplied in this way fully retain their varietal qualities, and they bloom next year. It is recommended to divide the plant in the spring. To do this, carefully dig out the bush and divide it into several parts, while keeping in mind that on each division there must be root suckers that can give new shoots. After that, the delenki are planted in planting holes, which are prepared in advance. Do not forget to water them with plenty of water.

Layers

The propagation of lambs by layering is not very popular among gardeners. Most often, this procedure is carried out in the first autumn weeks. To do this, you need to choose the most powerful shoots, they are bent to the soil surface, fixed in this position and sprinkled with a not very thick layer of soil. Next spring, it will already be possible to separate and plant the layers that have taken root from the mother plant, since by this time they will be able to grow normally on their own.

Cuttings

You can propagate the plant by cuttings in the last summer days. To begin with, cuttings are harvested, which are planted for rooting in a mixture consisting of sand and peat. Top them covered with a cut plastic bottle or glass jar. Cuttings are provided with timely watering, and they must also be ventilated as soon as condensation appears on the surface of the shelter. When the roots grow from the cuttings, they can be planted in the garden in a permanent place. Rooted cuttings need mandatory shelter for the winter, for this they are covered with spruce branches or foliage.

Diseases and pests

If you take care of the cleaver incorrectly and allow regular stagnation of moisture in the root system, this will lead to the appearance of rot on it. In this regard, special attention should be paid to the condition of the soil on the site, and also do not forget to properly water the plant. All plants affected by rot are dug up and destroyed, and those areas on which they grew are treated with a fungicide solution.

Most often, the scabbard is harmed by the scale insect, spider mite and mealybug. To get rid of these pests, you will need to treat the bushes with a suitable pesticide.

Lamb spotted breeding

By dividing the bush.

Reproduction can be carried out by dividing the bush. This method is very popular, since the varietal properties of new plants are preserved, and their flowering occurs already for the next season. The division is carried out in the spring. To this end, a bush is carefully dug up and divided into several fractions, each division should have roots that give new shoots in the future. Then the cuttings are planted in planting holes prepared in advance. Further, the plantings are watered abundantly with water.

Layers.

This method is not very popular among flower growers. Reproduction by this method is carried out at the beginning of the autumn season. For this purpose, strong shoots are selected, then they are bent to the surface soil layer, fixed and sprinkled with a thin earthen layer. Next year, in the spring, the cuttings that have taken root are separated and deposited from the mother, because at this time their growth and development will go well on their own.

Cuttings.

Cuttings are made at the end of the summer season. First, cuttings are harvested to take root, they are planted in a soil mixture, which contains sand and peat. On top they are covered with a plastic bottle (you must cut it off in advance) or a glass jar. Cuttings are watered and ventilated on time when droplets appear at the top of the covering material. After the roots grow back, the cuttings are planted permanently on the garden plot. Cuttings must be covered for the winter season without fail, for this purpose they are thrown with branches of a Christmas tree or old leaves.

Diseases and harmful insects.

With illiterate care and systematic stagnation of liquid in the roots, rot may appear on the plant. Therefore, pay attention to the soil and remember about proper watering. Infected whites are dug up and destroyed, the places of their growth are treated with a fungicidal preparation.

In frequent cases, the flower is susceptible to attacks by the scale insect, spider mite and mealybug. To get rid of these enemies, the bushes are treated with special preparations - insecticides.

Types and varieties of yasnotka with a photo

Today, there are about 25 species of such a garden perennial plant as the lamb. The ones that are most popular with gardeners will be described below:

White lamb or dull nettle

In height, such a herbaceous perennial can reach about 0.45 m. The surface of shoots and foliage is rough to the touch. Oval-elongated leaf plates are painted in a greenish tint, their edge is serrated. They are attached to the shoot with short petioles. Flowering begins in June, and it ends only in the last days of September. The flowers are white.

Purple lamb, or red nettle

In the garden, this species is cultivated as a biennial or annual plant. Shoots length about 0.25 m, they are densely covered with very small oval leaf plates with a dark green color. The beginning of the formation of buds occurs in the middle of the spring period, but in general this plant blooms for several months.

Lamb spotted, or speckled

It is a tall herb with highly branching stems. The green foliage is adorned with silvery veins. Delicate pink flowers can be seen on the bushes during the flowering period from May to October. The best varieties:

Album - the color of the flowers is snow-white;
Beacon Silver - foliage is painted in an unusual silvery shade;
Aureum - the color of the flowers is purple, and the foliage is yellow.

Green lamb, or yellow

Unlike other species, the creeping stems and foliage of this plant are pubescent. The shape of the leaf plates is elongated-oval, sometimes their surface is decorated with a marble mesh. The appearance of yellow flowers on the shoots is observed in the first days of May. During the season, the bushes can bloom again. The best varieties:

Argentatum - stripes are located on the surface of wide green leaf plates;
Silver Carpet - oblong foliage is decorated with a silvery shade pattern.

Orval's lamb

During the flowering of this undersized plant, small rich pink flowers are formed on it. Duration of flowering is about 2 months (May – June).

Lamb spotted care

Illumination level.

This herbaceous perennial is undemanding to care for. For him, a place is selected, shaded by tree crowns.

The soil.

The soil should be moist and loose, fertile, but should contain the optimal number of nutrients and trace elements. With excessive soil fertility, the flower will begin to grow very quickly and actively, this will interfere with the normal growth and development of other flowering vegetation.

Watering.

Watering is carried out regularly and in large volumes, but it is worth making sure that there is no liquid stagnation in the roots for a long time. In drought, the leaves dry out and curl, and the shoots are also exposed. Before flowering, the lamb is fed with organic fertilizers without fail.

Circumcision.

Like other ground covers, the lamb is regularly mown. If this is done on time, the plant will retain its decorative effect and splendor of the bush.

Transplanting.

Transplantation of adult flowers is carried out regularly, once every five years. Lamb is frost-resistant, therefore, it does not need to be additionally covered for the winter season.

The healing properties of the lamb

Lamb is a medicinal plant. Its healing properties are due to the content of a large number of useful substances, while the most important of them are: alkaloids, flavonoids, essential oils, ascorbic acid and tannins.

Infusions based on this plant are used for sore throat, serious inflammation, or as a diuretic. In order for open wounds to heal faster, herbal lotions are applied to them. Hot baths with clear water help with gynecological diseases.

Before using lambda for the first time as a medicinal plant, it is recommended that you always consult with your doctor. There are practically no contraindications to the use of clearcoat. However, individual intolerance to the substances that make up the lamb is rarely found, which can cause the development of allergic reactions.

Zelenchuk yellow in garden decor

In the design of the garden landscape, the lamb is very popular due to its ground cover feature. This perennial will easily and quickly transform inconspicuous corners of the garden, decorate the foot of bushes and small trees with a permeable crown, and cover the border compositions with a colorful carpet. Zelenchuk yellow is perfect for decorating alpine slidesbecause it can actively develop among stones.

One of the common scenarios for the use of lamina in combination with a large boulder is to surround a stone dug vertically into the ground with an airy carpet: many gardeners find it harmonious and natural when this or that object "grows" out of the greenery.

The lamb can be safely planted on plots where it will solely own the territory.: on the gaps between paths, the area between the house and the asphalt, "aisles" of flower beds, in city courtyards with less favorable conditions, etc. Growing rapidly, yellow zelenchuk will cover unsightly places with a beautiful carpet of leaves with an unusual pattern.

Yellow lamb is often used as an ampelous plant. Long shoots will gracefully hang down from the flowerpot, gradually completely covering it and creating the effect of a silver-colored "bump" in the middle of the lawn.

Despite its increased aggressiveness, the lamb is still able to become an element of floral ensembles, if you choose the right neighbors for it. The best options are hosts, tiarella, geychera, lungwort, forest peonies, aconites, as well as bulbs - tulips, hyacinths, daffodils. These combinations can make wonderful compositions for flower beds and mixborders.

Preparation of medicinal raw materials

In medicine, only the flowers of the plant are used, since they contain the most vitamins and minerals. They have all the useful properties. You can collect them during the flowering period, but preferably until July-August.

Pick flowers together with the top leaves. You can not be careful, as the lamb will bloom again in a month. Make sure that the raw materials are not affected by insects. Sprinkle it in a thin layer (4-5 cm) on paper. The room must be well ventilated and kept out of direct sunlight. In two weeks, the raw materials will be ready.

Store it in a tightly sealed container. The shelf life of flowers is 2-3 years.

In medicine, only the flowers of the plant are used, since they contain the most vitamins and minerals.

Collection and storage of medicinal raw materials

For medicinal purposes, the herb and flowers are harvested. To preserve all the healing properties of the plant, harvesting must be carried out away from busy roads, in the morning, when the dew has already dried. Flowers are harvested freshly blossomed. Raw materials are dried in the shade, under a canopy, so that it is well ventilated. When the grass and flowers are dry, they are crushed and packed in paper bags or boxes. The shelf life of medicinal raw materials is no more than two years.

Properties and application

The medicinal properties of the herb of white lamb are due to the presence of biologically active substances in the composition of flowers and leaves. Flowers and leaves of white lamb have the following medicinal properties:

cleanse the blood of toxins;
stop bleeding;
relieve inflammation;
soothe with nervous overexcitation;
relieve cramps;
improve sleep;
liquefy phlegm.

In addition, the herb is a good antiseptic, suppressing pathogenic microflora. Herbal remedies from it are recommended for the treatment of diseases of the nasopharynx, throat, bronchi, with anemia, nervous tension, diseases of the genitourinary system, digestive system, skin diseases, including infectious.

Purple lamb has the following medicinal properties: anti-inflammatory, sedative, antispasmodic, hypnotic, expectorant, hypotensive, improving metabolism.

Herbalists recommend using infusions of flowers and leaves for tumors, cystitis, urethritis, eczema, urticaria, hemorrhoids, scrofula.

Growing

Lambes are quite demanding on growing conditions. They love moist, loose, fertile soils. The ideal place for them is partial shade in the crown of trees or shrubs, under the walls of buildings, near the fence. With good watering, they can grow in the sun, but wither in severe drought. The least demanding on the fertility of the soil and plastic to the growing conditions is the spotted lamb, which grows too quickly and widely on humus soils. Acceptable soil acidity - from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (pH 6.1-7.8).

Caring for lilies is so simple that it could not be described. Compost is used as a top dressing. After flowering, the flower stalks are cut, which stimulates a new wave of flowering in late summer - early autumn and prevents unnecessary self-seeding. Flowering can last until October. Cutting or mowing also allows you to get a lot of young shoots that support the decorativeness of the plants (this is especially important for varieties with interesting foliage), contribute to a good overwintering and provide material for propagation. All these species hibernate well, without shelter.

general characteristics

Speckled lamb (Lamium maculatum) is sometimes also called spotted. It grows in meadows and forests of the Caucasus, Europe and Asia Minor. It is a perennial plant. This species is distinguished by hollow stems. They can creep along the ground in a lush carpet or grow upright. In the nodes, the lamina tends to take root.

Shoots can reach a length of 30-70 cm. Branching is determined only in the lower part of the plant. There are sparse hairs on all parts of the plant. They give some downy hair.

Leaves grow on cuttings. Their shape is elliptical. Small teeth can be seen along the edge of the sheet. Sometimes a light strip can be found on the surface of the sheet.

Flowers reach 2-3 cm in length and can have a color from almost white to deep purple.On the lower lip of the inflorescence there are characteristic specks of light purple color. It is this feature that determines the belonging of the lucidus to the type of purple. It is a melliferous plant variety.

How to propagate speckled speckled

There are three types of breeding:

germination of seeds;
cuttings;
division of the bush.

Note! The most popular breeding option is to divide the bush.

Each option has its own characteristics and methods of planting and rooting.

Germinating seeds

Sowing seeds is done in open ground in early spring or late autumn. It is necessary to make small trenches in which the seeds are evenly laid. Next, you should dig in with a small layer of earth and water. The seeds will germinate within 1-2 weeks.

Rooting cuttings

The stalk is harvested at the end of summer. How to do it right:

Prepare a mixture of sand and peat. Place in a small container.
Dig a twig into the substrate and water.
Cover the pot with the cut bottle.

Reproduction of lamb

If condensation appears on the bottle, it is necessary to ventilate. When the roots appear, the sprout can be transplanted into open ground.

By dividing the bush

The bush is divided in early spring as follows:

Dig up a large bush.
Partially remove the earthy clod from the root system.
Divide the bush into several parts.

It is easy to root such an instance if there are normal shoots on the root system.

Lamb in medicine

The main thing in medicine is the correct use of the medicine, adherence to dosage and prescription. Traditional medicine also requires a proper approach to it. To begin with, it is better to know the contraindications and not use in case of coincidence with at least one of the following points

Contraindications

It is forbidden to use medicinal preparations containing lucidum in cases of constipation, only discontinued diseases of the respiratory system, such as bronchitis. Before use, you should consult with your doctor allergist and clarify whether you have an individual intolerance.

Now you can proceed to a detailed analysis of the recipes and treatment.

Where to begin

You should start with the preparation of raw materials for further treatment. The plant can be found everywhere and both young shoots and older large grasses are suitable for treatment.

Further, it is recommended to collect flowers, foliage and stems and dry them either on the windowsill or in the oven for a quick result, although you should be careful in the oven: if you overexpose for too long, the nutrients will simply break down into less useful carbohydrates and it will already be a useless rusk.

What is clearness for?

Tinctures, decoctions, and compresses are prepared from the prepared dry herb. Decoctions and tinctures to varying degrees help with diseases of the urinary system, digestive system and even cardiovascular diseases. There are cases when he also helped with tuberculosis.

Compresses help with dislocations, bruises, are used as a prophylactic agent after fractures for early healing and return of muscle strength. Decoctions are used externally to treat acne and acne. The tincture helps in the treatment of stomach ulcers.

Earlier we talked about the description of Voronets.

Disease and pest control

The lamb suppresses weeds in its growth zone, so it is not worth working too much with weeding. If the summer is rainy, or if the cloud grows in such a place that moisture remains on the leaves, it can get sick with fungal diseases. On the contrary, an overly dry summer can lead to the fact that plants are attacked by whiteflies and also scale insects.

The spider mite is also dangerous for the lamb. If you notice signs of an attack by these pests, you need to immediately take action, treat the plants with insecticides or folk remedies.

Lamb weed rarely, as it suppresses weeds.

What does speckled speckled look like?

The flower is very common in nature, which is why many consider it an annoying weed.The plant is classified as Lamiaceae or Labiatae.

Garden decoration with the help of a cleaver

The description of the clear is defined by the following points:

the stem is knotty and twists along the ground, rising 15-20 cm;
the leaves are dark green with a white spot in the middle;
the shape of the leaves is drop-shaped with jagged edges;
flowers can be white, purple or slightly pink.

Plant appearance

Lamb is especially common in Eastern Europe. Instances can be annual or biennial.

Problems with growing lumium

If the plant is exposed to moisture for a long time (when water is kept on the leaves for a long time), then it can be affected by fungal diseases, and it will be necessary to treat it with fungicides.
When the weather is dry for a long time, the whitefly can be affected by pests, including the whitefly, scale insect or spider mite. In this case, white or brown-brown dots (insect eggs) are visible on the leaves and stems on the back side, a sweetish sticky bloom, white small midges that rise above the bush when it touches the foliage or leaf plates and stems are wrapped in a translucent cobweb may appear. In this case, you will need to carry out the treatment with soap, oil or alcohol. If the non-chemical method does not work, then spraying with insecticidal preparations is necessary.

Gallery: yasnotka (25 photos)

Breeding features

Speckled lamb (spotted), the description of which allows summer residents to conclude that it is advisable to grow it on their site, requires certain conditions for its growth. She prefers a shady, damp place. It grows best on the western and eastern sides of the garden.

The plant feels great under the bushes. However, do not plant it under trees. After rain, its leaves will be wet for a long time. This is an unpretentious plant. He has no special requirements for the composition of the soil. The soil must be loose and have a drainage system. If the substrate is rich in nutrients, the lamb grows strongly. In this case, its decorative qualities are reduced. Therefore, it is not necessary to additionally fertilize the soil. Even on depleted soil, the plant develops quite normally.

Reproduction is done by cuttings, dividing the bush or seeds. In this case, it should be checked that the place for the growth of the lamb is not exposed to direct sunlight. However, even in the dark, the clearness will not grow vigorously.

Medicinal and beneficial properties of white lamb

Deaf nettle has astringent, antiseptic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and choleretic properties. Also, vegetable raw materials are widely used for the preparation of vitaminizing and antidepressant drinks. Prescription of medicinal products based on white lily:

tracheitis;
bronchitis;
pneumonia;
bronchial asthma;
pulmonary bleeding;
uterine bleeding;
intestinal and hemorrhoidal bleeding;
furunculosis;
eczema;
skin ulcers;
rash on the skin of various origins;
insomnia;
neurasthenia and hysteria.

Despite the complete absence of toxic components in the composition of plant materials, all proportions must be strictly observed when preparing medicines on their own.

Landing

It is recommended to plant seeds in the soil superficially. They should be gently pressed down. The culture is resistant to low temperatures. Therefore, she does not need greenhouse conditions.
Lamb seeds can be sown on their own. Therefore, experts advise to get rid of unnecessary seedlings. The first shoots will appear after 1.5 months.

Saplings

The use of white cinquefoil in folk medicine

This plant is widely used in folk medicine. Tea, tinctures, medicinal decoctions and compresses are prepared from it. It can be used alone or mixed with other herbs and flowers.

1 tbsp. l.Pour the crushed raw materials with boiling water. One glass is enough. The mixture should be infused for 60 minutes, after which it should be filtered. The medicine should be drunk half a glass half an hour before meals 4 times a day. The broth is useful for anemia, anemia, cystitis, bronchitis, asthma, liver diseases.
1 tbsp. l. cook dried and chopped raw materials in 1 glass of water for 10 minutes. The fire should be minimal. Let the brew brew overnight, then strain. Take half a glass three times a day. The remedy will help with neuroses, hysteria, sleep problems, relieve headaches.
For allergies or eczema, skin rashes, urticaria, a decoction of the lamb will also be useful. The proportions are the same as in the first two recipes. Pour boiling water over the grass, wrap the container and leave for 30 minutes. Consume warm 5 times a day.
Protome 5 tsp. raw materials using a water bath in 2 glasses of water. Let the mixture sit for 45 minutes. and cleanse the grass. Drink half a glass 4 times a day. Use for diseases of the urinary system, will help to normalize the menstrual cycle.

Delicious and healthy tea made from white lamb is able to eliminate headaches, calm the nervous system and relieve insomnia

Decoction from white lamb can cure diathesis in children. 2 tbsp. l. should be insisted in half a liter of boiling water for an hour and a half. Babies under 2 years old should be given 1 tsp. 3 times a day, children from 2 to 5 years old 1 tbsp. l., and children older than a quarter of a glass.
Delicious and healthy tea is able to eliminate headaches, calm the nervous system and relieve insomnia. In 250 ml. boiling water must be poured 1 tsp. flowers. After 5 min. the drink is ready. Drink 1 cup 3 times a day.
Lamb treats many diseases of the reproductive system in women. Infusion douches warm 2 times a day. It's easy to prepare: 500 ml. boil water for 3 minutes. from 30 gr. plants. Cool and drain.
Experts advise taking baths with hemorrhoids or skin problems. 6 tbsp. l. raw materials need to be insisted in a thermos with 1 liter of boiling water for 2 hours. Pour the mixture into the bath, take 15-20 minutes.
Decoction from the previous recipe can be used as compresses for burns, skin diseases, furunculosis and bleeding.

Common varieties

Plant lamb - types of flower, planting and care

Lamb is divided into several varieties. Each variant has its own color of buds and leaves. Distinctive features are the shape and height of the plant:

The Golden Anniversary cleaver has yellow flowers and is popularly called zelenchukovaya. She has yellow inflorescences and miniature leaves. Lamb spotted Golden Anniversari is often planted in gardens and flower beds;
Purple Dragon is the most common variety, called "red nettle". Dragon has the widest prevalence;
Lamium Pink Chablis has pink flowers that are located in the nodes of the leaves with a clear green-white pattern;
Lamium is a bush on which white buds bloom. The second name is "deaf nettle".

There are several other varieties of Lamium Maculatum that have unique bud color, leaf shape and plate shade.

When and how it blooms

Different species have unique flowering periods. It usually starts in May and ends in October. Flowers in each variety have the same structure, but different color and size.

Cleaver flower

Types of flowers

Flowers can be of different colors, ranging from dark purple to white.

Flower shapes

The bud is shaped like a snapdragon (Antirrhinum). The flower can reach a length of 2-3 cm.

Flowering period

Flowering begins in late spring and continues until late autumn.

Changes in care during flowering

During the flowering period, you need to carefully monitor the soil moisture and carry out periodic feeding - once every 2-3 weeks.

Zelenchuk yellow (Zelenchuk lamb) - Galeobdolon luteum Fam. Lipocytes

Zelenchuk yellow (Galeobdolon luteum) is one of the most common plants in oak forests. When you walk through the forest, solid

zelenchuk often stretch for many tens, and sometimes several hundred meters. Zelenchuk is a squat plant pressed to the soil. When Zelenchuk blooms, it looks a bit like "

"(This is sometimes called the white lamb), but only its flowers are light yellow.

very similar: their corolla is two-lipped, such a flower structure is characteristic of the family of labiates, to which Zelenchuk belongs.

Zelenchuk blooms in late spring, a little later than bird cherry. Flowering does not last long - two weeks. At the end, yellow two-lipped corollas fall to the ground and a green cup in the form of a funnel with five long teeth along the edge remains on the plant from the flower. At the bottom of the calyx, over time, a dry fruit ripens, consisting of four separate small lobules of an irregularly angular shape. The name "zelenchuk" was given to the plant, probably because it remains green all year round - both in summer and

... There are a lot of such herbs in our forests, but for some reason only one of them is called zelenchuk. The appearance of this plant is very variable. Only such signs as a tetrahedral stem and opposite arrangement of leaves never change. And the leaves themselves vary greatly in size and shape - from more

, slightly similar to nettle leaves, to small, almost

... The stems are also very different - some are short, erect, others are very long, creeping, with bunches of roots in some places. It is hard to believe that such different stems and leaves belong to the same plant. However, the leaves of zelenchuk, strongly differing in shape, have one common feature - a characteristic, rather unpleasant smell, which is clearly felt when rubbing a fresh leaf with your fingers. Zelenchuk can be easily recognized by its smell. This feature is much more reliable than the highly variable leaf shape. Zelenchuk is a vegetatively mobile plant: its long, creeping aerial shoots can quickly grow along the soil surface in different directions. That is why Zelenchuk almost always grows in dense thickets. Zelenchuk also has one more interesting feature - white, a little

on the upper side of some leaves. This pattern is made up of individual specks. Spotted leaves compare favorably with monochromatic green leaves, they are much more beautiful, more elegant and involuntarily attract attention. The white color of the spots can be easily explained: under the thin upper skin of the leaf there is a space filled with air. It is the air cavities that create the effect of white color. Zelenchuk is a typical inhabitant of the more northern oak forests of the European part of Russia, he does not go far south. You will not find him, for example, in the forest-steppe oak forests: here it is too dry for him. But in the oak forests of the forest zone, zelenchuk is often a massive, dominant plant. It also occurs in

, but not in all, but only in those that develop on richer soils.

Annual species

Purple lamb (Lamium purpureum), or Red nettle, is an annual or biennial species with a thin root and a short stem 5-25 cm tall, branched from the base. The leaves are small, oval or broadly oval, evenly toothed, the lower ones are petiolate, the upper ones are sessile. Flowers are helmet-shaped, from light to dark pink, sometimes white, sitting in the axils of the leaves, several in false whorls. Blooms from late April to early March to late September.

Hybrid lamb (Lamium x hybrida) is similar in every way to the previous species, differs in unevenly large-toothed leaves along the edges.

For decorative purposes, annual lambs are not used, they are often weed in gardens and vegetable gardens. Purple lamb has medicinal properties, but is recognized only by traditional medicine.

Interesting facts about the yarn

The variety of white lamb is a medicinal plant and flowers must be harvested in late spring until September. The leaves and flowers of this herb contain flavonoids, essential oil, saponins and tannins, organic acids (ascorbic, caffeic, coumaric, ferulic and others), choline and lamine (an alkaloid substance).
From the collected petals, tinctures are made, which are successfully used to treat acute respiratory diseases and bronchitis, as well as for skin problems (eczema, diathesis, urticaria or boils and rashes).

Since ancient times, the parts of the plant have been used by doctors to stop bleeding or colic, liver and kidney diseases, as well as to alleviate gynecological problems. Outwardly, the buds are prescribed as applications for bruises, burns, itchy rashes, wounds or abscesses. Lamb was also insisted and drunk as a remedy for insomnia and nervous diseases.

From young greens of this herb, you can prepare salads in spring using it instead of spinach or add chopped to borscht or puree soup. Young shoots of lamb should be canned, pickled and fermented, and the roots of the plant are used as asparagus.

Types of lamb: photo

Growing and care

Shade and cool places are ideal places to grow lambs. She is hygrophilous, although she is not afraid of high temperatures either. It is famous for the fact that the leaves have a high regenerative capacity, so its decorative effect is difficult to overestimate.

If you are going to plant cuckoo nettles in the soil, then make sure that the soil is loose enough, and then add humus - this will increase productivity. After the plant has finished blooming, cut it to the base (some varieties have a not very pleasant smell).

Shade and cool places are ideal for growing lambs.

Reproduction occurs mainly by division or cuttings. If you use seeds, then know that the lamb will bloom only after a year. In case you need to cover an impressive area with a decorative layer, the best choice would be yellow lucid. The Florentinum variety is popular with gardeners due to the fact that by autumn the leaves acquire a noble purple color.

Reproduction of lamb

Reproduction by dividing the bush

This is the most common way of propagation of the lamellar tree among gardeners, which allows you to preserve the distinctive characteristics of the variety and see the flowering of the bush next year. It is better to divide the bush in the spring. To do this, it is necessary to carefully remove it from the soil and divide it into several parts, leaving in each of them root shoots that can give new shoots. Then the separated seedlings are placed in pre-prepared pits and watered abundantly.

Reproduction by layering

With the help of cuttings, the lamb reproduces rarely. The procedure is performed, as a rule, in early autumn. Choose the strongest stems and carefully bend them to the ground, sprinkling them with a small layer of soil. With the onset of spring, young shoots that have taken root are separated from the main bush, since they will already be ready for independent development.