Lavater's girlfriend growing from seed when planting. What snow, what heat, what torrential rain, and lavater is still beautiful. Species diversity of lavatera flowers
Good afternoon, dear readers!
Any grower strives to ensure that his garden looks well-groomed and beautiful, while requiring minimal maintenance. Therefore, unpretentious plants enjoy well-deserved love and recognition. One of them is Lavatera. This beautiful flower seems to have been specially created by nature for lazy or very busy people. Lavater can be grown not only in the garden, but also on the balcony, as well as indoors.
There are both perennial varieties of this plant, and those that are grown during one season. Choose any kind of lavatera and enjoy its bright beauty.
Lavatera, also called the wild rose, belongs to the genus Malvov, which has only about 25 plant species that settled on the Australian continent, in East Asia and the Mediterranean. The name Lavater was given in honor of its discoverers - two brothers, Swiss doctors named Lavater. The wild rose was discovered and described a long time ago - in the 16th century, but it gained particular popularity about 2 decades ago. And now it is difficult to find a garden in which these bright and delicate flowers at the same time would not grow.
Lavater bushes can grow in height from 50 to 150 cm. The plant has powerful roots, strong branches and abundant green mass. The lobed, pubescent leaves grow in regular order. The flowers are large, up to 10 cm in diameter. In some species they grow singly, while in others they form spike-shaped inflorescences or brushes. The color of the flowers can be pink, yellow, white, crimson, purple.
The flowering period is long - from early summer to mid-autumn. Lavatera is suitable for cutting, the flowers remain fresh for more than a week. The plant can be grown in any soil, it is resistant to winds and drought.
Types and varieties of lavater with a photo
Variety Mont Blanc In horticulture, annual and perennial varieties are cultivated and a species that is grown as a biennial. The annual species is Lavatera three-month-old. For two seasons, "Lavatera tree" is grown. And "Lavatera Thuringian" is a perennial.
An annual plant growing up to 1.2 m. It has two forms of leaves: at the bottom of the bush they are heart-shaped or round-toothed, the upper leaves have 3 or 5 lobes. Flowers bloom in July. They are funnel-shaped and about 10 cm in diameter. The buds are formed in the axils of the leaves. The color of the petals can be white, pink or red. Flowering is plentiful.
Popular varieties:
- The Ruby Queen is a powerful branchy shrub that grows up to 1 meter in height, the flowers have a rich red color.
- The goddess of the sun is a large plant 110 cm high. The leaves have a rich dark green hue. Flowers in diameter - 6 cm, a variety of colors.
- Silver Cap - the variety grows up to 70 cm. The flower petals are pink with darker veins and a silvery sheen.
- Mont Blanc - the bush has a maximum height of 60 cm. Funnel-shaped buds have a delicate white color with dark veins.
- Beauty is a large plant with flowers of white, pink and carmine color.
- Novella is a compact variety suitable for growing in flowerpots. The maximum growth in a pot is 20 cm. It grows larger in open ground.
- White Sherub is a low bush (a little over 30 cm) with single white flowers of a decent size. Ideal for growing in pots and vases.
A biennial plant with straight 2-meter stems and oval-shaped leaves, up to 20 cm in length. Its flowers are shaped like hibiscus flowers. In the color of the petals there are darker veins, the main background, most often dark purple. Flowering lasts from early summer to mid-September. Variegated varieties have been bred. In gardens, most often cultivated:
- Candy Floss - a variety with pale pink buds.
- Rosea is a bright lavater of rich pink color.
Lavatera thuringian
A large branchy perennial plant up to 2 m high. The leaves can be round or heart-shaped, they have a slight pubescence. The color of the leaf plates is greenish-gray. In the lower layers of the bush they have a lobed shape. The flowers are solitary, the buds are painted in pink colors of various shades, the diameter of the inflorescences is up to 10 cm. Flowers are formed in the axils of the leaves, from where they grow on long pedicels. Common varieties:
- Bregon Springs is a tall, powerful bush up to 130 cm in height. The leaves are three-lobed, with a grayish tint. Crimson veins are noticeable on pink-purple flowers.
- Lilac Lady - a variety that blooms delicate flowers of a lilac hue.
- Barnsley Baby - a plant with white and pink buds.
- Burgundy Vine is a variety with pink inflorescences on which purple veins stand out.
- Ai Catcher - the flowers of this lavatera have a rich pink color.
In the southern regions of Russia, you can find a plant called Lavatera Primorskaya (it is also called Lavatera Bicolor). The bush of this variety grows to a height of 1.5 meters, the flowers combine two shades of lilac.
Mauritanian lavatera, which grows up to 80 cm, is also intended for cultivation in a warm climate. It has pubescent stems and rounded leaves with a pointed apex. The flowers are small, dark red, about 3 cm in diameter.
Lavatera Mauritanian 
Lavater is grown by seedlings in order to get it to bloom faster, because in the conditions of the middle zone of stable warm weather, you have to wait quite a long time. The wild rose is not afraid of heat and drought, but it can be sensitive to cold temperatures, as it grows in the wild in warm climates. In open ground, seeds are recommended to be sown in the spring, after the end of frost.
Growing lavatera in seedlings, sowing is done much earlier.
It is recommended to sow lavatera seeds for seedlings at home in the last days of February or early March. It is necessary to take into account the timing of planting plants in open ground. If you sow in March, by mid-May you will have strong bushes that can be planted in a flower bed. In warm regions, it is possible to transplant the lavater into a flower garden earlier. Therefore, it is better to start harvesting seedlings in February, and plant them in open ground in April.
The bottom of the seedling box is covered with a layer of expanded clay, and soil is poured on top. Lavater is not demanding on the composition of the soil, therefore, for growing seedlings, you can buy universal soil in a gardening store. The earth is pre-moistened. Seeds do not require soaking, they are sown dry, immersed about 1 cm deep. From above, the crops are covered with glass or film to create a greenhouse effect. Seedlings usually appear 1-2 weeks after sowing.
Shelter must be removed daily for a short while so that the plantings are ventilated. Keep the soil constantly moderately moist. It is best to water crops from a spray bottle with settled water at room temperature. Condensation from glass or film is removed so that it does not fall on tender shoots, otherwise the seedlings may rot.
Useful advice! Periodically turn the seedling box with the other side to the light so that the seedlings do not bend.
Even better if you install additional lighting next to the seedlings. Make sure that the lamp is located no closer than 30 cm from the seedlings. As soon as the seedlings get stronger, the top shelter is removed. Plants dive after the appearance of two pairs of true leaves, while pinching the root by 1/3.
Landing in open ground
Bushes are planted in open ground in rows, maintaining a distance of 20-25 cm between them. For tall varieties, support will need to be provided.
For a heat-loving plant, frosts are detrimental, therefore, lavater is planted in open ground in the middle lane no earlier than the second half of May. Otherwise, all your work on growing seedlings may be in vain.
- Before planting, you need to dig the ground with a shovel deep into the bayonet.
- For 1 square meter of flower beds, 5 kg of ready-made compost or humus must be added.
- In addition, mineral fertilizers are scattered on the soil surface by mixing one tablespoon of nitrophoska, superphosphate urea and potassium sulfate.
- All this will provide the plants with a supply of nutrients necessary for full growth.
Lavater should grow in a sunny place, otherwise the flowering will be much weaker. Choose open, well-lit areas for planting. All care comes down to watering in dry weather and breaking off faded buds. In hot, dry weather, the plant is watered once every 7 days.
On a note! Lavater does not like excess moisture, so if you doubt the need for watering, it is better to postpone it for another couple of days - this way you definitely will not harm the plant.
Trimming and shaping the bush is not necessary. In autumn, seeds are collected from the plant, which can be used later for planting. Closer to winter, lavaters prepare shelter for perennial varieties. The bushes are bent to the ground, fixed and covered with spruce branches on top or sprinkled with peat. You can also use dry leaves for this purpose.
fertilizers
For the entire growing season, the lavater is fertilized twice: fertilizing is applied to the soil before planting seedlings and after the first buds appear on the plant. Flowering bushes are fertilized with a solution of sodium sulfate and potassium sulfate, adding 1 tablespoon of each fertilizer to a bucket of water. Top dressing is especially important if the lavatera grows on poor soils.
To the delight of gardeners, lavatera belongs to those plants that rarely get sick. Of the pests, only aphids can attack her. At the first sign of the presence of a harmful insect, treat the bushes with a soapy solution, or apply an industrial insecticide.
Rainy weather can cause rust on the leaves of Lavatera. The spores of the fungus mature in yellow pustules, which are located on the underside of the leaf. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, the disease will quickly spread to healthy plants. If a fungal disease is detected, all affected leaves and stems must be removed. After that, the bush is treated with a fungicide. Good help drugs "Topaz" and "Hom". If the plant is severely affected, it is best to remove it completely.
Wild rose is good in both single and group plantings. With it, you can create a bright spot on a grassy lawn, or near tall shrubs and trees. Some use tall lavatery varieties to decorate a fence, outbuildings in a summer cottage.
You can successfully combine lavatera varieties with different colors of flowers in a group planting, alternately planting bushes with white, pink and purple flowers.
High and low varieties of wild roses are also combined with each other. The advantages of the plant include a long flowering period, lavatera can decorate the garden until the onset of frost. It also looks great in bouquets. Lavater can be planted in group compositions with dahlias, phloxes, asters, nasturtiums. Its beauty is emphasized by irises, sage and lanster. Lavater plantings can transform the most dull landscape.
Growing Lavater: video
If you want to have a beautiful flower bed on your site, but you don’t have time to care for the flowers at all, a lavater will help you out. Those who like variety can plant annual varieties of wild roses, and grow something else next season. In the case when you want to plant beautiful flowers and forget about planting troubles for several years, you can safely plant perennials. In any case, lavatera is a plant that will not disappoint you.
Planting and caring for an annual lavater are simple, so you can plant it in clay soil, where humus and sand are added. Seeds are not soaked - they can be sown immediately dry into the ground to a depth of no more than 1 cm. If you want the lavatera to bloom earlier, then it is advisable to plant it through seedlings. To make the plant grow more magnificent, the bushes are planted in lighted areas, watering once a week as the soil dries. By regularly feeding the plant, you can significantly improve its flowering and promote faster bud set.
... or seedlings
To quickly get seedlings, you can plant them in a greenhouse or immediately in the ground, but cover with a film. This should be done towards the end of April. The soil is prepared in advance - it is mineralized with fertilizers based on phosphates and potassium, humus or urea. Then the soil is lightly watered with warm water, and the seeds are sown to a depth of about 1 cm. From above, the planting is mulched and covered with peat. After 1.5 weeks, the first shoots appear, and already in May, seedlings can be planted in a permanent place. It is noteworthy, but the one-year-old lavater, planting and caring for which is so simple, can transform any garden in a short time. Lavatera self-sows in the fall, so next spring you will be provided with the seeds of this bright, beautiful plant. Lavatera blooms for almost a month, after which the formation of the seed box begins. Seeds are formed in a green box at the place where the flower dies. You can collect them after the box is completely dry - this means that the seeds are already completely ready for collection. If suddenly the seeds turned out to be wet, they should be dried, left to be stored in a paper bag until the next planting.
reproduction
For bouquets and more
If you want to decorate your site with original and unpretentious flowers, then information about what a lavater is, planting and caring for it, and other growing secrets will be useful and interesting. Gardeners give practical advice that will help spread the plant in almost any area.
Lavater in landscape design
If you want to decorate your territory and create an original composition, experts advise choosing a lavater that looks good on its own and goes well with other cultures. Many people are interested in how lavatera blooms, so there are many shades and the most common is white, pink, purple and purple. The flowering process is long and it begins in summer and ends after the first frost. It is recommended to combine this flower culture with irises, verbena, sage, delphinium and other plants.
Lavatera, planting and caring for which includes several mandatory procedures, looks great near sprawling shrubs and near large trees. Such flowers are also planted on lawns with grass. High grades are suitable for the formation of hedges and for decorating various buildings. In group plantings, several varieties of lavatera look great. If they have different heights, then you can get an amazing composition. It is important to consider the combination of colors.
Lavatera - varieties
On your site, you can plant three types of lavater: one-year, perennial and two-year, which is represented by a tree-like bush. The first two species will be discussed later, and as for the third type, you need to find out what the lavater looks like, as this plant has a straight and slender stem that reaches a height of up to two meters. Its leaves are oval and the flowers are red-purple. Flowering is observed from July to mid-September. The main varieties of tree-like lavater, planting and caring for which do not differ from other species: Rosea and Candy Floss.
Lavatera annual
The plants of this group are three months old and are characterized by lush bushes, from 50 to 120 cm high. The leaves are lobed and their color is light green. They are located along the entire length of the shoots and become smaller towards the top. In the description of the lavatera, it is indicated that in July single flowers appear in the axils of the leaves, which have a funnel shape. Their diameter is 10 cm. Flowering is abundant and lasts a long time. The main varieties are Beauty, White Sherub, Silver Bowl and Tanagra.
Lavatera perennial
Plants belonging to this group are called "Thuringian". The height of the shrubs reaches 2 m. The shoots are upright and branched. They are covered with heart-shaped or rounded leaves. When figuring out what a lavater flower looks like, it is worth noting that there is a hard gray pile on the leaves and stems. Inflorescences are racemose, and axillary inflorescences bloom in mid-June. The main varieties are Mystic Marilyn, Bregon Springs and Barnsley Baby.
Lavatera - landing
Seeds can be collected independently or purchased from a store. If they are of high quality, they will have a fan-shaped shape and a light brown or grayish color. The instructions on how to plant a lavatera emphasize the need to choose a good site and prepare the soil.
- The territory should not be in the shade, as the culture is photophilous.
- The pre-selected land must be fertilized with rotted manure, and then it is dug up according to the standard scheme.
- After that, the mineral top dressing is evenly distributed, which should include 1 teaspoon of superphosphate, urea, potassium sulfate and nitroammofoska.
- The final stage of site preparation involves leveling the ground with a rake.
How to plant a lavater in the ground?
To grow this flower culture on your territory, you can use two planting methods:
When to plant lavatera in open ground?
Landing should be carried out at a time when warm weather is already established, and it will be possible not to be afraid of frost. If you want to get early flowering, sow seeds for seedlings in boxes in late February / March. Planting lavater in open ground and planting seedlings should occur at the end of April - beginning of May. For warm regions, it is acceptable to sow seeds outside in March-April.
How to grow lavatera?
There are certain rules regarding the cultivation of the presented flower crop. In order for the lavater to develop and bloom in the garden and in other areas, it is not enough just to plant a flower, so you need to properly care for it. Proper feeding and watering is of great importance, and there are also a number of recommendations regarding the care of this flower crop.
Lavater in the flowerbed - watering
Proper development and abundant flowering cannot be imagined without good irrigation, which is carried out once a week, but keep in mind that the earth should dry well, if it rains, then the procedure should be rescheduled. During the dry summer, irrigation is recommended twice a week, pouring up to 20 liters of water under the bush. During a strong and prolonged heat, experienced gardeners advise spraying garden flowers, but make sure that water does not get into the buds, as they will deteriorate. You can apply to preserve moisture.
Lavatera - care
- In order for the lavater to grow well, planting and care include loosening the soil and the procedure must be carried out once a week until the height of the bush reaches 1 m. After that, loosening should be stopped, as there is a risk of damaging the roots.
- While the flower is small, be sure to remove the weeds, but this procedure will disappear by itself, as they will not grow with adult plants.
- When growing perennial varieties, they are not cut off, but simply cut off already faded inflorescences. After the rain has passed, it is recommended to remove the flowers that have wilted, because they will convert moisture into mucus due to water, and it is dangerous for the leaves, because it will burn them.
- Many are interested in whether the lavater is afraid of frost or not, so you don’t need to completely dig out the flower, but some protective procedures are still mandatory. You should bend the bushes to the ground, fix them with staples and sprinkle with leaves or spruce paws.
- Plants of large varieties need additional support.
Lavatera garden - top dressing
Loose, light and nutritious soil is necessary for proper development. The instructions on how to grow a lavater indicate that top dressing should be carried out twice before the formation of buds and after that.
- If fertilizers were not applied before planting, then care implies top dressing 20 days after planting. For this you need to use a solution, for the preparation of which 1 tbsp is taken in a bucket of water. spoon and the same amount.
- If fertilizers have been applied, then during the formation of buds, lavators, planting and care will include the use of such top dressing: 1 tbsp is taken per bucket of water. a spoonful of sodium and potassium sulfate.
How to propagate a lavatera plant?
To increase the number of plantings, no special procedures are needed, since reproduction occurs by self-sowing. It is worth noting that the lavater in the garden does not lose signs of its variety and bright color. If, as a result of self-sowing, the flowers spread to territories not intended for its reproduction, then you will have to wait until the seedlings grow up in order to transplant. You can collect seeds yourself and this is done in the fall. Shoot whole boxes without gutting them. In the spring, plant them in a new flower garden. The survival rate of the lavater is 100%.
Lavater in the flowerbed - diseases and pests
The plant is resistant to various diseases and pests. In rare cases, some problems are possible:
- Lavater flower, planting and caring for which must be carried out according to the rules, can be affected by aphids. To cope with insects, it is necessary to wash them off with a soapy solution, or spraying with a systemic preparation can be carried out.
- Another possible problem is rust (a fungal disease). It manifests itself as yellow or orange pustules, which are located on the leaves from the underside. When they ripen, they crack and spores come out of them, infecting healthy plants. To deal with the problem, remove the affected parts, and then spray, for example, with Topaz or.
This article is devoted to a wonderful flower - lavatera, growing it from seeds, tips on how to plant and how to care for this unpretentious plant. The lavatera flower is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful, often called the lavatera garden rose. Despite the fact that the changeable fashion has not bypassed even flowers, lavatera has firmly taken its place in our farmsteads.
Lavatera or hatma (lat. Lavatera) is a genus belonging to the Malvaceae family. These plants are shrubs, herbs or low trees. There are perennial lavatera, annual lavatera and tree-like or biennial lavatera. The genus is relatively rare, has only 25 species, its natural habitat is the countries of the Mediterranean, Australia, Central Asia, North America.
Plant height varies from 0.5 to 1.5 meters. It has a powerful rhizome, a thick stem and regular large leaves, most often pubescent. The flowers are white, all shades of pink, raspberry and purple can reach a diameter of 10 cm. They are collected one or more in spicate or racemose inflorescences. Flowering continues from early summer to autumn.
Breeders love this plant, new varieties are constantly appearing. Let's look at the varietal and species characteristics, vegetation and appearance of the lavater.
Lavatera three months old
L. three-month-old is grown as an annual. This is a plant with a powerful stem up to 120 cm. The flowers are solitary, large, in some varieties up to 12 cm in diameter. Popular varieties:
- Lavatera "Silver Bowl" - medium height, about 70 cm in height. The flowers are large, salmon-pink with darker veins.
- Lavatera "Novella" - suitable for indoor and container floriculture. In a pot it reaches only 20 cm, in open ground - up to 60. It blooms very early with large pink flowers.
- Lavater "Mont-Blanc" - medium-sized, up to 75 cm high, with large white flowers.
Lavatera three-month "Novella" 
Lavatera three-month "Mont-Blanc"
- Lavatera "Ruby Queen" - tall, up to 1 m tall, with carmine-red flowers up to 10 cm in diameter.
- Lavatera "Beauty" - medium-sized, up to 70 cm tall, fast-growing and cold-resistant. The flowers are pink, carmine, white.
- Lavatera "Moonlight" - tall with a stem up to 1.25 m tall. Large, up to 10 cm in diameter, flowers are pale pink, have a silvery sheen. Blooms until frost.
- Lavatera "Melange" - high, up to 90 cm in height, branched and strong. Flowers 6 to 9 cm, white, pink or red.
- Lavatera "Bride" - medium height, up to 70 cm, with white flowers.
- Lavatera "Tanagra" - undersized up to 50 cm, flowers are pink, small, up to 5 cm in diameter.
- Lavatera "Enchantress" - tall, up to 1 meter, flowers up to 6 cm, white, pink and crimson.
- Lavater "Ruby" - high, up to 1 m, flowers are large, up to 10 cm in diameter, ruby color, blooms all summer.
Lavatera three-month "Ruby"
Lavatera thuringian
L. thuringian or dog rose is a perennial plant with powerful stems, sometimes reaching 2 meters, with hard gray-green leaves. It usually blooms in all shades of pink. Petals strongly narrowed at the base, with gaps. The long-term lavatera is more capricious than the three-month-old lavatera, which is probably why they forgot about it a little. But lately, fashion has returned, and new varieties appear on sale, most often foreign selection, more compact forms appear and the color range expands.
- Lavater "Barnsley" - a distinctive feature of the variety is that on one bush at the same time there are a large number of white and pink buds of various sizes.
- "Lailak Lady" - blooms with lilac flowers.
- "Ai Catcher" - bright pink flowers.
- "Bredon Springs" is a highly branched shrub with dense foliage up to 1.3 m in height. The flowers are pink-purple, with reddish veins. Requires shelter for the winter.
Lavatera Thuringian "Lailak Lady" 
Lavatera Thuringian "Bredon Springs"
Other types
Four more types of lavatera are grown, which are cultivated in open ground only in the south. In the conditions of the middle zone, these are rather greenhouse plants.
Tree-like or two-year-old can reach a height of up to two meters. They have large leaves up to 20 cm long and purple flowers with darker veins, they look like Chinese hibiscus flowers. The flowering of this plant is short, from July to August. Mostly grown in containers.
Primorskaya l. (bicolor) has lilac flowers in two shades.
Lavatera arborescens or biennial 
Lavatera seaside (bicolor)
The Cretan lavatera has lilac or purple flowers on pubescent stems.
Mauritanian l. - flowers are purple, stems - pubescent.
Lavater breeding
How to grow lavatera? It propagates by seeds, their germination, if properly stored, is good. In order to collect the seeds in time, after the boxes turn brown, pick one and lightly knead it with your fingers. If the seeds spill out easily, have a gray-brown color, they are already ripe. Shake them out of the boxes on paper, dry them in a dry, well-ventilated area. Seeds are stored in a paper or cloth bag.
Lavater seeds
They can be sown directly into the ground, or you can grow lavatera from seeds through seedlings, followed by picking. This is done when it is necessary to receive flowers as early as possible or in regions with a cool climate.
Sowing seeds in open ground
The seeds of a three-month-old lavator are sown directly into the ground in April-May, when warm weather sets in.
The soil is dug up, leveled, shallow grooves are made, watered with warm water. Seeds are sown, buried in the ground and covered with lutrasil. Sprouting shoots in warm sunny weather ventilate. When the shoots reach 5 cm, the covering material is removed, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving the plants at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other and lightly spud.
Be sure to water young plants. Give the first top dressing with liquid or water-soluble fertilizer a week after opening.
It is quite easy to grow a perennial lavater from seeds. They are sown in the ground in early spring. Shoots appear in a few weeks, when the soil warms up to 15 degrees. Growing seedlings are looked after, as well as seedlings of one-year-old lavater - they are watered, thinned and spud.
Seeds should be sown as infrequently as possible so that fewer young plants have to be removed. After thinning, sprouts will remain, they can be rooted if, before planting, pinch the root by 1/3.
Believe me, once having grown a flower, it is already impossible to stop. This process is not fast, rather complicated, but from this ...
Growing seedlings and caring for them
To determine when to plant lavatera for seedlings, you need to know when warm weather sets in in your area. If the plants are supposed to be planted in May, we will sow in March.
First you need to prepare the container. If you need a large number of seedlings, take shallow wooden boxes, in which the planks are tightly fitted to each other. When you need few seedlings, you can take shallow bowls. Put drainage at the bottom, fill in the soil and tamp it well. Tampering is necessary so that the seeds do not fail during irrigation, then they simply will not sprout. Pour 2-3 cm of sifted soil on top, spill the ground well with warm water. When the water is absorbed, sow the seeds as infrequently as possible and sprinkle them with earth. Install labels with the name of the variety.
Cover the boxes with glass or transparent film, find a warm, bright place for them. Maintain humidity, ventilate and remove condensation. When the seeds germinate, the glass or film can be removed.
When two pairs of true leaves appear, plant the seedlings in pots with a diameter of 5 cm, pinching the roots 1/3. Most likely, it will be required, otherwise the seedlings can stretch out and lie down. Water the newly planted plants a little every day, when overflowing there is a danger of the appearance of a black leg - a specific disease of seedlings and young seedlings, leading to the death of the plant. After 10 days, feed with universal fertilizer diluted 2 times weaker than it is written in the instructions.
Transplanting seedlings into the ground
When warm weather is established at least 15 degrees, plant seedlings. Choose a location that is well lit throughout the day. Dig up the ground by adding organic fertilizers for digging, just do not overdo it, this plant does not like too rich soil. Level the ground, dig holes and water them abundantly. When the water is absorbed, plant the plants. Water daily for the first ten days.
seasonal care
Lavatera is a hardy plant, and if planting and caring for it at first seems difficult to someone, it will pay off with a beautiful long flowering. Lavatera grows on almost any soil, it is cold-resistant, withstands prolonged drought. True, if the summer is dry, watering is still necessary, infrequent, but plentiful.
She needs top dressing only a couple of times per season - at the beginning of the growing season, when she takes root in a permanent place, and during the budding period. Another top dressing will be required for those varieties of three-month-old lavatera that bloom until frost.
Large plants require support. Weeds must be weeded out, and the soil under young plants must be loosened. When the culture grows up, we stop loosening so as not to damage the roots. The question is often asked whether it is necessary to pinch the lavater. The answer is no. Lavater is not pinched. It is necessary to cut off the faded branches so that the flowering lasts a long and plentiful. Also, annual plants are cut after flowering.
As you can see, after the lavatera has taken root, growing and caring for it is a simple matter.
Diseases and pests
When planting Thuringian Lavater, keep in mind that it has a tendency to rust. It's hard to fight her. As a preventive measure, even before the start of budding, the plant can be treated twice with an interval of 2 weeks with a copper-containing preparation. If the disease still manifests itself, the affected parts or the entire plant must be removed from the site. Do not plant lavater on the infected area for several years.
This flower is threatened by the invasion of aphids - treat it with insecticides and fight anthills.
Other pests and diseases are rarely affected.
With the advent of spring, the trees are covered with leaves, green grass breaks through and the first flowers bloom. Summer residents…
Application in landscape design
Lavatera in the garden is always a welcome guest. It looks great as a tapeworm (single focal plant) and in group plantings. It is used when creating large and small landscape groups, mixborders, as a border and in solid plantings.
In parks, planted on a well-visible slope, these flowers from afar can seem like a ruby carpet, if the color is chosen accordingly. As a backstage, when it is necessary to separate one part of the garden from another, tall varieties will look great.
Any perennials and annuals of blue and purple color of the appropriate size - verbena, sage, can become a companion for lavatera. When planted together with roses, the flowers will set off the beauty of each other.
If you have a small area, but you want to have plants of different colors, you can buy a Melange lavatera mix or a Podruzhka lavatera mix, made up of tall plants of different colors. Lavater flowers look great in bouquets.
We told you how to properly care for a beautiful lavater plant. As you can see, this is a simple matter. Just follow a few easy rules so that the plant that grows in your garden gives joy and lush flowering until the frost.
Lavatera is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. The name is given in honor of the Lavater brothers - famous Swiss naturalists and doctors of the 17th century. The people call the flower wild rose, hatma. The genus includes about 25 species that can be found in the natural environment in the Mediterranean, East Asia, and Australia. As a horticultural crop has been grown since the 16th century.
Botanical description
There are annuals and perennials. The root system of the lavatera is well developed. Strong stems reach a height of 0.5-1.5 m. Lobe leaves are arranged alternately, painted green. Leaves and stems are covered with hairs. The flowers are 10 cm in diameter, painted in white, yellow, raspberry, purple, pink. They grow singly or in several pieces in spike-shaped or racemose inflorescences.
When does lavatera bloom?
Flowering starts in early summer and lasts until mid-autumn. Cut flowers delight in a vase for more than 2 weeks. The plant is very unpretentious in care: it is drought-resistant, it is not demanding on the composition of the soil, it is not afraid of strong winds.
Preparations containing plant extract are used in the treatment of colds, coughs, intestinal disorders, gastritis, headaches, gynecological diseases, muscle and joint pain.
Growing lavatories from seeds at home and in the garden
How to sow in the ground
Lavatera is grown from seeds. You can sow seeds directly into the ground, and for earlier flowering, seedlings should be grown.
- Sowing seeds of Lavater in open ground is carried out in late April-early May.
- Add 1 bucket of compost and 2 tablespoons of nitrophoska per 1 m² for digging. Level the soil, make shallow grooves deep, pour warm water and sow the seeds. Sprinkle on top with a layer of garden soil mixed with humus in equal proportions. Press the ground down a little. Crops should be covered with foil. Shoots will appear in a week. When the sprouts reach a height of 5 cm, the shelter should be removed. Thin out the seedlings, loosen the soil, lightly hilling the plants.
- Choose a sunny location with light, loose, well-draining soil.
- Keep a distance of 20-25 cm between rows.
- Embedding depth 1-2 cm.
- Sow less often, so as not to break through later, at a distance of 8-10 cm.
- Water moderately, make sure that there are no weeds, loosen the soil periodically after watering.
- When the plants grow up, extra bushes are planted, trying not to damage the roots. The final distance between the bushes should be 20-25 cm.
- For tall species, supports should be installed.
When to sow lavatera for seedlings
- Sow seeds for seedlings in early March, so that they can be planted in open ground by the end of spring.
- Take the boxes, place a drainage layer on the bottom, fill the rest of the space with soil intended for growing seedlings (sold in any flower shop).
- It is very convenient to plant seeds one at a time in cassette cups or peat tablets.
- Pour the soil with warm water, plant the seeds to a depth of 1 cm.
- Cover the crops with film or glass.
- Ventilate, moisten the soil from the spray gun as necessary.
- After a couple of weeks, seedlings will appear, which will require bright lighting and a long daylight hours. With the advent of seedlings, remove the shelter.
- In order for young sprouts to develop evenly, it is necessary to periodically rotate the container around its axis.
- In mid-May, start hardening the plants and by the end of May, plant them in open ground at a distance of 20-25 cm between the bushes.
How to care for lavater in the garden
Watering and loosening the soil
Watering is necessary moderate. Once a week, 2-3 buckets of warm water should be applied under each bush. If the summer is cool, water even less frequently. Can be content with rainfall.
Loosen the soil until the lavater reaches a height of 1 m, since in the future there is a risk of damaging the root system.
Garter and sanitary pruning
In order for sprawling, large bushes to look neat, they need to be tied up.
After rain, withered buds turn into a slimy mass that leaves burns on the leaves - remove them in time.
top dressing
If you applied fertilizer for digging, then the first top dressing can be skipped. Otherwise, the first time should be fed as soon as the plant gets stronger after planting - dissolve 1 tablespoon of urea and nitrophoska in 10 liters of water. The next top dressing is carried out with the beginning of the formation of buds. Take 10 liters of water and dissolve sodium sulfate and potassium sulfate in them, 1 tablespoon each.
Diseases and pests
Diseases and pests rarely bother the plant.
Rust damage is possible - yellow, brown, brown spots will appear on the underside of the sheet. Remove damaged leaves, treat with Bordeaux liquid or topaz. In advanced cases, it is better to dispose of the lavater to avoid infection of healthy plants.
Occasionally there is an invasion of aphids - small greenish insects attack young leaves and stems. Rinse the aphids with water, then treat with an insecticide.
How to collect seeds
In place of faded flowers, greenish seed pods appear. They usually ripen by the beginning of autumn. Dry brown seed box testifies to maturation. It is necessary to open and, if the seeds are brown-gray in color, easily spill out, they can be safely collected. Carefully cut off the boxes, shake out the seeds on paper and dry in a dry, well-ventilated area. Store in a paper bag or linen bag.
Preparing for winter
In the autumn, annual lavaters must be removed from the site and composted (burned), the site should be dug up. Thanks to self-sowing, a flower bed can appear on this place in the spring on its own.
Perennial lavaters need shelter for the winter. Bend the stems as low as possible to the ground, secure, cover with spruce branches, dry leaves or non-woven material.
Types and varieties of lavater with photos and names
Lavatera three-month-old Lavatera trimestris
Shrub 1.2 m high. The lower leaves are rounded or heart-shaped, have teeth along the edges, the upper ones are divided into 3-5 lobes. Flowers with a diameter of 10 cm are located singly in the axils of the leaves. The color of the corolla can be white, pink, burgundy. Abundant flowering begins in July.
Varieties:
- Silver Cap - reaches a height of 70 cm, pink corollas have burgundy veins and a silvery sheen.
- Mont Blanc - the stem stretches 60 cm. The flowers are white with dark veins.
- Ruby Queen - a powerful branched stem stretches to 1 m. The flowers are bright burgundy.
- Beauty is a strong bush with large flowers of white, pink, dark pink color, thanks to the pubescence, the flowers sparkle.
- The goddess of the sun is a bush 1.1 m high. The leaves are dark green. Corolla with a diameter of 6 cm is painted in various shades of pink.
- Novella - lavater 20 cm high.
- White Sherub - reaches a height of 35 cm. The flowers are large, white.
The last 2 varieties are also grown in pots, containers.
Lavatera Thuringian or Khatma Thuringian, Dog rose Lavatera thuringiaca
A powerful perennial plant about 2 m high. The leaves are heart-shaped and rounded, have a hard pubescence, painted in gray-green color. Single pink flowers appear on long pedicels in the axils of the leaves.
Varieties:
- Lailak Lady - lilac corollas;
- Ai Catcher - corollas have a dark pink color.
- Burgundy Vine - pink corollas have dark purple veins.
- Barnsley Baby - the color of the corollas is white and pink.
- Bregon Springs - a bush 1.3 m high. The leaves are three-lobed, painted gray-green. Corollas are painted in pink-lilac color, crimson veins.
Lavatera tree Lavatera arborea
A biennial plant about 2 m high. The flowers are purple-red, have darker veins. The globular seed pods look like cheese heads.
- Rosea - has spectacular pink flowers.
- Candy Floss - pale pink corollas.
Lavatera seaside Lavatera maritima = Lavatera bicolor
A bush 1.5 m high. The color of the corolla connects 2 shades of lilac.
Cretan Lavatera Lavatera cretica
Plant 1.8 cm high. Stems and leaves are pubescent. Leaves 20 cm long are divided into 5-7 lobes. The edges are serrated. 2-8 flowers of lilac, purple color are collected in the axils of the leaves.
Lavatera Mauritanian Lavatera mauritanica
Reaches a height of 80 cm. Upright stems are pubescent, well branched. Rounded leaves are divided into lobes. Purple corollas reach a diameter of 3 cm.
