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Summer white flower (Leucojum aestivum) is a bulbous perennial. Translated from the Latin language means "white violet". The shape of the flower resembles both a lily of the valley and a snowdrop, however, with a larger bud. Grows equally well in open ground and in a pot. It resists pests and diseases well, tolerates frost well, but does not like drought. The white flower is listed in the Red Book. It is categorized as "Vulnerable", that is, in wildlife there is a great threat of their complete extinction, despite successful human reproduction.
Plant history
To date, only 2 species of white flower have been cultivated: summer and autumn. This was done by English gardeners back in 1588. Although the flower is still considered a neophyte, since its popularity came only recently. It has just begun to be used in landscaping, parks and home gardens.
In Soviet textbooks, the first mention of the summer white flower is present in the 30th volume "Flora of the USSR".
The flower grows equally well in open ground and in pots
Description of the summer white flower
The plant belongs to the Amaryllis family. Bulbous and herbaceous representative of the species. Stretches up to 40 cm in height. The flowering of the summer white flower occurs in late spring and summer.
The leaves of the plant are characterized by:
- linear form;
- belt-like, 2-4 pieces;
- appear during the flowering period.
Flowers grow in umbellate inflorescences, can be solitary. Over time, they droop. Up to 3 cm long, broadly bell-shaped. They can be white or pink. The perianth is represented by 6 leaves, on the top of which spots may appear: yellow or green.
Summer white flower is distinguished by an interesting structure of the root system. Along with a perennial and thick root, it has bulbs. They are equipped with several webbed white scales that are closed to each other. After a certain period of time, part of the roots from which the plant was formed dies off.
The fruits of the summer white flower are represented by a fleshy box. It contains many seeds of a round and oblong shape. Some of them have brown or black appendages.
White flower tolerates frost well
Where does the flower grow
The homeland of the summer white flower is the middle part of Europe, Turkey, the Mediterranean and Iran. Also found in the wild in North Africa, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania and Italy.
In Russia, in natural conditions, the white flower grows in the Krasnodar Territory and on the Crimea Peninsula.
Reproduction methods
There are two ways to grow a summer white flower:
- vegetatively;
- with seeds.
In the latter case, sowing is carried out immediately after collecting the seeds of the white flower. The air temperature should not fall below +22 aboutC. If the beds are watered abundantly, the first shoots will appear in 1.5 months. In this case, flowering occurs only in 6-7 years.
In a vegetative way, the summer white flower can be propagated in late August or early September. The main advantage of the technique is that you can see the first flowers as early as 3-4 years after planting.
The method of division with paired scales is recognized as the best vegetative method. To do this, you should take several sequential steps:
- Divide the onion into 6-8 parts, making cuts lengthwise, from top to bottom.
- Divide each received part into 2-3 "delenki", the main thing is that they have several scales with a fragment of the bottom.
- For 30 minutes, send each part to a 2% solution of "Fundazol".
- Prepare a soil substrate of perlite and peat in a proportion of 50% to 50%.
- Place the "delenki" of the white flower on a third of the bulb's height.
It is desirable that the temperature where breeding is carried out does not fall below +18 aboutC. This will allow the plants to take root quickly. As soon as the first 2-3 leaves appear, the seedlings are transplanted into the soil substrate. It must be lightweight. After transplanting, the summer white flower should be watered abundantly.
Once the bulbs have reached the desired size (2-5 cm in circumference), the plant can be transplanted to a permanent place.
White flower reproduces well vegetatively and with the help of seeds
Growing and care
Summer white flower prefers shaded areas. Feels good near ponds and shrubs. The soil must be drained and moist, it is desirable to saturate it with humus.
The summer white flower does not tolerate the high acidity of the soil, therefore, only rotted manure can be applied as fertilizer. To reduce acidity, rotted peat and a little lime are introduced. After planting the summer white flower, it is necessary to carefully monitor the thickness of the topsoil. It should be equal to two diameters of the bulb. If this rule is neglected, then a shallow planting will lead to a decrease in the root system with an intensive build-up of "children". The deeper you plant the bulb, the more it will grow and not give many shoots.
Basic rules of care:
- loosening the soil;
- watering;
- weed harvesting;
- top dressing.
In early spring, the white flower does not need watering. Irrigation is required only if the winter was without snow and rain, that is, the soil is dry. The main thing is that the water is not cold, it is necessary to use settled water.
To feed the white flower plant, complex mineral fertilizers are used, always in liquid form. They must contain nitrogen. It is he who stimulates the growth of the bulb. Phosphorus allows for a wild bloom.
Summer white flower does not require shelter for the winter, it tolerates frosts well. In extreme cases, it can be covered with spruce branches, if snow is not expected throughout all cold weather.
In the absence of additional introduction of moisture, the flower will not die, but it will not reach the required size in height
Pests and diseases
The plant resists pests and diseases well. However, sometimes, looking at a plot or photo of a summer white flower, you can see yellowish or greenish spots on the foliage, holes. These are clear signs of illness or that insects or rodents have appeared on the site.
The most common problems include:
- Bulbous nematodes. This is a small worm, as a result of whose vital activity, yellowish tumors appear on the foliage. The affected plant will have to be completely disposed of. The rest of the summer white flowers should be dug up and the bulbs should be thoroughly washed. Then send them into water for several hours. Its temperature should be at +40 aboutC. And only after that, plant it again in open ground, but in a different area. In flower beds where nematodes have appeared, nothing can be planted for 4-5 years.
- Slugs. This is a very rare problem and can be easily prevented. They appear on heavy and clayey soils. Therefore, before planting the summer white flower, the bulbs should be protected with sand and the soil should be treated with a remedy for these parasites.
- Fungal lesions typical for damp and warm weather, associated with the appearance of gray mold on the ground. The damaged parts of the white flower are destroyed, and the culture itself is treated with a fungicide.
- Moles and mice. Mammals are able to completely gnaw off the bulb and drag it into their burrow. If the plant begins to rot and develops slowly, then, most likely, part of the rhizome of the white flower has been damaged. To save it, it should be dug up, the affected area should be treated with ash and left in the open air for several hours.The wound should dry well, and only then can you plant it back again. You will have to set traps for mice and moles. It is also recommended to inspect the plantings, mice often choose turf with grass or perennial clumps for their housing. There should be at least 3 meters from planting plants, otherwise you will have to choose between them.
In general, all diseases and pests that affect snowdrops and other primroses are characteristic of the flower.
Conclusion
Summer white flower is a delicate flower that can decorate any garden plot. Does not require much attention to itself, but loves shade and moist, drained soil. It is easy to propagate both vegetatively and by seed. White flower is great for arranging alpine slides, decorating the entrance group and growing in pots.
