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Hosta is a perennial plant, in one place it can grow for more than 15 years. The culture is represented by numerous hybrid forms with different sizes and colors of leaves. Hosta American Halo is one of the most sought-after varieties among landscape designers and gardeners.
Sprawling hosta displaces nearby grassy crops
Description of hosts American Halo
The varietal name American Halo, which means halo (radiance), was given to the hosta due to the unusual coloration of the habit, which remains unchanged throughout the growing season. The Dutch hybrid was created specifically for ornamental gardening in cold climates. The frost resistance of the plant is within -35-40 0С.
A variety of American Halo is often found in the gardens of the Moscow region, the crop is grown in the European part, the Middle Belt, Siberia, the North Caucasus, and the Far East. Hosta is an integral design element of the resort area of the Black Sea coast. A thermophilic plant feels equally comfortable in subtropical and temperate continental climates.
American Halo grows rapidly; in the second growing season, the structure and color of the leaves is fully manifested, for which the plant is valued. The hosta reaches the end point of growth, declared in the varietal characteristic, in the third year after planting.
Characteristics of the American Halo hybrid:
- The shape of the hosta is dome-shaped, spreading, dense, height and width - 80 cm.
- Numerous leaves are formed from a basal rosette, located on long, thick petioles.
- The leaf plates are broadly ovate, with a sharp apex, thick with a rigid structure, smooth edges, length - 30-35 cm, diameter 25-28 cm.
- The surface is corrugated, the central part is painted in light green with a pronounced blue tint, the frame is white or beige. Hosta American Halo belongs to the variegated variety.
- The root system is superficial, highly branched, fibrous, the root circle is about 50 cm.
- The flowering period is 25-28 days, in June-July.
- Hosta forms 4-6 erect peduncles up to 1 m high.
- The racemose inflorescences are located at the top. They consist of drooping bell-shaped flowers, 6-incised, light purple.
The color of flowers depends on the lighting, in the shade they seem brighter
Variegated forms do not tolerate prolonged exposure to the sun. Light stripes along the edge of the sheet plate burn out. American Halo is a shade-tolerant representative of culture, its decorativeness is completely dependent on lighting.
Application in landscape design
The decorative host American Halo is appropriate in any composition. It is planted near water bodies, in the shade of large trees. The plant is universal in terms of design: it is combined with almost all types of flowering and ornamental shrubs, ground cover, dwarf forms of conifers. In combination with hosta they create mixborders with tall and creeping flowering plants:
- irises;
- peonies;
- roses;
- tulips;
- astilboy;
- primrose;
- rhododendron.
The host is planted at the foot of the thujas, blue spruces as a padding. Mass planting of crop varieties with different leaf colors is often used.Any flowering herbaceous plant may be adjacent to American Halo, if the culture does not shade and displace it from the site.
Several applications:
- designation of the perimeter of flower beds;
- creation of a mixborder with brightly colored seedlings;
- zonal division of the site;
- as a wildlife corner in the garden;
Hosts match perfectly with natural stone
- for tamping tall shrubs and trees;
The plant not only feels comfortable in the shade, but also decorates the root area
- for decorating a recreation area;
Irises, peonies and hosts complement each other favorably
- grown as a central focus;
- to fill the empty space at the edges of the rose garden;
- create border compositions;
The culture is often used as a tapeworm in rockeries and rock gardens. Include in group planting for Japanese-style gardens.
Breeding methods
American Halo is a hybrid variety that produces seeds in late summer. When multiplying in a generative way, the loss of decorative qualities is possible. It is better to purchase seedlings in a specialized store, and after three years of growth, propagate them with root rosettes.
You do not need to dig out the bush completely, with a knife they cut out a section with one rosette of leaves
Landing algorithm
The hosts are planted in the spring, when the green mass has formed to separate from the mother bush. The area for American Halo is set aside in shade or with occasional shading. The plant does not tolerate a waterlogged root ball, places in a lowland or with close groundwater are not suitable. The soil should be neutral, aerated, fertile.
If the material is purchased, it is placed on a site with an earthen lump, the plot is immediately planted in a hole without additional measures.
Planting works:
- A deepening under the host is made at the time of planting, a plot of about 1 m2 is dug under one plant.
- The depth and width of the hole is adjusted to the size of the root system of the seedling.
Put humus at the bottom and a pinch of nitrophosphate
- The hole is poured with water, a little soil is added and the hosta is planted in the liquid substance.
The distance between plants should be between 50 and 80 cm
- The soil around the seedling is compacted.
Growing rules
American Halo's agricultural technology is the same as that of other varieties of culture. Care activities include:
- So that the soil does not dry out, and there is no stagnation of water, watering is oriented towards precipitation. Sprinkling is recommended, but it is better to refuse it during the flowering period.
- Mulching for the hosta is mandatory, the root system is located close to the surface, so constant loosening can damage it, mulch will prevent the appearance of a crust and retain moisture for a long time.
- Weeding is carried out next to the host, and weeds do not grow under the crown.
- After flowering, the peduncles are cut off so that they do not spoil the decorative appearance.
Hosta American Halo is fed in spring with complex mineral fertilizers, 2 times a month, liquid organic matter is added to the root.
Preparing for winter
In cold climates, the green mass remains until frost, then dies off, at which time it is completely removed. Hosts can hibernate without an aerial part without shelter. American Halo is watered abundantly, the layer of mulch is increased, and nitrogen fertilizers are applied.
In warm climates, the leaves are not cut, and in the spring they are sanitized. Hosts do not carry out additional preparations for winter.
Diseases and pests
Crop hybrids are resistant to negative factors. The American Halo variety does not get sick if agricultural technology meets its biological requirements.
Root decay in swampy areas is possible, in which case the hosts must be transferred to a dry area. The appearance of rusty spots occurs at low air humidity and moisture deficit. To eliminate the problem, the irrigation schedule is being revised, and sprinkling is additionally carried out.
The main threat to American Halo is slugs. They are harvested by hand, and "Metaldehyde" granules are scattered under the bush.
The drug is used immediately after detection of pest stripes on the hosta leaves
Conclusion
Hosta American Halo is a perennial hybrid of Dutch breeding. Cultivate a culture for the decoration of gardens, urban areas, dacha or personal plot. The culture is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, high frost resistance, it grows in both cold and warm climates. It is valued for its large size and bright gray-green leaves with a yellow border.
Host Reviews American Halo
