Content
Brunner's Variegata is a herbaceous perennial. The plant is often found as an element of landscape design. Planting and caring for a flower has its own characteristics.
Description of brunner variegata
The plant is a sprawling bush. The stems of the Variegata variety are densely leafy, slightly rough-pubescent.
The shape of the leaf plates is oblong, heart-shaped, but with a pointed end. Above the leaves are green, below they have a grayish undertone. At the edges, they fade to a creamy shade during the summer season.
The flowers of the plant are of a deep blue hue with a white spot in the center: outwardly, the buds resemble forget-me-not inflorescences
The buds of the Variegata variety bloom in late April or early May, wither after a month. If autumn is warm, then the plant can bloom again.
Brunner Variegata has good frost resistance: the bushes do not die at temperatures down to - 29 ° C.
Where grows
The Caucasus is considered to be the homeland of the Brunners. The plant is surprisingly unpretentious. The bush grows safely in the place of the site, where there is a lot of sunlight in the morning, and shade in the afternoon.
Growing from seeds
The seed is available for purchase at flower shops. You need to store it in the refrigerator so that it undergoes stratification. The optimal planting dates are February or early March.
In a clean container equipped with ventilation, poured flower soil or soil from the garden, mixed with humus. Grooves are made on the surface of the soil, seeds are laid in them, and covered with earth. The box with future seedlings is transferred to the refrigerator and left there for stratification for 4 months.
During the period of stratification, it is necessary to ensure that the soil is moistened, overcooling or overheating of the seeds should not be allowed: the temperature should not be lower than 0 ° С and not higher than + 5 ° С
After the time has elapsed, it is necessary to take out the container and transfer it to the windowsill. The sprouts should appear within the next 2 weeks. Plant care without features: watering, removing weeds, feeding with complex agents 2 times a month.
Flowering when planting seeds of Brunner Variegata occurs only in the third year after the transfer of the flower to open ground
Landing in the ground
And although Brunner Variegata is undemanding to care, knowledge of the characteristics of growing a crop allows you to get a strong and healthy plant. Without a transplant in good conditions, the bush can grow in one place for up to 15 years.
Site selection and preparation
It is recommended to find a place in the garden where the soil is well moistened with an admixture of clay. On the fertile, manure-fertilized lands of Brunner, Variegata grows abundantly, which leads to a violation of the stages of plant development. Unlike leaves, the rhizome does not have time to form so that the flower can successfully overwinter.
Special soil preparation is not required: dig up well and remove weeds, debris. If the soils are completely clayey, then compost is required to be added to the planting pit.
Planting stages
It is recommended to transfer Brunner Variegata to open ground in June-July to give the plant sufficient time to prepare for winter. A bush planted in spring can infect soil infections.
The plant is unpretentious: place a seedling in the prepared planting hole, deepen it slightly so that the root collar is at ground level, then sprinkle with earth and water abundantly. The top layer of soil must be mulched.
If the plant has a well-formed root system, then planting in open ground is performed as follows:
- cut off the aerial part, leaving the petioles of the basal leaves;
- inspect the rhizome, remove rotten or damaged parts;
- dig holes and place plants there, making sure that the root collar is not covered with soil;
- water the bush thoroughly, mulch.
Most gardeners prefer to plant Brunner Variegata at a short distance from each other: the plant grows very quickly and has a compact root system
The recommended distance between seedlings is 30-40 cm, but brunner grows well in tight conditions, so if there are a lot of bushes, they are planted more often.
Care
Brunner Variegata belongs to moisture-loving crops, therefore it is recommended to moisten the soil as it dries. On cloudy days and rainy seasons, the procedure is carried out less frequently.
An obligatory stage of care is mulching. It is carried out not only to retain moisture in the ground, but also to protect the plant from slugs. We recommend using sawdust, limestone or coffee grounds as mulch.
Gardeners successfully mulch Brunner Variegata with small twigs and leaves, which simultaneously provides the plant with useful substances
Any dried leaves, broken shoots or wilted buds must be removed throughout the season.
Diseases and pests
Humidity and shade are common causes of powdery mildew or brown spot. They are characterized by the appearance of whitish or brownish spots on the leaf blades.
To combat diseases, the affected parts of the plant are removed, and watering is reduced. From antifungal agents, it is recommended to use Bordeaux liquid, Fundazol.
Brunner Variegat's rhizomes are very attractive to rodents, so it is recommended to regularly stir up the mulch layer.
Pruning
The first pruning is carried out immediately after flowering: all the buds are removed. If you leave them on the plant, then fruits are formed. Brunners will spend a lot of energy on their maturation, which will negatively affect the appearance of the bush.
The second pruning is carried out on demand: if the second wave of flowering has begun, then the buds are recommended to be removed. Brunner Variegata will not have enough time to accumulate enough strength for a successful wintering by winter if the flowers are left.
Preparing for winter
Preparation for the winter period does not provide for special measures. The sheet plates need to be cut. Shelters for the Brunner Variegata are not needed. If the culture is grown in the northern regions, then you can cover the roots with a layer of mulch.
Some gardeners do not prepare the plant for wintering in any way: with the onset of frost, the leaves die off, and the roots successfully survive the season
Reproduction
Brunner's Variegata spreads quickly throughout the site, if it is not limited in time. But if you want to propagate a bush, then use the division method.
To do this, the bush is dug up, divided into several parts and planted. Before planting, damaged or pest-affected parts are removed from the plots.
It is necessary to ensure that the separated rhizome has several small roots: this will increase the chances of the seedling to gain ground in the ground.
Another breeding method is seeds. Brunner often spreads by self-seeding, if the flowers are not removed in time.
Photo in landscape design
Since the shrub grows very lush, it is used to create alpine bitters, flower beds, mixborders.
The bush is undersized, so it is planted in the foreground or among other flowers that love moisture and partial shade
In oriental styles, the landscape implies the presence of a water source, therefore, Brunner Variegata feels great near artificial reservoirs and fountains.
Brunner can also be used as a home decoration by planting it along the structure.
You can plant Variegata varieties for Brunner near garden paths to create beautiful compositions: the bush will gradually grow, forming a green carpet
Good neighbors for Brunners are peonies, rhododendrons, hosts. Beautiful compositions can be created if a juniper or horned goat goat or a fern is placed next to it.
Often Brunner Variegata is planted under trees, decorative driftwood or garden interior items are placed next to it.
Conclusion
Brunner Variegata is an unpretentious, beautiful perennial. It tolerates low temperatures well, but is picky about moisture, loves shade. The plant is used to create landscaping in parks, gardens. It should be borne in mind that the Variegata variety grows rapidly.
