Content
Jaskolka Bieberstein is a relatively little-known garden plant. It is more suitable for decorating large spaces in parks. But even there it is rarely found due to the exactingness of climatic conditions.
Description of the Bieberstein jasmine and characteristics
Perennial herb of the Clove family of the genus Yaskolok. Another name is Biberstein's hornfel. The international name Cerastium biebersteinii was given in honor of the German botanist Fyodor Bieberstein. Having entered the service of the Russian crown in 1792, the scientist in 1793 began work on a major work on the Tauro-Caucasian flora. The book also included the perennial Bieberstein fish.
The grass is undersized. The height of its stems is no more than 25 cm. The leaves are lanceolate, with a pointed tip and solid edges. Length from 0.2 to 3.5 cm with a width of 1-9 mm. White villi covering the leaf blades create the impression of a “felt” surface. The petiole is absent. Due to the villi, the overgrown Bieberstein chippings form loose tusses like a silver carpet. Leaves die off quickly in layers.
Flowering begins in the last decade of April and lasts until the end of May. In total, it lasts 40-42 days. In some years, the Bieberstein jaskelet can bloom in mid-April or early May. It all depends on how cold the spring was. But a solid white cover can only be observed for three weeks.
The effect of "snowdrift" is created by the gradual opening of the buds and the long lifespan of one flower: up to six days. The lifespan of an individual specimen depends on its position on the stalk of the chrysalis. The upper buds, which open at the end of May, retain their decorative effect only for 2-3 days.
Separate flowers at the Bieberstein jasmine are collected in loose semi-umbrellas at the tops of the stems. The diameter of the corollas is snow-white from 1.5 to 3 cm.
The plant bears fruit abundantly. Bieberstein's hornfelses have a very short period from flowering to seed ripening. It only takes 17-25 days. The first seeds ripen by the end of May. But mass fruiting occurs in early June.
Bieberstein's blooming laskolka does not look like a carpet, but like unmelted snowdrifts
Creeping stems, stolon-like. Root well at the earliest opportunity. The root system of Bieberstein's hornfel is powerful, but horizontal. Located shallow underground. It differs in that it easily penetrates into the smallest cracks in stones. And on occasion, it can also contribute to the splitting of rock.
Where grows
Yaskolka Biberstein is a Crimean endemic that grows only in the mountains. Its natural habitat is yayla. The plant is a relic of the Tertiary period, which ended 1.8 million years ago.
Prefers to grow on crushed stone slopes and rocks. It can be found below the yayla, but always close to its border. It is related to the species whose range is located:
- in Transcaucasia;
- in the mountainous part of the Balkan Peninsula;
- in Asia Minor.
In the photo, the Bieberstein jasmine is very similar to other representatives of the genus. But their growing conditions are different.
The popular name of the Biberstein jaskolka is the Crimean edelweiss, to which it resembles in color and shape of pubescent leaves
Bieberstein's hornfelter is unable to withstand the harsh northern conditions. He is a relative of the southern species, the similarity with which indicates the connection between the Crimea and the Mediterranean in the distant past. Nevertheless, in the wild form of the Bieberstein jasmine, it is not found anywhere except on the Crimean Peninsula. Due to its rarity, it is listed in the Red Book:
- Ukraine;
- Europe;
- Crimea.
The range of Bieberstein's hornfels as an ornamental plant is much wider. For acclimatization in other regions, the flower has been grown since 1945 in the botanical-geographical area "Crimea", which was subordinate to the Central Republican Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. The seeds were obtained from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, the rhizomes were collected during expedition trips to the Crimean Yayla.
The experiment was successful. In the Kiev region, the Biberstein jaskolka grew well without watering and bore fruit actively. Reproduction in this case was carried out by seeds planted in the ground before winter. From spring to autumn, the plant had a continuous growing season. The lifespan of one specimen was five years. A special advantage was recognized as the very easy survival of the Bieberstein hornfel during reproduction by layering or division of rhizomes.
In culture, yaskolka is used for carpet planting in dry, well-lit places. That is, where other ground cover plants die or lose their decorative effect. Due to the leaves, Bieberstein's hornfel retains its attractiveness even after flowering.
Reproduction methods
Bieberstein's hornfel uses all possible methods for reproduction. This is typical for plants that live in harsh conditions. In its natural environment, the hornfels can multiply:
- seeds;
- with the help of stolon-like shoots.
When breeding in gardens, additional methods appear: cuttings, layering and division of rhizomes.
Growing Bieberstein's chickweed from seeds is the most laborious way. Seedlings require special "mountain" conditions and do not tolerate excess moisture. But after the difficulties of the first year, the grass is propagated in other, more effective ways. If there is no one to get the planting material, the seeds are worth the labor spent on them.
Spring is the ideal time for Bieberstein's hornfelses to breed by layering. You just need to wait until the new shoots reach a length of 15-20 cm. Since the stems of the grass are creeping and easily take root, it often reproduces by layering without permission. That is, to get a new bush, the owner does not even need to make an effort. And to guarantee rooting, it is enough to sprinkle the layers with earth. In the fall, the new plant can be transplanted to a permanent place.
The transplanted Bieberstein chick will take root better if you cover the boundaries of the joints from drying out
Cuttings are best done during flowering. If this is not possible, the procedure can be carried out earlier or later. The yaskolka will take root.
The shoot is cut off, excess leaves are removed from it and deepened into the soil. Here you need to strike a balance: it is impossible for the soil to be very wet or overdried. For better rooting, the cut stem is covered with a jar or a cut five-liter PET bottle, since the cuttings need a greenhouse effect. But you can root planting material in ordinary greenhouses.
It is best to divide the rhizomes in the fall after the seeds have ripened. Although the chickweed is able to withstand the spring procedure.The horizontally located root system greatly simplifies the task. In fact, there is a need to undercut the sod. Under a part of the bush, the soil is carefully trimmed to a depth of about 20 cm. The separated chisel, together with the earth, is transferred to a previously prepared place, carefully laid, squeezed and watered with water to crush the soil.
Planting and caring for the Bieberstein jasmine
For all the difficulties of growing Bieberstein's hornfel from seeds, it is very popular with landscape designers. The overgrown curtains successfully mask landscape imperfections:
- hatches;
- slopes;
- boulders;
- unaesthetic areas of the garden.
But chickweed grows well not only in flower beds. It is often grown in flower pots and flowerpots. Although the plant has not been domesticated, the small amount of soil in the flower pots does not bother her. She "equates" flower pots with hollows in rocks filled with earth. And uses this patch of soil for growth.
When to sow seeds
In open ground, seeds are sown before winter before frost or in April after snow melts. The sprouted sprouts are thinned out, since due to the small size of the fruits, the sowing of the chick has to be thicker than necessary. In the phase of the 2-3rd true leaf, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving a distance of 5 cm between them.
In a greenhouse for seedlings, seeds are planted in February-March. The resulting seedlings are sorted, since not all of them grow full-fledged. They are transplanted to a permanent place in July.
Soil and seed preparation
Since Bieberstein's hornfels were not selected for growth, it requires the same conditions for growth as the wild-growing ancestor. Yaila is a plateau open to the wind and sunlight. And the water is very bad there. All reservoirs are below. The Crimean mountains are made of porous limestone, and the water that gets on the yayla almost immediately seeps down into the karst system of caves.
When growing Crimean chickens, these nuances must be taken into account. A well-lit place for a flower bed is chosen. If there is no desire to "chase" the plant throughout the garden. Bieberstein's hornfel planted in the shade will "crawl" to the illuminated place itself, but it is unlikely that it will suit the owner of the site.
The penumbra is not bad for the chisel, but in this case one should not expect luxurious "snowdrifts". Flowering will be relatively poor, although the plant will not die.
It is better to pick up stony soil. If you recall the yayla, then loam mixed with crushed limestone is best suited. The Bieberstein jasmine grows well on poor soils, so there is no need to worry about the nutritional value of the soil. Good drainage is essential.
Due to the size of the seeds of the Bieberstein chickweed, they are usually planted several pieces at once in one hole.
Planting Bieberstein chickens for seedlings
For planting seeds for seedlings, sandy loam soil is prepared, which is well permeable to water. Pick up containers meticulously. Moisture should not linger in them. For germination, an air temperature of 20-25 ° C is required.
Seedling care and planting in open ground
The seeds are planted at the end of February-April. The pots are placed in a sunny warm place. If the temperature in the greenhouse is right, the containers can be placed there. Watering no more than twice a week.
Seedlings are grown in portions: one container - one planting in the garden. Young shoots do not dive so as not to damage the fragile roots. Young chicks are planted under the open sky in early June.
Follow-up care
Planting a Bieberstein chick in open ground and then caring for it is much easier than growing seedlings. After transplanting the grass to a permanent place, it is lightly watered. In the future, the hornfel will need water no more than once every ten days.
A heavily overgrown curtain is pruned. And use the cut pieces as cuttings. Pruning the stems to get the chrysalis to bloom again is a bad idea.Bieberstein's hornfel is pruned once: immediately after fruiting, to give it a decorative look. The overgrown grass looks decorative and is able to provide the roots with nutrients.
The aerial part of perennial plants helps the roots to gain nutrients for wintering and starting a new vegetative period. Over-pruning weakens the root system. Re-flowering will be less abundant and new stems weak.
The shingle does not require winter care either. She is able to withstand the frosts of the Middle Lane without shelter for the winter. It is enough just to remove the dried stems.
Fertilization and feeding
Bieberstein's hornfel is capable of growing in very poor soil. But he will not give up fertilizers. Yaskolka responds well to the introduction of organic matter: mullein solution after transplanting to a new place and during the flowering period. Grass and mineral fertilizers are suitable. However, experienced gardeners advise against fertilizing Bieberstein's hornfels.
Diseases and pests
If the Bieberstein jaskolka has natural enemies, then they live exclusively on the yayla. As a garden crop, the plant is very resistant to pests and diseases. A fungal infection can affect Bieberstein's hornfels in only one case: waterlogged soil. Dry soil is better for chickweed than an abundance of moisture.
What plants is combined with
In landscape design, the Bieberstein jelly is used very widely. It is appreciated not only for its snow-white flowers, but also for its silvery foliage. On alpine slides and rockeries, it goes well with other inhabitants of alpine meadows:
- saxifrage;
- heychera;
- stonecrop;
- bells.
The white flowers of Bieberstein's hornfel well emphasize the brightness of the leaves of other plants. But in the company of the shingle, you need to select drought-resistant species.
White "snowdrifts" of Bieberstein's lice shade well any other bright colors
Conclusion
Jaskolka Bieberstein is an original and unpretentious plant that can decorate any garden. Suitable for beginner gardeners, due to its endurance and good survival rate.
