Content
The lunar flower is an original plant that can delight the eye in a flowerbed in summer and in a vase in winter. It is very popular with gardeners. And the reason for this is its seed pods, with which you can make winter dry bouquets.
Description and characteristics
Lunar species belong to the genus Lunaria, which is a member of the Brassicaceae family. The botanical name of the genus comes from the Latin "Luna", that is, "moon". Lunaria received this name for the shape and color of the seed pods, resembling a night star.
The genus includes only 4 species:
- lunar (Lunaria rediviva);
- Lunaria telekiana;
- annual lunar (Lunaria annua / biennis);
- lunaria elongata,
For all its small numbers, the genus includes perennial and annual plants. The former include the reviving moon moon and the telekian lunaria. Of the latter, only an annual lunar is known, which can also be two years old. Nothing is known about the latter species. There is not even a picture.
General botanical description of the genus Lunaria
Lunaria are common on the European, Asian and North American continents. At the same time, each species has its own homeland. Through cultivation in gardens, two species of lunar were brought from the original mainland to other continents. The main "requirement" of the Lunar is a temperate climate.
The vegetative period in plants is from spring to autumn. The leaves are large, cordate, with jagged edges. They can be on petioles or without them.
The flowers are large, collected in clusters. The petals are long. The seeds are rather small, located in flat fruit pods, sitting on a petiole 1.5 cm long. After ripening, the walls of the achenes become transparent.
They are grown as horticultural crops and for the sake of drawing up winter dry bouquets.
Confusion often arises due to the fact that many gardeners give names to flowers, following their associations. This happened with a representative of not just another family, but even a different class - the primrose (Oenothera). The flower in the photo below is evening primrose, another name for which is yellow moon. But she Lunaria is not even a "relative" and belongs to the Cyprian family.
Gardeners are misled by the nearly round evening primrose / primrose flowers, which also look like the full moon
Annual and reviving lunars rarely coexist in nature. The second prefers a temperate cold climate. Example - Great Britain. Annual lunaria grows in more southerly regions.
Lunar species
The most common in cultural gardening are only two types: annual lunaria and reviving. Telekiana is much less common. But for gardeners, the most attractive one is the annual lunar. It is he who has round seed pods. Although reviving has its own advantages: once sowed and several years you can enjoy it.
Lunnik annual
Latin name Lunaria annua. The second part of the name means "one year old". But the plant has another Latin name: Lunaria biennis, that is, two years old.Many biologists consider this to be correct, since in nature, and most often in the garden, the lunar blooms only in the second year.
An annual lunar grows up to 90 cm in height and up to 30 cm in diameter. Its leaves are rough to the touch, large, pointed at the ends. Covered with bristles. The edges are prominently serrated. The lower ones are on petioles, the upper stem ones are "planted" on peduncles.
Flowers of white or purple tones, collected in loose panicles, appear in spring and summer. They are located at the top of the flowering stems. Petals in each flower 4
In autumn, flat seed pods with a diameter of about 3 cm appear on the annual lunar. Their walls are very thin, grains shine through them. Because of this, in English, Lunar is called honesty - "honesty". The fruits can remain on the bush throughout the winter.
After the pod opens and its walls fall off, a silvery membrane remains on the petiole 1.5 cm long. Before that, seeds were attached to it on both sides.
Other names for the lunar are "silver dollar", "Chinese coins", "Pope's money", "coins of Judas", "silver ruble"
Lunar reviving perennial
The area of origin is the European mainland. The range of this plant covers almost all of Europe, including the northeast of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. This species of lunar was introduced to the North American continent by man. Habitat: moist deciduous forests. In the mountains it occurs up to an altitude of 1400 m. Prefers slightly acidic soils rich in nutrients and humus. It can also grow on gravelly and clayey soil. In nature, it belongs to endangered species.
Lunnik reviving is a perennial herb. Peduncles 30-100 cm high, erect, branching at the top. Rough to the touch. Covered with whitish hairs.
Leaves are petiolate, heart-shaped. Hairy with short soft villi. The color of the upper part is dark green, the lower part is blue-green.
In natural conditions, it blooms only in the 5th year of life. In culture, already on the second, since with good soil and fertilization, the development of the plant is accelerated. Flower buds form in the fall. In April, shoots appear from them, and the first flowers in May.
Flowers are collected in loose panicles. The color of the petals is lilac. In contrast to the one-year "brother", the white-flowered form is rare. The length of the petals is about 1.4 cm. Flowering in April-June.
The fruits begin to form at the end of August. Seeds fall off in September. The pods are large, elongated, 4-5 cm long, sharp at both ends. The shape is oblong-elliptical. The seeds ripen in August.
The revived lunar is not very popular because of the pods that look like dry willow leaves
In the description of the reviving lunar, its undoubted advantage over the annual is mentioned: it can grow in shady places. Another plus - perennial lunaria can be propagated not only by seeds, but also by dividing rhizomes.
Lunaria Telekiana
Endemic to the Prokletians. Grows in Albania and Montenegro. The populations are few. It belongs to the endangered species. Habitat: humid rocky forests formed by European beech, limestone and dolomite soils.
Perennial plant, up to 1 m high. Leaves are pointed, ovoid. The edges are jagged. The length of the flower petals is 12 mm. Bloom from July to August.
Unlike the annual and reviving lunar, this representative of the Cabbage family has pink flowers and regular ellipsoidal pods. The length of the pods is 3-5 cm. There are few seeds in each: 3-4 pieces, rarely more.
Ellipsoids with blunt ends are more attractive than "dry leaves", but lose to round "rubles"
Reproduction methods of a lunar flower (lunaria)
The main breeding method of Lunarians is by seeds. Perennials are also bred vegetatively. But this method is not very popular with gardeners. Not least due to the fact that the lunar that comes to life in gardens is quite rare.
Growing conditions
When choosing a landing site, it is necessary to take into account the preferences of the selected species. Annual lunaria does not tolerate shading well. It is better to plant it in a sunny area. But if this is not the case, you can pick up a shaded place. The annual is tolerant of partial shade.
The reviving lunar should be planted in the shade or partial shade. Direct sunlight can cause leaf burns.
Planting and caring for dried lunar flowers in the open field
Any garden owner wants to get a flowering plant as quickly as possible. But the lunarists are distinguished by their slowness. Their development can be accelerated by keeping the little secrets in mind.
When to sow seeds
Lunar seeds are usually planted in the spring after the danger of night frosts has passed. Sow them immediately to a permanent place. In fact, this is what happens in nature. In this case, the annual lunar in the first year forms only a rosette of leaves. It will bloom in a year. Accordingly, perennial lunaria grown from seeds will give flowers only in the 5th year of life.
Seedlings can be used to grow all types of moons
Sowing seeds and aftercare
The soil at the selected place is dug to a depth of 20 cm and nutrients are introduced into it. Lunar seeds have good germination, and they can be immediately planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other so that adult bushes do not interfere with each other.
For reproduction, only dark brown, ripe seeds are chosen. After planting, they are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil and watered well.
At first, lunarists need a lot of moisture, so watering is carried out at least once a week, depending on the weather. The soil should be moist to a depth of 3 cm. Weeds are also controlled.
Sprouts appear 10-14 days after planting. After the leaves appear, watering is carried out early in the morning so that they dry before sunrise. You can also give the bushes water in the evening.
The annual lunaria does not require a transplant, but the reviving lunar sometimes has to be seated. If the bush has grown strongly, it is dug up in early autumn after flowering and the rhizome is divided. After that, you can immediately plant the bushes in another place.
Diseases and pests of the lunar plant
Lunaria are disease-resistant plants. But not everyone. Their scourge is fungal diseases:
- Root rotb, signs - growth retardation, wilting, yellowing. The roots may be swollen, mucus, twisted.
The cause of root rot is most likely in too high acidity of the soil.
- Leaf septoria: Appearance of round spots with gray centers and dark edges on them. The reason is the excessive crowding of plants during the rainy season.
Treatment for septoria is to remove all infected parts and thin out the plants.
- Powdery mildew... For treatment, the affected parts are removed and the plants are thinned out.
To prevent powdery mildew, flowers are treated with fungicides
Of the pests, the most annoying are the aphids and the cruciferous flea. The first is the scourge of the entire garden and the entire land plot must be cultivated. The second "specializes" in cruciferous plants. It is a leaf beetle that feeds on aerial parts of representatives of the Cabbage family. In both cases, insecticides are used to get rid of insects.
Small (no more than 2.5 mm) jumping leaf beetle can quickly destroy all the beauty of the lunaria
Preparing for winter
The lunar does not require special preparation for winter.You can find recommendations to cover the plant for the winter. But this applies to those regions where there are severe frosts in winter. Practice shows that lunarians winter well without shelter and even reproduce by self-seeding. Especially the more cold-loving annual lunar.
However, if there is concern that the plant will freeze, it can be covered. Since after the vegetative period the entire upper part of the lunar dries up, it is removed. Dry leaves or spruce paws are placed on top and covered with tarpaulin or slate.
The plant has completed its life cycle. In this case, all preparation for winter consists in cutting off the stems with pods in a timely manner and properly drying them in the house for a winter bouquet. And also in the selection of seeds for sowing next year.
Lunar in landscape design
Depending on the tastes and preferences of the owner of the garden, the moon can be used:
- to emphasize the beauty of other flowers: roses, clematis, lilies, daffodils, tulips;
- as an unpretentious plant together with lupine, foxglove, bells, cinquefoil and other flowers similar to them;
- in gravel gardens, which also require unpretentiousness from flowers;
- to fill the empty space under the trees.
And, of course, do not forget about winter bouquets of dried flowers.
Conclusion
The annual lunar flower is the most frequent guest in the gardens, since other species are more difficult to grow in Russian climatic conditions. In addition, its pods are best suited for winter dry bouquets and various crafts. In a flowering state, it is difficult to distinguish it from its brother, the lunaria that comes to life.
