Plant type: herbaceous, perennial.
Description: Belongs to the bell family. In total, there are about 30 species in the genus. This plant is usually used for planting in rock gardens. The flower is not evergreen and turns white in summer. Adult species are rather small and reach a height of no more than 8 cm. They grow in width by 30-40 cm.
- Origin: Himalayas, China, Nepal. Cyananthus was first discovered at an altitude of about 4200 meters.
- Aroma: absent.
- Care: easy.
- Growing environment: garden or greenhouse.
Foliage: regular shape, green. The leaves are small, narrowed at the base and pointed at the top.
Flowering: falls on the period from August to September. The cyananthus flower has a purplish-blue hue. Species with white and yellow shades of flowers are also known. Flowers are hermaphrodites (that is, they have both male and female organs) and appear singly on stalks. They reach a width of about 3 cm and have the shape of bells.
Temperature regime: the peculiarity of the flower is that it can be grown throughout the year. He is not afraid of cold weather and hardy to the lowest temperatures. For cyananthus, temperatures of -15 ° C are not terrible. These perennials do not tolerate dry and hot weather.
Lighting: Cyananthus should be planted in a shady part of the garden, where the sun’s rays constantly fall during the cool hours of the day.
Soil Type: The soil must be well-drained. The plant will develop best in the following soil composition: sandy peat and leafy humus. It is desirable that the soil is acidic (pH level should be from 5 to 7.5), and it has a large amount of humus. The soil should be cool and constantly moist.
Watering: Moisten the soil from time to time. The watering rate should be as follows: 2-3 glasses of water for 1-2 weeks. During the “rest” period of the flower, it is not necessary to water it.
Fertilizers: Fertilize in the spring using granular fertilizers. This should be done every 3-4 months. You can also apply liquid fertilizers for flowering plants, they need to be mixed with plain water. In this case, fertilize every 20-25 days.
Diseases and pests: Spring temperatures fluctuate day and night, plus frequent rains are observed during this period – all this can contribute to the development of mold and fungal diseases, which should be treated with fungicides. They need to be used before there are too many insects. At the end of winter, it is also advisable to apply insecticides to avoid damage by plant aphids and carminous mealybugs.
Reproduction: carried out by planting seeds. It is best to plant them in the fall, once the seeds have matured. They need to be covered with a small layer of soil. Once the seedlings have germinated and you can handle the seedlings, transplant them into separate pots and grow them in the greenhouse. It is best to transplant seedlings from pots in early summer or mid-summer. You can also reproduce cyananthus by dividing.
Uses: Cyananthus are great for growing in rock gardens and can also be grown in containers. Small-leaved cyananthus is very popular with gardeners. Cyananthus is also known to be used medicinally. The juice of the roots of the plant is used to treat stomach ulcers.
Additionally: usually during the cold periods of the year, the above-ground part of the plant dries up. It will start growing again after spring. The plant is non-toxic and does not pose a health risk to pets and humans.