Loosetail (Lythrum): herbaceous plant – photo of species with descriptions

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Looseberry (Lythrum) – a genus of annual and perennial herbs, less often small shrubs of the Loosefly family (Lythraceae), is widespread in nature, grows in moist, bright places along the banks of reservoirs, near swamps, etc. Some species are used as ornamental and medicinal plants .

  • Family: loosestrife.
  • Homeland: found on all continents except Antarctica.
  • Rhizome: creeping, thick, woody.
  • Stem: straight, densely leafy.
  • Leaves: entire, lanceolate or linear.
  • Fruit: box.
  • Reproductive ability: propagated by seeds, cuttings, division of bushes.
  • Illumination: photophilous, tolerates partial shade
  • Watering: plentiful.
  • Content temperature: winter-hardy, in severe frosts requires shelter.
  • Flowering time: 2 months from June to August, depending on the species.

Description of the flower loosestrife

Herbaceous rhizomatous plants with straight densely leafy stems and whole oblong opposite or whorled leaves. The flowers of loosestrife, solitary axillary or collected in spike-shaped inflorescence, are purple, pink, less often white. The cup of the flower is tubular, sometimes bell-shaped, and has adnexal denticles. The roots are powerful, but superficial, creeping. The fruit is a two-celled capsule.

The loosestrife is a plant that can grow in any environmental conditions, except for full shade, on any soil, however, preferring damp areas near water bodies and swamps, in the southern regions it spreads like a weed in rice fields.

The genus includes about 30 species, 14 of them are found on the territory of Russia. All representatives are excellent honey plants, they give fragrant tart honey of a dark yellow color. Used in folk medicine as a hemostatic and diuretic, the roots and grass of loosestrife contain pectins, carotene, a number of glycosides, and tannins.

Some species are grown as ornamental plants, valued for long bright flowering, unpretentiousness and winter hardiness.

Ornamental species and varieties – loosestrife loosestrife, loosestrife plakun, grass pink pearls and others

In gardens, two types of loosestrife are most often grown, loose-leaved and rod-shaped.

loosestrife loosestrife (L. Salicaria) , sometimes found under the name loosestrife elmous, is a straight, well-leafed shrub from 80 to 150 cm high with narrow, lanceolate leaves, whorled below, alternate above, dark green in summer and reddening by autumn. Lilac-pink flowers are collected in lush spike-paniculate inflorescences, which are formed not only on the main stem, but also on numerous axillary shoots.

Blooms from July to August. It occurs naturally in Europe, the Far East, Siberia, and North America. Another name for this type of loosestrife, plakun grass, reflects its interesting property on hot dry days to release water that drips from the leaves in drops, as if the plant is crying. This effect is caused by special water stomata contained in the leaves, through which a flower growing near water removes accumulated excess moisture.

In gardens, it is preferable to grow varietal loosestrife, they are more drought-resistant, compact, bloom brighter, more abundantly and longer than species specimens.

Of the popular varieties, it is possible to note the loosestrife Pink pearl up to 120 cm tall, with pinkish-lilac flowers; tall, up to 1.5 m, dark red Rocket variety. Variety of German selection Feyerkerts, lower, 70-80 cm, pink-red, blooms profusely for at least 2 months. Spectacular undersized, 60 cm high, variety Robert of an unusual salmon-red hue; rose varieties Roseum Superboom and Brilliant.

In the photo – loosestrife loosestrife during the flowering period.

The rod-shaped loosestrife (L. virgatum L.) is more compact compared to the previous species, its flowers are brighter, although the inflorescences are not so dense. The stems are branched, up to 120 cm tall, without pubescence, the leaves are oblong. It is native to North America and grows wild in Europe and Asia in temperate regions. Among the garden forms, a low, 50 cm, purple-pink variety Helen stands out, a little higher, up to 70 cm, pink Rose Queen, a Modern Pink variety of interesting fuchsia-pink color, up to 1 m tall, purple-pink Dropmore Purple, etc. A photo of the rod-shaped loosestrife is presented below.

Cultivation and reproduction of loosestrife

When growing loosestrife, it must be borne in mind that it tolerates partial shade, however, a lush bush with long and abundant flowering can only be grown in sunny areas. Prefers moist, humus-rich soils, loose, acidic. When planting, it is useful to add a large amount (10 buckets per 1 m2) of high-moor peat to the soil, which will not only supply the bush with nutrients, but also allow it to retain moisture in case of its lack. The plant feels especially good on the banks of a reservoir or stream, it develops well and just in a flower garden, since modern varieties have sufficient drought resistance.

The culture is moisture-loving, therefore it requires abundant and frequent watering, up to 2-3 times a month, and more often during dry periods.

A distinctive feature of the flower is the ability to endure severe waterlogging in the summer, at this time it can even be planted in water bodies to a depth of no more than 30 cm.

Other care activities include weeding and loosening to remove the soil crust, top dressing. Since the root system of the flower is superficial, it is better to use mulching with peat or loose compost instead of loosening. The plant is fed in the first half of summer with small doses of nitrogen fertilizers, bearing in mind that with an excess of nutrition, lodging of the trunks is possible. If necessary, shaping and limiting growth pinch the young shoots.

To prevent self-seeding, wilted inflorescences are removed. After flowering, loosestrife can be completely cut off, but in natural style gardens they are left until spring, since even when dried, the bushes are very decorative. In this case, they are cut short in the spring.

Plants are durable, can grow without dividing for many years. They hibernate without shelter, only in snowless frosty winters they can freeze a little.

For propagation of loosestrife, cuttings, dividing the bush and seeds are used. Varietal specimens mainly reproduce vegetatively. Young can be divided in the spring, in adults it is not easy to do this, because their rhizome is woody. It is better to propagate varieties by basal cuttings. To do this, in the first half of July, young shoots with 1-2 internodes are cut, their cold greenhouse is planted and high humidity is provided. By autumn, the cuttings take root, grow up to 20-30 cm and are ready for transplanting to a permanent place.

Seed propagation is used for species loosestrife. Seeds are sown for seedlings from January to March. They do not require stratification or any other pre-sowing treatment. Plantings are kept at a temperature of 15 to 18 ° C, shoots appear after 3-4 weeks. Planted in the ground in May, young seedlings bloom for 2-3 years.

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