Azarina climbing (lat. Asarina scandens ) is a climbing perennial of the Plantain family. In culture since the 19th century. It is used mainly for vertical gardening of personal plots. This species is the most common among other representatives of the genus Azarina, of which there are about 15. This plant, with proper care, pleases the eye with lush dense foliage and bright inflorescences. The birthplace of this culture is Mexico, so it is often called the “Mexican beauty”.
Description
Azarina climbing is a lush, profusely flowering liana with thin flexible shoots reaching 6-8 m in length. The leaves are large, heart-shaped, dense, rough, mottled with many veins, rich green in color. Long petioles wrap around the support, thanks to which the plant rises up, firmly fixed on its surface. Dense foliage forms a dense wide screen.
Azarina climbing flowers are elongated, tubular, wide open during flowering, 3 cm in diameter, consist of five petals closed together. The color scheme is diverse with a predominance of purple, purple, lilac, white, pink tones.
Varieties
Among the wide variety of varieties of this crop, those that have large expressive inflorescences are in greatest demand. Among them:
“Mystic Rose” – a plant with trifoliate fleecy foliage and piercing pink buds.
“Search” is an ampelous variety with heart-shaped velvety foliage, densely covering a long stem. The flowers are funnel-shaped, formed along the entire length of the shoot. Their color is white, purple, lilac. Flowering can be observed from mid-summer to early autumn.
“Pink” is a herbaceous annual with a branched curly shoot 3–4 m long. The leaf plates are large, resemble ivy leaves, and have a rich green color. The flowers are funnel-shaped, broadly bell-shaped, with pink petals bent back. This variety begins to bloom in July, forming buds until late autumn.
“Purple” – has thin flexible stems about 4 m long. The leaves are heart-shaped, fleecy, dark green. The flowers are tubular, with snow-white petals.
“White” – an annual variety with a branched stem 3 m long. The leaves are small, broadly oval, with a pointed base. The flowers are tubular, with five fused petals, white. The plant begins to bloom in early July, forming inflorescences until October.
Plasmas is a climbing variety with shoots about 4 m long. The leaves are small, broadly oval, pointed at the top, velvety to the touch. The flowers are white.
“Joan Loraine” – the variety is used as an ampelous plant. Curly, highly branched stem covered with large foliage. The flowers are large, dark purple.
“Red dragon” – valued for expressive fiery red inflorescences that look spectacular against the backdrop of bright green foliage.
Also in ornamental gardening, such varieties of climbing azarina are popular as:
“Sky Blue” with deep blue inflorescences.
‘Bridge’s White’ with pure white petals.
Growing seedlings
Growing seedlings of azarina climbing from seeds is carried out at home in order to get strong healthy seedlings ready for planting in open ground. This work is carried out in the second half of January – early February, in order to have time to grow seedlings before the onset of warm May days.
Sowing is carried out in containers filled with universal soil for seedlings. Experienced gardeners prepare the soil mixture on their own, combining leafy soil with coarse sand, peat and humus in equal parts.
The substrate is moistened with a spray gun, then the seed is evenly distributed on its surface, slightly pressed into the ground. Top crops sprinkled with a thin layer of sand. To create optimal conditions for the germination of seedlings, cover containers with seeds with a film. Keep in a bright room at a temperature of 16 – 19 degrees.
Care of crops will consist in airing, which should be carried out daily, removing condensate from the film, moistening the substrate as it dries. Sprouts should appear on the surface within a month. If this does not happen, you need to transfer the containers with crops for 3 – 4 weeks to a cool room, then put them back in heat.
After the plants hatch, the film is removed, they continue to care for young plants, periodically watering them. After the appearance of a pair of full-fledged leaves, they dive into small pots with the same soil composition. A couple of weeks after transplanting, the seedlings are fed with a mineral complex. Re-feeding is done in a month.
Landing in open ground
The planting of grown seedlings in a permanent place is carried out in the second half of May with the onset of consistently warm days. For this culture, choose a place where sunlight will constantly fall on it.
The soil should be well-drained, well-ventilated, have a neutral acidity. As for the composition of the substrate, it does not play a special role for climbing azarina.
Before planting, holes are made at a distance of 50 cm from one another. A drainage layer in the form of expanded clay or broken bricks is laid at the bottom. Plants are transplanted into the holes along with a clod of earth, so as not to damage the thin roots. Supports must be fixed near the holes using metal meshes. When the seedlings grow up, they are tied to these supports.
Care
Watering. Azarina climbing is moisture-loving, therefore, for full development, it should be watered at least 2 times in 7 days. It is advisable to carry out water procedures in the morning and evening in order to avoid burning the leaves. It is useful to irrigate the plant from above, or spray the foliage with a spray bottle. Then the leaf plates will look bright and fresh.
Topdressing. For active growth of green mass and the formation of buds, the plant must be regularly fed after it has been moved to open ground. During the flowering period, a potassium-phosphorus composition is added. This work is carried out every 2 weeks.
Other care. For the formation of new buds, faded inflorescences are removed in a timely manner. After watering, loosening the soil around the bush should not be neglected to saturate the roots with oxygen and weeds should be removed in a timely manner. A layer of peat near the plant will reduce the frequency of watering and weeding.
Pest control. Often, aphids attack the azarin climbing in the garden plot, sucking the juice from all parts of the culture. After some time, if no action is taken, the aerial part of the vine is deformed and dries out. To prevent this from happening, having found a harmful insect, you must immediately treat the bush with an insecticide solution. Re-treat in a week.
As you can see in the following selection of photos, the Mexican beauty or azarina climbing in the garden looks truly luxurious, transforming any corner due to her bright foliage and a scattering of expressive flowers:
