Description, tips for growing Ayuga plants in the open field, recommendations for breeding a tenacious, possible difficulties in leaving, facts to note, types. Ayuga (Ajuga) is often found under the name Tenacious and belongs to the plants of the Lamiaceae family, which also has a synonym for Labiata. This representative of the flora is distributed almost throughout the globe, can be found on the lands of Eurasia and Africa, while two varieties are native to the southeastern regions of the Australian continent, and in the Northern Hemisphere, where a temperate climate prevails, scientists have counted up to 70 different species of this kind. They prefer to grow in hardwood forests, scrub and dry meadows. An excellent solution for open ground - easy to maintain and beautiful.
| Family name | Lamb or Lipo |
| Life cycle | Perennial or annual |
| Growth features | Herbaceous |
| Reproduction | Seed and vegetative (jigging rosettes or dividing the bush) |
| Landing period in open ground | Leaf rosettes, planted in May |
| Disembarkation scheme | Between rows 10-15 cm, between plants 8-10 cm - for seeds, 20-28 cm between seedlings |
| Substrate | Nutritious, loamy or dry sandy |
| Illumination | Open area with bright light or shade |
| Moisture indicators | Moderate, waterlogging and drought are harmful |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height | 0.05-0.5 m |
| Color of flowers | Cyan, blue, magenta, pink, or yellow |
| Type of flowers, inflorescences | Spicate |
| Flowering time | April June |
| Decorative time | Spring-summer |
| Place of application | Curbs, ridges, lawns, rock gardens, rockeries, mixborders, as a ground cover |
| USDA zone | 3, 4, 5 |
The name of this plant in Latin is due to the term "ajuga", which is changed from "abiga" and corresponds to the translation "to expel, expel", or according to another version, the source was the word in Greek "aguia", which meant "agyieos" that is " with weak limbs, joints. " In the first case, Ayuga was used medicinally as a laxative or abortifacient, and in the second it was prescribed properties to treat gout. In the people, it is customary to call this grass oak, oak tree or Vologda, tear-grass or tenacious. The latter name was given due to its increased ability to survive in difficult environmental conditions.
All Ayugs are herbaceous plants with a one-year or long-term life cycle. The height of their shoots can vary from 5 cm to half a meter. Basically, the stems are creeping, easily rooting when in contact with the soil, so the tenacious is usually used as a ground cover crop. The shape of the shoots is tetrahedral. The root shoots are thin, close to or on the soil surface. The leaf plates on the stems grow in opposite order, gathering in rosettes. At the same time, in the lower part, the size of the foliage is large, which gradually decreases towards the top. The surface of the leaf is soft. The shape of the leaf plate is usually ovoid, but it can be either rounded or acicular. The color of the leaves is quite varied, species can be found both with green foliage and with a purple or reddish-brown tint.
During flowering, buds are formed, connected in false whorls, crowning the tops of the stems. Spike-shaped inflorescences are collected from them. The corolla color takes on a blue, blue, purple hue, but it can be pink or yellow. The upper lip remains underdeveloped in it. The flowers on the shoots rise slightly above the deciduous carpet. The flowering process falls on the period from April to June. Moreover, the plant is an excellent honey plant. From July to the end of summer, seeds ripen.
When grown outdoors, Ayuga is used for planting on lawns in arboretums or parks; you can use it for landscaping rock gardens or rockeries. The most popular among florists are the pyramidal and Geneva varieties of the tenacious. But it should be remembered that this herbaceous representative of the flora is a rather aggressive culture, it easily conquers obstacles in its path (stones, plastic or wood fences). Therefore, when growing a tenacious, constant control over its development is necessary.
Ayuga: planting and care in the open field
- Drop off location. The plant is distinguished by an increased ability to adapt to any conditions, it is not for nothing that it is called a tenacious plant, therefore, any part of the garden where it is necessary to place a ground cover is suitable. This can be as a brightly lit rock garden or flower bed, or full shade on the north side or near the wall. But it should only be borne in mind that varieties with brightly colored foliage are best planted in sunny areas, since their color will turn pale when shaded.
- Planting Ayuga. May is suitable for planting a tenacious plant in open ground. Plants should not be deeply buried. It is necessary to ensure that the apical bud always remains above the soil surface. The distance between seedlings or cuttings is maintained up to 20-30 cm, and when sowing seeds, beds are formed, at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other.
- Soil for planting the tenacious. In this case, the ground cover does not differ in capriciousness, but still there are some preferences. Ajuga loves moist soils, clay and loamy (high in humus), but can grow on dry and sandy. If the selected place has never been processed, then before planting the Ayuga it must be dug up and fertilized per 1 sq. m. a bucket of organic matter and 100 grams of superphosphate preparations.
- Watering. When the plants have just been planted, it is recommended to regularly and moderately moisten the soil, which will help speedy rooting. Watering is carried out daily, and also for the first time, until the plants get stronger, protection from direct sunlight is necessary. After the seedlings undergo adaptation, watering is carried out only if the weather is dry in summer.
- Fertilizers when growing ayuga in the open field, they are introduced in the spring period annually or after the flowering ends. Complex mineral preparations are used (for example, Pocon or Kemira-wagon) and saturate the soil with humus. You can sprinkle chicken bedding or loosened fine compost directly over the leaves.
- General tips for caring for the tenacious. The plant is not afraid of frost and can tolerate temperatures as low as -10 degrees. Therefore, it is not necessary to cover the bushes, especially if the winters in the region are snowy. But even if, with the arrival of spring, it is found that part of the root system has suffered, the damaged sockets are removed, allowing the Ayuga to recover through the remaining shoots. The biggest problem with growing Ajuga is its aggressiveness. Since the root system of the plant is superficial, a simple method of containment is with borders made of wood, stone, metal or plastic. Such devices are buried a few centimeters into the ground, forming a border around the plant.
If you just need to create a green carpet of shoots and leaves, then with the formation of an inflorescence, it is recommended to remove them, then all the forces are given to the foliage, and it becomes brighter and more juicy, and the leaves remain longer without fading.
Periodically, it is recommended to pierce such a green Ayuga carpet and lift it with a pitchfork so that the roots can gain access to air. At the same time, you can even walk on such a "carpet", as it is resistant to easy trampling.
Reproduction of the tenacious when grown in the open field
Typically, a new burst-grass plant can be obtained by sowing seeds or vegetatively by planting rosettes from foliage or dividing an overgrown bush.
The seeds can be harvested by yourself or purchased from a flower shop. The latter option is preferable, since the seed has already been pre-treated against infections and pathogenic microbes, and also has almost 100% germination. Seeds can be sown both in autumn (so to speak before winter) or with the arrival of spring. In the first case, crops need to be mulched with fallen leaves, and in the second, planting in open ground is possible when it warms up to 5-10 degrees Celsius. Seed material is distributed over the selected area and covered with a small layer of humus or peat. Then abundant watering of the crops is carried out. Usually, 10-15 cm is left between the rows with a seed density of 8-10 cm between them.
After sowing, the garden bed needs regular moisture. The soil should not be flooded, but drying is also unacceptable, since the soil, when it dries, begins to crack and rises, while pulling out young immature seedlings from the root. When the first shoots of Ayuga appear, weeding is carried out, removing the weeds around so that it does not drown out the seedlings.
With vegetative propagation, leaf outlets are deposited. This planting material can also be purchased at flower shops. Usually, planting of Ayuga seedlings in open ground is carried out in May. You don't have to worry about possible return frosts, since even young plants can withstand a decrease in heat to -10 degrees.
It is recommended to plant in the early morning hours, so that after watering the soil has time to dry out a little until the sun is at its zenith and begins to warm up strongly. In this case, it is necessary to maintain a distance of about 20–28 cm between the leaf rosettes of the tenacious. After planting, the soil in the root zone is compacted, and a small tubercle is made around the bush.
The division of the bush can be performed during the entire growing season. So, with the help of a sharp garden integument, without digging out the tenacious, they separate its part and plant it in a prepared place in the garden. At the same time, until signs of growth appear, it is recommended not to forget about watering.
Possible difficulties in caring for Ayuga and methods of solution
When grown in open ground, caring for the tenacious is not a problem, but with high humidity, slugs or snails can eat the foliage. These pests are collected with special fan-like devices or folk methods are used, which can be prepared in the form of a solution based on cafes, tobacco or wood ash diluted in water. If you want more powerful drugs, then use drugs like MetaGroza. When planting Ayuga, flower growers use protective strips of gravel, which do not allow pests to penetrate the plant and spoil the succulent foliage.
Facts to note about Ayuga, flower photo
Although many of the Ayuga species are commonly used in landscape design, its medicinal properties have long been known to medicine men. The tenacious extract is applicable in sports, medical and clinical fields of activity, since it is distinguished by adaptogenic properties and the ability to tone the body. For example, there is a variety of Ajuga Turkestan, parts of which are used to extract the hood. On the basis of the resulting preparation, both ointments and tonic drinks are prepared.
For the first time, flower growers became aware of this herbaceous plant at a horticultural exhibition that was held in London in the 17th century. Tenacious has become ubiquitous not only because of its decorative qualities, but also as a representative of the flora, characterized by increased endurance both to the soil on which it is grown and to the location.
But not only the medicinal properties of Ayuga are known to mankind, the plant is also applicable in cooking. So young foliage and root shoots are usually used for making salads or as a seasoning for fish dishes.
Ayuga types
Creeping Ayuga (Ajuga reptans) is also called Creeping Ajuga. The most popular variety that occurs naturally in Europe and Asia, Iran and the north of the American continent. Prefers wetlands. A perennial herb, the shoots of which usually spread over the soil surface. Their height is in the range of 15–25 cm. Their surface is covered with pubescence of soft whitish hairs. Basal leaves form a rosette from which the cutting originates. The leaves placed on the stem have a shorter petiole, their shape is ovate-oval, there is a waviness on the edge. The corolla of the flower has a bell-shaped calyx. Such flowers are collected in a spike-shaped inflorescence and there are 5-7 of them. The color of the petals is blue or blue. In the corolla, the upper lip is shortened, with two lobes. The flowering process occurs in May and lasts 14–20 days.
The most popular varieties are:
- Arctic Snow possesses powerful leaf plates with a wrinkled surface. The length of the leaf is 11–15 cm. There is an elongated whitish spot in the central part and the same edging along the leaf. The variety was bred relatively recently.
- Black Scallop it is distinguished by a dark green color of glossy foliage, a purple tone is present in the middle of the leaf plate. The edge of the leaf is uneven, with waviness, giving the shape of a ridge to the outlines of the plate. If grown in a well-lightened place, then the color becomes more saturated.
- Chocolate Chip in height it reaches only 6 cm. The leaves are medium-sized, shiny with an elliptical shape along the edge there is a rounding. The length of the leaf does not exceed 5 cm, with a width of only 1–2 cm. The color of the foliage is dark emerald or crimson. The color of the leaves changes depending on the level of illumination.
- Multicolor this type of tenacious is distinguished by an exotic color of leaves, which changes with the level of illumination. If it is bright, then the leaf plate becomes purple in color with fragments of an orange tone, if the landing site is in the shade, then the leaves turn dark green with spots of an elongated yellow color.
Ayuga chia (Ajuga chia). A native of the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Iran and the Mediterranean. It can be found in steppes or rocky mountain slopes. Herbaceous perennial, which does not exceed 10–20 cm in height. The base of the stem is branched, its surface has whitish pubescence. Basal leaves are distinguished by an oval shape, with the edge without teeth or in the upper part of them three pieces. The foliage is green. The flowering process takes place from May to early autumn. The flowers are formed in the leaf axils, their size is small, the lower lip is yellow. The flowers also have pubescence. Due to its bacteriological properties, the species is applicable in medicine.
Ayuga Laxman (Ajuga laxmanni). The height of the stems can vary from 25 to 50 cm. The surface of the shoots is covered with whitish pubescence of elongated hairs. Leaves of large sizes grow on the stems, oblong in shape with a silvery-white tint. During flowering, buds are formed in the leaf axils. The size of the flowers is small, the color of the petals is yellowish, but it can be pink or from mixed shades.
Ayuga turkestan (Ajuga turkestanica) is an endemic plant in the western regions of the Tien Shan, but can be found in the Tajik and Uzbek steppes. Usually grows in the form of a shrub with small shoots. Leaves with oval outlines are formed oppositely on the stems. Their color is light green or light brownish. The leaf is 6 cm long and 2 cm wide. The tops of the shoots are crowned with flowers with purple petals. Their pedicels are short, 2, 5-4 cm in diameter. Extracts from the plant are applicable for medical and cosmetic purposes.
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