Description of the plant lumbago, the rules for planting and caring for sleep-grass in the backyard, recommendations for reproduction, tips for combating pests and diseases, facts to note, species and varieties.
Pulsatilla is a member of the numerous Ranunculaceae family. Until recently, the genus was separate and united in itself perennial representatives of the flora, characterized by a herbaceous form of vegetation. But, based on the modern classification, all varieties have been transferred to the genus Anemone, or as it is also called the Anemone. There are about 40 types of lumbago. Plants are predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere, in areas with a temperate climate, but can also be found in subtropical or cold areas. They prefer to settle in forests of pine and birch trees, in open steppe areas or sandy hills, on dry southern slopes.
| Family name | Buttercup |
| Growing period | Perennial |
| Vegetation form | Herbaceous |
| Breeding method | Seed only |
| Landing period in open ground | In the spring of next year (for seedlings grown in the ground), in August (for seedlings) |
| Landing rules | Maintain a distance between seedlings of 30-50 cm |
| Priming | Nutritious, lightweight, permeable |
| Soil acidity values, pH | Mostly 6, 5-7 (neutral) or 7-8 (slightly alkaline) |
| Lighting degree | Sunny location, preferably lightly shaded |
| Humidity parameters | Drought tolerant |
| Special care rules | Fertilizers are recommended throughout the growing season |
| Height values | Within 5-40 cm |
| Inflorescence shape or type of flowers | Single flowers |
| Flower color | Lavender, pure white, golden yellow and blue-violet |
| Flowering time | April to late summer |
| Decorative period | Spring-summer |
| Fruit type | Multiplenets |
| The timing of fruit ripening | 4-6 weeks after flowering |
| Application in landscape design | Rockeries and rock gardens, flower garden and mixborders, decoration of borders and garden paths |
| USDA zone | 4–8 |
According to some sources, the name of the genus "Pulsatilla » does not have an exact etymology, other versions refer to the Latin term "pulsare", which translates as pulsate or push. This is due to the fact that the plant has the property of responding to any breath of wind, as if pulsating in its even weak streams. It is from there that such a nickname in Russian as "anemone" comes. The name "lumbago" or "sleep-grass" this representative of the flora wears due to its medicinal properties. In the first case, for a long time, healers used the plant to treat the disease of lumbago (and in the popular way lumbago), in the second, the sleepy and soothing effect of drugs made on the basis of roots was noted. You can also hear such nicknames as ugrulki or snowdrops. It happens that a plant is named in accordance with transliteration - pulsatilla.
All varieties of lumbago have a long-term vegetation cycle, and the height of their stems can fluctuate in the range of 5–40 cm. The rhizomes of the dream-grass are characterized by their unusual outlines: they can grow obliquely or vertically. The root processes are elongated, resembling powerful rods that lie deep in the soil, which is completely inappropriate for such a miniature plant. The stems always grow straight and over time they will be crowned with flowers. When the flowering period ends, the shoots begin to elongate simultaneously with the formation of fruits.
The lumbago foliage is not particularly spectacular, but it grows together into a bedspread and becomes a decoration of the bush until the end of the autumn days. Leaf plates growing in the root zone form a not too dense rosette. The leaves have elongated petioles. The foliage has a pinnate dissection or fingerlike, while the lobes are somewhat reminiscent of basal leaves in contours, but their sizes are smaller. On the surface there is a dense pubescence of light gray or silvery hairs.
It is the flowering, which begins in April and stretches until the end of summer, that is the pride of the dream-grass. The tops of the stems are crowned with large flowers. Often, the buds bloom even before the leaf blades unfold, although there are species in which foliage is formed simultaneously with flowering. The size of the flowers in the lumbago is always large, they seem especially expressive against the background of a not too spectacular leaf rosette. The corolla of a flower has the shape of a bell and when opened, its diameter can be 8 cm. There are flowers that do not bloom completely and the buds begin to open not all at the same time, but one at a time. Under their weight, the peduncles gradually slightly tilt and droop.
Ugrulek petals are pale lilac in color, but there are varieties with snow-white, golden-yellow and blue-violet tints. In the central part of the flower, a bunch of twisted pistils and balls-stamens in the form of a magnificent "eye" serves as an ornament. Such a "collection" looks unusually impressive because of the bright yellow color scheme. But the special appeal of flowers lies in their densely pubescent surface of the outer side of the petals. It is similar in density to the edging on leaf plates and stems, and sometimes even surpasses it. The color of such pubescence is silver or golden, which gives a special charm to the flower.
After the flowering of the lumbago is completed, after 4-6 weeks, fruits appear, which are a spectacular multi-root, characterized by a fluffy column. The fruit is full of seeds and looks as decorative as the flowers. Since the timing for different species and varieties of sleep-grass is very different, it is possible, when planting them in a flower bed, to create a spectacular collection of plants that replace each other with beauty.
Important
Despite the beauty and tenderness of the dream-grass, do not forget that it is a poisonous plant and when caring for it, you must take precautions. Ugrulka are not particularly capricious and, with some effort, you can form a real extravaganza of flowering plants in your garden.
Rules for planting and caring for lumbago - growing in the open field
- Landing place lumbago should be selected with a slight shadow, but there are varieties and species that prefer an open location, fully illuminated by the sun's rays. Too damp places are unsuitable for planting bushes of pulsatilla, as rotting of the root system is possible. It is best to find a small south-facing slope so that excess moisture can drain from it. Artificial elevations or alpine slides are perfect for this, since, as practice shows, these delicate plants do not like straight platforms. The slope will allow excess moisture from rain and irrigation to go down.
- Shooting primer must be saturated with organic and mineral substances. At the same time, it is important to work at a sufficiently large depth due to the powerful and deeply growing root system. Liming can also be carried out by adding a small amount of lime or dolomite flour. However, such a variety as spring lumbago (Pulsatilla vernalis) prefers an acidic substrate, and all others are light alkaline. Therefore, the acidity of the soil is maintained within the pH range of 6, 5–8, and only for this species, peat can be added to the soil for acidification so that its acidity values reach pH 5–6. Before planting pulsatilla, it is recommended to prepare the soil by mixing compost or humus into it. Then digging is performed to a great depth.
- Landing lumbago the time is spent depending on how the seedlings were grown. Those that were previously in the seedling beds are transferred to a permanent place with the arrival of spring days. Sleep-grass seedlings grown in the form of seedlings are planted in open ground from May until the end of summer, although according to some reports, early planting is also suitable for them. Only 1-2 year old seedlings are suitable for this manipulation. Since the Pultasilla transplant is very difficult to tolerate, it is important to preserve the earthen lump and not expose the roots to unnecessary trauma, that is, the transshipment method is used. The first month is the most responsible for planting the lumbago, therefore it is important to provide the plants with thorough care, consisting in abundant (but not excessive!) Watering. If plants that have crossed the 10-year line are transplanted, then in a new place they often do not survive.
- Watering when caring for sleep-grass is not a problem, since it is a fairly drought-resistant plant. It is recommended to moisten the soil during dry and very hot periods. If you forget to water the coal in a drought, they will not die, but they will bloom very poorly.
- Fertilizers when growing sleep-herbs, nitrogen preparations (for example, urea) will serve in a small dosage to build up a leaf outlet, as well as products containing calcium and phosphorus that stimulate flowering. It is recommended to fertilize the lumbago several times during the growing season. Water permeability and drainage of the soil is encouraged. It is necessary to feed Pultasilla bushes, especially during the flowering period and when the flower buds are ripening. Organic preparations are recommended to be applied not only during planting, but also in the autumn, as a mulching layer. This will help the soil to be saturated with a sufficient amount of humus and natural nutrients. Mineral fertilizers are applied throughout the summer period, monthly from May to July, 2-3 times.
- Wintering lumbago does not cause difficulties, only when the plants are already old enough, it is recommended to provide shelter for young bushes. When the probability of the first frost appears, planting sleep-grass is covered with a dry layer of foliage or spruce branches. A must-have is a shelter for seedlings that have appeared this year. In the second year, shelter is required only if the winter turns out to be snowless. If the soil was chosen correctly during planting, then an adult copy of the Pultasilla will do just fine without additional tweaks.
- The use of lumbago in landscape design. Such delicate plants look great both in group plantings and in other landscaped gardens. Especially if pines or deciduous trees grow on the site. Rockeries or rock gardens would be a good choice. It is good to arrange borders with sleep-grass and plant such bushes along garden paths. You can decorate the space in front of tall shrubs, form a collection of different varieties and varieties in a flower garden, so that, starting in April, you can admire the seemingly continuous flowering.
Pultasilla looks good next to ground cover crops and outdoors. Groups of stones and boulders, stairs and supporting walls are effectively decorated with such delicate bushes. Attractive lumbago landings stand out on terraced areas or on slopes that are not steep. It is also possible with the help of such plants to arrange flower beds in the garden in the form of islands or spring spots. Other primroses will make good neighbors for ugrule: crocuses or scilla, various varieties of primroses.
Read also how to grow aquilegia in the garden
Breeding recommendations lumbago
To get new bushes of pulsatilla in your garden, you should sow seeds. Even in spite of the fact that the plant is a perennial, this method of reproduction exists exclusively for it. This is because sleep-grass plants tolerate transplantation very negatively, so there is no way to separate the overgrown bush.
With seed reproduction, sowing can be carried out, both in open ground, and in the cultivation of seedlings. Dream grass seed collection is usually carried out 1–1.5 months after flowering is complete.
Important
From the practice of experienced gardeners, sowing should be carried out immediately after collecting the seeds of the lumbago.
Reproduction is shot by seeds
The best time for sowing is the period of June-July or spring, if the soil becomes warm enough. The ambient temperature for successful germination of shot seeds should be 20-25 degrees. Therefore, if sowing is carried out in the autumn, due to a decrease in the thermometer at night, it no longer gives such a good result.
When there is a large amount of seed, sowing is carried out directly into the open ground. To do this, grooves are formed on the garden bed, the distance between which is kept about 20 cm. The seeds are planted in them no deeper than 1–1.5 cm. It is better to carry out dense sowing so that germination is successful and abundant. After sowing, watering is performed.
It is recommended to take a well-drained and light soil mixture; it is also possible to mix peat crumbs, river sand and mineral fertilizers in moderate amounts. The bed is located in an open place, but then it is recommended to provide future sleep-grass seedlings with shading. After 20-30 days, you can see the first shoots, which develop especially well when the weather is hot and regular watering is provided.
Important
When caring for lumbago seedlings, you should not overmoisten the soil, as this threatens the occurrence of a fungal disease - black leg.
To maintain moderate soil moisture, it is recommended to cover the pulsatilla seedlings with a layer of straw or hay. Such a shelter will also serve as protection against possible cold snaps or too strong overheating of the substrate. For the winter period, young bushes also need protection with spruce branches or a layer of fallen leaves. Transplantation to a permanent place of growth of ugrule seedlings can be performed only with the arrival of next spring.
Reproduction lumbago by growing seedlings
When there are few seeds, then sowing is carried out in seedling boxes or individual pots (it is better to take peat pots) filled with the above soil mixture, and sowing is sometimes carried out in a greenhouse, from early to mid-spring. The soil is used the same as for sowing in open ground. Seeds are not buried in seedling containers into the ground, but simply pressed a little into its surface.
Watering is carried out by spraying from a finely dispersed spray bottle. The container is covered on top with a piece of glass or covered with a plastic transparent bag. For successful germination, the pot of crops is placed in a place with good lighting, but shading from the midday rays of the sun. At the same time, the temperature is maintained within the range of 24-27 degrees. Seedlings will appear unevenly. Some gardeners before sowing to speed up this process, soak the seeds in warm water.
Crop maintenance will consist in regular ventilation and moistening of the soil from a sprayer with warm water. When 2-3 true leaves unfold on the seedlings, you can start diving in separate containers. In order not to expose the roots of the seedlings to injury in the future, it is recommended to use peat pots and the same substrate. A transplant to a permanent place in the garden, in contrast to seedlings grown directly in the open field, can be performed in August of the same year, maintaining a distance of 30-50 cm between plants.
Plants grown by any of these methods will please with flowering only in the second year from the moment of sowing, and such as high-altitude and spring lumbago will bloom only after seven years.
Tips for managing pests and diseases when growing a lumbago in the garden
Despite the fact that the plant is protected from pests and diseases by its natural "shield" in the form of pubescence, but with regular violations of agricultural technology, such troubles as blackleg. The disease begins to affect all green parts of the dream-grass - foliage and shoots. The disease is easily identified due to decay of the root collar and blackening in this part of the stems. The defeat of lumbago begins from the moment when 2-3 leaves are formed. The cause of the onset of the disease can be:
- planting in an infected substrate;
- too close arrangement of sleep-grass plants;
- waterlogging of the soil due to irrigation;
- lack of fresh air supply;
- too high humidity at high ambient temperatures;
- sharp fluctuations in temperature.
In this case, if a disease occurs in a week, the shoot seedlings will turn black, the stems will soften and break off near the ground. To prevent this, regular treatments with fungicidal preparations, such as Fundazol or Fitosporin, are recommended. Spraying is performed every 30 days.
Sleep grass pests can be:
- Slugs, nibbling foliage. For the destruction of gastropods, they are collected manually or metaldehyde agents are used (for example, Thunderstorm-Meta or Slug-eater).
- Rodents, root system spoiling pulsatilla due to its fleshiness. To combat them, pesticides are used, such as Tornado or Amus.
Read also about problems when caring for buttercup and ways to solve them.
Facts to note about the flower lumbago
The plant lumbago has been familiar to folk medicine for a long time. But today it is already clear why, since the herb contains such active components as saponins, anemonins and resins, this also includes tannins. Because of this, foliage has become a material for obtaining an extract characterized by bactericidal and fungicidal properties. This drug can also have a sedative effect, serve as an analgesic or expectorant, and under its influence, the liver functions are stimulated. There is also the possibility of using ugrulek plantings in veterinary medicine.
Important
It is necessary to carefully select a place for planting a lumbago so that small children cannot reach it, and adults should remember that plant sap can cause skin diseases. Both serious poisoning and even death are possible.
It is in the freshly harvested form that the dream-herb has especially poisonous properties, but if it is dried, it becomes a medicine. Another substance in its composition, proteanemonin, is very useful in this sense. Because of it, lumbago is used to get rid of the following diseases associated with the joints - rheumatism and polyarthritis, sciatica and osteochondrosis, lumbago and neurotic pain. If the patient suffers from skin lesions by a fungus caused by an infection of Staphylococcus aureus, then both the infusion and the extract obtained from the fresh foliage of the sleep-grass are used. For a long time, foliage has been applied to the places of formation of boils, abscesses and abscesses to remove them.
Types and varieties of sleep-grass
Common lumbago (Pulsatilla vulgaris)
The area of natural growth falls on the territory of Western Europe, with the exception of the southern regions. The height of the stems is 10–20 cm. During flowering, which occurs in mid-spring, flowers with bell-shaped corollas open. Flowers begin to delight the eye even before the leaf plates unfold.
The variety has high frost resistance and is able to withstand a decrease in the thermometer to -23 frost. They have been cultivating it since 1530. Today there are a large number of garden forms, among which the most popular are:
- Pretty (var.amoena) characterized by large flowers, reddish-purple petals, bell-shaped corollas, buds bloom early.
- Dark red (var.atrosanguinea) foliage with finely dissected outlines, flowers with a rich bloody color scheme.
- Large (var. Grandis) owner of flowers with rather large parameters.
- Mrs van der Elst petals have a shade of dawn - pale pinkish.
Alpine lumbago (Pulsatilla alpina)
The native lands are the high-mountainous territories of the central and southern European regions. Plant height does not exceed 20–25 cm (flowering stem). The rosette in the root zone reaches 10 cm in height. The flowers have a snow-white or yellowish color scheme. The diameter of the flower when fully opened is approximately 3–3.5 cm. The process of opening the buds takes time from May to August. Prefers to bloom in thawed patches on the ground from snow and perfectly coexists with Rhododendron myrtifolium.
Spring lumbago (Pulsatilla vernalis)
It grows both in Russia and in the mountainous terrain of the central regions of Europe (Alps and Pyrenees), in the south of the Scandinavian Peninsula and in southwestern Finland. Preference is given to grassy hills or sparse pine forests well-lit by the sun.
The height of the shoots can reach 30 cm. The stems have straight or slightly curved outlines. Foliage in the root zone unfolds after flowering. The shape of the leaf plate is trifoliate, the surface is leathery. In the second half of May, single-arranged flowers with bell-shaped corollas begin to open. The diameter of the opening is 4 cm. The color of the petals on the inside is whitish, the outside is pale purple. The flowering period takes 20-25 days.
Growing is fraught with some difficulties, since it requires a substrate consisting of acidic soil mixed with river sand and pine needles. Recommended for planting under not too dense pine trees. Easily propagated by seeds, but the seedlings will bloom only for 5–8 years. Differs in frost resistance up to -32 degrees.
Golden lumbago (Pulsatilla aurea)
respects the Caucasus as his native natural lands. Stems rarely exceed 35 cm or less in height, but when the flowering is over, the shoots are stretched up to half a meter. The foliage is collected in a socket in the ground itself. The shape of the leaves is trifoliate, with a dissection in the form of feathers. The leaves are well developed, their color is bright green, they are attached to the stems by means of elongated petioles covered with protruding hairs.
The flowering process occurs at the beginning of summer. The corolla of the flower opens quite wide, the petals are painted in a golden yellow hue. The diameter of the flower reaches 6 cm. The buds begin to open simultaneously with the development of foliage.
Mountain lumbago (Pulsatilla montana)
in natural nature, it is found mainly in the mountainous areas of Europe (in the center and in the east). It does not exceed 20 cm in height, but when fruits are formed, the stems can reach 30 cm. The rosette in the root part is assembled from leaves with a double-pinnate dissection. Flowers singly crown the stems. The corolla is bell-shaped. Flowers have drooping corollas, opening up to a diameter of 4 cm. The color of the petals in them is dark purple. The flowering process occurs in May and lasts up to 25-30 days. Fruit ripening begins in July.
Open backache (Pulsatilla patens)
is a bright and spectacular look that successfully competes with the common lumbago. The height of the stems ranges from 7 cm to half a meter. The coloring of flowers is also very different. The outlines of the foliage are finger-like, the leaf lobes have a heart-shaped outline. Whorls are formed from the leaves in the root zone, but leaf plates unfold only after flowering.
During flowering, rather large flowers are formed, reaching 8 cm in diameter. The petals in the corolla can take on a white, bright purple or bluish-purple hue. The flower has the appearance of a wide bell, but over time it becomes like an open star. Since the flower "looks" upwards, it makes it possible to admire its inner outline of bright yellow stamens and pistils. Flowering falls on the period of April-May and on one bush you can count up to fifty flowers. Another feature of the fruits is that they react very sharply to moisture and begin to burrow into the ground, simply screwing into it.
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Video about growing a lumbago in a personal plot:
