Description of the sparrow plant, how to care for lithospermum in the garden, how to reproduce, how to deal with diseases and pests, notes for the curious, species.
Sparrow (Lithospermum) is often called Lithospermum in accordance with transliteration. This representative of the flora belongs to the genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the Boraginaceae family. If we talk about places in which perennials can grow, then they are common to all territories of the planet with a warm climate, with the exception of the Australian continent. Most of the varieties are found in the lands of both the Americas and Africa, as well as in the Mediterranean countries. According to various sources, the number of species varies from 50 to 77 units, with 7 of them recorded on the territory of the former Soviet Union.
| Family name | Borage |
| Growth type | Perennial |
| Plant features | Herbaceous or semi-shrub |
| Breeding method | Dividing the bush, grafting and sowing seeds |
| Open ground planting time | Rooted cuttings, planted in May |
| Disembarkation scheme | 20-30 cm between plants |
| Priming | Light and fertile, slightly alkaline |
| Illumination | Bright sunny place or light partial shade |
| Moisture indicators | You need moderate watering and mandatory drainage |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height | Up to 0.15 m |
| Plant diameter | About 0.6m or more |
| Color of flowers | Bright blue, azure, white, yellow, pink |
| Type of flowers, inflorescences | Corolla funnel-shaped, growing singly or in groups in corymbose inflorescences or in the form of curls |
| Flowering time | June July |
| Decorative time | Spring-summer |
| Place of application | Rocky gardens, retaining walls, path landscaping, planting in mixborders and garden containers, hanging baskets |
| USDA zone | 4–9 |
The sparrow got its name because of the type of seeds formed, which resemble small nuts. They stick around the shoots of the plant so tightly that they look like whitish, hard ovoid pebbles, so the botanists gave the name Lithospermum, which translates as "Stone seed". But the Slavs were probably more romantic and the white nuts did not remind them of pebbles. The analogy was drawn with delicate pearls, therefore another name for lithospermum is popularly used - pearl grass, stone millet or crane seed. The genus itself, like the plant, is often called by scientists Lithodora - Litodora.
Sparrow species include plants that have a one-year, two-year, or multi-year life cycle, and they are characterized by both herbaceous and semi-shrub forms. Shoots of some species lodge, then such lithospermum can be used as a ground cover, forming curtains, which can grow up to 60 cm. Their height rarely exceeds 15 cm. Shoots are distinguished by good branching. But there are species that have hairs on the stems that resemble bristles, they provide roughness.
Stems of pearl grass are covered with sessile leaf blades, which are placed in succession. The shape of the leaves is narrow-lanceolate, ovate or elliptical, they reach 1.8 cm in length. The foliage is dense, often pubescence is present on the surface. The color of the leaves is a rich dark green hue, some varieties have a silvery foliage.
From the very beginning of June until the end of the second summer month, the peak of flowering of the sparrow occurs. Then the buds open until September, but not so abundantly. Flower buds are formed in the leaf axils, while they can be located either singly or collected in groups. The size of the flowers is small, the funnel-shaped corolla consists of five petals that take on an azure hue. There are species of lithodora with other colors of inflorescences - snow-white, yellow or pinkish. A species such as the olive-leaved sparrow (Lithospermum oleifolium) can change the color of flowers from pale pink (while they are in the form of buds) to bright blue in the stage of full disclosure. The flower diameter varies within 1–1, 7 cm.
As already mentioned, after pollination, nut-like seeds ripen, which tightly stick around the stems. They begin to ripen from the middle of summer.
Lithospermum is particularly unpretentious, therefore it is loved by gardeners. With its help, you can plant rocky gardens and retaining walls, arrange paths, land in mixborders and garden containers. The "stone seed" in hanging baskets will look no less impressive.
Planting and caring for lithodora outdoors
- Place for planting a sparrow. Such ground covers prefer sunny places, but a light openwork shade created by the deciduous crown of tall trees is suitable for them. It is important to choose a place that will not be exposed to flooding and moisture stagnation from melting snow. If this is not possible, then you need to organize grooves to drain moisture.
- Soil for lithospermum should have an acidity of pH 5, 5–6, 5. A light nutritious soil - loam or sandy loam is suitable. If the land on the site is very heavy and dense, then it is imperative to use drainage (medium-sized crushed stone, expanded clay or broken brick) and mix 20-30% of river sand.
- Planting a sparrow plant. Planting is best done in spring (May) or no later than July. The distance between the lithodores is about 20–30 cm. When the hole is dug, 5 cm of the drainage layer can be laid on its bottom so that the root system, even with heavy rains, does not suffer from waterlogging.
- Watering. The sparrow is considered a crop that tolerates drought calmly, but watering is necessary for it to keep the soil in a moderately moist state, soil flooding is harmful. As soon as the top layer of the substrate dries up to a depth of 4–5 cm, it is required to water the bushes.
- General advice on care. Garden sparrow varieties can withstand frosts up to 20 degrees and do not require shelter. With the arrival of autumn, it is recommended to prune the stems of bushy lithodor. In this case, the shoots are left only 8-10 cm high from the soil. In July, it is necessary to cut off the faded inflorescences to give the curtains a more neat look.
- Top dressing for lithodora. Since the plant has the peculiarity of forming a large volume of the aboveground part, such one or perennials will need to be fed. Lithospermum responds best to mineral complex preparations, such as, for example, "Kemira Universal", nitroammofoska or an infused solution on chicken droppings. It is important to adhere to the dosages indicated by the manufacturer on the fertilizer packaging. If you break this rule, then the sparrow can grow deciduous mass to the detriment of flowering.
To make organic feeding, use 1-3 kg of manure or chicken droppings, which are diluted in a 10-liter bucket of water. The slurry is left to infuse for 3-5 days. Then half a liter of the resulting strained mixture (uterine extract) is diluted in 10 liters of pure water. Such a remedy is applied under the root of the pearl herb.
If annual sparrows are planted in a nutritious soil, then additional feeding is necessary after 14 days from the moment of planting. The fertilizer is applied a second time before the buds begin to form. In the case when perennial lithodors are planted on the site, they adhere to the following feeding regime:
- Before the start of the activation of vegetation processes (in early spring), a complete mineral complex is required, but it is better to take a solution of organic fertilizer.
- In the second phase of bud formation, nitrogen-phosphorus preparations are used, or organic matter must be added if it was not used at the beginning of growth.
- The third phase of dressing comes with the end of the flowering process in the sparrow plant. During this period, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers will be needed, which will contribute to the establishment of future flower buds and the support of the bushes with nutrients before winter. Some flower growers recommend limiting at this time to mineral preparations in small doses, making them in 2-3 weeks.
How to propagate a sparrow plant?
Since the lithodora plant is a semi-shrub, you can divide it when it has grown too much, carry out cuttings and sowing seeds.
When grafting lithospermum, shoots are used, the tops of which have already rooted, since root shoots appear on them in contact with the soil. Such a seating operation is carried out with the arrival of spring or in the autumn period, after the end of flowering, but the best time is mid-summer. Carefully separating the cuttings from the mother plant, they are immediately planted in a new prepared place, watering and mulching the soil is carried out. You can do without the use of rooting stimulants, since lithodora seedlings quickly release roots and take root. It is necessary to try to keep the distance between the planted cuttings of a sparrow about 30 cm. You can plant apical cuttings (with a length of about 10 cm) in pots filled with a peat-sandy substrate in spring and summer. When the seedlings develop roots, they are transplanted into open ground.
When the bush becomes too overgrown, then it is divided. They also try to pick up the time for breeding in early spring or autumn, so that before the cold weather the delenki can normally adapt in a new place. Using a shovel or garden fork, they dig in the bush and remove it from the soil. Then, with a sharpened knife, the root system of the pearl grass is cut in such a way that each of the divisions has at least one renewal bud. Sections of the cut are abundantly sprinkled with charcoal or activated carbon powder for disinfection. When the parts of the lithospermum are ready for planting, they are placed at a distance of 30–40 cm from each other in pre-dug holes, watered, and the soil next to the bushes is mulched.
Occasionally, seed material is also used for propagation of the sparrow plant. It is recommended to sow seeds immediately after ripening - in September-October. New shoots of lithodora can be seen only with the arrival of next spring. For this, seedlings are prepared - peat-sandy soil is poured into the planting box, into which sparrow seeds are sown at a shallow depth. When planting in the summer for next spring, you can wait for a full-fledged seedling, and with the arrival of May, plant it in a prepared place in the garden.
How to deal with diseases and pests when growing a sparrow?
Often, problems with growing a sparrow are associated with a violation of the rules for care. A lot of space is needed for the normal growth of pearl grass. She will "interfere" with the planted garden crops nearby, so it is recommended to give preference to lisospermum when decorating a rock garden, placing it alone.
Also, stagnation of moisture in the soil becomes a problem, then the sparrow can be affected by fungal diseases that cause rotting of the root system. To carry out the treatment, the area with the planted lithospermum is dried - drainage or moisture removal is organized. Then treatment with fungicidal preparations should be carried out.
Harmful insects that harm the clumps of the sparrow plant are considered to be:
- Aphidswhen all shoots and foliage are covered with small green bugs. If not treated, the pest colony begins to grow rapidly, sucking nutritious juices from the leaves. At the same time, a sticky plaque appears at the location of the bugs (products of their vital activity), which becomes a favorable environment for the development of a sooty fungus.
- Spider mitesappearing due to increased dryness. These harmful insects also pierce the leaf plate, sucking out the juices. The leaves become yellowish and are covered with a thin cobweb. If the fight is not carried out, then soon the whole plant is covered with a dense whitish layer and dies.
To prevent the appearance of pests on the plantings of the sparrow or to deal with those that have already appeared, it is recommended to treat the shrubs with insecticidal and acaricidal preparations. There are a large number of such funds on the market, but Bona Forte, Antiklesch, as well as Gaupsin and Aktofit have recommended themselves best. These formulations are biological products and do not harm humans or animals. Of the more active agents, you can use Aktara, Aktellik or Fitoverm
Notes for the curious about the sparrow
Since ancient times, folk healers have known about the medicinal properties of the medicinal sparrow (Lithospermum officinale). So the tincture from its seeds helped in the regulation of menstruation. Also, in the course of experiments, it was proved that the roots of the lithospermum can affect the functions of the ovaries and endocrine glands (pituitary gland). If the stems are crushed (dried or fresh), then applying them to cuts, bruises or wounds can speed up healing. This powder was used to treat inflammation on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes. The remedy will help get rid of bad breath and normalize the vaginal microflora (since its violation provokes thrush).
When worried about pain with bruises or swellings, healers recommend using a poultice of sparrow grass, painful symptoms of arthritis and hernias are also eliminated. In the presence of kidney or liver stones, they drink decoctions from lithospermum. The same drug helps against headaches and weakness. It was used as a laxative for constipation, but when the intestines relaxed, it could have a strengthening effect. If during menstruation a woman experienced severe pain, then she was given a decoction of sparrow leaves, as the convulsions were relieved. The same was used in the birth process in order to facilitate contractions.
However, the most valuable property was a mild effect on the hormonal background of the human body. Sparrow is characterized by a high content of lithospermic acid, which can suppress the production of gonadotropins (gonadotropic hormones). These substances, produced by the anterior pituitary gland, are responsible for the functioning of the gonads. Therefore, all drugs based on lithodora are characterized by a contraceptive effect. With their help, you can lower blood sugar levels, since there is an effect on the thyroid gland. These drugs are recommended for mild hypothyroidism.
Sparrow species
Sparrow medicinal (Lithospermum officinale) -
it is a dicotyledonous plant with two opposite cotyledons in the bud. Its taxonomic name was first published by the flora taxonomist Karl Linnaeus in the middle of the 18th century. People can hear how they call him "derebyanka". The natural growing area is European and Mediterranean lands, the Middle East and Central Asia. Prefers deciduous forests and forest edges, glades and meadows, can grow in steppes and among shrub thickets, found on arable lands and wastelands, along road sides.
It is a herbaceous plant with a long life cycle. The stems are pubescent. The foliage is simple or scaly, with a pointed tip. The surface of the leaves is also pubescent. Leaves grow on shoots along the entire length in the next order. Small flowers are collected in the inflorescence in the form of a curl. The color of the petals is whitish-yellow. Whitish small egg-shaped nuts act as fruits. The plant is protected by law, it is listed in the Red Data Books of Russia, Belarus, Lithuania and Latvia.
Sparrow purple-blue (Lithospermum purpureo-caeruleum)
also referred to as Lithodoroi purple-blue or Lithospermum purple-blue … The plant has semi-shrub outlines and does not exceed 30-50 cm in height. It is characterized by two types of shoots: erect and creeping. At the same time, it can form a dense green carpet. Ground cover stems are covered with lanceolate or ovoid leaf plates, dark green in color. Erect stems act as peduncles, which are crowned with inflorescences in the form of curls.
The inflorescences contain flowers with purple-red petals. As the bud matures and unfolds, this color changes to blue. A bright blue corolla may have a red core, or the petals of a flower are pale blue with a lighter tone inside. The flowering process occurs at the end of spring, often capturing June. Since the number of inflorescences is large, they can completely cover the rocky soil in a rock garden or a stone garden. Sometimes the buds can open until the fall, but not so abundantly.
Sparrow olive (Lithospermum oleifolium)
is a ground cover plant, not exceeding 15 cm in height, with a diameter of up to 30 cm. The form of growth is a semi-shrub with loose stems. The brownish green dull foliage has a silvery tint. On the surface of the leaves, there is a pubescence of short, hard hairs. The shape of the leaf plates is oblong or obovate, which made it possible to name the species - olive. The length of the leaf reaches 1 cm.
In the terminal inflorescences, which look like shields, buds are collected with various colors, including lilac, blue, pale pink shades. Each inflorescence has 3-7 buds, the diameter of which is 0.9 cm. The flowering process is quite long - from late spring to early September.
Sparrow sparrow (Lithospermum diffusum),
he is Lithospermum sprawling or Spreading lithodora … A dwarf semi-shrub does not grow more than 10 cm. Creeping shoots, covered with dark green narrow lanceolate leaves. Their surface has a hard pubescence. The diameter of the flowers in full disclosure is 1 cm, the color of the petals is bright blue. The corolla looks like a bell, the tube is spliced. The color can be white, yellow, pinkish-purple or lilac with a whitish border. The flowering process stretches over the entire summer period.
Sparrow video:
