Characteristics, tips for growing an asphodelin plant in the open field, how to reproduce, diseases, pests and possible difficulties in care, note for flower growers, types. Asphodeline (Asphodeline) is a part of plants that in the embryo have all one cotyledon and belong to the Xanthorrhoeaceae family. Their native area of distribution falls on the territory of the Mediterranean lands, and some of the varieties were known to the peoples of Asia Minor. The description given to the type species is based on plants found in Dalmatia, an area located in the northeast of the Balkan Peninsula, which includes the coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea and the terrain of present-day Croatia and Montenegro. These representatives of the flora prefer dry slopes and stony meadows, where they settle among shrub thickets. Various sources give ambiguous data about the number of this genus, as the number of all Asphodeline varies from 15 to 20 units.
| Family name | Xanthorheidae |
| Life cycle | Annuals, biennials and perennials |
| Growth features | Herbaceous |
| Reproduction | Seed and vegetative (bush division) |
| Landing period in open ground | Seedlings are planted in May, delenki - in early autumn |
| Disembarkation scheme | At a distance of 30-50 cm from each other |
| Substrate | Loamy, sandy loam, permeable |
| Illumination | Open area with bright lighting |
| Moisture indicators | Moisture stagnation is harmful, watering is moderate, drainage is recommended |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height | 0.4-0.6 m |
| Color of flowers | White, pink, yellow or orange |
| Type of flowers, inflorescences | Racemose or spike-shaped, occasionally solitary flowers |
| Flowering time | April-August |
| Decorative time | Spring-summer |
| Place of application | Curbs, ridges, rock gardens or rockeries |
| USDA zone | 5–9 |
The scientific name of this plant is due to the term that is called the genus Asphodelus, which is close in properties and description. The first botanist to mention it in this context was Ludwig Reichenbach (1793–1879), who organized flora in the 19th century. In the 1830s, a number of varieties from this genus were transferred to a separate grouping. However, they are distinguished from asphodelyus by stems that completely or up to the middle cover multiple leaf plates.
Among asphodelin there are annual and biennial species, but there are those growing as perennials. All of them are herbaceous plants suitable for growing outdoors. Rhizome, its processes take swollen or cylindrical outlines. The stems can reach a height of 40-60 cm, but often they can approach the 120 cm mark. The average diameter of the bush is almost 30 cm.
All foliage is mainly grouped in the root part of the stems. The leaf plate is fleshy, linear subulate or trihedral. At the top there is a sharpness, and at the base there is a membranous sheath that encloses the stem. The color of the leaves is a rich green or bluish color scheme. The length of the leaf reaches 25 cm.
During flowering, inflorescences are formed, which take on racemose or spike-like outlines. The length of the inflorescences is 15-22 cm. They crown the stem and are composed of flowers with a bilaterally symmetrical shape (zygomorphic). They are somewhat reminiscent of stars. Occasionally, flowers can grow singly without gathering in groups. The perianth is white, pinkish, or orange in color, but most often it is yellow. This part of the flower is divided almost to the base into lobes, the outlines of which are straight or curved. The stamens are also curved, those that are inside are longer than the outer ones. The surface of the anthers is smooth. The pistil is filiform, the stigma is narrow, but with a bulge. Ovary with three cavities. The flowering process begins in mid-spring and lasts until the end of summer.
After pollination of asphodeline flowers, fruits ripen with the shape of a capsule with a leathery surface filled with triangular seeds. The seed color is black. There are three pairs of similar seeds in a box.
Often, flowering is wave-like, as flowers begin to open from the lower buds, rushing to the top of the inflorescence. Often, the period of flowering and ripening of fruits overlaps in time and at the bottom of the inflorescence you can see ripening bolls, and at the top there are still unblown buds.
The plant is distinguished by its unpretentious care and its flowering stems are customary to decorate not only flower beds and lawns, but to fill the crevices between stones in rockeries and rock gardens. Asphodeline is also planted in mixborders.
Tips for growing asphodeline outdoors
- Choosing a landing site. In nature, the plant prefers open areas and mountain slopes, so it is worth choosing a flower bed that has been illuminated by the sun all day. Trees and buildings should be at a considerable distance so that their shadow does not fall on the selected area. It should only be borne in mind that due to the size of the stems, it is recommended to look for a section of the garden protected from the wind.
- The use of asphodeline in landscape design. Since it does not lose its decorative effect throughout the entire spring-summer period. And the popularity of this plant among flower growers is constantly growing. It is customary to form such plantings as a monoculture that stands out favorably against the background of green lawns, but due to high flowering stems, it can solo in phytocompositions. In order to emphasize the beauty of the flowering of this representative of the flora, it is recommended to plant nearby such plants, the buds of which open simultaneously with the flowers of asphodeline. At the same time, it is important that the requirements that suit Asphodeline are acceptable to the “neighbors” in the flower garden. Since for the most part its flowers have a yellow color scheme, plants in which the color of the petals in the buds takes on a purple or blue color scheme will look beautiful next to it. Such representatives of the flower world can be: narrow-leaved lavender and Fassen's catnip, tall irises and oak sage, and many other types of flora. Often, decorative cereals are planted nearby, for example, evergreen oats or ciliated pearl barley, and a hair-like feather grass looks good next to it. Since in nature the plant prefers stony soil, asphodeline is planted in rock gardens and rockeries, in flower beds with rocky areas or using high stems, you can arrange borders.
- Planting soil is selected in accordance with natural preferences, since in nature Asphodeline prefers dry soils, then they also try to use medium-nutrient substrates, characterized by good drainage, sandy or loamy, on the garden plot. But even on nutritious and humus soil, the plant shows excellent results. It is important that sediments easily penetrate the root system, but do not linger there for a long time.
- Watering. Asphodelin is resistant to drought, but if there is no rain for a long time in the summer, then the soil will have to be moistened regularly, but moderately. Overdrying is especially harmful to the plant when the rooting of the cuttings or seedlings occurs; during this period, abundant watering is needed. When it becomes clear that the process is proceeding normally and showing signs of growth, then the moisture is transferred to a moderate mode - when the top layer of the soil dries out. The bay affects the root system very badly, and even more so the waterlogging of the soil, therefore, when planting, it is important not to forget about the drainage, which is laid directly into the hole. Such material can be pebbles, expanded clay or crushed brick.
- Wintering. Since Asphodeline is grown in some regions as a perennial crop, it is recommended to protect it from frost for the winter period, although according to some reports it can tolerate a decrease in heat to 15 degrees with a minus. In this case, fallen leaves, spruce branches of pine or spruce, or a special covering material (agrofibre or agrospam) can act as a shelter. Often, a plastic wrap is even placed on top so that moisture does not get inside the curtain when the snow melts. If the winters in your area are mild, then such a shelter will not be needed.
- Landing of asphodeline. In early May, you can plant seedlings in open ground. Before this, the soil at the selected place is loosened and the roots of the weeds are removed. The holes should be within 30-50 cm from each other. A small layer of drainage is placed on the bottom. After the plant is installed in the hole, the soil is poured, tamped a little and watered abundantly. The distance between the holes for planting divisions must be made a little more than indicated.
- Fertilizers for Asphodeline applied for the entire growing season 1-2 times. Complete mineral complexes are used, preferably released in liquid form, to be diluted in water for irrigation.
Reproduction of asphodelin
Usually, both seed and vegetative methods are used for this.
The latter method is of great priority, when you can divide an overgrown bush or plant a cut off part of it. This operation is performed in August or early autumn. The Asphodeline shrub must be removed from the soil using a garden fork and a sharpened tool to divide the root system. Each of the divisions should have 2-3 renewal points. The disembarkation is carried out immediately. A compost pad is placed in the hole where the delenka will be placed, which serves as a soil mixture (almost 5 cm) with a small part of bone meal. When planting, it is necessary that the deepening of a part of the plant is the same as that of the mother bush.
When growing asphodeline from seeds, the collected material is sown at the very beginning of spring. Seeds are placed in a peat-sandy substrate, laid in seedling boxes. The seeds are sprinkled with soil only a little. You can put a piece of glass on top of the container or cover it with plastic. Germinate asphodeline seeds in a cool room. When shoots appear, it is recommended to dive them, planting them in separate pots. Florists recommend using those made of peat, so as not to injure the root system of the plant later. Landing in open ground is performed on May days, when the threat of return frosts has passed.
Diseases, pests and possible difficulties in caring for asphodeline
When grown in the garden, you don't have to worry about this plant, as Asphodeline is resistant to pests and diseases. But occasionally, when the weather is rainy, she suffers from the attacks of snails or slugs, which devour the foliage. Such pests are harvested by hand or drugs like MetaGroza are used. If aphids (small green bugs) are seen on the plant, then insecticides are used to combat it (for example, Aktaru or Aktellik).
When leaf nematodes appear, the foliage acquires a yellow spot, due to which the foliage quickly becomes brown and dries out. Leaves, if you do not take action, begin to die off, which can lead to the death of the entire bush. The reason for the appearance of the pest is a decrease in heat indicators and waterlogging of the soil. The indicated insecticides or similar preparations with the same spectrum of action are suitable for the fight.
However, if more than half of the plant is affected, then it should be destroyed in order to prevent further contamination of other garden plantings.
To flower growers a note about asphodeline, a photo of a herbaceous plant
Varieties of Crimean and thin asphodeline are listed in the Red Book of Russia, as their number is constantly decreasing.
Types of asphodeline
- Asphodelin yellow (Asphodeline lutea) occurs under the name Asphodelus luteus. In nature, it prefers to settle on rocky mountain slopes, while it can grow at an altitude of up to 1 km above sea level, but it also occurs on forest edges or in shrubs, a very rare visitor in the steppe regions. All areas of growth cover the Mediterranean Crimean regions, the southeastern lands of Europe, Asia Minor and Western Asia, and the north of the African continent. In height, the stems of this species can reach 60 cm. They are well leafy, while the foliage is subulate. The length of the leaf plate is 10–15 cm and the width is about 8 mm. There is a short pubescence along the edge. In a dense racemose inflorescence, flowers of a yellow or greenish-yellow color are collected, not exceeding 3-4 cm in diameter. The flowering process occurs in May. Quite frost-resistant plant. There is a garden form with flowers that have a double structure - Asphodeline lutea f. flore pleno.
- Asphodeline liburnica (Asphodeline liburnica). The native distribution area is in the European Mediterranean regions, while such a plant can be seen on mountain slopes fully exposed to the sun's rays or in forests among shrubs. The height of growth does not exceed 1000 m. In height, the stems cannot grow more than 40 cm. Leaves formed on a stem with vaginal bases are 8–10 cm long. The flowers are collected in a racemose loose inflorescence, about 2 in diameter. –3 cm. The flowering process begins in April. In culture, it is almost never grown.
- Crimean Asphodelin (Asphodeline taurica) can be found in botanical literature under the name Asphodelus tauricus. It prefers to grow in the alpine and subalpine mountain belt inherent in the Crimea (its Mediterranean regions), Transcaucasia, the Balkan Peninsula and the lands of Asia Minor and Western Asia. There, this species is not uncommon on dry and open mountain slopes, as well as in woodlands. The flowering stem can reach up to 60 cm in height. On the stem there are leaf plates with an awl-shaped form and rather large membranous sheaths in width at the base. The inflorescence forms a dense raceme, which is almost 30 cm long. Although the flowers themselves are small, their diameter does not exceed 2 cm. But they have large filmy bracts with a silvery color, their size even exceeds the buds. The perianth lobes have obovate outlines. When flowering is just beginning, the inflorescence resembles a silvery-whitish ear. The buds begin to bloom in waves from the bottom of the inflorescence to the top. The flowers are zygomorphic, with whitish petals. One of them has a downward slope, and the rest look up, while being very close to each other. Usually, the buds begin to bloom in the afternoon, since their pollinators are hawk moths, which are activated with the arrival of dusk. The flowering process stretches from May to early summer.
- Asphodeline thin (Asphodeline tenuior). The native lands of growth cover the lower belt of the mountainous regions of the Ciscaucasia and the western and southern regions of the Transcaucasia. There the plant prefers to settle on the slopes of stones and the same talus. The height of the stem is small and can be measured to a maximum of 30 cm. To the middle part, it is covered with thin subulate leaf plates, in which the sheaths are wide and membranous, the edge of the leaf is decorated with short pubescence. The inflorescence is a loose brush, which is composed of small two-centimeter flowers. Their color is yellow with a green stripe adorning the perianth lobes. Flowering is observed from late spring to June. This species is practically unknown in culture.
