The characteristic features of the plant, the rules for growing azorella in a garden plot or indoors, breeding steps, the fight against possible diseases and pests, note for flower growers, species. Azorella (Azorella) is part of the genus of representatives of the flora, which are attributed to the family Umbrella (Apiaceae), often referred to in botanical literature as Celery. All the varieties included in this genus, and there are up to 25 (according to some sources, 50-60) names, in natural conditions are widespread in the South American territory, while "climbing" on the highlands of the Andes. Such plants are found not only on the islands of New Zealand, but also on a remote part of the earth, located in the southern region of the Atlantic (Malvinas or Falkland Islands).
| Family name | Umbrella, Celery |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Growth features | Evergreen shrubs or grasses |
| Reproduction | Seed and vegetative (grafting or dividing rhizomes) |
| Landing period in open ground | Rooted cuttings, planted in spring or summer |
| Substrate | Light, well-draining, acidity neutral or weak |
| Illumination | Open area with bright lighting |
| Humidity | Moderate |
| Moisture indicators | Stagnant moisture is harmful, watering is moderate, drainage is recommended |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height | About 25-50 cm, minimum 7 cm |
| Color of flowers | Yellow, greenish yellow |
| Type of flowers, inflorescences | Globular |
| Flowering time | June August |
| Decorative time | Spring-summer |
| Place of application | Alpine slides, rock gardens, rockeries |
| USDA zone | 3, 4, 5 |
Plants are perennial shrubs or may have a herbaceous form of growth. The azorella root system lies at great depths. The stem is woody, creeping, creeping, it goes under the soil surface. Since all Azorella shoots are impregnated with a resinous substance, the local population has long used them as fuel, due to their excellent combustion. Today there are territories where such raw materials are extracted on an industrial scale.
The leaf plates that cover the shoots are characterized by a leathery surface and through them the azorella forms dense, often hard thickets with the outlines of pillows, or from a distance they can be mistaken for large green boulders. In height, the dwarf shrub can approach 50 cm, while its diameter is up to one meter, but some species with their shoots reach only 7 cm in height. Sometimes, because of their appearance, they are popularly referred to as "pillow plant" or yareta.
The leaves are beautiful, with a shiny surface, which is provided by a waxy bloom. Such a coating protects them from the direct rays of the scorching sun and prevents the leaves from drying out when a drought begins. The foliage is painted in a dark green color scheme. At the base, the leaf has a narrowing, and at the ends its outlines are pinnately dissected. Leaf plates are usually assembled into small rosettes, the diameter of which reaches no more than 3 cm.
When the summer season comes, the azorella becomes covered with an abundance of buds that gather in globular inflorescences. At the same time, they are located next to the foliage (practically in the same plane), then they are formed, like a patterned decoration of a green "carpet" of leaves. The flowers have yellow or greenish-yellow petals. They have no aroma. Curiously, the plant is hermaphrodite, meaning the flowers have both female and male characteristics. Therefore, even though insects take part in the flowering process, the ground cover is able to self-pollinate itself.
Since most of the varieties of azorella are not at all winter-hardy, in gardening this plant is a rare "guest" in our latitudes. But with proper care, it will work well in landscaping to create green spots. Most of all, designers prefer to grow for this a variety of Azorella trifurcate, thanks to its external outlines. The growth rate of the plant is low and while it covers the selected area with its shoots, you will have to be patient. Sometimes flower growers grow this shrub at home, planting it in containers or pots, decorating rooms without heating.
Rules for growing azorella in a personal plot or at home
- Choosing a landing site. The plant is distinguished by its love of light and a place in a well-lit area of a rock garden or in a stone garden is more suitable for it, but it shows its growth well in shading. Therefore, when choosing a location, it is better to pay attention to the east, west or southwest direction.
- Growing temperature. If you want to plant the ground cover in open ground, then this can be done in those areas where the thermometer does not fall below 15 frost during the winter months and then you can leave the yaretu without shelter. Or the bush is dug up and transplanted into a pot, which is placed in an unheated room during the winter. Azorella does not suffer from the action of a draft, and the differences between the daily or seasonal heat indicators are not afraid of it.
- Air humidity is not important when cultivating azorella anywhere, no spraying is carried out.
- Watering. When grown in open ground, moisten the substrate next to the bush only if the weather is very dry. This is because the root system is located deep and allows moisture to be extracted from the lower layers. When the azorella grows in a pot, moderate watering is needed, especially during the winter months (every 10 days).
- Transplant and advice on soil selection. A plant planted in open ground grows very slowly, but steadily subdues all new territories and irregularities in the soil. The rate of its growth per year is only a couple of centimeters and in one place the azorella can calmly stay without growing up to hundreds of years. But sometimes this rate increases slightly if the soil cover grows in conditions with a more favorable climate. Therefore, the transplant is performed only as needed, if you need to change the place of the plant. But when cultivated at home, Azorella can live up to 4–5 years in one pot. The capacity is selected quite deep, since the root system needs a large amount of free space. For transplanting, soil with weak or neutral acidity indicators, with increased conductivity for air or moisture, is suitable. If the plant grows in a pot, then a layer of drainage material is placed in the container before planting, which will absorb excess moisture, preventing the soil from becoming waterlogged. Or you can add perlite, fine expanded clay or red brick chips to the substrate. Ordinary garden soil can be used.
- General application. If you decide to arrange a rock garden or a stone garden (rockery) on your personal plot, then here the yareta will become a constant helper, since with its shoots it will be able to cover all the irregularities of the soil or obstacles. Landscapers use azorella to fill gaps between slabs or to create a dramatic green spot in the garden. At home, this ground cover is grown in pots or containers installed on window sills, balconies, terraces or loggias, where the temperature can drop to 12 degrees below zero. When planting in the garden, you should carefully select the plants that will grow next to these rather aggressive shrubs. If the representatives of the flora have sufficient height and strength, then Azorella will not be able to damage them, but those flowers whose growth rate is slow and the height parameters are insignificant are drowned out by such a "green carpet".
Azorella breeding steps
To get such a rare plant with cushion-shaped outlines, they are sowing seeds, cutting or dividing an overgrown bush.
If it is decided to divide the yareta, then the most suitable time is at the very beginning of spring, while the vegetation processes have not yet developed too much. However, there are observations that after the operation, the already slow growth of the plant slows down even more. With the help of a sharp-edged shovel, the root system of the colony is cut, and then with the help of a pitchfork, the cuttings are taken out. Only it is necessary that the parts are not too small, otherwise they may not take root. The cuttings are planted in a pre-prepared place, where Azorella is very quickly taken.
May or June is suitable for cuttings. It is recommended to cut the blanks from the tops of the runs and plant them directly into a container filled with loose but nutritious soil (for example, peat-sandy substrate). After that, they wait for the roots to appear and transplant to a permanent place of growth. But some growers, bypassing the rooting of cuttings, immediately place the blanks in the chosen place and wait. When they release the root shoots.
With seed reproduction, you can both grow seedlings, and without it. Since azorella has the property of self-pollination, it is possible to obtain seed material at home. At the same time, they begin to sow seeds in February, using peat-sandy soil, poured into seedling boxes. The seeds should not be buried in moist soil, but simply spread evenly over the surface. Tanks with crops are installed in a place with good, but diffused lighting. So that the humidity is high, and the substrate does not dry out too quickly, a piece of glass is placed on top or wrapped in a plastic transparent film. The germination temperature is maintained within 18-24 degrees. The first shoots can be seen after 10-15 days. And when young Azorellas grow up, they dive to a permanent place of growth.
If you don't want to mess with seedlings, then the seeds can be sown directly into the open ground, but only if the temperature readings are positive at night, while the soil has already warmed up well under the sun. Such a time comes at the end of spring. The place in which the sowing is performed is prepared in the fall, and before sowing, the soil in the rock garden is slightly loosened. It is recommended to spread the seeds and sprinkle them with a substrate.
Fight against possible diseases and pests of Azorella
One can only rejoice at such a ground cover, which, when cultivated in a garden, will not be susceptible to diseases or attacks of harmful insects. The big problem is that if the owner does not prune shoots during the time, the plant slowly but steadily begins to occupy ever larger areas, drowning out not only weeds, but also any other plantings.
If the azarella is planted in heavy soil, and the owner overdid it with watering, then this can lead to the onset of decay. After spring comes, the cushion thickets look unsightly due to yellowed leaves or those that have completely or partially dried out. However, the good news is that this representative of the umbrella quickly regains its appearance.
To flower growers a note about azorella, a photo of a plant
Sometimes such a bush, reaching meters across, can weigh up to 150 kg. It is clear that, even having run over them with a horse, the rider did not always understand that this was just an unusual plant. Moreover, only one square meter of such a ground cover will be formed into a real "pillow" in about a hundred years. The density of the shrub is so high that the locals use pickaxes as a tool to separate only part of the thickets.
The shoots of the jareta are so dense and absorb light so strongly that the inner part of the ground cover is used as a material for the manufacture of a flammable resinous substance. Therefore, because of these properties, the colonies began to be cut down on a large scale. Environmentalists have started talking about fears that Azorella will be threatened with extinction. In countries where this plant is considered the most common, cutting down is now punishable by law and shoots are prohibited.
In official medicine, the properties of yareta have not yet been well studied, but careful studies are being carried out in this direction, since the local population has long used drugs based on this herb to relieve rheumatic pains. And if you brew tea from its foliage, then with its help you can establish control over blood pressure and sugar levels. Often, overweight people use this drink to reduce their appetite.
Azorella species
- Azorella trifurcate It is found under the synonymous names Chamitis trifurcate Gaertn. or Bolax glebaria. The native lands of natural distribution fall on the border territories of the Southern Hemisphere, which includes the Strait of Magellan, which separates the continent of South America and Tierra del Fuego. This plant received its specific name because of the shape of the foliage; the top of the leaf plate resembles a trident. The length of the leaves is no more than 1.5 cm, they collect compacted rosettes, which reach three centimeters in diameter. The leaves are overwintering, with a leathery surface, their color is rich dark emerald. The root system is located deep in the ground. The leaves are arranged very densely. In the middle of summer, buds form on the plant. The size of the flowers is even smaller than the leaves, the inflorescences are umbrella-shaped, resembling balls. Flower petals are yellow-green. Inflorescences grow at the tops of the branches. The flowers are of no value, but they adorn the cushion-shaped green thickets of the half-shrub, as if with a pattern of bright spots. The height of such a bush above the soil surface reaches 10 cm, then when grown in gardens, a dwarf variety has gained popularity, which measures only 5 cm in height and is called "Minima". Both the main species and this variety have the property of expanding in breadth, forming dense carpets of any irregularities or obstacles by shoots. They can drown out the growth of any weed with their thickets, as well as plants of "noble" families, if they are distinguished by their slow growth. When growing, you will need to protect from direct sunlight and create shelter during snowless winters.
- Azorella compacta found in the literature under the name Yareta. With its dense sod, the plant resembles moss thickets. The species is very ancient, since the first mentions of it are found three thousand years ago. The native lands on which this bush is distributed in nature cover the territories of the Andes, Peru, Bolivia and Chile and Argentina. The plant is found in the harsh climate of the highlands, climbing there, to an absolute height of 3200-4500 meters. The flowers are small in size and are distinguished by whitish or pale pinkish petals. For a year, shoots can grow by only 2 cm. Leaf plates with a waxy coating, which serves as protection from the scorching sun and drought. In 4 countries of the world it is under the protection of the law.
- Azorella selago. This species is endemic to the land that falls on the Antarctic island of Kerguelen. Since the shoots of the pillow-like thickets that are widely spread on these lands are soaked through with a resinous substance, the local population uses them as a combustible material.
