Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium), or Epimedium, is a herbaceous plant from the Barberry family. The plant lives at the foot of the mountains, in forest clearings in Turkey, the Caucasus and the countries of East Asia.
This deciduous perennial flower is a frequent visitor to Western Europeans. In the Russian Federation, the plant is still not very popular, however, more and more gardeners every year learn about the mountain goat gossamer and plant it on their plots as a medicinal gardener. The plant will perfectly decorate any flower garden and will take pride of place on the flower bed. To get a beautiful healthy mountain goat woman, you do not need to spend much time and effort.
Description of the plant
Horny Goat Weed belongs to the ground cover with a powerful overgrown rhizome. The shoots at the flowering stage reach a height of 15 to 75 cm. As they mature, the bushes increase in diameter. Over time, the central part dies off. There are different types of mountain women. Some of them are able to retain greenery throughout the whole season, while others lose their foliage with the arrival of cold weather. The shoots are thin with a smooth brown skin and tend to branch out in different directions. The arrangement of the leaves is very close. Dense foliage forms a curtain.
Leathery leaf blades are colored in a rich green tone. The foliage is lanceolate or heart-shaped. Smooth or serrated edges. In some species, pinkish streaks appear in the middle of the leaf.
In late spring, the bushes acquire lush inflorescences like brushes. The size of one rim is from 5 to 20 mm. The corollas are arranged in two rows. Each of the rows contains two pairs of petals. There are varieties that are additionally decorated with dense hooked spurs.
When the Horny Goat Weed is pollinated, the achenes ripen. The growth surrounding the seeds contains a large amount of nutrients that attract ants. Thanks to insects, the plant is able to move to other territories, remote from the place where the mother bushes grow.
Types and varieties of mountain woman with photo
50 species are attributed to the genus of the mountain woman, including decorative varieties.
Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium grandiflorum)
This is the most common type of flower and has laid the foundation for the breeding of other hybrid varieties. The plant can be seen in Japan's highlands, where wild clumps display vibrant lush greenery all year round. The length of the shoots is from 20 to 30 cm. Leathery heart-shaped plates are covered with an unusual bronze pattern. Lilac clusters are formed of 4-15 buds. They are used medicinally to improve male potency. No wonder the plant is called "green Viagra". The varieties of the large-flowered mountain goat are:
- Lilacinum - with purple loose flowers;
- White queen - with white inflorescences-tassels;
- Pink Queen - stands out with bright purple buds.
Red Horned Goat Weed (Epimedium rubrum)
Grows in the form of a straight, slender bush no more than 40 cm long. Shoots have little foliage. Small inflorescences.The buds are approximately 1.5 cm wide. The central column is surrounded by thin red petals.
Horned Goat Weed (Epimedium Sagittatum)
Scientists managed to discover this species quite recently. The height of the dense curtain reaches from 25 to 30 cm. The leaves are oblong in shape with sharp tips. The shoots are quite leafy, the flowering brushes contain short corollas.
Chinese Horny Goat Weed
A low-growing species of Horny Goat Weed, characterized by lush purple buds and bright green foliage. Perennial blooms in mid-spring. The plant withstands severe frosts and develops steadily in the shade. Bushes slowly build up mass.
Growing Mountain Goat Weed
There are two ways to grow Horny Goat Weed. First, plant the seeds, or cut the bushes apart.
Growing a perennial from seeds takes a long time. The material is repeatedly stratified to obtain seedlings. For three weeks, the seeds are stored in a room, after which they are transferred to the refrigerator for 30 days, the procedure is repeated. The hardened seeds are sown in a mixture of sand and peat and covered with polyethylene. Containers with seedlings are placed in a room with an air temperature of +15 to + 20 ° C. The sprouts begin to break through the soil after a week. They grow quickly, so in May the seedlings will be ready for transplanting to the site. The culture blooms after 3-4 years.
Bushes that occupy the same place for a long time are suitable for separation. The event is best done in September. For this, the plant is carefully dug up and shaken off from the soil. The rhizome is cut into pieces with a sharp knife so that the cuttings do not lose buds. Then they are transplanted into new pits, deepening by no more than 4-6 cm. Delenki are provided with moderate watering and shelter.
The bushes are transplanted at a distance of 30 to 40 cm from each other. The site is pre-enriched with fertilizers and moistened. The soil should be loose and light, and contain a sufficient amount of lime.
Planting and caring for the mountain goat
Mountain Goat Weed costs minimal care. The plant thrives in both dark and sunny areas. Many species are resistant to temperature fluctuations, but severe frosts can cause freezing of the crop.
Heat and drought do not cause much harm to the perennial if the bushes are watered abundantly and often. Shoots and foliage lose their shape and wither without moisture. The roots do not like stagnant water, which can provoke the spread of rot.
Weeding and mulching the soil allows oxygen to reach the roots. Before the arrival of cold weather, the top layer of soil is covered with compost so that the rhizome is preserved for the winter. In regions with a harsh climate, the site is additionally covered with fallen leaves and spruce branches. Varieties that do not change the color of their foliage throughout the year need more shelter. As soon as the spring thaw begins, the layer of old foliage and mulch is pushed aside to allow young green shoots and leaves to appear.
Horny Goat Weed survives without any additional feeding. Fertile soil gives the roots the necessary elements. If the flower bed is too poor, the soil is fertilized with compost and mineral fertilizers several times during the season.
Diseases and insects are not terrible for the plant. Although the shoots are exposed, from time to time, the invasion of slugs and mice. To remove annoying pests from the garden, you will have to set up traps with baits.
The healing properties of the Horny Goat Weed
Horny Goat Weed is a source of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and flavonoids. The flower has received recognition in oriental and folk medicine and is used as a choleretic, diuretic, stimulant and tonic. Preparations from Horny Goat Weed effectively cure male disorder, strengthen immunity, fight stress, relieve fatigue, normalize blood metabolism, blood pressure and cleanse the body of toxic substances that remain after taking medications.
The use of Horny Goat Weed rejuvenates tissues and cells and cures a number of diseases. The plant and its preparations are not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, small children and patients with thyroid problems.
Horny Goat weed in landscape design
The mountain woman covers the flowerbed with a continuous variegated carpet, beautifully landscapes the garden and hides empty corners under a lush crown. Curtains look good in rockeries, rock gardens and mixborders. Due to its early flowering, the culture is appreciated by gardeners. Cereals and bulbous herbs successfully coexist next to the epimedium.
