The plant (Senecio) belongs to the Asteraceae family. The flower is perennial, less often annual. Can be in the form of dwarf shrubs, shrubs or small trees. Originally from the African continent, it grows in nature in almost all climatic zones of the world. The genus name Senecio comes from the Latin "senex", which means old man in translation.

Numerous types of rosemary are very popular with flower growers because of their decorative qualities. The ground plant is grown as a houseplant, and caring for it is not particularly difficult. Often the flower is used for cutting and subsequent decoration of bouquets.

Description of the groundwort

There are different types of rose trees that can vary greatly in appearance. Shoots can be either naked or pubescent. Leaves can have completely different shapes: elliptical or obovate, whole-edged or dissected. They are lobular, pinnately lobed and alternate. Inflorescence - the basket can be large or small, stand alone or in several baskets, forming scutes and panicles. The only thing that outwardly unites all species is silvery pubescence on the leaves.

Brief rules for growing a wild rose

The table shows brief rules for caring for a groundwort at home.

Home care for the groundwort

Lighting

Rustic plants love sufficient light in direct sunlight. The east and west window is the perfect place to grow these flowers in an apartment.

Temperature

In the spring and summer, to keep the wild rose, the temperature must be maintained at 22-25 degrees, in the fall it is gradually reduced to 13-15 degrees. This is necessary to prepare the plant for the winter period. At the same time, the temperature in winter should not fall below 7 degrees Celsius.

Watering

In the spring and summer, the ground plant should be watered moderately, a couple of days after the topsoil has dried. In autumn, watering is reduced, and in winter, it is watered only occasionally or not watered at all. For irrigation it is necessary to use only settled water. Overflow is extremely undesirable, since it is dangerous for the development of putrefactive processes of the roots and the health of the plant as a whole.

Air humidity

There is no need to create special conditions for the wild rose - the flower perfectly tolerates arid indoor air, so additional moisture is not necessary.

The soil

The soil for growing a wild rose needs nutritious and loose, pH neutral. You can purchase ready-made substrates for succulents or cacti, or mix leafy soil with sand in a 2: 1 ratio. It is better to use shallow and wide clay pots for planting the groundwort.

Top dressing

Fertilizers need to be applied 2 times a month, starting in March and ending in August. As a top dressing, conventional succulent fertilizers are suitable.

Transfer

An adult rosewort is transplanted once every 2-3 years, and young flowers are transplanted every spring. It is important to consider that the roots of the plant are very fragile, which are located at the very surface of the earth. Therefore, all procedures must be carried out extremely carefully.

Pruning

Regular pruning of strongly elongated stems of the groundwort is necessary. It is better to cut off the shoots under the very base, so the flower will have a more neat decorative look.

Bloom

The flowering of the wild rose begins at the very beginning of summer and lasts about a month. The plant is valued more because of its decorative and lush green leaves, which are unchanged throughout the year.

Propagation methods

Reproduction is done using cuttings, layering and seeds. When propagating in the first way, a 9-10 cm long shoot is cut off from the rootwort and a couple of lower leaves are removed, and then left to dry. After that, the prepared cuttings are planted in small pots with sandy soil for rooting and they are placed in a bright and warm place. After the cuttings have taken root, they must be transplanted into a larger pot.

Seed propagation is not used very often. The seeds required for sowing must be fresh and pre-germinated. To obtain a beautifully grown plant, several prepared seeds are placed in one pot at once. Seed crops must be moistened by spraying with water. The emerged seedlings are transferred to new small pots at the cotyledon phase.

As soon as you notice that your plant has grown a lot, then next to it you can put small containers with the substrate and put the grown shoots in them, pressing them into the ground. After they take root, they need to be cut from the mother plant.

Diseases and pests

Rustic plants are rarely affected by pests and diseases. Only improper care of the groundwort and the lack of fresh air can provoke the appearance of aphids, spider mites, worms, powdery mildew and gray rot.

Damage to young shoots, leaves and inflorescences occurs due to the pelargonium greenhouse aphid: the buds stop blooming, the inflorescences become brown, and the leaves turn yellow.To eliminate aphids, you need to ventilate the room more, spray with water from a spray bottle, and in case of severe lesions, apply insecticidal preparations.

The damage caused by the spider mite causes the leaves to burrow, and the thinnest cobweb can be seen on the inside of the leaf. To get rid of ticks, you need to regularly humidify the air in the room and rinse the ground plant with warm water. If the infection is extensive, use Actellic.

Seaside and citrus mealybugs suck out all the leafy juice, therefore, to get rid of them, you need to treat the whole plant with a soap or alcohol solution, and in case of severe lesions, with an emulsion of karbofos.

You can get rid of powdery mildew when using the foundation according to the instructions, after removing all damaged parts of the plant.

With gray rot, dry spots with a yellowish border appear. To combat it, copper oxychloride is used, and it is also worth stopping to excessively moisturize the substrate, cool it and keep the plant in low light.

Growing difficulties

• The leaves turn brown and then dry out - most likely they are affected by spider mites; indoor low humidity and high temperature; watering is irregular and insufficient.
• Brown spots are possibly sunburn caused by prolonged exposure to direct rays.
• The leaves are small, losing their color or, with natural spotting, become simply green - insufficient illumination.
• Elongated stems with small foliage - insufficient lighting.

Types and varieties of rosemary with photos and names

Euphorbiaceae (Senecio anteuphorbium)

Perennial bush shedding leaves. Senecio anteuphorbium can grow to about 1.5 m in height. Its erect stems have a succulent structure. Their thickness can be up to 1.5 cm. On the stems there are small gray-green leaves about 3 cm long. They have a lanceolate shape and a pronounced vein, and there is a small thorn at the top of each leaf. During flowering, inflorescences are formed in the form of baskets, collected from small light yellow flowers.

Articulated groundwort (Senecio articulatus)

A small bush that sheds foliage for the winter. Senecio articulatus is highly branched. Its shoots can reach up to half a meter in height. They are light gray in color and slightly rounded. Each branch can be up to 2 cm thick. The foliage is concentrated in the upper part of the branches. It has the same light gray color and can have different (split or split) shapes. Each plate is located on a long petiole. During the flowering period, the species forms several corymbose inflorescences. The flowers are yellow.

Large-leaved groundwort (Senecio grandifolius)

Representatives of the species are medium-sized trees no more than 3 m in height. Senecio grandifolius are evergreens. Their trunks begin to branch at the top, and the very surface of the bark is covered with many growths-warts. The foliage is slightly heart-shaped or oval in shape. The length of each plate can be up to 30 cm. The width is about 15 cm. The edges of the leaves are covered with grooves and denticles. From the inside, the leaf plates have pubescence, but their outer side is completely smooth. During the flowering period, large and dense inflorescences-shields, collected from yellow flowers, are formed on the tops of the shoots.

Grey's groundwort (Senecio greyi)

Such a groundwort forms an evergreen shrub up to 3 m high. Senecio greyi is distinguished by light pubescent stems. Its leathery foliage is shaped like an egg. Its length can reach 10 cm, and its width is about 3 cm. From the inside, the leaves are also covered with a felt-like light fluff. On the front side, pubescence is present only on the main vein. The leaf is located on a petiole no more than 3 cm long. During the flowering period, the species forms inflorescences-baskets, located by shields. They resemble chamomile baskets. The number of reed flowers can be up to 15 pcs. They are colored yellow.The middle flowers are tiny bells.

Rustic herb (Senecio herreianus)

The species has rounded stems creeping along the ground. Senecio herreianus has remarkable thick leaves with a spur-like formation at the apex. Each leaf looks more like a fruit. Its length can be up to 2 cm, and its width is about 1.5 cm. Each leaf is decorated with brownish stripes. The inflorescences are small.

Klein's cross (Senecio kleinia)

Perennial evergreen succulent. Senecio kleinia forms a shrub up to 3 m high. Its stems are whorled. Their length can be up to 40 cm. Each stem is colored light green and has a pattern in the form of dark specks or stripes. The stems are segmented, and their constituents can be easily separated. The foliage is collected at the tops of the stems. It has the shape of a narrow elongated ellipse. The length of each plate can be up to 15 cm with a width of no more than 2 cm. The color of the foliage is gray-green. During the flowering period, small light yellow flowers are formed, collected in shields.

Red rose (Senecio pulcher)

Herbaceous succulent. Senecio pulcher forms stems that can grow to a height of one meter. Its lobed foliage is located in the root area or directly on the stems. The edges of the silvery-green leaves are slightly serrated. During the flowering period, inflorescences in the form of baskets open on the stems. Their width reaches 7 cm. The color of tubular flowers is deep yellow, and reed flowers can have lilac or pinkish-purple colors. On each bush, about 10 such inflorescences can open.

Large-reed groundwort (Senecio macroglossus)

A succulent plant with creeping stems. Senecio macroglossus forms weakly branching stems that begin to grow stiff over time. On them, on small petioles, spiky leaves are located, divided into several lobes. In appearance, they slightly resemble ivy foliage. The length of each leaf can be up to 8 cm. Chamomile flowers have a spherical center and are complemented by pale yellow tongues. They can grow singly or in pairs.

This type of rosemary is considered undemanding to care for and is quite popular among flower growers. Light and well-drained sandy soil is suitable for its cultivation. The large-reed bush should be kept in a bright place, but not expose the plant to the scorching rays. During the growth period, the bush is watered so that the soil has time to dry out. In winter, the soil is not moistened at all. While resting, the plant can shed its foliage.

For propagation of the species, cuttings are excellent. Its cuttings root very quickly even in a semi-dry sandy substrate, the main requirement of such seedlings is warmth. The variegated variety Variegatus is especially famous. Its foliage is adorned with light creamy spots and stains.

Rooting groundwort (Senecio radicans)

Non-shedding succulent. Senecio radicans has branchy, creeping stems, characterized by a fast rooting rate. Their length reaches half a meter. Gray-green foliage is located on them alternately. The thickness of each leaf reaches 1 cm, and the length is about 2.5 cm. Each leaf is pointed at both edges, and its surface is decorated with dark green stripes. On long peduncles, one by one or in pairs, flowers-baskets of white color bloom.

Creeping groundwort (Senecio serpens)

This species has the form of a low-growing bush. Senecio serpens grows to only 20 cm in height, but more often it is even smaller. Its shoots differ in thickness of about 6 mm. Closer to the top of each shoot are thick, elongated leaves about 4 cm long and 7 mm wide. Their color is gray-bluish. There is a slight sharpening at the top of each leaf. Quite a lot of inflorescences in the form of baskets bloom on the peduncles. The color of the flowers is white.

Rowley's groundwort (Senecio rowleyanus)

An evergreen species with a very fast growth rate. Shoots of Senecio rowleyanus can hang or creep on the ground.Their length can be either about 20 cm or up to 60 cm.The thickness of the shoots themselves is small, but the leaves located on them differ in a rather original form. Each leaf resembles a rounded ball with a small pointed tip. In them, the African plant contains moisture reserves. The width of such a leaf can be up to 1 cm. The inflorescences of this species also have the shape of a ball. The white flowers included in them spread a delicate aroma reminiscent of cinnamon. The species is considered to be quite undemanding to care for, but, like most of the peasants, it is poisonous. It is better to keep such a plant away from children.

Stapeliiformis (Senecio stapeliiformis)

This species also belongs to the number of succulents. Senecio stapeliiformis forms a strong stem up to 20 cm long and about 2 cm wide. Closer to the base, it begins to branch. The surface of the trunk is painted in different shades of green and is complemented by small rare spikes. The foliage of such a groundwort is quite small, resembles scales and does not exceed 0.5 cm in length. Her color is gray-green. During flowering, short peduncles appear on the plant. They bloom red flowers-baskets, similar to carnations.

Haworth's groundwort (Senecio haworthii)

The species forms a resemblance to a bush about 30 cm high. Senecio haworthii forms upright shoots, single or slightly branching. On them, leaf plates in the form of tapering cylinders are arranged in a spiral. The surface of the leaves is covered with a light silvery bloom. The length of the plates can be up to 5 cm. The flowers are spherical and form spherical inflorescences. Their color is orange or yellow.

This type of rosemary is considered to be quite capricious and is not often used as a house plant. Sandy soil with sufficient drainage is suitable for growing it. The bush is kept in diffused light. During the growth period, the plant is watered regularly, but little by little, and in winter it is kept completely without watering. Excess moisture in the soil is especially painful for the species. You can propagate such a groundwort using cuttings. They are rooted in dry sand by placing the seedlings in a warm, bright place, where direct sunlight does not fall.

Bloody groundwort (Senecio cruentus)

This species is also called garden or bloody cineraria, and modern classifications rank it as belonging to the genus Pericalis. Senecio cruentus is an ornamental shrub about 60 cm tall. Its foliage is slightly pubescent and very pleasant to the touch. It can be in the form of an oval or a triangle, and there are small teeth along the edges. On the outside, the leaf blade is colored deep green, and on the inside, reddish. The flowers of this species resemble daisies. Their sizes vary depending on the variety and can range from 3 to 8 cm. The color of the petals can be very diverse and sometimes combine several colors. Flowers can be double.

This species is also highly sensitive to soil moisture levels. Overdrying the soil will harm flowering, and waterlogging can provoke plant diseases. At the same time, the bush will appreciate the high humidity during the growth period. Such a groundwort propagates with the help of seeds. The resulting plants are usually grown as an annual in garden beds or in pots. When purchasing a ready-made bush, you should immediately provide it with proper care.