Lobularia (Lobularia), or lawn, is a flowering plant from the Cabbage or Cruciferous family. There are 5 species of this plant, but only one of them is grown in culture - seaside or sea lobularia.
Description of the lobularia flower
Seaside lobularia is an annual plant, it can be a spreading or densely branched bush. Grows up to 30 cm in height. Leaves are linear-lanceolate, green with a bluish tinge due to pubescence. The flowers are small, collected in a brush, have a white or pale purple color and an incredibly sweet honey aroma. Flowering begins in May and lasts until autumn. If the summer is dry and hot, then flowering may be interrupted for a while. The fruit of the sea lobularia is an oval pod pointed to the edge. Seeds are orange-brown or yellow in color.
Growing lobularia from seeds
Sowing seeds
Lobularia is best propagated by seed. For planting, you need to prepare a container and place a special substrate for flowering plants in it. Before planting seeds, the soil must be watered with a manganese solution in order to disinfect the soil. Seeds must be spread evenly over the surface of the soil with a toothpick soaked in water. The most suitable time for planting lobularia seeds is March. After planting, the container with the planted seeds should be covered with plastic wrap or glass to create a greenhouse effect.
It is necessary to germinate seeds in a light and body place, the main thing is that direct sunlight does not fall on the container. The soil should always be moistened, for this it is necessary to spray it with settled water at room temperature. Every day, remove plastic wrap or glass from the container to check and remove accumulated condensation. If you follow all the rules for germination, then the first shoots may already appear in 10-12 days.
Seedling lobularia
After the first shoots appear, remove the plastic film or glass from the container and lower the temperature in the room by a couple of degrees. When the seedlings grow two true leaves, they must be transplanted into separate pots. After transplanting, the seedlings should be watered moderately and after each watering, carefully loosen the soil so as not to damage the seedlings. During such a period, the main thing is not to overdo it with watering, from waterlogging of the soil, seedlings can be affected by all kinds of rot and fungal diseases, due to which the seedlings can completely die.
2 weeks before the seedlings are transplanted into open ground, it is necessary to start hardening them. You need to start with 10 minutes and increase the time daily. On the fourteenth day, the seedlings should already be in the fresh air around the clock.
Planting lobularia in open ground
The most suitable time for planting lobularia in open ground is the second half of May. At this time, the soil has already warmed up enough, night frosts will definitely not return and warm weather will be established. The flower grows well where there is a lot of sun.But when planting, you need to remember that the place for planting lobularia should be where the snow quickly melts in spring and the water does not stagnate.
As for the soil, any soil is perfect for planting lobularia, but still, the flower grows better on permeable soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Before planting, the site must be carefully dug up and the ground must be leveled. The holes for planting lobularia seedlings should be at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. After planting, the soil must be well compacted and watered abundantly.
Lobularia care in the garden
There is nothing difficult in caring for a lobularia. It is enough to carry out watering, loosening the soil, removing weeds and pruning in a timely manner. You need to prune the plant when it fades for the first time. Cut off the stems completely. After pruning, the plant will grow quickly and bloom again in early autumn. There are varieties that do not need pruning, and without it, they independently resume flowering a second time.
Lobularia should be watered very rarely and in dry and hot weather. This plant does not need fertilization.
Diseases and pests
Lobularia very rarely suffers from any diseases and is rarely attacked by harmful insects. Diseases can only occur due to improper fit. For example, a deep-planted seedling can be infected with powdery mildew. In this case, it must be removed, and the rest of the plants must be treated with a special solution of fungicides.
Of the pests, lobularia can be attacked by a cruciferous flea or slugs. Flea beetles can be dealt with by processing with special preparations. Slugs need to be fought by manual collection or special traps must be prepared.
Types and varieties of lobularia
Lobularia seaside or marine - this is the only species of this plant that is grown in culture. This species is divided into several varieties, which are the basis for the development of new varieties.
Variety of Bentham - grows up to 40 cm in height. The flowers are snow-white in color. Popular varieties of this species:
- Weiss Riesen - grows up to 35 cm. Flowers are large and white. Great for creating bouquets.
- Schneersturm - grows up to 25 cm in height. The flowers are large, white.
The variety is compact - it grows up to 15 cm. Popular varieties:
- Violetkenigin is a densely branched plant with purple flowers. Grows up to 15 cm in height.
- Carpet of snow - grows up to 15 cm. The flowers are white and have an incredible aroma.
The variety is prostrate. The best varieties:
- Shneeteppich is a bush up to 10 cm high, densely branched. The flowers are white, collected in small brushes.
- Kennigsteppich - the height is the same as that of the previous variety, but the flowers are purple-violet.
- Rosie O'Day - the flowers of this variety are deep pink in color.
Variegated variety - grows up to 15 cm. Leaves with a yellow-white border. Popular varieties:
- Tetra Schneetreiben - grows up to 25 cm. Flowers are large, white. Flowering is long enough.
- Oriental Knight - the flowers of this variety are purple-violet.
- Paletta is a short plant. Flowers of this variety can be white, pink, crimson, purple or brown.
- Samen - grows up to 10 cm in height. The flowers are light salmon in color.
- Snow Crystals - grow from six to eight centimeters. The flowers are large, white.
- Vanilla cloud - grows up to 30 cm in height. Inflorescences are white.
- Tiny Tim is a very small bush that grows up to 8 cm. The flowers are small and white.
- New Epricot is a rather unusual variety. Its flowers are light apricot.
And also varieties Bonnet, Snow Queen and several more varieties of sea lobularia, but they are less popular.
