Cuff (Alchemilla) is a herbaceous perennial plant in the Rosaceae family. The grass is popular among garden herbaceous planters, covering empty areas in flower beds and near shrubs. This typical perennial ground cover type is distributed in temperate climatic latitudes in the countries of North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Attractive lush greenery is the main strength of the herb. In addition, the cuff is used as a medicine for a number of diseases. The plant is also popularly called "breast grass", "sickle", "bear paw", "goose foot" or "inter-finger".
Cuff: plant description
The cuff plant is characterized by a creeping rhizome located close to the soil surface. In some species, the stems are densely pubescent, while in others they are smooth to the touch. There are varietal variations of the cuff, the shoots of which spread along the ground, but there are also species where the tops of the stems rush to the top.
In the lower part of the shoots, petiolate leaf blades of a larger size with cut edges grow. There are small leaves in the internodes. The foliage is palmate and slightly rounded. Veins are visible on the surface. The lobes are dissected into segments of different lengths. The number of blades ranges from 7 to 11 pcs. Sometimes the dissection is imperceptible, so the leaf looks almost round. A scalloped edging is observed along the edges. The color of the foliage is predominantly green, less often yellow-green. The villi covering the outer part of the plate contain dew drops and prevent them from spreading.
From June to September, umbrella inflorescences begin to form. They are attached to long, erect peduncles. The blooming of the umbrellas is an unremarkable phenomenon, but the honey aroma that the inflorescences exude is felt in all corners of the garden. When pollination ends, the process of fruit ripening will start. These are small oblong nuts filled with many grains.
Cuff fit
There are two ways to grow a cuff: seed and vegetative. The seed method is characterized by obtaining seedlings, and only then planting the seedlings of the cuff in open ground. Loose garden mixture rich in nutrients is poured into containers for sowing. The bottom of the boxes is covered with pebbles or expanded clay. Deepening is carried out by 7-10 cm. The procedure is best performed in the fall before the onset of winter cold weather or early spring. If you make a choice in favor of the autumn planting of the cuff, after a couple of weeks, as the seeds were in the ground, the containers are taken out into fresh air. The place should be away from drafts and midday sun.
In the spring, containers with seedlings are transferred to the heat, where there is access to light. The cuff seeds, which have been successfully stratified by hardening, quickly begin to sprout. When the seedlings grow a couple of strong leaves, they begin to pick.Peat pots are prepared for this event. If weather conditions are favorable, transplanting into open ground is allowed in April. Seedlings bloom already in the first year of life.
Adult cuff bushes with overgrown stems tolerate division without problems. As for the lodging shoots, they are able to take root without any intervention. For division, separate seated processes are chosen, which have acquired their own rhizome. They are carefully cut from the mother plant and dug up to be transplanted to another place. It is recommended to adhere to an interval of about 30 cm between new bushes. The beginning of spring is considered a favorable time for planting the cuff.
Cuff care
Perennial grows fully in illuminated open areas, and also develops in semi-shaded corners of the garden. If a dense crown of trees that does not let through the sun's rays hang nearby, the culture will undergo diseases and lose its decorative properties. Cuff seedlings are planted in a drained fertile substrate enriched with humus. Sandy loam and loamy soil, characterized by a neutral or slightly acidic environment, will provide dense attractive thickets of "pectoral grass".
Caring for the grass cuff is not difficult for gardeners. The only condition is strict adherence to the irrigation regime. It is important that water seeps into the depths of the soil and does not accumulate in the root zone, otherwise there will be a threat of fungal diseases. Loosening the site is not a mandatory procedure, however, if time permits, it is worth improving soil drainage. Weeds rarely bother the crop; the weeding stage can be skipped. Fertilizer is applied several times during the season. First of all, bird droppings and crushed foliage will be useful.
The active growth of bushes requires regular pruning. Otherwise, "crow's feet" will begin to creep throughout the garden. When the perennial fades, the panicles must be cut off, then the seeds will not sift onto the ground on their own. The cuff without transplant grows in one place for several decades.
The culture can withstand severe frosts. Shoots and roots successfully winter in temperate regions. To protect the growth from low temperatures, in the fall it is covered with fallen leaves. With the arrival of spring, they begin sanitary pruning. Broken and dried parts of the plant must be removed. The cuff tends to grow back quickly, so trimming will not harm the fit.
If you initially correctly choose a site for a flower bed, you can avoid problems with diseases. Wet and heavy soil types increase the risk of developing powdery mildew. In darkened areas, the cuff bushes are exposed to black rust contamination. Common parasitic organisms are slugs, which feast on juicy perennial greens. Crushed eggshells and ash are salvation from pests.
Types and varieties of cuffs with photos
The pedigree of the described herbaceous perennial is very extensive. Botanists know about 600 types of cuffs. Many of them have clear similarities. However, gardeners grow only a few types of cuff herb.
Common cuff (Alchemilla vulgaris)
This herb is considered a popular medical medicine. Green shoots with a fluffy bloom on the skin rise above the ground. Leaves are rounded or folded. The veins are located in a radial direction. Flowering occurs at the end of spring and ends quickly. Flowers of a yellowish or greenish tint are collected in false inflorescences-umbrellas. The rhizome is of a creeping type, so the plant can grow over long distances in a short time. It is quite difficult to stop the aggressive reproduction of perennials. For this reason, some gardeners mistake the grass for a weed, try to eradicate it, or at least protect it from other weaker crops.
Soft cuff (Alchemilla mollis)
Bushes up to 50 cm long have spreading straight stems and rounded leaf-lobes, painted in a green tone. This type is characterized by hairiness of the plates. Each leaf is divided into ten segments. Inflorescences open in summer and consist of small yellow buds. Ripening of grains occurs in early autumn.
Red cuff (Alchemilla erythropoda)
This name was given to a stunted ground cover with petiolate, reddish, rounded leaves from the inside. The plate is lined with 7 or 9 sectors. A silvery layer of thick pile protrudes on the bottom of the sheet. Panicle inflorescences are formed from light yellow flowers, the size of which does not exceed 1 cm.The culture blooms in the middle of the summer season.
Alchemilla conjuncta
The length of the shoots of the plant, rising above the ground, reaches 20 cm. The leaves covering the stems are cut longitudinally into 7 segments. The ends are rounded, the surface shines in the sun. A thick, fleecy layer envelops the plates on the side opposite to sunlight. Inflorescences that open in July are characterized by a yellow-green tint.
Cuff in landscape design
Due to the attractive openwork foliage, the cuff is in demand among gardeners when creating landscape compositions. The grass covers the site like a green lush carpet and covers the empty plots. Planting of cultural types of cuffs is organized on the slopes, near rocky embankments or along paths. Cuff varieties, which are short in length, outline the boundaries of the flower beds. Spectacular rich color of leaves will be an excellent backdrop for many flowering crops. Refined yellowish-green brushes attract with naturalness and simplicity. Adjacent to the cuff safely adjoin daylilies, thyme and astilba.
The healing properties of the cuff
People have known about the miraculous healing properties of the cuff herb since ancient times. It is used both in folk healing practices and by doctors who advocate traditional medicine.
The raw material is harvested at the moment the panicles bloom. Medicinal substances are found in the leaves of the cuff, stems and flowers. The collected material is dried in a dry place. Storage of finished raw materials is carried out in banks or paper bags.
"Crow's feet" have found their application in the field of gynecology. The phytohormones contained in the tissues normalize the menstrual cycle in women, cure female infertility, and help preserve the fetus. Taking medications made on the basis of the cuff must be agreed with the doctor.
