Proleska

Scilla, also called scilla, is a bulbous perennial of the Asparagus family, formerly a Hyacinth or Liliaceae plant. Due to external similarity or similar names, this flower is often confused with liverwort, snowdrops, or forest trees. There are almost a hundred different species in the genus of woodland. They live in flat areas, in meadows, as well as in the mountains in the north of the African continent and in various territories of Eurasia. The scientific name of the flower refers to one of the former representatives of its genus - the sea bow.

Proleska is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, resistance to frost and disease, and also attracts gardeners with its high decorative effect. Scylla is often used for distillation. A number of trees are cultivated only as indoor plants, but the flowers in these species are usually rather plain - such specimens are valued for their variegated leaves.

It is also considered a medicinal herb used in cold infusions. Certain types are included in the treatment of heart disease.

Description of the forest

Proleska is a bulbous perennial belonging to the ephemeroid primroses. Such plants have a short growing season, most often in spring, after which the aerial part of the flower dies off until the next season, less often until the end of summer. During growth, the flower accumulates nutrients and stores them in the bulb.

Scylla bulbs are small in size and have a spherical or ovoid shape. Their scales can be purple, brown or gray. A rosette of linear leaves with parallel veins appears a little earlier or simultaneously with inflorescences forming on bare peduncles. Flowers on them are usually collected in a brush, but they can be single. They are simple in shape and consist of 6 petals. The most common colors of forest trees are blue and bluish, but there are also species and varieties with pink, purple or white flowers. All types of woodlands are considered to be honey plants.

Scylla foliage has an interesting property. On damp and cold days, its leaves are pressed to the ground, and with the return of the sun, they again assume an upright position. It is by the shape of the foliage that the spit can be distinguished from the liverwort, which has clover-like leaf blades.

After flowering, fruits are formed on the scilla - boxes with black seeds. As they mature, flower stalks of many species droop. In most plant species, flowering time occurs in early spring or the very beginning of summer, but some varieties of woodlands can bloom in autumn. Autumn species are considered less decorative and are less common in gardens than spring ones.

Brief rules for growing woodland

The table shows a brief summary of the rules for growing woodland in the open field.

Planting woodland in open ground

The best time to plant

The planting of tree forests can be carried out even during the period of their flowering, but the period after the foliage dies off is considered the optimal time for planting them. In spring species, it most often occurs in mid-June. You can plant flowers a month before the start of their flowering.

Prickly trees prefer bright corners of the garden, but can grow in partial shade. In the sunniest places, species that bloom in early spring should be planted, later ones will grow well in diffused light. Autumn woods also carry over shady places.

Due to the small size of the forest, they are most often located in the lower tier of flower beds, in rockeries and rock gardens, as well as along paths. They look no less impressive when planted under trees. A thin crown will help protect the bulbs from drying out during periods of high sun exposure.

As with all bulbous plants, scrub can be used for forcing. For this, varieties of the Siberian or double-leaved species are usually chosen. In this case, planting is carried out based on the timing of the desired flowering. For flowers to appear by mid-winter, the bulbs are planted in late September or early October. For planting, use a slightly moist soil containing sand or perlite. The planted bulbs should spend about 2 months in a dark and cool place (no more than 5 degrees). To fulfill the condition, you can even bury the pots of bulbs on the street, having previously covered them with foliage. After that, the flowers are transferred to a bright corner, where they keep no more than 15 degrees.

Landing features

Before planting the forest floor, prepare a suitable bed for it. She prefers organic-rich soils. In the soil, you can additionally add mineral fertilizers and leaf humus. Plantings can develop best if the garden soil for them is mixed with forest soil, including the remnants of foliage and tree bark. The reaction of the resulting soil should be neutral.

The bulbs are placed at a distance of 5 to 10 cm, based on their size. The degree of their burial also depends on the size of the bulbs themselves and averages about 6-8 cm.

Garden care

In comparison with other primroses, the scrub is more undemanding to care for. Even a novice florist can grow a spit in the garden.

Watering

For healthy growth, the flower needs regular watering, followed by shallow loosening and weeding. It is best to water the plantings in the morning, being careful not to splash water on the flowers. This can adversely affect their decorative effect. Mulching the beds with leaf humus will help to reduce the number of watering. Water stagnation in the ground should not be allowed. If the plants are grown in pots or flowerpots, a drainage layer must be laid on the bottom.

Top dressing

Top dressing of forest trees depends on the period of their flowering. Spring-flowering species are fertilized with complex compounds in early spring - this will have a positive effect on the abundance of their flowering. Species that bloom in the fall, respectively, are fed in the fall.In addition to the main trace elements, the composition of dressings can include iron, calcium, magnesium and copper.

Transfer

Redwoods can grow in one place for about 5 years, but so that the plantings do not lose their attractive appearance, the bushes should be replanted every three years. This procedure will contribute to their rejuvenation and full growth. After removing the bush from the ground, the babies are removed from the mother's bulb and immediately planted until the bulbs have time to rot. The transplant is carried out when the foliage of the bushes finally withers away. After that, the bulbs are immediately moved to a new place, or stored in peat until the beginning of autumn, and only then are they transplanted.

Scallop after flowering

After flowering, peduncles are removed from the forest. Their foliage should not be touched until completely dry. Most of the woods endure the winter cold and do not need additional insulation measures. The only exceptions are some species, as well as woods growing in open areas. Such plantings can be additionally covered with dry foliage or a layer of spruce branches.

Redwoods can self-sow, spreading their seeds over the site. To avoid this, the flowers of plants should be removed immediately after they wilt.

Breeding methods for woodland

The scrub can be propagated by seeds, as well as by the above-described separation of baby bulbs. For seed reproduction, you need to collect seeds from plantings. In spring-flowering species, they ripen at the end of June. During this period, the boxes turn yellow and begin to crack. After collecting the capsules, the extracted seeds are immediately sown on open beds. Their germination capacity is small enough. Such woodlands will begin to bloom only at 3-4 years of age. Due to the slow pace of development, these seedlings will need more rare transplants. The first is carried out not after 3 years, but after 5 years. Only during this period will young bushes be able to form a sufficient number of children and begin to bloom in full force.

Pests and diseases

Being a small-bulbous plant, the scrub can be affected by the disease characteristic of them - achelenchoides, as well as gray or bulbous rot.

Achelenchoides affects both the aerial part of the plant and its bulb. At the same time, the scales acquire a brown color, become covered with small spots and begin to rot. When such a bulb is cut in cross section, ring rot will be noticeable. Affected bushes lose their external decorative effect and significantly slow down their growth. Such specimens must be removed from the flower bed and burned. To prevent the development of the disease in healthy bulbs, they need to be kept in a thermos with moderately hot (about 43 degrees) water for about half an hour.

Gray mold can develop on the foliage or the top of the bulb. The affected parts of the bush acquire a gray color and begin to rot. As the disease develops, the bushes turn yellow and die. Such plants also need to be removed from the garden in a timely manner. If gray rot has developed in not yet planted bulbs at the storage stage, the affected areas can be cut off, and the cuts can be sprinkled with wood ash.

The rot of the bulbs themselves can develop rapidly due to high humidity in combination with infections. Immediately after the defeat, the bushes begin to turn yellow. When the disease reaches the bulbs, they become covered with reddish-brown spots. It will not be possible to remove the infected planting material for storage - such bulbs will harden and die.

Small rodents and meadow mites are considered the main plant pests. Mice can feed on the bulbs themselves or on their young foliage. To prevent the appearance of rodents, the landings must be surrounded by grooves. Poisoned baits are placed in them. To prevent the birds from eating the poison, you should lightly cover it with earth.

The root meadow mite is capable of infecting the bulbs themselves. Both adult ticks and their larvae can harm them. They feed on the sap of the plant. As part of the fight against them, the affected specimens are treated with an appropriate acaricide (Akarin, Aktellik, etc.). In advance, you can pickle the bulbs with such means before planting.Bears can also harm plants. The easiest way to deal with them is by manually removing the pests when digging.

Types and varieties of Proleski with photos and names

Of the many types of woodland, the most common in horticulture are:

Scilla hispanica

Either the Spanish endymion (Endymion hispanicus), or the bell-shaped scylla. The species lives in the south of Europe. Scilla hispanica, also called endymion, lives in grasslands or woodlands. Sometimes the plant can also be called Spanish hyacintoides.

The size of the bush of such a scrub reaches 30 cm. Single straight peduncles form inflorescences in the form of brushes, in which up to 10 bell flowers are collected. The diameter of each reaches 2 cm. Their color can be pink, blue or white. Flowering begins in late spring and lasts for about a couple of weeks. If the species hibernates in the ground, it is recommended to cover its bulbs before hibernation. Famous varieties include:

• Blue Giant - delicate bluish flowers with a white base of the petals.
• Blue Queen - with light purple inflorescences.
• Dainty Made - It blooms luxuriantly with pink, light purple or white bells.
• Queen of Pinks - with light pink inflorescences.
• La Grandes - the inflorescence is up to 15 snow-white flowers.
• Rosabella - forms bushes up to 30 cm tall, lilac-pink flowers are located in dense racemes. They spread a pleasant aroma that intensifies in the late afternoon.
• Rose Queen - the size of the bushes reaches 20 cm, the flowers have a pink-lilac color and a weak aroma.
• Sky Blue - the flowers on the peduncles are arranged in a spiral manner. They are large in size and blue in color, while the petals are decorated with a blue stripe.
• Excelsior - tall bushes with blue or purple flowers.

Scilla bifolia

Or a double-leaved scylla. This species predominantly lives in the southwest of Russia, as well as in the Mediterranean. It has been used in horticulture since the middle of the 16th century. Scilla bifolia is considered to be the lowest-growing proleskaya, the height of its bushes reaches only 15 cm. The species differs in the presence of only two leaf blades. Their length can be up to 20 cm.

At the same time, flowering of this type is considered abundant. Each bush forms up to 3 peduncles. Pink or white flowers bloom on them, which have a strong and harsh, but pleasant smell. The var. Purpurea flowers are purple in color. On one peduncle of such a scrub there can be up to 15 flowers. Flowers begin to appear in mid-spring over a period of two weeks.

Scilla autumnalis

Or an autumn scylla. The species grows in North African and Asia Minor countries, and is also found in the Mediterranean. Scilla autumnalis has narrow foliage, the length of which reaches 25 cm. Each bush forms up to 5 flower arrows. Their height can reach 20 cm. On them there are loose inflorescences, brushes, in which there are up to 20 flowers. Their color can be red-violet or pale lilac. Flowering of such a forest occurs in July-August. The species prefers well-drained soil.

Scilla peruviana

Or the Scylla of Peru. In nature, this species can be seen in the countries of the Western Mediterranean. In Peru, such a scrub is not found: "Peruvian" it was mistakenly christened because of the same name of the Spanish ship on which the plant samples arrived. The species can also be called Portuguese. Scilla peruviana forms up to 3 peduncles about 35 cm high. Conical inflorescences are formed on them, consisting of many (up to 80) small bluish-lilac flowers. Flowering occurs in late spring or early summer. The foliage can reach a length of up to 30 cm and a width of up to 1.5 cm. Up to 8 leaf blades are formed on each bush.

The species is considered thermophilic and rather capricious: flowers on such plants will appear only under sufficiently favorable conditions. Because of this property, it is often grown in pots.Has a variety "Alba", combining white petals with prominent blue stamens.

Siberian beetle (Scilla siberica)

Or Siberian Scylla. The name of this species is also misleading - such a scrub is not found in Siberia. The mountains of the Caucasus, the corners of the Crimea, as well as the regions of central and southern Europe are considered the birthplace of the flower. Scilla siberica has blue flowers that form at the same time as the foliage. The flowers of such a forest open only on clear days. They usually open by 10 am and close before dark. Insects can collect nectar from flowers. The plant has several subspecies:

Caucasian (Scilla siberica sp.caucasica)

The subspecies lives in the Eastern Transcaucasia. The size of the peduncles reaches 40 cm. The flowers are bluish-purple in color. Their appearance occurs in mid-spring, flowering lasts about 2-3 weeks.

Armenian (Scilla siberica sp.armena)

The subspecies is found in Turkey, as well as in the south of the Caucasus. The foliage of such a scrub has a crescent bend. The height of the arrows reaches 15 cm, rich blue flowers are formed on them. Flowering lasts up to 3 weeks. It begins in mid-spring.

Siberian (Scilla siberica sp. Sibirica)

This subspecies is considered the most common. Its habitat includes the south of Russia in the European part, the Caucasus, as well as the countries of Western and Asia Minor. Up to 4 leaves, up to 1.5 cm wide, develop on bushes. Each plant forms up to 4 peduncles. Their height reaches 30 cm. Flowering occurs in mid-spring and lasts a little less than 3 weeks. The predominant color of flowers is azure, but there are also varieties with blue or pink flowers. There is also a white-flowered form. Its flowering lasts a whole month, but begins about a decade later than varieties with flowers of a different color. In culture, the species has been used since the beginning of the 17th century. The main varieties include:

• Alba - Forms elegant white flowers.
• Spring Beauty - is considered one of the most famous varieties. Bushes form green arrows with a purple tint. Each has up to 6 deep purple flowers. The diameter of each reaches 3 cm. Such plants do not form seeds, but they can reproduce well with daughter bulbs.

In addition to the listed species, the following types of woodlands can also be found in gardens:

• Bukhara (or Vvedensky) - is considered a rare plant. Forms bushes up to 14 cm high. The flowers are blue in color.
• Vinogradov - lives in Turkey and the Caucasus. Forms pale blue flowers.
• Italian - lives in European countries, blooms in soft blue. Up to 30 flowers can form on each brush.
• Chinese (worm-shaped) - lives in the countries of East Asia. Small pink flowers are formed on the tassels. Blooms for a long time in late summer. Also called Japanese barnardia.
• Litardier - lives in the Balkans, almost never occurs in culture. Flowering begins in the middle of summer, the color of the flowers is lavender blue.
• Saltwater (sea bow) - found in the Caucasus, as well as in the Crimea. Bell flowers of white or blue color bloom in the first weeks of April and last for about 3 weeks.
• One-flowered - is found in the Transcaucasus and the mountains of Turkey. The flowers are light blue.
• Pushkiniform - lives in Central Asia. Flowering occurs in May. The flowers are bluish in color and pronounced darker stripes on the petals. For the winter, the species may require shelter.
• Rosen - grows in the Caucasus. Differs in large flowers of an unusual shape for most woodlands, reminiscent of a cyclamen. Only 1-2 flowers are formed on each arrow. They are white or bluish in color. Flowering begins by May.
• Tubergen (or Mishchenko) - found in Iran. The species is considered one of the earliest. It has large, light blue flowers with a bluish vein on the petals. Flowering occurs in April.
• Purple - African species - the only one living in the south of the continent.The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish, while the foliage of such trees is decorated with stripes and strokes. They are most often grown as indoor plants.