Eryngium is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Umbrella family. All over the world, you can find various types of both annuals and perennials. The flower stem is usually erect, reaching a height of 35 cm to 1.5 m. The leaves are elongated, with a leathery surface, carved at the edges. Flowers form in umbellate inflorescences, bloom from June to September.
Enegolovnik is perfect for decorating a garden plot, it will find a certain place in the design of bouquets. In addition, the plant has melliferous properties, and is also used in folk medicine.
Growing erythematosus from seeds
Sowing erythematosus
Erythematosus can be easily propagated by seed. Seeds are planted directly into open ground. The most favorable time is spring.
- The seeds are placed in two centimeter depressions.
- An interval of up to 0.5 m is left between the rows.
- Holes between crops should also be located at a distance of 50 cm. Otherwise, seedling thinning will be required.
The erythematosus can also reproduce by self-sowing - the seeds can independently fall into the ground, and in the spring sprouts will appear from them. To provide the necessary conditions for full development, they should be thinned out. The erythematosus does not require special care. But weeding and watering is simply necessary. The culture grows very quickly, the roots penetrate deeply into the soil.
Erythematosus seedlings
Some gardeners pre-germinate seedlings from seed. This procedure is usually started at the end of winter. Then, by May, young plants will be ready for transplanting into open soil.
- Seeds are sown in a prepared tray with universal soil. Do not load the grains deeply. 40-50 cm is enough.
- The crops are covered with foil until shoots appear. Then the cover is removed. The air temperature should be 20 degrees. The lighting is preferably bright, but diffuse.
- The sprouts require moderate watering.
- If the shoots are cramped, they are transferred to larger pots, where they are located before disembarking in open ground. The procedure is carried out at the end of May, but the seedlings are hardened for a couple of weeks, for which they are regularly taken out into fresh air.
- When transplanted into the ground, the seedling is simply transferred together with a lump of earth into the prepared hole. The distance between plantings is 40 cm. After replanting the seedlings, the soil is mulched.
Erythematous breeding
Reproduction by dividing the bush
This method is usually performed in the spring when the frost is behind. Since the culture has a fragile root system, the bush should be divided very carefully, carefully and carefully bypassing the most vulnerable places.
Planting erythematosus in open ground
For erythematosus, it is better to choose a sunny area. With this choice, the flowers of the plant will have a rich shade, which will increase the attractiveness and beauty of the eringium.
The soil should be light and well-drained. In this case, you should opt for sandy or rocky soil.
Erythematosus care
Eringium is an unpretentious plant, so it is quite easy to care for the plant.
Watering
Erythematosus can practically do without watering even in dry periods, and excess moisture can completely destroy the plant.
Subcultures and fertilizers
The culture does not require feeding. Gardeners have repeatedly noticed that the enhanced nutrient medium worsens the splendor of the plant and reduces frost resistance.
Mulching
It is advisable to carry out mulching with peat. This makes it easier to control weeds, which must be removed.
Pruning
The splendor of culture is influenced by the rejuvenation of the erythematosus. For this, plant pruning is used. But after the end of flowering, the sprouts are cut down to the base, leaving only a small stump.
Tall plants should be reinforced with props so that the stems do not fall on the ground.
Erythematosus in winter
Erythematosus tolerates winter well and does not need shelter. However, if the selected seeds do not have the necessary winter hardiness, the sprouts should be covered in cold weather using spruce branches or dry foliage.
Diseases and pests
The plant is extremely resistant to pests and diseases. Even infected neighboring plants are not afraid of eringium.
Einehead in landscape design
This exotic plant can often be seen in garden plots. Gardeners welcome the planting of a bluehead. And even lovingly they call it a graceful thorn. Culture not only improves the appearance of the territory itself, but also fits perfectly into landscape design, looks great in the design of hedges, alpine slides, rockeries. Delicate blue flowers adorn group plantings, look great among large stones and rocks.
The beautiful combination of Eringium with lily, dahlia, phlox and geranium pleases the eye with elegance and grace. The plant looks exquisite against a background of pink, red, white flowers. Collage with bells, poppies, cereals surprises with its organicity.
Einehead in floristry
Inflorescences have the ability to preserve their external qualities for many years, therefore, more and more often you can find bright erythematosus in solemn bouquets and flower arrangements. Combinations with lilies, tulips of different tones are appropriate here. A graceful thorn in the contrast of shades looks picturesque and bright.
Erythematous species
There are about 250 types of eringium. The most popular of these are the following crops:
- Alpine bluehead. The plant is perennial, has small cornflower-blue flowers collected by an umbrella. The height of the stem is about 50 cm. At the bottom of the shoot are leaves on petioles, heart-shaped with jagged edges. Above the foliage is a triangular configuration.
- Ball-headed feverweed. A flower with round balls-inflorescences with original spines. Leaves are carved with thorns along the edges.
- Bourget, Burt or Burgati. Straight stem, reaching 40 cm. Greenish leaf blades, dissected, with visible veins.
- Giant erythematosus. This is the highest representative of culture. The distribution area is the Caucasus. The stem reaches one and a half meters. Leathery leaf blades. The lower leaves are attached to the shoot by long cuttings, and the upper leaves seem to sit on it. The flowers are light blue. And the bracts, thanks to the iridescent structure, give the plant a fantastic look. Eringium supposedly shines with rainbow stars.
- Flat-leaved erythematosus. The culture is perennial, branching, its stem reaches a meter in height. The shoots have a bluish tint. Separated sheet plates.
- Seaside view. Perennial with large sprouts of turquoise tones.Inflorescences of a pale bluish hue. The culture can reach a height of 0.7 meters.
- Field erythematosus. The plant in Tatarstan was included in the Red Book and is protected by law. The height of its stem is only 0.5 m. Beautiful pale blue flowers, collected in small inflorescences in the form of umbrellas. After drying or dying off, the planting stems turn into tumbleweeds.
- Leavenworth. This is a real shrub, the leaves and inflorescences of which are painted in a bright purple color. Its height is 0.6-0.8 m. Looks great. It can often be found in the design of flower beds and alpine slides. All beauty is manifested during the blooming period of the erythematosus, from June to September.
The use of erythematosus in traditional medicine
Since the root of the culture is rich in tannins, acids, essential oils, traditional medicine could not ignore the beneficial properties of the plant. Decoctions and infusions prepared from roots and herbs give a good expectorant effect, are used as a diuretic, stimulate the intestines, improve liver and stomach functions. However, a group of diseases prohibits their intake. They should not be used by hypertensive patients, pregnant women, patients with diabetes.
The roots of the plant are harvested in the autumn or early spring. They are freed from the ground, cut into pieces and dried in well-ventilated pantries or under a canopy. Ready-made roots can be stored for up to three years.
The grass is harvested during flowering. It is crushed and air-dried, always in the shade. The prepared herb can be used for 2 years.
