Tiarella (Tiarella), or tiarka - a low-growing evergreen plant, belongs to the Saxifrage family. Her homeland is the dense shady forests of North America. It is a perennial herb with a height of 10 to 70 cm. The Latin name for an evergreen plant can be deciphered as "tiara" or "turban". The shape of the pods is very similar to these items.
When a few days remain before summer, tiarella blooms in the dense shade of the spreading trees. A lace blanket of tiny white flowers on slender stems covers the patterned leaves of the plant. In the company of heuchera, daylily, fern, astilba, hosta and garden geranium, thiarella occupies far from the last place in the hierarchy of shade-loving plants. Gardeners are happy to use tiarella bushes to decorate garden paths and curbs, plant them near outbuildings, the northern side of buildings and fences, because this plant is very unpretentious, durable and evergreen.
Description of tiarella
Tiarella leaves, depending on the variety, can be simple or complex, from 3-5 leaves. Their interesting coloration attracts attention. On the main green background, contrasting veins can appear, or the middle of the leaf is painted in a dark purple color, or on the pale green background of the leaf it seems to be powdered with white-pink powder. With the onset of the cold season, they change color to red or bronze.
The flowering period of tiarella depends on the variety. The earliest flowering begins at the end of May, and at the latest at the end of summer. Small fluffy flowers are gathered in panicles at the end of a long stem. The color is mainly white, but there are varieties of tiarella with pink flowers.
Growing tiarella
Tiarella, like a forest plant, loves dense shade or partial shade. But some variegated varieties require a little more sunlight to fully manifest their decorative qualities. In the sun, thiarella will grow smaller, its flowering will be half as long, and the leaves will lose their brightness.
This plant easily tolerates drought and severe frosts, grows quickly in dense shade, so it is often planted instead of lawn cover.
To add flowering and avoid self-seeding, you must constantly remove wilted flowers. If this moment is missed, then tiarella will very quickly take over a large territory.
Despite the drought resistance, the plant should be watered regularly and abundantly. This will give the bushes of the plant additional strength for lush growth, abundant flowering and bright color of the leaves.
Planting tiarella
How to plant tiarella correctly
When buying tiarella for the first time, remember that it grows quickly. Therefore, it should be planted at a distance of 20-25 centimeters from each other. The soil is loosened before planting, the roots of the weed are removed and shed with water so that it settles.
The planting holes must be made more by one third of the plant root itself. Add drainage to the hole before planting, and then compost. After planting, the plant is watered abundantly, the ground around the seedlings is sprinkled with ash or other organic fertilizers and mulched.
Tiarella care in open gunta
The soil
In neutral and slightly acidic soil, without a close water table, thiarella will feel great. Mulching will preserve the nutrients around the bush for a long time, which will enable it to quickly take root in a new place.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Like any other plant, unpretentious tiarella will not refuse feeding. It should be carried out twice a season - at the beginning of spring and after the thiarella has bloomed profusely. In both cases, complex mineral fertilizers are applied in liquid form. They also use organic infusions from manure, bird droppings or grass as support.
Transfer
At the age of 3-4 years, the lower part of the bush is bare, and some of the roots appear on the surface of the ground. Such a plant winters worse and does not look aesthetically pleasing. It is dug up, divided, if necessary, into parts, and re-planted in the ground, covering the roots with earth up to the root collar.
Wintering tiarella
Before the onset of severe cold weather, the area where tiarella grows is cleaned of the remains of annual plants, weeds and loosened. The soil around the plant is additionally covered with peat or fallen leaves. This is done so that the bare roots of adult thiarella bushes do not suffer at low winter temperatures. Plants of the first year of life must be covered with additional non-woven material so that the plant has time to firmly anchor in the ground. In the spring, the winter shelter is removed completely only when the threat of frost has passed.
Reproduction of tiarella
Reproduction by dividing the bush
When the plant has reached 4 years of age, it can be divided to obtain more planting material. It is best to carry out division at the beginning of spring, then the delenki will have time to take root perfectly and gain strength before wintering.
An adult plant is dug up and divided into several parts so that each has 2-3 growth buds and a part of the root. After that, they are planted in a permanent place, not forgetting to take into account the distance between the plants.
Propagation by cuttings
It is easy to propagate thiarella by cuttings. A stalk with a rosette is separated from an adult bush with a sharp knife. Before planting in the ground, it is treated with "Kornevin". At first, the cuttings are abundantly watered and shaded from the sun's rays, and additionally covered for the winter.
Self-seeding reproduction
Thiarella very often reproduces by self-seeding. However, there is no certainty that a plant similar to the mother will grow from the seed. In most cases, seeds of hybrid thiarella varieties do not retain varietal characteristics.
Seed propagation
To get the plant of the desired variety, it is best to purchase the replaced material in the store. It is sown on a school in early spring, when the soil warms up enough.
Thiarella seeds are so small that when sowing they must be mixed with sand and sown on the surface without deep embedding. You can only lightly sprinkle with sand and cover with foil or place in a greenhouse. It is necessary to water the greenhouse in moderation, alternating with ventilation, so that there is no excess moisture.
When dense shoots appear, the film is removed. Tiarella dive in the presence of 3-4 true leaves. And after waiting for the seedlings to get stronger, they are planted in the ground in a permanent place.
Diseases and pests
Tiarella is such a unique plant that harmful insects do not like it. It can also suppress weeds on its own, and infectious and fungal diseases bypass it.
Thiarella can only get sick from improper care or landing site. A plant weakened by a disease can be attacked by slugs and snails. They can be fought with granules or by hand picking.
Types and varieties of tiarella
Tyarella hearty - this species is characterized by creeping shoots and peduncle height up to 20 centimeters. Green leaves acquire a reddish-brown color by autumn. The flowers are larger than those of other species, white or pale cream in color, collected in racemes. Blooms in early May. After the plant has bloomed, lateral shoots begin to form on it. They very quickly capture free territory and grow into a dense carpet. In one season, one bush can give up to 20 shoots. There are many hybrid varieties with variegated leaf colors.
Thiarella three-leafed - has large three-lobed leaves. It blooms with dark pink small fluffy inflorescences. Reproduces very quickly vegetatively and self-seeding. From this type of tiarella, numerous hybrid varieties have been bred, distinguished by their high endurance.
Tiarella univalent - grows up to 45 centimeters in height. Easily tolerates low temperatures. It is considered a wild species, but many gardeners love it for its durability.
Tiarella Verry - a compact view that grows to a maximum of 30 centimeters. It blooms with small white or pink flowers all summer long. Does not give lateral shoots, does not tolerate low temperatures, requires additional shelter in winter. Hybrid varieties of tiarella verri are very decorative, because they have an unusual bright color of the leaves.
Tiarella multifoliate - grows up to 50 centimeters in height. Blossoms with pale pink flowers. Not suitable for growing in harsh climates.
The best hybrid tiarella varieties
Tiarella jeepers creeper - differs from other varieties in that its bright green leaves are penetrated with dark red veins. A glossy coating gives them a solemn look.
Tiarella heronswood mist - attracts attention with fantastically pretentious coloring of the leaves. A network of white small spots, shaded at the base by streaks of bright pink color, spreads against the pale salad background of the leaf.
Tiarella Sugar and Spice - looks beautiful both in group plantings and individually. The glossy leaves are green at the edges and purple in the center. In combination with whitish pink flowers, this variety looks very impressive.
Tiarella Cordifolia Octoraro - stands out significantly from other varieties. Green leaves are intricately painted with dark purple veins. The stars of flowers in a delicate pink shade perfectly complement the pattern of the leaves. This variety is used for ampel plantings.
Tiarella pink skyrocket - the flower is decorative throughout the entire period. The carved leaves are cut with purple veins, and their shape is very reminiscent of maple leaves. Pink inflorescences clearly directed upwards. Their shape and color are reminiscent of rocket pink flowers, ready to soar into the sky from the slightest breeze.
Tiarella Appalachian Trail - will create a dense green carpet of green leaves with brown veins and snow-white flowers on short peduncles.
Tiarella Crow Feather - during the flowering period, it is shrouded in a pink fluffy cloud of flowers on high peduncles.
