Gumberry (Cerinthe) is an annual or perennial plant from the Borage family. Grows in southern European regions. Voskovnik has a significant difference from other picturesque flowering crops. We are talking about unusual bluish leaves and inflorescences.
The plant is found only occasionally in personal plots and has not yet gained great popularity among domestic gardeners. However, lovers of exotic annuals should pay attention to this foreign representative of the flora. Graceful twisting shoots bearing decorative two-color buds at the ends will look original in any bouquet compositions and will decorate the room.
Description of the plant gristle
The stem is weakly branched. Thin root cuttings lie close to the surface. Shoots are straight. Mature bushes at their peak do not exceed half a meter in length.
The leaves are shaped like a triangle or heart. The ends of the plates are rounded. The foliage is densely clinging to the wavy shoots. The outer side of the leaf contains a waxy coating and shimmers in the sun. The name of the annual got due to this feature. The color of the ground part is greenish-purple. A convex vein runs along the center of the plate. The top is intensely colored. The size of the leaves is about 15 cm.
Flowering is characterized by the appearance of rare drooping peduncles, on which tubular protruding buds are formed. The petals are about 3 cm long. The flowers are yellow and purple. Full opening of the buds occurs in turn. New flowers replace old ones. First, the lower tier of buds bloom, and then the upper inflorescences bloom. The flowering phase lasts from June to October.
The withered buds turn into small round-shaped bone fruits. The base of the fruit is flat, the black skin is smooth and mottled with a gray tint. The diameter of one drupe is not more than 5 mm.
Types and varieties of waxwort with a photo
There are several species in the genus of gorse. Let's dwell on the most famous ones.
Small waxweed
Low-growing branchy annual with glaucous leaf blades. At the bottom, the leaves are gray in color. The closer to the crown, the more intense the blue tint of the foliage becomes. Ribbed stems are decorated at the top with dense purple tubular inflorescences. Foliage is located along the entire stem. This species blooms in July. Mediterranean countries are considered to be the place of growth of the small gristle. Wild plantings of the flower lie on rocky ground and are often found next to roads.
Common waxweed
The shrub is prone to branching strongly. Its height reaches 1 m. The petiolate ovoid plates with serrated ends are covered with yellow spots. The flowering culture falls in the summer months. The inflorescences consist of numerous short tubes. The shape of the apical inflorescence is spicate. Blooming gumboil has a rich, sweet aroma.The plant is toxic, common in swampy lowlands in the northwestern regions of Russia.
Tarot wax
Taro bushes grow up to 40 cm in height. The color range of vegetative parts is predominantly green. The upper tier of leaves is highlighted with a blue pattern. Near the base, the inflorescences are painted in a bright purple tone, gradually turning into a dark blue color.
Marsh waxweed
This type of gristle is listed in the Red Book. This tall, sprawling plant is considered an endangered species. The ovoid foliage is dark green in color. The stems are brown. The flowering period is in mid-spring. In the axils of the foliage, an ovary of oblong earrings is formed. The annual is found in Asia and North America. The plant is characterized by effective healing properties, therefore it has long won recognition in folk medicine.
Over the years, breeders have been developing new decorative forms in order to create exquisite varieties with a rich palette of colors. Thanks to their efforts, the cultural planting of annuals is gaining popularity every year. Recently in the horticultural field, there have been such new arctic plant varieties as Purpurascens, Atropurpurea and Purpurascens. Each variety has a unique set of specific botanical traits.
Main cultivation methods
Cultivation of gorse is carried out by seed and vegetative means. To obtain seedlings, seed breeding begins in February. The seed is soaked in advance. The seeds are lowered into the ground by 1-1.5 cm. The distance from one drupe to another should be at least 5 cm. The germination process takes about 1.5-2 weeks. The seed produces two sprouts.
The seedlings need to be provided with good lighting and periodic watering. The temperature regime for development is maintained from 15 to + 20 ° C. After a couple of weeks, it can be transplanted to a garden plot. A distance between seedlings of about 25 cm is maintained. The optimal time for transplanting into open ground is the end of April. The flowering culture begins in the middle of summer.
Hybrids and indoor types of gorse propagate using cuttings. Then the bushes will have varietal differences. Shoots are cut at the top. Then they are dipped in a stimulant and transferred after 24 hours into the soil.
Planting and caring for a gruel in the open field
Voskovnik grows safely with minimal maintenance. Planting is organized in fertile soil. The lack of nutrients is compensated by mineral or organic feeding. Several times during the season, the site is mulched with the help of leaf humus. The root system needs air exchange. Frequent weeding will benefit the bushes.
The plant prefers open areas of light or some shade. Frequent watering should be avoided, as excess moisture leads to decay of the rhizome. Artificial irrigation is used during prolonged drought.
Ripe drupes crack and sprinkle a lot of small seeds, so the wax plant reproduces successfully by self-sowing. Crops located near the gorse are often cross-pollinated. As a result, grown young seedlings are able to significantly differ from the original varietal forms and acquire new characteristics. Cross-pollination and abundant self-seeding can be avoided by timely removal of wilting buds.
Voskovnik in landscape design
The decorative advantages of the beesweed make it possible to use it as a gardener of flower beds and courtyards. It is advisable to transfer indoor varieties to the balcony in the summer heat to refresh the bushes. The sun's rays will benefit the plant. The pots are placed on the terrace or at the edge of the garden paths. With the arrival of the first cold weather, the flower is brought back into the room.
Voskovnik is friends with representatives of the flora of the Mediterranean countries. Low-growing varieties are suitable for decorating borders and curtains on a lawn carpet.Bluish stems contrast with the bright inflorescences of petunia, pelargonium and verbena. Monochromatic compositions also look good. Blue fescue will be a good neighbor for this annual.
When cut, flowering stems retain their freshness for a long time. In some varieties, the buds do not fade for 3 weeks if you regularly change the water in the vase and cut the tips of the shoots.
