Flower vatochnik (asclepias): photo and description, types and varieties with names

The plant is a low, compact bush with graceful spherical inflorescences. The color is white, yellow, bright orange, red, lilac. It looks beautiful in single plantings and in compositions with other ornamental crops.

Description of the plant

Asclepias is a genus of evergreen and deciduous perennial plants from the Kutrovye family (Apocynaceae). It also has other names – lastoven, asklepias. The latter is associated with the healing properties of certain types of milkweeds (named after the Greek god of healing Aesculapius).

This is a powerful perennial shrub or sub-shrub with strong shoots. Depending on the species, the height can be 1 m or more. The rhizomes of the plant are located horizontally, diverge from the central shoot for long distances and provide the bush with water and nutrients.

The leaves are large (length 10–12 cm), oval or oblong, ovoid in shape. They are located opposite or whorled (grow from one point). The color of the upper side of the plate is dark green, the lower side is with a grayish tint. The foliage has pubescence resembling cotton wool. The same layer covers the seeds, which is why the milkweed got its name.

Asklepias flowers (pictured) begin to appear in July. The process takes 30-35 days. Inflorescences – racemose umbrellas of different colors. The size is medium: in diameter they reach from 2 to 10 cm. The last buds bloom in September.

The globular inflorescences of the flowerpot on thin pedicels look good anywhere in the garden.

Species and varieties

In nature, there are more than twenty types of milkwort, but most of them are not grown in culture. Only some varieties and varieties are used to decorate the garden.

Asclepias tuberosa (Asclepias tuberosa)

The tuberose tuberose is a low plant, the shoots of which reach 50–70 cm. The inflorescences are large, rich orange, red with yellow hues. They appear in the middle of summer. The rhizomes form tubers, so the species has another name – the tuberous tuber.

If the autumn is warm, then the tuberose blooms until the beginning of October.

The most popular varieties: Guy Butterfly, Maharaja.

Guy Butterfly (Asclepias tuberosa gay butterflies)

Tuberose tuberose Guy Butterfly is one of the best options for decorating the garden. From a mixture of seeds, you can grow several varieties with red, orange, yellow inflorescences.

The height of the Guy Butterfly bush is small – up to 70 cm

Magaraja (Asclepias tuberosa Maharaja)

Maharadzha’s milkweed is a compact bush. Its height does not exceed 50 cm. Inflorescences are bright orange umbrellas.

Variety Maharaja is suitable for decorating paths and for planting in mixborders

Kurasavian gully (Asclepias Curassavica)

The Kurasavian (Kurassavian) quilt is also called the gusset. This is a powerful shrub up to 100 cm high. The plant is evergreen, the stems are erect, the leaves are narrow, lanceolate, dark green. In the description of this type of milkwort (pictured), it is indicated that the plant produces orange flowers, collected in umbellate inflorescences with a diameter of 8–10 cm.

Lastoven has a long flowering period: from late spring to early summer

Asclepias incarnata (Asclepias incarnata)

The incarnate vine is one of the most beautiful species. Its flowers are rich red in color. Therefore, the plant is also called meat-red milkweed. Perennial reaches a height of 100–120 cm. It blooms for 30–40 days (in July and August). The leaves are oblong, large, bright green in color. Against their background, red inflorescences look very attractive.

Incarnate inflorescences are quite large, their diameter is 5-6 cm

Cinderella (Asclepias incarnata Cinderella)

The Cinderella variety produces pleasant pink flowers. Stems are thick and strong. Flowering of the incarnate vine occurs in August and early September. Culture prefers open areas, loose and fertile soils.

Cinderella bush reaches a height of 100 cm

White Superior (Asclepias incarnata White Superior)

The incarnate White Superior variety produces pure white flowers, collected in umbellate inflorescences. Bush of small height (up to 80 cm). Flowering occurs in the second half of summer. Differs in moderate frost resistance (to -30 °C).

In regions with cold winters, White Superior needs mulching in late autumn.

Syrian milkwort (Asclepias syriaca)

In the description of the Syrian milkweed (pictured), it is indicated that the culture forms pink inflorescences. The shrub reaches a height of 1,5 m. Flowers appear in July. The process takes up to 35 days. If you plant the plant in the shade, then the buds will bloom later, but they will bloom longer.

The Syrian milkwort is decorative not only with inflorescences, but also with large light green leaves with reddish veins.

If necessary, you can quickly adjust the number of shoots by pruning.

Beautiful silkworm (Asclepias speciosa)

The vineyard is beautiful – a perennial shrub of small size. Depending on the growing conditions, its height ranges from 30 to 70 cm. The flowers are an interesting light green color. Inflorescences are spherical. They appear in July and August. The culture is winter hardy, loves good moisture.

Due to the unusual coloring, the beautiful quilt is often used as a cut flower.

Lastoven sharp (Siberian) (Vincetoxicum sibiricum)

Lastoven (tsinankhum) Siberian – a species of the Kutrovye family, found not only in Siberia, but also in the middle lane and in the North Caucasus. The plant belongs to the cosmopolitans – it can be found in Europe, North Africa and in some regions of Asia. In shape, it is a perennial herbaceous vine with creeping shoots and triangular leaves. The flowers are white, five-petalled, star-shaped.

Siberian lastoven is decorative thanks to graceful snow-white flowers

Therefore, children and pets should not be allowed on the site. When ingested, the leaves and stems are especially dangerous to dogs.

Vatochnik in landscape design

Vatochnik looks very nice both in single plantings and in combination with other ornamental plants: lilac, foxglove, makleya, mock orange, veronicastrum and others.

Vatochnik can become a decoration of a rocky hill

Asklepias looks good in a single landing

A composition with flowering crops will help create a bright flower bed

Features of reproduction

The plant can be bred in several ways:

1. Fragment of the rhizome. The roots of all types of milkweed are very developed, so dividing the bush is quite simple. Adult plants (over three years old) are dug up and divided into several parts so that each has several healthy shoots. In the new place they take root very well. It is necessary to water abundantly and mulch for the winter. Flowering occurs in the second season after transplantation.
   
   

   The division of the rhizome is carried out in early spring or early autumn, after flowering

2. Cutting. It is recommended to get the cuttings of the milkwort in early summer. To do this, take young shoots up to 15 cm long. All the lower leaves are cut off, and the upper ones are shortened by half. Then planted in moistened sand and covered with a jar. They are grown until the end of summer, after which the young seedlings of the milkwort can be transferred to a new place.
   
   

   For the winter, the plant must be mulched

Growing a weed from seeds

It is quite easy to grow a succulent from seeds. This method will take some time, but it is quite effective.

Grains are harvested independently from ripened fruits or purchased in a store

It is not necessary to stratify planting material. It is recommended to immediately determine it in the ground or on seedlings.

When to plant

It is necessary to start growing orange or other species from seeds in the second half of March. Shoots will appear in 2-3 weeks, and they are transplanted into the ground towards the end of May. At home, seedlings will grow for about two months.

Preparation of containers and soil

Vatochnik does not need special soil. Therefore, you can purchase a universal mixture for flower seedlings in the store or prepare the soil yourself. To do this, take turf land, humus and peat in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.

The soil is disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate (1%) or put in the freezer for several days

In the process of growing seedlings, diving is used. Therefore, initially the seeds are planted in common containers. These can be wooden boxes, plastic containers or cassettes. Previously, they can be doused with boiling water or washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Planting seeds

The seeds of the milkweed are buried by 1–1,5 cm (when planted in open ground – up to 3 cm). Several furrows are first made at a distance of 3–5 cm. After planting, the containers are placed in a cool place. The temperature should not exceed +18 °C. The surface is covered with a film with holes. With a lack of light, additional illumination is organized (up to 10 hours a day in total).

Caring for seedlings

To get a beautiful and healthy plant, when growing a seedling from seeds, special attention should be paid to caring for seedlings. The culture is unpretentious, so the germination of even old seeds is more than 90%.

Vatochnik requires only regular watering with warm, settled water. As soon as the seedlings grow 3–4 cm, the film must be removed. A few days later, the seedlings dive into separate containers. At the same time, pinch the top to activate the growth of side shoots. The place is shaded. Two weeks before transplanting into the ground, plants can be periodically taken out to the balcony or outside for hardening.

Planting and caring for an open field

Most of the species and varieties of milkweed are quite winter-hardy, so planting and caring for them in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region will not be difficult. To get a flowering plant, it is enough to follow some rules.

Recommended dates

Planting time depends on the method of reproduction. The grown seedlings of the milkweed are planted in the second half of May, when there are no more frosts. Rhizomes take root well when planted in October (in the south – in November). The cuttings are transferred to a permanent place at the end of summer, watered regularly, and mulched for the winter.

Site selection and soil preparation

Vatochnik loves sunny, open areas. But light penumbra up to four hours a day is also acceptable. Therefore, the culture can be placed near shrubs or medium-sized trees. The soil for the plant should be neutral or slightly acidic, light, fertile loam is better. If the soil is depleted or has a heavy structure, it must be prepared in advance (in autumn). The site is cleared and dug up. Apply 3–5 kg of humus or 30–40 g of mineral fertilizer per 1 m2. If the soil is clayey, then add 500–800 g of sawdust or coarse sand.

Landing algorithm

Planting a weed is easy. Since the bush is not very sprawling, it is enough to leave an interval of 50-70 cm between neighboring plants. Planting instructions:

1. Dig small holes.
   
   

   The recommended size of the pit is 50×50 cm

2. Spread a layer of drainage 5–7 cm.
   
   

   As a draining material, pebbles, broken bricks, expanded clay are used.

3. Seedlings are rooted, covered with fertile soil.
   
   

   The earth in the hole is gently pressed with hands

4. Water thoroughly and mulch.
   
   

   Peat, humus, sawdust, straw, wood chips are used as mulch.

Watering and fertilizing schedule

In order to grow a beautiful cotton plant with attractive flowers, as shown in the photo, after planting, it is important to follow the basic rules of care and create optimal conditions. One of the main ones is regular watering.

Vatochnik – a culture that loves moisture

Water is given every week, especially in the first month after planting. Adult bushes do not need abundant watering, as the rhizomes grow well and extract moisture from the soil.

Plants are fertilized in early spring. To do this, you can use a complex mineral fertilizer (for example, azofoska) or organic matter (compost, rotted manure, urea).

Weeding and loosening

It is recommended to loosen the soil periodically, especially after watering and heavy rains. Thanks to this, the roots of the plant will freely receive oxygen and nutrients. Weeding is carried out as needed. To drown out the growth of weeds, the soil around the cotton plant is mulched with straw, hay, peat, and humus.

Care during flowering

During flowering, plants periodically remove wilted flower stalks. This stimulates the growth of new inflorescences. The cut points are sprinkled with charcoal or ash powder. To promote the formation of buds, the plant can be fed with superphosphate and potassium salt in the same ratio.

Wintering

In regions with cold winters, the crop is pruned in early October, leaving stumps 1 cm high. After that, the plant is insulated with foliage, sawdust, and spruce branches are laid (if available). This layer is removed in early spring.

Pests and diseases

The plant has good immunity. But sometimes it can suffer from whiteflies and spider mites. When pests appear, the culture is sprayed with insecticides: Aktara, Fufanon, Aktellik, Decis.

Conclusion

The plant vatnik differs in unpretentiousness and winter hardiness. The bush is decorative due to the lush flowers that appear within 30-40 days or more. A variety of species allows you to choose among different colors – from snow-white to rich red.