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Brunner Alexander Great (Alexander Great) – a large-leaved type of culture, which was bred thanks to the efforts of the Belarusian breeder Alexander Zuikevich. The variety is valued for its unpretentiousness and high decorative qualities, which it retains until the onset of frost. This explains the widespread use of the view in landscape design. This variety is ideally combined with ferns, hosts, astilbes, geyhers, as it also prefers shady areas in the garden.
Brunner is used in shadow mixborders, as a border
Description Brunners Alexander Great
This variety stands out from other species with its huge leaves, which give the bush volume. As a result of this brunner “Alexander Great” looks especially elegant. The height of the shrub reaches 60 cm, and the diameter is about 70 cm. The length of the plates is 30 cm, and the width is 15-20 cm.
The leaves of the Alexander Great brunner are heart-shaped, silvery-white with green veins and a narrow border around the edges, which gives the impression of an unusual ornament.
The flowers of this variety are small, 0,5-1,0 cm in diameter, reminiscent of forget-me-nots in shape. They are collected in loose inflorescences. The color of the petals is pale blue. The plant forms flower stalks in late spring – early summer. They confidently rise above the leaves. The duration of flowering in brunners “Alexander Great” is 3-4 weeks. But in the presence of favorable conditions, the variety may bloom again in the fall, but not so abundantly. The fruits of the plant are a small nut.
Cultivation from seeds
Growing the Alexander Great brunner is quite within the power of even a novice gardener. To do this, it is necessary to purchase high-quality varietal seeds so that the grown seedlings eventually correspond to the selected variety.
Sowing should be done in December. To do this, prepare wide containers 8-10 cm high with drainage holes. The soil mixture for brunners can be prepared independently. To do this, you need to mix the following components:
- 2 parts of turf;
- 1 part humus;
- 1 part coconut substrate;
- 1 part peat.
The day before sowing, the substrate must be shed with a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, and then dried a little. This will prevent the development of fungal diseases at the initial stage of seedling growth.
Algorithm of actions:
- Lay drainage at the bottom of the container with a layer of 1 cm.
- Fill the rest of the volume with the substrate, not getting enough sleep to the top edge of 1 cm.
- Water the soil, wait until the water is completely absorbed.
- Make grooves 0,5 cm deep.
- Put the seeds in them, sprinkle with soil.
After sowing, the container must be covered with a film and placed in the vegetable section of the refrigerator for 3 months. Thus, stratification of seeds occurs, which stimulates growth processes.
At the end of February, the containers should be placed on the windowsill and provide a mode of + 18-19 degrees. Seedlings will germinate in 3-4 weeks. When the brunner sprouts get a little stronger, they need to be adapted to external conditions. To do this, it is necessary to remove the film for the first time for half an hour, and with each subsequent day, increase the interval by another 30-40 minutes. After a week, the seedlings can be fully opened.
When the seedlings grow up, you need to transplant the strongest ones into separate containers with a diameter of 5-7 cm. And in order to accelerate the development of the root system, you should pour them with Kornevin’s solution (5 g per 5 l).
Before planting in a permanent place, the seedlings of the Alexander Great brunners must be hardened off. To do this, a week before the procedure, it is necessary to start taking it out into the street to a shady place. Initially for 1 hour, and every day increase the interval by another 1-2 hours. The day before planting, seedlings can be left on the street for the night.
Landing in the ground
In order for this culture to fully develop and bloom regularly, it is necessary to properly plant it, taking into account its requirements. Failure to comply with the basic recommendations leads to a decrease in the decorativeness of the brunner, and sometimes to its death.
Site selection and preparation
In its natural environment, this culture prefers to grow in a forest area under the canopy of trees. Therefore, for landing the Alexander Great brunners, shaded, slightly moistened areas should be selected. The culture develops well in clay soil.
When the plant is placed in a sunny place, burns appear on the leaves.
It is necessary to plant the grown seedlings of Alexander Great brunners in open ground in late July – early August. This will allow the plants to take root and adapt before winter arrives.
2 weeks before this, the site should be dug up, all the roots of perennial weeds should be removed. It should also be paid per 1 sq. m. 5 kg of humus, 30 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium sulfate.
Landing stages
Planting seedlings of Alexander Great brunners should be carried out according to the standard scheme. To do this, make holes 8 cm deep at a distance of 60 cm from each other. At the bottom of each hole you need to pour a little sand, and then water the soil. Transplantation of seedlings should be carried out without disturbing the earthen ball at the roots.
Then sprinkle a little earth and compact the soil at the base of the brunner seedlings. A day after planting, the soil must be mulched with peat and tree bark. This will prevent excessive evaporation of moisture from the soil and overheating of the root system.
The site for brunners must be prepared in advance
Care
Brunner “Alexander Great” is undemanding to care, which contributes to the growth of its popularity. It is necessary to water the plant only in the absence of seasonal rains, and the rest of the time it is able to independently provide itself with moisture. It is impossible to loosen the soil at the base of the bushes, as this leads to damage to the root system. Therefore, it is enough to simply remove weeds throughout the season.
It is necessary to feed the “Alexander Great” brunner at the beginning of the growing season in the spring. During this period, you need to apply mineral nitrogen fertilizers. The second time top dressing is carried out after flowering. At this time, phosphorus-potassium mixtures should be used, which will increase the immunity of the culture.
Diseases and pests
Large-leaved Brunner “Alexander Great” has increased resistance to pests and diseases. However, non-compliance with growing conditions can cause the development of powdery mildew and brown spot. In this case, you need to treat the bushes with a Bordeaux mixture or the Hom preparation.
Of the pests, the danger to brunners is aphid, which feeds on the juice of young leaves and flower stalks of the plant. When the first signs of damage appear, you need to treat with the drug “Confidor Extra”.
In rainy summer conditions, brunner leaves can damage slugs. To prevent this, you need to sprinkle the soil at the base of the bushes with tobacco dust or wood ash.
Trimming
Brunner “Alexander Great” does not require cardinal pruning. It is enough only during the season to remove damaged leaves and withered flower stalks, which reduce its decorative qualities.
Preparation for winter
With the first frost, wilted brunner leaves should be cut off at the base, leaving stumps no higher than 5 cm. Then sprinkle the root with a thick layer of peat or humus to prevent it from freezing. This plant does not need additional shelter for the winter.
The land around the brunners needs to be constantly mulched.
Reproduction
This variety of brunners can be propagated by dividing the bush. To do this, in August it is necessary to dig out an adult plant bush, clean the roots of the soil, cut it into separate segments with a knife. Each of them must have a growing point and a well-developed root process. After that, the seedlings should be immediately planted in a permanent place.
Photo in landscape design
How the Alexander Great brunner looks in combination with other plants can be seen in the proposed photos.
The variety looks good along the garden path
The plant gets along well with dicentra
Brunner can also successfully mask unsightly areas near buildings.
Conclusion
Brunner Alexander Great is a highly decorative variety of culture that is able to give the shady places of the site a well-groomed beautiful look. At the same time, the plant does not require increased attention to itself, it is enough only to water in rare cases and fertilize twice a year. And not every perennial possesses such qualities.
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