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Brunner Variegata is a herbaceous perennial. The plant is often found as an element of landscape design. Planting and caring for a flower has its own characteristics.
Description brunners Variegata
The plant is a spreading shrub. The stems of the variety Variegata are densely leafy, slightly rough-pubescent.
The shape of the leaf plates is oblong, heart-shaped, but with a pointed end. The leaves are green above, with a grayish undertone below. At the edges, they fade to a creamy shade during the summer season.
The flowers of the plant are of a rich blue hue with a white spot in the center: outwardly, the buds resemble forget-me-not inflorescences
The buds of the Variegata variety bloom in late April or early May, wither in a month. If the autumn is warm, then the plant may bloom again.
Brunner Variegata has good frost resistance: the bushes do not die at temperatures up to -29 ° C.
Where grows
The homeland of Brunners is considered to be the Caucasus. The plant is remarkably hardy. The bush grows safely in the place of the site, where there is a lot of sunlight in the morning, and shade in the afternoon.
Cultivation from seeds
Seed material is available for purchase in flower shops. You need to store it in the refrigerator so that it goes through stratification. The optimal planting time is February or early March.
In a clean container, equipped with ventilation, pour flower soil or earth from the garden, mixed with humus. Grooves are made on the surface of the soil, seeds are laid out in them, covered with earth. The box with future seedlings is transferred to the refrigerator and left there for stratification for 4 months.
During the stratification period, it is necessary to ensure that the soil is moistened, hypothermia or overheating of the seeds should not be allowed: the temperature should not be lower than 0 ° C and not higher than + 5 ° C
After the time has elapsed, it is necessary to get the container and transfer it to the windowsill. Within the next 2 weeks, sprouts should appear. Plant care without features: watering, weed removal, fertilizing with complex means 2 times a month.
Flowering when planting seeds of Brunnera Variegata occurs only in the third year after transferring the flower to open ground
Landing in the ground
And although Brunner Variegata is undemanding to care for, knowledge of the characteristics of growing a crop allows you to get a strong and healthy plant. Without a transplant in good conditions, the bush is able to grow in one place up to 15 years.
Site selection and preparation
It is recommended to find a place in the garden where the soil is well moistened, with an admixture of clay. On fertile, manure-fertilized lands, Brunner Variegata grows profusely, which leads to disruption of the stages of plant development. Unlike leaves, the rhizome does not have time to form so that the flower can successfully overwinter.
Special soil preparation is not required: it is good to dig and remove weeds and debris. If the soil is completely clayey, then compost must be added to the planting pit.
Landing stages
It is recommended to transfer Brunner Variegata outdoors in June-July to give the plant sufficient time to prepare for winter. A bush planted in the spring can infect infections from the soil.
The plant is unpretentious: place a seedling in the prepared planting hole, slightly deepen it so that the root neck is at ground level, then sprinkle with earth and water abundantly. The top layer of soil must be mulched.
If the plant has a well-formed root system, then planting in open ground is carried out as follows:
- cut off the aerial part, leaving the petioles of the basal leaves;
- inspect the rhizome, remove rotten or damaged parts;
- dig holes and place plants there, making sure that the root neck is not covered with soil;
- carefully water the bush, mulch.
Most gardeners prefer to plant Brunner Variegata at a short distance from each other: the plant grows very quickly and has a compact root system.
The recommended distance between seedlings is 30-40 cm, but Brunner grows well in cramped conditions, so if there are a lot of bushes, they are planted more often.
Care
Brunner Variegata belongs to moisture-loving crops, so it is recommended to moisten the soil as it dries. On cloudy days and the rainy season, the procedure is carried out less frequently.
An obligatory stage of care is mulching. It is carried out not only to preserve moisture in the ground, but also to protect the plant from slugs. As a mulch, it is recommended to use sawdust, limestone or coffee grounds.
Gardeners successfully mulch the Variegata brunner with small twigs and leaves, which allows you to simultaneously provide the plant with useful substances.
All dried leaves, broken shoots or withered buds must be removed throughout the season.
Diseases and pests
High humidity and shade are common causes of powdery mildew or brown spot. They are characterized by the appearance of whitish or brownish spots on the leaf plates.
To combat diseases, the affected parts of the plant are removed, watering is reduced. Of the antifungal agents, it is recommended to use Bordeaux liquid, Fundazol.
The rhizomes of Variegata brunners are very attractive to rodents, so it is recommended to stir up the mulch layer regularly.
Trimming
The first pruning is carried out immediately after flowering: all buds are removed. If you leave them on the plant, then fruits are formed. Brunners will spend a lot of energy on their maturation, which will negatively affect the appearance of the bush.
The second pruning is carried out on demand: if the second wave of flowering has begun, then it is recommended to remove the buds. Brunner Variegata will not have time to accumulate enough strength for a successful winter by winter if flowers are left.
Preparation for winter
Preparation for the winter period does not provide for special events. Sheet plates need to be trimmed. Brunnere Variegata shelters are not needed. If the crop is grown in the northern regions, then you can cover the roots with a layer of mulch.
Some gardeners do not prepare the plant for wintering in any way: with the onset of frost, the leaves die off, and the roots successfully survive the season.
Reproduction
Brunner Variegata quickly spreads over the site if it is not limited in time. But if you want to propagate the bush, then use the division method.
To do this, the shrub is dug up, divided into several parts and seated. Before planting, damaged or pest-infested parts are removed from the delenok.
It is necessary to ensure that the separated rhizome has several small roots: this will increase the chances of the seedling to gain a foothold in the ground
Another method of reproduction is seeds. Brunner often spreads by self-sowing if the flowers are not removed in time.
Photo in landscape design
Since the shrub grows very lush, it is used to create alpine hillocks, flower beds, mixborders.
The bush is undersized, so it is planted in the foreground or among other flowers that love moisture and partial shade.
In oriental styles, the landscape implies the presence of a water source, so Variegata Brunner feels great near artificial reservoirs and fountains.
You can also use the brunner as a home decoration by planting it along the building
You can plant the Variegata variety brunner near garden paths to create beautiful compositions: the bush will gradually grow, forming a green carpet
Good neighbors for brunners are peonies, rhododendrons, hostas. Beautiful compositions can be created if you place a juniper or Goryanka, a fern next to it.
Often the Variegata brunner is planted under trees, decorative driftwood or garden interior items are placed next to it.
Conclusion
Brunner Variegata is an unpretentious, beautiful perennial. It tolerates low temperatures well, but is picky about moisture, loves shade. The plant is used to create landscape design in parks and gardens. It should be borne in mind that the Variegata variety is growing rapidly.
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