Summer belotsvetnik: description, photo

Summer white flower (Leucojum aestivum) is a bulbous perennial. It means “white violet” in Latin. The shape of the flower resembles both a lily of the valley and a snowdrop, however, with a larger bud. Grows equally well in open ground and in a pot. It resists pests and diseases well, tolerates frost well, but does not like drought. The white flower is listed in the Red Book. It is classified as “Vulnerable”, that is, in wildlife there is a great threat of their complete disappearance, despite successful human reproduction.

History of the plant

To date, only 2 types of white flowers have been cultivated: summer and autumn. This was done by English gardeners back in 1588. Although the flower is still considered a neophyte, since popularity has come to it quite recently. It has just begun to be used in landscape design, in parks and in home gardens.

In Soviet textbooks, the first mention of the summer white flower is in the 30th volume of “Flora of the USSR”.

The flower grows equally well in open ground and pots.

Description of the summer white flower

The plant belongs to the Amaryllis family. Bulbous and herbaceous representative of the species. Stretches up to 40 cm in height. Summer white flowers bloom in late spring and summer.

The leaves of the plant are characterized by:

• linear form;
• belt-like, 2-4 pieces;
• appear during flowering.

Flowers grow in umbellate inflorescences, may be solitary. They fade over time. Up to 3 cm long, broadly bell-shaped. They can be white or pink. The perianth is represented by 6 leaves, on the top of which spots may appear: yellow or green.

The summer belotsvetnik is distinguished by an interesting structure of the root system. Along with a perennial and thick root, it has onions. They are equipped with several webbed white scales that are closed to each other. After a certain period of time, part of the roots from which the plant was formed dies.

The fruits of the summer belotsvetnik are represented by a fleshy box. It contains many round and oblong seeds. Some of them have brown or black appendages.

Whiteflower tolerates frost well

Where does the flower grow

The birthplace of the summer white flower is the middle part of Europe, Turkey, the Mediterranean and Iran. In the wild, it is also found in North Africa, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania and Italy.

In Our Country, under natural conditions, the white flower grows in the Krasnodar Territory and on the Crimean Peninsula.

Methods of reproduction

There are two ways to grow a summer white flower:

• vegetatively;
• with the help of seeds.

In the latter case, sowing is carried out immediately after the collection of white flowers seeds. The air temperature should not fall below +22 ^оC. If you water the beds abundantly, then the first shoots will appear in 1,5 months. In this case, flowering occurs only in 6-7 years.

In a vegetative way, summer white flowers can be propagated in late August or early September. The main advantage of the technique is that you can see the first flowers already 3-4 years after planting.

The best vegetative method is recognized as the method of dividing by paired scales. To do this, you need to take several consecutive steps:

1. Divide the onion into 6-8 parts, making cuts along, from top to bottom.
2. Divide each part received into 2-3 “delenki”, the main thing is that they have several scales with a fragment of the bottom.
3. For 30 minutes, send each part to a 2% Fundazol solution.
4. Prepare a soil substrate of perlite and peat in a ratio of 50% to 50%.
5. Place the “delenki” of the white flower on a third of the height of the bulb.

It is desirable that the temperature where reproduction is carried out does not fall below +18 ^оC. This will allow the plants to take root quickly. As soon as the first 2-3 leaves appear, the seedlings are transplanted into the soil substrate. It must be light. After transplanting, the summer white flower should be watered abundantly.

As soon as the bulbs acquire the desired size (2-5 cm in circumference), the plant can be transplanted to a permanent place.

The white flower reproduces well vegetatively and with the help of seeds.

Cultivation and care

Summer white flower prefers shaded areas. Feels good near ponds and shrubs. The earth must be drained and moist, it is desirable to saturate it with humus.

Summer white flowers do not tolerate high acidity of the soil, so only rotted manure can be applied as a fertilizer. To reduce acidity, rotted peat and a little lime are added. After planting the summer white flower, it is necessary to carefully monitor the thickness of the topsoil. It should be equal to two diameters of the bulb. If this rule is neglected, then a shallow planting will lead to a decrease in the root system with an intensive build-up of “children”. The deeper the bulb is planted, the more it will grow and not give many shoots.

Basic rules of care:

• loosening of the soil;
• watering;
• cleaning of weeds;
• top dressing.

In early spring, the white flower does not need watering. Irrigation is required only if the winter was without snow and rain, that is, the soil is dry. The main thing is that the water is not cold, it is necessary to use settled water.

For top dressing of white flowers, complex mineral fertilizers are used, always in liquid form. They must contain nitrogen. It is he who is the growth stimulator of the bulb. Phosphorus allows you to get violent flowering.

Summer white flower does not require shelter for the winter, it tolerates frost well. In extreme cases, it can be covered with spruce branches if snow is not expected throughout all the cold weather.

In the absence of additional introduction of moisture, the flower will not die, but it will not reach the required size in height.

Pests and diseases

The plant resists pests and diseases well. However, sometimes, looking at a site or photo of a summer white flower, you can notice yellowish or greenish spots on the foliage, holes. These are clear signs of disease or that insects or rodents have appeared on the site.

Among the most common problems are:

1. Bulbous nematodes. This is a small worm, as a result of whose vital activity yellowish tumors appear on the foliage. The affected plant will have to be completely disposed of. The rest of the summer white flowers should be dug up and the bulbs thoroughly washed. Then send them into the water for a few hours. Its temperature should be at +40 ^оC. And only after that plant it again in open ground, but in a different area. In flowerbeds where nematodes appeared, nothing can be planted for 4-5 years.

   

2. Slugs. This is a very rare problem and can be easily prevented. They appear on heavy and clay soils. Therefore, before planting the summer white flower, the bulbs should be protected with sand and the soil should be treated with a remedy for these parasites.

   

3. Fungal lesions characteristic of damp and warm weather, is associated with the appearance of gray mold on the ground. The damaged parts of the white flower are destroyed, and the culture itself is treated with a fungicide.

   

4. Moles and mice. Mammals are able to completely gnaw off the bulb and drag it into their hole. If the plant began to rot, develops slowly, then most likely that part of the rhizome of the white flower was damaged. To save it, you should dig it out, treat the affected area with ashes and leave it in the open air for several hours. The wound should dry well, and only then can it be planted back again. From mice and moles will have to set traps. It is also recommended to inspect the landings, mice often choose sod with grass or perennial curtains for their homes. From planting plants should be at least 3 meters, otherwise you will have to choose between them.

   

In general, the flower is characterized by all the diseases and pests that snowdrops and other primroses suffer from.

Conclusion

Summer white flower is a delicate flower that can decorate any garden plot. Does not require much attention, but loves shade and moist, well-drained soil. It is easy to propagate both vegetatively and by seed. The white flower is perfect for arranging alpine slides, decorating the entrance group and growing in pots.