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Photos and descriptions of tiarella (Tiarella) tell about a culture that is not particularly well-known among summer residents, which, along with ferns and hostas, grows well in shady corners of the garden. It is a perennial, closely related to geyhera, forms hybrids with it. Also, the advantage of the plant is its high resistance to cold.
Description of the tiarella plant
Tiarella or tiarca is a shade-loving perennial that naturally grows on mountain slopes and in moist forests. It can be found in areas with a temperate and even cold climate. The lack of sunlight does not prevent it from blooming and forming a beautiful green mass. In the garden, the culture is grown as an ornamental plant, rich in its varietal diversity. Bushes are suitable for flower beds made in different styles, rock gardens, rockeries. Among the requirements that tiarella makes are semi-shady or shady position, moist soil, drained and fertile soil.
According to the botanical description, the tiarca retains its decorative effect throughout the season, which is achieved thanks to the beautiful evergreen leaf plates. Their type can be simple or complex, the color is usually dark green with a pink or purple center. They are quite large, about 10 cm wide, up to 15 cm long. Their surface is pubescent, the shape is serrated. The rhizome of the plant is medium-sized, but grows very quickly.
Tiarella height
Judging by the description of a herbaceous perennial, its height, depending on the variety and growing conditions, may be different. Usually the growth range is from 10 to 60 cm, but sometimes there are specimens that stretch up to 80 cm in length.
When does the tiarella bloom?
The budding period begins early in the tiarella, flowering time falls in the second half of spring. Usually the period when it can be observed falls at the end of April and can last until the beginning of summer. The flowers of the culture are small, like a cone or tubular, the color is most often white, but sometimes it can be pale pink, the calyx consists of five sepals, which grow together at the base. The petals on the buds are small, in the amount of 5 pcs. The flowers are collected in bunches of inflorescences, located on bare peduncles. After flowering, fruits are formed in their place – boxes, inside which from two to six small seeds ripen.
Varieties
The plant strikes with a variety of species, and thanks to the work of breeders, hybrid varieties of tiarella were also bred. They are decorative due to spotty foliage, as well as large flowers. The genus, judging by many sources, includes five varieties, four of which grow off the coast of water bodies and on the eastern side of North America, and one in Asia. Most often, three types of culture are found in horticulture: Werry, three-leafed and heart-leaved tiarella, photos and descriptions of which are presented below.
Tyarella hearty
Heart tiarella (cordifolia) is a ground cover species plant, characterized by very abundant flowering. It is characterized by decorative openwork foliage, which has a beautiful orange tint. Leaf plates of some varieties have a spectacular edging and bright veins. The variety feels great in flowerbeds with any illumination, grows well not only in the shade and partial shade, but also in the sun. With its help, tree trunk circles, borders, and lawn are decorated. It blooms with small cream-colored buds, inflorescences are formed vertically. The height of the tiarella heart-leaved bushes does not exceed 30 cm.
Three-leafed
Three-leafed tiarka (polyphylla) is also a stunted type of culture, which is common in the natural conditions of Asia, Scotland, Alaska, Georgia. The plant has carved foliage of a dark color, flowering is cone-shaped, with fluffiness, the buds are faded pink.
Wherry
Tiarella wherry (wherryi) differs from other plant species in its slow growth and lack of lateral shoots. The height of the variety is small, about 20-25 cm. The leaf plates have a spectacular appearance, they are palmate, with a jagged edge, their color is juicy emerald, the veins are purple, with the advent of autumn they acquire a carmine color. Werry blooms almost all summer, the buds are star-shaped pinkish or white.
The best varieties of tiarell with names
There are many varieties of this plant, and each of them has its own characteristics, as well as growing rules. Of the most common in gardening, the following varieties are distinguished:
- Black Snowflake. It is distinguished by pink-colored inflorescences and carved leaf plates.
- Jeepers Creepers. Unusual appearance with openwork light green leaves.
- Neon Lights. It is characterized by large foliage and snow-white flowers with purple veins.
- Pink Skyrocket. The leaf blades of the variety are similar to maple foliage, have a purple color in the central part.
- Spanish Cross. The flowers of the variety initially have a pink tint, but gradually become snow-white.
- Timbuktu. The leaves of the plant have purple veins, burgundy in the middle. The flowers are small, pale pink.
Where to plant tiarella
Tiarella, the care and cultivation of which does not cause trouble for gardeners, feels best in loose, nutritious, neutral or slightly acidic soil, which has the ability to retain moisture well. Most of the plant species feel comfortable in the shade and partial shade, but there are also light-loving varieties. The best place for planting tiarka is under trees and shrubs.
Rules for planting tiarella
The plant is planted in spring or early autumn, in pre-prepared dug up soil. The landing algorithm is as follows:
- Deep holes are made in the ground.
- Organic matter is placed at the bottom of the pits.
- A plant seedling is placed on top.
- Fill the hole with soil.
Tiarella care in the open field
The plant does not need careful care, but in order for it to please the gardener with a beautiful view and healthy development, it is desirable to carry out certain activities with it. Tiarella responds well to top dressing and mulching, it should also be watered on time, and the soil should be loosened.
Watering
Many varieties of tiarella are able to tolerate drought, but it negatively affects the characteristics of the plant, which is why it is desirable to water it abundantly and regularly. Thanks to this, the flowering will be thick, and the leaves will become brighter.
Fertilizer
In the spring, caring for tiarella consists in top dressing with mineral fertilizers or organic matter. Before flowering, nitrogenous complexes can be added under the bushes. After the end of the budding period, the plant can also be fed.
Wintering
In addition to winter-hardy plant varieties, there are also species that require shelter. These plants are pruned at the end of autumn, covered with peat and fallen leaves.
Reproduction of tiarella
Tiarella can be propagated in different ways:
- division;
- cuttings;
- seeds.
The first two methods are the most effective and simple, most often used by gardeners. The plant is propagated by division in early spring, before the flowering of the bushes, and by cuttings – after the end of the budding period.
The plant is sown with seeds infrequently, since with this method of reproduction, a number of difficulties can be encountered:
- the need for stratification of planting material;
- constant monitoring of seedlings;
- loss of ornamental varieties of their characteristics.
Problems when growing tiarella
The flower has good immunity, and problems with its cultivation do not occur very often. Tiarella inhibits weeds, is immune to pests, and even repels some of them. Troubles are possible if the bush grows in a very dark and damp place. Despite the fact that the plant does not particularly like bright sunlight, such conditions are also unfavorable for it. In a gloomy flower bed, the bush may weaken, the leaf plates will begin to rot, the flower may be attacked by snails and slugs.
Application in landscape design
Tiarella in the garden can perform many functions and serves as a decoration for different areas. The plant is excellent for planting around trees or shrubs, looks beautiful in forest and rocky gardens, is used as a ground cover. It is planted in shaded corners, placed along artificial reservoirs, used as undergrowth for tall bushes.
The plant fits perfectly into rockeries, with its help you can create a border of flowerbeds and flower beds, it goes well with other decorative crops.
The best neighbors for tiarka are:
- wanted
- Brunner;
- conifers;
- Honeysuckle;
- violet;
- boxwood;
- heichera;
- periwinkles;
- fern;
- small bulbous crops.
Conclusion
The photo and description of tiarella indicate that this plant is pretty, unpretentious, with good winter hardiness. It is not yet very popular among gardeners, but for the abundance of positive characteristics it is quite worthy of their attention. Perennial grows well in the shade, has decorative leaves, blooms profusely. Judging by the reviews, the plant looks great in different flower beds with any landscape.