Willow loosestrife (plakun-grass): photo and description, varieties, planting and care

The loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria) is a perennial that has decorative and medicinal properties. It is mainly a wild plant, but there are also varieties that are grown in the household. They differ in characteristics and appearance. But, what is most valuable, they inherit the healing properties of the wild-growing loosestrife. Varietal plants can be grown on your site for decoration and for the preparation of medicines.

Description of the loosestrife

The loosestrife is also called “plakun-grass” – because of its characteristic feature, which manifests itself in the fact that excess moisture from rain or dew collects on the leaves in drops and flows down, resembling dripping tears.

In nature, loosestrife is found in wet places, river banks, damp meadows, near swamps, it is unpretentious, can grow on soils of any type, and grows rapidly under good conditions.

Derbennik loosestrife – herbaceous perennial, belongs to the Derbennikovye family. It has straight 4-sided stems that stretch up to 0,8-1,4 m and branch in the upper part. The root of the plant is thick and woody, located shallow in the ground. The leaves located on the stem below are mostly opposite, the upper ones are alternate, 10 cm long, oblong in shape.

It blooms in July-August, its flowers are small, up to 1 cm, in the form of an asterisk, numerous. They sit tightly in spike-shaped inflorescences. The flowers of the loosestrife are painted in color from dark pink to purple. Seeds ripen in August, they are in small oblong-oval boxes.

The loosestrife loves open sunny places.

The best varieties of willow loosestrife

On the home plot, you can plant loosestrife of different varieties. According to the descriptions of some of them, you can get an idea of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbwhat variety you would like to plant.

loosestrife Rosy Gem

Flowering begins from the end of June and continues until August. The loosestrife “Rosy Gem” (Rosy Gem) grows to a height of 0,6-1,2 m, reaches a width of 0,7 m.

The variety “Rosie Gem” is unpretentious, tolerates the drying of the substrate

Derbennik Swirl

Perennial about 0,8 m high. The plant blooms in July and August. The inflorescences of loosestrife Swirl are loose, airy. They are not like those that are characteristic of other varieties. They are considered a hallmark of the variety. In reviews of the Swirl loosestrife, flower growers say that it is easy to determine the varietal affiliation of plants from them.

Variety “Swirl” grows well on wet soils, recommended for rabatok

Lady Sackville

Flowering occurs in July and August, like other varieties of culture. Stems “Lady Sackville” (Lady Sackville) of medium height, within 0,6-0,8 m.

“Lady Sackville” is used in group plantings, various flower beds and near ponds

gypsy blood

Buds open from July to August. The height of the variety “Gypsy Blood” (Zigeunerblut) bushes up to 1,2 m.

In the Gypsy Blood variety, the height can reach up to 120 cm.

Blah

The plant reaches a height of 1,2 m. Blush loosestrife blooms, like other varieties, in July and August.

In spring and summer, the Blush variety has green foliage, and in autumn it turns red.

Candle fire

The plant is tall, above 1 m, with dark green foliage. Flowering occurs in July and August.

At the end of summer, in the Candlefire variety, seed pods form in place of fading flowers.

pink pearl

This variety is one of the most common. Plants have elongated leaves, erect dense inflorescences. The height of the loosestrife “Pink Pearl” is 1-1,2 m. It grows rapidly, forms large clumps.

“Pink pearl” in the cold period of time does not require special care

Robert

The height of the bushes Robert (Robert) – 0,6-0,7 m, width – up to 0,7 m. Flowering occurs in July and August.

Grade “Robert” is best planted in the sun and near water

Application in landscape design

The loosestrife in the garden is most often used in compositions with other ornamental plants, the flowers of which are painted in cold blue tones, for example, with catnip, geraniums, snowheads and muzzles. They look good next to a shrub of barberry, vesicle, mock orange, turf, or against the background of astilbe, helianthus, saplings, daylilies, asters and Japanese spirea.

Due to the fact that the varieties of loosestrife differ in height, width and color of flowers, you can create original compositions from several of these varieties. At the same time, plants should be planted so that there are no sharp transitions from one color to another, on the contrary, they should be smooth. Then the flower arrangement will look more profitable.

Ways of reproduction of the willow loosestrife

The loosestrife, grown in home gardens, is propagated in three ways: cuttings, dividing the bush and seeds. Cuttings are cut from the lower parts of the stems, cut them in the first half of summer. Rooted in a moist substrate, under the film. Cuttings are watered, keeping the soil moist, loosen the ground after irrigation. In a permanent place, loosestrife are planted in the fall, a month before the onset of a cold snap. By dividing the bush, adult specimens are propagated. In the spring, before the start of the growing season or in the middle of autumn, they are dug up, a part of the rhizome is separated with a sharp shovel, which is immediately transplanted. The cut at the root is sprinkled with ash, and then covered with earth.

Planting with seeds of loosestrife loosestrife in open ground is carried out in October. During the winter, they will go through a natural stratification and ascend in the spring themselves, when necessary.

Growing seedlings of willow loosestrife from seeds

The loosestrife seeds are harvested after they mature, sown in a fertile substrate in February-March. Seedlings should appear within a month. Seedlings are grown at a temperature of 15-20 ˚С, lighting for 10-12 hours.

Planting a willow loosestrife in the ground

Plants grown from seeds are transplanted into a flower bed or other parts of the garden. This must be done within a certain time frame.

Recommended dates

Seedlings are planted in open ground in May, when it definitely does not suffer from a temporary cold snap. It is undesirable to transplant later, as it outgrows.

Site selection and preparation

The loosestrife prefers moist soil, so it is best to plant it in gardens near artificial reservoirs, as it likes to grow in moist soil. But, if there is no water nearby, the plants will feel good in ordinary soil.

Soil preparation for a willow-like loosestrife of any variety is standard: the site is cleared of plant residues, dug up, organic matter or mineral fertilizers are applied. They mix the soil with them and level the surface, dig holes in it at a distance of 0,4 m. Such an interval must be maintained between the bushes so that they can develop normally and not interfere with each other when they bloom.

Landing algorithm

Planting loosestrife in open ground and initial care for it consist of the following actions:

1. The wells are watered and planted in them one plant at a time.
2. Sprinkle with earth and lightly compact it around the stems.
3. You can sprinkle the surface of the soil with a thin layer of mulch.

In the photo you can see the landing and the first stage of caring for loosestrife loosestrife.

Seedlings of loosestrife for planting on the site should have at least 4-5 true leaves

Features of care

Like other plants, willow-like loosestrife needs to be watered, fed, cut and prepared in the fall for wintering. All these works are included in the complex of agrotechnical measures to care for him.

Watering and fertilizing schedule

Drought-grass does not tolerate drought well, so watering should be taken seriously. In the absence of rain, irrigation should be carried out regularly so that the earthen lump does not dry out. If the loosestrife grows near water, you can water it less often.

Willow-like loosestrife are fed every year in spring with complex mineral fertilizers for flowering crops. Additionally, they cover the soil with peat or humus, which also provide useful substances.

Weeding, loosening, mulching

After watering, after a day or two, you need to loosen the soil. This is necessary in order for air to pass to the roots. To preserve soil moisture, it is necessary to cover the surface of the soil with mulch. You can use peat and old humus.

Despite the fact that the loosestrife bushes are very tall and voluminous, they will not grow in weeds. All unwanted vegetation should be removed during planned weeding.

Trimming

After flowering, most of the flower stalks are cut off. This will prevent seeds from forming and prevent self-seeding, as well as give the plants a more attractive appearance. A few inflorescences are left to get seeds from them, if they are needed. In autumn, all dry shoots are removed, cutting them under the root.

After flowering loosestrife, all flower stalks are cut off

Wintering

The loosestrife does not need special shelter. It is enough to sprinkle the plant with peat or humus, leaves or straw after pruning. In the spring, after the snow melts, the mulch must be removed.

Pests and diseases

The most common pest of loosestrife is the aphid. She settles on the leaves and tops of the stems and sucks the juice out of them. To prevent the appearance of a pest, plants are sprayed with garlic, tobacco, onion or citrus infusions. If the loosestrife is severely affected, synthetic insecticides can come to the rescue.

The composition and value of the plant

The loosestrife willow (or willow-like) contains glycosides, alkaloids, resins, tannins, carotene, pectin, essential oil, organic acids, flavonoids and vitamins. Traditional medicine has found use for the roots and grass of the plant. In addition to medicinal, the loosestrife has a decorative value, it is also a good honey plant.

Medicinal properties

The plant has the following actions:

• antibacterial;
• anti-inflammatory;
• astringent;
• wound healing;
• hemostatic;
• diuretic;
• analgesic;
• tonic;
• restorative.

As you can see, the medicinal properties of loosestrife, which is shown in the photo, allow it to be used to treat many problems in the body. It treats and prevents diseases, infections, stops bleeding, anesthetizes, tones and strengthens the body.

Application in folk medicine

Planting and caring for loosestrife loosestrife (pictured) is beneficial not only because it is an ornamental plant, but also because it can be used to treat and prevent diseases.

A slurry of leaves and fresh rhizomes is applied to wounds to stop bleeding. Decoctions and tinctures will help with chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and upper respiratory tract, as well as with nervous diseases, epilepsy, as an antidote for insect and snake bites. The decoction is also used externally – they take baths with it, make compresses and rinses for skin diseases, including purulent ones. Alcohol tincture is used for pain in the head and stomach, for colds, rheumatism and toxicosis.

The leaves and flowers of the loosestrife are used to treat a wide variety of diseases.

Recipes

A description of the preparation of products based on loosestrife will help you make them at home. To do this, you need fresh or dry grass, flowers and roots.

decoction

For 100 ml of water take 2 tsp. dry grass, steam it in a water bath for 30-45 minutes. Then keep wrapped for another 20 minutes. Drink 0,5 cup three times a day.

Infusion

It is prepared from 1 tbsp. warm water and 1 tbsp. l. fresh or dry raw materials. Insist at least 6 hours.

Tincture

It is prepared from 50 g of raw materials and 0,5 l of vodka. Infuse the remedy for 10 days. Drink 40 drops 3 times a day.

Tea

Tea of ​​loosestrife is prepared by brewing 1 tbsp in one glass of boiling water. l. leaves and flowers. Insist 0,5 hours and drink a quarter cup 30 minutes before eating.

Application rules

For the treatment of diseases of internal organs, they drink freshly prepared decoctions and infusions, they can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days, heated to a comfortable temperature before use. Tea should be prepared for 1 time, drink fresh. Rubbing alcohol tincture should also be kept in the refrigerator. Apply 1-2 times a day.

Limitations and contraindications

If we talk about the healing properties of loosestrife loosestrife, we should also note its contraindications. These are hypertension, atherosclerosis, a tendency to the appearance of blood clots, diseases that are characterized by increased blood clotting, old age. Pregnant and lactating women, children under 12 years of age should consult a doctor before using loosestrife products.

Collection and procurement of raw materials

If stems and leaves are needed, then they are harvested before the flowering period, inflorescences – when most of the buds open on them. At this time, they accumulate the most medicinal substances.

Cut inflorescences and loosestrife grass before or during flowering

The roots are dug up after flowering or in autumn, when the plant finishes its growing season. They are cleaned of the remnants of the earth, washed, cut into small pieces and dried. The grass is also dried in the shade or in a ventilated area until completely dry. Store raw materials in a dark and cool place, in linen or paper bags. The shelf life of the herb is no more than 1 year, the roots can be stored for a season longer.

Conclusion

The healing properties of the willow loosestrife make it possible to use it as a medicinal raw material for the preparation of folk remedies at home. They can treat some common diseases of various origins. In addition, this plant is simply beautiful and can improve the appearance of the site if planted in the garden.

Reviews