Lavatera flowers. Lavatera perennial (Khatma) - “Wild rose”: planting, care and cultivation. Lavatera variety "Tanagra"

When planting a flower garden, gardeners select beautiful, long-flowering and unpretentious varieties of flowers. Among the huge variety, many of them choose lavatera. It is also called “wild rose” or “khatma”. Lavatera is a perennial plant - a godsend for gardeners. It blooms from June until the first frost, ideally complementing and decorating any corner of the garden. Thanks to the large selection of varieties, everyone can find a plant suitable in color and size for growing in open ground.

Description of the flower

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, a large number of perennial and annual varieties have been created, reaching from 20 to 150 cm in height. Each of them has a powerful root system, a strong stem and lobed leaves, which are arranged in a regular order.

The flowers are large, reaching 18 cm in diameter and have a variety of colors: yellow, white, pink, purple, red or crimson. Depending on the variety, they can be arranged singly or in several pieces, forming spike-shaped inflorescences. They begin to bloom in the first half of summer and bloom until the first frost.

Lavatera is a plant for the lazy. It is undemanding to the soil, unpretentious in care, drought- and frost-resistant. The culture can grow both in the sun and in the shade, and is not afraid of gusty winds. It looks attractive not only in gardens, but also as a cut flower. Flowers in a bouquet remain fresh for 7 days.

Varieties and types

The discoverers of the flower were brothers named Lavater. They discovered it in Europe, near Zurich. Later it began to be found in Australia and North America. The plant can be either annual or perennial. Each species has its own varieties with individual characteristics.

Lavatera Three months old

Powerful annual, reaches a height of more than a meter. The lower foliage is heart-shaped, the upper leaves are three- or five-lobed. The flowers are solitary, large, up to 10 cm in diameter. The closer to the sun, the more abundant the flowering and the shorter the flower stalks. The five-petalled inflorescences of Lavatera Three Months are carmine, white or pink in color.

The most common types:

Silver bowl

A beautiful drought-resistant plant up to half a meter high. The funnel-shaped flowers are large, soft pink in color with dark veins. They appear from the axils of leaves up to 15 cm in diameter. The Silver Bowl variety is planted along the fence or in flower beds. Flowering begins in July and lasts until October.

Silver Cup

A cold-resistant variety with large branched shoots, reaches a height of 70 cm. The purple flowers are large with dark veins and a silvery tint. Flowering occurs from June to September. Looks impressive in group plantings and mixborders.

Ruby Queen

Low-growing, attractive, profusely flowering variety. During flowering, single pink-carmine flowers cover the entire plant, from which it is impossible to take your eyes off throughout the whole summer. This splendor is planted in flower beds next to bright annuals, in group plantings and in mixborders. The flower looks harmonious against the background of roses, iris and fragrant tobacco.

Novella

A new low-growing variety that can be grown both in a flower pot and in open ground. Flowering is abundant and early. The first flowers appear when the plant grows 20 cm. They are large, pink, and do not fade for a long time. The decorative appearance remains throughout the summer, regardless of weather conditions.

White Sherub

A low variety with numerous snow-white flowers. It is ideal because it can be grown at home and in open ground.

Mont Blanc

Strongly branched, low-growing annual with large snow-white flowers and large emerald leaves. Unopened buds have a pink tint. The variety is planted in flower beds with other bright annuals, to create borders, in group plantings for cutting and in flower pots. When grown in a container, the plant will be more compact and will not grow more than 20 cm in height.

Lavatera Thuringian

Powerful, tall perennial, reaching a height of up to 2 meters. Large silver-green leaves, heart-shaped and lobed. Single, large pink flowers appear from the leaf axils on long stalks.

This type includes:

Bregon Springs

A powerful, tall variety, reaches a height of 150 cm. Large silver-emerald leaves are located on long, highly branched shoots. The variety blooms profusely and for a long time with pink-purple flowers with crimson veins. Overwinters without shelter.

Lilac Lady

A tall variety with large purple flowers blooming directly from the leaf axils. The flowers are large - up to 15 cm in diameter, the bush is powerful - up to 120 cm. The silver-emerald leaves are large, lobed in the lower part of the plant, entire-edged in the upper part.

Barnsley Baby

A compact, medium-sized bush, reaches a height of 80 cm. Large snow-white flowers have pronounced pink eyes. The flowers are beautiful and delicate and can be grown in containers, but they will look better in flower beds next to sage, catnip and cereals.

Lavatera arborescens

A biennial species with a straight, powerful stem, reaching a height of 2 meters. The delicate emerald leaves are large and fleshy. The flowers are red-purple with dark veins, very similar to hibiscus flowers. After wilting, the variety produces fruits in the shape of a head of cheese. Flowering begins in mid-June and lasts until the end of September.

Rosea

Tall biennial with a powerful woody root system. The slender, erect stem reaches a height of 150 cm, and is completely covered with soft five-lobed gray-olive foliage. Cup-shaped, medium-sized pink flowers. The tree-like variety is covered for the winter and pruned in the spring.

Lavatera propagation methods

The flower can be grown in two ways: seeds and seedlings.

1. 1. Seed method - planting in open ground is carried out only in the southern regions in late April - early May. Before planting the seed, dig up the soil, add 10 liters of compost and 2 tbsp. l. nitrophoska per 1 sq. m. Make a shallow trench on the prepared soil, water it with warm water and sow dry seeds. Cover with nutritious soil and cover with covering material. In good weather, sprouts appear after 7 days. After they reach 5 cm, the film is removed and the seedlings are thinned out.
2. 2. Seedling method - this method is used for earlier flowering. When planting seedlings in May, the seeds are sown in containers in mid-March. Before sowing, it is necessary to prepare nutritious soil and lay a layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot. Seeds are sown in moist soil to a depth of 1 cm and covered with glass. The container is placed in a well-lit, warm place for 2 weeks. After germination of the seedlings, the shelter is removed, and the seedlings are planted in separate containers.

Caring for seedlings is simple. It consists of timely watering and additional lighting.

Planting and care

Lavatera is planted in open beds when the soil warms up to +10-15 degrees. For the flower, choose a sunny place, protected from gusty winds. The soil should be light and well drained. When growing tall varieties, a support is immediately installed for each plant.

Planted according to a 20 by 25 pattern. This distance will allow the flower to fully grow and develop, as well as look decorative and compact.

Lavatera is an unpretentious plant. At the beginning of growth, care consists of timely removal of weeds, careful loosening of the soil and watering when the soil dries to a depth of 10-15 cm.

In order for it to bloom magnificently and abundantly, faded inflorescences are removed and the soil is fertilized. The first feeding is carried out during the growing season. To do this, use nitrophoska diluted in a bucket of water. The second - during the formation of buds. Take 1 tbsp per bush. l. potassium and sodium sulfate per 10 liters of water.

The older the plant, the darker its leaves. Soft green foliage indicates a lack of nitrogen and phosphorus.

Lavatera is a plant that in rare cases is attacked by insect pests and various diseases. Sometimes aphids appear on it. To get rid of it, the bush is sprayed with a soap solution or with Biotin, Actellik or Akarin.

If crop rotation and care rules are not followed, the flower may develop a fungal disease - rust. Orange pustules appear on the inside of the leaf blade, which, when ripe, scatter spores, which can lead to massive infection. If rust is detected, all affected leaves are removed and the bush is sprayed with fungicides.

What to do after flowering

After wilting, a seed capsule appears in place of the flower, which must be left to ripen. An indicator of ripe seeds is a dried brown box. It is carefully separated from the bush, opened and the seeds are poured onto newspaper to dry. The prepared material is stored in a dry place, in a paper or linen bag.

If annual varieties are planted in the garden, then at the end of the season they are dug up and the soil is carefully dug up.

Lavatera can be planted in the same place for 4 years.

Perennial varieties are bent to the ground for the winter and covered with leaves or spruce branches. Before covering, the plant is fertilized with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

The culture is interesting not only for its decorative appearance, but also for its medicinal properties. Lavatera Thuringian leaves treat wounds, skin diseases and purulent formations. Decoctions from the roots are used for colds and gastrointestinal diseases. The infusion has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Lavatera is a beautifully flowering annual or perennial plant from the Malvaceae family. In the wild, it can be found in Southern Europe or North Africa. In addition to the main types, there are many more interesting varieties with a wide variety of petal colors. Easy to care for, the unpretentious plant forms dense thickets, abundantly covered with large, gramophone-like flowers. Among the people, lavatera can be found under the names “khatma” or “wild rose”. The bushes always have a well-groomed decorative appearance and are suitable for a natural style garden and for pot growing.

Description of the plant

Lavatera has a strong branched rhizome. Upright branched shoots, covered with rough dark green bark, rise above the ground. Their height is 30-150 cm. Powerful branches are covered with petiolate lobed leaves, divided into 3-5 lobes. Between the veins, the leaf blade is quite soft, rough or pubescent. It is painted dark green. The leaf is 15-35 cm in diameter. The leaves grow oppositely along the entire length of the stem. The upper specimens are much smaller than the basal ones.

Lavatera is valued for its long and abundant flowering. It begins in June and lasts until the autumn cold. The funnel-shaped corolla, 5-10 cm long, consists of five wide petals. They can be painted in one color or have a gradient color. The petal tapers towards the center and has a corrugated surface. Bisexual flowers are collected in loose racemes in the axils of the leaves and at the top of the stem. They bloom in several pieces and gradually replace each other. In the center of the flower there is a short and fairly thick style, covered with long thread-like stamens and an ovary.

Flowering is accompanied by a pleasant tart aroma that attracts insects. Lavatera is a good honey plant. After pollination, flattened, drum-like seed pods ripen. Inside are oblong gray-black seeds, which, when shaken, hit the walls of the box.

Types and decorative varieties

The genus Lavatera consists of 25 species. They can be roughly divided into annual and perennial plants. More often, gardeners give preference to ornamental varieties, so in fact only two varieties are popular in cultivation.

The plant forms lush bushes 50-120 cm high. Lobed light green leaves are located along the entire length of the shoots and become smaller towards the top. In July, single funnel-shaped flowers bloom in the axils of the leaves. Their diameter reaches 10 cm. Flowering is very long and abundant. Varieties:

• Beauty is a tall, spreading bush with large white, pink or carmine flowers;
• White Sherub is a dwarf (up to 35 cm) variety with large snow-white inflorescences;
• Silver bowl - a bush up to 70 cm high is covered with silver-pink flowers with burgundy stripes;
• Tweens Hot Pink – bright pink flowers bloom on a bush up to 40 cm high;
• Tanager - scarlet flowers decorate a spreading bush up to 50 cm high.

The shrub up to 2 m high grows erect, branched shoots covered with heart-shaped or rounded foliage. There is hard grayish hair on the leaves and stems. Loose racemose inflorescences bloom from the leaf axils in mid-June. The diameter of the tubular corolla is 1.5-7 cm. The leaves of this species have medicinal properties. Varieties:

• Mystic Marilyn - a bush up to 180 cm high covered with purple or violet flowers;
• Brehon Springs – pink flowers with crimson stripes bloom on powerful shoots 1.3 m high;
• Barnsley Baby - a medium-height bush covered with white and pink buds.

Growing lavatera from seeds

All types of lavatera are very easily propagated by seeds. Moreover, the plant self-sows a lot. Therefore, it is enough to plant it once and you won’t have to worry about planting anymore. In temperate climates, lavatera is planted directly in open ground. Lavatera is sown at the end of April. First, the site is dug up along with compost and nitrophoska. Dry seeds without pre-treatment are distributed in furrows to a depth of 1 cm. The crops are sprinkled with soil and covered. It is useful to cover them with film.

By the end of the first week, lavatera shoots appear, after which the shelter is removed. When the seedlings grow to 5 cm in height, they are thinned out. It is necessary to maintain a distance of 20-25 cm between adult plants. Seedlings of annuals bloom first. After 2.5-3 months, the first buds appear on them. In order for flowering to begin at the end of May, seedlings are first grown.

Lavatera seedlings need to be sown in early March, then by May large plants will be ready to decorate the flower garden. For planting, prepare boxes with light, fertile soil. The seeds are distributed at a depth of 1 cm. The surface of the earth is sprayed with water and covered with glass. The greenhouse is placed in a bright, warm place. After 10-15 days, shoots appear. After this, the lid is removed and the soil is regularly moistened. Lavatera is very sensitive to negative temperatures, so there is no rush to plant it in open ground. Directly from the box at the end of May, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place.

Planting and care

In open ground, Lavatera prefers loose, fertile soils and open sunny areas. On damp clay soil, khatma grows worse than on black soil or sandy loam. Also, the heat-loving plant reacts poorly to gusts of cold wind.

Immediately after planting the seedlings, the soil is watered, and a week later the first fertilizing is carried out with a potassium-phosphorus complex. Young plants need more careful care. They need regular weeding and weed removal. For tall varieties, they immediately think about support, since the stem can break due to wind and heavy rain.

Lavatera needs to be watered regularly. Large leaves evaporate a lot of moisture and wither without watering. Lack of water also reduces the number of flowers. In this case, all the liquid should go deep into the soil and not stagnate at the roots. On hot days, watering and sprinkling are carried out in the evening to prevent burns on the foliage.

From the moment of planting until the end of summer, the lavatera is fed twice a month. While the plant is growing green mass, nitrogen and potassium should predominate in the mineral complexes. In early June, their level is reduced, but the phosphorus component increases.

In the fall, all annual growth is cut off and the area is dug up. They try to bend the perennial hut to the ground and cover it with leaves or spruce branches. In spring, the shelter is removed and some of the shoots are cut off.

Plant in landscape design

Lavatera is very decorative, so it is often planted independently. Tall varieties are good individually; they can hide ugly buildings or other unattractive objects. Low-growing varieties are used to frame paths or zone areas. By planting a mix of lavatera varieties, you can create a multi-colored ornament on the ground.

When combining lavatera in a flower garden with other plants, you need to focus on the color of the flowers. White lavatera goes well with purple petunia and ageratum. Pink – with verbena, sage, iris and delphinium.

Medicinal properties

The leaves and roots of perennial lavatera have medicinal properties. The leaves are collected during the flowering period, and the roots - after its completion. The collected raw materials are dried in a cool, shaded place and stored for a year in paper or fabric bags.

A decoction of the roots strengthens the immune system, helps fight colds, thins mucus and has an expectorant effect. Ointment and lotions from the leaves are used to treat lichen, as well as to relieve symptoms of neuralgia and rheumatism.

This ornamental plant has another name - khatma. It is also meant when referring to the dog rose. Lavatera is a member of the malvaceae. It was used in landscape design back in the Middle Ages, but in private gardening it began to gain popularity relatively recently.

At the moment, a large number of varieties of khama have been bred, among which there are both perennial and annual plants. In its form, it is a grass that can grow up to one and a half meters in height.

Large flowers of predominantly pink, yellow and white colors can be collected in inflorescences or grown individually. Flowering begins in June and will continue until October. Bees usually swarm around flowers. This plant produces delicious honey and is considered medicinal.

Important! Dog rose does not need special care, is not afraid of dry summers and grows in almost any soil. A cut bouquet of lavatera flowers does not fade for more than a week. Hatma can either be a decoration or be used for landscaping balconies, loggias, and even be an indoor flower.

Most common varieties

1. Lavatera variety called "Mont Blanc", presented in two types. One of them has silver-pink flowers, and the other has silver-lilac flowers.
2. "Lavatera Thuringiana" grows up to 25 m. During flowering, an adult bush is strewn with small dark pink or white flowers, becoming lighter as time passes.
3. Hatma bushes of the “Krasotka” variety reach just under 2 m in height. They bloom with large white, pink or red flowers.
4. "Three-month-old lavatera" stretches more than 1 m in height. Produces large white or red bell-like flowers. The leaves have an original shape.
5. "Pink Beauty" is considered a low-growing variety of dog rose. Its bushes grow less than 40 cm. The flowers come in both pink and purple shades.

Time to sow Lavatera seeds

Both annual and perennial khatma are bred using seeds. The seed should be planted in the spring season after the frosts have ended. You can speed up the flowering of lavatera. To do this, plant the seeds at the end of winter. In this case, the seedling method of growing wild roses is used.

Lavatera is best planted at the following times.

1. End of winter or beginning of spring. Seeds are being sown for seedlings.
2. During March or April. Suitable for southern regions. The seeds are planted immediately in the flowerbed.
3. End of spring. Seedlings are transferred or seeds are planted in open soil.

Step-by-step instructions for planting in open ground

Lavatera will take root well and produce abundant flowering if planted in an area with good access to sunlight. The soil is preferably not acidic and with good drainage. Plants of tall varieties will require support over time. This needs to be taken care of in advance or planted near the fence.

Important! Perennial wild roses should be planted with a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 25 cm between bushes. In this case, the plants will develop a beautiful shape and will not interfere with the development of neighboring bushes.

Lavatera tolerates soil that is poor in nutrients well; however, when planting the plant, it is advisable to prepare the soil. Seeds can be purchased at a specialty store or prepared yourself.

Table. Planting wild rose seeds in open soil.

How to plant lavatera seedlings

At the end of winter, it is necessary to sow khama seeds for seedlings. To do this, you need to prepare elongated containers. At your dacha, you can plant seeds for seedlings in a greenhouse. You will also need a transparent film to cover the container until the sprouts appear. Containers are filled with soil containing humus. The seeds are immersed in this mixture and covered with a centimeter layer of peat on top. After watering, cover the container with heated water. After 1.5 weeks, the seeds will begin to sprout.

When transferring to open ground, an interval of up to 20 cm must be maintained between seedlings. This way, the plants will not shade each other and will develop well. In warm climate zones, seedlings can be transferred in early May, when temperature changes are excluded. In most of Russia, the most suitable time for planting lavatera seedlings in open ground is the very end of spring, provided that the seeds for seedlings were sown in the last days of March.

If the plant, which does not require special care, is periodically fertilized, watered on time and provided with access to sunlight, then it will delight its owners with lush bushes with a large number of beautiful bright flowers. In general, breeding lavatera does not seem to be a difficult task. Even a beginner in gardening can quickly grow a beautiful flower bed of wild roses from seeds or seedlings.

Lavatera - growing from seeds

Lavatera care

1. Illumination. Khatma prefers places well lit by the sun. It is advisable to plant it in an area that receives sunlight all day. Lavatera can only last for a short time even with slight shading. But more beautiful and longer flowering will occur only under conditions of maximum illumination.

   

2. Irrigation. Wild rose loves regular, but not too much watering. If you don't water it for a long time, it can tolerate this period well. The plant feels best with weekly watering. If the soil does not have time to dry during this time, then watering should be done once every 14 days.
3. Climatic conditions. Perennial varieties need winter shelter. Otherwise the plant will freeze. In summer it withstands both drought and cool weather. The optimal temperature for it is about +20°C.

   

4. Fertilizer. During the growing season, it is recommended to feed the lavatera twice. Once - before flowering begins. Take a tablespoon of nitrophoska, dilute it with a bucket of water, and this solution is used for watering. The second time is when the buds begin to appear. This time you need to use potassium and sodium sulfate. The suitable composition of minerals for bait at this time is in the “Flower” complex.

   

5. Air humidity. Lavatera is not capricious about this factor. Does well in dry climates, but prefers normal humidity. There is no need to spray.
6. Garter. Large varieties of plants need staking, otherwise the roots may not withstand during strong winds. For tying, take wooden slats up to a meter long. Such support will be quite sufficient for the plant.
7. Loosening the soil under the lavatera must be done until it grows 1 m in height. Then loosening is undesirable, since you can touch the roots of the plant located too close to the surface. During this procedure, weeds should also be removed when caring for very young lavatera plants.

   

8. Perennial wild rose does not need pruning. It is still recommended to remove faded flowers so that new ones appear faster. It is especially important to do this after rain. Faded buds may, when exposed to moisture, begin to secrete mucus, which harms the leaves. Dry and damaged branches should also be disposed of in a timely manner.

Diseases and pests of Lavatera

Wild rose is a very unpretentious plant. It is easy to plant, easy to care for and care for. She gets sick quite rarely. Pests are also not particularly annoying.

Important! However, when aphids appear in the garden, it is recommended to protect the lavatera by treating it with special preparations, since this pest does not bypass this plant either.

Another scourge of clothes is rust (it is caused by rust fungus). It is characterized by the appearance of red or brown spots on the lower plane of the leaf. As soon as such symptoms are detected, the affected foliage should be immediately removed and the bush should be treated with Kuproxat. If the infection of a bush has reached a critical mass, it is uprooted and burned.

With a little effort and sufficient attention, Lavatera will invariably delight with its active development and bright lush color. Bright pink, white, lilac flowers, similar to large bells, bloom almost until the end of autumn, making this plant a wonderful way to decorate the garden landscape. Low varieties will decorate flower beds, and tall varieties will serve as a beautiful frame for fences.

Video - Growing lavatera from seeds

In recent years, the vagaries of nature have become commonplace, so gardeners select suitable specimens for their garden. Lavatera tolerates sudden changes in temperature, violent gusts of wind, as well as dry or humid climates. Representatives of the Malvaceae family are characterized by self-seeding. Once you plant a crop and periodically take care of it, it will settle forever.

View from above

Both annual and perennial varieties were bred. Tall and dwarf (within 50 cm) annuals live up to 3 months. But the permanent inhabitants of the front garden can reach one and a half meters in height. Such a curly bush of lavatera flowers (here in the photo) captivates with its appearance. Varieties with petals of the following shades are popular:

• white;
• pink;
• yellow;
• purple;
• red.

They differ in the type of inflorescences, which can be single or complex. The first buds appear at the turn of May and June. The plant remains in bloom until October. At the same time, it is impossible to approach the flowerbed. She is surrounded by a swarm of insects that collect nectar/honey. Although Lavatera is a garden rose, it is also used in folk medicine.

Preparations obtained from lavatera roots have anti-inflammatory, expectorant and enveloping effects.

In addition to this healing effect, culture has a beneficial effect on a person’s mental state. In this regard, hutma occupies an important place in landscape design. You can watch and enjoy for hours:

• fast-growing and highly branched bush;
• dark green 3- or 5-lobed leaves with serrated edges;
• funnel-shaped flowers reaching 5-10 cm in diameter.

A photo of lavatera flowers taken in a flowerbed evokes admiration and delight. Such carpet compositions look unsurpassed in the company of other varieties. Observers are especially struck by the contrasting veins on the petals, emerging from the middle and dissipating towards the edge. The unusual color creates the illusion of a corrugated surface.
A huge number of side shoots are formed on a powerful bush. They are crowned with luxurious bouquets of garden roses. Towards mid-summer, there are so many buds that they completely cover all the greenery.

The older the perennial lavatera is, the darker its foliage becomes. If it becomes lighter and paler with age, it means that the crop needs phosphorus- and fertilizing.

Cultivation taxonomy

There are two known planting methods: seeds and seedlings. In the first case, sowing is carried out immediately in open ground. The optimal period for this is May, when the sun is still low above the horizon, but frosts are not expected. In the second option, grains are sown in the same way, but only in containers and much earlier. In this regard, the question arises when to plant lavatera seedlings. After all, the plant needs time to germinate and get stronger, and then adapt to a new place.

Flower growers practice planting khama in whole families and groups. So, holes are made in a circle. The step is 20-25 cm. In a separate funnel, 5 to 7 seedlings/seeds are placed at once. As a result, voluminous bouquets of dog roses will grow.

Seedling instinct

There are several advantages of growing lavatera in this way. With the help of seedlings it is easier to create original design compositions. Practice shows that not every seed sown in a garden grows. Then you have to urgently fill the resulting “gaps” with other varieties. But in a home environment it is much easier to pay attention to an individual specimen. Moreover, the described propagation technique brings the flowering period closer by one and a half months.

How to calculate when to sow lavatera seedlings? First, the flowering date is determined - June. This means that seedlings should be planted in the front garden a month in advance - in early May. The crop will take 8 weeks to germinate. It turns out – the first days of March.

The first step is to prepare the landing containers. The containers are washed with a solution of potassium permanganate. The soil used is universal soil or peat-based substrates. A drainage layer is formed at the bottom - 5-7 cm of pebbles mixed with sand.
The sowing process is carried out using the following technology:

1. Make furrows 1-2 cm deep.
2. Lay out the change separately and spray with water using a spray bottle.
3. Fill the miniature beds with a layer of 1 cm.
4. Cover the dishes with a tray, glass or thick film.
5. Place in a bright and warm place, preferably in the southern part of the house. LED lighting will not be superfluous.

Check the microclimate in the container several times a day. Do not allow condensation to form on the lid. When the first drops appear, remove it for 2-3 minutes.

After 14-21 days, sprouts (5-6 cm) will appear on the soil surface. In this case, it's time to remove the improvised shelter.
Now the housewife should regularly spray, but not water, her indoor garden in moderate doses. The container should be rotated every 3-4 days to provide the sprouts with enough light.

Free spaces

Growing lavatera from seeds is approached very responsibly. When the first 3 full leaves appear, the sprouts are transferred to open ground. There should be no frost by then. The picking system is like this:

• the soil in the garden bed is fluffed up;
• make holes at a distance of 20 cm (the width is several times larger than the rhizome);
• fertilize them with compost;
• irrigate abundantly;
• carefully remove the seedling from the container/pot along with the soil;
• put in a hole and fall asleep, compacting the area a little.

Wild roses take root quickly if you water them every day. As soon as the stems begin to stretch intensively, the procedure is stopped, switching to the normal mode. It is worth considering that the robe cannot withstand overly moist soil, much less stagnant water.
Now all that remains is to weed the area and wage internecine battles with the weeds.

Select a place in the flowerbed that is open and unshaded. Away from walls and tall “neighbors”.

Seeds in open ground

For busy people, the method of growing lavatera from seeds is suitable, when the crop can be planted directly in the garden. This saves time and effort. However, you have to try at the beginning of planting and when seedlings appear. First of all, prepare the area:

• they dig up the ground;
• add humus/manure;
• level the surface with a rake;
• form beds, deepening them by 1 cm (row spacing is 30 cm);
• pour water over it (it is recommended to warm the liquid a little);
• seeds are mixed with sand and sown;
• sprinkle with a thin layer of fertilized soil;
• watered by drip;
• make a shelter out of film.

For tall specimens, the distance is 40 cm. After 7-14 days, leaves will begin to emerge. When they grow up and reach a height of 5 cm, the canopy can be accepted. At this moment, it is important to thin out the seedlings, leaving 25 cm between them. After which the young shoots are spudded.
Lavaters also make supports for flowers so that the rapidly growing stems do not break. Some build walls from nets, others simply fix wooden slats (1 m) 5 cm from the bush.

To ensure effective germination, the furrows are scalded with boiling water. When the ground has cooled a little, sowing begins.

Even the hardiest ones need care

The soil is moistened twice a week if the summer is dry. The amount of water is calculated so that the ground is saturated to 6 cm. The next session is carried out after 1-2 weeks. By then the soil should be completely dry. It is not recommended to spray Lavatera. She successfully survives heat and drought.

In this case, you can alternate water procedures with loosening the area. The earth will not crust over, and the roots will receive the necessary supply of oxygen. Weeds are removed from the site or left to rot in the rows. They weed the flowerbed all the time until the bush rises to 1 meter above the surface. Since the roots are located too close, weeding should be done carefully so as not to damage them. Planting and caring for lavatera includes several more important components.

The optimal temperature at which the flower grows intensively varies between 20-25°C. For the winter, the bushes should be covered with leaves/grass. A wooden plank or bowl is installed under this layer.

Diet of wild rose

Fertilizing is carried out twice during the entire growing season. Before flowering begins, prepare the following solution:

• 1 tbsp. l. nitrophosphates and;
• diluted in 10 liters of water (standard bucket);
• Irrigate the area evenly.

When the garden rose produces buds, the procedure is repeated. Only now the composition is replaced with sodium sulfate and potassium. Minerals are diluted in accordance with the instructions or according to the scheme indicated above.
If you dig up soil with humus, the plant does not need fertilizer before planting and during care. A photo of lavatera flowers shows how they will look after feeding. No changes are visible.

Ambulance

Climatic conditions, air humidity, local flora and fauna influence the flora of the dacha. Despite its resistance, khatma also suffers from some diseases and from the invasion of popular pests. This happens rarely, but it is important to know how to deal with it. Action plan:

You can get to know uninvited guests using photos. Lavatera perennial (planting and care as for annuals) quickly recovers after therapy. At the same time, do not forget to remove dried buds and leaves. Then they will not turn into ovaries. After all, when seeds ripen, the culture devotes all its energy to this process. The bush stops throwing out magnificent buds and fades.

If the gardener wants to control the shape of the wild rose, then it must be pinched. Pruning is also carried out in case of a deficiency of side shoots.

It is worth remembering that under the weight of gorgeous flowers, the fragile stems of perennial varieties often break. Therefore, they are tied to a canopy or attached with special clips to a vertical support.

Lavatera occupies a special place in the collection of every gardener. Her endurance and grace have already won the hearts of millions of summer cottage owners. All that remains is to allow her to enter the lives of still inexperienced flower growers.

Collecting lavatera seeds - video

Lavatera is an annual or perennial plant that belongs to the Malvaceae family. The flower got its name from the Latin word “lavatum” (to wash). This is due to the pure color of the flowers. Lavatera is also called dog rose, hutma. The genus Lavatera has been known since the early 17th century. Its homeland is considered to be Southern Europe and Africa. The plant loves high places and grows mainly at an altitude of about 2 km above sea level.

Lavatera perennial is a popular flower in garden plots. Thanks to the varietal diversity, you can grow a shrub with lush flowers of various colors (lilac, pink, red). The advantage of lavatera is its long flowering period and ease of care. You can grow it from seeds, sowing them directly into open ground or seedlings.

Types and varieties of perennial lavatera

The genus Lavatera has 25 species. Conventionally, they are divided into annual and perennial. Flower growers prefer mainly decorative varieties. Of the perennials, only Lavatera Thuringian and its varieties are popular. It is a shrub up to 2 m high, with erect, branched shoots. The leaves are round or heart-shaped, gray-green in color. The inflorescences are racemose and bloom on long stalks. The diameter of the flowers is about 10 cm. The plant begins to bloom in June and continues until autumn. In temperate latitudes, the following selection varieties of Thuringian Lavatera are grown.

Ay Catcher

Perennial with deep pink flowers.

Bregon Springs

Powerful shrub up to 130 cm high. Pink flowers with crimson stripes.

Lilac Lady

A plant of medium height with lilac flowers and dark lilac veins on them.

Barnsley Baby

The variety is up to 1.5 m high and has branched stems. The flowers are white or light pink, becoming darker towards the middle.

Burgundy Vine

Shrub with wine-purple flowers. Contrasting veins give the flower volume.

Growing from seeds to seedlings

This growing method is more suitable for temperate climates. Also, thanks to sowing seeds for seedlings, the plant blooms earlier, and the shrubs themselves grow stronger and more branched than when sown directly into open soil. Sowing is carried out 2 months before planting outside - somewhere in mid-March.

Soil and container

Flower pots or containers with holes in the bottom are suitable for sowing. Different varieties are sown in separate containers. Drainage must be laid at the bottom. It is covered with soil on top. For lavatera, a universal substrate for flowering plants is suitable. You can prepare a mixture of turf soil and humus. The seeds are deepened a little, sprinkled with soil on top and watered. Cover with film to create greenhouse conditions.

Seedling care

The container with the crops is placed in a bright, warm place. Under good conditions, seedlings will appear within 1-2 weeks. For rapid germination of seedlings, it is necessary that daylight hours last for at least 12 hours. To do this, you can turn on additional lighting.

Periodically, the film must be removed to remove condensation and water the soil. When shoots appear, the film is removed. Young seedlings do not require picking. It is immediately recommended to plant it in open ground when the time comes. But some gardeners plant them in separate pots when the plant reaches a height of 4-5 cm.

Disembarkation dates and rules

Seedlings can be planted outside when warm weather finally sets in and the soil warms up. Depending on the region, this may be the second half of April - May. Prepare the selected area, dig it up, remove weeds. For each seedling, dig a hole of the appropriate size for the root system. The planting pattern is 20x25 cm. If this is a tall lavatera variety, it is recommended to immediately install supports. You can plant seedlings in a circle to get one large bush. Keep the distance between bushes 20-25 cm, plant 4-5 seedlings in each hole.

Planting seeds in open ground

If the climate is warm, then the seeds can be sown immediately in open soil. This will eliminate the need to germinate seedlings and care for them.

Sowing time

Choice of location and lighting

Lavatera is not very picky about location. She prefers well-lit areas. But it can also grow in partial shade. Although in such cases it will not bloom so profusely. It is also advisable to plant the plant in places where there will be no gusts of cold wind.

Important! The soil on the site must be fertile. If it is poor, it is recommended to fertilize the soil with organic matter before planting. On damp, clayey soil, khatma grows worse.

Site preparation

A few weeks before sowing the seeds, the site is prepared. It needs to be dug up with 1 bayonet of a shovel. Add a bucket of compost or humus per 1 m2. Early preparation is necessary so that the soil has time to rest.

Landing rules

Make grooves 1 cm deep in the beds. Water the soil with soft water and bury the seeds. No preliminary preparation of seeds is required. Sprinkle them with a thin layer of soil on top and cover with film to prevent moisture from evaporating.

When the sprouts reach 5 cm in height, the cover can be removed. The soil is loosened and fertilized with mineral fertilizers. If necessary, thin out the plants. To make the growing bushes appear more luxuriant and hold each other, 2-3 plants can be planted in one hole.

Outdoor care

Lavatera grows well in open ground and requires minimal care. For it to be as effective as possible, all activities must be carried out infrequently, but regularly. The plant can tolerate low temperatures as well as drought. But such stress has a bad effect on its flowering.

Watering

Despite its drought resistance, lavatera requires regular watering. This is especially true in dry weather. In summer, 1 watering per week is sufficient. It must be taken into account that the flower does not tolerate excess moisture well. Therefore, you can’t overfill it. In addition to watering, spraying is often used in hot weather. But you need to make sure that water only gets on the leaves and stems, and not on the buds.

Feeding and fertilizer

From the beginning of planting in the ground until the end of the growing season, it is recommended to feed the lavatera. While the green mass is growing, complex fertilizers with nitrogen (urea + nitroammophos) are applied. When flower stalks form, the plant is fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. If the leaves of Lavatera begin to curl upward, this may indicate a phosphorus deficiency.

Trimming

Khatma does not need trimmings. It is recommended only to remove dry, damaged shoots and faded buds. Moreover, the procedure should be carried out once a week. You also need to get rid of old soggy inflorescences. Under the influence of water, they will turn into a slimy substance that will burn the leaves.

Protection from pests and diseases

Lavatera is a resistant crop to pests and diseases. Sometimes it is damaged by rust. This is an infection that causes the undersides of leaves to become covered in orange pustules. Gradually they darken, spores ripen in them, which subsequently spread to healthy plants. If a problem is detected, all damaged parts of the flower must be removed, and the remaining parts must be treated with a fungicide (Topaz). If most of the bush is damaged, then it is better to remove it from the site and burn it.

In rare cases, lavatera is affected by aphids. It can be removed with a soap solution or using systemic insecticides (Biotlin, Akarin).

Autumn care and wintering

If you plan to sow seeds next year, they must be collected correctly in the fall. When the seed pods turn dark brown, the seeds are ready to be harvested. If they are ripe, their color is gray-brown. They should fall out of the box easily. Collection time is usually in September.

Perennial lavatera needs to be provided with proper wintering so that it can develop normally the next year. The crop tolerates cold well, especially if there is a lot of snow in winter. There is no need to dig up bushes. But to prevent them from suffering from severe frosts, it is necessary to remove all remaining buds, press the stems to the ground and cover them with spruce branches or dry leaves. In spring, remove the cover.

Lavatera in landscape design

Lavatera goes well with other colors. Its pink flowers look spectacular with blue and purple hues.

• sage;
• irises;
• verbena;
• delphinium.

White varieties can be combined with any colors. But most suitable for them are lilac petunias and ageratumomas.

Lavatera is used both in group and single plantings. Garden beds and colorful flower beds are formed for her. It looks bright on a grass lawn. In landscape design, flower arrangements planted in a specific color palette are effective. The best option is to plant different varieties with a gradual transition of colors: from white to pink, purple.

Perennial lavatera is a popular flower in garden plots. In general, care is not difficult. The plant grows well from seeds. And if all measures for soil preparation and planting are carried out correctly, then the lavatera will definitely take root on the site and transform the landscape with its abundant flowering until the cold weather.

Video, after watching which you can find out more useful information about planting and growing perennial lavatera on the site: