Lavatera garden rose, growing from seeds, when to plant seedlings, planting and care in open ground. Lavatera in the garden: photo with description, care of Lavatera, planting at what distance
And worries. There are great plants that require minimal care. These species include lavatera flowers (khatma), which are grown as annual and perennial crops. There are a lot of different varieties on sale, which may differ in stem height and bud color.
Botanical description
Lavatera is a flowering plant that has received recognition from gardeners for its beautiful appearance, constant lush flowering, variety of varieties, easy care and unpretentiousness.
Abundantly flowering bushes of various colors will decorate any garden or flower bed for a long time.
In height, depending on the type, the plant grows from 30 cm to 3 meters. The root system is strong and has many branches. The shoots are erect, covered with rough green bark. The leaves are usually dark green with veins, ranging in size from 15 to 30 cm, covering the entire branch, increasing closer to the root.
Khatma blooms throughout the summer season until the end of autumn. The flowers have a pleasant aroma with notes of spice. After pollination, the seeds ripen in seed pods.
Types and varieties
Lavatera belongs to the Malvaceae family. The first description of Lavatera was given by doctors with the surname Lavatera - two brothers who were fond of traditional medicine methods and studied the medicinal properties of various plants. They discovered the culture in the wild on the European continent, not far from Zurich. However, later biologists found similar flowers in North America and on the coast of Australia.
Lavatera has 25 species, which, in turn, are divided into annual and perennial.
The most popular in gardening are 3 types:
- Annual (Lavatera trimestris).
- Perennial (Lavatera thuringiaca) or dog rose, Thuringian's robe.
- Biennial (Lavatera arborea) or tree-like.
The annual is a lush bush with large single flowers (up to 80 mm in diameter) in the shape of gramophones. In appearance it resembles a hibiscus flower and is white, red, purple or pink in different shades.
The green mass is thick, the lower leaves are in the shape of hearts, the upper ones look like elongated triangles.
Flowering is very active, starting in mid-June and continuing until late autumn.
Popular varieties of annual lavatera:
| Variety | Appearance |
|---|---|
| Mont Blanc | Large white inflorescences cover the bush, up to 1 meter high. |
| Silver Cup | Height – up to 70 cm, pink flowers with dark veins. |
| Barnsley | It is distinguished by the presence on one bush of flowers of different stages of opening - from buds to a full-fledged gramophone. |
| Twins Hot Pink | Height – up to 40 cm, petal color – rich pink. Used to decorate park borders. |
| Gorgeous | The bush grows up to 60 cm. It blooms in pink shades. |
| tanager | Grows up to 50 cm in height, with bright red large flowers. |
| Novella | The shortest representative of the variety is up to 20 cm, the flowers are large and pink. |
One-year-old Lavatera in the photo:
Perennial khatma looks a little simpler and is similar to mallow. A plant of this species can reach a height of up to 2.5 meters. The flowers are collected in small inflorescences and are smaller in size. The density of the bush is significantly inferior to the annual species; the leaves are smaller, light in color, and practically absent at the top of the bush.
Although the dog rose (the second name of the species) is inferior to its annual relative in beauty, it has other advantages: it reproduces by self-sowing and has healing properties. A medicine is prepared from its flowers to relieve stomach pain, and from its leaves - compresses for boils, abscesses, and purulent wounds. Decoctions of Lavatera roots are used to treat coughs, colds, joint diseases, and rheumatism.
Varieties of Lavatera thuringiaca differ in flower color:
- Ai Ketcher - pink flowers, brighter in the middle, lighter at the edges of the petals;
- Mystic Merlin is a very bright, popular variety with flowers from lilac-raspberry to purple shades;
- Lilac Lady - lilac flowers of varying saturation;
- Barnsley Baby is light pink with a brighter center.
Perennial lavatera in the photo:
The biennial lavatera is a rare species, more common in Mediterranean countries. The plant is large, powerful (up to 3 m in height), the leaves are large (15 - 22 cm), the trunk is tree-like. Flowers can be arranged singly or collected in bunches of 3–7 pieces, 4–5 cm in diameter. The petals are colored purple, crimson, and pink.
Varieties of tree lavatera:
- Rosea - flowers of coral or rich salmon color;
- Mallow Linnaea - the stems of the plant are strewn with pink or purple single flowers;
- Candy Floss - flowers with light pink petals;
- Mauritanian - purple inflorescences.
Tree-like lavatera in the photo:
Each type of lavatera has its own individuality and peculiarity, but they all have a unique quality for plants - ease of care and resistance to diseases.
Growing lavatera from seeds at home
All varieties of khama are capable of propagation by seeds; in addition, in open ground they actively sow on their own. It is enough to plant a plant on the site once and you will not have to worry about its reproduction in all subsequent years.
When you can plant lavatera seeds at home is determined depending on the climate. If you plan to plant in a flowerbed in May, the material is sown in March. In colder climates and transplanting to the site in early summer, the seeds are sown in April.
Wooden or special plastic trays are chosen as containers for planting, separately for each variety. Use purchased universal soil or prepare it yourself by mixing soil with compost and nitrogen fertilizers. Drainage is placed at the bottom of the containers - expanded clay or crushed tree bark, prepared soil is poured on top and it is well moistened.
On the surface of the soil, grooves are made 1 cm deep at a distance of 5 cm from each other. Dry seeds are placed at the bottom of the groove, covered with soil and the trays are covered with film or glass, creating a greenhouse effect.
The first shoots appear 8 - 12 days after sowing. The shelter is removed for a short time, providing the sprouts with access to fresh air, then the trays are covered again. When the seedlings are strong enough, the film is removed.
It is necessary to constantly monitor the soil moisture, water it with slightly warm, settled water from a sprayer so as not to damage the delicate sprouts.
If sunlight hits the box with seedlings only from one side, it must be periodically turned over to the light with the other side. In case of insufficient lighting or cloudy weather, additional lighting is installed next to the tray, placing it at a distance of at least 30 cm from the seedlings.
After the formation of 4 true leaves, the lavatera needs to be pruned. Each sprout is transplanted into a separate glass or seedling form. If picking is carried out into a mold, the distance between the sprouts should be 25 cm.
The soil is poured on top of the drainage, then a plant is placed in it, the root of which is pinched by 1/3, and watered.
Many gardeners prefer not to pick, but to thin out the seedlings directly in the box and plant directly from it into flower beds.
Planting lavatera in open ground and care
When transplanting a garden rose (as lavatera is sometimes called) into flower beds, carry out the necessary preparation:
- dig up the ground to a depth of 25–30 cm;
- fertilize the soil - add ½ bucket of humus or other organic fertilizer for each square meter;
- a mineral mixture of urea, potassium sulfate, nitrophoska and superphosphate is scattered on the surface;
- the soil is well loosened and watered.
Lavatera seedlings are planted at the rate of 4 pieces per 1 square meter. It is recommended to carry out the first fertilizing a week after planting in the ground with the addition of a composition based on potassium and phosphorus. The plant begins to bloom 2.5 - 3 months after the seeds germinate.
Throughout the season, the hutma is fed 2–3 times. Before flowering, during the growth of the crown, nitrogen- and potassium-containing fertilizers are useful; during the period of bud release and flower blooming, it is necessary to add phosphorus mixtures to the soil.
Young roses are regularly weeded, weeds are removed near them, and the soil is loosened to provide oxygen to the roots.
Proper watering is important for lavatera - you need to ensure that the plant is sufficiently moistened. In hot summer weather, it is enough to water the plant once every 4-6 days, directing a stream of water to the root. Moisture deficiency reduces the number of buds on a rose and leads to wilting of the leaves.
Choose a place for the flower garden that is well-lit and windless. Such conditions ensure active and full flowering of lavatera. It is recommended to trim off faded buds; such actions increase the number of new flower buds on the shoots.
The lavatera bush has a neat, beautiful shape, so it does not need pruning or crown shaping.
Ripe seeds are sown in the soil on their own, overwinter in it and germinate in April - May after it has warmed up sufficiently.
To collect seeds for seedlings, they are collected in the fall from faded buds and stored at room temperature in a place protected from light.
At the end of autumn, before the onset of cold weather, perennial lavatera is prepared for the winter period. Before covering, dry branches and remnants of flower stalks are removed from it. The shoots are carefully bent to the ground, secured and covered with straw, pine branches, dry leaves or covered with peat. In this form, the plant is protected from frost and wind. In spring, the covering material is removed and damaged branches are pruned.
Annual varieties of rose bushes are cut off before winter and the soil is dug up.
Video from the series “Marina Flowers”:
Diseases and pests
One of the advantages of khatma is its resistance to diseases and garden pests.
If the damage to the rose bush is extensive, it is better to get rid of the plant - dig it up and burn it, and treat the ground with a disinfectant solution of potassium permanganate.
Lavatera is an ornamental plant; it is rarely combined in a flower garden with other types of flowers. Tall varieties look beautiful alone; low rose bushes are planted to decorate park paths, flower beds, gardens or other areas. Lavatera looks especially beautiful in group plantings of garden flowers, selected by color.
Lavatera or wild rose, among the abundance of cultivated flowering plants, manifests itself as a modest and lovely flower. Lavatera belongs to the Malvaceae family. A huge number of Lavatera varieties demonstrate the richness and brightness of colors. The different heights of the stems allow it to be grown both in the garden and indoors. Brilliant, delicate, marvelous flowers are used to create spectacular garden compositions.
Lavatera is a perennial or annual plant that grows throughout southern Europe and the African continent. In addition to the basic species, a huge number of wonderful varieties of lavatera with a wide variety of petal colors are cultivated. A completely undemanding plant forms dense thickets, densely sprinkled with voluminous flowers reminiscent of gramophones. The popular name of Lavatera is “khatma” or “wild rose”. Lavatera bushes look amazing and natural in the garden plot and in the home greenhouse on the windowsill.
Lavatera is distinguished by a powerful branched rhizome. The shoots are straight, spreading, up to 150 cm high, lined with velvety dark olive bark. Large branches are dotted with lobed leaves. Between the veins, the dark olive leaf blade is quite soft, rough or covered with tiny hairs. The upper leaves are much smaller than the basal leaves and grow opposite each other along the entire length of the stem.
Lavatera is popular due to its long, generous, marvelous flowering, which lasts from June to October. The corolla, shaped like a funnel, up to 10 cm long, is formed by five voluminous petals. The petals are painted either in one color or are endowed with a smooth transition of color from one shade to another. The petal becomes narrower closer to the center and has a grooved surface. Bisexual flowers, in the axils of the leaves and at the top of the stem, are collected in fleshy inflorescences, shaped like brushes. The inflorescences bloom in several copies and successively replace each other. In the center of the flower there is a short, rather dense column covered with long thread-like stamens and an ovary. Accompanying flowering is a sweet, tart aroma that attracts insects. Lavatera flower is an excellent honey plant.
After pollen is transferred from the stamens of the flower to the stigma of the pistil, fertilization occurs, then flat, cylinder-like seed pods ripen. Inside are elongated gray-resin seeds, which, when shaken, rattle, hitting the walls of the box. Ripe seeds have a gray-brown color; they do not stick to the walls of the box, but are easily shaken out of it. The time for wild rose seeds to ripen is at the beginning of autumn.
In order to collect lavatera seeds, you need to carefully cut off the capsules, scatter the seeds on a surface covered with paper, then dry them in a well-ventilated room. Store lavatera seeds in a canvas bag or paper bag.
Wild rose is used to decorate illuminated and shaded garden areas. Miniature lavatera bushes look very picturesque together with tall plants, for example, gladioli or park roses.
Types and varieties
The genus includes 25 plant species; in culture - two types. The most widespread is the three-month-old lavatera, another frequently used species is the perennial lavatera (Thuringian).
Perennial Lavatera actively develops its root system in the first year of life. It blooms in the second year - in spring or early summer. Pleases with enchanting flowers until late autumn. To preserve decorativeness, faded buds are cut off.
Annual varieties are completely removed in the fall and the soil is dug up. Next year in the spring, self-seeding seedlings will appear in this place, which, after thinning, will form a new flowerbed. Perennial varieties are covered with spruce branches for successful overwintering. The stems are carefully pressed to the soil and pinned.
Lavatera varieties are distinguished by a riot of colors: everyone will find a variety that suits them in everything. Also, many gardeners create a mixture of lavatera species and varieties in their flowerbeds.
Three-month-old Lavatera: varieties
Three-month-old Lavatera is a plant with luxurious bushes up to 120 cm high. Lobed light turquoise leaves are located along the entire length of the shoots, becoming smaller and smaller closer to the top. In July, single flowers up to 10 cm in diameter, shaped like small gramophones, bloom in the leaf axils. Flowering is quite long and generous.
Lavatera "Pretty Woman"
Lavatera "Pretty Woman"
Lavatera beauty red is a variety that is a tall, spreading bush with large bright crimson, snow-white, pearlescent flowers.
Lavatera "Silver Cup"
Lavatera "Silver Cup"
Lavatera Silver Cup is a bush up to 70 cm high, covered with silver-crimson flowers with scarlet stripes. The flowers are large, funnel-shaped, open, approximately 10 cm in diameter. Representatives of this variety are cold-resistant and drought-resistant.
Lavatera Melange
Lavatera Melange
The plant is strong, highly branched, reaches a height of 90 cm. The diameter of the flowers varies from 6 to 9 cm, their shape is funnel-shaped, the color is snow-white, scarlet, and the color of strawberry. The buds appear in mid-summer and fade with the onset of cold weather. Lavatera melange is a cold-resistant variety that tolerates heat well and grows in almost any type of soil.
Lavatera Silver Cap
Lavatera Silver Cap
A plant with lush bushes. Lavatera Silver Cap is distinguished by salmon-colored flowers.
Lavatera "Mont Blanc"
Lavatera "Mont Blanc"
The bush is medium, up to 75 cm, densely leafy. Lavatera Mont Blanc is distinguished by numerous voluminous snow-white flowers without veins. Plant experts use this variety in group plantings to create hedges. Representatives of this variety do not require a garter.
Lavatera ruby queen
Lavatera ruby queen
Lavatera ruby is a variety characterized by scarlet colored flowers.
Lavatera New World
Lavatera New World
Lavatera new light is a strong, branched, unpretentious plant, up to 120 cm high. It blooms for a long time, abundantly and brightly, from the end of June until late frosts. The flowers are funnel-shaped, large, up to 10 cm in diameter. The shades of the flowers are snow-white, pale salmon and crimson. The plant is cold-resistant, light-loving and drought-resistant; there are no soil requirements. Grow by direct sowing in the ground or by seedlings. Representatives of the variety are attracted for planting in groups, rose gardens, and flower beds.
Lavatera "Novella"
Lavatera "Novella"
Annual. The first flowers appear on the plant when it grows to only 20 cm. During this period of time, the flower is excellent for pots, patios, and flowerpots. Lavatera novella is distinguished by voluminous flowers with a diameter of up to 10 cm, which retain their freshness for a long time, regardless of weather conditions. The plant has different heights depending on the place of cultivation: 20 cm - in pots, 60 cm - in open ground.
Lavatera Girlfriend
Lavatera girlfriend is a branched plant, 80-100 cm high. A variety with funnel-shaped, expressive, extraordinary flowers up to 10 cm in diameter, snow-white, salmon and pearlescent in color. Used for flower beds and cuttings, they look wonderful in row plantings.
Lavatera Thuringian
Lavatera Thuringian
Lavatera Thuringiana is a shrub up to 2 m high. Lavatera perennial (Thuringiana) is a species with straight, spreading shoots covered with leaves shaped like a round heart. Lavatera is a perennial plant with leaves and stems covered with hard, smoky hairs. Fleshy racemose inflorescences bloom by mid-June. The leaves of this species have healing properties.
Varieties:
- Mystic Marilyn - a bush up to 180 cm high, covered with scarlet or purple flowers;
- Bregon springs - pearlescent flowers with strawberry-colored stripes bloom on large shoots 1.3 m high;
- Barnsley Baby - a bush of medium height, covered with mother-of-pearl buds;
- Lilac Lady - has purple flowers;
- Bregon Springs - with salmon-colored buds;
- Burgundy Vine - blooms with pale pink flowers;
- Eye Catcher is a variety with crimson-pink flowers.
Exists biennial or tree-like lavatera. It grows up to two meters high and has a graceful stem with scarlet flowers, shaped like hibiscus inflorescences.
Tree lavatera
Varieties:
- Candy Floss - has flowers of a light ruddy hue;
- Rosea - distinguished by beautiful pale crimson flowers.
Lavatera care
Sometimes beautiful summer flowers do not please the eye with the beauty that was expected. The error most likely lies in improper care. With insufficient nutrition, the beauty of flowers soon disappears, so care must be taken to provide sufficient fertilizer. Lack of water, pests and diseases can also cause poor flowering. Therefore, it is so important to pay attention to proper plant care.
Rules for planting and caring for lavatera quite simple.
- Periodic watering: the soil should not dry out completely, otherwise the seedlings may die.
- Providing lighting: due to lack of light, seedlings stretch out and their stems become weak. To obtain a sufficient amount of light, containers with seedlings are periodically turned towards the sun.
- Hardening: a couple of weeks before the expected date of planting the seedlings in a permanent place, the seedlings begin to be taken outside. First, the containers are left in shaded areas so that they do not burn in the sun, and then they are placed in a lighted area, constantly increasing the time the seedlings spend outside.
- Weed the lavatera if necessary. To avoid this unpleasant procedure, the soil between the lavatera bushes can be covered with a layer of mulching material.
- Mulching (or covering the soil) protects the soil surface from drying out, cracking, washing away, and reduces exposure to wind, sunlight and extreme temperatures.
Watering
Water supply to plants in the garden is necessary for the full development of the crop. Proper watering determines whether plants will sufficiently receive and absorb nutrients. However, if there is too much water, nutrients can be washed out of the soil. With superficial and insufficient watering, water will not be able to reach the roots. The consequence of this will be a delay in plant growth, since the water will evaporate already on the surface. With constant insufficient watering, plants will try to raise their roots closer to the surface, as a result of which they may suffer in dry weather or severe drought.
Important factors for determining the intensity of irrigation are the quality of the soil and the degree of its cultivation. Lavatera should be watered regularly, but even on hot days, one watering every seven days is enough. The top layer of soil must be allowed to dry out between waterings. You can water with a simple watering can: it is much more economical than using a hose. From the watering can, water flows specifically to the places where it is needed, and in the right quantity.
Top dressing
Wild roses can grow in poor soils, but it is better to enrich the soil with different types of fertilizers. This will allow the flowers to remain beautiful and the plant to remain strong. Flowers grown in rich soils produce more buds than those grown in poor soil. Typically, lavaters use organic additives to fertilize them, but on poor soils, mineral fertilizers can also be added to the soil. Crops are fed once a month. Use urea and nitroammophoska, dissolving them in water for irrigation. For abundant flowering, preparations with potassium and phosphorus are used.
Wild rose leaves are a dark olive hue, so as soon as they lighten, it becomes clear that the soil needs nitrogen and phosphorus. Fertilization is only necessary for extremely poor soils. As a rule, the nutrients added when planting flowers are enough for the plant to last for the entire period of flowering and growth. In the case when no fertilizers were applied when planting wild roses, complex fertilizers are added during watering.
Diseases and pests
Lavatera Thuringian
Adult representatives of wild roses are extremely rarely affected by fungal or bacterial diseases. Sometimes wild rose plantings can become infected with rust. For healing, the affected leaves are removed, burned, and the bush is treated with fungicides. If the plant is affected by more than 60%, then it is better to remove it from the site and burn it.
Wild roses are also rarely damaged by pests, but aphid attacks are possible. In case of plant diseases or pests, chemicals or folk remedies are used. For example, to kill aphids, many flower lovers use a mixture of soapy water and hot pepper.
When to plant lavatera?
Lavatera in the garden is an amazing and charming plant that becomes more beautiful every day and blooms luxuriantly. Lavatera is planted with seeds or seedlings. The time to plant garden roses is at the end of April. Any loose soil structure is suitable for the crop. The premature joy of a compact and lush flower bed fades due to too close planting. Garden roses need a fairly light and warm place and should not be too close to each other when planted.
Landing
Planting lavatera does not require much effort. Any site for planting wild roses is suitable, the main thing is that after heavy rains, water does not stagnate in this place. Due to excess moisture, the root system of the lavatera will rot. Sunny places are preferable; at least several hours a day, the place should be in direct sunlight and also be well ventilated.
The soil for rapid and long-lasting flowering of wild roses is best suited to be light and fertilized. Good ventilation of the plant's root area is important, while at the same time having sufficient water retention capacity - a condition that almost any well-kept garden soil fulfills.
Before planting flowers, it is advisable to dig up the soil, add humus, sand, ash and a complex of nutrients. Humus must be added at 2–3 liters per square meter, sand and ash are added in equal parts, depending on the type of soil. Mineral fertilizers for flowers are applied according to the instructions. When plants become crowded, thinning is required.
How to grow lavatera?
Lavatera is grown by planting seeds in open ground or seedlings. Flowers grown from seedlings bloom much earlier.
Growing lavatera from seeds: how and when to sow lavatera?
Fresh lavatera seeds have excellent germination, and the growing process is quite simple. Any novice gardener can master growing lavatera from seeds. Wild rose seeds can be sown directly into the ground or grown through seedlings. Sowing seeds in open ground occurs at the end of April, when the soil temperature reaches 18 degrees. Holes are made in the soil up to 4 cm deep, the distance between them is 25 cm. One or two lavatera seeds are sown in each hole, and after germination one of the strongest flowers is left.
After 14 days, the first seedlings, sensitive to low temperatures, appear. At night, to protect from freezing, the sprouts must be covered. When sowing wild rose seeds, you need to remember that they quickly lose their ability to germinate, so seeds that are more than three years old are unlikely to sprout well.
In order for the plant to produce buds before mid-summer, plant experts grow seedlings from seeds in mid-March. Prepare containers with drainage holes. Pots and cups are first doused with boiling water or water with the addition of manganese to disinfect them, then they are washed and dried. Pour drainage into the pots, then a mixture of deciduous soil and peat, water. Next, the seeds are planted, immersing them 1 cm into the soil. In general, the depth and frequency of sowing are very important. In too dense plantings, due to lack of air and light, fungal diseases develop especially intensively.
Before emergence, containers are covered with glass or transparent film to maintain a constant microclimate. Periodically, condensate is removed from the surface of the coating material. The first shoots may hatch in 10-12 days. As soon as they rise by 1-2 cm, the covering material is removed.
If some specimens of lavatera seeds take too long to germinate or the sprouts are weak, then such seedlings are thrown away; they will no longer please with abundant flowering. For full development, wild rose seedlings need a lot of sunlight. The air temperature should be about 20 degrees.
A month after emergence, if there is no threat of frost, the seedlings can be planted in open ground.
Transfer
Lavatera tolerates replanting well before flowering.
Reproduction
Wild roses reproduce well by seeds; a few pieces are enough for planting. The seeds germinate quickly and in the future, with proper sowing and care, provide good seed material. In subsequent years, you can plant your own seeds on the site. Lavatera can be grown either by direct sowing in open ground or by seedlings.
Some secrets of growing lavatera
Wild rose is not capricious, but, nevertheless, it is advisable to take into account some nuances of care. In the process of planting young specimens of the lavatera flower in open ground, you need to remember the need to leave a distance of about 30 cm between plants. The more magnificent the perennial grows in the future, the more space it will need.
For June flowering of wild roses, seeds should be planted on seedlings in March-April. If you plant the seeds in the ground at the beginning of May, you will be able to admire the buds in 2.5 months. To prolong flowering, lavaters periodically collect ripe, undried seeds. The process of collecting seeds is not a troublesome task: the buds fade and seed boxes appear in their place. It is recommended to remove the boxes from the bush when they acquire a brown tint, and when tapped, the seeds spill out. Store the seeds in a dry place, this will extend their germination up to 5 years.
Lavatera in landscape design
It is very important what flowers grow on the site, because the garden also reflects the personality of the owner, just like his house. Nothing has the power to change the appearance of a home like a green, blooming environment. The variety of lavatera varieties allows connoisseurs of these beautiful flowers to choose and plant specimens according to their taste in the flowerbed. Lavatera in landscape design is used as a luxurious decoration for borders, flower beds, and garden gazebos. Wild rose goes amazingly with irises, sage, verbena, phlox, and dahlias.
Application in medicine
Traditional healers actively use the beneficial properties of wild roses, which help against many ailments. The medicinal raw materials are leaves, roots and flowers. The leaves are collected at the budding stage of the plant. Dry outdoors under a canopy or in a well-ventilated area. The roots are dug up in the fall. Dry in an oven or dryer at a temperature of 50-60 degrees. Leaves and flowers are stored for 2 years in a closed glass container, and roots are stored in boxes or bags.
Lavatera leaves contain vitamin C and are used to treat skin diseases and rashes. A decoction of lavatera roots helps patients with lung diseases, relieves cold symptoms, and helps solve problems of the digestive system. An ointment prepared using dry lavatera leaves relieves acute pain in joint and muscle diseases or peripheral nerve damage.
A bushy, tall plant called lavatera decorates flower beds and does not require special care. This is what gained popularity among gardeners. There are different types of this flower: annual, biennial and perennial. The former are much more common.
What distinguishes perennial varieties? How to plant and care for a plant? Are lavatera bushes affected by pests and diseases?
In nature, Lavatera (belongs to the Malvaceae family), growing for many years, has been known since the 16th century. It is found more in the southern regions of Russia, in North American meadows and in Mediterranean countries. It also climbs to higher elevations, growing at an altitude of 2 kilometers above sea level.
The origin of the name is related to the Latin “lavatum” - to wash. Indeed, flower baskets have a pure, unclouded color.
Large flowers (7-10 centimeters) covering the plant, as well as 3-5 lobed rounded leaves are the main attractions of the bush. The leaf blades are rough and dark green in color. The color of the flowers is often pink, but can be yellow, white and purple, lilac and two-tone.
The inflorescences are located on elongated peduncles, at the ends there are deep grooves in the form of a corner. Lavatera is a honey plant that blooms from July to October.
The spreading bush has strong, erect stems ranging from 0.6 to 2 meters in height. The light-loving flowering bush has a powerful, long rhizome, thanks to which it is not afraid of dry weather.
Other names for this plant: dog rose, khatma. The most famous perennial variety is Thuringian.
Varieties of Thuringian beauty have been selected:
The flowers are lilac-colored with dark lilac veins; the bush is of medium height.
Height up to one and a half meters, branched and tall plant. Pinkish flowers become dark pink towards the middle. During summer-autumn flowering, the bushes are densely covered.
The rich wine-purple color gives it its corresponding name. Veins of contrasting color give volume and nobility to the plant.
The plant is tall, up to one and a half to two meters. Crimson, deep pink flowers, up to seven centimeters in coverage.
Growing in open ground, how to plant
The cultivation of lavatera of different species does not differ. Both annual plants and those that grow for several years reproduce by seeds. This procedure may have a different sequence.
Plant seeds in open ground in spring
Frosts have passed, which means it's time to sow. Usually this is the end of April - May. Humus is added to the dug bed. The seeds are buried in holes 1-1.5 centimeters deep. Sprinkle with soil, water and preferably cover with film for better germination. After 8-12 days the shoots will hatch.
The plant is quite spreading and in order for the bushes to stand straight, they are sometimes tied up. In order for the bushes to stick to each other, 2-3 plants are sown in one hole. If necessary, thin out the plantings.
With this method of planting, flowering is observed earlier, and the bush will be stronger and taller. Sowing takes place in mid-March.
- Drainage is poured into the container, and holes are required in the bottom;
- Seeds are planted in a mixture of turf soil and humus, slightly buried and sprinkled with soil;
- Water with a spray bottle and cover with glass or film;
- The emerging shoots (4-5 centimeters) dive, planting in separate cups;
Planting in the ground, outside, is done when the temperature reaches positive. The beds are prepared and the seedlings are planted at a distance of 25-30 centimeters.
What care is needed
This culture has many advantages, in addition to its decorative nature.
- Unpretentiousness and easy care allow beginners to grow the flower.
- A lover of sunny, open places, it grows well in partial shade. Then it will not have very abundant flowering.
- It is desirable that the soil on the ridge be loose and fertile, but development on depleted soil is also possible.
- The culture is drought-resistant and frost-resistant.
- It only requires support and can be planted near stationary hedges and fences.
- Weeds are removed in the initial phase of seedling growth. When the lavatera gains power, there will be no place for weeds under its branches and dense foliage.
- The perennial does not require pruning; only dry, damaged branches and inflorescences are removed.
- Watering is necessary in dry weather, when seeds germinate and during rooting of seedlings.
Feeding
They are needed if the soil is acidic and hard. During the season, you can fertilize twice: at the beginning of growth with nitrogen solutions (urea + nitroammofoska), the second time during the period of budding and development of the peduncle - with a complex potassium-phosphorus fertilizer.
Interesting! If the leaves of a plant become lighter, it is lacking elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The leaves, if they lack phosphorus, may also curl upward.
Protection from pests and diseases
The bush is less resistant to disease than its annual counterparts. However, aphids and leaf rust (virus) may appear. In this case, insecticides (actara) and fungicidal preparations (biotlin) will help. The affected parts are cut off and burned.
What to combine with in a landscape interior
- Single landings
- Mixborders (neighbors - sage and irises, verbena), lawns (as a bright center)
- In the trunk part of tall trees
- As a camouflage, creating a screen for outbuildings and unsightly areas of the garden
- Plants with different flower colors are planted side by side, creating contrast.
Medicinal plant
Lavatera Thuringiana is used in folk medicine and is compared to marshmallow flowers. It has the following chemical composition:
- Vitamin C
- Slime
- Starch
- Organic acids
- Alkaloids
- Flavonoids
- Fixed oils
- Rubber-like substances
Planting and caring for annual lavatera is simple, so you can plant it in clay soil, where you add humus and sand. The seeds are not soaked - they can be sown immediately dry in the ground to a depth of no more than 1 cm. If you want Lavatera to bloom earlier, then it is advisable to plant it through seedlings. To make the plant grow more luxuriantly, the bushes are planted in lighted areas, watering once a week as the soil dries. By regularly feeding the plant, you can significantly improve its flowering and promote faster bud formation.
...or seedlings
To quickly get seedlings, you can plant them in a greenhouse or directly into the ground, but cover them with film. This should be done towards the end of April. The soil is prepared in advance - it is mineralized with fertilizers based on phosphates and potassium, humus or urea. Then the soil is lightly watered with warm water, and the seeds are sown to a depth of about 1 cm. The top of the planting is mulched and covered with peat. After 1.5 weeks, the first shoots appear, and already in May the seedlings can be planted in a permanent place. It is noteworthy that the annual lavatera, the planting and care of which is so simple, can transform any garden in a short time. Lavatera self-sows in the fall, so next spring you will be provided with seeds of this bright, beautiful plant. Lavatera blooms for almost a month, after which the formation of the seed capsule begins. The seeds are formed in a green box at the place where the flower dies. They can be collected after the box is completely dry - this means that the seeds are completely ready for collection. If suddenly the seeds turn out to be wet, they should be dried and stored in a paper bag until the next planting.
Reproduction
For bouquets and more
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:
- Make furrows 1-2 cm deep.
- Lay out the change separately and spray with water using a spray bottle.
- Fill the miniature beds with a layer of 1 cm.
- Cover the dishes with a tray, glass or thick film.
- 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