Useful information

Lobularia marine honey carpets

Every florist dreams of a plant that would grow well, bloom constantly, smell nice, and not only look beautiful, but could also wait for watering from weekends to weekends. I do not know which plant has appeared in your imagination now, but I mean the sea lobularia, in the old fashioned way often called alyssum (Alyssum maritimum).

Lobularia maritima Big Jam White Brilliant

Lobularia sea (Lobularia maritima) - lucky woman, it was she who, of all 5 species of the genus Lobularia, was destined to become so popular. This plant comes from the Mediterranean, it literally surrounds the coastal strips and rocky slopes of the entire Mediterranean basin and the Canary Islands.

It is a perennial, compact, small herbaceous plant branched from the very base, reaching a maximum of 30 cm in height. Grown as an annual. Leaves and stems are covered with white hairs. The leaves are arranged in the next order, linear-lanceolate. The flowers are small, four-membered, white and light lilac, collected in racemose inflorescences at the tops of the stems. The fruits are pointed oval pods. They gave the name to the plant, from Latin lobulus - small pod.

There are so many inflorescences that they completely cover the leaves. In mass plantings, they form whole "carpets" with a sweet honey aroma.

Lobularia maritima Easter Bonnet Mix

 

Lobularia varieties

Many varieties of Lobularia of different colors have been bred, from compact ones, only 6-10 cm in height, to taller ones, 30 cm or more.

  • AphroditeFormulaMixture - plants 10-15 cm high, grow in width up to 20 cm, the largest variety series, includes 10 colors: pink-cream, light lavender, light lemon yellow, light blue, light pink, light purple with a white center , apricot and wine red.
  • EasterBasketMix (Easter Basket) - a mixture of varieties 15 cm high, includes 6 colors: pastel pink, pink, purple pink, magenta, lavender purple, white.
  • EasterBonnetMix (Easter Hat) - early variety series, plants are only 6 cm tall, very unpretentious, leveled, give dense growth, have 5 colors - deep pink, dark pink, lavender, white and unsurpassed dark purple.
Lobularia maritima Aphrodite Formula MixtureLobularia maritima Easter Bonnet MixLobularia maritima Easter Basket Mix
  • PrimaveraPrincess - a very interesting variegated variety - leaves with white edging, white flowers, plant height and width - 20 cm. More demanding on lighting.
  • SnowCrystals (Snow Crystals) - a snow-white, profusely flowering variety 10 cm tall.
  • WonderlandMix - variety series 10 cm tall, includes 9 colors - white, cream, light pink, dark pink, blue, lavender, rose red, purple, dark purple.
Lobularia maritima Primavera PrincessLobularia maritima Wonderland Mix
  • Royal Carpet - forms spreading "carpets" up to 10 cm tall, covered with dark purple inflorescences.
Lobularia maritima Royal Carpet

There are sterile hybrids that reproduce in industrial conditions exclusively vegetatively:

  • SilverStream (Silver Stream) - variety 20-30 cm high, 30-35 cm wide, with white flowers. Good for container growing and gardening. Grows slower than other varieties. Drought tolerant.
  • SnowPrincess (Snow Queen) - from 10 to 20 cm tall, in ampels it grows very actively, up to 55 cm. Flowers are snow-white, foliage is dark green. Winner of many awards.

 

Lobularia maritima Silver StreamLobularia sea Snow Princess. Photo: Wolfschmidt Samen und Jungpflanzen GbR

Growing from seeds

Lobularia can be sown both in open ground from late April (with the end of frost) to early July, and for seedlings at the end of March - for earlier flowering.

When growing seedlings, small seeds are embedded in moist soil only slightly. It is most convenient to sow seeds in several pieces in pots. Germinated in a greenhouse at a temperature of +25 ... + 27оС. Seedlings usually appear on the 3-4th day, although more than a week may pass. During this period, warmth is very important, if the temperature is below 18 ° C, seedlings will have to wait up to 3 weeks. After the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings begin to illuminate, the temperature of the content is reduced to + 16 ... + 18 ° C, the moisture content of the soil is reduced (the seedlings of Lobularia are very sensitive to waterlogging).

The grown seedlings with real leaves are kept at a temperature not higher than 15 ° C, otherwise it will begin to stretch and give weak shoots with long internodes.

40-50 days after sowing, this fast-growing crop is ready to bloom.

Lobularia very often gives autumn self-seeding, or it is sown before winter. In spring, seedlings appear very early and require protection from frost with a non-woven covering material. This simple method of propagation has the disadvantage that such seedlings are more susceptible to fungal diseases (see below).

Lobularia maritima Big Jam Mix

 

Conditions for growing lobularia

Lobularia can be planted in open ground already in early May, without fear of frost. This plant is cold-resistant, in autumn it retains its decorative effect until the onset of severe frosts.

The culture feels good in partial shade, but still loves the sun and warmth. In open places, it is quite heat-resistant, it can do without watering during dry periods, but slowing down flowering. Having pruned and fed the plantings, it is easy to push a new wave of flowering with the same strength. However, it is better not to allow a long drought, otherwise the plants will wither.

The soil... Lobularia loves soils that are loose in texture, containing sand or stony. By acidity, it is preferable to be close to neutral.

Diseases and pests... The soil must be well-drained and dry. In waterlogged places and in thickened plantings, diseases are possible - downy mildew, or white rust, which manifests itself in the form of greenish-brown spots on the upper side of the leaves and brownish-yellow papillae on the inside of the leaf. Of the pests, only snails and slugs love Lobularia.

Watering... The plant should be watered sparingly, without flooding. Excess moisture is especially harmful in dense plantings.

Care... Lobularia must be weeded out, avoiding strong thickening, which impedes good ventilation. Extra copies can be transplanted at any time. The soil under this crop must be kept free of weeds, since Lobularia is not at all competitive. It is important to know that if the flowerbed is bare somewhere, then lateral shoots rooted in the nodes can be planted. And they will give new bushes that will fill the empty spaces.

Lobularia maritima Snow Queen wine redSea lobularia (Lobularia maritima) Snow Queen salmon
Lobularia maritima Snow Queen silverLobularia maritima Snow Queen purple

Using lobularia in the garden

You always want to have a fragrant plant closer, so lobularia are often planted along paths, framed with compact varieties of flower beds and rabatki, decorate patios and resting places. Mass plantings, "honey fields" of lobularia also look very impressive. They are honey-bearing, attractive to pollinators, bees, bumblebees and butterflies.

Simulating natural conditions, the plant is grown on rocky hills, in the cracks of retaining walls and paving.

The sea lobularia is suitable for growing on the balcony - a pleasant aroma will always penetrate into the apartment, and from the window you can admire the mass of openwork inflorescences.

Drought tolerance makes this plant ideal for growing in a variety of containers. Lobularia form beautiful rounded hats, which can often be seen in pots and hanging pots. They are grown both independently and in compositions with other plants, to which they should be added as often as possible, not only for the sake of the lightness and airiness of the ensemble, but also for the sake of aroma - not sea, but honey.

Lobularia maritima in the borderLobularia maritima in the borderLobularia maritima in the border
Lobularia maritima Big Jam White Brilliant in a pot forms a ball

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