Planting and caring for a dodecatheon. Dodecatheon - cultivation, planting and care in the open field Dodecatheon flower planting and care

Unusual dodecatheon inflorescences rise above the bush on long stems.

Depending on the variety, the height of the plant ranges from 10 to 50 cm. Dodecatheon belongs to primrose species. In the common people they call dryakvennik or goose color. The unusual shape of the inflorescences is compared with drooping flowers and even a meteorite. In nature, there are about 20 types of dodecatheon.

The birthplace of the dodecatheon is North America. An unpretentious care flower, we have not yet found wide application. Landscape design decorators contribute to its popularization. A surprisingly touching-looking flowering plant will be a worthy decoration for anyone.

Species and varieties with photos

Among the dedecatheons known today, several types are most common:

Dodecatheon Aphrodite

Early flowering plant with large inflorescences of bright lilac color. At the base of the flower are yellow stamens. The petals are bent back. Blooming begins in May. The height of the stems is 40-45 cm. A variety of perennial Aphrodite grows well in the sun and partial shade. Ideal for decorating alpine slides.

Dodecatheon Geoffrey

A variety of dodecatheon Jeffreyi (dodecatheon Jeffreyi) bears the name of the Scottish gardener who first discovered it. It has inflorescences of five petals and yellow stamens bent upwards from the sepal. The color of the flowers is pink purple. Prefers full sun, grows well in loamy soil. Stem height 10-13 cm.

Dodecatheon Samson

Wildflowers resembling shooting stars were first seen in North America. Dryakvennik Samson loves wet places, grows in meadows and mountain slopes. The plant is successfully grown in garden plots. Starting from June, blooms profusely throughout the summer. The inflorescences are painted with a rich pink hue. Stem height up to 50 cm.

Dodecatheon Meadiah

The perennial plant has a low rosette of leaves with peduncles prevailing in growth. The color of the inflorescences is from white to light pink. At home, it is called the American primrose. Prefers sunny places and moist soil. A variety of dodecatheon Meadia (dodecatheon Meadia) is ideal for creating meadow lawns.

Dodecatheon Red Wings

A flower with short vegetative shoots and a tall stem with purple inflorescences. Dodecatheon pulchellum Red Wings sounds like red wings. The petals bent back seem to be in weightlessness. Due to their bright flowering, they are often used in the design of flower beds, borders and rock gardens. Stem height 10-20 cm.

Reproduction, growing from seeds

Growing a dodecatheon is not easy. It will take a lot of effort to get an elegant flower from a seed. The laborious process from planting seeds to flowering will be rewarded with a whole bed of elegant inflorescences. By following simple rules, you can get wonderful results:

  1. Plants planted take root and bloom faster dividing the bush. To do this, you need to dig an adult plant, divide the root system into several parts.
  2. transplanted plant autumn or early spring. Some gardeners practice planting bushes in the summer. This is done during the dormant period, when the plant throws off the leaves.
  3. Plant seeds preferably in autumn groups of 4-5 sockets.
  4. Before sowing seeds, they must keep in the fridge for a few hours. Thus, they will harden and be less susceptible to frost.
  5. sown seeds water generously until sprouts appear. If weeds grow nearby, they must be removed manually. Otherwise, the roots may be damaged.
  6. Stronger stems may soon dry out, don't let that scare you. The main thing is that the root develops inside. Seedlings will bloom for 4 years.

Tip: until a flowering bush grows from seeds, the planting site must be marked. Otherwise, you can accidentally dig this area.

Landing and care

Planting should be done in humus-rich soil. Until the flowers are well rooted, regular watering is required. In the rainy season, so that the roots do not rot from excessive moisture, it is necessary to loosen the soil around the bush.

An important point: with the onset of a state of rest, when the plant takes off its leaves, the dodecatheon continues to be watered.

Things to consider when planting dryakvennik:

  1. Experienced gardeners recommend for better growth and faster rooting soil mulching.
  2. In order not to rot the roots, do not forget about drainage. Most often used for this purpose expanded clay. It will retain moisture, allow the roots to breathe.
  3. It is not worth covering the plant for the winter, bushes are able to tolerate frost painlessly.
  4. After flowering, in place of inflorescences, cups with seeds are formed. If collection of passages is not expected, for the sake of aesthetics, the stems can be cut.
  5. So that the seeds after planting in the winter are not pecked out by birds, it is recommended to cover the soil with burlap.

Useful fact: if you do not take into account the long process of growing a bush from seeds, in general, an adult plant does not require special care. It is enough to properly care for it and water it on time.

Possible problems

  1. Troubles to the plant can be delivered by the inhabitants of the wet earth - slugs. An insidious creature can destroy seedlings in a few minutes. An adult flower does not particularly suffer. However, after the slugs visit the garden. The surface of the leaves is covered with unattractive-looking traces of mucus. Safe modern means will help to fight slugs: Thunderstorm, Anti-slug, Slugstop, Metaldehyde
  2. You need to buy healthy planting material in proven places. Unscrupulous sellers can supply damaged roots for sale. Outwardly, they should not have traces of mold or rot. When buying seeds, you need to look at the shelf life.
  3. If the roots are not supposed to be planted immediately, you need to place them in peat peas and sprinkle with earth.
  4. Possible diseases of an unpretentious flower care are not reported.

Application in landscape design

Bushes with exquisite inflorescences of different shades, look great both in single compositions and next to other plants in alpine slides. Abundantly blooming dodecatheon, in a duet with other plants, will allow you to create an original landscape composition in design. Planted plants will look harmoniously nearby.

Dodecatheon is a graceful perennial whose flower shape is very similar to cyclamen. The bright inflorescences of the plant are located on long peduncles, the height of which can vary from 10 to 50 centimeters, depending on the variety. In the people it is called dryakvennik or goose color.

General information

The dodecatheon belongs to the primrose family. Due to the unusual shape and drooping inflorescences, the dodecatheon is also called a meteorite, since outwardly the flowers really look like a celestial body.

In the wild, there are about thirty varieties of plants. The homeland of the goose color is considered to be North America. In our country, the dodecatheon, even despite its beauty and unpretentiousness, has not yet found wide application among gardeners.

However, it is popularized by landscape designers who use it as an unusual and exotic decoration for garden beds and alpine slides.

Varieties and types

- the plant has short vegetative shoots and a high peduncle, the length of which is from 10 to 20 centimeters. On each peduncle are purple inflorescences similar to small meteorites, collected in some kind of brushes. Leaf plates have an oval shape, a light green tint and glossiness with pronounced veins. The plant blooms in mid-spring.

- is an early flowering plant with a bright, lilac color. The base of the inflorescences is surrounded by yellow stamens. The petals of the flowers are bent back, which resembles a falling meteorite. The goose-colored peduncle reaches a height of up to 45 centimeters. The leaves of the flower are medium in size, oval in shape and light green in color. The flowering time of the plant falls on the month of May.

- in height goose color reaches up to 50 centimeters. The leaf blades are of medium length, ovoid in shape and are distinguished by a dark green tint with a barely noticeable venation. On one peduncle, from 15 to 20 inflorescences of a white, purple or purple hue can bloom. The flowering time of the dodecatheon falls at the beginning of spring.

- This type of plant is common in North America. In nature, it grows on mountain slopes and forest edges. It has wide, long, oval green leaf plates and high peduncles, reaching a length of up to 50 centimeters.

Inflorescences are umbrella-shaped and yellow, white or purple in color. Gooseblossom blooms throughout July. This variety is also represented by undersized plants, reaching a height of up to 20 centimeters.

- in height, the goose color of this variety reaches from 20 to 50 centimeters. It has large, wavy pale green leaf blades with glossiness and pronounced venation. Inflorescences have a pink or purple hue. The plant blooms in early summer.

The plant reaches a height of 20 to 50 centimeters. On the peduncle blooms from 15 to 20 umbrella-shaped inflorescences of white or white-pink hue. Leaf plates are large, glossy dark green. The flowering time of the goose color is at the end of spring - the beginning of summer.

- The name of this variety speaks for itself. On the peduncle, reaching a height of 20 to 50 centimeters, there are not from 15 to 20 inflorescences, but only from 8 to 10. They have an umbrella shape and a lilac-pink hue. Dodecatheon leaf plates have an oval shape, glossiness, venation and a rich green tint. The plant blooms from May to June.

- the plant reaches a height of 20 to 40 centimeters. Umbrella inflorescences of a white or purple hue bloom on thin multiple peduncles. Leaf plates have an oval shape, glossiness and a bright green tint. The flowering time of the dodecatheon falls at the end of spring and lasts until the end of June.

- This goose-colored variety is named after the gardener from Scotland who discovered this unusual plant. The height of the dodecatheon peduncles is from 10 to 13 centimeters. On multiple shoots, inflorescences bloom with pinkish-purple leaf plates bent upwards. The leaf plates densely surrounding the peduncles are oval in shape, glossy and have a rich green tint. The plant blooms in late spring.

- The peduncle of the plant reaches a height of up to 30 centimeters. On each stem there are from 10 to 12 umbrella inflorescences of a purple-pink hue. The leaves are long, oval in shape and dark green in color. Gooseblossom blooms from May to June.

Dodecatheon planting and care in the open field

Since the dodecatheon plant is unpretentious, it can take root in any soil. For cultivation, you should choose a place with weak penumbra, without bright sun and direct sunlight on the flower. The plant is resistant to temperature extremes and frost resistance, so it tolerates both dry summers and cold winters equally well. But in order for the plant to retain its decorative appearance, it is still not worth testing it.

Planting young plants in open ground should be carried out either in early spring or late autumn. Before planting, the land in the selected area must be loosened and fertilized. Then dig holes according to the size of the roots of the plants and fill the bottom with fine expanded clay for drainage.

Gently lower the dodecatheon into each pre-moistened well and straighten the root system. Further, the planted plants are covered with soil, checking that there are no voids under the ground. After planting, the goose color should be watered abundantly and mulched with humus. It will take about a month to take root, after which the dodecatheon can be considered established.

The loosestrife is also a member of the Primrose family. It is grown during planting and care in the open field without much hassle, subject to the rules of agricultural technology. You can find all the necessary recommendations in this article.

Watering the dodecatheon

Watering goose color is necessary every four days. Also, it will not be superfluous to spray the plant after watering.

It is necessary to ensure that the soil is not waterlogged, otherwise this can lead to rotting of the root system and the death of the dodecatheon.

Soil for the dodecatheon

For goose color, ordinary garden soil is suitable, which should be carefully dug up before planting, weed roots removed from it, mixed with humus and a small amount of peat to improve air permeability.

After this procedure, you can plant the plant.

Dodecatheon transplant

Dodecatheon should only be transplanted when the plant is at rest. If you spend it in the vegetative period, then the plant will adapt for a very long time and stop blooming.

Transplantation should be carried out in early spring or autumn. The procedure is as follows. First, the soil in the area for planting is dug up and mixed with humus. Then they dig planting pits, make a drainage layer of expanded clay and water each of them.

After that, a plant is placed in each hole and the root system is straightened. At the end, the pits are covered with soil, lightly pressed down, watered and mulched with straw or rotted humus.

dodecatheon fertilizer

The plant should be fertilized in spring and autumn, pouring rotted organic matter or peat under the bushes. Thus, you can not only feed the goose color, but also mulch it.

If you use mineral fertilizer, then preference should be given to mixtures for flowering plants. It must be diluted with water, which is irrigated during the flowering of the dodecatheon.

Dodecatheon bloom

The goose-colored flowering time falls at the end of spring - the beginning of summer. It lasts about forty days. The inflorescences of the plant can have various shades from purple and pink to snow white.

After flowering, a seed box with small seeds is formed. In August, the growing season ends and the ground part of the dodecatheon begins to die off.

Pruning dodecatheon

As such, the plant does not need pruning. However, in order to preserve its decorative effect, flower stalks should be removed after flowering.

It is also necessary to remove wilted or yellowed leaf plates, which also spoil the beauty of the goose color.

Preparing the dodecatheon for winter

After the plant fades and its ground part dies off, it has a dormant period and preparation for wintering. But even at this time, the goose color should not stop watering, as it stores nutrients for the next season. The best solution would be to mulch the ground with peat or humus.

Although the plant does not need winter shelter, dry leaves or spruce branches can be placed on top of the mulch layer, which have become additional protection from frost.

Dodecatheon growing from seeds

Goose color can be propagated by seed or by bush division.

Given that the plant grows well and takes root quickly, many gardeners use the seed method to grow this flower. It is necessary to sow seeds in open ground in mid-April.

The site for sowing is prepared in advance, it is better to do this in the fall so that the soil settles a little. In the spring, when the soil warms up, shallow furrows should be dug at a distance of 20 centimeters from each other. Then mix the seeds with dry sand and sow in prepared places. Thanks to the sand, crops can be made more rare.

It should be taken into account the fact that the first shoots with leaves will appear quickly, but they will also die off quickly, so there is no need to panic, as the goose color will sprout a second time and will already be more resistant. It is necessary to water the seedlings three times a week, but watering should be such that the soil does not crust over. You can prevent its occurrence by mulching the beds with loose humus after sowing the seeds.

When the seedlings germinate to about 7 centimeters, they should be weeded and thinned out so that the distance between them is about 5 centimeters. Between the grown bushes, the distance should be at least 10 centimeters so that they can actively grow and develop.

Reproduction of dodecatheon by bush division

Also, a simple, affordable and effective way to propagate a plant is bush division. Propagate in this way, the plant should be in late September or early March. For this purpose, a goose-colored bush is dug in from all sides and a part of the plant with three growth points is carefully removed from the ground, cutting it off with a knife from the mother bush. In this case, even if one kidney dies, the rest remain viable.

The cut off parts of the bush are planted in prepared planting pits, at the bottom of which drainage and several handfuls of humus will be placed, providing the plant with food for several seasons to come.

The root neck should not be deepened, leaving the same level of deepening as that of the mother individual. After planting, dodecatheons must be watered and mulched, making the distance between the bushes at least 10 centimeters.

Diseases and pests

Dodecatheon is a very hardy and resistant plant, so diseases and pests, with the exception of a few, do not threaten it. If it is wrong to take care of the goose color, or rather, do not follow the watering regimen, excess moisture can begin to stagnate and lead to rotting of the root system , which is fraught with the death of a green pet.

Also, the plant can be attacked slugs and ants . To get rid of slugs, you can collect them manually or by scattering crushed shells or wood ash on the area with the dodecatheon. Goose color can be saved from ants only by transplanting to a new place.

Conclusion

This unusually beautiful and useful honey plant has a lot of advantages. One of them is that it begins to bloom when all the plants in the garden are just beginning to leaf out. Since the goose flower blooms early, it also fades in a short time and, in order to avoid bald spots on the site, green ground covers should be planted next to it, which will hide this shortcoming.

If you are looking for an unpretentious, early flowering, beautiful plant, then the dodecatheon will be just the perfect option for you, which can decorate not only the garden, but also the alpine hill, making it exotic and decorative throughout its flowering.

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The dodecatheon flower is very rarely found in gardens, unless among "advanced" flower growers who are interested in rare plants and landscape design. This is despite the fact that planting and caring for dodecatheons in the open field is extremely simple, and the beauty and

charm on top (see photo). For cultivation to be successful, it is necessary to know the biological cycle of development.

Description of the dodecatheon

Belongs to the primrose family, but blooms much later, May-June completely.

Another name - dryakvennik (flowers like cyclamen - dryakva), steppe, goose color - is widespread in nature. Likes mountain slopes, meadows, forest edges. Although the homeland is North America, it is found in the east of Russia - Kamchatka, the Far East, even in Chukotka.

In the middle lane, it is possible to grow only some species and varieties of dodecatheon. They are all similar, the height of the peduncles is from 10 cm to half a meter, the colors are from white to lilac.

In early spring, a rosette appears with ellipsoid bright green leaves up to 30-35 cm long, 2-5 wide. Somehow, imperceptibly and quickly, flower stalks-umbrellas rush to the sky, consisting of 8-20 unusually shaped flowers. Look at the photo for yourself: the petals are directed upwards, the bare core usually has a bright yellow stripe; the anthers are directed strictly downwards.

Each flower is formed on a separate arc-shaped pedicel. Petals of a peculiar view from above the flower looks like a propeller, see photo below).

The rhizome is fleshy, stores a lot of moisture and nutrients.

After the flowering of the dodecatheon, a box is formed with very small seeds that ripen in our middle lane.

Alas, from this moment wilting begins - it comes gradually, but by mid-August the flower completely disappears, so it is better to mark the place where it grew so as not to accidentally dig it up.

Dodecatheon - dryakvennik is an ephemeroid, that is, with the ground part dying off after flowering, but compared to others, we have the opportunity to admire it all May and June, even July is seized.

Growing a dodecatheon

I accidentally got it - they gave me a “non-tenant” at the market. I dug in a tomato greenhouse, watered and forgot.

In the spring I saw a rosette, I realized that my “steppe” had overwintered, and without snow cover, as a greenhouse with a roof. Carefully moved the outlet to a permanent place.

  • The landing was successful. It was a place with light shade, no drainage. I did not apply fertilizers but tortured with humus. Watered well. In the future, it is often not necessary to water, although the dryakvennik loves to drink. Once a week, but generously. Otherwise, with frequent watering, the rhizome may rot, especially if the soil is dense, or slugs will come.
  • The soil, its acidity and fertility are not very important for dodecatheons, because they are "Spartans" by nature;
  • Of course, when planting in a hole, it is better to throw a handful of complex top dressing or rotted manure, but this can be done with further care.
  • After a while, a flower spike appeared! The tiny creature caused me a feeling of guilt and admiration - I practically did not look after him ...
  • When wilting begins, for decorative purposes, you can cut flower stalks, browned foliage, or wait for the seeds to ripen.
  • The ground part of the plant dies off, and under the ground the rhizome prepares food with might and main and forms renewal buds. Therefore, we reduce watering, but do not stop!

So, briefly about the care of the dodecatheon when planting and growing:

Place - light shading
Soil - any
Watering - moderate
Mulching is desirable, for example, with compost, bark, expanded clay, coniferous litter so that there is no overheating of the roots.
Wintering - without shelter.

The above points for caring for dryakvennik will convince anyone that it is worth planting.

reproduction

Two ways - vegetative and seed.

Landing seeds will lead to flowering only in the third - fourth year. Therefore, the propagation of dodecatheon by seeds makes sense if we want to grow a rare variety that is not commercially available by rhizome.
Seeds germinate easily, and they can be planted before winter or spring, in open ground or at home. Attention! Spring planting requires stratification. To do this, the seeds planted in the container are placed under the snow for 1-2 months (March - April).

I do this under the windows of my city apartment, burying a container closed and placed in a bag under the snow near some plant so that it does not get lost. It is necessary to add snow periodically when it melts.

Since the seeds are small, it is better to mix them with sand before planting so that the seedlings are located less often. A feature when growing dodecatheon with seeds is that the cotyledon leaves that have ascended die off, and there is no need to panic. After a while, permanent shoots will appear, further care of which does not raise questions.

The distance between the bushes in the ground is at least 10 cm.

reproduction dividing the bush takes place in autumn (late September - early October) or early spring. The bush is dug up and cut into several parts. Often, when digging, the bush itself breaks up into divisions. Plant at the level of the mother plant, water. Survival is excellent.

Who will go to the dodecatheon ...

Another remarkable feature of goose color is its resistance to diseases and pests.

So that the rhizome does not rot, we water moderately, while standing groundwater, we still have to make drainage. Sometimes, when watering, we will throw a crystal of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate into the water, and loosen the soil.

Only slugs “harass” dryakvennik (pictured), which indicates a contraindication to planting in damp, low places. Such monsters eat greens and delicate flowers. Mulching with coniferous needles, sprinkling the earth with ash, crushed eggshells will help in the fight.

Dodecatheons in landscape design

Imagine our elegant hero on an alpine hill against the backdrop of rocks, or by a pond. It can be planted both separately, in an open place, and next to, for example, low young conifers.

Ferns, large and small, astilbes, hostas, roses are good neighbors for a dodecatheon.

In the photo above, the dryakvennik is planted next to a rose bush, it has grown nearby.

When creating a flower arrangement, knowledge of the available plants is always needed. For example, in this case, when the dodecatheon disappears by the middle of summer, it will be “covered” by a neighbor - a rose, a fern, etc.

Be sure to plant a dodecatheon flower. You will amaze your guests, you yourself will admire them endlessly, receiving a lot of positive emotions.

You may be interested in the following information:

From North America, an amazing plant called "dodecatheon" came to our country. Now a large number of names of this flower are known, it was nicknamed "goose color", "dryakvennik", "God's dozen". The plant is a perennial, which in the form of flowers strongly resembles cyclamen.

In height, the culture can reach from ten to fifty centimeters, depending on the variety. . Unusual flowers bloom on long stems, which are popularly compared with a falling meteorite. Dodecatheon is not widely used among amateur gardeners, but it is popular among designers who create garden compositions.

Varieties and varieties with photographs

Under natural conditions, about thirty species of dodecatheon grow, but due to the climate in our country, not all take root.



Dodecatheon medium

Under natural conditions, the species is found among illuminated forest glades and on rocky slopes. The leaves have the shape of a wide oval, reach a length of ten to thirty centimeters and are attached to stems that grow fifteen to fifty centimeters from the surface of the earth. In mid-June, inflorescences bloom on the bush, collected from a dozen yellow, purple-pink or snow-white flowers. Undersized varieties "alba" with snow-white flowers and "redwings" with raspberry petals are common.

Dodecatheon Alpine

It got its name from the place of growth: it was found in the mountains, at an altitude of three and a half thousand kilometers. The elongated leaves are located in the rosette. Flowers consist of four oval-shaped petals. At each petal, the edges are painted in a light pink shade, or a snow-white speck is found at the base. The stems can grow from ten to thirty centimeters in height. The variety blooms from June to August.

Dodecatheon Alpine

Cleveland Dodecatheon

Under natural conditions, the variety is common in the western part of North America. The culture is a small shrub consisting of several stems. From one root system can depart from five to sixteen stems, reaching a height of thirty to sixty centimeters. The inflorescences are painted in lilac-pink shades and are distinguished by white and yellow edging in the middle area. Flowers in diameter reach two and a half centimeters. Some of the most popular varieties of this species are known:

  • Hermit- the variety has especially high decorative properties due to the wavy edges of the petals and leaves, which reach a length of up to ten centimeters. The stems grow up to forty-five centimeters. Umbrella inflorescences appear on the shoots, collected from eighteen flowers, painted in lilac or light pink. The center of the flower is black and dotted with small yellow stamens;
  • Spreading- a variety that reaches a height of only five to twenty centimeters. It has short oval-shaped leaves from two and a half to five centimeters long. At the end of spring, flowers of a red-lilac hue bloom on six stems;
  • Sacred- develops earlier than other cultures. Its shoots depart from winter sleep at the end of January, bloom in a month. The bush grows up to thirty centimeters and is covered with long green leaves that are combined with lilac flowers;
  • Samson- Under natural conditions, this species grows in humid places, among meadows and on mountain slopes. The stems reach a height of fifty centimeters and in June are covered with bright pink inflorescences. The variety is suitable for growing in gardens;
  • Angel of the Heart- a variety with high decorative properties. The petals are painted crimson, and the core has a jet black tint;
  • Aphrodite- an early flowering culture that blooms large flowers of a rich lilac color with yellowish stamens at the base and petals bent back. The flowering period begins in May. The plant reaches a height of forty - forty-five centimeters. Dodecatheon Aphrodite feels great in areas with a lot of sunlight, as well as in a small penumbra. The variety is widely used in landscape design.

Dodecatheon Aphrodite

Growing dodecatheon from seeds at home

Planting and growing seedlings begin in late winter - early spring. A special container is prepared, which is filled with loose soil and equipped with a high-quality drainage system. Seeds are buried in the ground to a depth of one centimeter, keeping a distance in order to try to avoid picking in the future. The soil is moistened with a spray gun and covered with plastic wrap to create greenhouse conditions inside. The container is placed in a room with a temperature of twenty to twenty-four degrees.

Within fourteen days, the first leaves appear at the dodecatheon, which soon die off.

It is advisable to plant seedlings in early spring or late autumn.

This is a hallmark of the culture, so do not think that the plant has died. After the appearance of the second pair of leaves, the greenhouse is removed so that the culture receives more diffused light. It is best to place the seed container on the windowsill of an east-facing window. After the appearance of two pairs of true leaves, young plants are seated in separate containers. To gently move the root system, you can use a fork or a toothpick. After transplanting, the plants are watered abundantly.

Landing in open ground

Dodecatheon adapts well to temperate climates and tolerates frost and drought well, so growing it in the garden does not cause problems. It is recommended to plant young plants in open ground in early spring or late autumn. The landing process involves the following manipulations:

  • the soil in the selected area is loosened and fertilized;
  • dig holes according to the size of the root system of the bushes;
  • each hole is watered and the roots are lowered into it, gently straightening;
  • plants are covered with soil, checking that there are no voids left.

Sowing seeds in open ground

Dodecteon seeds can be sown in open ground

Dodecatheon develops well if the seeds are sown immediately in open ground. For this reason, many gardeners prefer this method of growing seedlings. Seeds are sown in the ground in mid-April. Prepare a seat in advance, it is best to start in the fall.

At a distance of fifteen to twenty centimeters, furrows are made into which seeds mixed with sand are placed. After the appearance of the second pair of leaves, the planting begins to be watered two to three times a week, trying not to overwater the plants. The formation of an earth crust can be prevented by covering the surface of the earth with mulch.

After the culture grows to 5 - 7 centimeters, the planting is weeded, leaving a distance of 5 centimeters between the seedlings. Mature plants should be spaced 10 centimeters apart, so as a result, excess plants will need to be transplanted to a new location.

When Dodecatheon Blooms

The dodecatheon opens its leaves in early June and pleases the gardener's eye for a month. In mid-August, the flowers fade, and after a few days the green mass of the plant disappears.

Necessary plant care

Planting and caring for a dodecatheon requires knowledge of the necessary culture conditions. The plant is watered every three or four days after sunset. It is recommended to plant a crop in areas that are protected by tree crowns from the scorching sun. After the end of flowering, it is advised to cut off the flower stalks, because they take away strength from the dodecatheon.

It is not necessary to cover the plant for the winter, it is only advised to mulch the soil with compost or peat. Care after flowering requires the same thorough. At the end of July, the leaves die off, but the soil still needs to be watered periodically. If in autumn the buds appear above the surface of the earth, they are sprinkled with earth. Once every three or four years, the culture is recommended to be transplanted.

Plant transplantation is carried out 1 time in 3 - 4 years

top dressing

In autumn and spring, peat or rotted organic fertilizers are poured under the bushes. Of the mineral fertilizers, mixtures for flowering plants are suitable, which are applied to the soil during irrigation.

Reproduction methods

It is best to propagate the dodecatheon by dividing the bush. This procedure is recommended to be carried out once every four to five years to thin out the thickets. In autumn, the mother plant is dug up and divided into several parts, which are placed in a new place.

Dodecatheon reproduces well by dividing the rhizome

Most often, the rhizome breaks up on its own, so it is not necessary to resort to mechanical action. After a couple of years, delenki turn into large and lush bushes, blooming with ten inflorescences. Dodecatheon is also grown from seed without first growing seedlings.

Diseases, pests and difficulties in growing

The dodecatheon rarely gets sick or is attacked by pests if properly cared for. With stagnant moisture, the root system begins to rot, and slugs or ants may also appear. Slugs begin to actively feed on leaves and flowers, and ants building an anthill harm the root system. Slugs are harvested by hand, and also scattered on the site of shells, crushed shells or wood ash.

Application in landscape design and combination with other plants

Dodecatheon is used in landscape design in single plantings and in the vicinity of other plants. It is used to decorate alpine slides and flower beds. Dodecatheon goes well with sagebrush, alpine aster, and pearl anafalis. The plant is planted near hedges or along the banks of artificial reservoirs. It pairs well with conifers or ferns that don't grow too tall.

Dodecatheon pairs beautifully with many garden flowers and plants

Dodecatheon has a great advantage over other flowers as it is one of the first crops to bloom. So that there are no bare areas on the site after the ground part disappears, it is recommended to plant ground cover crops next to the dodecatheon. Easy care, early flowering, beautiful flowers and ease of planting are the great advantages of the dodecatheon, which explains the popularity of the plant with designers.

You can get acquainted with the intricacies of landing a dodecatheon in the proposed video. Enjoy watching!