Mattiola (left-handed) belongs to Cruciferous. The birthplace of the fragrant bush is the Mediterranean coast. The genus includes about fifty varieties. The flower is used for garden decoration because of the rich aroma.
Description
This is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant, reaching 0.3-0.9 m. The stem is compacted, erect, highly branched. It is covered with the thinnest skin: bare or with short hair. Solid lanceolate plates with teeth along the perimeter. Feathered and soft to the touch. In the basal area are collected in fluffy sockets.
In late May, cystiform inflorescences from ordinary or double buds appear. Petals are round, of various colors: snow-white, violet, lilac, raspberry, blue, lemon. Exhaustible odor attracts pollinating insects
After flowering, instead of buds, fruits appear. These are flattened pods containing a large number of small seeds.
Mattiola bicorn and other species
All varieties can be divided into:
- undersized (dwarf);
- medium;
- high.
Description of some types:
| Title | Description | Leaves | Flowers / period of their appearance |
| Bicorn | A thin, well-branched stalk forms an annual spherical bush up to 0.5 m in height. | Grayish-green, linear, petioles. | They are part of inflorescences in the form of panicles with simple, four petal corollas. Tender or dirty pinkish. June August. |
| Gray-haired | Annual up to 20-80 cm with a weakly branching trunk. | Oval or narrowly linear, with slight pubescence. | Simple or terry. Various tones: snow-white, pink, yellowish, heavenly, dark lilac. From the 2nd month of summer to the start of frost. |
| Fragrant | Perennial up to 45 cm. | Emerald, with a long, felt pubescence of silver color. Petioles are oblong, collected in a lush rosette at the base. | Simple, amber-brown, create in friable, racemose inflorescences. May June. |
Varieties of matthiola bicorn: evening aroma and others
The most sought after:
| Grade | Description | Flowers |
| Evening scent | Up to 45 cm with a straight, branching stem. Able to grow in partial shade. | Purple, collected in loose inflorescences in the form of brushes. Open the petals in the evening, close at sunrise. |
| star Light | Up to 30 cm. Able to withstand temperatures up to -5 ° C. | A variety of shades. They do not represent decorativeness, but have a strong, pleasant smell. |
| Night violet | Up to 25 cm. Loves the sun, but at the same time calmly tolerates frosts. Stem strongly branching, with coarse leaves. | Collected in racemose inflorescences. The flowering period is long. |
| Lilac | Up to 50 cm. A distinctive feature is frost resistance. | Purple, in the shape of brushes. Occur only 2 months after sowing. |
Mattiola: growing from seed when to plant
Seed propagation is preferred. Sowing is performed on an open area in November or April:
- In the illuminated area, dig trenches at a distance of 20-25 cm, a depth of 5 cm.
- Mix the seeds with grains of sand and evenly distribute in the pits.
- With spring sowing, water.
- Thin out after 3 true leaves appear. Leave the strongest and healthy sprouts at a distance of 15-20 cm.
Growing seedlings at home
Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in March:
- Pour turf and sand in equal amounts into the container.
- Soak seed in potassium permanganate for 30 minutes, rinse with water, dry thoroughly.
- Dig into the soil mixture 5 mm at a good distance from each other.
- Humidify from a fine atomizer.
- Cover with cellophane, put in a room at a temperature of + 11 ... +14 ° C, create a bright light.
- Remove the shelter when the first shoots appear (after 3-4 days).
- After 12-14 days, dive into separate containers (small pots or plastic glasses).
- To grow until mid-spring.
- Harden the bushes before planting in open ground: in a week, start taking them out into the street for a couple of hours.
- By the first of May, transplant seedlings to a permanent place.
Levkoy perennial: planting and care
Levkoy needs a well-lit place. It is better that before this on the territory there were no other representatives of Cruciferous (the soil can be infected with a fungus). Mattiola grows well on nutrient, airy soil, neutral pH. A heavy substrate will result in death.
Landing is carried out by transshipment along with an earthen lump. The seedlings are buried at the level of the rhizome, leaving a distance of 17-20 cm. If planted densely, various diseases may occur. Landing recommended to do in the late afternoon, in rainy weather.
The plant is easy to grow, the most important thing is to choose the right place for planting and water.
| Parameter | Recommendations |
| Watering | Regular, in small doses. In the evening, the bush can be sprayed to make the aroma stronger. |
| Loosening | To produce periodically to improve the breathability of the soil. Prevent weed from overgrowing, it takes away nutrients, provokes diseases. |
| Top dressing | When planting in a nutrient substrate, fertilizer is not necessary. In spring, you can use complex mineral mixtures for flowering plants. Organics are not recommended. |
Diseases and Pests
Like any other plant, Leukemia affects diseases and insects. To a greater extent, the flower is susceptible to:
| Disease | Signs | Treatment and prevention |
| Kila Cruciferous | In the first stages, it is difficult to identify. Spherical or spindle-shaped growths of small sizes appear on the roots, in the color of the rhizome. Over time, they grow, turn brown and go to the aboveground part. Soon, the cones decompose and infect the soil. Spores of the fungus persist in the ground for up to 10 years. With damage, it lags behind in development. The aboveground part fades, turns yellow. | It is impossible to cure. Affected specimens must be destroyed and the soil disinfected. To avoid illness, you must follow the rules when landing. When watering, do not over-wet the substrate. |
| Blackleg |
| The plant will die anyway. It needs to be destroyed, the earth treated with HOM to prevent infection of other bushes after planting. |
| Cruciferous flea |
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Mr. Dachnik recommends: matthiola in landscape design
Mattiola is a flower that is planted in areas not because of its attractive appearance, but because of its sweet aroma. Although varieties with terry inflorescences can still decorate any garden, become a wonderful addition to the flower arrangement. Levko is planted closer to windows, benches, arbors in order to enjoy a wonderful smell.
Flowers are suitable for cutting. They can stand in a vase for up to 2 weeks, while exuding a pleasant, sweet aroma.
