For registration of a garden or a shady corner in the country used a lot of plants. Large trees or lush bushes perfectly complemented by colors of different "dimensions." Low grades are especially popular in landscape design, which, in addition to the aesthetic role, often perform purely practical functions (for example, cover curbs). Consider exactly which undersized flowers are best suited for this decor, and also give the names of the most common annual and perennial flowers.
Types of undersized garden flowers
When planning to decorate their site, many are eyeing the neighboring "latkami" or listen to the advice of designers. As a result, it turns out that practically the same plants appear in the list of potential “new settlers” of the garden. Therefore, it makes sense to look at them in more detail, for convenience, breaking them up into different "age" groups.
Little annuals for flower beds
Ideal for those who make the first steps in the design. It's simple - for one season, you can look at the planted species and leave those that came to mind. For a couple of years of such a "selection" you can form a smart flower bed. In this regard, it is more profitable to take for the beds one-year low-growing flowers, pleasing the eye and blooming all summer. Among the variety of such varieties stand out:
- Marigold (or tagetes), growing on any soil and not requiring frequent watering. Unpretentious plant gives color from the first days of June. Until the fall, yellow or red flowers in the form of baskets (4-6 cm in diameter) are visible, which give the area a warm brightness. Not uncommon and "mixed" color. The best option would be planting thin-leafed or rejected bushes;
Important! Transplantation during flowering is highly undesirable. - there is a risk of ruining the plant.
- Annual Carnation (it is Chinese). Branched bushes "shoot" flowers with toothed petals. Reaching 5 cm in circumference, they can have both the usual red and pink, purple, or white color. Ornaments add characteristic dark lines on the petals (from barely noticeable to clearly induced);
- Iberis (stenniki), the peak of which bloom begins in the last decade of May. The most common are two types - bitter and "umbrellas". The first is characterized by pure white blossoms, which are similar to hyacinth, and flowers in the shape of a crown. “Umbrellas” are brighter - pink and lilac, carmine and lilac colors can acquire delicate shades. We also note the subtle pleasant aroma emanating from them;
- Calceolaria. "Exot" well taken in the shaded corners of the garden and on wet soils. Fragile velvet leaves “shoes” reach 5-10 cm. Flowers are bright yellow, orange or red (white can be seen), most often covered with speckles or monochromatic. Bush can "give out" even 40-50 flowers of 2-5.5 cm each;
- Lobeliawhich will "stretch" all summer. Miniature (up to 20 cm) bushes love the sun and abundant watering. In appearance, these are blue (rarely white or purple) "balls", giving a large number of small (1.5-2 cm) spongy flowers;
Did you know? The first flower clock was created nearly 300 years ago. - gardeners from the Swedish city of Uppsala presented their creation in 1720.
- Daisies They can be landed at any point (with the exception of perhaps a thick shadow). Here you can give vent to fantasy - the richness of the colors is simply amazing. As for the shape of the flower, many prefer the modest "fringe" or dense "stars" with many petals;
- Petunia. Despite its capricious temper, it remains a welcome decoration of the site. Terry varieties look most impressive (though many of them are afraid of rain). For regions with changeable weather or rainy summer, flowering plants that are plentiful and resistant, like Butterfly F1 or Ramblin F1, are best suited. These hybrids are not particularly demanding in the care.
Biennial residents flower beds
Such undersized flowers in most cases are taken to design borders, as can be seen by viewing the photo, and the names will seem familiar to many. "Top" biennials are:
- Adonis. Neat and low (15 cm) bushes enliven the overall look with their yellow or red flowers with a "glamorous" sheen. Each of them can count up to 20 narrow petals, which together form a 4-6 cm circle. But such beauty requires caution - adonis are dangerous with their poison, which is contained in all parts of the plant. If there are children on the site, it is better to refuse landing;
Important! Large-flowered petunias are grown under a canopy. - they are sensitive to raindrops. But many-flowered carry such conditions without visible labor.
- Pansies (they are viols). Excellent survivor in the sun, but willingly grow in partial shade. Unpretentious leaves are complemented by single sinus flowers (4-7 cm), which can be of any color. Wavy and tricolor, monophonic and spotty - there is something to choose from;
- Carnation, whose low (up to 25 cm) "growth" is compensated by rapid growth and dense flower "clusters". Garden lines are usually represented by two species - "Shabo" and "Grenadine." The first gives terry or ordinary flowers in white or red. Crimson tone is already a rarity. "Grenadines", in turn, are brighter: various overflows of yellow are added to the already named colors;
- Hesperis (night violet). The name indicates the characteristic feature of the plant - a strong aroma, tangible closer to the night. For gardeners, the most acceptable varieties with double flowers. They are small (2-3 cm), with a purple or white color. The only minus can be called a short flowering: the "mahry" its duration is only three weeks;
- This may also include some "leisurely" species daisiesthat bloom only in the second season. Their name has the prennis prefix (i.e. "eternal"). But in practice, after the second year, the decorative look almost always fades away;
- Forget-me-not. This is a "classic". In the middle (and sometimes already at the beginning of May) pink and white, blue or blue flowers begin to appear on the hands. They are trying to plant on a moderately moist soil, the structure close to the meadow.
Did you know? Some plants are sensitive to deposits of minerals. For example, stock roses with abnormally dissected petals indicate a high concentration of molybdenum or copper. The same "behavior" of the processes of poppy - zinc signal.All the mentioned species are united by one thing - the seedlings bloom only in the second year after the laying of the seedlings. Most varieties are frost resistant, and many owners leave them in the ground for the winter. Yes, and some economic benefits are also available: for a couple of years, you can forget about buying seeds.
Registration of beds undersized perennials
A separate topic - undersized perennial flowers and the selection of "long-playing" varieties for a particular flower bed. Let's make a reservation right away: there are a lot of them, and this somewhat complicates the choice. If you have never had to deal with them, pay attention to the following types:
- Alpine asterwhich from afar is like a daisy. The similarity is enhanced by a small (maximum 30 cm) height and medium-sized flowers, growing to 4-5 cm. In the late spring - early summer, it starts up in a violent color. As for color, it can be white or blue, pink or lilac, and also crimson;
- Colchicans with the inherent only to them "ragged" growth rate. In April, a bundle of 3-4 leaves appears, which shrink by July. The corm comes to life only in August, when simple or double flowers appear on separate legs: white, pink, purple. Chess and striped colors are especially appreciated;
Important! Large "plantations" of vegetable crops in the neighborhood of the flowerbed are fraught with the threat of infection with fungal diseases. In addition, bright buds can attract and pests that attack the leaves and stems.
- Veronica creeping, got its name for the exuberant growth of roots. Creeps "carpet", blowing miniature leaves (0.4-0.9 cm). At the beginning of autumn white or pale blue flowers (about 1 cm in diameter), gathered in short sinuses or growing alone, are revealed on frequent stems. Pink tone in culture is rare;
- Korean Chrysanthemum curb lines. With an average height of 25-28 cm, the girth of a bush is twice as large. A distinctive feature is a weak growth of rhizome (all leaves on the growing season). Inflorescences in 6-7 cm also look like a daisy, but stand out pink and lilac design of petals, which is best manifested in late July - August. The best option for our latitudes is the Malchish-Kibalchish line;
- Primrose. They will bloom before their "colleagues" - in temperate climates, their activity begins in April. At this time visible balls of small flowers, pyramids or just dense circles. A lot of color options: from single pink and crimson to yellow and burgundy shades with an almost transparent "edge" on the edges;
- Phlox. They "connect" to primroses at the very beginning of May. Bushes are resistant to drought and stand out dense buds, giving abundant color in the form of "stars". The color scheme includes various shades of white, pale pink, and sometimes purple colors;
Did you know? Primula is credited with the ability to predict volcanic eruptions. For example, on the island of Java, these plants begin to bloom in just a few days "before."
- Yaskolki This is a "May" look, loving light soils and an abundance of light. After pre-feeding can be taken on stony soils. Unpretentious white flowers conquer with one of their kind - in combination with the lowered silver leaves the inconspicuous plant looks simply gorgeous.
Annuals or Perennials - Selection Criteria
Having finally chosen the varieties you like, do not rush into a purchase, but make a preliminary “linking”, considering where exactly the desired flowers will grow on your site. Here it is necessary to take into account the nuances that everyone wants to know about. Recall the main ones:
- Climate, light and temperature regimes. Single and biennials are usually planted in the sun or in partial shade. Perennials are quietly taken in the spreading shade of trees;
- Humidity. Raw shaded lowlands are not suitable for all varieties (as well as dry "patches" with moderate irrigation);
- The nature and rate of growth. For plants with broad roots of the "creeping" type, the proximity to other varieties will be to some extent problematic - the rhizomes can simply mate. Bulb species with "deep" rooting are better suited to form a composition in a flower bed;
Important! Phlox can grow in one place for 6-8 years without needing frequent transplants.
- Finally, decorative "ability." In this regard, annual species are preferable, the short “century” of which is compensated for by an unusual coloring. Especially distinguished imported hybrid lines.
This is a kind of foundation, which should not be forgotten. But low long-flowering flowers, depending on their "age", can have both pluses and minuses, so that perennial and annual garden varieties should be "arranged out" before planting. In favor perennials put forward such arguments:
- Less labor intensive (no need to dig up every year);
- Frost resistance;
- Reproduction by division - to get new seedlings, it is enough to “cut up” an existing bush (again, saving on seeds);
- Easy to care.
- They are brighter than their "older" neighbors;
- Seasonal change of seedlings allows you to change the look of the flowerbed almost every season.
Did you know? Petunias were brought to Europe from Chile.Actually, this dignity "pogodok" and end. The disadvantages are already more complicated - here both the high cost of seeds and the large labor costs coupled with sensitivity to the state of the soil and cold weather. Despite this, many successfully combine flowers in their flowerbeds with different "lifespans".
Basic rules for the care of undersized flowers
Any garden flowers used for decoration need special care, so low-growing perennials and perennial varieties are no exception. Recall the most important points of cultivation. Among them:
- Proper placement of seedlings. Height is selected so that the shoots are not too stretched (undesirable and too "constrained" planting);
- Timely watering followed by loosening. Roots should receive air regularly and not be crushed after moistening. It is necessary to take into account the "varietal" need for moisture - decorative arrays are trying not to flood the whole, but to moisturize each bush separately;
- Cleaning barely appeared weeds, which are absolutely useless on a flowerbed;
Important! Long-flowering species during planting try to divide so that on each seedling there are about 5-6 buds.
- Competent fertilizer complex mineral compounds. Abuse nitric drugs should not be - they drive in the growth of green mass, and the expected flowering can be very modest. The same applies to strong "organics", such as the premature manure, which, when plentifully applied, can burn the rhizome;
- Spraying effective, but at the same time soft, compounds. Strong mixtures like Bordeaux liquid will remove pests, but at the slightest “overdose” they will significantly reduce the decorative effect;
- Removal of dry buds and diseased specimens.
Of course, some procedures seem to be labor intensive compared to ordinary colors, but in return you can get an impressive play of colors and tones that well-kept plants will provide. To do this, maintain planting dates - bulbous species are placed in the ground throughout October, while marigolds and similar varieties are planted in the spring. So achieve the effect of continuous flowering.The right combination of flowers in flower beds
This is the best "attempt at writing" for amateur landscape designer. After all, it’s not enough to stock up on saplings, you also need to correctly place them on the plot, not forgetting to combine varieties according to colors. It is also necessary to take into account the location of buildings or trees - the light mode depends on them.
Did you know? Pansies (or forget-me-nots) are considered in England as the basis for a traditional wedding bouquet.Such combinations look the most advantageous:
- marigolds and cornflowers;
- night violets and chrysanthemums;
- mattioli and decorative peas;
- petunia and petty young (as an option - a heater);
- and forget-me-nots will be the best background for bright buds of neighboring plants.
On the flowerbed you can also grow such ornamental grass as oats and miscanthus.A little effort - and it will be an alpine slide. Along the tracks you can land almost any kind of "dwarf" (except, perhaps, adonis). Near the walls will look good arrays of hesperis, autumn crocus or chrysanthemums. As you can see, the space for fantasy opens up unprecedented, and this can be used, surprising the whole neighborhood with an unusual view of its garden.
Important! The boundaries of the flower beds are best marked with stones (granite will also come down). A low netting fence, in turn, will save plantings from active animals, but visually this design slightly hides the impression of a flourishing variety.Now you know what interesting low-growing flowers are, what they are, and how perennial flowering varieties “manifest”. We hope this information will help you make your choice and turn a regular site into a real palette. Successful experiments!
