Passing by the blooming levisia it is difficult to remain indifferent. These low bushes with large spherical inflorescences are simply mesmerizing. Each inflorescence, strewn with many flowers of all shades, is like a separate, perfectly decorated bouquet.
Description
One can only meet levisia in the natural environment in arid areas in western North America. Most varieties prefer rocky stretches from Canada to Mexico. They climb the slopes to a height of 800 m to 4 km. In total there are more than 20 species, most of which are now cultivated in gardens and greenhouses.
Levizia is a perennial succulent of the purslane family. It has strong roots with small nodules that deepen significantly into the soil. The plant is thermophilic and evergreen. From October to the end of March, it attracts with beautiful leaves, and from April to the end of September, blossoms flowers.
The upper part of the plant is small, the average height is 10-35 cm. At the ground, oval or lanceolate leaves are collected in a round rosette, the diameter of which reaches 40 cm. The edges of the leaves are smooth, dark green in color. As with all succulents, stems and foliage store moisture, therefore, have a greater thickness.
One straight flower stalk rises above the leaves, up to 20 cm high, with many buds. The size of one flower is about 5 cm. The petals are long and narrow, up to 2 cm in length and up to 5 mm in width. The edge of the petal is pointed or ragged. The core is small, covered with a dozen stamens on long filiform legs, one pestle is also located there. Depending on the variety, plants with white, yellow, pink, red, lilac, violet and other warm shades are distinguished.
After withering in place of the bud in the sepals, the seed ripens. It has a rounded shape with a hole in the middle, resembles a snail shell. The average seed size is 2-4 mm.
Description of popular varieties
Some characteristics of levisia are very different in different varieties, therefore, require a more detailed description. Most often it is divided into two groups:
- evergreen;
- deciduous.
There are differences in the structure of inflorescences and leaf blades, size and color.
Leviza Cotyledon (duplicate). Evergreen perennial with wide rounded leaves. The edges of the leaves are finely serrated, collected in a symmetrical basal rosette. In the spring, several peduncles (from 8 to 15 pieces) rise from the foliage, which turns an inconspicuous plant into a lush bush. Pink buds bloom gradually, at the same time on one stem there are no more than 3-4 flowers. The variety has several hybrids that differ in the color of the petals:
- Alba is white;
- Comets - the whole gamut of yellow;
- SunsetStrain - yellow and orange;
- Red - Red
- RoseSplendor - hot pink;
- Constellation - orange-pink petals with a light border.
The Tweed Revision. A miniature flower whose height barely reaches 15 cm. Delicate silky petals have a glossy surface. Coloring light pink or creamy pink. The plant prefers partial shade, in nature it lives in small gorges and potholes between stones.
Long-petal revision. It features bright colors of saturated colors, the color is pink or purple. The leaf rosette in height is only 7 cm, and the peduncle reaches a height of 15-20 cm. Flowering is plentiful, long.
The revision is updated. The smallest plant is only 4-5 cm high. Pedicels are also short, pink or lilac flowers. Petals narrowed, very elongated. It is distinguished by the edible roots that indigenous people of America eat.
Nevada revision. Deciduous plant, which during severe drought or with the onset of cold weather goes into a dormant state and stops developing the terrestrial part. The roots do not tolerate frost, but the plant actively forms seeds. It behaves quite aggressively, in the spring there are many self-seeding that displace neighbors in the flower garden. The plant is low, blooms pink or lilac.
Short-cup revision. A deciduous form with a foliage length of only 8-10 cm. It produces a short peduncle with many medium colors. The color of the petals is gradient from a creamy or white middle to a light pink edge. There are plants with pink veins.
Revision of Cantelou. It is characterized by strongly serrated edges of dark green foliage. The stems are tall (up to 30 cm), the flowers are light pink.
Revision Colombian. It has a basal rosette of lanceolate green leaves and peduncles 30 cm high. The stem is branched and supports panicle inflorescence. Flowers 3-4 cm in size differ in white or pink petals with darker veins. The variety is evergreen.
Breeding
The most convenient and easiest way to propagate levisia is seed. Moreover, the seeds are sown immediately in open ground in a permanent place. The procedure is carried out in the fall before the onset of cold weather or in January. For the formation of friendly seedlings, it is necessary that after sowing at least a month a cold temperature is maintained. If there is snow, they shelter the beds for extra protection.
To grow seedlings in January, the seeds are immediately sown in boxes with moist soil. Optimal for seedlings is a mixture of one part of compost and two parts of sand. The pot is kept at room temperature for two weeks, then placed in the refrigerator, where the temperature should be in the range 0 ... + 5 ° C. Regularly check the box for seedling. With the first sprouts, the capacity is returned to the windowsill. Sprouts appear after 12-15 days. After the formation of two real leaves, the seedlings are carefully removed into separate pots. Landing in open ground can be carried out in early June.
In an adult plant, side shoots are formed that can be cut into cuttings. Immediately after trimming, they are dripped in a pot with light, well-drained soil and left in a cool place. During the rooting period, one should not be too careful with fertilizers, they prevent the shoots from developing well.
Cultivation and care
Levia cannot be called an easy-to-care culture, for long flowering and good growth it will take some skill.
Since levisia does not tolerate severe frosts, in harsh climates it is recommended to grow it in flowerpots and pots, which are outdoors in the summer and will be brought into the room in winter.
Levisia feels best in shaded places, where direct midday sunshine does not reach. Stony areas or decorative boulders are preferred.
The roots categorically do not tolerate stagnation of water in the soil, and some varieties pass into a dormant state during prolonged rainy weather, so it is advisable to organize a small canopy or other shelter. To protect the roots from rot, it is recommended to cover the soil with a layer of mulch from sand or gravel.
For full growth, it is necessary to grow levisia on neutral or slightly acidic fertile soils. To activate flowering and ripening of seeds during June and July, the bushes are fed twice with a weak solution of cow manure. In August, superphosphate balls can be laid out near a leaf outlet. For winter, it is imperative to build a waterproof shelter to protect the roots when snow melts or rains.
Using
Levia will become a real pearl of rock garden or rocky masonry. You can use multi-colored bushes for planting in rockeries. Get along well with other inhabitants of the rocks. For group plantings, you can use bells, saxifrages, cuffs, buckwheat. It is important to choose a neighborhood in which a raw microclimate does not form, and leaves of other colors will not fall on Levizia.
