Clarkia is an excellent representative of a garden and ornamental annual plant, combining a wide range of colors, compactness, and an abundance of green mass. Most gardeners love Clarkia because of its elegant appearance, spectacular numerous flowers, long and lush flowering, good and fast growth. The main advantage is that growing elegant clarkia, including from seeds, does not cause any trouble. The plant owes its name to the English captain William Clark, who brought the flower to Europe from California.
Clarkia belongs to the cypress family, is a low bush with a height of 30 to 90 cm. The western regions of North America, the territory of Chile, are considered the homeland of the plant. Clarkia is very close to the genus Godetia, most botanists combine these two genera.
The bush is very beautiful, due to the dense branching of the stems it acquires a voluminous, lush appearance. Stems strongly branched, erect, thin, dense, strong, lignified below, slightly pubescent.
The leaves are alternate, oblong-oblong, dark green, with veins and interspersed with red, irregularly rarely serrated along the edge.
Flowers of the correct form, 3-4 cm in diameter, small, double or simple, located in the axils of the leaves, have various shades of red, orange, pink, raspberry, lilac, lilac, are two-tone with various inclusions, strokes and dots. Collected either at the top of the shoots in the form of spicate or racemose inflorescences, or singly. The flower consists of a tubular calyx, three-lobed or four whole petals, which taper at the base.
The seed box is an elongated fruit with numerous brown seeds, the germination of seeds lasts up to four years. After maturation, the seed box becomes brown in color, the fruits open, the seeds spill out onto the ground, thereby self-sowing occurs.
Clarkia flowers will look great in any garden, filling the space with bright colors and aroma, attracting butterflies and bees.
Types and varieties of plants
In nature, there are more than 35 species of clarkia, but for gardeners, only three cultivated varieties are of interest, which served as the basis for breeding a large number of varietal forms.
During the period of lush flowering in gardens and summer cottages, Clarkia varieties - elegant, pretty and terry, are covered with many flowers that look like small roses. At the same time, the green mass favorably emphasizes all the splendor of flowers. Flowering period three months: from July to September.
Clarkia terry
The average height of an annual plant is 30-65 cm. The densely branched bush of terry clarkia is overgrown with dark green leaves. The flowers are double, about 5-6 cm in diameter, with various shades from snow-white to rich carmine, framing the stems so that the image of a spike-shaped plant is created.
Clarkia "Fantasy"
Annual ornamental lush-flowering plant grows up to 75 cm in height. Axillary double flowers differ in all sorts of colors. Clarkia fantasy is used for cutting, decorating flower beds in single and group plantings.
Clarkia is pretty
Clarkia is pretty
Another name for pubescent. It grows up to 20-40 cm. The leaves are narrow, elongated, entire, pointed at the end and narrower towards the base. The flowers are terry and simple, up to 3 cm in diameter, distinguished by wavy and spreading petals divided into three lobes of various color shades. Formed in groups or one at a time in the axils of the leaves. The pretty clarkia blooms before the elegant look for 2-3 weeks. Because of the unusual shape of the petals, this species is called “elk horns” in America. Pretty Clarkia served as the basis for obtaining the Arianna variety: simple two-color flowers of lilac and white color, plant height up to 40-50 cm.
Clarkia graceful
Clarkia graceful
Another name for nails. Grows naturally in California. It can reach up to 30-90 cm in height. The stems are thin, strong, branching, woody at the base. The leaves are dark green with a bluish tint, elongated, oblong in shape, with a rarely serrated edge and characteristic red veins.
The flowers of elegant clarkia are up to 3-4 cm in diameter, collected in an inflorescence brush and, depending on the variety, can be simple or terry in shape. The mixture of colors of clarkia graceful also depends on the variety. Flowers are blue, purple, pink, red and white. The first flowers of Clarkia bloom in June, the bush blooms profusely and luxuriantly almost until October. Clarkia graceful served as the basis for obtaining varieties:
- Albatross - bush 50-75 cm tall, with double white flowers.
- Salmon Perfection - bush 80-100 cm tall, pale pink double flowers.
- The sun - the height of the bush is 60-70 cm, the flowers are terry salmon colors, axillary, solitary.
- Orange - plant height 50-60 cm, double flowers of orange color.
- Ruby - a bush no more than 60 cm in height, numerous double flowers of deep red, ruby color.
- Purplekening - grows up to 80-90 cm tall with deep red double flowers.
Clarkia Marigold Joy
Densely branched erect stems grow up to 40-60 cm. Flowering begins 2 months after sowing the seeds. The bush is covered with flowers from bottom to top. The color scheme varies from deep pink to crimson. Flowers of the Clarkia variety “Joy” reach up to 3-4 cm in diameter, due to the long flowering they are very much in demand among flower growers.
Clarkia dainty Brilliant
The variety is densely branched, luxuriantly and abundantly blooming. The height of the bush is up to 60-80 cm. Starting from July, the bush is covered with many double flowers up to 4 cm in diameter, red-pink in color. Axillary flowers of the Clarkia variety “Brilliant” adorn the bush almost until the end of September.
plant care
To get a healthy and flowering plant, you should follow simple rules for care and maintenance. In principle, Clarkia is a rather unpretentious and undemanding plant.
Outdoor plant care
To maintain a decorative and elegant appearance, wilted flowers and leaves, seed pods should be removed. This is necessary to maintain the vitality of the plant in the process of formation of new flowers. Removing dried flowers promotes longer flowering. Loosening the soil and removing weeds contributes to rapid good growth.
Watering, fertilizing and tying
In hot weather, without precipitation, when the soil dries up, regular moderate watering is required twice a week. In this case, you can not fill the plant, otherwise you can provoke root rot. To avoid the latter, Clarkia is planted in well-drained soil.
Wet soil must be loosened, this will improve the flow of air to the roots. In cool rainy weather, watering is completely stopped. Watered strictly under the bush, avoiding water on the leaves and flowers, otherwise you can provoke sunburn, which spoil the decorative appearance of the plant.
Top dressing is applied twice a month - during the period of budding and flowering. Mineral fertilizers are used, organic top dressing is not used for Clarkia. Mainly top dressing is necessary in rainy, dry weather. For brighter and more abundant flowering, ash is added to the soil.
To prevent breakage of tall stems from strong winds, as well as to avoid bending them, the bush is tied to pegs that are driven in during planting.
Choice of landing site
The plant is extremely photophilous, but at the same time it develops equally well in partial shade. It loves space, because it grows quickly. It is necessary to choose a place for the flower, excluding strong winds, otherwise the plant may break. The plant quite calmly tolerates drafts and short-term spring cooling.
Soil: composition and characteristics
The flower develops better on loose, fertile, medium and light density soil. In principle, an unpretentious plant is able to germinate on dense clay soils, but it will develop more slowly, it will bloom extremely poorly. For future seedlings, experienced gardeners prefer to prepare an earthen mixture: they take ordinary soil for seedlings and add rotted humus, peat and river sand to it in equal proportions. To exclude contamination of the earth with various fungal diseases, it is calcined in an oven or steamed in a water bath.
Seedling care
Due to the unpretentious nature, caring for seedlings comes down to maintaining soil moisture, optimal temperature and periodic watering. The soil of seedlings should not dry out and should not be waterlogged, it should be moderately moist.
Loosening is allowed only for grown seedlings, since young shoots can be damaged.
To prevent root rot due to stagnant water, you should take care of the drainage system.
The comfortable temperature for the plant is within +20 C. To prevent burns, young plants should be protected from direct sunlight.
Plant care during and after flowering
In the process of plant growth, to give the bush a more voluminous and lush appearance, the tops of shoots no more than 10-15 cm high are periodically pinched.
In late autumn, when flowering ends, just before frost, the bush is cut flush with the ground, the soil is dug up, old roots are removed. Due to the high probability of self-sowing next spring, the Clarkia will independently revive in its original place.
Diseases and pests: treatment
Clarkia is a fairly resistant and resistant plant to diseases and pests, however, due to maintenance and care errors, the plant can get sick or be attacked by pests.
Growing a bush on loamy soils can cause rust disease. This fungal disease manifests itself in the form of reddish-yellow spots with a clear dark border on the leaf blades. In most cases, the disease occurs due to waterlogging of the soil and stagnant water, as well as an excess of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. For the treatment of the bush, spraying with fungicides (Bordeaux mixture, Topaz) is used 2 times a week.
With an excess of moisture, the roots of the plant can rot, as a result of which the plant weakens, withers and dies. At an early stage of the disease, the bush can be saved. To do this, drooping, weakened, affected parts of the plant are cut off, treated with fungicides. Also, high soil moisture can provoke the appearance of downy mildew: colorless or dark spots appear on the back of the affected leaf plate. The leaves are twisted, deformed. For the fight, the biofungicide "Fitosporin-M" or "Olirna" is used.
Of the insect pests, the mealybug is dangerous; aphids rarely settle on the plant. To get rid of adversity, insecticides are used, spraying with infusion of citrus fruit peels or garlic helps against aphids. With the latter, you need to be extremely careful, as it can leave burns on the plant. If treatment and prevention did not save the plant, then it is dug up with all its infected parts and destroyed by burning.
How to get rid of the flower midge?
In most cases, the appearance of a flower midge or sciaride is an indicator of excessive waterlogging of the soil. Most often, their appearance occurs in the winter.
The danger is not the midges themselves, but their larvae, which can damage the roots of the plant. When there are so many larvae that they can be seen, the plants are transplanted to another place treated from the flower midge.
To prevent the reproduction of flower midges, periodically loosen the ground around the flower, create a drainage layer before planting, avoid stagnation and severe waterlogging of the soil. Damaged and diseased parts of the bush should be removed immediately.
Fight the flower midge in various ways. The simplest, which is most suitable for potted flowers: 4-8 matches are inserted into the ground around the flower with a sulfur coating, as soon as the sulfur dissolves, the procedure should be repeated 2-4 times.
It also helps to get rid of midges by watering with a weak (pale pink) solution of potassium permanganate or a weak soap solution.
Garlic infusion allows you to reduce and completely remove unwanted insects. It is prepared as follows: 3-4 chopped garlic cloves are added to 1 liter of boiling water, insisted for at least 4 hours, filtered and sprayed on the plants. However, this solution can burn leaves and flowers. For those who are afraid of harming the plant, garlic can be used in another way: garlic cloves are cut and laid on the ground, cut down, around the stem of the plant.
The zest of an orange, stuck in and spread out on the ground around the flower, is also able to protect the Clarkia from midges.
They also use a chemical pencil against insects (for example, “Mashenka”), they grind it and sprinkle it with soil.
Insecticides "Bazudin", "Thunder-2" and "Fly-eater" are able to quickly cope with the attack of insects on a flower.
Planting and reproduction
Clarkia is not demanding on maintenance and care, planting and reproduction does not cause any particular difficulties.
Clarkia seedlings grown from seeds are adapted to cool temperatures, they are not afraid of drafts.
Clarkia flower will be bright, and flowering will be long if it is grown on loose, fertile soils. In the case of planting in acidic soil, young plants develop poorly, in most cases they die.
The plant is propagated by sowing seeds in open ground immediately to a permanent place, or to seedlings.
When to plant Clarkia?
Clarkia grown seedlings are planted in late April - early May, when the likelihood of night frosts returning is minimal. The decision to plant a Clarkia in autumn or spring depends on when they want to get a flowering plant. If the seeds are sown directly into the ground, then sowing is done in the second half of September or in the second half of April.
How to collect seeds?
During flowering, 3-4 healthy large flowers should be noticed. After pollination, wilting and at the beginning of the formation of the seed box, an isolation procedure is carried out. To do this, with a clean gauze tape, the fruit is tied tightly, but not tight, to the stem. During this time, the seed box will ripen, and the gauze will not allow the seeds to scatter, thereby eliminating the possibility of self-seeding.
Seeds fully ripen 30 days after the flower has withered. By the dark brown color of the fruit, you can determine that the seeds are fully ripe. They are cut, seeds are taken out, dried on a flat surface. Matchboxes or paper envelopes are well suited for storage.
Preparing seeds for sowing
Before planting clarkia, the seeds are soaked for 2.5-3 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Seeds are wrapped in a napkin, gauze, bandage or cosmetic cotton pad, dipped into the solution. So they do not float and soak well. After the soaking procedure, the seeds are laid out on a sheet of paper or on a clean, dry napkin, dried at room temperature. The seeds are ready for sowing.
Sowing seeds in open ground
In the prepared soil rich in mineral fertilizers, shallow grooves are made 1.5-2 cm deep, at a distance of 4-5 cm from each other. With the help of paper or a toothpick, the seed is placed in recesses, sprinkled with earth, moistened.
It is necessary to cover the crops with a greenhouse, periodically ventilate and moisten the soil as it dries. After 10-14 days, the first shoots will appear. Young shoots are not transplanted, but thinned out, leaving a distance of 10-15 cm between seedlings. You should not do more, otherwise it is difficult to achieve lush and bright flowering from plants. The greenhouse is removed in early May, when the probability of night frosts is very small. In early spring, when sowing clarkia in open ground, young seedlings are not watered, since the soil is sufficiently moistened with melt water.
Seed sowing technology
In the prepared soil, shallow grooves are made at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. Clarkia seeds are sown in recesses, lightly sprinkled with earth. After it is necessary to moisten the soil. This should be done with extreme caution and care, in order to avoid floating seeds from under the ground. Use a spray bottle or a teaspoon. The container with soil is covered with a transparent material (glass, polyethylene) and placed in a well-lit place.
The shelter should be removed daily to ventilate and prevent seed rotting. As soon as the first shoots appear, the transparent cover is removed.
What containers are needed for sowing?
Shallow containers are chosen, which, before loading the soil, for disinfection, are treated with boiling water, wiped with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. For Clarkia seeds, it is preferable to choose medium or large nurseries. You can use individual cups, but they are not as convenient to work with as with wide containers. Planted containers are left in well-lit places, excluding drafts.
Planting clarkia in open ground
12-14 days before planting a herbaceous plant in open ground, they dig up the soil, remove old roots, and apply mineral fertilizers.
The stems of an adult plant are highly branched, as a result of which the distance between plants should be at least 15 cm. If the plants are close to each other, then they must be thinned out, this will allow the plant to maintain a lush, elegant appearance. In the pits for planting, clarks are planted from pots by transshipment, that is, together with a clod of earth. Young bushes do not share, otherwise the roots will be damaged, the plant will die. Next to the bush, a peg or other support is inserted into the soil. To stimulate lush growth and dense branching, the bushes are pinched.
Clarkia seedlings
Seeds for seedlings are sown in containers with prepared soil in early March. The flower obtained in this way has better health, is protected from various weather changes. Young shoots develop and grow quite quickly. When 2-3 true leaves are formed, they are pinched. The seedling method is good for growing clarkia at home in pots. If seedlings are grown for open ground, then transplantation is planned in May.
cultivation
The plant is able to please with its elegant appearance not only in the garden, but also indoors. Growing clarkia at home will not cause any particular difficulties, although in the pot version it will be more modest in size and with less lush flowering. When growing clarkia at home, you should take care of additional lighting, especially in winter.
If the seeds sprout late in the open field and the bush has not completely faded, in the fall it is dug up with a large clod of earth, transplanted into a container and grown at home. Year-round, the bush will not grow even with the best care and maintenance. After the flowers wither, the entire root system gradually dies off.
In spring, seeds are sown in early May. In this case, flowering can be expected in early - mid-July and up to mid-September.
In autumn, the seeds are sown in open ground in the second half of September, in which case the seedlings will grow a little, get stronger and winter under cover. When planting in autumn, flowering occurs much earlier - in early June.
Clarkia in winter
The plant is quite frost-resistant, calmly endures the cold season, but for better preservation, it is recommended to cover the flower after pruning with straw, fallen leaves, and moss. This manipulation is necessary if the plant remains in its original place. But when a new place for planting a clarkia is determined in the spring, the old one is dug up in the fall, all the roots and parts of the plant are removed in order to prevent the development of fungal diseases.
Application in landscape design
Clarkia looks very impressive in group plantings, paths, along fences and walls of buildings. Looks great in pots on balconies and terraces. Clarkia graceful and other varieties will perfectly fit and complement various flower beds, will decorate the garden.
Combination with other plants
Clarkia looks great next to other light-loving and decorative flowers. An excellent color ensemble is obtained from Clarkia with roses, peonies, daisies, oleanders, delphiniums, asters, phloxes. Clarkia is an excellent cut flower. In vases with water, Clarkia bouquets can stand for 10-15 days, while continuing to bloom buds.
Clarkia is a very spectacular and aesthetic annual plant, the flowers of which, in their appearance, resemble something between Japanese sakura and dwarf roses. This cute little bush with velvet flowers can be grown in any garden plot if desired. The abundance of colors, ease of care and easy sowing - all this is an elegant Clarkia. Growing from seeds is just one way to create a beautiful flower garden.
The first Clarkia came to Europe thanks to a clergyman named Clark, who brought this plant from America. In honor of him, an annual variety was named. Now there are many clarks of different colors: pink, white, lilac, orange, red. There are varieties in two shades or covered with strokes and dots.
The leaves on the stem are oval, rich emerald hue with burgundy veins. The plant can reach 60 cm in height. Small flowers are combined at the top of the stem into an inflorescence.
In summer cottages there are 3 types of clarkia:
- "Marigold", or "graceful". Plant with abundant branches, reaching a height of 1 meter. Seeds of this variety are able to germinate 4 years after removal from the flower, flowers of the correct form up to 40 mm in diameter. Active flowering persists from July to early autumn. This plant variety is adapted for the climate of the Russian regions.
- "Public" or "pretty". This is a dwarf shrub with stems up to 40 cm, which is also strewn with small flowers of a symmetrical shape and different colors. A pretty Clarkia is distinguished by an unusual structure of the petals: each is divided into 3 identical parts, which are widely spaced from the center. Blooms a little earlier than the previous variety.
- Clarkia "Brevery". More recently, it has become widespread as a frost-resistant variety. Flowers resemble butterfly wings, do not exceed 30 mm in diameter. A pleasant aroma during the flowering of the Clarkia Brewery spreads throughout the site. The plant is also dwarf, reaching a maximum height of 50 cm, and some varieties do not grow above 30 cm.
All of these varieties are mainly represented by pink and lilac flowers of various shades from muted to saturated. All other subtypes are just varieties of these varieties or simply similar flowers.
Important! You can grow a Clarkia not only for location on a garden plot. There are original undersized representatives who feel good at home. The most spectacular of them are the varieties "Joy" and "Hava Sun", which have salmon and raspberry shades.
The nuances of growing clarkia
A gardener who has the idea to plant this plant on his site needs to get acquainted with the recommendations for growing it. For example:
- the plant looks as impressive as possible if it is planted not in single nests, but in the form of a composition;
- clarkia can grow a lot of lateral branches, which must be taken into account during the distribution of plantings on the site;
- varieties with a long stem may need a safety net in the form of a peg, which is installed immediately at the time of sowing, so that in the future a strong wind does not break the flower;
- between seedlings or seeds during planting should remain a distance of no more than 20 cm, otherwise the plant will not be able to bloom profusely.
About 2 weeks before transplanting the plant into the ground or sowing the seeds, the area where the flowers will be located must be dug up and the old roots removed.
Clarkia seed prices
clarky seeds
Preparing for landing
Before placing a flower in an open garden plot, complex preparation is required, which affects both the land where the plant will be grown, the seeds, and the place for planting. The principles of preparation will be the same regardless of the landing method, and they are all listed in the table.
Clarkia begins to bloom about 60 days after planting, and flowering ends at the first frost.
Important! On average, the growing season takes about 5 months, during which time the flower manages to grow full-fledged seeds. They are harvested and used as planting material in the future. Varietal seeds taken on the site retain all their unique characteristics, which is very important for a summer resident.
How to grow Clarkia from seeds
There are two ways of planting a plant - in the form of seeds in the ground or in the form of seedlings. Most often, gardeners opt for the first method, especially if you plan to create an abundant flower garden.
Option 1: planting directly into the ground
So, the place for the future flower garden has been determined, the seeds have been prepared, the soil has been fertilized with mineral components. The time has come for the direct sowing of flowers.
The plant in question, like most other annuals, mainly grows from seeds. The algorithm will be as follows:
- Several shallow grooves up to 2 cm deep are made in the ground at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other.
- Seeds are laid out in the grooves with a toothpick or tweezers, after which they are lightly pressed to the surface. If the earth is heavy and clayey, the seeds are mixed with sand and poured into the grooves.
- Seeds are sprinkled with earth and sprayed with water from a spray bottle. Do not immediately water the bed from a watering can, as a dense jet of water can wash the seeds out of the soil.
- After 2 weeks, the seedlings should give a couple of real leaves. The sprouts are thinned out in such a way that between the plants in the same row there is a distance of at least 10 and no more than 20 cm. Such an optimal distance will allow the plant to be covered with flowers as densely as possible.
Moistened crops are covered with a film and aired regularly, but without creating drafts. Covering with non-woven material will not only provide the flower with comfortable warmth, but also protect it from garden fleas and direct sunlight. The film is removed when the probability of night frosts is reduced to a minimum.
If the choice is made in favor of winter sowing, the procedure begins with the arrival of the first cold weather. Seeds should not hatch, but even if they do, they will easily survive the winter. The plants obtained by this method are characterized by increased resistance to adverse conditions, and flowering will begin in the 3rd decade of July.
Important! If planting occurs in early spring, watering can be omitted, since the soil is already sufficiently moistened by melted snow.
Option 2: sowing seedlings
Some gardeners use the seedling method of growing clarkia so that it blooms as quickly as possible. Sowing seeds takes place from mid-March to early April and is distinguished by the following algorithm:
- A container with prepared soil is covered with grooves by analogy with planting in open ground. The width between the rows here is already less - 4-5 cm.
- Seeds are mixed with sand and evenly poured into the grooves, after which they are slightly pressed down and irrigated with moisture. Clarkia seed is weightless and looks like dust, so it is not necessary to deepen it much.
- The container is turned into a kind of greenhouse: it is covered with a film and placed in a sunny place (on the windowsill). The earth is regularly sprayed with water.
- Shoots will appear approximately on the 10th - 12th day. When 2 full-fledged fresh leaves appeared on the sprout, the shoots begin to be seated in separate cups. Peat pots are ideal, which are later planted in open ground along with the flower.
- Seedlings that have grown at home are transplanted to a garden plot in the 3rd decade of May. As a rule, during this period, frosts are no longer terrible.
You can read more about sowing and growing seedlings of flowers.
It is important for a gardener who grows Clarkia to remember that this plant is pollinated on its own. If representatives of different varieties coexist, the seeds will lose their characteristics and varietal uniqueness.
Important! Annual plants that are grown in vases or flower beds require increased moisture. To provide them with liquid, hydrogel tablets are placed on the bottom before planting. They will retain moisture and supply it to the plant as needed.
Planter box prices
seedling boxes
When to plant a Clarkia?
The period when the plant is transferred to the beds depends on the method that is chosen for sowing:
- Planting directly into the soil. When sowing seeds directly into the ground, it is better to choose the autumn period: from the 2nd half of September. Sowing is also allowed in mid-April.
- Planting in the form of seedlings. Young shoots that have formed after sowing seedlings are transferred to uncovered ground in the 3rd decade of April or early May. Transplantation is permissible during a period when the likelihood of a return of frost is fading.
When planting a plant in the form of seeds, the gardener has a greater choice of time for planting, since the seeds are not afraid of frost. With this method, you can plant flowers before winter, without fear that they will freeze and not sprout.
How to care for seedlings?
Clarkia seeds hatch and appear from the ground at about 8-12 days. They need to provide care, which consists of the following procedures:
- Rarefaction of young shoots. It is necessary to leave strong plants, removing all weak shoots.
- Topping. In order to provide the plant with good bushiness, at a shoot with a height of at least 10 cm, you need to pinch off the upper part. This will stimulate the development of buds and accelerate the onset of flowering, as well as shape the design of the bush to your liking.
- Watering. Young shoots should be watered regularly, focusing on the drying of the topsoil.
- Fertilizer. The first mineralization is carried out 15-16 days after the emergence of sprouts. For fertilizing use fertilizer with a high concentration of nitrogen.
For shoots that have reached the age of three weeks, they begin to take care of them as adult plants.
The best solution for seedlings - planting in peat pots
Azofoska prices
Azofoska
Algorithm for transplanting clarkia into open ground
When it gets warm outside, the seedlings are moved to the beds. If the plants are in plastic pots, they are moved by transshipment, that is, with a large clod of earth.
A peg is placed next to each flower, which will serve as support. Young shoots that are intertwined do not need to be separated, otherwise they will not survive. The interval between groups of plants remains the same as with open planting of seeds in the ground - from 20 to 30 cm.
How to care for clarkia in the garden
This flowering plant does not require increased care. Clarkia care includes several items, which are presented in the table.
Table 2. Principles of care for clarkia graceful
Procedures | Peculiarities |
---|---|
Watering | This plant does not need high humidity. It should be watered only if it is very hot outside and there is no rain. Humidification should be moderate - water should quickly enter the soil, and not stagnate on the surface. In normal weather, the Clarkia has enough moisture, which falls along with precipitation. |
Fertilizer | Plants are fertilized twice / thrice a season. The first top dressing occurs at the beginning of bud growth, the last - during flowering. Clarkia is not suitable for organic fertilizers with a nitrogen content, as it does not tolerate overly fertilized soil. Mineral compounds are used as top dressing. |
Weeding and loosening | Weeds around the clarkia are removed as they appear. Weeding must be combined with loosening the soil in order to provide the root system with oxygen access. |
pruning | To create a beautiful flowering bush, it is necessary to remove wilted inflorescences. Most of them are cut off. This will not only preserve the external aesthetics, but also save the plant from wasting energy: instead of providing wilted inflorescences with juices, it will begin to develop new ones. You can leave a few dried flowers if the grower plans to remove the seeds for planting in the coming season. |
The soil around the Clarkia can be mulched: covered with a protective layer of leaves or cut grass. Such a procedure can solve many problems, protecting the plant from the appearance of weeds and keeping the earth moist for a long time after watering.
After flowering, the upper part of the Clarkia is completely cut off, like any other annual plant. The earth under the flower is dug up, and the roots are removed. Gardeners recommend burning the root system taken out of the ground.
Pests and diseases of clarkia
The plant is not prone to frequent diseases, but sometimes dirty spots with dark borders appear on the foliage or flowers. Such spots signal the appearance of a fungal disease. As a rule, the fungus spreads if the soil is too damp. To cure the plant, it is treated with fungicides twice a week.
Clarkia grows in nature in North America, from there, namely from California, in the 19th century the navigator William Clark brought them to Europe, whose surname gave the name to the flower.
Clarkia flowers are one-year-old and belong to the Cypriot family - tall herbal plants that reach the height of human growth and above.
There are about 30 species, three of which are considered the most popular:
- Clarkia marigold has a height of about 100 cm, its stems are thin and strong, woody in the lower part.
- Oval-shaped leaves grow on the stems, the edges of which have uneven teeth.
- The color of the leaves is blue-green with reddish veins. Clarkia marigold flowers are available in white, red, pink and blue.
- The petals are singly placed in the leaf axils, have the correct shape, 4 cm in diameter.
Clarkia pretty begins to bloom two weeks earlier than marigold.
It belongs to the dwarf plants of the Cyprus family, therefore the height of the plant usually does not exceed 40 cm. Its stems are dotted with long thin green leaves pointed to the top.
Flowers are ordinary or double, in deciduous axils they can be placed singly and in several pieces.
The petals of pretty clarkia have an unusual shape - divided into three parts (this species is also called - elk horns).
Clarkia breveri has branched stems about 50 cm high, which are dotted with small fleshy green leaves, oval in shape.
The flowers have a characteristic pleasant aroma, small petals are similar to butterfly wings, the size of the petals is about 3 cm in diameter.
Cultivation of clarkia
Clarkia flowers are propagated by seeds that can be planted immediately on the street (street seedling method) or in special containers, the cultivation takes place in a closed warm room, where later sprouted sprouts will need to be transplanted into open street soil (greenhouse seedling method).
With a street seedless method of growing clarkia, seeds should be planted at the end of autumn or in April in a nested way - together 5 pieces at a distance of 30-40 cm between nests.
Seeds are not planted deep, they are simply pressed into the ground and sprinkled with earth a little.
The soil will need to be prepared in advance: 14 days before sowing, add about a kilogram of peat to M2., After carefully digging the ground.
This is necessary for good fertilization, which contributes to better plant growth, since Clarkia needs a slightly acidic soil. Also, to prepare the soil, you can add 30 g of sulfate and superphosphate to it.
When your soil is not suitable, has a high pH, it can be acidified with the same peat or with 60 g of sulfur per m2 of soil.
Also, in order to oxidize the soil, you can pour the area with a solution of oxalic and citric acid (40 g per 10 liters of water). When the soil is too acidic, the soil is limed, and if it is too oily, sand is added.
The sown seeds of Clarkia will sprout in 14 days, at which time they can already be thinned out, but not much: it looks much better with lush bushes.
Clarkia, planted in autumn, also germinates before the onset of winter, the sprouts are well preserved under cover of snow and cope well with the cold.
It's okay if the seeds do not germinate, since they can also lie in the ground until spring.
The seedling method is more comfortable for plants, with this method there is a very high probability that a flower will grow from each seed. You need to plant in March, and by the beginning of June, the Clarkia will bloom.
Do not plant the seeds deep, just lightly press down and sprinkle with earth, then sprinkle with water and cover with a film or glass. Put in a warm and fairly bright place, but without direct sunlight.
When the first sprouts appear, the cover can be removed, and at the first leaflets it can already be transplanted outside.
How to care for clarkia?
Clarkia is quite unpretentious, it needs to be watered only during dry periods twice a week, with a small amount of water so that the earth can completely absorb it.
When the season is rather mild, not dry, the rain moisture will be enough for the plant.
In the flowering stage, the Clarkia will need to be fed with mineral fertilizers twice a month, and in order for all the energy of the plant to be spent on buds, the seed flasks will need to be cut off.
The flowers of Clarkia graceful from afar resemble miniature roses, strung on a straight long stem and numerous shoots. The plant branches strongly, forming as a result a lush bush that blooms until the arrival of cold weather. Clarkia graceful, due to its unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention, beauty and grace, has gained popularity among flower growers and is successfully grown in many garden plots. The growing process does not require special knowledge and skills, and even beginners can do it.
Description of the plant and popular varieties
The Clarkia is native to Chile and parts of North America. According to the description, this plant is an annual with a stem height of up to 90 cm. Dark green leaves on short petioles are alternately arranged on the stem. The flowers are located in the axils of the leaves on short pedicels. The color of the petals can be in pink, lilac and purple shades of varying intensity. Flowers are simple and double with smooth or dissected edges of the petals. Clarkia fruits are small boxes with seeds that open when ripe.
The genus Clarkia has only about 30 species, of which only 4 are used in ornamental gardening.
Clarkia graceful forms a bush up to 90 cm high with a strongly branching stem. The leaves are dark green in color and have an oval shape with serrated edges. Loose racemes are formed at the tops of the stems. The flowering period begins in June and lasts until October. Among the most famous varieties are Brilliant, Albatross, Gloriosa. The planting of varietal mixtures of clarkia graceful colors looks very nice. For example, a mixture of Fantasy allows you to grow white, red-pink and purple double flowers, and a mixture of Charm can produce a wide range of shades.
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Clarkia pretty is compact in size and does not exceed 40 cm in height. The plant has elongated green leaves with a pointed tip. Axillary flowers are located at the ends of the shoots in small inflorescences. The flowering period begins in the last days of May.
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Clarkia Brewery was bred not so long ago. Small bushes up to half a meter high are resistant to cold. Small flowers have a symmetrical structure and are somewhat similar to sakura flowers.
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Clarkia terry is characterized by strong branching, due to which it forms dense thickets. Double flowers can be white, burgundy, pink or purple.
How to sow seeds?
You can grow graceful clarkia in seedling or seedless way. If growing from seeds is carried out directly in the ground, then the best time for this is April or early May, as well as late autumn. When digging a plot for clarkia, 1 kg of peat and 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Two weeks after fertilizing in groups of 4–5, seeds are sown, keeping a distance of at least 20 cm. They do not need to be buried in the ground, just spread over the surface and sprinkled with a thin layer of earth. After two weeks, the first shoots appear. If the seeds are planted in the fall, then the sprouts appear in early spring.
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Seeds for seedlings should be sown in March, then flowering will begin in early June. To do this, they are laid out on the surface of slightly acidic soil and slightly pressed with a plank. Then the crops are moistened with water from a spray bottle and the container is covered with a film or glass. Germination is carried out in a warm and bright place, avoiding direct sunlight. Glass is removed immediately after germination, but before transplanting into the ground, seedlings are kept in a warm and dry place. When the seedlings acquire the first leaves, they dive into separate cups.
Transplanting seedlings in open ground
It is necessary to move seedlings to open ground at the end of May, when warm weather finally sets in. If the seedlings have grown strongly, the transplant can be moved to mid-May. Two weeks before this, site preparation begins:
- if the soil is not acidic enough, it is necessary to dig with the addition of 1 kg of peat for every 1 m2 or 60 g of sulfur;
- if the acidity is too high, lime is added during digging;
- too greasy soil is dug up with sand.
Shallow pits are made on the prepared site, in which seedlings should be planted in groups of several, along with a clod of earth.
When transplanting, it is important not to deepen the growth point. This slows down the rate of clarcia growth and causes a lack of flowering.
A rail is placed next to each hole, to which the plant will then be tied. Different varieties of Clarkia should be planted at some distance from each other to prevent cross-pollination. After planting, the seedlings need to be watered and the tops pinched a little so that the plant branches better.
Care
Clarkia is undemanding to the conditions of detention, and caring for it in the open field is not considered burdensome. Plants should be watered regularly, as the top layer of the earth dries out. If the root system does not have enough moisture, the flower signals this by yellowing the shoots and leaves. But it is not necessary to fill in the Clarkia, excess moisture causes rotting of the roots. If precipitation regularly falls in the summer, then there is no need to additionally water the plant. In dry and hot weather, irrigation is carried out in small portions.
To prevent overgrowth of clarkia with weeds, it is better to mulch the soil around the plant.
After transplantation, Clarkia needs to be fed twice a month, using solutions of mineral fertilizers suitable for flowering plants. To preserve the decorativeness of the bush, as the shoots wither, they need to be cut off. When flowering is fully completed, all remaining stems are cut off and the site is dug up.
If you need to collect seeds, you need to select several inflorescences in advance and, after the flower wilts, tie them with a thin cloth made of natural fibers. This will prevent the seeds from spilling onto the soil after the final ripening and opening of the seed box. After a month, the box is cut off and dried, if necessary. Ripe seeds are poured onto paper and packed for storage. The material collected in this way can be used for 4 years.
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Clarkia can be grown not only in open ground, but also at home. Such a plant will have smaller sizes and small flowers. Plants are placed on well-lit window sills or on a balcony. With additional illumination, Clarkia can also be grown in the winter season. This method is also suitable for those plants that sprouted late in the garden and did not have time to bloom before the onset of cold weather. In this case, they are dug up and placed in a pot along with a clod of earth. Homes for the plant create the usual conditions of detention so that it can complete its vegetative cycle.
The plant was brought from Chile by Captain William Clark. It is a herbaceous annual with a height of 60-90 cm. The stems of the Clarkia are pubescent, have many branches. The leaves are oblong, sessile, bright green. The flowers are collected in inflorescences, racemose or spicate. Rare varieties have single flowers, their color and shape are varied. Seeds ripen in elongated fruits. Growing clarkia from seeds does not cause many problems, which is why it is popular.
Growing from seed
Growing a Clarkia from seeds is not difficult. They can be purchased at the store, but assembled at home will do. To do this, you need to choose the most beautiful flowers, after flowering, tie them with gauze, wait for ripening, cut off the fruits and shake out the seeds. Well ripened, they are brown in color and slightly larger than a poppy seed.
Seeds successfully tolerate adverse conditions and have a good germination rate if planted in autumn.
Clarkia also reproduces by self-sowing. In this case, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving the largest and most viable specimens. You can also sow Clarkia in open ground in the second half of spring.
For plants grown in greenhouses, the flowering period begins earlier, already in early summer. Seedlings planted before winter bloom two or three weeks later. And when seeds are planted immediately in open ground, flowering occurs in the second half of summer, sometimes in early August.
Also, the beginning of flowering is influenced by the weather conditions of the region. Some hybrids, especially terry varieties, are recommended to be grown only in seedlings. But the root system of plants of similar varieties is sensitive to transplantation, they should be sown in peat tablets or cups.
What are the landing times?
The phases of the moon have an impact on the rate of growth and development of plants. You can not plant and sow them on the days of the new moon or full moon.
It is important to take into account the fact that during the growing phase of the moon, the tops of plants develop intensively, so this time is favorable for sowing seeds. When the moon wanes, favorable conditions are created for the development of the root system and the removal of dried parts of the flower (pruning).
In 2019, the following dates will be favorable for sowing Clarkia seeds:
- March - 10, 12, 15;
- April - 7, 11, 18;
- May - 9, 10, 15, 17;
- June - 5, 6, 12, 13, 16;
- July - 8, 9, 11, 14, 16.
For landing, transplanting and picking, favorable conditions will be on such days:
- March - 10, 12, 16;
- April - 7, 11, 18;
- May - 8, 15, 18;
- June - 6, 11, 14, 15;
- July - 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16;
- August - 5, 7, 10, 11, 12;
- September - 1, 4, 6.9.
The most popular types and varieties with photos
Popular varieties for growing clarkia from seed are as follows.
Clarkia graceful
This is an annual plant with a height of 70 cm to 1 m. The form is a bush with thin stems that are covered with bark at the base. The leaves are oblong, have veins and serrated edges. The colors of the elegant Clarkia are varied - there are red, pink, white, purple, purple and even blue shades. The flower reaches a size of up to 5 cm, can be simple or double.
Clarkia pretty (dwarf)
Does not reach more than 40 cm in height. The leaves are dark green, slightly elongated and pointed. Petals are small, but strongly dissected. Double flowers have crimson, lavender, pink and purple colors. The variety has a long flowering from May to October.
Clarkia Mademoiselle
Differs in large terry flowers of bright red color. Feels good in open places with loose soil. Doesn't like too much moisture. It is an excellent honey plant, cold-resistant. Seeds germinate at a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees. It is preferable to grow seedlings.
Clarkia Fantasy
Reaches a height of 75 cm. Likes sunny dry places for landing. Suitable for decorating flower beds and cutting. The flowers are large, double, bright colors.
Brewery
In addition to the quality of shoots for cutting and bright colors, the variety is also cold-resistant. Brewery seeds can be sown in open ground. The timing of flowering in Clarkia is the latest.
Sakura
It has a delicate coloring of flowers, belongs to the early varieties. Plants are suitable for cutting.
How to grow
Cold stratification brings good results. Proper cultivation requires:
- Treat the seeds with a solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide before sowing.
- Put on the surface of the soil and press a little into the surface. Since the seeds are small, they can be mixed with sand 1 to 10.
- Moisten the soil with a spray gun, cover the container with a film or glass.
It is necessary to dive seedlings after the appearance of the first leaves on the tenth day from sowing. Before planting in open ground, young plants are kept in a greenhouse or planted directly into the ground in late April or May.
When growing Clarkia in seedlings, it is important to choose the right soil mixture. This plant prefers the following soil composition: humus, river sand, peat, leafy soil. Ratio: 1:1:1:2. It will not be superfluous to disinfect the soil with a slightly pink tint of potassium permanganate.
For the stability of the shoots, you can install a peg in the center of the group, tie up young plants. Stems that have reached a height of 12 cm are pinched at the top to form a crown.
Plant care after planting
Grown seedlings are planted in open ground in May, when there is no threat of frost. If plants of different varieties grow on the same site, their seeds will not have varietal qualities.
In open ground, Clarkia grows well in sunny areas, prefers space and loose, slightly acidic soil. Plants need to be watered only in very severe drought. Top dressing is done twice a month with mineral fertilizers.
It is important to remove wilted flower stalks. Tall varieties need support. Clarkia goes well with other flowers in the flower beds. Chemical treatment is recommended to protect against diseases.
Clarkia is a hardy plant that thrives in dry, sunny areas. Easily grown by seedlings and sowing in the ground. Suitable for decorating flower beds and cutting.