Lupine is a flower that belongs to the legume family. The crop, depending on the variety, can be classified as annuals, herbaceous perennials, shrubs and shrubs. Owners of private houses prefer perennial varieties of wolf bean, which are characterized by unpretentiousness and plentiful flowering.
What does lupine look like?
The root system of a representative of the legume family is endowed with a core structure. Roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria are able to go into the soil to a depth of 150-200 cm. The stems of the plant are plentifully dotted with foliage. Branches of decorative culture grow upward. Leaf plates have elongated outlines. Inflorescences are collected in lush multi-flowered brushes.
Wolf bob
Lupine flowers, which can also be called wolf bean, can be colored in different colors:
- blue
- white
- purple
- reds;
- pink;
- orange tones.
A single bract is susceptible to early decay. Beans ripen inside the rounded seeds.
Important! Flowering of wolf bean usually begins in late May. When pruning the plants before the start of seed formation, re-flowering can be achieved.
History and interesting facts
Flowers translated from Latin mean the proud predator of the wolf. The homeland of decorative culture is considered the territory of North America. The history of culture dates back to ancient Greece. Since ancient times, inflorescences of wild lupins have been used to decorate the tombs of the pharaohs. At first, lupine was ruthlessly removed from the fields, but gradually, as hybrid varieties of wolf bean spread, it began to be used for decorative purposes.
It is worth highlighting the special contribution of the famous breeder Russell, thanks to whom the world saw such varieties:
- Mine Schloss;
- Splendid;
- Burg Freuilin.
Lupine not only has an amazing appearance, but also useful properties. The flowers contain a large percentage of protein and protein. The presence of a rod root system reaching a depth of 2 m allows you to well loosen the soil. Small swellings on the root system contribute to the absorption of nitrogen and enrichment of the soil.
On a note! Often florists are interested in whether lupins are poisonous or not. It is worth considering that the seeds and foliage of the decorative culture contain toxic substances.
Flowering lupine
Varieties of perennial lupine
Among the most common types of wolf bean, there are four of the most popular.
White lupine
This flower is capable of selfing. The height of the bushes reaches 180-200 cm. Straight stems are pubescent, and on delicate inflorescences there are flowers painted in white. The variety is resistant to a long dry period.
Lupine yellow
This plant has sparse and hairy foliage. Gorgeous flowers located on short pedicels, painted in yellow tones and endowed with a pleasant aroma. Seeds along the lateral edges are slightly flattened.
Lupine leafy
Reaches up to 110-140 cm in height, endowed with naturally pubescent foliage. Flowering begins in mid-July. Flowers can be painted in blue, white or purple shades. The variety is resistant to frost.
Note! Florists grow multi-leafed lupine even in regions with harsh climates.
Narrow lupine
This herbaceous type of wolf bean grows up to 90-145 cm. Leaf blades are palmate, separate and slightly pubescent on the underside. Large lupine flowers are painted in white, pink and purple hues.
Care Features
Planting and caring for perennial lupins is considered a fairly simple process. When choosing a place to plant a lupine, you should give preference to sunny or barely shaded areas on the site. It is permissible to plant decorative seeds near fruit trees.
Priming
Wolf beans grow well in almost any soil. However, it is best to prefer loose drained soil when planting wildflowers. In cases when it is planned to sow seeds on alkaline soil, it is worth taking care of the preliminary introduction of peat into the ground (5 kg will be required for each square meter). Compliance with this condition will avoid yellowing of plants.
When planting lupine on acidic soil, it is recommended to take care of preliminary liming. To this end, you can use lime flour. For each square meter, 5 kg of flour is required. Liming is carried out every 4 years.
In the first years after planting, the perennial does not require special care. It is only necessary to systematically deal with weeds and loosen the ground. With the onset of spring, fertilizing is introduced into the soil:
- superphosphate - for each square meter, 15-20 g is enough;
- potassium chloride - for 10 sq.m it is necessary to take 45-50 g.
3 years after planting, it is important to examine the root necks of plants. They must not be allowed to rise above the ground surface. This can lead to the death of a decorative culture. In cases of separation of the side outlets, it is necessary to immediately proceed to the earthing up of lupine.
Note! To prevent breakage of the bushes, it is better to tie the grown seedlings to the support.
When determining the irrigation schedule, it is important to consider the composition of the soil. The plant needs abundant moisture in the soil at the time of bud formation and immediately after planting.
Wildflowers
Winter Care Features
Despite the high level of frost resistance, experienced growers recommend not neglecting the preparation of bushes for winter cold.
- In mid-autumn, part of the plants protruding above the ground is cut off.
- The bushes are swollen so that the bare root neck is securely covered.
- The surface of the soil is covered with a layer of sawdust. The layer thickness should be within 5-7 cm.
When the lupins bloom
The flowering period of a candle-shaped lupine begins in late May. Admire the chic colors you can only 3 weeks. Gradually, the brushes lose their decorative qualities, and at the bottom the seed ovary process begins.
The height of multi-flowered brushes can exceed 50 cm. Flowers are painted in white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue and blue. Breeders bred varieties that, during the flowering period, delight gardeners with blue-white and white-pink flowers. Two-tone species of lupine are widely popular.
Important! Fading brushes can be removed without regret.
How do lupins breed?
Flowers can be grown by seed and cuttings.
Seeds
In the first year after the planting of lupine seeds, admire the chic flowering will not succeed.
Step-by-step landing process
- In the first weeks of October, dig a zone intended for planting seed material. A small amount of superphosphate, sand and wood ash is added to the excavated soil.
- In April, grooves are excavated in the landing zone, the depth of which reaches 18–20 mm. Between the grooves it is worth leaving a distance of 40-55 cm.
- Seeds are disinfected in a solution of a fungicidal agent. After drying, the seeds are placed in the grooves.
- Sprinkling the crops with a layer of soil, you can go to moisten the soil. The first shoots should be expected after 14-15 days.
- After the second leaf appears on the bush, you can begin to dive seedlings into a pre-selected zone. Between the bushes it is important to leave a distance of 40-50 cm.
The phased process of growing seedlings at home
- Before planting, it is necessary to start preparing a soil mixture consisting of sand, sheet soil and peat.
- Soil is poured into containers with a drainage layer, and grooves are pulled out, with a depth of 18-20 mm. A small part of peat is crushed above.
- The containers with crops are covered with polyethylene material and sent to a warm room. After a couple of weeks, you can see the first shoots.
- As soon as 2-3 leaves appear on the seedlings, you can plant the plants in open ground.
Lupine
Propagation by cuttings
How else can wildflowers be propagated? In the case when the cuttings are carried out in the spring, the formation of the first inflorescences can be expected already this fall.
Reproduction order:
- From basal rosettes, which are formed from growth buds, cuttings are harvested. The processes need to be cut with root necks.
- For 14-15 days, chopped cuttings are placed in a well-moistened mixture consisting of soil and river sand.
- As soon as new roots are formed, containers with rooted cuttings can be transferred to the balcony. After another week, it is necessary to plant the bushes in the open ground. Do not keep seedlings in pots for a long time.
Note! Performing cuttings, it is unacceptable to divide the bush. The core root system of lupine is not able to regenerate after damage.
Possible problems in growing lupine
Lupins are susceptible to diseases and pests. Often the bushes attack:
- weevils;
- sprout flies;
- aphid.
Very often, an insect attack begins during the flowering period. To preserve plants, it is necessary to use insecticides. Processing should be not only bushes, but also the soil. The most effective insecticides include:
- Aktaru;
- Angio;
- Calypso.
Among the main ailments that lupine is susceptible to, one can distinguish:
- brown spotting;
- powdery mildew;
- black rot.
The cause of the disease is fungal microorganisms that actively breed in wetlands. To prevent the occurrence of diseases, you should give preference when choosing a place for planting, sunny areas. Infected bushes must be removed immediately. The remaining plantings are sprayed with a solution of colloidal sulfur.
On a note! For preventive purposes, experienced flower growers recommend using healthy seed material, previously soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate, for sowing.
Experts have developed a number of recommendations to grow wolf beans healthy and able to cope with any ailment:
- In the same place, perennial lupins can be sown no more than 1 time in 4 years.
- In the interval between plantings of lupine, it is advisable to plant cereals.
- It is important to weed bushes from weeds in a timely manner and to treat them with desiccants during prolonged autumn rains.
Perennial Lupine variety
Use in landscape design
Lupins are amazing plants that will bring notes of sophistication and originality to any flower garden. Landscape designers often use a decorative culture, both in group and in a single landing. Candle flowers are ideal for planting along lawns. The variety of shades of colors is an undoubted advantage.
Unpretentious plants, called wolf bean, will decorate any garden. Often flower growers are interested in whether it is possible to put lupins at home? Plants can be grown not only in open ground, but also in pots. Why not plant these flowers on your balcony. An abundance of varieties will allow each grower to choose a decorative culture to their liking.
