Hionodoxa is an early perennial with beautiful flowers in the form of multi-colored stars. A few plant genus belongs to the hyacinth family. It is common in Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. Hionodoxa appears in early spring for a very short time. Already on the thawed patches of lush greenery will remind of spring and the awakening of nature. The first flowers are able to cover the lawn with a continuous carpet. At this time of the year, hionodox have no competitors. And after a few weeks, the inflorescences and shoots will completely fade and give way to the later inhabitants of the flower garden.
Plant description
Chionodoxa is a bulbous perennial plant with a height of only 8-15 cm. The egg-shaped bulbs are covered with light scales. Their length is 1.5-3 cm. Several linear, erect leaves with parallel veins grow from the bulbous neck. The length of the bright green leaf reaches 12 cm. In the center of the leaf rosette there is a peduncle with several bell-shaped flowers. On a thin, upright stalk, yellow-brown stripes are visible.
Each bud consists of six wide-open petals. They have an oblong shape with smooth edges and a rounded end. The diameter of the corolla is 2.5-4 cm. The color of the flowers is white, pink, blue, violet or lilac. Sometimes the intensity of staining varies from the edge to the center of the bud. Flowering begins in April and lasts 2-3 weeks. It is accompanied by a delicate, pleasant aroma.
After pollination, the fruit ripens - the seed box. Each miniature seed has a nutritious appendage. For the sake of these appendages, ants collect seeds. They carry them over long distances.
Types and varieties of chionodoxes
In the genus of chionodoxes, only 8 plant species were registered. The most widespread Hionodox Lucilius. It has bulbs about 3 cm high. Above them is a rosette of narrow dark green leaves. In the center is a peduncle up to 20 cm long with several buds. Lilac flowers with a diameter of about 25 mm open in turn. By June, all shoots are completely dry. The popular chionodox Lucilia Alba with snow-white petals and Rosea - with pale pink buds.
Hionodox giant. The plant has wider leaves. All shoots are painted dark green. The bush itself does not exceed 10-12 cm in height. The variety received the name for large flowers. The diameter of the corolla reaches 4 cm. The edges of light purple or bluish petals are slightly wavy, covered with irregularities.
Hionodox Sardinian. A bunch of leaves blooms over the ovoid brownish bulbs, their length is 8-12 cm. In the center is a dense inflorescence with 8-10 bright blue buds up to 2 cm in diameter. The length of the dense peduncle is 10-12 cm. The variety may bloom already at the end of March .
Hionodox Forbes. This plant is the largest in size. The height of the flowering bush is 22-25 cm. The inflorescence in the form of a loose brush 10-15 cm long consists of several blue flowers. The core of each flower has a lighter, almost white color. The diameter of the corolla is 10-35 mm.
Breeding methods
The reproduction of chionodoxes is possible with the help of seeds and daughter bulbs. Seeds ripen in oblong capsules. They should be collected at the end of May. The plant also gives abundant self-seeding. Harvested seeds should be dried and stored until mid-October. Sow them immediately in the open ground, in the winter. Shallow holes are made in the selected area and they try to evenly distribute the seed. Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of earth and gently moisturize. In winter, you should cover the site with a layer of snow, which will create the necessary microclimate. In the spring, the first shoots appear in the thawed patches. Seedlings bloom 3-4 years after planting.
Every year, several daughter branches are formed next to the mother onion. They can be carefully excavated in mid-July and separated from each other. Dried onions are stored for 5-6 weeks in a cool place. You can put them in a paper bag, which is placed on a shelf for vegetables in the refrigerator. In early September, the bulbs are taken out, pickled and planted in open ground to a depth of 6-10 cm. The larger the specimen, the deeper it is planted. Flowering of such seedlings will occur in the coming spring.
Bulb life cycle and forcing
The first shoots of hionodoxes appear in the spring, during the snowmelt. Depending on the region, this may occur in March or April. Almost simultaneously with the leaves, a peduncle appears, which means flowering will not take long. Flowers are stored for 18-22 days, and then gradually fade. After a few weeks, the foliage begins to turn yellow and dry. Usually, by the beginning of June, the entire terrestrial part of the primrose dies. It is not necessary to dig bulbs; they can remain in the ground until the next season.
Since hionodoxes look good in potted compositions, bulb distillation is practiced. It allows you to get a flowering plant in early March. To do this, dig out the bulbs in the summer and dry them in a cool room. In September, they are planted in a pot with loose, garden soil to a depth of 3 cm. 6-7 onions can be placed in each container. Until November, the pot is kept on the street, and then put in a cool basement or refrigerator. In January, the container is transferred to a bright but cool room and carefully watered. The first sprouts appear quite quickly and already at the end of February the pot is decorated with a flowering bush.
Rules of landing and care
Hionodox should be planted in sunny places or in slight shading. Small hills or rocky areas are suitable. The soil for flowers should have a neutral acidity and light structure. Avoid lowlands, where water often stagnates, as well as heavy, clay soils.
Before planting, dig and level the ground well. To increase its fertility, you need to make the necessary amount of organic and mineral fertilizers (compost, humus, ash). So that the gas exchange and drainage processes are not hindered, sand or gravel is introduced. Thickets of chionodoxes can grow in one place for a very long time. However, so that the plants do not grow smaller, they should be replanted every 5-7 years.
Caring for chionodox in open ground is practically unnecessary. It is very rare for a plant to suffer from drought in spring. Moisture from melted snow and spring rains nourishes flowers in sufficient quantities. It is necessary to ensure that the water does not stagnate. For better aeration, weeding and loosening of the ground near the curtains is recommended.
With the advent of the first shoots, you need to perform a one-time feeding. Nitrogen fertilizers are recommended. Powder in dry form is scattered on the ground, trying not to get on the leaves.
Chionodoxes are resistant to diseases and pests. Bulbs can rot during prolonged stagnation of water. All damaged specimens should be ruthlessly destroyed so that the disease does not spread. The most common pests are rodents and onion mites.
Hionodox in the garden
Hionodoxes are a wonderful decoration of the garden. They hide the bare earth when other plants are still in hibernation. Flowers are planted in the middle of the lawn, in rock gardens or rockeries. You can make container landings. The best neighbors for hionodox are crocuses, bluebills, carnivores, daffodils.
