Brodiaea

The genus Brodiaea (Brodiaea) consists of 40 perennial perennial bulbous unstable plant species. Some of them are especially decorative. Leaves are narrow, belt-like; throughout the spring-summer period, flowers collected in umbrella inflorescences are abundantly formed. Crown brodiaea (Brodiaea coronaria), or large-flowered brodiaea (V. grandiflora), is a species 20-40 cm high. By the end of spring, star-shaped purple-blue flowers 3-4 cm in diameter appear. Brodiaea ida-maia (V. ida-maia) is a very decorative species due to the many tubular flowers forming on one peduncle, crimson below, with yellow perianth leaves (petals) in a green strip. Brodiaea loose (B. laxa, or Tritaleia laxa) is a plant 50-60 cm high. In summer, purple-blue flowers bloom. The 'Queen Fabiola' variety has longer and narrower flowers than the botanical species. Brodiaea pretty (V. pulchella) - a species 30 cm high, with blue flowers. Brodiaea Tubergena (B. x tubergenii) is a hybrid 40-45 cm high. At the end of spring, light blue flowers up to 4 cm in diameter bloom, but there are not very many of them.

The genus Brodiaea (Brodiaea) consists of 40 perennial perennial bulbous unstable plant species. Some of them are especially decorative. Leaves are narrow, belt-like; throughout the spring-summer period, flowers collected in umbrella inflorescences are abundantly formed.

Crown brodiaea (Brodiaea coronaria), or large-flowered brodiaea (V. grandiflora), is a species 20-40 cm high. By the end of spring, star-shaped purple-blue flowers 3-4 cm in diameter appear.

Brodiaea ida-maia (V. ida-maia) is a very decorative species due to the many tubular flowers forming on one peduncle, crimson below, with yellow perianth leaves (petals) in a green strip.

Brodiaea loose (B. laxa, or Tritaleia laxa) is a plant 50-60 cm high. In summer, purple-blue flowers bloom. The 'Queen Fabiola' variety has longer and narrower flowers than the botanical species.

Brodiaea pretty (V. pulchella) - a species 30 cm high, with blue flowers.

Brodiaea Tubergena (B. x tubergenii) is a hybrid 40-45 cm high. At the end of spring, light blue flowers up to 4 cm in diameter bloom, but there are not very many of them.

Cultivation

Plants of the Brodiaea genus are grown in the open field as garden plants and in pots on balconies and terraces. The soil should be fertile, drained, loamy or sandy loam. The bulbs are planted in early autumn. The distance between them and the planting depth is 8-10 cm. When grown in pots (14-15 cm in diameter), soil is used, consisting of disinfected soil (50%), sand (25%) and peat (25%), a long-acting complex mineral fertilizer is added at the rate of 20-30 g per bucket. 5-7 bulbs are planted in each pot.

Plants of the Brodiaea genus are grown in the open field as garden plants and in pots on balconies and terraces. The soil should be fertile, drained, loamy or sandy loam. The bulbs are planted in early autumn. The distance between them and the planting depth is 8-10 cm.

When grown in pots (14-15 cm in diameter), soil is used, consisting of disinfected soil (50%), sand (25%) and peat (25%), a long-acting complex mineral fertilizer is added at the rate of 20-30 g per bucket. 5-7 bulbs are planted in each pot.

Location

They are planted in the open sun, in a place protected from cold winds if possible.

Temperature

These plants are ideally suited for a mild climate, as they are resistant to high temperatures and cannot tolerate temperatures below 5 °C.

Watering

Water regularly, especially in the hot season, but the water should not stagnate in the soil.

Transplant

Transplanted from the beginning of autumn to the end of winter, use a new, more spacious pot than the old one.

Care

Withered peduncles are removed.

Reproduction

Separate the babies that form around the mother's corms, and then plant them in a protected corner of the garden or in a pot. They will bloom in 2-3 years. Sowing of seeds is carried out in March in boxes, which are kept in a closed heated room at a temperature of 14-18 °C. The grown seedlings are thinned out. Flowering will come in 4-5 years after sowing the seeds.

Diseases

The plant is susceptible to fungal diseases. Due to the gray rot of vegetables (Botrytis cinerea), gray spots are formed on the leaves and flowers, the leaves and buds dry out, and the petals are deformed. In this case, drugs are used to combat gray rot. Fusarium oxysporum leads to the separation of scales from the bulbs and death of buds, damages the leaves. The bacteria Erwinia carotovora, the causative agent of blackleg, produces offensive, soft bulb rot. It is very difficult to get rid of these diseases, so it is best to check the condition of the bulbs already at the time of their acquisition. Small insects thrips damage the scales of the bulbs even before they are planted, they recommend treatment with insecticides. Plants of the Brodiaea genus are also susceptible to attack by ticks and nematodes, which suck sap from plant tissues. Treatment, respectively, with acaricides and nematicides helps.

Acquisition

Corms are easy to find at any plant selling point, usually they are packaged in 5-10 pieces per package. Check the condition of the bulbs when purchasing.

Very similar view Previously, the species Ipheion uniflorum was assigned to the genus Brodiaea under the name of B. uniflora. Ipheion's leaves are narrow, belt-like. The flowers are star-shaped, white or blue and purple. The requirements for growing are similar to those of the Brodie: both come from America. There are few differences that distinguish this species from the Brodiaea genus. The main one is associated with the shape of the flowers; the Ipheion has more open perianth leaves with rounded edges. In addition, plants differ in their flowering period. Plants of the genus Ipheion bloom in April-May. Representatives of the Brodiaea clan are closer to the end of spring.

Very similar view

Previously, the species Ipheion uniflorum was assigned to the genus Brodiaea under the name of B. uniflora. Ipheion's leaves are narrow, belt-like. The flowers are star-shaped, white or blue and purple. The requirements for growing are similar to those of the Brodie: both come from America. There are few differences that distinguish this species from the Brodiaea genus. The main one is associated with the shape of the flowers; the Ipheion has more open perianth leaves with rounded edges.

In addition, plants differ in their flowering period. Plants of the genus Ipheion bloom in April-May. Representatives of the Brodiaea clan are closer to the end of spring.