Lithospermum

The genus Litospermum, or Sparrow (Lithospermum), consists of 60 perennial herbaceous and semi-shrub plants. All the species presented here are stable, with the exception of the spreading lithospermum (Lithospermum diffusum), its flowers with very spectacular bright specks. Lithospermum calabrum (L. calabrum) is a perennial herbaceous species growing up to 30-35 cm in height, with creeping shoots and lanceolate leaves. Blue flowers bloom during spring. This is a plant ideal for alpinarii. Lithospermum Caroline (L. carolinienses) - a semi-shrub species with spines. The stems grow in height up to 1 m. Numerous leaves are lanceolate or linear, pointed. The diameter of the corollas of yellow-orange flowers is 2.5 cm. The scattered lithospermum (L. diffusum) is a semi-shrub root-sprung species that grows 10 cm in height. This soil-blooded plant is often used to mask bare walls or inaccessible places among stones, from where spiny stems with narrow dark green egg-shaped leaves hang. The flowers are glossy bright blue, like a bitterness. Flowering is summer. Lithospermum spreading low to frost. Its varieties are widely known, such as "Sky Blue" with violet-blue flowers, "Grace Ward" with flowers larger than that of a botanical species, and a more saturated blue color. Leaves of the variety 'Star' are lilac, with white stripes at the edges. Lithospermum olive-leaved (L. oleifolium) is a dwarf steaming semi-shrub species growing up to 10-15 cm in height. Leaves are oblong in dark brown-green color. In the period from May to August, flowers bloom, collected in inflorescences, painted from lilac-pink to blue. Lithospermum purple-blue (L. purpureo-caeruleum) is a shrub with spring flowering, which can continue in summer. There are no flowers on creeping shoots, and flowers collected in inflorescences appear on erect ones, first purple-red, then blue. The leaves have a lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate shape.

The genus Litospermum, or Sparrow (Lithospermum), consists of 60 perennial herbaceous and semi-shrub plants. All the species presented here are stable, with the exception of the spreading lithospermum (Lithospermum diffusum), its flowers with very spectacular bright specks.

Lithospermum calabrum (L. calabrum) is a perennial herbaceous species growing up to 30-35 cm in height, with creeping shoots and lanceolate leaves. Blue flowers bloom during spring. This is a plant ideal for alpinarii.

Lithospermum Caroline (L. carolinienses) - a semi-shrub species with spines. The stems grow in height up to 1 m. Numerous leaves are lanceolate or linear, pointed. The diameter of the corollas of yellow-orange flowers is 2.5 cm.

The scattered lithospermum (L. diffusum) is a semi-shrub root-sprung species that grows 10 cm in height. This soil-blooded plant is often used to mask bare walls or inaccessible places among stones, from where spiny stems with narrow dark green egg-shaped leaves hang. The flowers are glossy bright blue, like a bitterness. Flowering is summer.

Lithospermum spreading low to frost. Its varieties are widely known, such as "Sky Blue" with violet-blue flowers, "Grace Ward" with flowers larger than that of a botanical species, and a more saturated blue color. Leaves of the variety 'Star' are lilac, with white stripes at the edges.

Lithospermum olive-leaved (L. oleifolium) is a dwarf steaming semi-shrub species growing up to 10-15 cm in height. Leaves are oblong in dark brown-green color. In the period from May to August, flowers bloom, collected in inflorescences, painted from lilac-pink to blue.

Lithospermum purple-blue (L. purpureo-caeruleum) is a shrub with spring flowering, which can continue in summer. There are no flowers on creeping shoots, and flowers collected in inflorescences appear on erect ones, first purple-red, then blue. The leaves have a lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate shape.

Cultivation

Plants of the genus Litospermum are grown in open ground as soil, as well as in curbs. They are planted in a permanent place in the spring, leaving a distance of 25-40 cm between them. Land abundantly filled with organic fertilizers (2-3 kg/m2) is used. Calcareous soils are also well suited for all species except the spreading lithosperm. During the spring-summer period, once every 15-20 days, mineral complex fertilizer is added to water for watering in an amount of 10-20 g per bucket.

Plants of the genus Litospermum are grown in open ground as soil, as well as in curbs. They are planted in a permanent place in the spring, leaving a distance of 25-40 cm between them. Land abundantly filled with organic fertilizers (2-3 kg/m2) is used. Calcareous soils are also well suited for all species except the spreading lithosperm. During the spring-summer period, once every 15-20 days, mineral complex fertilizer is added to water for watering in an amount of 10-20 g per bucket.

Location

All species of the genus Litospermum require a place in the open sun.

Temperature

Almost all of the described species are resistant to both high and low temperatures. The exception is the spreading lithosperm, which winters only in a mild climate.

Watering

It is enough to water the sparrow in hot dry periods. And only a spreading lithosperm requires regular watering.

Care

Wilted flowers and dried, yellowed damaged parts of the plant are removed.

Reproduction

In addition to breeding with seeds (sowing is carried out in summer in order to get seedlings ready for planting in the ground by spring), they resort to dividing the bush in spring or at the end of the summer period, immediately placing the obtained parts in a permanent planting place. In addition, in spring you can take side shoots and plant them in a mixture of peat and agroperlite (or sand), after the formation of roots they are moved to a permanent place.

Diseases

The decay of roots and stems begins from planting in inappropriate land (poor drainage, excess water). In this case, it is desirable to add peat and sand, adjust watering. Aphids and ticks suck juice from leaves. They are disposed of with the help of appropriate insecticides and acaricides.

Acquisition

Seeds can be found in specialized trading points. Check their shelf life, on which germination depends. Already ready seedlings are purchased in nurseries and horticultural centers. Select compact, well-formed instances; check that there are no symptoms of disease.