Azarina is a climbing plant from the Norichen family. In the literature, the plant can also be found under the name "Maurandia". The homeland of this decorative liana is North and Central America, as well as South-Western Europe. It is successfully planted with vertical structures in the garden, decorated with rocky slopes, and also grown in ampel form for decorating a balcony, terrace or conservatory. In addition to carved leaves, bright flowers attract attention. They appear in early summer and persist until the first frosts.
Plant description
Azarina is a perennial, winding vine. Its thin, branched stems grow 3-5 m in length. In the natural environment, flexible shoots can grow by a length of 7 m. In central Russia, the flower is grown as an annual, since it practically does not tolerate frosts. The shoots are covered with regular petiolate leaves of a heart-shaped form. Emerald-colored triple leaf plates have beautifully carved sides. Leaflets and young shoots are often covered with a short thick pile. Azarina does not have a mustache; she clings to the support with long flexible petioles of leaves. Therefore, in the process of growth, the plant must be directed.
In mid-June, large tubular flowers bloom in the axils of the leaves. They are located singly or collected in small racemose inflorescences. Petals can be painted in white, pink, blue or purple. The diameter of the corolla is 3-6 cm, the length of the tube is 5-7 cm. Inside, the narrow tube is painted in lighter shades (white, cream). But the strongly bent outward petals are distinguished by bright saturated colors.
From September, the fruits begin to ripen - dry seed capsules of a rounded shape. They contain small, dusty seeds. Ripened fruits crack and the wind carries seeds over long distances.
Types and varieties of azarin
Among all the diversity in Russia, only a few species and decorative varieties of azarin are most widely used.
Azarina climbing very popular. Its curly, flexible stems grow 2-3.5 m per season. Small leaves of dark green color resemble ivy foliage. The diameter of the tubular flowers is 3 cm. Seedlings bloom 4 months after planting and continue to delight with a riot of colors until late autumn. Popular varieties:
- Mystic Rose - blossoms bright pink flowers;
- Bridge's white - attracts with large snow-white corollas;
- Sky blue - during the flowering period is studded with medium-sized blue buds;
- Joan Loraine - Covered with a lot of dark purple buds;
- Red dragon - different scarlet or blood red colors.
Azarina anti-rhino-floral. The plant has highly branched shoots 1.5 m long. They are densely covered with emerald triangular foliage. Tubular bell-shaped flowers in diameter are 3 cm. They appear in June from the axils of the leaves and are collected in racemose inflorescences. Scarlet, blue, pink and purple petals cover a dense dark green crown until mid-October.
Azarina Barclay. The variety is characterized by a high rate of growth of green mass. Branched shoots up to 3.5 m long are covered with heart-shaped bare foliage. In June, large (up to 7 cm) tubular flowers appear. The edges of the petals are painted in light purple, scarlet or purple. The pharynx is white.
Breeding
Azarin is propagated by sowing seeds and cuttings. In order to get flowering plants by the beginning of summer, seeds should be planted in February. The optimal age of seedlings for transplantation in open ground is 10-12 weeks. They plant it when the danger of return frosts has completely passed. Based on these parameters and calculate the date of sowing seeds. Use containers with loose fertile soil. You can take garden soil, humus and sand. The mixture is calcined and moistened. Seeds do not need treatment before planting. They are distributed on the surface and carefully pressed into a plaque. The containers are covered with film or glass and left in the room. Shoots appear after 1-3 weeks. Growing sprouts are taught to grow without shelter for a week. With the appearance of two true leaves, plants dive and transfer to a cooler room (+ 16 ... + 17 ° C). Watering should be limited.
If azarin grows in a container, then during the winter its stems are very elongated and exposed. They need to be trimmed. Cuttings can be rooted to get new plants. Rooting is carried out in moist sandy peat soil. Young roots form quickly enough. After 2-3 weeks, seedlings can be grown as adult plants.
Landing and care
Azarina is planted in an open, calm place. It is good if at midday the leaves are shaded. You should also take care of the support for the creeper in advance. The plant prefers loose, fertile soil. The best soil for it will be a mixture of the following components:
- sheet earth;
- turf land;
- leaf humus;
- peat;
- coarse sand.
You need to plant plants with a distance of 30-50 cm, since they like space. In too dense plantings, the black leg (bacterial or fungal plant disease) develops faster. The surface of the soil after planting is mulched with peat or dry shredded grass.
Caring for azarina is simple, it comes down to forming a crown and regular watering. As the stems grow, it is necessary to direct and tie along the support. To get a beautiful ampelous shape, you must first prop up the vine to a height of 60 cm, and then remove the support and spread the shoots evenly along the sides of the pot. The depth of the landing container must be at least 20 cm.
Watering the azarin is required moderate. It tolerates drought well, but is quickly affected by root rot. Between watering, the soil surface should dry by 5-7 cm. On dry days, flowers are watered more often, and it does not hurt to spray the entire crown with water.
In order for the green mass to grow faster and flowering to be plentiful, regular feeding is necessary. Fertilizers are applied every week. It is recommended to alternate organic and mineral nutrition. From organics use a solution of chicken droppings. As mineral fertilizers use:
- nitrogenous - during the growing season;
- phosphoric - during the formation of buds and flowering.
Wintering in open ground is possible only in the southernmost regions. In the central zone of Russia for the cold season, the liana is brought into the room. Warm balconies and loggias are suitable. It is important to provide good lighting. Azarina can withstand fairly low temperatures: + 10 ... + 15 ° C. But the proximity of heating appliances is disastrous for her due to low humidity. To moisten the air, it is recommended to use a tray with wet expanded clay or pebbles.
The most common disease for azarin is the black leg and other fungal diseases. They can hit even young seedlings. As a preventive measure, the soil and shoots are treated with diluted potassium permanganate or a solution of "Copper sulfate".
In a hot summer, aphids settle on a lush crown. You can fight insects with decoctions of tansy and onion husks. Chemical insecticides are also permitted.
The use of azarin
This magnificent creeper is good in the garden for decorating gazebos, fences, rabatok and other garden structures. It is also planted in flowerpots on balconies and terraces. The plant quickly grows crown and retains bright flowers for a long time. It is suitable for masking various outbuildings. The best neighbors for azarina will be lavender, sage, cereals, as well as shrubs with gray-blue foliage.
Azarina flowers last a very long time, each bud lives more than a week. However, you can admire flowering only on living plants. Azarin is not suitable for cutting.
