Clarkia - Delicate floral decoration of a modern landscape! (84 photos). Clarkia graceful growing from seeds when to plant planting and outdoor care How to grow clarkia from seeds

Clarkia graceful fully lives up to its name. A charming plant with flowers that from a distance resemble small roses. They, one by one, are strung on an erect stem and numerous shoots. Clarkia's ability to branch strongly forms a lush bush that will delight the eye before the onset of cold weather. It is thanks to its gracefulness, beauty and unpretentiousness that the flower has fallen in love with many gardeners and is successfully grown in summer cottages, without requiring much attention and care.

The flower is native to Chile and North America. This is an annual herb with a stem height of 30 to 90 cm, however, by the end of the growing season, the main shoot becomes partially lignified. The leaves on the flower are alternately arranged and have a dark green color. The flowers are medium-sized (3-4 cm across), with a bright color palette.

The main requirement of clarkia for growing conditions is location in a sunny area. Otherwise, it is quite unpretentious: it easily tolerates spring frosts, it is not demanding on the nutritional value of the soil. It grows better in slightly acidic soils.

Clarkia bloom will come after 2 months from the sowing date and will last until frost. During the growing season, which takes about 5 months, the flowers have time to give full seeds. They can be harvested and used as seed for the next season.

For reference. Seeds collected from their site retain their varietal properties, which is of great importance for the gardener.

Types and varieties of clarkia with a photo

In nature, clarkia has about 30 species, but only three are used in garden culture.

Clarkia Breveri

The "youngest" species, which began to be grown in summer cottages relatively recently. The plant does not exceed 50 cm in height and has delicate pink flowers. Flowering occurs 2 weeks earlier than other species and is very similar to cherry blossom.

Clarkia is pretty

A short bush with an erect stem, the height of which is only 30-40 cm. The flowers are located in the axils of the leaves either singly or in small groups and have a very original shape. They consist of four petals, each of which is strongly dissected into three parts, which resembles elk antlers. Therefore, among the people, the pretty clarke is called that way.

Clarkia graceful

The most common and demanded species in garden floriculture. It is also called marigold. Flowers of this species can be miniature, up to 30 cm high, or tall - up to 90 cm. Flowers are axillary, double or simple, colored in all shades of pink and red. There are varieties with white flowers.

"Diamond"

"Brilliant" is a cold-resistant annual, up to 70 cm high. Clarks of this variety are covered with small, about 2 cm, flowers. The flower is good in groups and beds, looks beautiful in bouquets. Removing the lower leaves will prolong the freshness of flowers in the water. The bright red color of the flower petals creates unique flower beds, which makes the suburban area fabulous and charming. Flowering begins in July and ends in September.

Clarkia "Ruby"

"Ruby"

A plant from 40 to 70 cm, with a double flower shape. The stem is erect, with a large number of lateral shoots. Flowering is abundant and lasts until the onset of cold weather. Looks great in group plantings and flower beds. Cutting is used to create tall bouquets. They can stand in water for up to 7 days.

"Mirinda"

"Mirinda" is a brightly blooming annual plant up to 60 cm high. Almost sessile flowers are very similar to miniature roses. The color of the double inflorescences is salmon-orange. Blooms from July to September. Looks great in flower beds for group plantings. It is used as a cutting plant for interior decoration.

"Sakura"

Sakura is a clarke with delicate flowers that bloom in July. Terry inflorescences of exquisite peach color, densely located on a high branched stem. Used for group compositions and to create tall, luxurious bouquets.

Clarkia cultivation methods

Clarkia, like most annuals, propagates by seed. They can be sown directly into open ground in early spring. The end of April or the beginning of May is the best fit for this work.

In the allotted area, shallow grooves are cut with row spacing of 20 cm. The seeds are mixed with fine sand and sowed. The seeds are lightly pressed against the soil and sprayed with a spray bottle. Watering from a watering can is not recommended, as the seeds may wash out. After the formation of two true leaves on the seedlings, thinning is carried out, leaving 15-20 cm between the shoots.However, you should not get carried away, since densely growing clarks create more effective compositions.

To protect against garden flea, the planting is covered with non-woven material. It will also serve as protection from hot sunlight.

Podzimny sowing is carried out with the onset of cold weather. The seeds should not sprout, but even if this happens, the seedlings will successfully overwinter under the snow and will continue to develop in the spring. Plants grown in this way are characterized by increased resistance to adverse conditions, and they will bloom in mid-July.

To bring the flowering time closer, many gardeners use the seedling method of growing clarkia.

In March or at the very beginning of April, seeds are sown in shallow containers with loose soil. Since the seed is very fine, almost dusty, it should not be buried.

The seeds are mixed with sand and scattered over the surface, then lightly pressed against the soil and sprayed with a spray bottle. Create the conditions of a mini-greenhouse by covering with a film. The container with crops should stand on a light windowsill without direct sunlight. It will take 10-14 days to wait for shoots.

Seedlings dive at a very early age, since clarkia seedlings do not respond very well to transplantation. After the appearance of the first two leaves, it is better to distribute the seedlings in separate pots. The best option is peat cups, which can be buried in the ground, and the roots will not receive the slightest injury. From plastic containers, the transplant is carried out by the transfer method together with a lump of earth.

Home-grown seedlings are planted on the site at the end of May. At this time, the period of return frosts usually ends.

For reference. When growing clarkia, remember that these are cross-pollinated plants. And if flowers of different varieties are planted nearby, then their seeds will lose their varietal qualities.

Clarkia seedlings dive: video

Transplanting clarke seedlings into open ground and caring for it

With the onset of warm days, clarke seedlings are transferred to open ground. A sunny place with moderately fertile soil and low acidity is the best option for growing clarkia.

When the main stem reaches 12-15 cm, it should be pinched, this will stimulate the plant to form new shoots. And also this procedure allows you to form a clarke bush to your liking and increases the number of flowers on it.

Clarkia's care open ground will not be burdensome.

Moderate watering in the absence of rain.
Loosening and weeding, which is necessary for every garden plant. Clarkia will not be an exception, unless the soil around the flowers is mulched.

For reference. Mulching the soil around the plants solves many problems. Mulch inhibits the growth of weeds and reduces the time and effort required for watering.

2-3 times a season, flowers are fed with mineral fertilizers. Nitrogen-containing - are excluded, because clarkia does not like excessive fat content of the soil.
Removing wilted buds will prolong the freshness of the flowers. The plant will not waste energy on ripening seeds, but will direct them to the formation of new buds.

But a few inflorescences need to be left if the gardener plans to collect his own seeds.

When and how are clarke seeds harvested

Clarkia reproduces well by self-seeding. If the wilted flower was not removed in time, then a seed pod will form on it. It has an elongated shape and contains numerous and very small seeds. A seedling will take a month for the contents to mature. During this time, it will change color from green to brown.

After ripening, the capsule spontaneously opens and the so-called self-seeding occurs. In the spring of next year, there will be a dense carpet of seedlings at this place, which can be thinned out or transplanted for further cultivation.

But if it was decided to collect seeds, then the attracted inflorescences are noticed even at the flowering stage. When the flower withers, it is tied with a thin cotton cloth so that after ripening the seeds do not spill out into the soil. After a month, the testes are cut and dried, if necessary. The seeds are poured onto paper and packaged.

They can be used in the year of harvest for winter sowing or left until spring. Clarkia remains viable for up to 4 years.

Diseases and pests of clarkia

A beautiful plant with delicate flowers shows resistance to various types of diseases and is practically not exposed to pests.

In most cases, flower infection occurs through the carelessness of the gardener. The wrong choice of planting site and violation of irrigation norms are the main reasons for the defeat of clarke with fungal diseases.

Low-lying areas of the garden, where it is always humid and damp, are completely unsuitable for growing a flower. This microclimate is favorable for the development of fungal spores. First, the root system and the base of the stem are damaged. Reproducing, they inhabit the entire plant. A gray plaque appears on it, consisting of a cluster of spores.

It is best to destroy such a plant immediately, and treat the neighboring plants with fungicides. The place where the infected flower grew is also subject to processing. You can apply 1% Bordeaux liquid.

Excessive watering with stagnant water at the location of the roots entails such signs of the disease.

Pests

At the stage of development of sprouts in the open field, they can be attacked by a garden flea. The likelihood of a problem increases if the clarkia plantings are located near vegetable beds. Jumping insects move from plant to plant, sucking sap from young leaves and stems. This inhibits seedlings and can lead to their death.

You can get rid of the garden flea with the help of Karbofos "and Fufanon" preparations.

Clarkia's more dangerous enemy is the mealybug. If a plaque resembling cotton balls is seen on the aerial part, then this is the work of a small worm that has built a cotton shelter for itself and imperceptibly harms the plant.

Clarkia flowers - growing from seeds and care, planting clarkia in the garden: video

Compliance with the simple rules for growing clarke in a summer cottage will allow you to avoid unpleasant moments, and a stately beauty will delight the gardener by painting the backyard with bright colors.

Clarkia grows naturally in North America, from there, namely from California, in the 19th century, the navigator William Clarke brought them to Europe, whose surname gave the name to the flower.

Clarkia flowers are one-year-old and belong to the Cyprian family - tall herbal plants that reach human height and above.

There are about 30 types, three of which are considered the most popular:

Clarkia marigold has a height of about 100 cm, its stems are thin and strong, lignified in the lower part.
Oval-shaped leaves grow on the stems, the edges of which have uneven denticles.
The color of the leaves is blue-green with reddish veins. Clarkia marigold flowers exist in white, red, pink and blue.
The petals are placed in the deciduous axils singly, have a regular shape, 4 cm in diameter.

Clarkia pretty begins to bloom two weeks earlier than marigold.

It belongs to the dwarf plants of the Cyprian family, therefore, the height of the plant usually does not exceed 40 cm. Its stems are dotted with long thin green leaves pointed to the top.

Flowers are ordinary or double, in deciduous axils they can be placed singly or in several pieces.

The petals of the pretty clarke have an unusual shape - divided into three parts (this species is also called moose horns).

Clarkia breveri has branched stems about 50 cm high, which are dotted with small fleshy green leaves, oval in shape.

The flowers have a characteristic pleasant aroma, small petals are similar to the wings of butterflies, the petals are about 3 cm in diameter.

Clarkia cultivation

Clarkia flowers are propagated by seeds that can be planted directly on the street (street seedling method) or in special containers, cultivation takes place in a closed warm room, where later the germinated sprouts will need to be transplanted into open street soil (greenhouse seedling method).

With the street seedless method of growing clarkia, the seeds should be planted in late autumn or in April using the nesting method - 5 pieces together at a distance of 30-40 cm between the nests.

The seeds are not planted deeply, they are simply pressed into the soil and sprinkled with earth a little.

The soil will need to be pre-prepared: 14 days before sowing, add about a kilogram of peat on M2., After carefully digging up the ground.

This is necessary for good fertilization, which contributes to better plant growth, since clarke needs a slightly acidic soil. Also for soil preparation, you can add 30 g of sulphate and superphosphate to it.

When your soil is unsuitable, has a high pH, \u200b\u200bit can be acidified with the same peat or with 60 g of sulfur per m2 of soil.

Also, to oxidize the soil, you can water the area with a solution of oxalic and citric acid (40 g per 10 liters of water). When the soil is too acidic, the soil is limed, and if the soil is too fat, sand is added.

The sown clarkia seeds will sprout in 14 days, at which time they can already be thinned out, but not much: it looks much better with lush bushes.

Clarkia, planted in autumn, also has time to germinate before the beginning of winter, the shoots are well preserved under the cover of snow and cope well with the cold.

It's okay if the seeds haven't sprouted, as they can also lie in the ground until spring.

The seedling method is more comfortable for plants, with this method it is very likely that a flower will grow from each seed. You need to plant in March, and by the beginning of June the clarkia will bloom.

Do not plant the seeds deeply, just press down slightly and sprinkle with earth, then sprinkle with water and cover with foil or glass. Place in a warm and fairly bright place, but without direct sunlight.

When the first shoots appear, the cover can be removed, and at the first, the leaves can already be transplanted outside.

How to care for Clarkia?

Clarkia is quite unpretentious, it needs to be watered only during dry periods twice a week, with a small amount of water so that the earth can completely absorb it.

When the season is rather mild, not dry, the plant will have enough rainwater.

During the flowering stage, the clarke will need to be fed with mineral fertilizers twice a month, and in order for all the energy of the plant to be spent on the buds, the seed cones will need to be cut.

Clarkia is an annual shrub from the Cyprian family that is sometimes combined with the genus Godetius. The stems of the plant are branched, reaching a length of 0.3-1 m, depending on the species. The lower part is lignified by the end of the growing season. Clarkia blooms almost all summer with multi-colored four-petal flowers.

This flower culture is very popular with flower growers. Due to its attractiveness, it is successfully used to decorate flower beds, borders, open balconies and other places. Clarkia is unpretentious in care. It is easy to grow it both in seedling and sowing seeds directly into open ground.

Types and varieties of clarkia for open ground

The plant is native to the western part of North America, Chile. Clarkia was brought to Europe from California in the 19th century by Captain William Clark, after whom it was named. Sometimes the flower is also called the "California marigold". In nature, there are about 30 varieties of it. But for home cultivation, only some types of clarkia are used.

Graceful

Shrub up to 1 m high. The oval-shaped leaf plates have reddish veins. Flowers are simple and double in different shades. Flowering occurs in July-September.

Popular varieties:

Albatross - a low-growing plant up to 0.7 m, with white double flowers.
Salmon Perfection - a loose shrub up to 0.9 m high. The flowers are double, salmon pink.
Terry - a low shrub with large double flowers, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences.
Sakura - tall, has double flowers of a creamy pink hue.

Pretty

A dwarf variety with straight stems up to 0.4 m high, narrow and long leaves. The petals are thin, three-lobed, so this species is also called "trident". It blooms from July to September with pink, lavender or brightly crimson flowers.

Breveri

Cold-resistant clarkia up to 0.5 m high. Small flowers are collected in loose inflorescences. They look like butterflies. The aroma of this species is much stronger than that of other clarke. The most popular cultivar is Pink Ribbon, which has pink flowers with ribbon-like petals.

Growing seedlings from seeds

These flowers can only be grown from seeds - in a seedling and non-seedling way. In order to achieve an earlier flowering, many people prefer to sow seeds for seedlings in advance.

Sowing time

From the beginning of the growing season to flowering, clarkia takes about 2 months. With this in mind, you need to plan the time of sowing seeds for seedlings. To get flowers at the beginning of summer, sowing is best done no later than the first half of March. In some cases, it is shifted to the end of February. Seedlings are planted in open ground when the soil warms up well so that there is a minimum risk of bacterial root diseases. The best period for this is the second half of May. In the southern regions, you can do this earlier.

Planting capacity and soil

Seedlings can be grown in peat cups or in ordinary boxes. Young plants are not afraid of transplants. It can be sown in special pots, which, together with adult flowers, will be taken out into the garden or open veranda.

Clarke soil should be loose and nutritious with a slightly acidic reaction. If it is heavy, the flower will not be able to develop normally. The best option for a plant is a substrate of equal parts of leafy soil, peat, sand, rotted humus. To prevent the development of fungal and bacterial infections in the culture in the future, it is recommended to steam the soil or bake it in the oven before use.

Seed preparation and sowing

Before sowing, it is recommended to hold the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate for some time. This is necessary not only for disinfection, but also so that pests do not spoil them. Cover container with soil, level it. Sprinkle seeds on top. Slightly deepen them into the ground by 1.5-2 cm, sprinkle with warm water from a spray bottle. Cover with glass or foil on top, create a mini greenhouse. Move the "bed" to a warm place, shelter from direct sunlight. The room must be well ventilated and dry.

How to care for seedlings

Seedlings will appear in 1.5-2 weeks. After germinating the seeds, the glass or film can be removed, and the box can be moved to a brighter place. Seedlings need to be watered regularly, but not abundantly. The soil should always remain slightly moist. Seedlings can be sprayed with water. Clarkia grows well at a temperature of + 25-27 degrees. When the growth of the seedlings reaches 15 cm, you can pinch it. So it will become more branched and powerful. But some hybrids do not dive, they do not tolerate transplanting well. In such cases, the plants are carefully thinned out so as not to injure neighboring seedlings.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Planting seedlings should be planned as early as possible. It is recommended to prepare the site for transplant 2 weeks before the procedure. Dig up the soil and make top dressing with potassium sulfate and superphosphate (1.5 tablespoons per 1 square meter), peat. If the soil is acidic, sprinkle it with dolomite flour on top, if it is alkaline, sprinkle it with a solution of citric acid.

Transplant seedlings better in groups seedlings together with an earthen clod. The distance between each group should be about 20-40 cm. Do not bury the root collars. They should be level with the soil surface. Next to the flowers, strengthen the supports on which the growing stems will curl.

Planting with seeds in a seedless way in open ground

If there is no time and desire to grow seedlings, you can sow the seeds directly into the open ground. This method guarantees stronger and healthier shoots. But clarkia blooms in such cases later than from seedlings.

Rules and terms

Seeds can be sown in well-heated soil when there is no longer any risk of sudden temperature changes. Otherwise, the sprouts that have not yet matured can freeze and die. Sowing is usually planned for the first half of May. But if the climate and weather permits, you can shift them to the end of April. Sometimes sowing is carried out in the fall so that shoots appear in early spring.

Location selection and lighting

Like seedlings, the seeds themselves need to be sown, choosing a place in advance. Clarkia, unlike many other plants, can grow not only in well-lit areas, but also in partial shade. She is also not afraid of drafts. More soil requirements. When choosing a place, it is taken into account how the culture will fit into the general landscape.

Soil

The soil should be fertile and light. If it does not meet the requirements on the site, you will have to make some adjustments. If the soil is dense, clayey, you need to dig it up, add sand, peat. It is loosened to ensure free access of oxygen to the roots, to avoid stagnation of moisture. Prepare the soil and add the necessary compounds to it 2 weeks before planting.

Landing features

For sowing in the selected area, recesses (nests) are made at a distance of 25-40 cm from each other. If the variety is tall, the distance is increased by 20-30 cm. 4-5 seeds are thrown into each nest. Can be sown in rows. But then young seedlings will have to be thinned out.

Outdoor care

Clarkia cultivation in the open field does not differ from the seed and seedling method of planting. Timely watering, top dressing, and pest prevention are important for a flower.

Watering

The amount and frequency of watering is influenced by the weather that will be established during the growth of the plant. If the summer is cool and it rains often, then there may be no need for watering at all. In other cases, it is necessary to moisten the soil when the top layer dries up.

On a note! If the clarkia is too saturated with moisture, this will lead to rotting of the roots. To avoid this, after each watering, the soil should be loosened near the bushes. You need to water the plant in the morning or evening, when there is no scorching sun. It is important to avoid getting water on the flowers, this can adversely affect the appearance of the crop.

Top dressing

Fertilize flowers 1-2 times a month. Complex fertilizers for flowering plants effectively act on clarkia:

Nitroammofoska - 15 g per 1m 2 during budding;
Kaliyphos-N - 20-25 g per 1m 2;
Diamofoska - 2 g per 1 liter of water during the period of intensive growth.

Sometimes a solution of chicken manure is used (1:15). It is applied at the beginning of the growing season.

Pruning

If clarkia grows densely, it must be thinned out so that the bushes have room for development. There should be at least 15-20 cm between the plants. But you should not cut it very much so that there are no voids left. When the plant has faded, its stems are cut to the very soil. The remnants of the roots are removed when digging up the site. It is better to burn them to prevent the development of pathogenic bacteria or fungi that can infect the soil.

Flowering (how to extend flowering times)

With the seedling method of planting, flower stalks may appear as early as late May or early June. When sowing in open ground - a little later. The klakiriya can bloom until autumn. If you want to prolong flowering as long as possible, you need to adhere to certain conditions. Abundant flowering is facilitated by tillering of sprouts. When the seedlings grow up to 10 cm in length, you need to carefully pinch off the top. This stimulates budding and abundant flowering. After the flower stalks have faded, they must be removed.

Seed collection and wintering

You need to determine in advance which peduncles to leave for seed ripening. You do not need to delete them. The grains appear after pollination of the ovary. They ripen in small oblong boxes. 1 g can contain up to 3,000 seeds. They ripen about a month after the end of flowering. When the pods turn brown, the seeds can be harvested. It is recommended in advance to put a tissue bag on the seed box so that self-seeding into the ground does not occur.

The seeds are additionally dried for several days, then stored in paper bags in a dry, cool room. After 3-4 years, the seed loses its quality, the germination rate decreases. Therefore, it is better to use fresh seeds for sowing.

Diseases and pests, control methods

Clarkia is characterized by stable immunity. Therefore, it is rarely exposed to diseases and pests. But sometimes it can get infected with fungal infections. Usually they are associated with excess moisture, frequent watering. First, the roots are damaged, the whole plant gradually withers. In such cases, it is almost impossible to save the flower. It is recommended to simply remove the damaged specimens and adjust the irrigation system.

To prevent infection of other plants, it is recommended to treat them with the following means:

Oxyhom,
bordeaux liquid,
copper sulfate.

Pests that damage the clarke:

garden flea.

Karbofos;
Fitoverm;
Confidor.

Combination with other plants (clarkia in landscape design)

Due to its unpretentiousness and abundant flowering, clarkia deserves a place of honor in landscape design.

Scope of application:

on flower beds, along fences, alleys, fences;
in pots on balconies, window sills, on walls (undersized varieties);
in bouquets with other flowers (tall varieties).

In addition, its flowers have a beautiful aroma, is a good peduncle. It goes well with other short plants:

phlox;
asters;
white daisies;
red roses.

Clarkia is a very popular outdoor crop. Caring for her does not require much effort. The flower reproduces well in both seedling and non-seedling methods. It can grow almost anywhere, even in partial shade and in a draft. The main thing is to provide it with a suitable soil and regulate the moisture level.

More useful information about growing clarke from sowing to harvesting seeds can be found in the video:

Flowers clarkia (lat.Clarkia) - a genus of annual grasses of the Cypress family, close to godetia, which some botanists combine with clarke into one genus. The plant is named after a captain named William Clark who brought it in the 19th century from California to Europe. In nature, the clarkia flower grows in the west of North America and in Chile and has more than 30 species, among which only three are of interest to flower growers.

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Planting and caring for clarkia

Landing: sowing seeds in the ground - in April or early May you can, but sow before winter; sowing seeds for seedlings - in March, transplanting seedlings into the ground - in the second or third decade of May.
Lighting: bright sunlight.
The soil: loose, light, dry, fertile, slightly acidic soils. Oily soil is not suitable for the plant.
Watering: only in drought - twice a week.
Top dressing: during the periods of budding and flowering, once every two weeks with a complex mineral fertilizer.
Reproduction: seed.
Pests: mealybugs, garden fleas.
Diseases: rust.

Clarkia flowers - description

So, the clarkia plant is an annual herbaceous culture, reaching a height of 30 to 90 cm. Clarkia's stems are branched, erect, usually pubescent with short villi. Elongated-oval sessile leaves of bright green or bluish color are arranged alternately. Simple or double axillary flowers of the correct shape, up to 3.5 cm in diameter, painted in different colors, are usually collected in spike-shaped or racemose apical inflorescences, but occasionally there is a single arrangement of flowers. The calyx of the flower is tubular, the corolla consists of four whole or three-lobed flowers, which narrow at the base into a marigold. The clarkia fruit is an elongated polysperm.

Growing clarkia from seeds

Sowing Clarkia

Clarkia flowers are grown by seed method - seedling or non-seedling. With the seedless method, clarke seeds are sown directly into the ground. This can be done in April or early May, as well as in late autumn, before winter. Before sowing clarke, add 1 kg of peat per m² and potassium sulfate with superphosphate, a tablespoon of each to the same area, to the area for digging. You need to dig up the area with fertilizers at least two weeks before sowing.

Small clarkia seeds are sown in nests of 4-5 pieces at a distance of 20-40 cm, but they are not buried in the ground, but slightly pressed against it and sprinkled with the thinnest layer of soil. Seedlings may appear in two weeks, and you will have to thin them out, but do not get carried away - blooming clarkia in a dense bush looks prettier. When planting in autumn, the seedlings have time to germinate before the onset of winter and are well preserved under the snow, but even if the crops do not germinate, there is nothing to worry about. In the spring, when the clarkia grows together, you will only need to thin it out, like a carrot.

Clarkia seedlings

Clarkia from seeds, grown by seedlings, at the very beginning of its life is reliably protected from temperature extremes, frost, cold spring rains and other seasonal and climatic troubles, which is why many flower lovers prefer to grow seedlings rather than sow flowers directly into the ground. Clarkia seeds are sown for seedlings in March, then it will bloom in early June.

Sow the seeds in slightly acidic soil, press them down with a board, sprinkle with water, cover with glass and place in a bright, warm place where direct sunlight does not fall. As soon as shoots appear, the glass can be removed, but the container with crops must remain in a dry, warm place with good ventilation until planting in open ground. Clarkia should be dived as early as possible - as soon as the first leaves appear on the seedlings.

Planting clarke in open ground

When to plant clarkia

Clarkia flowers are planted in open ground in May. If the soil in your area is not suitable for clarkia due to the pH value, there are several ways to acidify it: add a kilogram and a half of peat or 60 g of sulfur per square meter to the soil for digging, or spill the soil with a solution of oxalic or citric acid at the rate 1.5 tablespoons per 10 liters of water. If the soil is too acidic, it is lime before planting, and if it is too greasy, the site is dug up with sand. Well, do not forget to apply the fertilizers that have already been mentioned. You need to prepare a site for clarke at least two weeks before planting.

How to plant clarkia

Clarkia is planted in this way: the seedlings are taken out of the container not one at a time, but in groups, together with an earthen lump, and are also planted in holes located at a distance of 20 to 40 cm from each other. Near each hole you need to stick a stick or rail, which will serve as a support for the thin stems of the clarke when the bushes grow. Plant different varieties of plants at a distance from each other, because they can get dusty among themselves. After planting, the plants are watered and lightly pinched to stimulate tillering.

Clarkia care

How to grow clarkia

Growing clarkia and caring for it will not require any special knowledge and effort from you. It is necessary to water the plant only in dry season twice a week, and the rest of the time the clarke will have enough rain moisture. Water for irrigation needs so much so that it is quickly absorbed, and does not stand in a puddle around the plant.

Clarke is fed during the budding and flowering periods with complex mineral fertilizers once every two weeks. For this purpose, Kemira or Rainbow is suitable, clarkia is not fertilized with organic matter. Remove wilted flowers and seed pods so that the plant is only wasting its energy on the formation of new buds. That's all the care of Clarkia.

Clarkia pests and diseases

Of the insect pests, clarkia is affected by the mealybug, the traces of the vital activity of which look like a cotton-like waxy coating on the ground parts of plants. Mealybugs are fought by spraying with Aktara, Konfidor or Fitoverm.

If the soil in the area with clarke is loamy, this can be the cause of a fungal disease, manifested by rusty yellow spots with a brown border on the leaves. To destroy the fungus, the plant is sprayed with fungicides - Bordeaux liquid or oxychome, for example. In general, clarkia is a very resistant plant to pests and diseases, and if you properly prepare the soil for it, neither it nor you will have problems with it.

Clarkia after flowering

How and When to Collect Clarkia Seeds

Actually, clarkia reproduces well by self-seeding, you just need to thin out carefully in the spring, when the bristles of clarkia seedlings appear. But if you nevertheless decide to collect the seeds, then it's easy to do: select several beautiful flowers during flowering and, when they begin to fade, tie them with gauze so that the seeds, when ripe, do not fall to the ground. The seeds ripen a month after the end of flowering, when the box becomes brown. Cut a box of seeds, sprinkle them on a newspaper, dry and sow before winter, or store in a paper bag until spring.

Clarkia in winter

After the clarkia has faded, it can be cut to the ground, and when the time comes to dig up the area, remove the remains of the clarkia and destroy them. It is best to burn them to prevent the growth of disease-causing bacteria and fungi that can infect soil or healthy plants.

Types and varieties of clarkia

As already mentioned, only three types of clarkia are grown in the garden culture: clarkia marigold, or clarkia graceful; clarkia pretty, or clarkia pubescent; Clarkia Breveri.

Clarkia graceful, or marigold (Clarkia unguiculata \u003d Clarkia elegans)

Clarkia flower graceful grows wild in California. It is a branchy, dense annual plant up to a meter high. Its stems are strong, thin, woody in the lower part, leaves are oval, gray-green with red veins, unevenly sparsely toothed along the edges. Regular flowers up to 4 cm in diameter, simple or double, white, red, purple, pink or blue, are arranged one by one in the leaf axils. Small seeds remain viable for up to 4 years. Blooms profusely from July to September. The cultivation of graceful clarke is very common in our climate. Popular varieties.

Clarkia is a wonderful representative of an ornamental annual plant, combining a wide range of colors, compactness, and an abundance of green mass. Most gardeners love clarkia because of its elegant appearance, spectacular numerous flowers, long and lush flowering, good and fast growth. The main advantage is that the cultivation of graceful clarke, including from seeds, does not cause any trouble. The plant owes its name to the English captain William Clark, who brought the flower to Europe from California.

Clarkia belongs to the Cyprus family, is a low bush with a height of 30 to 90 cm.The plant is considered the homeland of the western regions of North America, the territory of Chile. Clarkia is very close to the genus Godetia, and most botanists combine the two.
The bush is very beautiful, due to the dense branching of the stems, it acquires a voluminous, lush appearance. Stems are highly branched, erect, thin, dense, strong, lignified below, slightly pubescent.

The leaves are alternate, elongated-oblong, dark green, with streaks and blotches of red, irregularly sparsely toothed along the edge.

Flowers of regular shape, 3-4 cm in diameter, small, double or simple, located in the axils of the leaves, have various shades of red, orange, pink, crimson, lilac, lilac, there are two-color with various blotches, strokes and dots. Collected either at the top of the shoots in the form of spike-shaped or racemose inflorescences, or singly. The flower consists of a tubular calyx, three-lobed or four whole petals, which taper at the base.

The seed capsule is an elongated fruit with numerous brown seeds; seed germination lasts up to four years. After ripening, the seed pod becomes brown, the fruits open, the seeds spill out on the ground, thereby self-seeding occurs.

Clarkia flowers will look great in any garden, filling the space with bright colors and aroma, attracting butterflies and bees.

Types and varieties of plants

In nature, there are more than 35 species of clarkia, but only three cultivated varieties are of interest to gardeners, which served as the basis for breeding a large number of varietal forms.

During the period of lush flowering in gardens and summer cottages, clarkia varieties are graceful, pretty and terry, covered with many flowers that look like small roses. At the same time, the green mass favorably emphasizes all the splendor of flowers. The flowering period is three months: from July to September.

Clarkia terry

The average height of an annual plant is 30-65 cm. A densely branched terry clarkia bush is overgrown with dark green leaves. Terry flowers, about 5-6 cm in diameter, with various shades from snow-white to rich carmine, frame the stems so that the image of a spicate plant is created.

Clarkia "Fantasy"

An annual ornamental lush flowering plant grows up to 75 cm in height. Axillary double flowers differ in all kinds of color. Clarkia fantasy is used for cutting, decorating flower beds in single and group plantings.

Clarkia is pretty

Another name is pubescent. It grows up to 20-40 cm. The leaves are narrow, elongated, whole, pointed at the end and narrower towards the base. The flowers are double and simple, up to 3 cm in diameter, characterized by wavy and divided into three lobes by outstretched petals of various color shades. Formed in groups or one at a time in the leaf axils. Clarkia pretty blooms before its graceful appearance for 2-3 weeks. Because of the unusual shape of the petals, this species in America is called "elk horns". Clarkia pretty served as the basis for obtaining the Arianna variety: simple two-colored flowers of lilac and white color, plant height up to 40-50 cm.

Clarkia graceful

Another name is marigold. In its natural environment, it grows in California. It can reach up to 30-90 cm in height. Stems are thin, strong, branching, woody at the base. The leaves are dark green with a bluish tint, elongated, oblong in shape, with a sparsely toothed edge and characteristic red veins.

Clarkia flowers are graceful up to 3-4 cm in diameter, collected in a cluster inflorescence and, depending on the variety, can be simple or double in shape. The color mix of Clarkia graceful also depends on the variety. The flowers are blue, purple, pink, red, and white. The first flowers of clarkia bloom in June, the bush blooms profusely and luxuriantly almost until October. Clarkia graceful served as the basis for obtaining varieties:

Albatross is a bush 50-75 cm tall, with double white flowers.
Salmon Perfection is a bush 80-100 cm tall, double flowers are pale pink.
The sun is a bush height 60-70 cm, double salmon flowers, axillary, single.
Orange - plant height 50-60 cm, double orange flowers.
Ruby - a bush no more than 60 cm in height, numerous double flowers of a deep red, ruby \u200b\u200bcolor.
Purpurkening - grows up to 80-90 cm tall with deep red double flowers.

Clarkia marigold Joy

Densely branched erect stems grow up to 40-60 cm. Flowering begins 2 months after sowing the seeds. The bush is covered with flowers from bottom to top. The color scheme ranges from deep pink to raspberry. Flowers of the Clarkia "Joy" variety reach up to 3-4 cm in diameter, due to the long flowering they are in great demand among flower growers.

Clarkia Graceful Diamond

The variety is densely branched, lush and abundantly flowering. The height of the bush is up to 60-80 cm. Since July, the bush is covered with many double flowers up to 4 cm in diameter, red-pink in color. Axillary flowers of the "Brilliant" variety clarkia adorn the bush almost until the end of September.

Plant care

To obtain a healthy and flowering plant, you should adhere to simple rules for care and maintenance. In principle, clarkia is a rather unpretentious and undemanding plant.

Plant care in the open field

To preserve a decorative and elegant look, you should remove withered flowers and leaves, seed pods. This is necessary to maintain the vitality of the plant during the formation of new flowers. Removal of dried flowers will result in longer flowering. Loosening the soil and removing weeds will promote fast, good growth.

Watering, feeding and tying

In hot weather, without precipitation, when the soil dries up, regular moderate watering is required twice a week. At the same time, you cannot fill the plant, otherwise you can provoke root decay. To avoid the latter, clarke is planted in well-drained soil.
Moist soil must be loosened to improve air flow to the roots. In cool rainy weather, watering is completely stopped. Water it strictly under the bush, avoiding water getting on the leaves and flowers, otherwise you can provoke sunburn, which spoil the decorative appearance of the plant.

Top dressing is applied twice a month - during the budding and flowering period. Mineral fertilizers are used, organic fertilizing for clarke is not used. Mainly, top dressing is necessary in low-rainy, dry weather. For a brighter and more abundant flowering, ash is added to the soil.

To exclude breakage of tall stems from strong winds, as well as to avoid bending them, the bush is tied to pegs that are driven in during planting.

Choosing a seat for landing

The plant is extremely light-requiring, but it develops equally well in partial shade. It loves space because it grows quickly. It is necessary to find a place for the flower that excludes strong winds, otherwise the plant may break. The plant tolerates drafts and short-term spring cold snap quite calmly.

Soil: composition and characteristics

The flower develops best on loose, fertile, medium and light soil. In principle, an unpretentious plant is capable of germinating on dense clay soils, but it will develop more slowly and bloom extremely poorly. For future seedlings, experienced gardeners prefer to prepare an earthen mixture: they take ordinary soil for seedlings and add rotted humus, peat and river sand to it in equal proportions. To avoid contamination of the earth with various fungal diseases, it is calcined in an oven or steamed in a water bath.

Seedling care

Due to the unpretentious nature, caring for seedlings is reduced to maintaining soil moisture, optimal temperature and periodic watering. The soil of the seedlings should not dry out and should not be overmoistened, it should be moderately moist.

Loosening is allowed only for grown seedlings, since young shoots can be damaged.

To prevent root rotting due to stagnant water, you should take care of the drainage system.

A comfortable temperature for a plant is within +20 C. To prevent burns, young plants should be protected from direct sunlight.

Caring for plants during and after flowering

In the process of plant growth, to give the bush a more voluminous and lush appearance, the tops of the shoots no more than 10-15 cm high are periodically pinched.

In late autumn, when flowering ends, just before the frost, the bush is cut flush with the ground, the soil is dug up, and old roots are removed. Due to the high probability of self-seeding next spring, clarkia will independently revive in its original place.

Diseases and pests: treatment

Clarkia is a fairly resistant and resistant plant to diseases and pests, however, due to errors in maintenance and care, the plant can get sick or be attacked by insect pests.

Growing a bush on loamy soils can cause rust. This fungal disease manifests itself as reddish-yellow spots with a clear dark border on the leaf blades. In most cases, the disease occurs due to waterlogging of the soil and stagnant water, as well as an excess of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. For the treatment of the bush, spraying with fungicides (Bordeaux mixture, Topaz) is used 2 times a week.

With an excess of moisture, the roots of the plant can rot, as a result of which the plant weakens, withers and dies. At an early stage of the disease, the bush can be saved. For this, the drooping, weakened, affected parts of the plant are cut off, treated with fungicides. Also, high soil moisture can provoke the appearance of downy mildew: colorless or dark spots appear on the back of the affected leaf plate. The leaves are curled, deformed. For the fight use biofungicide "Fitosporin-M" or "Olirna".

Of the insect pests, the mealybug is a danger; it is extremely rare for aphids to settle on the plant. To get rid of adversity, insecticides are used, spraying with citrus fruit or garlic peels with an infusion of aphids helps. With the latter, you need to be extremely careful, as it can leave burns on the plant. If the treatment and prevention did not save the plant, then it is dug up with all its infected parts and destroyed by burning.

How to get rid of flower midges?

In most cases, an indicator of excessive waterlogging of the soil is the appearance of a flower midge or sciaris. Most often, their appearance occurs in the winter.

The danger is not the midges themselves, but their larvae, which can damage the roots of the plant. When there are so many larvae that they can be seen, the plants are transplanted to another place, treated from the flower midge.

To prevent the reproduction of flower midges, you should periodically loosen the ground around the flower, create a drainage layer before planting, avoid stagnation and strong waterlogging of the soil. Damaged and diseased parts of the bush should be removed immediately.

They fight flower midges in various ways. The simplest one, which is most suitable for potted flowers: 4-8 matches are inserted around the flower with a sulfur coating into the ground, as soon as the sulfur dissolves, the procedure should be repeated 2-4 times.

Watering with a weak (pale pink) solution of potassium permanganate or a weak soap solution also helps to get rid of midges.

Garlic infusion allows you to reduce and completely remove unwanted insects. It is prepared as follows: add 3-4 chopped garlic cloves to 1 liter of boiling water, insist for at least 4 hours, filter and spray the plants. However, such a solution can burn leaves and flowers. For those who are afraid of harming the plant, you can use garlic in another way: the cloves of garlic are cut and placed on the ground with a cut down around the trunk of the plant.

Orange zest, stuck and spread on the ground around the flower, can also keep the clarke from flies.

They also use an insect repellent chemical pencil (for example "Mashenka"), rub it and sprinkle it on the soil.

Insecticides "Bazudin", "Thunder-2" and "Mukhoed" are able to quickly cope with the attack of insects on a flower.

Planting and breeding

Clarkia is not demanding on maintenance and care, planting and reproduction does not cause any particular difficulties.

Clarkia saplings grown from seeds are adapted to cool temperatures, they are not afraid of drafts.

Clarkia flower will be bright and long-lasting flowering if grown on loose fertile soils. In the case of planting in acidic soil, young plants develop poorly, in most cases they die.

The plant is propagated by sowing seeds in open ground immediately to a permanent place, or to seedlings.

When to plant Clarkia?

The grown clarke seedlings are planted in late April - early May, when the likelihood of the return of night frosts is minimal. The decision to plant clarkia in fall or spring depends on when you want to get a flowering plant. If the seeds are sown directly into the ground, then sowing is done in the second half of September or in the second half of April.

How to collect seeds?

During flowering, 3-4 healthy large flowers should be noticed. After pollination, wilting and at the beginning of the formation of the seed capsule, an isolation procedure is carried out. To do this, with a clean gauze tape, the fruit is tied tightly, but not tightly, to the stem. During this time, the seed capsule will ripen, and the gauze will not allow the seeds to scatter, thereby excluding the possibility of self-seeding.

The seeds are fully ripe within 30 days after the flower withers. The dark brown color of the fruit indicates that the seeds are fully ripe. They are cut off, seeds are taken out, dried on a flat surface. Matchboxes or paper envelopes work well for storage.

Seed preparation for sowing

Before planting clarke, the seeds are soaked for 2.5-3 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The seeds are wrapped in a napkin, gauze, bandage or in a cosmetic cotton pad, dipped in a solution. So they will not float up and are well saturated. After the soaking procedure, the seeds are laid out on a sheet of paper or on a clean dry napkin and dried at room temperature. The seeds are ready for sowing.

Sowing seeds in open ground

In prepared soil rich in mineral fertilizers, shallow grooves are made 1.5-2 cm deep, at a distance of 4-5 cm from each other. With the help of paper or a toothpick, the seed is placed in the recesses, sprinkled with earth, and moistened.

It is necessary to cover crops with a greenhouse, periodically ventilate and moisten the soil as it dries. The first shoots will appear in 10-14 days. Young shoots are not transplanted, but thinned out, leaving a distance of 10-15 cm between the seedlings. You should not do more, otherwise it is difficult to achieve lush and bright flowering from the plants. The greenhouse is cleaned in early May, when the probability of night frosts is very low. In early spring, when sowing clarke in open ground, young seedlings are not watered, since the soil is sufficiently moistened by melt water.

Seed sowing technology

In the prepared soil, shallow grooves are made at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. Clarkia seeds are sown in recesses, lightly sprinkled with earth. After it is necessary to moisten the soil. This should be done very carefully and carefully to avoid the seeds floating up from the ground. Use a spray bottle or teaspoon. The container with soil is covered with a transparent material (glass, polyethylene) and placed in a well-lit place.

The shelter should be removed daily to ventilate and prevent seed rot. As soon as the first shoots appear, the transparent cover is removed.

What containers are needed for sowing?

Shallow containers are chosen, which, before loading the soil, for disinfection, are treated with boiling water, wiped with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. For clarkia seeds, it is preferable to choose medium to large nurseries. You can use individual cups, but they are not as convenient to work with as with wide containers. The seeded containers are left in well-lit places, excluding drafts.

Planting clarke in open ground

12-14 days before planting a herbaceous plant, the soil is dug into open ground, old roots are removed, and mineral fertilizers are applied.

The stems of an adult plant branch strongly, as a result of which the distance between the plants should be at least 15 cm.If the plants are close to each other, then they must be thinned out, this will allow the plant to maintain a magnificent elegant appearance. Clarkia from pots is planted in pits for planting by transshipment, that is, together with a lump of earth. Young bushes do not share, otherwise the roots will be damaged, the plant will die. A peg or other support is inserted into the soil next to the bush. To stimulate lush growth and dense branching, the bushes are pinched.

Clarkia seedlings

Seeds for seedlings are sown in containers with prepared soil in early March. The flower obtained in this way has better health, is protected from various weather changes. Young shoots develop and grow rather quickly. When 2-3 true leaves are formed, they are pinched. The seedling method is good for growing clarkia at home in pots. If the seedlings are grown for open ground, then the transplant is planned in May.

Growing

The plant is able to delight with its elegant appearance not only in the garden, but also indoors. Growing clarkia at home will not cause much difficulty, although in a potted version it will be more modest in size and with less lush flowering. When growing clarke at home, you should take care of additional lighting, especially in winter.

If the seeds sprout late in the open ground and the bush has not completely bloomed, in the fall it is dug up with a large clod of earth, transplanted into a container and grown at home. The bush will not grow all year round even with the best care and maintenance. After the flowers wither, the entire root system gradually dies off.

In the spring, seeds are sown in early May. In this case, flowering can be expected in early - mid-July and up to mid-September.

In autumn, seeds are sown in open ground in the second half of September, in which case the seedlings will grow a little, get stronger and overwinter under cover. When planted in autumn, flowering occurs much earlier - in early June.

Clarkia in winter

The plant is quite frost-resistant, calmly tolerates the cold season, but for better preservation, it is recommended to cover the flower with straw, fallen leaves, and moss after pruning. This manipulation is necessary if the plant remains in the same place. But when a new place is determined for planting clarkia in the spring, they dig up the old one in the fall, remove all the roots and parts of the plant in order to prevent the development of fungal diseases.

Application in landscape design

Clarkia looks very impressive in group plantings, paths, along fences and walls of buildings. Looks great in pots on balconies and terraces. Clarkia graceful and other varieties will perfectly fit and complement various flower beds, become a decoration of the garden.

Combination with other plants

Clarkia looks great next to other light-loving and decorative flowers. An excellent color ensemble is obtained from clarkia with roses, peonies, daisies, oleanders, delphiniums, asters, phlox. Clarkia is an excellent representative of the cutting flora. In vases of water, clarke bouquets can stand for 10-15 days, while continuing to dissolve the buds.