15.03.2022

Clarkia graceful - growing from seeds, when planting seedlings, in the ground. Description of all the intricacies of growing clarkia graceful from seeds

Clarkia is considered a rather attractive elegant plant that has a long flowering period. In appearance it is a bush, completely strewn with beautiful fluffy inflorescences reminiscent of roses. The inflorescences delight with a variety of shades and brightness. There are varieties of one-color color, two-color, even with specks. Gardeners fall in love with it at first sight. The topic “Clarkia growing from seeds, when to plant” is becoming relevant for everyone who wants to acquire a charming beauty.

Belongs to the fireweed family and is an annual plant. Reaches a height of 60 cm, has branched stems, oval-shaped leaves. All flowers form inflorescences at the top of the bush. Over 30 varieties of clarkia are known.

Interesting! The flower got its name thanks to its discoverer, the English priest Clark.

Types and varieties (height)

Three types of crops are popular among gardeners:

Graceful (marigold) . California is considered its homeland. It is a lush, branched annual plant reaching a meter in height. The stems are hardy, thin, slightly woody at the bottom. The leaves are purple-green in color, have red veins, and are oval in shape. The inflorescences reach a diameter of 4 cm and can be simple, double, purple, scarlet, turquoise, white. The seed remains viable for up to 4 years. Abundant flowering lasts from early July to late September.

The following varieties are especially popular:

purpurkenig - a fluffy variety of scarlet color, inflorescences have a diameter of 3-4 cm, a bush 85-90 cm high;
albatross – double flowers snow-white shade, bush height about 75 cm;
Salmon perfection – double soft orange inflorescences with a diameter of 3 cm, the bush reaches a height of 90 cm.

Pretty (hairy) . It is a dwarf species. Only 40 cm high, the leaves are long, rich green, slightly tapered. The buds can be simple, double, single, or form inflorescences. It begins to bloom 10-14 days earlier than clarkia graceful.

Pleasant (Breveri) . This species is gaining popularity due to its resistance to cold. It reaches a height of 50 cm. The inflorescences resemble butterflies, are 3 cm in diameter, and have a light alluring aroma.

Informative! Recently, breeders have been developing new hybrid varieties. The emphasis is on unusual colors, a combination of several shades in one inflorescence.

Features of growing from seeds at home

Even a beginner can grow seedlings from seeds. The main thing is to adhere to certain rules. Then the result will not be long in coming. The most common recommendations:

Before sowing, you must prepare a wooden container with a special substrate and a lid;
the container is placed in a well-lit place, however, protected from direct sunlight;
if necessary, additional lighting should be provided for seedlings;
After the first shoots appear, the lid is removed, the seedlings continue to grow with open access to air.

When to plant clarkia seedlings

Seedlings grown by seedlings are protected from unstable temperatures and frosts. It is for this reason that most gardeners do not risk planting grains directly in open ground. Seeds are planted in the second half of April, after a month the crops can already be transferred to a permanent place of growth. However, it is worth paying attention to the climatic conditions of a particular area of residence. If May is still accompanied by frosts, it is recommended to postpone planting seedlings until the onset of steady warming.

Preparing seeds for sowing

The grains of the crop are quite small. However, experienced gardeners still select the largest possible, whole seeds from the grains. There are four reasons for this action:

The larger the seed, the more it contains nutrients. Due to the presence of nutritional components, the percentage of germination increases.
Large grains produce shoots faster. Some gardeners note that growth has almost doubled. Early shoots produce earlier flowering.
If the selected seeds were large, then the mature plant has large inflorescences and attractive flowers that are excellent for bouquet arrangements.
Bushes grown from selected seeds have strong immunity and are resistant to temperature changes, are less likely to suffer from pests and various diseases.
Before sowing, seeds can be treated with a light solution of manganese. This helps disinfect the grains and increases germination by almost 90%.

Know! When sorting seeds, you can use tweezers or a special sieve or sieve.

What containers are needed for sowing?

Gardeners use individual containers, cups, large wooden boxes, and peat tablets to grow seedlings. Peat tablets are left when planting seedlings in a flower bed. Thereby preserving the set of essential microelements. Seedlings suffer from excessive moisture, so watering should be done as the soil dries out.

Soil (composition, characteristics)

To grow seeds, it is recommended to use slightly acidic, loose sandy soil. Additionally, complex mineral fertilizers, humus, and ash are added. You can also use a ready-made factory substrate, designed specifically for growing young seedlings.
To protect future seedlings from fungal infections and blackleg, the substrate should be calcined or steamed in a water bath.

Important! Fat soil has a detrimental effect on the crop. Sand and peat must be added to such soil.

Seed sowing technology

When sowing seedlings, a certain sequence of steps is followed:

Small containers are filled with prepared moistened soil.
The grains are scattered over the surface of the soil and pressed into the ground with light pressure using a spatula or wooden plank.
The crops are irrigated with warm water and covered with glass or film.
The containers are left in a warm place, but protected from direct sunlight.

Seedling care

When shoots appear, the glass or film can be removed. Before transplanting seedlings into open ground, seedlings should be kept in a warm room with good ventilation. Favorable indoor conditions allow seedlings to grow strong and healthy. After all, it is completely protected from temperature changes and cold rainy days. The seedlings can also be transferred to a greenhouse provided that the temperature conditions are optimal.

Caring for seedlings (hardening, picking)

The seedlings do not require hardening. Grown in a comfortable climate, it is quite hardy and has good immunity. Given the timing of the disembarkation, she will not face cold nights.

If the grains were planted in a common large container, picking should be done after the first two leaves appear. During picking, you should not leave single sprouts. The crop grows better as a bush, so it is recommended to transfer it into separate containers, taking into account the further growth of the future bush.

Important! You should not delay picking. The older the plant, the higher the risk of injury during transplantation.

Timing for planting seeds in open ground

Resistance to cold allows the seeds to be planted directly into the ground. Gardeners call this method without seedlings. You can plant it both in spring and autumn, leaving it for the winter. Without seedlings, the method allows you to obtain the strongest viable crop. The stems of such a flower are elastic, dense, and the inflorescences are large.

Grains are sown in late April early May. The area intended for sowing requires preliminary preparation, which is carried out no later than two weeks before disembarkation.

When planted in autumn, sprouts appear long before the onset of the first cold weather. Seedlings covered with snow can survive the winter. If the seeds did not have time to germinate before the cold snap, they will sprout in the spring. Overwintered seeds require the same care as those planted in the spring.

Since the grains are quite small, they should be sown in groups of 5, maintaining a distance of 20-40cm between groups. The first shoots appear after 15-20 days. When the seedlings grow, they need to be thinned, thereby forming future bushes.

Know! The denser the planting, the more impressive the clarkia looks during flowering. Therefore, you should not make seedlings rare.

Choosing a site for planting, soil

Beautiful appearance culture directly depends on the conditions of detention. This variety is quite unpretentious, but for proper growth and development, the correct location of the crop in the flower garden is necessary. An important factor is to ensure the optimal composition of soil quality.

This flower needs a sufficient amount of light; it should be planted in an open sunny area. In a shady place, growth will continue. It will even become overgrown with dense greenery, but will produce small, lonely buds. This species is also not afraid of drafts.

Proper planting requires good drainage. If there is groundwater running close to the soil surface, it is recommended to create bulk beds before planting bushes. The soil should be loose and light. Before planting, you can fertilize with humus and mineral fertilizers. It is advisable to do this in advance so that the soil has time to become saturated with minerals.

Remember! Poor soil will never produce beautiful, decent buds. The inflorescences will be single, quite small.

An important factor is soil moisture. It is appropriate to maintain a golden mean here. Excess moisture and dry soil are harmful to clarkia.

Flower care (watering, fertilizing, tying)

If you immediately install small pegs near the holes, this will greatly simplify maintenance. As the seedlings grow, they will be able to support their stems on the stakes. When planting several varieties, it is recommended to leave a decent distance between the beds. This is due to the ability of the crop to cross-pollinate.

Basic care consists of:

timely proper watering;
getting rid of weeds;
feeding;
loosening the soil;
removing wilted buds.

During the rainy season, there is no need to additionally water the seedlings; the amount of precipitation that nature provides is quite sufficient. The dry season requires systematic but moderate watering. It is recommended to water at intervals of 4 days. After watering, the water should not stagnate, but should be quickly absorbed. During the break between watering, the top layer of soil should dry well.

For long, abundant flowering, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is required. Feeding is carried out once every two weeks. Organic fertilizers are strictly prohibited.

Bushes need to be inspected regularly and dried leaves and buds removed. Gardeners also recommend removing excess seed pods. After such simple manipulations, the culture is still for a long time will give you new beautiful buds. These recommendations serve as good prevention against diseases and pests. When growing tall varieties of flowers, you should remember the need to tie up the stems of the plant.

Important! The amount of moisture should be carefully monitored. If the roots are constantly exposed to dampness, they will certainly be affected by rot.

Clarkia graceful from seeds when to plant

Clarkia graceata is the most sought after plant species. Like other representatives of this species, it does not require special care, sprouts quickly, and is resistant to diseases.

You can plant crops as early as March, then in June the seedlings will produce their first buds. Loose, nutritious soil is prepared for sowing. Before planting, the seeds are soaked in a weak solution of manganese. This will help prevent the occurrence of various types of infections and diseases.

Sow the seeds in groups, without going too deep. Before emergence, the crops are covered with film and placed in a warm place. Every day the film is removed to remove unnecessary condensation, as well as for ventilation. After the first leaves appear, the film can be removed completely.

After waiting until May, the seedlings can be transferred to the ground. It is important to transfer the sprouts without damaging the root part. Before planting, you should properly prepare the site, dig up, and fertilize the soil. The holes are placed at a distance of 20 cm. If you plant the bushes in groups, then during flowering you will get a gorgeous bouquet.

This species loves sunny areas and does not tolerate shade. The stems of Clarkia elegans are quite thin. Therefore, additional support is required.

Interesting! Clarkia graceful does not differ from its fellows in the rules of care and cultivation. All recommendations are relevant for any type of this plant. But it was Clarkia graceful that gardeners really loved.

Possible problems

The crop is resistant to pests and rarely gets sick. The most common cause of disease is violation of basic care rules.

Planting seedlings in heavy loamy soil provokes the development of fungal diseases, accompanied by the formation of brown spots on the leaves. Seedlings cannot easily tolerate an excess of mineral fertilizers.

Diseases and pests (treatment)

When spores of a fungal infection enter the nutrient medium, they affect the root system. The presence of a fungal infection is accompanied by the presence of brown spots that grow rapidly. When multiplying, fungal spores spread throughout the plant.

A gray coating with a certain fluffiness forms on the rotting part. This plaque is a reservoir of fungal spores. After ripening, the spores will spread, thereby causing irreparable damage to the entire flower garden. Once damaged, the crop cannot be treated; it should be removed from the flowerbed. The location is treated with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture.

Young seedlings may be affected by flea beetle. This happens when the flower garden is located directly next to the garden beds. Fleas, jumping, move from one crop to another, feeding on the juice from the leaves.

Very rarely, a dangerous mealybug infection occurs. The small worm has a yellow-orange color and is camouflaged under a white blanket, similar in appearance to cotton wool. It takes a lot of effort and energy to fight this pest. It is recommended to use drugs such as Fufanon or Karbofos.

Know! The affected plant should be removed from the flowerbed to prevent the spread of infection to other types of flowers. The remains of stems, roots and leaves must be burned. Only this will guarantee complete relief from the disease.

Plant care during and after flowering

When it comes to grooming, Clarkia shows modesty and unpretentiousness. In order for the crop to delight with abundant beautiful flowering, all that is required is control of the moisture level and timely removal of buds after flowering.

Given its self-seeding ability, there is no need to collect seed material. If such a need exists, then you should choose bushes with the most beautiful large buds and collect seed from them. Since clarkia is an annual, after flowering the stems are cut to the very roots, and the remaining roots are dug up in the fall.

How to collect seeds

The culture has an excellent ability to reproduce by self-sowing. With such propagation, all that is required with the onset of spring is simply to thin out the emerging seedlings. If you want to collect the seed of your favorite species yourself, you need to wrap the seed box with a bandage or gauze cloth. The seeds ripen approximately one and a half months after flowering. At the same time, the boxes with grains acquire a light shade.

The mature capsule is cut off and the seeds are carefully removed. This must be done with extreme caution, because the grains are quite small, and with one awkward movement you can scatter them. The collected seed should be thoroughly dried for several days; it can be sown even in winter. Already with the onset of the new season, you can admire the flowering. You can also save the grains until spring by putting them in a paper bag.

Remember! Hybrid varieties rarely produce shoots with the properties of the mother plant. Therefore, it is better to purchase selected species anew.

Clarkia in winter

In winter, Clarkia does not require special care. If the sown grains managed to sprout in the fall, then they will be able to calmly overwinter under a layer of snow and will begin to grow rapidly in early spring.

There are times when a flower does not have time to bloom. Then you can carefully dig it up, maintaining the integrity of the root system, and transplant it into a spacious pot. The container is moved indoors, preferably to the eastern or western side with diffused light, and continues to be cared for as usual indoors. By resorting to such a trick, it becomes possible to extend the flowering period, but after flowering the crop will still dry out.

Combination with other plants

When combined with other crops, clarkia creates amazing beauty that delights the gardener's eye. A win-win option is considered to be proximity to asters, lilies, daisies and phlox.

Looks very colorful next to short red roses. Great for bouquets and flower arrangements. The cut flower remains fresh for up to 10 days and gradually opens the formed buds.

Informative! Very often clarkia is confused with godetia. Only Clarkia graceful, pretty and Brevery are representatives of this species. All other plants do not belong to them.

Clarkia is the most unpretentious plant. And her gorgeous buds leave no one indifferent. Even a beginner can cope with studying the question of growing Clarkia from seeds, when to plant, and the flowering flowerbed will be a reason for delight.

Growing clarkia eleganta in suburban areas is widespread. She is elegant and aristocratic. It amazes with its beauty and richness of color. The variety of colors allows you to effectively design flower beds, garden paths, and hedges. It goes well with other plants and is a frequent participant in alpine slides.

Growing clarkia graceful from seeds

Clarkia, photos of the flowers of which are presented above, is grown from seeds in suburban areas. Depending on the climatic conditions of the area, sowing is done directly in open ground or seedlings are pre-prepared. The second option is more preferable, as it speeds up flowering and prevents young shoots from freezing from the effects of return frosts.

Sowing and caring for seedlings

When growing clarkia from seeds into seedlings, the question often arises: when to plant and how to do it correctly? Seeds are sown at the end of March - April. Clarkia does not need increased nutrition, so they use soil from their garden plot, adding rotted manure and a little sand.

The box is filled with soil, small grooves are formed and watered with water that has settled for 24 hours. Next, seeds are sown in the grooves and lightly dusted with soil.

The depth of planting the seeds should not exceed 1 cm. Otherwise, they will not sprout.

Shoots appear after 1.5 weeks. If they grow too thick, they are thinned out. Caring for growing seedlings is easy. It is enough to water the soil in a timely manner, prevent its excessive compaction and eliminate weeds.

Transplantation into open ground

After warm weather has established itself and the return frosts have gone, the seedlings are not in danger. Now you can safely transplant it to a permanent place. Clarkia graceful needs the sun. The most illuminated area is chosen for it. You should not plant it in a windy clearing, as strong winds can break a weak stem.

Clarkia grows well in fertile soils with a loose structure. On dense clay soils more sparse flowering is observed. Prefers soil with neutral or low acidity.

Before transplanting to a permanent location, the flowerbed requires preparation:

They bring it in in the fall.
In spring, the flowerbed is carefully dug up, removing all weeds and breaking up clods.
The surface is leveled with a rake.
Since by the time of transplantation the seedlings develop a large root and a long stem, deep holes are required. They are formed with a small spatula.
The seedlings are placed in the hole, slightly deepening the stem. The top is covered with earth and compacted.
Each hole is watered with water with the addition of a small amount of Kornevin. If the ground is very wet, which often happens in the spring in regions with deep snow cover, you should not water the plants.

Plant care

Clarkia graceful is unpretentious in care. Moist and nutritious soil with a loose structure, a lot of sun, light and warmth - that’s all that is needed for lush flowering.

Watering

To grow a healthy plant and actively flower, moisture is necessary. The frequency of watering depends on the weather. The soil in the flowerbed should not dry out. However, severe waterlogging is also undesirable.

Loosening

Fruitful cultivation of clarkia is possible on loose soils saturated with oxygen. On compacted soil it develops more slowly and blooms poorly. Loosening the soil when growing this plant is a mandatory technological stage. The soil is loosened after each watering, as well as during the rainy season. Loosening is necessary, even if the plants have grown and it is quite difficult to get to them.

Top dressing

Growing clarkia graceful necessarily includes not only watering and loosening the soil, but also the application of fertilizers. Any phosphorus-potassium fertilizer with a minimum nitrogen content is used as fertilizing. They are sold in granules or liquid form. Granular fertilizers are recommended for use in rainy years when the soil is very waterlogged. During the dry period, concentrated liquid fertilizers are dissolved in water in accordance with consumption rates and fertilizing is combined with watering.

In favorable years with sunny, warm weather, one feeding per season is quite enough. If the year turns out to be unsuccessful and there are prolonged rains, repeated fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers helps to prolong the flowering period.

Plant garter

The photo shows a mixture of Clarkia graceful colors. Its color, as well as the height of the stem, depend on the varietal characteristics. Its stem is erect and often reaches 90 cm. By the beginning of August it is covered with numerous large flowers. To prevent damage to plants during watering, weeding or heavy rain, it is tied to wooden supports. The supports are installed around the perimeter of the flowerbed and a wire or thin rope is pulled between them in two rows. This design is quite enough to hold the thin stem in an upright position and prevent damage to the plants.

How to collect seeds

Many summer residents sow clarkia only once. Then it reproduces by self-seeding. After the thickened seedlings appear, all that remains is to thin them out. How to collect seeds from clarkia for growing seedlings and is it possible?

During flowering, choose the most magnificent plant and tie the flowers with gauze. After a month, the boxes acquire a brown color. Now they can be cut. The collected seeds are dried well on a paper napkin and stored.

Clarkia graceful will effectively decorate any garden plot. The variety of shades of this delicate flower allows you to create luxurious compositions. Planting clarkia and subsequently caring for it will not cause any difficulties even for novice gardeners. Fertile soil, timely loosening, as well as favorable weather contribute to the cultivation of a lushly flowering carpet.

Experience in growing clarkia eleganta - video

Clarkia (lat. Clarkia) is an annual herbaceous plant of the Fireweed family. Depending on the species, the height of the plant varies from 35 cm to 1 m. The shoots are erect, often branched, and can be bare or pubescent. The leaf blades are oblong, arranged alternately, their color is rich green with a bluish tint.

When does clarkia bloom?

Clarkia falls during the summer months. The exact timing depends on the species.

At the tops of the shoots there are spicate or racemose inflorescences; single flowers can huddle in the axils of the leaves. The calyx is tubular, and the corolla is four-lobed or consists of 4 separate petals. Flowers simple or double. The color scheme is represented by snow-white, pink, lilac, red-purple shades.

Growing clarkia from seeds

Reproduction of clarkia involves an exclusively generative method (). Before sowing, the seeds should be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect them from diseases.

Planting clarkia seeds in open ground

It is carried out in the spring (from March to the second half of May) or before winter (around the end of October). A month before sowing, you will need to dig up the area; add 1 kg of peat or humus, 1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate and superphosphate (per 1 m² of area) for digging.

Distribute the seeds over the surface of the soil and cover with a rake. When sowing in winter, the seeds should be covered with a layer of soil about 2 cm thick (you can mulch with a layer of compost or humus). In spring, thin out the seedlings, leaving about 30 cm between individual plants.

Growing seedlings at home

When and how to plant seeds

To get strong plants that will successfully take root and bloom earlier, you will need. You can start sowing from late March to mid-April.

Fill the containers with light nutritious soil, moisten with a fine spray, distribute the seeds over the surface of the soil, sprinkle with sand (a layer of no more than 0.5 cm).
To create a greenhouse effect, you will need a film cover; you can cover it with a piece of glass.
Provide an air temperature of 15-16 °C and bright, diffused lighting.
Raise the shelter daily for ventilation.
Shoots will appear in about 12-15 days.
During this time, spray the soil with a fine sprayer, not allowing it to dry out.

When sprouts appear, remove the cover and water moderately.
After the formation of two true leaves, plant them in separate containers, try to preserve the earthen ball so as not to damage the root system.

Clarkia reproduces quite successfully by self-sowing. In the spring you will only need to thin out the seedlings and adjust the plantings (you can transplant young plants to the place where you need them).

Area for growing clarkia

To grow clarkia, you will need an open, well-lit area.

The soil should be light, permeable, slightly acidic. Dilute heavy loamy soil with sand.

To acidify the soil, you should add one of the following options (per 1 m²):

60 grams of sulfur;
1-1.5 kg of peat;
Pour the following solution into 10 liters of water: 1.5 tablespoons of citric or oxalic acid.

If the soil is highly acidic, lime should be added. The introduction of nutritional composition is indicated in the section on growing clarkia from seeds.

Planting clarkia seedlings in open ground

Clarkias are planted in open ground in May, when constant warmth has established.

Make holes of such a size that 2-3 seedlings fit into each hole - they do not interfere with each other, and the plantings will look more magnificent.
Handle the seedlings along with the earthen lump.
The root collar should be flush with the surface of the soil, press the soil around the seedling with your palms, and water well.
To stimulate growth, pinch the tips of the shoots.
Keep a distance of 20-40 cm between individual holes.

Mature plants will need support, since thin shoots may lie down or be damaged by strong gusts of wind. Stick the pegs in, stretch strings between them, to which the clarkias are tied as they grow.

How to care for clarkia in the garden

Watering

Clarkia is resistant to drought; waterlogging of the soil leads to the development of diseases. The plant is quite content with natural precipitation. Watering will only be necessary during periods of prolonged drought, and add a moderate amount of water every 4-5 days. Do not allow moisture to stagnate.

Feeding

From the moment the buds set, fertilizers begin to be applied. It is strictly forbidden to use organic matter; feed it with complex mineral fertilizers (Rainbow, Kemira, etc.). Apply fertilizer every 15 days.

Trimming

To ensure long and lush flowering, faded inflorescences should be removed in time. Leave only the amount needed to collect the seeds.

Seed collection

For subsequent seed collection, leave the most spectacular flowers. When they begin to wilt, put gauze bags over them so that the seeds do not accidentally spill out when the seed pods spontaneously open. The seeds will ripen 4 weeks after the flower withers and the seed pod turns brown. Trim them, pour them onto newspaper, and dry them. Store in paper envelopes in a dry, dark place.

Clarkia after flowering

After flowering ends, cut the shoots at the root and remove them from the site (it is better to burn them). During autumn digging, get rid of plant remains, as they can cause the development of pathogenic microorganisms.

Diseases and pests

When growing clarkia in heavy loamy soil, rust may occur. Yellow spots with a brown border appear on the leaf blades.

Overmoistening of the soil can cause downy mildew. The leaf blades will become covered with whitish or brown spots, begin to curl and dry out.

In both cases, trim the affected areas and treat with a fungicide (you can use Bordeaux mixture).

Also, damp soil can cause rotting of the root system. In this case, the plants will die.

Dangerous pests include mealybugs and aphids. Treatment with an insecticidal preparation will be required. In the fight against aphids, an infusion of garlic or citrus peels has proven itself; make a solution with water in a ratio of 1 to 10.

In order to prevent diseases during budding, Bordeaux mixture is sprayed. Select a suitable area for growing the plant, do not thicken the plantings, adhere to moderation in watering, then the plant will not be afraid of any diseases or pests.

Clarkia in landscape design

In colorful flower beds, snow-white daisies, asters, and combine with phlox will be suitable partners for clarkia. Clarkias look advantageous against the background of lilies and low rose bushes.

You can grow clarkia in flowerpots that will be used to decorate balconies, verandas, and gazebos.

Clarkia in floristry

After cutting, the clarkia inflorescences remain fresh for 15 days, while the buds bloom gradually.

Types and varieties of clarkia with photos and names

Clarkia graceful or marigold Clarkia unguiculata syn. Clarkia elegans

A species popular in cultivation in temperate latitudes. The stems are branched (which makes the bush look lush), and as it grows from below, it becomes woody. The leaf blades are oval in shape with sparsely toothed edges, have a greenish-gray tint, and are covered with reddish veins. Flowers correct form, are about 4 cm in diameter, colors can be white, pink, red, blue. The corollas are located singly in the leaf axils. Blooms tirelessly all summer.

The best varieties:

Albatross - the height of the branched bush is about 75 cm. The corollas are terry, snow-white.
Purpurkenig - plant height is 80-90 cm. Carmine-colored double flowers reach a diameter of 3.5-4 cm.
Salmon perfection - the plant grows up to 90 cm. Double flowers, up to 3.5 cm in diameter, have a pink-salmon hue.

Clarkia pulchella

A dwarf species with erect branched shoots about 40 cm high. The leaf blades are obovate in shape with pointed tips. Corollas are simple or terry. They gather at the tops of shoots into corymbose inflorescences and can be located singly in the leaf axils. The corollas are divided into 3 lobes, which are quite widely spaced. In America, this species is often called “moose antlers.” The flowering period begins half a month earlier than the previous species.

The Arianna variety is popular.

Clarkia breweri

A species that is increasingly gaining popularity in gardening. This annual is quite cold-resistant. The bushes are compact, half a meter high. The shape of the corollas resembles the wings of butterflies, the diameter is about 3 cm. The inflorescences are loose. Flowering is accompanied by a strong aroma.

The popular variety Pink Ribbons - the corolla consists of ribbon petals. Tiny bushes are about 30 cm high, the shoots branch well.

The annual plant clarkia belongs to the fireweed family. In nature, the flower grows in Chile and western North America. More than thirty species of plants are known, of which only three are used to decorate gardens. Various varieties have been bred from them, which are very popular among gardeners.

Clarkia flower - description

An annual herbaceous plant in height can reach from thirty to ninety centimeters. It has erect, branched stems, pubescent with small fibers, on which alternately glaucous or bright green elongated oval leaves are located. At the top of the stems, racemose or spike-shaped inflorescences are formed, consisting of simple or double multi-colored flowers with a diameter of three and a half centimeters. The flowers have a tubular calyx and a three-lobed or solid corolla. The corolla blades taper towards the base into a nail. After flowering, the bush produces elongated fruits – polysperms.

Types and varieties

Three types of clarkia are grown in the gardens, from which breeders have developed many varieties.

A dense and branched shrub can reach one meter in height. It has thin but strong stems with oval leaves, the edges of which are sparsely toothed. The bluish-green leaf blades have reddish veins. In the axils of the leaves, double or single flowers with a diameter of up to four centimeters are located one at a time. They can be blue, pink, purple, red or white. Flowering of clarkia graceful begins in July and continues until September. Varieties popular among gardeners:

Salmon perfection - a plant up to ninety centimeters high, distinguished by double flowers of pink-salmon color;
Purpurkening is a bush from eighty to ninety centimeters high with double flowers of carmine color;
Albatross is a variety with double white flowers that bloom on stems up to seventy-five centimeters high.

Clarkia is pretty

A dwarf herbaceous plant up to forty centimeters high consists of erect, branched stems. Its entire, long, narrow, green leaves taper toward the petiole and are pointed at the apex. Flowers are formed in the axils of the leaves in several pieces or one at a time. They can be simple or terry. Their petals are divided into three lobes, which are widely spaced. Because of this, the flowers look very original. The flowering of the pretty clarkia begins half a month earlier than the graceful one.

Clarkia Brewery

The plant, up to fifty centimeters high, is distinguished by loose inflorescences, which consist of butterfly-like flowers of light lilac color. Each flower reaches three centimeters in diameter. They have a very pleasant and strong aroma. The variety most commonly grown in gardens is Clarkia Breverie variety Pink Ribbons. This is an elegant bush up to thirty centimeters high. It has branched stems that produce pink flowers. The buds consist of petals that resemble a ribbon. Pink Ribbons bloom profusely and for a long time.

Clarkia graceful - growing from seeds

The plant can be grown in seedlings or without seedlings.

To grow clarkia gracefully without seedlings, seeds are sown before winter or in early May. The bed for sowing must be prepared in advance. To do this, the soil is dug up and mixed with fertilizers. For one square meter added:

peat – 1 kilogram;
superphosphate – 1 tablespoon;
Potassium sulfate – 1 tablespoon.

Clarkia seeds are small, so they are placed on the surface of the soil and lightly pressed down. There is no need to cover them with sand or earth. The seeds should be placed at a distance of twenty to forty centimeters, planting several of them in one place.

Plantings should be sprayed regularly to prevent the soil from drying out. In about two weeks the seedlings will emerge and the plants will need to be thinned out if necessary. If the bushes do not grow too densely, then you can leave them all, because clarkia blooming on a dense bush looks very beautiful.

If the seeds were planted in the fall and did not have time to sprout, then seedlings will certainly appear in the spring. But most often the seedlings appear, have time to grow, and are well preserved in the winter under the snow.

Growing seedlings

When to plant a plant for seedlings? In order for Clarkia graceful to bloom in June, the seeds are sown in early March. Grown by seedlings the flower will be protected from various climatic troubles, so it will grow and develop quickly. Growing clarkia from seeds at home is as follows:

In May, when warm temperatures set in, Clarkia seedlings are planted in open ground.

Planting in open ground

Clarkia graceful requires slightly acidic soil., so highly acidic soil is limed. If the soil needs to be acidified, then it can be spilled with a solution of citric or oxalic acid (1.5 tablespoons per 10 liters of water). The soil can also be acidified with sulfur or peat. For one square meter you will need sixty grams of sulfur or half a kilogram of peat.

It is necessary to prepare the soil no later than two weeks before planting. At the same time, one should not forget about fertilizers in the form of superphosphate and potassium sulfate, which are mixed with the soil when digging.

Holes for seedlings are made at a distance of twenty to forty centimeters from each other. The plants are carefully removed from the pots along with a lump of earth and placed in a hole. There is no need to separate the bushes. They should be planted several in one hole.

Plant roots are sprinkled soil mixture and watered. Immediately when planting, you need to stick a rod, stick or other support near the bushes, to which the adult bushes will be tied. To stimulate growth, plants are pinched after planting.

If several different varieties were grown from seeds, they are planted in different flower beds. Plants of different varieties planted next to each other will cross-pollinate.

Clakia graceful - care features

The herbaceous plant is unpretentious and does not require special care. If it rains regularly in summer, then the plants do not need to be watered. In dry and hot weather, bushes watered twice a week or after the top layer of soil dries. Watering should be done so that the water is immediately absorbed into the soil.

To prolong flowering, faded flowers must be removed in a timely manner. Otherwise, all the plant’s energy will be spent on the formation of seed pods, and there will be few buds.

During budding and flowering, plants are fed with Rainbow, Kemira or other mineral complex fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are not used for clarkia. Feeding is carried out every two weeks.

Clarkia reproduces by self-sowing, so not all faded flowers can be removed. Then, instead of them, seed pods are formed, from which seeds will spill out onto the ground. Shoots will appear next year in the spring, and they just need to be thinned out.

You can collect seeds to plant Clarkia in another area next year. To prevent the seeds from falling to the ground, a gauze bag is placed over the wilted buds. When the seed pod turns brown, it is cut off. Seeds must be dried before storage.. They should be kept in a paper or fabric bag until spring.

Since clarkia in our gardens is grown as an annual, after flowering and collecting the seeds, the bush should be pruned and burned to destroy all pests that settled on it during the summer. After planting, the soil must be dug up.

Diseases and pests of clarkia

When growing clarkia on loamy soil, the plant can be affected by fungi. The disease manifests itself first as yellow and then rusty spots with a brown border, which can be seen on the leaves. In the initial stage, the plant can be saved by spraying with fungicidal preparations. Oksikhom and Bordeaux mixture help well.

The most common pest Mealybugs can be found on clarkia. It lives on stems and leaves, feeding on their sap, as a result of which the above-ground parts of the plant turn yellow and dry out. Mealybugs look like lumps of cotton wool. To destroy the pest, the bushes are sprayed with solutions of Fitoverm, Condiform or Aktara.

In general, to diseases and pests The clarkia flower is stable, and most often no problems arise during the growing season.

If you follow all the rules for growing clarkia from seeds, the plant will bloom profusely and for a long time. With the help of clarkia graceful and other types of flowers, you can decorate any part of the garden, use it to create a Moorish lawn, or decorate a terrace or loggia.

Clarkia flower

Summer flower beds are fragrant with aromas and bloom in all colors. You won’t find anything in the flower beds – salvia, phlox, modest pansies.

Among all this splendor is Clarkia graceful, an annual with bright and varied colors: white, pink, lilac, red, purple flowers.

Types and varieties of clarkia

At the beginning of the 19th century, American captain William Clark, during an expedition, discovered unknown plants on the North American continent, among them Clarkia. Since then, the flower has been named after the captain, and its unpretentiousness and beautiful appearance have made it a favorite plant of flower growers and landscape designers.

More than 30 species of plants are found in the nature of North America, but only clarkia graceful (pictured) and clarkia pretty are used in landscape design.

Clarkia graceful is an annual flowering plant, low - no more than 90 cm, begins to bloom 2 months after the first shoots appear from the ground, flowering continues from July for one and a half months.

It is often used to create flower beds and ridges in city parks, gardens, terraces and balconies.

It is used in bouquets - when cut, clarkia can last in a vase for up to two weeks.

Various varieties differ in color:

Albatross – white;
Gloriosa – bright red;
Salomon Queen - salmon;
Diamond – pinkish;
Feuergarbs – orange;
Apple Blossom – soft apricot and others.

Pubescent clarkia is a low-growing variety, up to 40 cm tall. Coloring can be varied. Low-growing clarkia often decorates flower beds and mixborders in parks and gardens.

Clarkia Brevery is also a low-growing variety, but they love it not for this, but for its double flowers, similar to the spread wings of a butterfly. Flowers have a strong aroma: passing by a flower garden, you find yourself in a sweet cloud, it envelops you from head to toe.

Planting and care

Clarkia is unpretentious; growing flowers does not require special care or labor. You can plant seeds (they are very small in clarkia) in early to mid-April for seedlings or in May directly into open ground.

The plant is frost-resistant, so sometimes seeds are sown before winter.

In a week or two, sprouts will appear. When planting in open ground, the seeds are sown in groups - 4-5 per nest, maintaining a distance of 30-40 cm between them, and when growing seedlings, the plants are planted, placing 3-4 seedlings in a container, and then they are transplanted into the ground.

The plant is unpretentious and subsequently requires simple care, usual for all annuals: weeding, loosening the soil, watering. Fertilizing is carried out twice a month with mineral fertilizers - Raduga, Kemira. Organics are not desirable for her.

Clarkia loves open sunny places, dry, loose, maybe even not too fertile, slightly acidic soil. The flowers of Clarkia elegans definitely need light, otherwise the greenery will be thick and lush, and the flowers will be small.

Oddly enough, but clarkia planted directly in the ground, and not as seedlings, blooms more profusely and the flowers are larger.

Plant diseases

Excessive moisture is detrimental for clarkia - the root system is affected by the fungus, the plant develops slowly. It is resistant to pests and diseases, but sometimes it is affected by mealybugs; its presence can be determined by noticing a cotton-like coating on the herbaceous part of the plant.

To combat this you can use the following:

Confidor
Aktara
Fitovermu

When infected with a fungus, rust-like spots, bordered by a brown border, can be seen on the leaves of Clarkia. In the fight against fungus, spraying the plant with Bordeaux mixture or fungicide Oxych will be effective.

Clarkia in autumn

Clarkia is an annual, but to prolong its flowering, you can remove wilted, faded buds. Only bushes are left from which seeds can be harvested for planting next year.

Pinching the tops of flowering plants will speed up seed ripening.

Collecting seeds is not difficult - just tie the most beautiful and largest flowers with gauze immediately after wilting, so that after ripening the seeds do not fall to the ground. In a month, the seed box will turn brown, it can be cut off, the seeds can be poured out, dried and prepared for sowing next year.

However, Clarkia reproduces well by self-sowing, and if you plan to get a beautiful flower garden next summer, it will be enough to thin out the dense growth in the spring.

Simple care will allow you to grow a beautiful flower garden, which will be decorated with clarkia flowers. Often brightly colored clarkia is placed next to daisies, lilies, and phlox - it can create a spot of color in a flower bed or a border along a path. Its bright spots can be seen from afar.

Clarkia will decorate the balcony of an apartment in the summer. In any place - whether in a park, square, in the garden or front garden - there is a place for thin stems with beautiful flowers.