Night violet - planting and care. Application and useful properties of the party

Choosing for your garden ornamental plants, capable of giving the site a unique, memorable look, summer residents often pay attention to lush flowering species. Therefore, in the light of day, flower beds and front gardens delight with bright colors and aromas, and with the onset of twilight, the corollas close, the smells dissipate. But at night, such a garden loses its charm and former charm. And all because for most flowering crops, pollinators are insects. It is to attract them that flowers tear off colorful corollas and spread their fragrance.

And yet there are plants, planting which in the garden, you can enjoy intoxicating aromas all night long. One of them is the night violet flower familiar to many gardeners. Under this popular name, two related crops belonging to the cruciferous family are grown in flower beds.

These are hesperis and matthiola, opening their corollas in full force in the evening and spreading a very pleasant smell around the neighborhood all night. Plants that are very similar in type and structure of flowers have a very unpretentious disposition and a long history of cultivation in the gardens of Europe and our country.

Neither plant is biologically related species in relation to viola, uzambar and horned, grown as indoor and garden crops. Flowers are called violets due to the range and shape of the corollas, which once fell into the culture of cruciferous plants.

Hesperis - night violet for a beautiful garden

If a person unfamiliar with the plant looks at hesperis, obeying the first impulse, he will definitely compare the flower with. Plants form the same dense curtains with high erect stems, decorated with large lilac, pink or white inflorescences. Here are just simple corollas of phlox combine five petals each, and in hesperis, or night violet, as in the photo, there are only four of them, which fully corresponds to the characteristics of plants from the cruciferous family.

In Russia, hesperis among gardeners is known as the evening or night violet and, as in the photo, varieties of this crop can reveal flowers of white and lilac hues.

The species that came from Europe gained popularity in our country two centuries ago, and in France and the Mediterranean countries, hesperis became famous as an ornamental and medicinal plant back in the Middle Ages.

Group plantings of plants are especially beautiful, while growing violets does not require special skills and even beginners in floriculture can do it. Unfortunately, summer residents have recently lost interest in this culture, which once created a unique atmosphere in the landscape parks of Russian estates, country estates until the beginning of the 20th century.

Under the name evening, night violet or hesperis flower, it unites about 30 related subspecies, some of which have found a place on and in parks. Individual representatives of the species grow in Asia Minor and the Caucasus. Moreover, under favorable conditions, hesperis is a perennial herbaceous plant, found in the wild almost everywhere, from roadsides to forest edges and banks of reservoirs.

In culture, the night violet is grown as a biennial, which makes it possible to achieve the most lush and even flowering of plants.

Covered with simple lanceolate leaves, the stems of hesperis reach a height of 90 cm. The foliage is pubescent with small sparse hairs, attached to the shoots on short strong petioles. The lower to the ground, the larger the dimensions of the leaf plates, while the most large leaves in length can exceed 12 cm, and in width reach 4 cm.

The inflorescences are quite dense, have the shape of a brush or cap. Flowers of all varieties of violets, as in the photo, open from the periphery to the center. In some cases, the length of the brush reaches 20–30 cm. The flowers themselves are small, symmetrical. The diameter of the corolla is from 1 to 2 cm.

The first buds open in May, and then hesperis blooms almost without interruption until mid-July. In place of the flowers, narrow oblong pods appear, in which small brown or brown seeds ripen. If you do not cut the flower stalks, the ripening seeds spill out and are capable of producing young shoots the next year.

Despite the night opening of the corollas and the fragrance of night violet flowers, this is a light-loving plant. But the direct rays of the sun are harmful to hesperis, it is much better to plant branches in partial shade.

How to properly care for violets so that the party will please with flowering and heady aroma? The plant needs light, well-drained soil that provides the crop with good nutrition. best bloom observed on slightly alkaline or neutral soil. During the period of growth and set of flowers, the night violet is provided good watering, but at the same time do not forget that moisture stagnation is not in the best way affects the plant. But even in the absence of water to wait abundant flowering do not have to.

And yet, the cultivation of hesperis is very affordable and easy. For tall varieties, violets, as in the photo, provide support. And for repeated flowering, you only need to timely cut off the fading flower stalks that take away the strength of the plants.

Growing violets is akin to the agricultural technology of other biennials. Plants are propagated by seeds, which are sown for seedlings at home, and then transplanted into the ground. It is also possible to sow in film greenhouses right on the site, this will allow the seedlings to take root faster and more painlessly.

Shoots appear in 20–30 days, when the soil warms up to 18 degrees. Plants that have formed three true leaves dive, and at the end of summer they are planted on permanent place. By this time, the rosettes are fully formed and will easily endure the winter. It is better to leave an interval of 25-30 cm between night violet plants.

Wintering curtains, if there is not enough snow on the site, cover nonwoven fabric or sprinkled with pine needles.

Mattiola: how to grow and properly care for violets

Like Vespers, Mattiola belongs to the cruciferous family and in the evenings it also spreads its fragrance over the garden. The genus was first discovered and described back in the 16th century and was named after the famous Italian physician and botanist Pietro Mattioli.

Today, botanists have identified about five dozen species of this night violet, in the photo, growing in the Mediterranean region, in North Africa and Asia, in Central Europe and even in Russia.

The species includes both annual and perennial crops. different forms and sizes. Mattiola or night violet is familiar to gardeners by a different name - levkoy, which was an unusually popular ornamental plant a few decades ago. But it turns out that levkoy can be found not only in flower beds, but also in the wild.

For example, in the Don region, in the Voronezh region and the vicinity of Rostov-on-Don, odorous levka grows - a rare one included in the Red Book perennial. In appearance, this variety of violet, as in the photo, does not give the impression of a decorative one. Stems up to 40 cm high are strongly pubescent, a rosette of narrow bluish leaves is noticeable near the ground, and the flowers are very small and dull.

But the garden lefty or mattiola gray-haired from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the south of France and the Canary Islands is a real decoration of the garden, especially if the grower is engaged in growing violets of terry varieties.

In nature, mattiolas are content with very little. They are unpretentious and easy to care for when they get into the garden.

AT middle lane night violets of this species are cultivated as annual plants, forming during the season stems from 20 to 80 cm in height. Usually the shoots are densely covered with narrow, dense leaves, which, depending on the variety and species, can be smooth or pubescent, green or silver-gray.

Particularly decorative and attractive to gardeners terry varieties violets, as in the photo. Such plants, like mattiola with simple flowers, smell great, are suitable for cutting and use for landscaping.

In one inflorescence, sometimes from 15 to 40 buds are combined. If a simple corolla consists of four petals, then in a terry pompom of a night violet, in the photo, they can be counted up to seven dozen. The brush continues to be decorative for up to three weeks. After the flowers wither, narrow, hesperis-like fruits appear in their place, inside which many small seeds ripen.

In addition to Levkoy, on Russian flower beds you can also see the two-horned mattiola, originally from the Adriatic coast and Asia Minor.

This night violet has been grown since the 16th century, and during this time, breeders have obtained many varieties that give flower growers fragrant inflorescences of lilac, burgundy, pink, white and yellowish hues. Mattiola has erect, smooth or, depending on the variety, felt-covered stems. Their height is from 20 to 50 cm. The leaves, like those of related species, are oblong, more often whole, increasing towards the base of the rosette.

Violet cultivation begins in May, when it is time to sow the small seeds of this annual crop. The first sprouts become noticeable after 8–14 days, and flowering begins after another two or three months.

To bring the desired appearance of buds closer, night violets are planted with seedlings, sowing seeds in the second half of April. Seedling development is best in a light substrate at temperatures between 17°C and 20°C. The grown plants are planted in the soil, observing an interval of 10-15 cm.

Proper care of the violet consists in regular abundant watering, monthly feeding of growing curtains, weeding and pruning of dry flower stalks.

Weeding is especially important at the initial stage, until mattiola rosettes have grown. When watering, you should not allow the overflow of the flower bed, and long drying. Fertilizers can be taken complex, for ornamental crops.

The greatest effect from the plant can be achieved by using mattiola in group plantings or by mixing several varieties of night violets in one flower bed. In this case, such a corner of the garden will be especially attractive not only for nocturnal insects, but also for people.

Video about hesperis

Matron's Vespers is distinguished by small flowers that look a bit like violets. Perhaps that is why another name for this flower is night violet. The official name of the plant is hesperis. It is important to know that the evening can cause an allergic reaction, so it is better to carry out all work with it with gloves.

Translated from Latin Hesperis (hesperis) means evening. The fact is that the night violet exudes a pleasant aroma at a later time of the day, and therefore it is simply impossible to confuse the plant with others. The evening Matrona blooms with purple or white buds. Homeland is Russia and the Mediterranean. It grows on plots for 2 seasons, after which transplantation or reproduction is necessary.

Night Violet Vespers Matrona takes root well in gardens and does not need special care. For planting, choose light fertile soils. It is desirable that the soil be slightly alkaline and well breathable. At the same time, peat should not be added to the ground: it slows down the growth of hesperis. Also, the soil should not accumulate water, otherwise the plant will rot.

Hesperis has very short roots. In this regard, the landing hole must be dug no deeper than 15 cm. Be sure to lay a filler of humus, sand and soddy soil on the bottom.

Evening Matrona tolerates both direct sunlight and partial shade. Experienced gardeners recommend choosing a place for planting under the crown of trees. With a properly defined location, the plant blooms mainly from late May to July.

When caring for hesperis, it is important to follow these rules:

1 During the flowering period, the stems begin to grow sharply in height. In this regard, they need supports and tying.
2 The flower loves moist soil, and therefore requires regular watering. In a particularly hot period, the soil should not be allowed to dry out, otherwise the plant will stop flowering. With the onset of cold weather, the number of waterings is reduced.
3 Matrona's evening grows very quickly, and therefore it is necessary to protect it from weeds and loosen the soil as often as possible. If unnecessary stems are not cut in time, the plant can turn into a weed, which will then be difficult to get rid of.
4 Remove faded flowers and yellowed stems in time.

Hesperis is loved by gardeners for being a frost-resistant plant and does not need additional shelter for the winter. However, in a cold but snowless winter, it is advisable to cover the roots with leaves or spruce branches. In the spring, be sure to clean the plants from weeds, rotten stems, etc.

Feeding, transplanting and reproduction

Night violet does not need constant fertilizer. Before applying top dressing, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the soil from weeds. During the period of active growth, mineral fertilizer is used 2 times. In addition, organic compounds can be added to the soil in summer.

The plant is transplanted after a two-year period. The most successful time for moving is the end of August-beginning of September. In this case, the soil must be well moistened, and a drainage layer should be laid on the bottom. A distance of at least 30 cm should be observed between the bushes.

Under favorable conditions, hesperis is able to reproduce on its own. Basically, the seedling method is used. To do this, seeds are collected from faded inflorescences and stored until early April in a dry place. Then the grains are poured into the prepared containers and covered with a mixture of humus and peat on top. In this case, the layer of the mixture should not exceed 1 cm. The seeds should be carefully compacted, and the soil should be well moistened.

After all the manipulations, the containers are covered with foil and kept at an air temperature of at least +20°C. The first sprouts can be expected in 3 weeks. The development of seedlings depends on proper watering. The soil should be moistened, but excess water in the ground is not allowed. Seedlings can be transferred to open ground after the appearance of 3 leaves.

To quickly adapt the flower to the ground, it should be watered regularly, and the soil should be loosened. This will allow air to enter the roots, which will lead to rapid growth stems. Night violet will bloom the next year after planting. Hesperis can be transferred to open ground in the fall. This will lead to the spread of the plant in the garden. Usually experienced gardeners Propagated by seeds after the snow melts and before the first frost.

Some experts propagate terry evening by dividing the bush. To do this, in early September, you need to carefully dig the plant out of the ground and divide it into several parts. It is very important not to damage the roots and stems of the plant. Then the parts should be planted in the prepared soil. They are recommended to be insulated for the winter with leaves. Usually, after such a transplant, the flower takes root well in a new place and gives a bountiful harvest of seeds.

Possible difficulties

The night beauty is rarely susceptible to diseases and pest attacks. Occasionally caterpillars can eat lower leaves. In this case, it is necessary to spray the plant with special chemicals. Cruciferous fleas often appear on the flowers, which are easily removed by the pressure of water from a hose. Slugs and keel are also destroyed by chemicals.

Most common cause death of a flower - non-compliance with the rules of watering. Due to excessive moisture in the soil, the roots of the evening quickly rot and it dies. Due to lack of water, the plant begins to dry out, the leaves turn yellow, and the inflorescences fall off. AT winter period hesperis roots can inhibit during snowmelt. To prevent this, it is recommended to lay a drainage layer on the bottom, as well as mulch the roots.

Experts recommend thoroughly loosening the soil in the spring, removing all weeds, and replacing the mulch. In order to prevent the appearance of pests, the flower can be sprayed by special means for cruciferous plants.

On the whole, at proper watering, timely removal of weeds and regular transplantation, night violet will delight gardeners with beautiful flowering and a pleasant aroma.

Night Violet (Hesperis) is a biennial plant native to Greece and Asia Minor. It grows in the Caucasus, the Mediterranean, Western Siberia, the European part of Russia.

The flower stem is erect, 40-50 cm long, covered with glandular villi. The leaves are serrated, small, glabrous, sharp and linear. The flowers are simple or double, up to two centimeters in diameter, pale lilac or purple.

Night Violet (Hesperis)

The plant has a pleasant aroma, which intensifies in rainy weather and at night (evening) time of the day. That is why the flower was called evening or night violet.

Mattioli bloom at the end of May, flowering time - 1-1.5 months, depending on weather conditions: in a hot dry period - much less. Small, grayish-brown matthiola seeds remain viable for 2-3 years and are located in a small pod, 6 cm long.

Night violet reproduces well by self-sowing, therefore, in order to prevent your flower beds from overgrowing, it is recommended to thin them out periodically (every 2-3 years).

Vespers. Cultivation and care

Night violet is an unpretentious flower, it feels great both in semi-shaded areas and in places well lit by the sun. The plant prefers well-drained slightly alkaline or neutral enriched soils. . During the active growing season, watering should be carefully monitored.. Vechernitsa does not tolerate drought well, but at the same time, moisture stagnation and waterlogging of the soil should not be allowed. Watering should be frequent, but not excessive. In order to avoid lodging of tall stems, the plant can be tied up.

The night violet has good frost resistance and does not need any additional shelter in winter. An exception may be frosty winters with little snow - then the flower must be covered.

reproduction

Vechernitsa reproduces well by self-sowing, but if you don’t have a flower bed with violets yet, and you really want to get one, you can try propagating seedlings. To do this, in early April, place the seeds in small containers, scattering them directly on the surface of the soil. Then sprinkle a small layer (up to 1 cm) of peat-humus on top, compact, moisten and cover the container polyethylene film. At a temperature of +20 ° C shoots will appear in 2-3 weeks. By providing seedlings with good watering, but without stagnant moisture, you will very soon receive healthy plants with 2-3 true leaves. Now the flowers are ready for planting in open ground.

Plants transplanted into the garden also need regular watering and loosening of the soil in order to provide open air access to the root system. By the end of summer, powerful and very dense leaf rosettes will appear in the flowerbed, which will begin to bloom in the spring.

In subsequent years, you can leave one plant from the group for self-sowing.

Before sowing, organic fertilizers should be applied to the soil.

There are the following varieties:

"Star Light". A plant with a rather high stem (up to 50 cm) and flowers of various colors.
"Evening scent" Enough showy plant 45 cm high with an intensely branching stem. It exudes a unique aroma and blooms profusely.

Diseases and pests

Regular waterlogging of the soil can lead to rotting of the root system and possible death of the plant. If you notice any lesions on the leaves- remove diseased specimens immediately before the infection spreads further.

The night violet can get sick with clubroot (root disease), which is common to all cruciferous plants. In this case, the affected plants must be destroyed (burned), and the soil must be limed and treated with special means.

In dry weather, cruciferous flea may appear on the flowers. Its presence is determined by the formation of small holes on the leaves. To get rid of the pest must be ground to dust wood ash and sprinkle it on the plants and the soil around them.

When whites (cabbage butterflies) appear, the violet should be treated twice with insecticides (Fury, Tsimbush, Kinmins, Arrivo).

Application and useful properties of the party

Night violet is great for landscaping loggias and balconies, it feels great near the house in flower beds and garden beds. Because the Mattiola coexists well with Bright flowering plants (for example, calendula), you can create original fragrant compositions in your garden or on your balcony.

In the garden, matthiola is best planted in groups of 5-10 plants, at a distance of 35-45 cm from each other. And then at the end of spring, when the plants bloom together, in your garden voluminous spots will appear and it will seem that a fragrant lilac fog has frozen over the flower bed.

In addition, the plant is widely used in folk medicine.

The following substances are obtained from the seeds of the night violet:

cardenolides;
steroids;
alkaloids;
digitoxyside;
glycobiovichoside;
biovichoside.

In pharmacology, the plant is used as a diuretic, cardiotonic agent. The leaves contain saponins, flavonoids and essential oils. The leaves can also be used as an antibacterial agent. alcohol based.

An infusion of the seeds and herbs of matthiola is used as a diaphoretic, as well as for the treatment of rheumatism and gout. For cooking, you need to take 0.5 tsp. night violet seed and 1 tsp. herbs. Mix the components thoroughly and pour boiling water (1/2 l.). Infuse for two hours. Take 3-4 times a day, 100 ml.

Grass is harvested in May-July, seeds - in August-September.

Be careful when collecting and preparing raw materials, as well as when using herbs internally. Since the night violet is a poisonous plant.

Germinated seeds of matthiola (night violet) are rich in minerals (phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron), as well as vitamins A and C. Violet sprouts have a beneficial effect on the body's regenerative resources, have a softening and antiscorbutic effect help stimulate appetite. In addition, sprouts are also used in cooking. They can be added to various dishes (snacks, pasta, salads, etc.) to add spice.

Thus, the evening party delivers not only aesthetic pleasure, but also used as home aromatherapy when planting it on a balcony or garden plot, as well as a medicinal plant for certain diseases.

Every gardener knows that basically, plants for personal plot are chosen for their external qualities. However, there are exceptions, because plants can not only delight the eye with their beautiful flowers and green foliage, but also other qualities, for example, they can be useful medicinal herbs or those flowers, from the smell of which the head is literally spinning. This is exactly what the night violet is, a flower whose name is soft and pleasant to the ear - matthiola. It is planted in gardens and flowerbeds not because of its decorative and attractive appearance, but because of the amazing smell that it spreads around itself during flowering.

Description of the Night Violet Party

The plant is classified as a biennial, it begins to bloom in the second year after planting. A representative of the cruciferous family, the inflorescences are collected in a bouquet, and the leaves are in the form of thin lines. There is a slight resemblance to phlox - the same inflorescences with bright colors. They can reproduce by self-sowing, so they are crowded in the flower bed, and they move to nearby territories.

Height: Hesperis is a herbaceous shrub that can grow up to a meter over the summer. It is better to plant in a flower bed as an accent or background.
Stem: erect, branching towards the top, where several panicles-inflorescences are formed.
Leaves: oblong, pointed at the ends, dark green in color, located before the inflorescences. Each leaf has a slight pubescence, which gives a slight blue to the plant.
Flowers: small, four-petal oblong with yellow stamen. The color scheme is scattered from purple to white. There are terry varieties, but those with smooth flowers are more popular.
Flowering: buds begin to open at the end of May, which are pleasing to the eye until the arrival of the first frost.

A long flowering period made the night violet a welcome guest in city and park flower beds, private garden plots.
Hesperis can be recognized by bright panicles and a light but persistent fragrance.

Gorgeous and unpretentious night violet: when to plant and what soil to choose

It is clear that when we have already figured out the preferred places, it's time to talk about the landing itself. Moreover, you need to understand that the night violet, a flower whose photo you can look at carefully, will not at all require you to spend excessive time and effort, it is so easy to grow and care that it is preferred by most beginner flower growers. However, even here there are a couple of fairly simple rules that must be followed so that the night violet flowers, the cultivation of which we are just discussing, give abundant and fragrant.

How to plant a night violet in a summer cottage?

Sowing of seeds is carried out somewhere in the beginning of April, when the probability of emergence of zarosok is excluded. Also, for good stable growth It is best to follow some guidelines:

Location. It is better to choose a landing site that is sufficiently lit, but not under open sun. It is good if there is a slight blackout from a sprawling tree or shrub nearby. Do not sow seeds near such vegetable crops, like cabbage, tomato and potatoes, since there is a possibility of pests moving to violet.
The soil. The flower does not like too acidic soil, so it is best to remove upper layer and mix it with ash. It is also important to remember the nutritional value of the earth by adding peat or humus.
Humidity. The amount of moisture does not affect the growth of the plant. Night violet calmly tolerates drought, but this, nevertheless, can affect its appearance.

How to care for a night violet?

As mentioned above, the night violet does not need complex care, so everyone can grow it in their summer cottage. What does care include?

Watering. You need to water the flower no more than once a week. If there were rains, then even less often. The main problem that owners of night violets may have is severe waterlogging, which leads to rotting of the root system.
Weed control. Large weeds can stifle the growth of a flower, so be careful to destroy all weeds in time and loosen the soil.
Spraying against pests. As for insects, the night violet is not strongly attacked by them, but it is still necessary to protect the plant. To do this, you can use both chemical and folk remedies.
Fertilizer. As food great solution there will be mineral fertilizers for flowers, which can be purchased at all specialized stores.

So, night violet flower, photo, planting and care behind which is simple, will be an excellent decoration for your summer cottage, and will also fill it with a wonderful, delicate aroma.

Night violet or scientifically hesperis refers to biennial plants. The flower has a pleasant aroma, which intensifies at night, simple but spectacular flowers of delicate pink, lilac color, as well as long flowering.

Diseases and pests

Night violet is not too susceptible to diseases and damage by pests. But still, not a single plant is immune from these situations. Therefore, it is better to study in advance possible diseases, most often overtaking Vespers. root rot. This trouble occurs in case of excessive soil moisture. The main symptom is leaf damage. As a treatment, you need to dry the soil as quickly as possible and then carefully monitor the amount of watering. Affected leaves should be removed immediately. If timely measures are not taken, the plant will die.

Keela. This is a root disease that many cruciferous plants suffer from. A plant with such a disease begins to die. There is no cure. It is necessary to immediately burn the diseased plant, and treat the soil with special means and mix with lime. cruciferous flea. This pest leaves behind small holes in the leaves. Defeating a flea is quite simple - just sprinkle the plants and soil with crushed wood ash.

Growing night violets from seeds

Agricultural holdings for the production of seeds offer several options for the names of the night violet: Matron's hesperis or Matron's evening. There are single color sets and color mixes. Some companies offer terry varieties. All of them are equally beautiful and unpretentious in care.

How to plant a night violet with seeds in open ground:

planting seeds directly into the ground from May to October(autumn sowing will sprout immediately after the snow melts);
sowing depth 1-2 cm in moist soil;
transfers the transplant with great success, it is better to take it out of the ground with a small lump, without clearing the roots of the soil (this reduces the risk of overdrying the root system);
It is better to leave the distance between the bushes at least 30 cm, or 35-40.
flowering usually occurs in the second year of life, but with an early planting of the first buds, you can wait until the end of summer;
fruits, brown-brown pods, give offspring by self-sowing or specially organized sowing at any time.
seed ripening ranges from late August to September.

How to plant night violet seeds for seedlings:

When to plant night violet for seedlings? Sowing dates - from the twentieth of March to the beginning of April. The seeds are small, so most often flower growers sow them in boxes or containers, and then dive into separate cups. You can tinker a little and plant 1-2 seeds in a cup, so that later you don’t have to dive seedlings. Here everyone decides for himself what is more convenient.

It is necessary to prepare nutrient soil with an abundance of organic matter or buy ready-made soil mixture for flowers, fill containers.
Seeding depth 0.5-1 cm.
The distance is as rare as possible, at least 2-3 cm between plants.
When 2-3 true leaves appear, thick seedlings dive into separate containers.
Care consists in regular watering and providing good lighting, it is advisable not to put the plants in direct sunlight.
When the seedlings reach a height of 8-10 cm, hardening begins: they take the containers out into the street, gradually increasing the duration of air-sun baths.
After two weeks of hardening, the plants are boldly planted in open ground, the main thing is that there are no frosts at night.

The wells are prepared in advance, spilled with water. Then the seedlings are carefully removed with a clod of earth and set vertically in the hole, sprinkled with earth. Abundantly watered. The distance between plants is 30-40 cm.

Reproduction of matron's hesperis by cuttings and dividing the bush

Terry varieties are divided by cuttings or dividing the bush. They choose sprouts that did not have time to throw out flower stalks, carefully cut them off and root them in seedling cups, planting them at a depth of 2-3 cm. Greenhouse conditions can be created to accelerate root formation. Watering with root helps well.

Dividing a bush is very simple: carefully dig out the rhizome, divide it into 2-3 parts with a knife and plant the plants at the same level as before, trying not to overestimate the roots and not dig in too much.

Using Violet Night

The decoration of the garden or summer cottage will be a party planted near the place of rest. This will allow you to enjoy its evening aroma during walks and home gatherings, creating a mood of joy and relaxation, combining visual pleasure with the benefits of aromatherapy.

Violet flowers are suitable for cutting, long-lasting in bouquets, used in flower arrangements. In the flowerbed, the evening is advantageously combined with bright annuals, biennials, contrasting in color, suitable in height. Charming night violets as a component for monochrome plantings by color, for example, a flower bed in purple-lilac tones, pink or white.

Having become acquainted with the abundance of varieties of night violet flowers, each gardener will be able to choose a plant depending on their preferences and capabilities. Violet night on the site will become an undoubted favorite, delighting the owner with its unpretentiousness and fragrance. Breeders recommend experimenting and trying to plant an evening tree in a place where other ornamental plants do not take root. Having wild representatives that grow in nature under natural conditions, the night violet is sometimes able to populate and ennoble even the backyards of the garden plot.

Night violet is also chosen if there are a lot of fruit trees. achieve good harvest the fragrant beauty will help, attracting pollinating insects to the garden even at night.

More than a century of history of the nocturnal violet flower does not end today. The popularity of hesperis continues to grow. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, every year new varieties and varieties of night violet, already familiar and beloved by gardeners and summer residents, appear.

Night violet is a rather simple, unpretentious, but at the same time very special flower. No wonder it has a second name - evening party.

With the onset of dusk, when other flowers close their corollas and go to sleep, the night violet envelops the entire garden with its delicate fragrant aroma. Thanks to this amazing smell, even a simple appearance Vespers acquires a certain charm and grace.

Types of night violet

The description of this plant was found in the writings of ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus. Vespers belongs to the cruciferous family and is divided into many different types.

Most of them are distributed in Asia and Central Europe. In our country, the night violet is presented mainly in two versions: hesperis and matthiola.

It is an erect perennial plant with long stems. Height hesperis varies from 50 to 120 cm. The leaves of the plant are long, narrow and pointed. They are slightly pubescent. The closer to the ground the leaf is located, the larger it is. But the most important thing is the flowers. They are quite small, each consists of four petals. The flowers are united in large inflorescences, similar to bunches of lilacs.

Hesperis can be pink, lilac or white. Because of the small and dim flowers, an individual plant is lost in the garden, so it is better to plant the evening in groups. White night violets look especially beautiful, which at dusk become like small stars.

Mattiola

Another popular party is matthiola. In the people, it is better known under the name "left". Mattiola has a lot different varieties, but four of them are most familiar to gardeners:

two-horned levkoy is an annual self-pollinating plant, its flowers do not exceed 2-3 cm in size and have a dark pink tint;
gray-haired lefty - more ornamental variety, the flowers of this plant can be both smooth and double, they have a wide range of shades;
"Starlight" - several varieties seem to be mixed in these plants, flowers of different shades can be on the same stem;
“Evening Aroma” is a very actively blooming levka, the most fragrant of all matthiols.

The most decorative matthiols are, of course, varieties with double flowers. They will not only give the garden fragrance, characteristic of all night violets, but will also serve as a worthy decoration for any site. In every double flower the number of petals can reach up to a hundred, and the flowering period of such levkoy lasts up to two weeks.

As in the case of other night violets, the photo of Mattiola is not able to fully convey its beauty. Levkoi they are good just live, when a weightless cloud of small flowers among the greenery saturates the twilight with a delicate magical aroma. It is not for nothing that in ancient times a unique atmosphere reigned in parks and estates, an important role in the creation of which was played by night violets.

Cultivation and care

very unpretentious. It is often found in the wild, where it grows quite independently. But in order for this plant to be as pleasing to the eye as possible, you need to pay some attention to the rules of planting and growing.

First of all, you need to choose a place for the future fragrant cloud. Despite the fact that the night violet is a twilight flower, it still loves the light very much. Therefore, it is better for her to choose a well-lit area. At the same time, the evening calmly tolerates both direct sunlight and diffused light. However, if the air temperature is excessively high, then the plant will feel comfortable in the shade.

The next location selection parameter is the soil. In the wild, the nocturnal is most often found on the banks of water bodies, it also loves meadows and fields. Accordingly, this plant prefers moist, loose and fertile soil. It is desirable that lime is present in the soil, and its reaction is either neutral or slightly alkaline.

The night violet is very resistant to various pests and diseases. However, you should not plant it in the area where the cabbage used to grow. All the health problems that this vegetable had can quickly turn into a party.

You also need to pre-select the optimal neighborhood for a party. This factor does not affect the health and comfort of the plant, but is important for enhancing effect. Night Violet pairs perfectly with various types summer flowers and herbs. The most popular evening neighbors are:

petunia;
viola;
nasturtium;
yarrow;
nivyanik;
geranium;
monarch;
Melissa;
fragrant basil;
mint;
climbing rose.

The smells of these flowers and herbs and the aroma of night violets form a unique combination.

Landing

Some varieties of evening can be propagated by dividing the bush, but this is more typical of terry varieties. The main method is considered seed.

Planting can be pre-made in pots for seedlings, this is done at the beginning spring. But night violet seeds are different high level germination, so they can be planted immediately in open ground.

The optimal time for sowing: late spring - early summer. The seeds are very small, so they should not be sown at great depths. When sowing, large accuracy should be avoided. The ideal option there will be planting of plants in individual bowls. This will make further weed control much easier.

After planting seeds, the ground must be properly moistened. This is done using spraying. Watering should not be used, as this is fraught with erosion of the soil along with the seeds. After moistening the soil, cover the sown area with a film. Subsequently, it will need to be removed periodically to provide access to the land. fresh air.

The first sprouts of the evening appear in about a month. As soon as the first three leaves are formed, seedlings necessary dive. Then you need to produce abundant watering and cover the sprouts from the sun. If the evening rose too heaped, then it must be thinned out. Each plant needs a place with a diameter of about 30 cm or more.

If you still decide to pre-grow seedlings, then you need to prepare small containers. First, you need to pour soil into them, then sow seeds on it. Then a layer about 0.5 cm thick is laid out on top, consisting of peat and humus. At the end, the soil should be slightly compacted and watered. Moisturizing should be moderate. After watering, the containers are covered with glass or a film that transmits light.

The seedling must be in warmth room with an air temperature of at least 20 degrees. The first shoots will begin to appear around the fifteenth day. Sprouts need to be watered regularly. When three leaves appear on each of them, the seedlings can be moved to open ground.

Before offensive in winter, the soil needs to be mulched - covered with a layer of compost. This is necessary so that the sprouts can safely survive the cold. Particularly dangerous for immature plants are winters with thin snow cover and severe frosts. Therefore, composting is a mandatory procedure.

Night violets begin to bloom only a year after planting. It usually happens at the end spring. The first flowering is the longest, it can last a whole month. However, this period varies depending on the variety. After two years, the duration of flowering is significantly reduced, so the plants will need to be updated by planting new ones. Although quite often the night violet itself copes with this matter. After flowering, seed pods appear on it. As the grains ripen, the pods burst and the ground next to the plant is automatically seeded.

Adult plant care

Night violet absolutely not demanding, so caring for it comes down to following a few elementary rules.

Watering. Vechernitsa is quite capricious about the amount of moisture. Too much water, and even more so, its stagnation is unacceptable. Dry soil will also have a very negative effect on the condition of the plant. Therefore, when watering, you need to observe the golden mean. Moisturizing the soil is best done in the evening. If garden plot located in a swampy area, then even before planting it is necessary to provide the earth with high-quality drainage.
Soil loosening. This process must be done regularly. Loosening will help keep the soil moist longer, preventing it from drying out.
Weeding. Like other garden flowers, the night violet does not feel comfortable around weeds. Therefore, the flower bed should be weeded as they appear.
Garter. Many varieties of the evening are distinguished by their high growth and dense, heavy inflorescences. Therefore, they can lie down, especially in windy weather. To avoid this, it is necessary to organize in advance adjacent supports, to which it will be possible to tie the stem as it grows.

Also, one should not forget about the love of the evening party for fertile soil. Therefore, the land must be fertilized periodically, but not more than once a month. The night violet prefers slightly alkaline and neutral ground.

Therefore, it is considered an ideal fertilizer for her. It will give the soil all the necessary nutrients, as well as enhance alkaline reaction. As a result, the acidity of the soil will decrease. In such conditions, the evening will feel most comfortable, and its flowering will become abundant and long-lasting.

Diseases and pests

night violet not too much susceptible to diseases and damage by pests. But still, not a single plant is immune from these situations. Therefore, it is better to study in advance the possible diseases that most often overtake the evening.

Root rot. This trouble occurs in case of excessive soil moisture. The main symptom is leaf damage. As a treatment, you need to dry the soil as quickly as possible and then carefully monitor the amount of watering. Affected leaves should be removed immediately. If timely measures are not taken, the plant will die.
Keela. This is a root disease that many cruciferous plants suffer from. A plant with such a disease begins to die. There is no cure. It is necessary to immediately burn the diseased plant, and treat the soil with special means and mix with lime.
Cruciferous flea. This pest leaves behind small holes in the leaves. Defeating a flea is quite simple - just sprinkle plants and soil with crushed wood ash.

Useful properties of night violet

Vechernitsa gives people not only an amazing aroma. It contains many useful substances that help in the treatment of certain diseases. The pharmacy name of this plant is roots. Salepa.

For medical use only tubers night violets. They should be collected during the flowering period or immediately after it.

Procurement of raw materials

For dug out tubers, cut off the aerial part and remove the bark. Then the peeled roots are dipped in boiling water for a few minutes. This is necessary so that they do not germinate later. Processed raw materials must be dried in the open air. Also for this procedures you can use dryers or ovens, the temperature in which should not exceed 55 degrees. Dried roots can be stored for no more than six years.

Application

Salep roots contain a lot of mucus. Therefore, the main function of this drug - enveloping. With the help of a decoction of the roots, you can alleviate the symptoms and accelerate the cure for diseases of the digestive system, indigestion, inflammation of the genitourinary system.