Lupine is growing, perhaps, in every yard. And on the roadsides, along the ditches, under the trees… Now, at the time of its flowering, it looks just gorgeous! High inflorescence-candles of different colors and hues give life to the scenery on the outskirts.
It is often found simply as wild grass in meadows and glades. Often the most common, purple, but you can see both white and pink. And if a single flower is simply beautiful, large groups of Lupine-both solid and multicolored-are truly magnificent!
Ideal conditions for this plant: rather loose soil with good permeability, slightly acidic, moderately fertile. Lupins do not like lime in the soil and grow poorly with excess fertilizers, but at the same time, like most legumes (namely to this family they belong to “Fabaceae”), are able to improve the soil, enriching it with nitrogen accumulated in the root nodules.
Root system this perennial develops a powerful, deep and strong, so it is better to transplant young plants — adults after transplantation can be sick for a long time. Propagated lupins and seeds-on sale there are different varieties with all sorts of bright and expressive colors. Lupine seeds are large, with a hard shell, so it is recommended to scarify them (that is, slight damage to the surface of the seed: it must be lightly rubbed with sandpaper or nail file) and soaking for a few hours before sowing. But in the wild this plant reproduces well with seeds and without additional procedures.
This property is worth considering, growing lupins in the garden, and timely cut stems, not allowing the seeds to Mature, if you do not want this flower to spread on the site, like a weed. By the way, for such care Lupin can thank reflowering by the end of summer. There is another reason to cut off the brush with knotted seeds: they contain poisonous alkaloids. If there are children in the house, this security measure is especially important.
For planting lupines science recommends open, Sunny areas. It is believed that in the shade of the flowers can not grow. In fact, on a warm and well-lit place they grow faster and bloom more luxuriously, but admire the wild thickets in the shade of birches and bushes. The sun here almost never happens, nevertheless, the “lupins don’t seem to complain”.
But on Sunny beds in the garden with arid and hot weather they need watering. The lack of moisture large carved leaves are wilted, sometimes even lay on the ground, their long stalks can break. Much better feel these plants, when the soil under them is emulsified, and at the base of the Bush grow other, more undersized flowers — this is exactly what happens in nature, where no lupine specifically does not water.
The flower stalks of lupine have, as a rule, strong and sturdy. Therefore, high (up to 1 meter) plants tolerate heavy rains and winds. However, young plants blooming for the first time may sometimes require additional support to hold heavy inflorescences. In this case, install the pegs to which to tie the stems.
Lupinus are good not only flowers: tall shrub with large leaves elegant and expressive in itself. In a flower garden this plant choose a place in the background or in the middle (if it is supposed to be viewed from different angles). Lupines-traditional ornaments of front gardens; they look impressive also along fences and various constructions.