Some people can’t stand angles in any form. A good example is the famous round house of Pierre Cardin (Palais Bulles) in the suburbs of Cannes. But we will not delve into the peculiarities of the worldview of the antagonists of this quite harmless geometric figure, but will do a much more pleasant thing: we will choose such plants-raisins that will support the “round theme” of the suburban area.
And why do we need such plants? After all, you can just arrange a round flower beds, place them in the middle of the lawn, and all.
This is a simple win-win solution, which is quite common in parterre open areas. Support round flower garden can and garden vases of the same shape.
But what to do when in the country every inch of land is worth its weight in gold, and the creation of a round flower bed is an unacceptable luxury? But I want to round out, soften, make more comfortable, intimate, intimate…
Here in this situation come to the aid of plants. First of all, of course, it is spherical topiary haircuts evergreen shrubs, but we are not talking about them. Today we will look at flower perennials and annuals with spherical and hemispherical inflorescences, which during flowering (and often fruiting) will support the round concept of your garden.
From a Botanical point of view, the concept of spherical and hemispherical is very conditional, since it can be a head or umbrella, which, in turn, can be assembled into complex whorled inflorescences. In some species, even the inflorescence basket with a convex hemispherical center of tubular flowers can support the “round” suburban orientation.
The role of such plants in contrasting compositions can not be overestimated: thanks to them, a form harmony in contrast is achieved, flower beds become more interesting.
Jasione crispa, Jasione laevis
Amazing (still rare in our cottages) rosette perennial plants from the family Campanulaceae, which in the summer will support in the flower garden cold blue, blue scale. Next to the gray stones, they will look more natural.
The first hails from southern Spain, height 10 cm, width 15 cm, inflorescence diameter of 2 cm
The second is a native of Western and southern Europe, with a height of 20-30 cm, width up to 20 cm, inflorescence diameter 2.5-4 cm
In the English reference literature, their winter temperature minimum is 15 ° C, so in the middle zone of the landing site it is necessary to mulch an organic substrate, cover with dry leaves from above.
Gomphrena globosa
The British call it a globular amaranth, with which she, as a representative of the family Amaranthaceae, really is related.
In addition to dwarf varieties series ‘Buddy’ (up to 15 cm), interesting variety ‘Strawberry Fields’ height 75-80 cm, width up to 30 cm, bright red inflorescences, diameter up to 5 cm
Craspedia globosa
Unusual perennial with yellow flowers of the family Asteraceae/Compositae, which is grown as an annual.
Craspedia globosa is a native of Australia. It is 60-90 cm high and 12 cm wide. Inflorescences appear from August to the end of September on leafless peduncles.
Decorative varieties:
- ‘Billy Buttons’ – Dutch line;
- ‘Drumsick’ – American series.
Grown through seedlings. Sown in February, put in a bright place. In the open ground planted in may. Loves feeding: 2-3 times n and 1 time a complete complex fertilizer. Use as a dry flower.
Allium
Spherical and hemispherical umbrellas nature generously endowed bows – representatives of the family Liliaceae:
- A. macleanii, syn. A. elatum;
- A. altissimum;
- A. giganteum;
- A. aflatunense;
- A. sphaerocephalon;
- A. karataviense and others.
Their shape will beautifully emphasize the “round” theme of the garden, but you only need to choose the right place for planting decorative bows. Many of them come from steppe or mountain areas with rocky or thin soils. They are accustomed to the abundance of sun and heat, to well-permeable soils. Heavy compacted earth, holding water, will be detrimental to them.
Echinops sphaerocephalus
Another representative of the family Asteraceae with charming spherical inflorescences-heads of blue, blue and white. He comes from Central and southern Europe.
It is a romantic composition. Echinops charming and nuanced in combination with phalarism, Aconitum white, and Cosmos. It grows better in open areas with alkaline permeable soils.
Santolina chamaecyparissus, syn. S. incana
Luxury Mediterranean beauty height of 50 cm and a width of 1 m comes from the family Asteraceae.
Regular haircut it can be turned into a blue ball, which during flowering will be decorated with a mass of yellow spherical inflorescences.
Spilanthes
A rare annual weed of the family Asteraceae.
Its exotic beauty lies in spherical inflorescences-heads with a diameter of 2-3 cm. It is up to 60 cm and a width of 60-75 cm Blooms from mid-summer to autumn. Extremely drought-tolerant.
Trachymene caerulea, syn. Didiscus caeruleus
An interesting annuals from the family Apiaceae/Umbelliferae, up to 60 cm in height and 23 cm in width.
Small lavender-blue flowers with a pleasant delicate aroma are collected in dense spherical umbrellas up to 5 cm in diameter. Blooms in open Sunny places from late June – early July to late autumn frosts. Seedlings are sown in late March – mid-April. In the open ground planted in late may, when the threat of return frost, keeping the distance between plants 20-25 cm.
Cephalophora aromatica
Thanks to the amazing berry flavor of this perennial family Asteraceae, grown in the middle lane as an annual, is rapidly gaining popularity.
Not so long ago appeared in the sale of seeds of the variety ‘Pineapple dessert’.
Globularia cordifolia
Very interesting rosette, perennial plant of the same family Globulariaceae.
She comes from Central, southern Europe, Western Turkey. Feels great in the open on alkaline, very loose, permeable soils.
And in your country already settled plants with spherical inflorescences?