Grape tritoma , or Kniphofia uvaria, comes from South Africa and Madagascar. Garden cultivation of tritome causes some problems in our kimono due to the high thermal requirements of this plant. However, the extremely interesting, exotic appearance of tritome makes it more and more often planted. See whatgarden cultivation looks like , what cultivation position to choose and how to properly care for the tritome so that it blooms wonderfully every year.
Cluster tritome - Kniphofia uvaria
Cluster tritomeis a magnificent rhizome plant that allows you to color perennial and flower beds. Its grassy, stem leaves are even and grooved, dark green. Stiff inflorescence shoots 60-100 cm high grow from the center of the leaf rosettes.
The most decorative part of the plant are tubular flowers, gathered in dense and cylindrical clusters. They can be white, yellow, orange and even red. Most often, in the inflorescence, we see lighter flowers, e.g. yellow, at the top, while at the top there are darker flowers, e.g. orange or red. Tall, spiky flower clusters in fiery colors resemble a bottle brush and make the plant look so attractive.Cluster tritomeblooms for a long time, from June to September, and therefore all summer.
Growing tritomein the garden requires first of all to provide the plant with a very warm place - sunny and sheltered from cold winds (e.g.at the south wall of the house). The soil should be deeply fertilized and dug so that it is plump. The tritome should have a fairly high soil moisture in summer, while in winter, during the dormant period, the humidity should be limited, as its excess becomes harmful.
Cluster tritomecan be planted in early fall or spring. The best plants are planted in groups of 3-10 pieces (then we plant 5 pieces per 1 m2) or singly as solitaire. The tritome looks nice on the gravel bed.
Cluster tritomerequires good winter cover in garden cultivation. It is best to wrap it with straw in a mulch, paying particular attention to the core of the leaf rosette. Do not cover the grape tritome in winter with non-ventilating materials, e.g. foil, because the leaves start to rot very easily. In addition, once the above-ground part of the cluster tritome is wrapped, it should be covered with peat, compost or bark or leaves to prevent the soil from freezing and protect the roots of the plant.
The cluster tritomeis best propagated by dividing multi-rosette clumps or separating young, lateral growths. The clumps are divided in the fall. In late winter, tritome seeds can also be sown under glass.
Katarzyna Matuszak