Coastal dragonfly(Lobularia maritima) is a delicate annual plant with small flowers, distinguished by a beautiful honey scent. It works great both as a potted plant and planted in garden beds. Learnsecrets of growing smagliczkiand the most beautiful varieties of this charming plant. We also advise which diseases can attack the seaside dragonfly.
Seaside Smagliczka - Lobularia maritima
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Coastal Smagliczka - description and application
The seaside beak grows smallIt grows only up to 20-30 cm in height. Its tiny, star-shaped, four-petaled flowers in clusters appear in summer and early autumn. It is a honey plant that attracts bees and butterflies. It has delicate stems covered with small, lanceolate leaves that tend to spread. The plant grows quickly, forming clumps or mats.
The seaside smagliczka blooms continuously from May to autumn , and its colorful clumps attract the eye especially in autumn, when other perennials have usually finished blooming. So it goes well with other plants. Smagliczka planted in flower beds and rockeries quickly fills the free spaces left by spring flowers. It works well on borders, creates fragrant flower carpets, it can be planted in balcony boxes and pots.A decorative coastal dragonfly against the background of such plantsas: marigold, forget-me-not, verbena, goose or low phloxes, celosia, shiny sage, Mexican marigold and spotted porcelain.
Seaside Smagliczka - Lobularia maritima
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Coastal Smagliczka has many varieties in the form of hanging , perfect both in the rock garden and in pots on the balcony or terrace. These varieties have distinctive overhanging shoots that can be trimmed and shaped. Smagliczka planted in balcony boxes is a remarkable alternative to surfinia or pelargonium, which we see at every step.
Coastal Smagliczka - varieties
Seaside smagliczka 'Snow Princess'- one of the most popular balcony varieties. She is eagerly awarded at florist exhibitions. Tiny, white honey-scented flowers decorate it all summer. It is disease resistant and has a beautiful, profuse habit.
Coastal Smagliczka 'Aphrodite'- has a unique color palette: apricot, salmon, lemon and red, as well as purple and white in a more standard way. Early blooms.
Seaside Smagliczka 'Clear Crystals'- this is a variety with very large, fragrant flowers of lavender, purple and white colors.
Smagliczka seaside 'Easter Bonnet'- is an early-flowering variety with flowers in pastel shades of white, purple, rose and lavender. Perfect for growing in containers.
Coastal Smagliczka 'Pastel Carpet'- this variety includes plants of pink, lavender and cream colors. She creates beautiful, compact carpets.
The seaside smagliczka 'Rosie O'Day'- is a beautiful variety in pink color. Creates uniform, dense carpets; it works well on rockeries, perfectly matching the stones.
'Royal Carpet'has purple flowers that fade to a shade of lavender. She creates beautiful, fragrant carpets.
Seaside Smagliczka - Lobularia maritima
Fig. depositphotos.com
Coastal smagliczka - cultivation
Lobularia maritima in our climate is cultivated as an annual plantIt prefers fertile positions, the soil is fairly moist, but not waterlogged. If it is properly hydrated, it can also grow on sandy and not very fertile soils. It tolerates drought well, so it can be planted in rockeries.A hanging dragonfly grown in a potshould have excess water removed from the stand.
The seaside smagliczka grows best in a sunny position.It blooms profusely only in full sun, while there are fewer flowers in partial shade. After the first flowering, you need to trim the dragonfly, feed it and water it, and then it will bloom again in August-September. By cutting, you can correct the shape of the plant and prevent excessive growth.
Smagliczki are undemanding plants , so you don't need to fertilize them on a daily basis. However, it is worth using a small dose of fertilizer for flowering plants just after flowering and removing the older inflorescences, so that the plant blooms beautifully once again.You can also use fertilizers with increased potassium content, so that the plant blooms more abundantly and grows faster.
Seaside Smagliczka - Lobularia maritima
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Coastal Smagliczka - sowing seeds
Coastal Smagliczka is sensitive to cold weatherIn warmer regions of the country, its seeds can be sown immediately in April, but then the plants may not be able to bloom again in autumn. It is best to sow them in rows 15 cm apart, and after the plants have emerged, stop, leaving the plants at 5 cm intervals.The seeds of the seaside dragonfly germinate after about a week , and the plants bloom about 2 months after sowing.
However, if you prefer,prepare the seedlingby sowing the seeds in March for a cold inspection at a spacing of 15 x 10 cm. In April, seedlings are planted in a permanent place, preferably in groups of 2-3 plants at a distance of 30 cm.The space between them can quickly become denser, because the whipworms spread rapidly.
Coastal Smagliczka - diseases
The key to avoiding seasickness diseases is to prevent excessive soil moisture , because in the event of overflow, the plant is often attacked by root rot, powdery mildew, viral mosaic, rust and astra jaundice . In the case of powdery mildew on the leaves of the smagliczka, you can see spots covered with powdery, wadded, white mycelium. Infected leaves wrinkle and curl downwards. The disease is favored by humid and warm weather and excessive plant density. In the fight against these diseases, as well as for prophylaxis, use preparations such as Topsin M 500 SC or Signum 33 WG. If you prefer to use natural and ecological preparations, you can help with Biosept Active (grapefruit extract) and Evasiol (produced on the basis of horsetail).
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
