Hepatica nobilis(Hepatica nobilis) is a delicate, small perennial, perfect for shady garden corners. It blooms beautifully, has great turf and does not need any special care. It is enough to provide it with a fertile soil and it will cope perfectly on its own. Learn about the interestingvarieties of the hepaticaand the secrets ofcultivation and reproduction of the hepatica
Hepatica nobilis
Fig. pixabay.com
Hepatica - description and application
The Hepatica is a partially evergreen rhizome perennialfrom the Ranunculaceae family. It is common in deciduous forests and thickets in Europe and Asia. Due to the shape of its leaves and its application (it was used in diseases of the liver and gall bladder), it was called liver herb or liverwort.
Hepatica grows up to 20 cm tallA rosette of dark green, long-tailed leaves with a maroon underside grows from a storage rhizome. Most of the leaves appear after the plant blooms, at the end of April. In March, delicate flowers emerge from the ground, white and in intense shades of blue and pink. They close in rainy weather.Hepatica flowers develop graduallyso the plant remains decorative for about 3 weeks.
Przylaszczka looks beautiful in naturalistic gardens , forest gardens, under trees and shrubs. It fits perfectly with plants with similar requirements, such as: spring love, scented violet, crested bugle, hellebore, funkia, cockerel or hearts.Hepatica are great ground cover plants for turf covering under trees and shrubs.
Hepatica - varieties
In Poland, apart from the common hepatica, theTransylvanian hepaticawith cut leaves and Japanese varieties with large flowers, often semi-double and incredibly colored, are also commonly grown.The hepatica is best cultivated , ideally adapted to the climatic conditions in our country.
Zthe most interesting varieties of the hepaticacan be mentioned those about flowers:
- white : Alba, Schneeballschlacht, Stockholm, Alba Plena type Borgholm, Alba Plena type Göteburg, Schneeflocke,
- blue : Ballardi, Blue From,
- rosy : Rosea, Rosea Plena, Rubra Plena, Pink Fores, Red Forest.
Hepatica nobilis
Fig. pixabay.com
Hepatica - cultivation
Like other species found in deciduous forests,the hepatica requires a proper developmenta semi-shaded or shady site with fertile, loamy, moist and humus-rich soil with a neutral to alkaline ( pH 6.5-7.4).
Veryimportant in the cultivation of liverworts isfertilization and the correct structure of the soil, which improves water conditions. Regular use of organic fertilizers, e.g. in the form of compost, is particularly important. Additionally, to ensure abundant flowering, it is worth supplementing the plants with autumn potassium-phosphorus fertilizer in the fall.
Hepatica is resistant to pests and diseasesand is completely frost-resistant in Polish conditions (plant frost resistance zone 5).
Planting and reproduction of the hepatica by division is done in the spring , when it is blooming, so that it has time to regenerate before the onset of winter.If possible, try to avoid transplanting plants as they do not take it well. If you want to quickly see a floral carpet, it is best to plant hepatica quite densely, with a spacing of about 15-20 plants per m².
Note!
All work on the hepatica should be carried out with gloves, because all the organs of the hepatica contain a highly poisonous glycoside - ranunculin. Contact with a crushed plant causes severe irritation of the skin, often swelling and painful blisters.
A searing, unpleasant taste does not encourage the consumption of hepatica, but it is worth knowing that contact with ranunculin causes inflammation of the mucous membranes of the digestive system, heart, lung and kidney failure. Interestingly, these poisonous garden plants for us are an excellent food for forest animals.
Hepatica - reproduction
Reproduction of the hepatica by dividing clumps- is the most effective and the simplest method of reproducing the hepatica.At the end of winter or early spring, while flowering, we gently divide the clump into several parts so as not to damage the root system. The new seedlings are immediately placed in a permanent place. Remember not to remove the leaves!
Hepatica propagation by sowing seeds- it is recommended to sow seeds immediately after harvest, in a moist soil, in a quiet place. For storage, hepatica seeds require supercooling, i.e. stratification. They should be kept at a temperature of 0-5 ° C. (eg in a refrigerator) for about 3 weeks.
Seeds of Hepaticaare sown in boxes filled with permeable soil (peat + sand). They may not sprout in a given year. During the winter, boxes are left pitted in the ground or placed in a cold greenhouse or under an inspection window. The seeds take a long time to germinate, from 1 to 12 months. Leave the seedlings in the container for a year. We leave the plant in a permanent place after a clear start of growth.
Ants are also effective in spreading hepatica . The seeds produce, because the fat, which is a delicacy of ants, the so-called the body of an ant. Ants collecting seeds and carrying them to anthills contribute to the spreading of hepatica.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
