Caucasian geese - varieties, cultivation, reproduction

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The Caucasian geeseis an evergreen perennial that often adorns rock gardens. It delights with abundant flowering, ease of cultivation and versatile use.The varieties of the geesewith colorful, fragrant flowers or variegated leaves grow rapidly to form dense cascades or floral carpets. We suggest how to plant andcultivation of a Caucasian geesein the garden, as well as how tobreeding a geeseon your own.


Caucasian geese - Arabis alpina
Fig. depositphotos.com

Caucasian geese - description and application

The Caucasian geese(Arabis alpina, syn. Arabis caucasica) belonging to the Brassicaceae family, is a popular evergreen perennial, reaching 10-20 cm in height. Quickly branching and overhanging shoots create dense pillows. The egg-shaped, serrated leaves are usually greyish-green in color. In some varieties, e.g. 'Variegata', the leaves are sometimes two-colored. The entire plant is covered with soft, silvery hairs.

Gęsiówka blooms from March to June , and again in September. Small, delicate flowers form clusters most often of white or cream color, less often pink. They appear in such numbers that they obscure the leaves.
The Caucasian geese belongs to theso-called spring rock five, i.e. it is one of the five basic spring flowering perennials that are most often planted in rock gardens. This group also includes: rock dragonfly, phlox phlox, evergreen garment and garden snake.
Thanks to its ability to branch quickly, the geese turf covers garden walls and fills empty spaces in flower beds and under trees or taller shrubs. Geese are perfect plants for perennial borders, and when planted in containers with other species such as juniper, cotoneaster, swarm and sedum, they create decorative compositions decorating balconies and terraces. They look interesting in the company of omiegas, dwarf tulips, heart-shaped bergenia, Carpathian bellflower or basil soapwort.


Caucasian geese - Arabis alpina
Fig. depositphotos.com

Caucasian geese - varieties

The varieties of the Caucasian geesediffer in flower color, size, but also slightly in terms of requirements.
Caucasian geese 'Compinkie'- this variety of the geese is characterized by dark pink flowers 1.5 cm in diameter, which appear from March to April.Oval, gray-green, serrated leaves, 4 cm long, create extensive turf. Plants grow up to 15 cm high and 25 cm wide.
Caucasian geese 'Plena'- a very nice variety of full-flowered geese, reaching about 10 cm in height. The structure and arrangement of the flowers of this variety of the Caucasian geese may resemble a lion's mane. However, they do not give off such a nice smell. The flowers of the Plena geese appear in March, usually a little later than in other varieties, but they also last longer in autumn. Unlike other varieties of the Caucasian geese, the variety 'Plena' grows best in partial shade.


Caucasian geese - Arabis alpina
Fig. I.Sáček, senior, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Caucasian Goose 'Rosea'- short perennial with small pink flowers that appear from April. During flowering, it reaches a height of 15 cm. This variety can be successfully propagated from seeds.
Caucasian geese 'Snowcap'- a variety with white flowers and light green leaves, ranging from 15 to 20 cm in height.
Caucasian geese 'Variegata'- this variety of the Caucasian geese is distinguished by dark green leaves with a wide, creamy-white edge. White flowers appear in March and the plant height does not exceed 10 cm. This variety of geese grows slowly, making it great for smaller rock gardens and fringes.


Caucasian geese 'Variegata'
Fig. Jerzy Opioła, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Caucasian geese - cultivation

The Caucasian geese is extremely durableand has low requirements as to growing and care conditions. It prefers warm and sunny locations (with the exception of the 'Plena' variety, which does best in partial shade). It grows best in light, moderately moist, alkaline and well-drained soils.It does not tolerate heavy soils, as excess water increases the risk of fungal diseases.
Many gardeners ask uswhen to plant a Caucasian geeseWell, the best time to plant a geese is the fall months (September and October). It must not be forgotten thatgeese grows strongly and quickly , so we place no more than 9 plants per 1 m². The optimalspacing for planting a geeseis 25-30 cm. The place of cultivation must be carefully considered, because geese do not tolerate later transplanting.

Geese does not require abundant fertilizationIt responds well to fertilization with mature compost, which we use to mulch the area around the plant. We spread a 2-3 cm layer of mulch, protecting the root system at the same time. We mulch geese with compost twice a year - in March and September.
The appearance of the plant is largely influenced by a properly performedpruning of the Caucasian geeseIn order for the plants to retain a nice, dense habit and bloom profusely, trim the shoots of the geese immediately after flowering.We shorten the shoots by half their length. There is then a chance for a second flowering in September.
The goose is fully frost-resistant(the plant is assigned to the plant's frost-resistance zone 4). However, in regions with harsher winters, it is worth covering the plants with agrotextile or tunis. This will help to reduce water evaporation from the substrate and protect the plant against physiological drought.


Caucasian geese - Arabis alpina
Fig. Algirdas, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Caucasian geese - breeding

The Caucasian geese can be reproduced in 3 ways:
Geese reproduction by sowing seeds- it is recommended to sow seeds in spring from April to May in boxes. The seeds require light to germinate, so they should only be lightly covered with e.g. vermiculite, which will ensure adequate humidity. For about 2 weeks after sowing, we maintain a temperature of approx.20 ° C for the seeds to germinate. Then we pick the seedlings one at a time into the pots. We plant it permanently in the fall.
Reproduction of the geese from rosette cuttings- after the plant has faded, take the rosette cuttings from the top shoots. We place them directly in pots filled with substrate, preferably in a mixture of peat and sand, and provide adequate humidity. They take root within 40-60 days without much problem.
Geese reproduction by division- we start dividing the root ball in spring. We divide the plant into parts so that each of them has several growth tips. Then shorten the leaves and roots and plant them directly in a permanent place, then water abundantly.

MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak

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