Arabis perennial: planting rules and favorable growing conditions. In autumn, arabis alpine is planted in frozen ground

Arabis or Resuha is a genus of plants belonging to the Cruciferous family. The number of the genus is about 100 species that grow in the highlands of the African tropics and the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. In culture, these flowers are grown as annuals or perennials. They look great as ground covers due to their creeping shoots.

The height of the stem is up to 30 cm, the foliage is covered with fluff, has the shape of a heart, and can be serrated. Small flowers of pink, white or yellowish color, can be either simple or double. Flowering is long, begins in May, is characterized by a strong pleasant smell.

Varieties and types of arabis

It is a perennial plant that can reach 35 cm tall. The stems have a very high branching, some of the branches are adjacent to the ground like curtains. The foliage on the shoots is heart-shaped, and closer to the root is rounded. The flowers are simple, up to 1 cm in size, white in color, collected in inflorescences-brushes. Flowering begins in mid-spring and lasts about a month.

• There is terry form with larger flowers.

It is low - up to 10 cm, rezuha. Its small fluffy foliage forms rosettes, the flowers are white, collected in loose shields.

Some scientists consider it a form of arabis alpine. Perennial plant growing up to 30 cm tall. The foliage is grayish in color due to small hairs. The flowers are white, collected in inflorescences-brushes. Flowering begins in early summer and lasts about a month.

There is a form:

• Rosabella with pink flowers

• Flora captivity - double flowers,

• Variegata - variegated form with yellow spots on the edges of the foliage.

An alpine dwarf plant, its height is less than 10 cm. The foliage is grayish and the flowers are pink.

• Variety Route sensation has a more saturated color of the petals.

A very low view, the height of its representatives is up to 5 cm. With such a bush height, it is valued for its attractive green foliage with white edges and long flowering. The flowers are small, white or pinkish.

• Variety Old Gold - taller than the species form, the foliage is decorated with yellowish spots, the flowers are white. Sometimes blooms twice a year.

Forms low clumps up to 20 cm tall. The flowers are pink, up to 2 cm in size, placed in racemose inflorescences.

Dwarf - up to 5 cm - perennial. The foliage is small, dark green, shiny. Flowers 1 cm in size, white. Flowering begins in late spring - early summer.

Also a groundcover with rounded leaves and pink petals.

On sale, you can sometimes find the name - this is a mixture of multi-colored forms of arabis alpine.

Arabis growing from seeds

Rezuha bushes can be easily obtained by sowing seeds. Sowing is carried out directly into the soil before winter or for seedlings in April. The material is sown in ordinary garden soil with the addition of sand in a ratio of 3 to 1.

It is necessary to deepen the seeds no more than half a centimeter; for germination, a temperature of 20 ° C and watering are needed so that the soil is slightly moist. In order to have more seedlings, the container is covered with non-woven material.

Three weeks after the emergence of seedlings, the shelter is removed. Seedlings need bright diffused light and warmth, as well as watering as the soil dries.

If you want to get a separate plant, and not a ground cover, then you need to dive when a real leaf appears on the seedlings. If you want a groundcover, then this procedure is not needed.

The transplant is carried out when the threat of night frosts has passed, but the most important thing is that by this time the seedlings have three true leaves. Three weeks before planting in open ground, you need to start hardening young plants, taking them out into the fresh air for a couple of hours.

Iberis is also a member of the Cruciferous family, grown during planting and care in the open field without much hassle, observing a few nuances. You can find all the necessary recommendations for growing and caring for this plant in this article.

Arabis planting and care in the open field

The soil for growing should be nutritious, loose and sandy; before planting or sowing, it is advisable to fertilize with mineral or organic top dressing.

If the soil is too dense, then sand should be added to it. In general, this plant is unpretentious and can grow on poor soils, but then flowering will be poorer.

The bushes are seated at a distance of 40 cm from each other. Plant several seedlings together. After that, watering is carried out and, if the site has not been previously fertilized, a complex mineral fertilizer is applied after a couple of days.

The flowering of rezuha obtained from seeds begins in the second year of life. Please note that mainly species forms of the flower are propagated by seed, since varietal features are lost during generative propagation.

Caring for this culture is not burdensome. The main necessary procedures are weeding and loosening the soil. Watering is needed only in prolonged heat, and even in this case it is better not to be zealous, since the rezuha is resistant to dryness and will survive it more easily than the bay. Withered flowers should be trimmed for longer flowering.

Fertilizers are applied once a year before flowering. As a top dressing, a complex mineral fertilizer or humus is suitable.

Arabis transplant

Transplants are carried out every 4 years. Also at this time, you can carry out the division of the bush.

If you grow rezuha as a ground cover and do not want to replant, then you can rejuvenate by pouring sand mixed with humus onto the bare parts of the plant. Transplantation and division is performed after flowering.

Collecting arabis seeds

Seeds are collected after the first frost. Do this in dry weather, otherwise the seeds will have low germination. The inflorescence is cut off with a part of the shoot and dried indoors.

After the flowers have dried, the seeds are husked and stored in a paper bag, in dryness and darkness.

Arabis in winter

Arabis withstands slight frosts, but if the temperature drops below 5 ° C, then you need to take care of shelter.

Before wintering, the shoots are cut to 2 cm and insulated with any covering material.

Arabis breeding

In addition to seed propagation and division of the bush, arabis can also be propagated by cuttings.

The tops of young stems (up to 10 cm) are used as cuttings. Leaves are removed from the bottom of the cuttings and planted in a flower bed in sandy soil at an angle. Cuttings should be lightly watered and sprayed every day. Rooting lasts about 20 days. It will be possible to transplant young plants to another place in the fall.

Arabis can also be simply propagated by layering. The top of the stem is pinched and fixed in the ground at the level of the leaves. The layering is watered a little, and in the fall they are separated from the parent.

Diseases and pests

Arabis may be affected by viral mosaic . Unfortunately, in this case, the plant cannot be saved. If you notice an increase dark spots on leaves , gradually combining into one, then it is probably a virus and sick individuals need to be burned, and the area should be shed with potassium permanganate.

Among pests can annoy cabbage flea . In the case of vegetable crops, wood ash is often used, but since this is a flower, it will be easier to use insecticides, for example, Actellik, Karbofos or Aktar.

Arabis alpine "Lapland" (Arabis alpina) is a perennial early-spring ground cover plant with a sprawling bush shape. Plant height reaches 25 cm. Thanks to creeping shoots arabis grows rapidly. It blooms profusely, forming lush rugs. Arabis flowers are white, up to 1 cm in diameter, fragrant, collected in loose racemose inflorescences.

In addition to alpine arabis, there are other varieties, for example, Caucasian arabis (A. Caucasica), whitish arabis (A. Albida), ciliated arabis (A. blepharophylla) with flowers of various colors - white, pink, red; with flowers of different shapes - simple, double; with uniform green and variegated leaves.

Arabis is sown directly in open ground in autumn—October or spring- in April - May. Arabis seeds are sown shallowly, to a depth of 0.5 cm. The optimum soil temperature for arabis seed germination is +20 0 C. For better germination, the planting site can be covered with a non-woven covering material, and it is convenient to water. Agrospan passes water well and does not erode the soil.

When 2-3 true leaves appear, Arabis seedlings are seated to a permanent place according to the scheme 40x40 cm. But in order for the flowering arabis to cover the entire area allocated to it, and there would be no bald spots of soil, I would advise planting several plants in one hole at once, for example, four. Then, during flowering, a continuous white cloud of arabis flowers will rise above the surface. Also, for lush and long-lasting flowering of arabis, it is recommended to feed with any mineral fertilizer containing a full range of NPK and trace elements. Arabis is photophilous, grows well on loose soils without stagnant water.

Arabis blooms in May-June. During flowering, it is impossible to pass by arabis and not turn your head: a light, delicate scent hovering over a white cloud of flowers gradually attracts attention. After all, it is in spring that we are so eager to go to the garden to enjoy the first spring flowers, and arabis with its unpretentiousness and delicate aroma will only complement the spring bouquet in your garden. After flowering, the stems are cut at a height of 3-4 cm from the soil and lightly sprinkled with earth.

Arabis is indispensable for rock gardens, perfect for borders, flower beds. I like experimenting in flowerbeds, creating different compositions. In order to save soil, arabis can be planted after tulips, daffodils and crocuses, since they have the same growing season. Arabis will add its own flavor to this company, and will perfectly emphasize the beauty of tulips or other spring flowers. After all, the combination of large and small flowers looks great not only in bouquets, but also in a flower bed.

After flowering, the aerial part of both the tulip and the arabis is cut off, and the soil area will be covered with wide hosta leaves, or any other perennial or annual, such as petunia. However, in July, faded shoots of arabis can also be used for propagation by layering. Petunia also forms a lush bush, covering a large area. In open areas, Arabis requires light shelter for the winter. Arabis leaves winter green, so

Plant arabis (lat. Arabis), or rezuha belongs to the genus of herbaceous perennials of the cabbage family, or cruciferous, which has more than 100 species. In nature, the arabis flower is found in the mountains of tropical Africa and in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The origin of the Latin name arabis is not known for certain, and the rezuha arabis is called because of the stiff hairs of the pubescence, which can injure the hands. The plant has been cultivated for over two hundred years. In landscape design, Arabis is used in mixborders and flower beds, to decorate borders, ridges and alpine slides. In our article we will tell you how to plant and care for rezuha in the open field.

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Planting and caring for arabis

• Landing: sowing seeds in the ground - in October, sowing seeds for seedlings - in April, planting seedlings in the garden - in late May or early June.
• Bloom: in May-June.
• Lighting: bright sunlight or partial shade.
• The soil: loose, sandy, moderately moist, pre-fertilized.
• Watering: moderate and only in severe drought.
• Top dressing: one per season: in early spring, before flowering, a complex mineral fertilizer is applied. The site is mulched with humus.
• Reproduction: cuttings, layering, dividing the bush and seeds.
• Pests: cruciferous fleas.
• Diseases: virus mosaic.

Read more about growing arabis below.

Arabis flowers - description

Arabis flowers are grown as annual and perennial ground cover plants with rooting creeping stems. Arabis can reach a height of 30 cm. The leaves are green, densely pubescent, whole, heart-shaped, sometimes serrated at the edges. Pink, white, purple or yellowish flowers, simple or double, up to 1.5 cm in diameter are collected in small but dense racemose inflorescences. The lush and long flowering of arabis, which begins in the second half of spring, is accompanied by a pleasant aroma, on which bees flock en masse. The rezuha fruit is a pod with flat seeds, winged in some species.

Arabis relatives are plants such as alissum, horseradish, colza, cabbage, mustard, iberis, radish and other cruciferous crops. In addition to a strong aroma, rezuha is undemanding to growing conditions, so planting and caring for arabis in the open field is not burdensome and pleasant.

Growing arabis from seed

Sowing arabis

Rezuha is perfectly propagated by seeds, which can be purchased at garden centers, shops or at flower shows. Sow seeds directly into the ground before winter in October or early spring (in April) for seedlings in boxes or containers with garden soil with the addition of sand or small stones in a ratio of 3: 1. Close up the seeds shallowly - 5 mm - and germinate at a temperature of 20 ºC. To increase germination, the container is covered with a non-woven material, for example, agrospan.

Arabis seedling care

After 20-25 days, when seedlings of arabis appear, the cover can be removed by watering a little and moving the container with crops to a bright, warm place. They take care of Arabis seedlings, like any other: water as needed and carefully loosen the substrate.

Arabis pick

In the development phase of the first true leaf, if you want to grow arabis as a separate plant, the seedlings dive at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other, and even better, plant them in separate containers. If you want to grow arabis as a ground cover, then you can not engage in picking.

Before planting in open ground, the seedlings are hardened for 10-12 days, taking them out into the open air for some time every day and gradually increasing the duration of the sessions. During hardening, make sure that the seedlings are not in a draft. As soon as the seedlings adapt to the conditions of the garden, they can be planted in open ground.

Planting arabis in open ground

When to plant arabis in the ground

Planting arabis, or planting rezuha in the ground, is carried out at the beginning of June or at the end of May, but not earlier than the seedlings develop three true leaves. They choose sunny, well-blown areas for Arabis, although it grows well in partial shade, but it does not bloom so luxuriantly and does not grow so much.

How to plant arabis

The soil on the site for Arabis should be loose, sandy, not too wet, well-cultivated, weed-free and fertilized with mineral and organic fertilizers. To increase moisture and air permeability, sand, small pebbles and turf can be added to the garden soil. But if you plant rezuha in calcined or poor acidic soil, it will also grow, although not as violently. Arabis planting scheme 40x40 cm. 3-4 seedlings can be planted in one hole.

Immediately after planting, the site is watered, and if fertilizers were not applied to the soil before planting, then literally a day or two after planting arabis, feed it with complex mineral fertilizer. Arabis blooms from seeds in the second year after planting.

Caring for arabis in the garden

How to grow arabis

Growing arabis includes simple and familiar procedures - watering, fertilizing, weeding, pruning, loosening the soil and protecting against pests and diseases, if such a threat arises. Rezuha is drought-resistant and more easily tolerates the absence of moisture than its excess, so it should be watered only during periods of prolonged drought and heat, but even then it must be done in moderation.

Caring for an arabis involves its frequent weeding, in any case, until the rezuha is strong enough that the weeds will not have a chance to develop near it. It is necessary to regularly trim the fast-growing shoots of arabis, maintaining the shape of the bush. To prolong the flowering period of arabis, you need to remove wilted flowers.

Arabis breeding

Arabis propagates not only by seeds, but also by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush. We have already told you about the seed method, which is mainly propagated by species arabis. Rare or terry varieties of arabis are propagated by cuttings. As a cutting, you can use a leaf with a heel - part of the cambial layer, which will give roots. To get such a stalk, you need not cut the leaf, but tear it off with a brace, separating part of the stem bark with the root pulp along with the leaf. Do this after the rezuha fades.

You can also use the top of the shoot as cuttings - a segment about 10 cm long, from which the lower leaves are removed. The cuttings are planted at an angle in a loose substrate, after which they cover the container with a transparent cap and place the greenhouse in a bright but not sunny place. Keep the substrate slightly damp, let the cuttings breathe daily and remove condensation from the cap. As soon as the upper leaves restore turgor, and this can happen in three weeks, you can prepare for transplanting the cuttings into open ground.

In order to get layering of arabis, bend its shoot to the ground and attach it to the soil in the area of ​​​​the leaf node, and pinch the top. When the leaf node sprouts roots into the soil, separate the cuttings and plant.

The division of the rezuha bush is resorted to when propagating a particularly valuable or terry variety. The bush is dug up, divided into parts and seated. It is best to do this after the arabis has faded.

Arabis transplant

Actually, you can divide the arabis bush without digging up the plant, but simply, pinning its shoots to the ground, wait until they take root in the leaf nodes, then separate the layers from the mother plant, divide them into segments according to the number of root bundles and transplant them to a new one. place.

Pests and diseases of arabis

Sufficiently resistant to harmful insects and diseases, arabis sometimes suffers from a viral mosaic and the eternal pest of cabbage crops, the cruciferous flea. Symptoms of viral mosaic look like small brown spots on the leaves, gradually increasing in size and eventually merging with each other. The mosaic is incurable, so the diseased specimen must be immediately removed and burned, and the soil in which it grew should be shed with a strong solution of potassium permanganate and nothing should be grown in this place for at least a year.

As for the cruciferous flea, you should not waste time on the laborious dusting of arabis with wood ash, it is better to immediately treat the area with Aktellik, Aktara, Biotlin, Karbofos or Iskra.

Arabis after flowering

How and when to harvest arabis seeds

Select the most beautiful arabis inflorescences during flowering and mark them. It is necessary to collect seeds after the first frost, on a dry, fine day, since seeds collected in wet weather have low germination. Cut off the inflorescences with a part of the stem and dry them in a dry, well-ventilated room in a suspended form, then peel the seeds and store them in a cardboard box in a dark, dry place.

Preparing arabis for winter

Arabis can withstand cold down to -5-7 ºC, but in severe frosts it dies without shelter. With the onset of winter, the shoots of arabis are cut off, leaving only 2-4 cm above the surface, which are covered with dry leaves, spruce branches or covering material.

Types and varieties of arabis

In culture, the following types of arabis are most often grown:

It grows in the Far East, in the north of Scandinavia, in the Polar Urals, in the highlands of North America and Western Europe. This is a perennial arabis, a plant reaching a height of 35 cm, with ascending generative shoots and very branched lash-like vegetative shoots pressed to the ground, which do not die off in winter and form pillow-shaped curtains. The basal leaves of Alpine arabis are oval, and the stem leaves are swept-heart-shaped. Fragrant pink or white flowers up to 1 cm in diameter, forming racemose inflorescences up to 5 cm long, open in April and bloom for about a month.

Alpine arabis has the following garden forms:

• schneeshaube- plants no more than 25 cm high with white flowers up to 2 cm in diameter, collected in brushes up to 15 cm long;
• terry- different from the original species in larger inflorescences, similar to levkoy;
• pink- arabis up to 20 cm high with pink flowers up to 2 cm in diameter in inflorescences up to 12 cm long.

Planting arabis alpine and caring for it were the basis of the article.

Arabis bruovidny (Arabis bryoides)

It comes from the subalpine and alpine belt of the mountainous regions of Albania, Greece and Bulgaria. This is a cushion-shaped perennial up to 10 cm high with small, oval, ciliate leaves covered with felt fluff, collected in rosettes, and white flowers, which form loose corymbose inflorescences in an amount of 3 to 6 pieces;

Some scientists consider it as a subspecies of the alpine arabis. It grows in the Caucasus, in the Crimea, the Mediterranean, Central and Asia Minor. At the time of flowering, this perennial reaches a height of 30 cm. The leaves of the Caucasian arabis are small, gray-green from dense white pubescence, oblong, with large teeth along the edges. White flowers up to 1.5 cm in diameter in racemose inflorescences up to 8 cm long bloom for a month from the beginning of June. But individual flowers can appear on the plant until autumn. The fruit of the plant is a long narrow cone. Cultivated since 1800. There are such garden forms of Caucasian Arabis:

• flora-captivity- a plant that blooms profusely with double white flowers on long peduncles;
• variegata- a variety with yellowish leaves along the edges;
• Rosabella- a variety with pink flowers.

It is found in the wild in the Balkans. This is a ground cover plant up to 12 cm high with small rosettes of leaves and faded flowers. Most often, the plant is used to secure sliding slopes. Arabis running out is unpretentious and frost-resistant, but it is still desirable to cover it for the winter. The most famous variety is Variegata, with green leaves with a wide white border and a bunch of purple flowers that gradually turn white;

Arabis undersized (Arabis pumila)

In nature, it grows in the Apennines and the Alps. It grows up to 15 cm. Its white, inconspicuous flowers with no decorative value open in May or June. The fruits of undersized arabis are attractive - because of them it is grown in culture;

Arabis prolomnikovy (Arabis androsacea)

It grows on the rocky slopes of Turkey at an altitude of up to 2300 m. It is a perennial 5-10 cm high with small oval pointed leaves collected in rosettes and white flowers in loose corymbs;

Arabis ciliary (Arabis blepharophylla)

Growing in the Californian mountains at an altitude of 500 m, it is a ground cover perennial up to 8 cm high with a bush diameter of about 25 cm. Its leaves are gray-green, and the flowers are dark pink. In culture, the varieties most often grown are:

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Arabis alpine (rezuha) is a perennial plant native to the mountain slopes of North America and Eurasia. It has been used as a decorative design for the site for over 200 years.

General description of arabis alpine

Arabis is about 30-35 cm high, has creeping shoots with whole gray-green oval leaves. The edges of the leaves can be smooth or serrated, and on their surface there are many hard villi. Flowering begins in mid-spring and lasts from two months or more. Flowers can be white, pink or purple, 1-2 cm in diameter. The fruits are capsules in the form of a pod, in which the seeds are located.

When to plant arabis alpine

If you plan to grow a plant from seeds, then they are immediately sown in the ground in October. For seedlings, they are planted in containers in March-April, and planting in the ground is carried out in early June.

Planting arabis seedlings in open ground

For planting flowers, it is better to choose an open sunny area with loose soil and no weeds, which is well blown by the wind. Previously, sand, gravel and fertilizers, such as humus, can be added to it. Seedlings are planted in open ground after the appearance of three true leaves on the shoot. The distance between the bushes should be 40 cm, but 2-3 seedlings can be planted in one hole.

When planting, the roots of the seedlings are not cleared of the ground, but planted in prepared holes along with an earthen clod, trying not to damage the roots. Then the rezukha is watered abundantly and mineral fertilizers are applied two days later, but if this was not done when preparing the soil. With proper care, arabis will bloom in the second year.

Arabis Care

It is necessary to water the plant only during a period of prolonged lack of precipitation, since it does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil, and it can grow and develop well even in conditions of lack of moisture.

After planting seedlings, you need to weed the area often so that weeds do not harm fragile plants. When the bush becomes large, it will displace weeds and weeding is not required. However, the growth of arabis will need to be controlled so that they do not crowd out other flowers.

With a strong growth of the bushes and the frequent appearance of new shoots, it is necessary to prune them in order to maintain the shape of the bush. And for longer flowering, you need to remove dried flowers in a timely manner.

Periodically it is necessary to loosen the soil in order to provide the roots of the plant with oxygen. Fertilizers are also welcome, with them the plant will be stronger, and the flowering will be more beautiful. In autumn, the stems are pruned, leaving 3-5 cm from the ground. This will keep the plant from freezing and will ensure abundant flowering next year.

Diseases and pests

With constant waterlogging of the soil, mold may appear on the stems in the root zone, and then the roots will begin to rot. If the roots are not damaged, then the flower can be saved. In this case, the bush is dug up, transplanted to a new place and the amount of watering is reduced.

The only dangerous disease of arabis is viral mosaic. It appears as spots on the leaves of gray, brown or yellow-green color. At first, they are small in size, but gradually increase and eventually lead to deformation of the leaves, and then to the destruction of the stems and roots.

Treatment will be effective only in the initial stages. To do this, cut off the damaged leaves and buds, and treat the cut site with a solution of potassium permanganate and ash. With a significant lesion, the treatment will not bring an effect, so the plant is destroyed so that neighboring bushes are not infected.

Reproduction of arabis alpine

The classic arabis is propagated by seeds, while the rarer hybrid terry species are propagated by cuttings and dividing the bush.

Reproduction by seeds

Seeds begin to ripen at the end of June. They are collected, selected larger and healthier in appearance. To grow seedlings, sowing is done in early spring in containers with soil, to which sand is added in a ratio of 3: 1. Seeds are placed in the resulting mixture to a depth of not more than 5 mm. The container is stored in a room with a temperature of 18-21 ° C and watered with such frequency that the soil is always slightly moist. To increase germination, the container can be covered with non-woven material or oilcloth.

Shoots should appear in three weeks, then you can remove the covering material, if used, and transfer the container to a warm and bright place. Now the seedlings need to be watered less often, and after the appearance of one true leaf, plant it in separate pots or in a container, keeping a distance between plants of at least 30 cm.

Before planting seedlings in open ground, it must be hardened off. To do this, they take it out into the street, first for 1-2 hours, then increase the time every day. Planting can be carried out after the sprouts begin to feel good outdoors throughout the day.

Vegetative propagation

For propagation by cuttings, you can use the top of the plant. It is cut off at a distance of 10 cm from the top, the lower leaves are removed, and the resulting stalk is planted in a pot with a moist substrate and covered with a film or plastic cup. Place it in a bright place and open it every day for airing. After 18-20 days, the plant is planted in open ground.

Rezuha leaves can be used as a cutting. After flowering, they are torn off, pulling down so that part of the shoot remains on the leaf stem. Then it is placed in a container with a substrate and covered with a film. Further, the procedure is the same as when cutting off the top.

For propagation by layering, a strong stem is chosen, tilted to the ground and pinched off the top. Fix in such a position that the leaf node is slightly in the ground. After the roots appear in this place, the layers are cut off and transplanted to a permanent place.

Rare varieties of rezuha are best propagated by dividing the bush. After the end of the flowering period, a strong, healthy-looking bush is chosen and carefully dug out so as not to damage the roots. Then they divide it into several parts and seat them in new places.

The use of plants in landscape design

Arabis is suitable for alpine slides, rockeries and garden paths. It is often planted on slopes to strengthen them, as the plant is not capricious and tolerates a lack of moisture and poverty of the soil. In this case, you can make flower arrangements from different varieties or choose one with flowers of the same color.

Rezuha goes well with crocuses, tulips and daffodils, filling the space between them. Looks harmoniously in compositions with bluebells, primrose and creeping tenacious. It can also be a good backdrop for rose bushes, creating contrast between them and shading the greenery. As a fill plant, it is used among shrubs and young trees, creating a beautiful colorful carpet of flowers.

Arabis alpine is excellent as a cover plant in gardens or flower beds. Suitable for beginner gardeners, because it is easy to care for, and it is resistant to diseases and pests.

Arabis (lat. Arabis) is a herbaceous perennial plant of the Cabbage family, which is also called rezuha. There are more than 100 species in this genus, growing in many climatic zones of the planet, ranging from the temperate regions of the North to the mountain slopes of the African tropics.

The word "Arabis" is of unknown origin. As for the name "rezuha", it is caused by a very tough pubescence of the plant, which can even be cut if touched carelessly.

Arabis has been cultivated for over 200 years. This is a very popular plant in landscape design, where it can be seen in flower beds, mixborders, near curbs, on discounts and alpine slides. So, let's consider how to care for arabis in your area and reproduce it.

Arabis growing from seeds

Growing arabis from seed involves several steps:

1. Sowing rezuha seeds. Seeding material can be found in abundance in stores specializing in the sale of varietal seeds. Special varieties can be purchased at flower shows. Sowing is carried out in the fall, in October, so that after the winter, with the first warmth, see the seedlings. But you can sow the seeds in the spring, in April. First, the seed is placed in a box with a previously prepared substrate containing sand with small stones and garden soil in a ratio of 1:3. Planting depth - up to 5 mm, germination temperature - 20 ºC. In order for the germination to be as high as possible, they arrange a greenhouse made of agrospan.

Arabis from seed

2. Growing seedlings. The first shoots appear after 3-4 weeks. After that, the greenhouse is removed, the number and volume of irrigation are reduced, and the container with the seedlings is transferred to a brighter place. Seedling care is simple - timely moistening and loosening the soil.

3. picking. When the first true leaves appear, arabis seedlings swoop down. It must be separated into seedlings and seated at a distance of 30 cm or in separate glasses. But this is done only in two cases: if the plant is planned for individual planting, and not for growing with a carpet, and if you plan to sell seedlings individually.

4. Landing on a flower bed. Before this process, the seedlings must get used to the fresh air. To do this, for two weeks they are taken out into the open every day for a short time. But at the same time, young organisms should not be allowed to be in a draft, which is detrimental to them. When the hardening process comes to an end, all the seedlings are determined in their places in the flower bed and planted.

Planting arabis in open ground

Arabis is planted in open ground in the last days of spring or summer. Planting time is chosen when the seedling has three true leaves. Arabis is planted in a site well lit by the sun, as well as blown by the wind. This does not mean that rezuha will not grow in the shade. But there the number and size of flowers, as well as the growth rate, will be much poorer.

Also take into account the requirements for the composition of the soil on the site. Rezuha needs a sandy, loose, moderately moist substrate, on which there is no weed grass. Fertilizers of mineral and organic type are abundantly applied to it. In order for the soil to absorb moisture even better and be saturated with oxygen, sand, turf, and small pebbles are added to it.

If the owner of the site does not want to prepare the soil, you can plant arabis in any soil

even calcined or sour. The plant will take root, but will not give as lush flowering as expected.

One seedling is planted on an area of ​​​​40x40 cm. To make the carpet thicker, you can plant 4 seedlings at once. When the entire area is filled, it is watered abundantly, and after a few days, if the soil has not been prepared before, ready-made mineral fertilizer is applied. In the year of planting, arabis will not bloom, but will please only next season.

Caring for arabis in a flower bed

Arabis on the site is not very difficult to care for. It is necessary to water it, remove weeds, periodically cut, fertilize, loosen the soil, treat the plant from pests if they appear. Rezuha can be grown in an area devoid of frequent rains, as it easily tolerates drought. But excess moisture adversely affects the development of these flowers, so once again they should not be watered.

Arabis must be constantly cleared of weeds, otherwise they will drown out the tender plant. When the seedlings get stronger, you can do this less carefully. To form a beautiful bush, the shoots are cut regularly. The same applies to dried flowers, pruning which stimulates the formation of new peduncles.

How to propagate arabis

Arabis planting and care photo

It is very easy to start and propagate on your site, since vegetative methods (dividing the bush, layering, cuttings) and generative (seeds) can be used for this. The latter method is best used only for breeding species arabis, since it is very painstaking.

To get rare terry arabis on the site, they are propagated by cuttings

A leaf with a heel is cut off from an adult plant (it contains cambria, which is responsible for the growth of the plant), which is rooted. To remove the heel, the leaf is torn off by hand with a guy, trying to capture both the bark of the stem and its pulp. The process of separating the petiole is carried out after the flowering of the plant. You can also cut off a 10-centimeter top, which will be no less high-quality planting material. Remove the lower leaves from it.

The prepared cutting is planted at an angle in the substrate, the pot is covered with a greenhouse and placed in a bright place. The soil is regularly moistened so that it does not dry out. Every day, the greenhouse is opened for a few minutes to ventilate and remove condensate. The signal that the plant is accepted is the restoration of the turgor of the upper leaves. After that, you can prepare for planting the cuttings in the flower bed. The whole process takes about a month.

Another way to reproduce is to get layering.

They take the shoot of arabis and cut off its top, and drop the branch itself in the area of ​​the leaf node. After a while, it will give new roots and become a full-fledged plant that can be separated and transplanted.

Less often engaged in the division of the bush. This may be necessary when breeding terry and valuable varieties. The plant is dug up in autumn and divided along with the roots into several parts, which are transplanted into prepared places in the flower bed.

Pests and diseases of arabis

flower arabis planting and care

They fight with the cruciferous flea with the help of Aktellik, Biotlin, Aktara, Karbofos, Iskra. The use of a folk remedy - wood ash - has no particular effect.

Plant care after flowering

Arabis cultivation

Even when arabis blooms, the grower should note the most powerful inflorescences from which to collect seeds. When the first frosts have passed, they are harvested in dry weather. If you collect the seed at the wrong time, it may not germinate well the next year. The inflorescences, along with the stem, are cut off and allowed to dry already indoors, hanging in dry, ventilated places. When the workpiece has dried, seeds are removed from it, which are placed in a cardboard box and stored until sowing time.

wintering arabis

This plant survives only in light frosts - about -5-7 ºC. To ensure it even in more severe weather, the arabis stems are almost completely cut off, leaving only 3-4 cm, and the roots are covered with leaves, grass, spruce branches, and other materials that protect against severe frosts.

Types and varieties of arabis or rezuha

For decorative purposes, the following types of arabis are planted in a flower bed:

Arabis alpine(Arabis alpina). The natural habitat is the Far East, the Urals, Scandinavia, Western Europe, North America, more precisely, the mountain ranges in these places. Perennial grows up to 35 cm in height. Generative shoots are strongly branched, similar to lashes.

Vegetative ones grow directly on the ground and do not die off during frost, thus creating wicker cushions on the soil. The leaves at the roots and on the stems are different. The first ones are oval, the second ones are swept-heart-shaped. The flowers are white or pink, very fragrant, 1 cm in size. They are collected in 5 cm long racemes that open in spring. Flowering time - more than a month.

In culture, several varieties of arabis alpine are grown:

• schneeskhaube - plant height up to 25 cm, flowers are larger than usual (2 cm), brushes are collected up to 15 cm long;
• terry - flower petals in inflorescences are terry, somewhat similar to levkoy;
• pink - has the same characteristics as Schneeshaube, but the color of the petals is pink.

Arabis bruovidny(Arabis bryoides) - grows in Greece and the Balkans, inhabiting mainly the alpine and subalpine belt. This perennial also grows pillow-shaped, but smaller (10 cm high). The species is small, which are abundantly covered with pubescence. Their shape is oval, they are assembled into rosettes. The flowers are white, collected in corymbose inflorescences of 3-6 pieces.

Arabis caucasian(Arabis caucasica) - is considered a subspecies of alpine arabis, which lives in the mountains of the Crimea, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Central Asia, the Mediterranean. This is one of the large species that grows up to 30 cm. Arabis leaves are small, gray-green in color, covered with thick villi. Their shape is oblong, along the edge excised with large teeth. Arabis Caucasian blooms in white, the flowers are 1.5 cm in size, and the inflorescences in the form of a brush are 8 cm. The flowering period is June-July. At its end, a long narrow cone with seeds ripens.

This is one of the most ancient cultivated species, which is grown in the form of such varieties:

• flora-captivity - has large white double flowers, sessile on long peduncles;
• variegata - differs in the color of the leaves, as they have a yellow border around the edge;
• rosabella - unlike other varieties, has pink flowers.

Arabis running out(Arabis procurrens) - grows in the mountainous regions of the Balkans. Very short plant no more than 12 cm high, forming small rosettes with leaves and nondescript flowering. The plant is planted on slopes to prevent landslides. This species can withstand frost well, does not require special care. For safety, it is better to cover it for the winter. In the flowerbeds, the Variegata variety is used, in which a large white border is visible at the end of the green leaves. Flowering purple, gradually turning into white.

Arabis undersized(Arabis pumila) is another small type of rezuha, having a height of about 15 cm. It grows in the mountains of the Alps and in the Apennines. Flowering has no decorative value, as the flowers are white, small, ugly. In culture, it is grown because of the fruits, which are quite attractive.

Arabis prolomnikovy(Arabis androsacea) - lives in the mountains of Turkey, occurs at an altitude of more than 2 km. One of the smallest plants - the height is no more than 5-10 cm. The leaves are collected in a rosette, have an oval, slightly pointed shape. Whites gather in loose shields.

Arabis ciliate(Arabis blepharophylla) - grows in California at an altitude of 500 m. Plant height - 8 cm, diameter - no more than 25 cm. Arabis ciliary has gray-green pubescent leaves and a pleasant color of the inflorescence - dark pink.

Therefore, on its basis, two varieties were bred in culture:

• Route Sensation - has bright pink flowers and large elongated leaves;
• Fryulingshaber - characterized by small leaves and pink blooms.

Arabis of Ferdinand of Coburg Variegate(lat. Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii "Variegata") - the smallest species of arabis, whose height does not exceed 5 cm, and the diameter of the bush is 30 cm. It is considered a semi-evergreen plant. The species is characterized by long-lasting white blooms, as well as pleasant greens, which have a light green base color and a whitish-yellow or pink border. The leaves are collected in a rosette. The plant is frost-resistant in the presence of a high-quality drainage system.

Arabis or rezuha Botanical description of the species

Although arabis is a perennial plant, it can also be grown as an annual if you want to replace the ground cover flowers every year. This flower spreads throughout the site, easily rooting stems. The height is quite large, as for a groundcover - 30 cm. The leaves of the resuha are green, heavily pubescent with dense hairs, of a whole heart-shaped type, sometimes have teeth on the edges.

The plant blooms in mid-spring, covering the ground with white, pink, yellow flowers with petals of a simple and double type. The flowers are small - 1.5 cm, but they are collected in inflorescences - dense brushes. When flowering, the rezuha emits a pleasant aroma, therefore it is one of the main honey plants in the flower bed, attracting a large number of bees. Then a fruit is formed in the form of a pod, in which flat seeds ripen, sometimes with lionfish.

Together with rezuha, you can plant many similar plants, forming an approximately uniform, but multi-colored flower bed, because arabis has many relatives. These are alyssum, colza, cabbage, iberis, radish, mustard, horseradish and other Cabbage. It is known about rezuha that it is easy to grow, so growing it in the garden will give not only a pleasant aroma and an attractive appearance of the flower bed, but will also be an easy task.