Stubble is a genus of perennials belonging to the Compositae (aster) family. The name is originally Russian, comes from the similarity of the leaves with the leaves of hemp, the male specimens of which were called like this: “slow down” (with an emphasis on the first syllable). According to the official classification, it is called Evpatorium (Eupatorium).
Purple vine is one of the varieties of this genus. This is a tall (up to 1.5 m) rhizome plant with erect, strong stems ending in corymbose inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter. The leaves are entire, large, oblong-tapering. The flowers are small, can be painted in white, pink (all shades), purple. They begin to bloom in mid-summer. Flowering is long, continues until autumn.
An unpretentious and winter-hardy plant. Planting and care consist in the selection of a sunny open place, preferably with cultivated soil. In principle, it is not so demanding on the soil, but in well-cultivated places, the bushes grow taller, and the inflorescences form more magnificently. Regular watering is required, especially during the dry season. Stem purple is responsive to top dressingfertilizers, preferably complex.
In the spring it starts to grow late, a certain warming up of the soil is required. If you want to lower the bushes and make them more compact, then you can pinch them at the beginning of the growth of the stems.
In this case, they will bloom a little later, but the inflorescences will be more magnificent.
It can be grown in one place for 10 or more years. It is difficult to transplant adult specimens due to the powerful root system. The plant practically does not spread over the site, without creating competition for other perennials. After flowering, the inflorescences must be removed, and before the cold weather, almost the entire aerial part should be cut off, leaving stumps no more than 15 cm high. Shelter for the winter is not required.
You can propagate the purple vine by dividing the bushes, seeds, cuttings. Seeds can be sown outdoors in May, shoots will appear in about 2 weeks. Plants bloom, as a rule, in the second year of life. It is preferable to divide the bushes in early spring or autumn, after flowering. At the beginning of the growing season, you can break off the sprouts with a heel that have reached 8 cm and plant them, covering them with a jar.
Purple vine practically does not affect diseases, and pests do not favor it. It can be planted in the background of flower beds, in groups or singly on lawns. It looks favorably with leucanthemum, black cohosh, rudbeckia, gelenium, solidago, perennial asters, etc. Suitable for landing along the banks of reservoirs. Compositions from different heights of sills look veryharmoniously.
Currently, many forms have been bred that differ in height, color of flowers and leaves. Here he is so many-sided - a window sill. Varieties deserving the most attention:
- Eupatorium. Joicius Variegated - compact, low (up to 1 m), variegated.
- Eupatorium coelestinum - height up to 0.8 m, inflorescences of lilac-blue flowers.
- Eupatorium Little Joe - smoky pink flowers, height up to 1 m.
- Eupatorium Phantom - height 0.8 m, bluish-lilac flowers, dark stems.
If you like the vine, you can dry it, slightly faded inflorescences will remind you of summer and cheer you up in cold winter.
