Lupins (planting and care are described below) for some reason are associated only with weeds. But decorative lupine looks very impressive, so it can be successfully used to give as a perennial. The color range of these flowers is incredibly diverse - from white to purple-violet. There are also combined two-color inflorescences.
Vertical brush, which collected flowers, reaches up to 50cm in height. The total height of the whole plant is often 1.5 m. The fruits are beans. It can grow in one place for 5-8 years, after which it loses its decorative effect. It is a herbaceous plant belonging to the legume family. There are about 200 species. The most popular in our area is the narrow-leaved lupine. It is unpretentious and frost-resistant. This species is known for its nutritional and decorative properties. The plant has colonies of certain nodule bacteria on the roots that absorb nitrogen from the air. Among such siderats (plants that improve the soil, fertilizers), siderat lupine is in the first place. Such a "green manure".
Lupins, planting and caring for which begin (as with other plants) with the choice of a landing site, love any cultivated areas. Clay and peat moist soils will be undesirable for them. Develop well in sun-drenched glades. They stretch out in the shade and look ugly.
Lupins are propagated (planting and care are easy) by cuttings and seeds. When crossed, the plant gives splitting or variety of forms. Young lupins grown from seeds differ in the shape of inflorescences and colors from parental forms. And in order to preserve the desired characteristics, it is necessary to separate a part of the rosette with roots with a sharp knife after flowering and transplant it into sandy soil. After about a month, new roots will appear, and then the plant can be planted in a permanent place.
Most often lupins are sown by seeds. They remain viable for 4-5 years. Plants are planted to a depth of 2-3 cm in open ground before winter or in April. Some specimens bloom in the first year, but mostly flowers appear in the next season.
Caring for lupine is easy and simple. In the spring, it is imperative to remove weeds, as they inhibit the growth of young plants. It is advisable to cut the faded inflorescences so that they do not negatively affect the external decorative appearance, and the spilled seeds make the plantings dense. If, after flowering, the leaves are completely cut to the base, then at the end of summer you can again see a carpet of bright lupine inflorescences. The surface part of the plant grows and becomes bare from the ground, so periodically it is necessary to add soil, preferably nutritious.
From diseases, lupine canbe affected by rust, powdery mildew, brown spotting of leaves and fruits, white rot of the root part. In such cases, the affected parts of the plant are removed. Usually growing shoots are he althy. Soil digging and liming are also recommended.
Decorative lupins look very nice. Planting and caring for them is quite simple, they are accessible and understandable even to novice gardeners. So do not be afraid to take on their cultivation.
