Abronia - Species And Cultivation

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

A plant from the American subtropics in our flower beds

Types of abronia

Umbrella abronia

Abronia (in Latin Abronia) belongs to the genus of beautiful ornamental plants from the family Nyctaginaceae (nocturnal).

This genus has quite a lot of different plant species, about 35, which grow and are common in the subtropical regions of North America. Abronia has been in culture since 1788.

These plants are often annuals, less often they are perennial rhizome plants. Some types of abronia are exclusively herbaceous, while others, on the contrary, are semi-shrub plants, reaching a maximum height of 35-40 centimeters.

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Shoots of most plants are forked branched, often adjacent to the ground and completely covered with small fragrant flowers, which are collected in umbrella-shaped, stunning beauty, graceful, joyful inflorescences. Apparently, because of this, the name of the genus arose - abros - meaning graceful, cheerful, joyful.

Broadleaf abronia

The petals at the base are usually fused into a yellow-green tube, with a pleasant aroma and pinkish color. In some species, the inflorescences reach 10-12 centimeters in diameter and resemble vervain inflorescences, for which this plant is sometimes also called "sandy verbena".

The blooming of abronia usually begins in July and continues until the very frost. The leaf blade is oblong-oval or almost lanceolate and narrowed into a petiole, however, there are also abronia specimens with very decorative heart-shaped rounded leaves in nature. Pedicels develop from the leaf axils themselves. Its stems are ascending, they often end in an umbrella of flowers.

This plant also has fruits, they are small, in one gram there are up to 80 seeds, ready for sowing.

Of the wide variety of types of abronia, only a few are loved and demanded by amateur flower growers and professional designers. Here are the main and most common and frequently encountered and commercially available types of abronia:

Umbellate abronia (A. umbellate Lam.). Homeland and the main natural habitat of this magnificent species of Abronia are the coastal areas of California that are fantastic in landscape views. Umbelliferous abronia is a typical herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 20 centimeters in adulthood. Being a perennial by its natural nature, Umbelliferous abronia is cultivated as an annual. The stems of this type of abronia are creeping, covering almost all the ground under itself and around the plant, reaching a length that often exceeds the height of the plant itself, often 50 or even 70 centimeters! Abronia umbellate blooms in rather small flowers with petals accreted at the base.

The petals themselves grow together into a greenish tube, they exude the most pleasant aroma, and all this splendor is enclosed in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence, sometimes reaching ten centimeters in diameter. Umbellate abronia blooms from late June to real frosts, leading to the death of the plant.

This abronia species has an amazing, attractive and stunning variety (var. Grandiflora). A distinctive feature of this plant from the main type of umbellate abronia is its large flowers, which acquire a lilac-pink color after blooming. They have an outlandishly delicate yellow speck located at the base of the petals.

The next species, which has received no less widespread distribution and won no less love for amateur flower growers and professional designers, is A. latifolia Esch. The stepfather of this, no less famous, type of abronia is the southern tip of North America, it is from there that this species originates and feels great, having already spread to the entire territory of North America. Broad-leaved abronia is a typical herbaceous annual plant. In adulthood, it reaches a small height - up to 25-30 centimeters. The stems of this type of abronia, as well as of the umbellate abronia, are creeping, they reach a length of 45-50 centimeters, often bend almost at right angles.

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Abronia broad-leaved blooms with rather small flowers of saturated bright yellow color. A very pleasant aroma emanates from the flowers, a bit reminiscent of the aroma of night violets. The flowering period itself is shorter than that of the umbrella abronia, and fits well into the frost-free period. The first elegant flowers bloom at the end of May, and the last ones are pleasing to the eye in August.

Agrotechnia abronii

And now briefly about the agricultural technology of cultivation and reproduction of this wonderful culture.

Abronia is extremely unpretentious, but, like most living creatures on our planet, it feels better and develops in open sunny places. Abronia is reconciled with any composition of the soil, although light and sandy ones are best for it. Abronia responds well to fertilization, especially organic fertilizers, although it grows well on unfertilized soil. Watering is required, but small, moderate, especially in dry summers.

Abronia is propagated by sowing seeds, which are sown in open ground in spring. Usually the best time to plant seeds is late April - early May.

Abronia seeds can also be sown in a greenhouse, in which seeds can be sown already in March. The soil in the greenhouse must be loose and slightly moist. After the emergence of friendly, strengthened seedlings, the plants must be dived, and then in May, and better - in June, transplanted into open ground.

All types of abronia are used to decorate patterned flower beds; small, colorful group plantings; for decorating flower beds, shaping them. This plant is very suitable for curbs, it looks amazingly gentle on rocky hills.