Iberis is a flowering herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean. It belongs to the Cruciferous family and is represented by annual thermophilic herbs and perennial frost-resistant shrubs. Iberis can also be found under the names "stennik" and "heterosexual". During flowering, dense green shoots are covered with a snow cap of umbrella inflorescences. Plants effectively decorate the garden and terraces, filling the air around with a pleasant honey aroma. Because of its beauty and easy care, Iberis is quite popular among gardeners. Those who have not yet paid attention to this flower should definitely look at it.
Botanical Description
Iberis is a perennial and annual plant with a rod rhizome. Upright or lodging stems are covered with leaves and form a dense dark green shoot 25–35 cm high. Bright green or dark green leafless leaves sit on the stem again. In length, they are 4-7 cm. The sheet plate has a narrow oblong or cirrus-dissected shape with a rounded edge.
In June-July, and sometimes in spring, on the tops of shoots dense umbrella inflorescences bloom up to 5 cm in diameter. They consist of many small flowers with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm. The corolla includes 4 petals of different sizes of white, yellow, lilac or pink . The core of the flower is bright yellow and consists of short but thick stamens and ovaries. The flowering of Iberis is so plentiful that during this period the plants are compared with clouds or snow caps. It is also accompanied by a strong pleasant aroma. The plant is an excellent honey plant. After pollination, small oblate pods with two leaves ripen. Inside are small brown seeds.
Species and decorative varieties
The genus Iberis has more than 30 species of plants. In addition, breeders have bred several decorative varieties, which allows you to create unusual compositions in the garden.
Iberis is evergreen. Perennial shrub lives in southern Europe and Asia Minor. Its height is 30-40 cm. Evergreen leaves of saturated color are located along the entire length of the stem. The size of a single oval leaf plate does not exceed 7 cm. In June, many umbrella blossoms bloom. The diameter of the flower is about 1.5 cm. If you cut off the withered flowers, then in mid-August will re-bloom. Decorative varieties:
- Little Jam - a groundcover up to 12 cm tall, blooms snow-white flowers;
- Snowflake - dense dark green curtains 20-25 cm high and up to 45 cm in diameter with white flowers.
Iberis is an umbrella. At this annual branched stems grow 40 centimeters in height. They are covered with a brownish-green smooth bark and small whole leaves. In June, many dense corymbose inflorescences with snow-white fragrant flowers bloom. They bloom for more than two months. Varieties:
- Red Rash - a shrub with a height of about 30 cm is covered with carmine-red inflorescences;
- Pink Dream - a lot of small bright pink flowers bloom above a low dark green shoot, this cold-resistant plant withstands short-term frosts.
Iberis Gibraltarsky. A biennial undersized plant with less dense, airy vegetation has branched shoots. They are covered with rare lanceolate leaves. The top is decorated with pink or white umbrella inflorescences. Plants are suitable for landscaping rocky areas. Very popular variety is "Candy Tuft". At the beginning of flowering, a bush is covered with a hat of lilac flowers, but gradually the petals brighten and become almost white.
Iberis is rocky. An evergreen perennial plant up to 15 cm high begins to bloom already in late April. Flowers are preserved for 1-1.5 months. During this period, the ground cover with drooping stems is covered with a solid light pink or white hat of flowers. Varieties:
- Pygmaea is a groundcover up to 10 cm tall with small white flowers;
- Weiss Riesen - a spherical bush 30 cm high is covered with snow-white inflorescences;
- Hyacinthin Blutig Riesen - a plant with light lilac flowers.
Growing and planting Iberis
Most often, Iberis is grown from seeds, although perennial species can be propagated vegetatively. Seeds are sown immediately in open ground or previously for seedlings. Flowering usually begins 2-3 months after emergence. In open ground, seeds are sown in mid-April. To prolong flowering, gardeners practice sowing in several stages with a frequency of 3-4 weeks. Then, early flowering plants will be replaced by later crops. You should choose a well-lit, open area with fertile, loose soil. Seeds are evenly distributed in shallow grooves and carefully sprinkled with earth. If necessary, water the soil. When shoots appear, they are thinned out so that the distance between plants is 12-15 cm.
Shallow crates with sand and peat soil are prepared for seedling cultivation. Small seeds are distributed on the surface and pressed with a plaque. Sprinkle on top is not necessary. The container is covered with glass and placed in a well-lit, warm place (+ 15 ... + 18 ° C). Periodically you need to ventilate and spray crops. Shoots appear within 1-4 weeks. From this moment, the shelter is removed. The grown plants dive in separate pots.
Seedlings are planted in open ground in mid-May, when the danger of night frost disappears. In the south, you can do it earlier. The soil should be well-drained, loamy or sandy loam. Preferred soils with a neutral or alkaline reaction. If necessary, lime is added to the ground. During planting, it is important not to damage the fragile rhizomes of Iberis. The distance between plants depends on the variety and is 15-25 cm. You do not need to deepen the root neck. Then the soil is tamped and carefully watered.
Large, overgrown perennial bushes in early spring can be divided into several parts. For this, the plant is dug up and cut at the base. Immediately plant the delenki in the soil.
During the summer, apical cuttings can be cut and rooted. To do this, cut shoots 8-10 cm long and root in moist soil under a hood. When young shoots begin to appear, the shelter is removed, and plants with a large lump of earth are transplanted to a permanent place. Lying shoots in the process of growth give roots, they can be separated and planted in a new place throughout the warm season.
Outdoor Care
Iberis is an unpretentious plant that develops well even with lazy gardeners. He needs to pick up an open, well-lit area. Even in partial shade, flowering becomes less plentiful. The plant normally tolerates drafts and periodic cooling.
It should be watered sparingly so that water does not accumulate at the roots. In rainy weather, there is enough natural rainfall. Iberis fertilize twice or thrice a season. Complex mineral formulations such as Kemer are commonly used. You can also feed flowers with the Mullein solution.
At the end of flowering, the tops of the shoots should be trimmed. So beautiful greenery will acquire a more well-groomed appearance, reminiscent of a regular lawn. At the ends of the processes new flower buds may have time to form, which means that in August, repeated flowering is possible.
Possible difficulties
On too heavy and wet soils, Iberis suffers from fungal diseases. If other representatives of the Cruciferous family grew on the site before, the likelihood of contamination of the soil with cabbage keel is high. It remains in the ground for several years and is detrimental to the roots. Before planting, it is advisable to conduct soil treatment with fungicide.
Of the pests, Iberis can be affected by mealybugs, earthen fleas and aphids. When holes and punctures appear on the foliage, it is necessary to urgently treat with insecticides (Aktara, Fitoverm, Mospilan).
Plant use
Iberis is good in group landings on rocky slopes, in rockeries and on alpine hills. It is also used to decorate borders, and in containers - on balconies. Flowering Iberis bushes look great on the background of conifers. In the flower garden they can be combined with bells, gazania, phlox, marigolds.
Inflorescences on tall stems, characteristic of medium-sized varieties, can be cut to make bouquets. In a vase, they will stand for 7-10 days. In some countries, young shoots are eaten. They are sweetish in taste and resemble broccoli.
