Pennisetum is a magnificent perennial of the cereal family. He will give the flower garden lightness and airiness. A beautiful inhabitant of the tropical and subtropical zones of Africa and Eurasia is also known by the name Cirrus.
Botanical characteristics
Pennisetum is a thermophilic perennial plant. Its height ranges from 15-130 cm. It quickly grows into sprawling, spherical thickets. Straight, bare stems bear a magnificent spike. It is densely covered with hairs, which creates the effect of pubescence. Under the weight of the inflorescences, some peduncles droop or bend in an arc.
There are two types of flowers in the ear:
- more magnificent, bisexual;
- poorly developed, staminate.
The panicle length is from 3 to 35 cm. The lower part of the branch is rough and covered with small setae. There are varieties with cylindrical spikelets or flowers located in the same plane. The color of the inflorescences is white, pink, burgundy or greenish. Spikelets appear quite late - in mid-July.
Narrow leaves are collected at the base of the plant. They reach a length of 50 cm and a width of only 0.5 cm. The color of the foliage is bright green from May to September. In autumn, the leaves turn bright yellow, which looks good in contrast with green ears.
Popular varieties
The genus of pennisetum is very diverse, it has more than 150 varieties. Some of them are grown exclusively in culture. In our country, only a few varieties have received special distribution.
Pennysetum is simple is the most resistant to cold species. This cereal is able to withstand prolonged frosts down to -29 ° C. Its habitat captures the Himalayas and the north of China. A plant with a long root system forms thickets up to 120 cm in height. Gray-green narrow leaves tightly cover the earth. Spikelets begin to appear in June. Initially, they are painted in light green hues, and by autumn they become yellow-brown. The plant is quite aggressive towards its neighbors, therefore, requires strict restriction of habitat.
Pennisetum Gray. Very decorative variety due to bronze-burgundy wide leaves. They reach a width of 3.5 cm. The bushes form thick, dense, erect. Their height is 2 m. In temperate gardens, it is grown as an annual, fast-growing crop. Flowering continues from July to September.
The variety has a purple variety - Purple Majesty - up to 1.5 m high with burgundy brown leaves and dark purple spikelets.
The Vertigo variety is also popular. Its wide brown-burgundy foliage flows in an arc, forming a bright fountain.
Pennissetum foxtail most common in culture. In the natural environment grows in open meadows of East Asia and Australia. It forms a lush bush with thin leaves the color of lush greenery. The height of the plant is 40-100 cm. Dense spikelets are densely covered with villi and have a whitish or pinkish color. Flowering is expected from August to September. This variety is unpretentious and resistant to frost in a temperate climate. Winters with shelter after pruning ground shoots.
The most popular variety is "Hameln", it has an average height and blooms 2 weeks earlier.
Pennissetum bristly lives in northern Africa and on the Arabian Peninsula. The perennial height reaches 130 cm. It has long narrow leaves, 2-6 mm wide. The foliage and stems are dark, with a burgundy tint. The variety has the longest spikelets, they grow to 35 cm and have a dark purple color. Soft, fluffy to the touch. It tolerates frosts poorly, so in a temperate climate it is grown as an annual.
Shaggy Pennisetum prefers rocks, screes and rocky slopes. It is found in East Africa. A short plant, up to 60 cm, forms very dense bushes or turfs from narrow and long leaves. Lush spikelets rise above them on thin, drooping stems. The length of the golden inflorescence is 3-10 cm. Flowering occurs at the end of August and lasts for a month. The size of the hairs can exceed 4-5 cm.
Pennisetum Oriental represents a low (15-80 cm) thickets on stony embankments. It grows in Pakistan, Transcaucasia, India and the countries of Central Asia. The leaves are dark green, 1-4 mm wide. Easy to bend and sway in the wind. Spikelets 4-15 cm long consist of flowers located in the same plane. In the panicle there are pink-purple hues. The length of the villi is 1-2.5 cm.
Pennisetum cultivation
Pennisetum propagated by division of bushes and seeds. The first method does not cause difficulties, since the plant grows very rapidly in breadth and requires limited territory. In the spring, young shoots with their own rhizome are separated from the bush and transplanted to a new place. The plant tolerates the transplant well and can bloom in a few months.
To cereal bloomed in the year of planting when growing from seeds, crops for seedlings are performed in the second half of February. Pennisetums do not tolerate root exposure very well, so it is recommended to sow them in small pots to move into open ground with a lump of earth.
Light, fertile soils with the addition of sand and peat are chosen for planting. Seeds are gently pressed into the soil and do not sprinkle on top. Humidify them with a spray gun. On the illuminated windowsill, seedlings appear within 1-3 weeks. In May, mature plants are planted in the garden at a distance of 50-70 cm from each other.
In the south of the country, seeds can be sown immediately in open ground in May. As they germinate, the crops are thinned out.
Care Features
Pennisetum needs good lighting and protection from the cold. For planting, use fertile, slightly acidic soil with drainage. The plant does not tolerate excess moisture, so watering is done only during a drought.
Too dense soil must be well loosened before planting and weeded periodically. In summer, the plant needs periodic top dressing with organic and mineral fertilizers.
Heat-loving varieties do not tolerate frost. They are grown as annual crops. You can save the cereal for several seasons when growing in pots, which are brought into the room for the winter.
In winter, the roots are mulched with fallen leaves and covered with spruce branches. Pruning is done in early spring. This procedure stimulates the awakening and forcing of young shoots.
Using
Pennisetum is an excellent solitaire. Its lush bushes resemble small hills with fountains of inflorescences that sway very beautifully in the wind. Spikelets are effective even in the winter, when they acquire a silver color.
Suitable for planting in the background of a flower garden or in rock gardens. Against its background, brightly flowering, low plants look especially good. Also beautiful in combination with decorative ground cover flora.
Fountains of high varieties will decorate walls and fences, and can also be used for zoning the site. The cirrus bristles are suitable for decorating coastal areas and stony masonry.
Lush spikelets are used to make bouquet compositions. To do this, they are dried at the beginning of flowering. You can use both natural shades of various grades and color the resulting material with special dyes.
