The plant has a creeping rhizome and stem basal leaves, which are shaped like a triangle. The flowers are purple, white, yellow, lilac or pale pink. Basil reaches a height of 2 meters or more.
Planting this plant does not require much time or effort.
In order for the cornflower to grow quickly and delight with bright and abundant flowering, you need to choose the right place and time of planting.
Selecting a location
For planting cornflower, it is better to choose partial shade; under the influence of direct sunlight, flowers and leaves turn pale and fade over time.
Choosing a landing time
Seeds are planted in open ground in late autumn or early spring. Plants obtained by dividing the bush are planted in early spring.
To learn about the rules for planting and caring for phlox, click.
Soil preparation
This flower can grow in any soil, but will develop better in fertile and moist soils. The soil should be free of weeds and loose. There are no special requirements for the composition of the soil, but deeply cultivated, moderately moist sandy and loamy soils with a neutral acidity level are preferred.
Landing Features
At the planting site, prepare holes at a distance of 40 cm from each other and moisten the soil well. Then sprouts or bushes are planted, the root system is sprinkled with soil and compacted.
After planting, the cornflower needs to be tied up.
Reproduction
Basil is propagated in three ways: seed, vegetative and cuttings. These plants tend to self-sow.
Seed propagation
Basil sprouts sprouting from seeds
Seeds are collected in the fall and immediately sown in open ground. They can be stored until spring, but then they will need cold stratification for 30 days.
The seeds have high germination rate, the sprouts are unpretentious and develop quickly, flowering occurs in the second year.
Vegetative propagation
This is the most common type of reproduction. In autumn or spring, the bush is dug up, divided into several parts and planted in different places.
Propagation by cuttings
To do this, carefully cut off the young shoots and place them in a container with water. To speed up the process of root system formation, Kornevin is added to the liquid. Then the cuttings are planted in open ground.
Care
Basil is unpretentious and does not require careful care; it can grow in one place for more than 10 years.
Watering
The flower is drought-resistant and needs watering only on dry and hot days. Excess moisture does not cause any harm to the plant. Insufficient watering reduces the flowering period.
Basil is unpretentious and does not require constant care
Top dressing
Basil is fed in the spring with complex mineral fertilizers. Before wintering, the ground around the plant is mulched with peat or humus.
Trimming
When the basil flower fades, it is cut off at the root. Low-growing varieties do not need pruning. If it is necessary to avoid self-seeding, the inflorescences are removed immediately after flowering.
Preparing for winter
Most types of basil do not need special preparation for winter. Many varieties can withstand temperatures down to -30°C. However, some varieties need shelters, for example, Delaway's cornflower.
Read about planting barberry and caring for it.You will find information on how to plant and care for rhododendron in the article
Disease and pest control
Pests and diseases rarely bother the basil plant, but in dry times aphids may appear. To get rid of it, gardeners spray the plant with insecticidal preparations (Karbofos, Actellik, Bankol, Akarin, Aktara, Tanrek, Biotlin).
Varieties
The variety of types and varieties of cornflower is amazing. In the garden you can grow both giant varieties that reach a height of 2 meters or more, as well as miniature bushes adjacent to the ground.
More than 150 species of basil grow in nature, but the following are considered popular in gardening:
- Alpine basil. This is a small perennial plant up to 20 cm high. Flowering occurs at the end of June and lasts about a month.
- . The plant, reaching a height of 150 cm, has small lilac-pink flowers. It begins to bloom at the end of July and continues until the end of August. Purple-pink flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences. This variety is winter-hardy and can tolerate temperatures down to -30°C under cover.
- . This is a compact bush up to 120 cm high. It has large triangular leaves with a crenate edge and a bluish tint. Pale lilac or white flowers are collected in a corymbose panicle, its length reaches 20 cm. The plant begins to bloom in June and blooms for 35 days.
- . A miniature shrub that grows up to 25 cm in height. The plant has pinnately divided green leaves. Openwork inflorescences consist of white flowers. Flowering begins in mid-May and lasts up to 25 days.
- Basilisk twisted. A perennial shrub that grows up to 20 cm in height. The plant blooms in June and has white or purple flowers.
- Basil false-petalled. A perennial with straight and strong stems up to 50 cm high. The leaves are wide, triangular, gray-green or blue-green. Dense inflorescences consist of pinkish and white flowers, flowering begins in May and lasts 30-35 days.
- . A large plant reaching a height of 150 cm. The underside of the leaf has a bluish-green plate.
- Basil sultanabad. Rocky perennial up to 35 cm high. The plant is an openwork, loose and spherical bush.
Several varieties of this plant are often found in gardens: “Dwarf Purl”, “Album”, “Hevits Double” and “Sundercloud”.
Basil leaves of the Purpureum variety are especially beautiful. These are powerful plants with black stems and bright purple inflorescences. The varieties Thundercloude, Athropurpureum, and Dwarf Purple are used in landscape compositions.
Look at photos of types of basilisk:
Basil plant- a bright representative of the “buttercup” family. Everyone had to see its fluffy heads on top of other grasses. Fluffy umbrellas are colored depending on the variety: pink, yellow, white.
Basil grass has been known since the times of Ancient Rus', as it was an excellent healing potion. It received its name from the healer Vasilisa, who appreciated the healing properties of the plant.
Description and features of basil
Basil (Thalictrum)- a perennial plant reaching a height of one and a half to two and a half meters. Stems are bare or leafy at the base. The roots form large branches, with additional shoots. The leaves are arranged alternately and have a pinnate structure.
The inflorescences are loose spherical bushes, sometimes a raceme or panicle. The flowers are very small, with a large number of elongated stamens. There are the same number of pistils as stamens, some varieties have more, some have less.
The fruits are placed in dense shells that resemble a nut. The fruits can be firmly attached to the base or on a stalk. Although the fruit is small, the seeds are large and oblong in shape.
Basil foliage received the name of the same name because of its relationship with representatives of the “catchment” family. The plant loves temperate climates and is sometimes found in southern Africa. North America has 22 species of cornflower, Altai – 7 species, and in the post-Soviet space – about 19 species.
The smallest among its relatives is the alpine cornflower, reaching a height of only 5 to 20 cm. It can be found in remote regions of the Arctic. Habitat: mixed forests, forest edges, roadsides, and river banks.
Planting and propagation of basil
Growing Basil– it’s not a labor-intensive task, the plant is a perennial, once planted, it will feel great for 5-6 years. Then it needs to be updated.
Propagated by seeds, dividing the bush, cuttings. In the fall, when the plant falls asleep, the outer root segments are separated and planted.
Cuttings are planted in the spring, when the cornflower is already in the active growing season. Basil fromseeds planted in late autumn. In the spring, the seedlings are inspected, picked, and only next year will it bloom.
When the plant is two years old, you can think about planting basil to a permanent place of growth. In general, the plant is not whimsical; it thrives in poorly lit areas, in cool and damp soils. Nature itself intended that grass grow in places oversaturated with moisture. Basilisk regulates soil moisture.
Caring for basil
The plant does not require special conditions, but loves fertile soil. It loves abundant watering, especially during dry periods. If you do not water it in time, it will lose its brightness of colors and by the end of summer the inflorescences will simply turn yellow.
Basil flower At first glance it may seem like a simple dandelion, but in fact this form of inflorescence is due to a large number of stamens. You can determine the lack of moisture by the lack of aroma in flowers.
Basil is respected by many gardeners; dried specimens are an excellent material for decoration, greenhouses and making dry bouquets (ekiban). To select and save vibrant color elements while care and flowering behindbasil, cut off inflorescences or branches (approximately August/September).
Types and varieties of basil
The perennial herbaceous representative has a large number of species and varieties. I would like to list the most famous and widespread varieties of cornflower.
* Delaway's Basil. A powerful perennial plant reaching a height of 1.5-2 m. The root system is shortened, the inflorescence is paniculate, the flowers form an openwork rosette.
The sepals are often painted in delicate tones: lilac-pinkish or pale pink with stamens covered with gold. The fruit resembles an elongated nut, the seeds are oblong in shape. Bloom Basil splendid begins in July and lasts for two months.
*Wrinkled. This type of basil is very similar to the “Rohebruan”, the only difference is in the shape of the seeds. Elongated stem, voluminous, openwork inflorescences. The sepals are much longer and sharper than those of its relative.
* Simple basil. The most common among all other subspecies. Reaches a height in the range of 30-100 cm. The stem is straight, the root system is well developed and creeping.
The leaves are double-pinnate and pressed tightly to the stem. The inflorescence is a pyramidal panicle. Flowering occurs in June/July. The seeds ripen in August.
* Alpine basil. The shortest representative among all the others. In the wild, its habitat is highlands, tundra mountainous areas, and northern zones. This is the variety that is used for alpine slides. A distinctive feature of the inflorescences is the bright brown stamens.
*Small basil. This plant reaches a height of 30-100 cm, the stem is erect, the root system is branched. The leaves are small, pressed tightly to the stem.
The inflorescence resembles a disheveled panicle, the perianths are greenish in color. The stamens are yellowish in color and have a somewhat pendulous shape. It grows almost throughout Russia and is known in the American states.
* Stinking cornflower. It got its name due to some specific aroma. In fact, these are essential oils secreted by glands on the hairs.
It reaches a height of only 20-50 cm. This type of plant is also suitable for displaying an alpine slide. Habitat: mountainous areas of Tibet and the Urals. The stems have an unhealthy purple hue, the leaves are miniature and round. The inflorescence-panicle is loose in structure, the flowers inside are greenish-purple.
* Yellow cornflower. The most beautiful of the whole family. The stem is erect, medium in size (80-180 cm), the root system is creeping, the leaves with three teeth are located on long petioles, and are colored bluish.
The inflorescence has the form of tightly compressed panicles; the flowers are crowned with long golden-colored stamens. Found throughout the European zone. Magnificent basil is the main starting variety for hybridization.
* Basil angustifolia. A tall plant reaching a height of 1.5 meters. The rhizome is powerful, the leaves are linear, dark green. It forms pyramid-shaped inflorescences, flowers with many yellow stamens. Flowering begins in mid-June and lasts 40-45 days. This variety is respected in Turkey, grown, dried and prepared as tinctures.
* Basil rochebrunnensis. This representative comes from the East, more precisely from Japan. It has an erect stem and large flowers in which elongated stamens are concentrated.
Reaches a height of two to two and a half meters. Flowering occurs in July/August, the leaves are of medium size, the top is grayish, the bottom is openwork, light. The flowers are bright purple or violet-pink.
* Basil foliage. It belongs to the short-growing members of the family, reaches a height of 15-40 cm. It comes from the central Asian regions.
The leaves are round, small in shape, the top is bluish, the bottom is a little lighter, veins clearly appear on the surface. The inflorescence resembles a disheveled panicle, marsh color. This variety does not tolerate waterlogging; high-quality drainage is important for it.
* Basil false-petalled. Originally from the Far Eastern countries (southern Siberia, Far East, China). It has a unique compactness and low stature (20-40 cm).
The inflorescences are lushly pubescent, corymbose-shaped, the flowers are white or pinkish. The leaves are small, round, and colored bluish-green.
Flowering occurs at the beginning of summer and lasts 30-35 days. This variety can be considered a steppe variety, growing on steep bare slopes or gravelly surfaces. This species is perfect for a rock garden.
* The shortest representative among the basil plants is the filamentous one.
The plant is considered to come from coastal marine zones. It grows readily in mixed, sparse forests and on slopes. It has a highly branched root system, thanks to its creeping ability, it even forms thickets.
The inflorescences are umbrella-shaped racemes, the flowers are pale pink or white, blooming in May/June. This variety is especially beautiful when the leaves, bluish on top and dark lilac below, form a blanket.
Himalayan and Chinese basil plants should be included in a separate group. Their distinctive feature is the brightness of the sepals. The unusual structure of the flowers helps preserve the magnificent appearance of the plant for a long time. Some of them are radically different from their European counterparts.
If you look at photo, where there is cornflower, then the first impression is this - it is an airy openwork cloud, painted in a delicate color. The plant fits perfectly into the composition, adding a final chord and completing the overall color scheme.
Diseases and pests of basil
The plant is susceptible to some types of rot, especially powdery mildew. Signs: lower leaves turn yellow, black or white; the inflorescences fall off, the seeds do not ripen. Treatment and prevention involves the use of antifungal garden products.
The main pests include aphids, which attack when a dry period occurs. For prevention, simply regulate watering and treat with an insecticide.
Golden bronze leaf damages inflorescences. It is dangerous to fight with an insecticide; you can destroy honey plants (bees). The best option for control is to collect it by hand; the beetle is quite large. The source of bronze larvae is natural rot (stumps, marshy areas), it is advisable to get rid of them.
In this article we will look at how to plant and care for Basil, when to plant seeds. We will consider in detail the features of reproduction and cultivation in different conditions.
Basil propagation in the garden
Basil is a large or medium-sized perennial plant often found in the wild. Three types are used in gardening - columbine, yellow, and Delavaya.
It is important to remember that aerial flowers of basilisk are poisonous, like all parts of the plantVarieties bred on their basis are popular due to their unpretentiousness in cultivation and propagation. The basil plant is sown with seeds, the shoots are separated, and the cuttings are taken.
Sowing seeds in open ground carried out before winter, as this happens in nature with wild species. It can be done in early spring after seed stratification. Plants grown in this way bloom the next year.
Dividing the bush Basil is propagated in April or September. The root system is divided so that the planting material retains a sufficient number of above-ground shoots. The cuttings are immediately planted in a permanent place with an interval of 40 - 50 cm.
For cuttings select shoots with two internodes. When harvesting, the stem is torn off so that the “heel” is preserved. For rooting, use a sand-earth substrate 1:1. Before placing the cutting in the soil, it is dusted with a rooting agent, such as Kornevin. With this method of propagation, all qualities of the variety are guaranteed to be preserved. Usually work is carried out at the end of May, beginning of June.
The modern gardening industry allows you to adjust the “biological program” of plants. Basil grown by seedlings blooms this year. Step-by-step instructions for preparing seedlings:
| Step 1. | 1. Preparing the soil mixture. Garden soil is combined with coarse sand 1:1. 2. Fill planting containers: boxes, cassettes, pots. 3. Water until moist. |
| Step 2. | 1. Grooves are formed in the boxes at a distance of 5 cm and a depth of 1 cm. Seeds are placed at intervals of 3–5 cm. 2. Place 2-3 grains in a pot or cassette cell with a diameter of 8 cm. |
| Step 3. | The sowing is covered with plastic wrap and placed in a well-lit place with a temperature – + 20 – 25 0 . |
| Step 4. | With the emergence of seedlings, the crops are fed with growth stimulants. |
| Step 5. | Seedlings grown in boxes are pricked at the stage of 2–3 true leaves. The same is done with seedlings, of which there are several in a pot (or cassette). |
| Step 6. | 2 weeks after picking, the seedlings are fed. You can use a weak solution of mullein 1:10, 1 cup per 10 plants. |
Cassettes replace planting pots and boxes Basilisk seedlings that are planted in peat tablets do not require picking, since one piece is sown in each nutrient substrate.
Tip #1. Note! When planting in open ground, seedlings in peat tablets do not need to be removed from the nutrient medium; the plant is placed in the ground along with the tablet.
5 best preparations for seedlings, advantages and disadvantages
- "Epin - extra" - awakens the hidden reserves of the plant during seed germination and strengthens the plant tissue during growth. Used for soaking grains before planting and feeding seedlings.
- "Mira Life" - biologically active drug with protective action. Promotes root regrowth and protects seedlings from diseases.
- "Albit" - complex bioregulator of growth with a protective fungicidal effect. Used to treat seeds before sowing.
- “Zerebra Agro” is a growth stimulator with a disinfecting effect based on silver, designed for active seed germination and strengthening seedlings.
- "Lignohumate"— extract of humic acids to regulate the growth of seedlings, with an anti-stress effect on plant development.
Lignohumate is an environmentally friendly preparation intended for various plants. For flowering plants use - universal garden Flaw I will take the above drugs h It has the opposite effect in case of overdose. Excess of the substance causes inhibition of sap flow, up to the death of plants.
Planting and caring for Basil in open ground
Basil is an extremely unpretentious plant, survives in sun, partial shade, poor sandy and clay soils. But vigorous growth and abundant flowering occur on rich, fertile soils with good watering.
Landing sequence:
- Seedlings are planted in open ground in the middle or end of May.. The location is chosen to be bright, with light shading. The soil is prepared with loamy, neutral or slightly acidic reaction. Soil optimization is deep enough to 40 cm. Basil is a large plant and grows in one area for up to 10 years, which is why the preparation of the planting site must be deep.
- Seedlings are placed at a distance of 40–50 cm.
- After landing, carefully watered at the rate of 10 l/m2.
Features of care during flowering and after
Various varieties of Basil flower bloom from late June to mid-August. The duration of flowering depends on good watering. In dry summers, flowering without irrigation occurs too quickly, even rapidly. You can extend the decorative effect with the help of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, at the rate of 200 g per 1 m2.
Advice # 2. Note! Good results are obtained by timely picking off faded flowers and thorough weeding. Basil is powerless against powerful weeds.
At the end of flowering, dried flower stalks are removed completely if you do not plan to collect seeds. Preparing for winter consists of cutting dry leaves and mulching. For shelter, use mown grass, fallen leaves of healthy plants, bark and wood chips. Usually young plants are covered; adult basilisk overwinters well without shelter.
Plan of care and planting work by day
The work plan for caring for basil consists of:
| Type of work | Deadline |
| Preparing the soil for planting seedlings | May 15 – 30 |
| Planting Basil | May 15 – 30 |
| Watering | After landing. From now on weekly. |
| Fertilizing plantings with complex fertilizer “Fertika - universal” |
June 1 – 15 (first feeding 2 weeks after planting, each subsequent one with an interval of 15 – 20 days) |
| Fertilizing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers | 2 weeks before flowering, depending on the variety. |
| Removing faded buds | As the flowers fade |
| Weeding cornflower | The first, 2 - 3 weeks after planting, each subsequent one, as necessary. |
| Cutting dry flower stalks | At the end of flowering. (Depends on the variety - from late July to September). |
| Mulching young plants | October 20 - 30, but no later than a week before frost. |
The best varieties of Basil
| View | Variety | Features of the variety |
| Basil foliage or columbine | "Black Stockings" | The color of the flowers is lilac-pink. Height during flowering – 1.5 m. |
| "Thundercloud" | The flowers are bright lilac. Height, up to 80 cm. |
|
| "Album" | The flowers are white. | |
| Yellow cornflower | "Illuminator" | Height – 1.3 m, flower color – bright yellow. |
| "True Blue" | The leaves have a bluish tint, the flowers are yellow. | |
| Basil Delawaya | "Hewlett's Double" | Large double flowers of deep purple color. |
Basil Delawaya - a tall shade-tolerant plant for planting under the canopy of trees Prevention and control of diseases and pests
Basil is one of the most resistant plants. Under favorable conditions, never again. In dry weather or from lack of watering, it suffers from aphid attacks.
The best drugs to protect cornflower
To prevent pest attacks, medications are used for prevention against ants that carry aphids:
- Muratsid,
- Antiant,
- Ant-eater.
If the plant is still affected by aphids, you can treat the planting with insecticides:
- “Actofit” is a preparation of biological synthesis, the use of which does not cause damage to plants and humans.
- "Envidor" is a broad-spectrum chemical that is not addictive to insects.
Basil varieties resistant to diseases and pests
Gardeners have noticed that most popular types of cornflower do not suffer from unfavorable conditions. The most resistant varieties are:
- Medium height- 1.2 m, (Delaway view):
- "Hewlett's Double"
- "Hinckley"
- "Album".
The “Album” variety has a white flower color, uncharacteristic for cornflower. - Large– 1.5 m (water-leaf type):
- "Black Stockings"
- "Purpureum"
- "Thundercloud"
- short up to 50 cm - Small or Common species.
The best and worst regions for growing basil
The biological origin of the plant influences the development of artificially bred varieties. Just like wild species, ornamental cornflower grows well in moderately humid climates. Such conditions are typical for the Middle Zone, the Volga region, the southern zone of the Urals and Siberia. In the hot, arid regions of the Kuban and Krasnodar Territories, growing cornflower is not popular due to the high costs of watering the plants.
Use in landscape design
Basil is popular in private gardens and park compositions. Large varieties are successfully used in large-scale mixborders in the vicinity of other perennials:
- rudbeckia pilosa,
- catchment,
- iris,
- daylily,
- delphinium,
- buzulnik,
- Doronicum.
Basil is a perennial plant belonging to the ranunculaceae family. On the planet, this genus is represented by 157 species. The natural habitats of basil plants are Africa, America and Eurasia. Plants can reach heights of up to 2.5 meters, but tiny species are also found. The smallest is the alpine basil (Thalictrum alpinum), which grows in alpine meadows, its height is only 5-20 cm.
The stems of cornflower are leafy, but most of the leaves are concentrated at the base of the stem. The leaves of the plant are alternate, usually pinnate. Basil inflorescences have an unusual corymbose and paniculate structure, consisting of many small flowers that have long stamens and miniature sepals. The color range of these plants is very diverse; in nature, white, lilac, yellow and pinkish are found. The roots of basil leaves are large and branched.
According to legend, Vasilistnik received its name in honor of Vasilista Vikulichna, an epic beauty who voluntarily passed away following her husband, the beloved hero Mikhailo. In the place where Vasilista fell dead, this hitherto unprecedented flower grew. Thanks to this legend, people may attribute properties to the plant that make it a desirable ingredient in love spells. But if it is difficult to believe in the love spell effect of a flower, on the contrary, its healing properties have already been proven. Basil contains toxic alkaloids as well as flavonoids. They determine the healing properties of the plant: basil flowers help cope with hypertension, help fight digestive tract problems, have a healing effect, stop bleeding, and therefore are used in the treatment of skin and pulmonary diseases.
Despite the lack of special attention from gardeners to this plant, today it has become most widespread in culture. (Thalictrum aquilegifolium). This species in its natural environment prefers to grow in shady forests. Its height can reach 1.5 meters. The flowers are collected in inflorescences of white or lavender color, which look like fancy pompoms. This species is one of the most decorative and has varieties of different shades. It is recommended to tie up the bush and periodically trim it, shaping it in accordance with the design of the garden.
While rare, but extremely attractive species from the mountainous regions of China - Delaway's Basil (Thalictrum delavayi), and basilicum diptera (Thalictrum dipterocarpum) with airy paniculate inflorescences of pink-lavender color.
Basil is completely undemanding to the soil; it develops well even in shaded and too humid places, but does not tolerate drought well. In order to get friendly, active shoots in the spring, it is better to sow cornflower seeds before winter. It can also be propagated by dividing the bushes, which is best done at the end of summer.
Name: Ancient Greek, derived from the words "thalos" - green branch and "icter" - pleading. The plant looks like an olive branch entwined with down.
This branch meant a plea for protection. The graceful foliage, as follows from the popular name of the most famous representative of the genus, resembles the foliage of columbine plants (aquilegia), with which basil leaves are combined into one subfamily. In English-speaking countries, their foliage is compared to rue by its delicacy and waxy coating, and the name of the plant sounds like “meadow rue” - meadow rue.
Description: The genus includes up to 150 species, distributed mainly in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, the mountains of tropical America and southern Africa. Rhizomatous perennials with erect, leafless or weakly leafy stems up to 200 cm tall. The leaves are basal and stem, pinnately divided, lacy, shiny on the upper side, sometimes pubescent below. The flowers are small, numerous, collected in paniculate, racemose or corymbose inflorescences. The perianth is simple, four- or five-leaved, white, yellowish, lilac or pale pink. Numerous stamens are much longer than the tepals. The fruit is a multi-nut. The fruits are sessile or pedunculated with a column remaining in the form of a spout. The seeds are large, oblong. There are up to 650 seeds in 1 g.
Thalictrum flavum "Glaucum"
Photo of the Nursery "Northern Flora"
Basilisks are perennial herbaceous plants with unusual fragrant flowers, devoid of petals. Immediately after the buds open, the sepals also fall off (the exception is Delaway's basilisk), but numerous stamens remain, which make the flowers look like fluffy balls or tassels. Collected in large paniculate or umbrella-shaped inflorescences, they resemble a light cloud, colored, depending on the type and variety, white, red, yellow, lilac, lilac, violet or burgundy.
Basilisks are remarkable not only for their decorative value, they are unpretentious and tolerate the climate of the temperate zone well. Most species grow well both in the sun and in slight shade, and filamentous basilisk grows well even in the shade of trees. These plants are also undemanding when it comes to soil - they grow well even in infertile areas, as long as there is enough moisture. But basilisks grow especially lush, with large, bright inflorescences on fertile, nutrient-rich soils. Another advantage is that they are winter-hardy and do not require special care.
The most widespread in culture are:
| Alpine basilisk - Thalictrum alpinum L.s. str.
North Europe, Caucasus. Central Asia, Siberia, Far East, Himalayas, Mongolia, North. America. In the alpine belt on rocky slopes, nival lawns and riverbed pebbles.
The plant is 5-20 cm tall, with a leafless, sometimes 1-leafed simple stem. The leaves are concentrated at the base of the stem, petiolate, the blades are simply and double pinnate, with leathery dark green leaves that are shiny on top. Flowers in a simple, rarely branched raceme, 1.5-8 cm long, drooping. The filaments of the stamens are thin, thread-like. The stigma of the ovary is dark purple. Tepals are reddish-brownish, 2-3 mm long. and 1-1.75 mm wide, elliptical, obtuse. Fruitlets are 2-3 mm long, oblong-ovate, slightly curved, ribbed, almost sessile. Plant in a semi-shaded, moist, humus-rich place. For the winter, protection from dampness should be provided. In summer, the soil is mulched with fine gravel. Seeds are sown in spring, seedlings appear within 1-3 months at a temperature of 13-18 degrees. Can be propagated by division in early spring and autumn. |
Thalictrum alpinum L.
A perennial plant that forms compact bushes up to 120 cm in height, with large, broadly triangular in outline, bluish-green leaves. The flowers are small white or pale lilac, collected in a loose, large corymbose panicle up to 20 cm long. Blooms in June - July for 30-35 days. The fruit is a leaflet. The seeds are oblong and large. Winter-hardy without shelter. Often weeds. In culture it requires exactly the same conditions as watersheds. Does well in cool, moist, rich soils in partial sun or partial shade. It is in partial shade that flowering lasts longer and the foliage remains decorative for a long time. The unpretentiousness and decorative nature of flowers and foliage make this large perennial indispensable for waterlogged areas, the banks of reservoirs, and shady gardens.
This insect-pollinated plant attracts pollinators with colored stamens with a large amount of pollen in the anthers. It reproduces mainly by seeds, which germinate in the spring (often in the second spring) after sowing. Germination occurs especially actively in the light; in this case, germination can reach 100%. The seedling has two delicate blue-green cotyledons on petioles colored with anthocyanin. Later, the first trifoliate leaves appear. In the second year, a shortened underground shoot appears. Basil foliage is a mesophyte, grows in conditions of sufficient moisture, often on poorly aerated soils, usually with a reaction close to neutral, and rich in mineral nitrogen. It rises into the mountains up to 2500 m above sea level. m.
In culture since 1720. It has decorative forms and varieties with white, purple, lilac-pink and dark red flowers.
"Thundercloud"- plant up to 75 cm tall, deep purple flowers;
"Dwarf Purple"- up to 45 cm high, pinkish-purple flowers;
"Album" - plant up to 90 cm tall, white flowers.
Photos by Mikhail Polotnov
| Basilwort Delavaya- Thalictrum delavayi Franch.
Homeland - China. Plant up to 150 cm tall. The lower leaves are double or triple pinnate. The flowers are small, lilac-pink, collected in a large, loose, paniculate inflorescence. Blooms in July - August for 60-65 days. The fruit is a leaflet, the seeds are oblong, large, ripen in August. In the middle zone it winters under light cover. Very beautiful and the most decorative among the representatives of the genus. Winter-hardy without shelter provided it is planted in well-aerated soils. V. Delavayi "Hewlett"s Double" (T. delavayi "Hewlett"s Double") - see photo. Height 1 m, flowers are lilac-lilac, double, reminiscent of small pumpons. It blooms later, in August, and looks like gypsophila. Grows well in any garden soil and can even tolerate cold peaty soils. There is a variety Thalictrum delavayi "Album" with white flowers. |
 Yellow cornflower- Thalictrum flavum L.
Widely distributed in the temperate zone of Eurasia. Grows along river banks and in flood meadows. One of the progenitors of the hybrid Taliktrum. The plant prefers thickets of bushes or open areas with fertile, moist, drained soil, and is quite resistant to lack of moisture and overheating.
Photo on the left of Vladislava Smirnova
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The stem is tall, 60-150 (180) cm, furrowed, glabrous, evenly leafy. The leaves are deflected from the stem, the lower ones have petioles 2-6 cm long, the upper ones are sessile and gradually decreasing upward, their plates are triangular in outline, 10-20 cm long. and 7-15 cm wide; The leaves are quite large, 2-4 cm long. and 1-3 cm wide, obovate, rounded-wedge-shaped at the base, 3-lobed or 3-toothed in front, dull green above, lighter below. The flowers are on short, 2-3(5) mm, pedicels, clustered in several clusters at the ends of the inflorescence branches and form a rather dense, often almost corymbose panicle, 6-15 cm long. and 2.5-7 cm wide. The stamens are yellow, 5-7 mm long, erect, with anthers without acuminate ends. Achenes are ovoid, sessile, bluntly ribbed with a straight nose up to 1 mm long. Blooms in mid-summer. The inflorescence is corymbose-paniculate. The flowers are yellow. It grows luxuriously only in rich, moist garden soils. Winter-hardy without shelter. The plant can rightfully be considered both decorative flowering and decorative deciduous. Attracting attention throughout the growing season, it has only one drawback - lodging of the stems in heavy rain and wind. Therefore, it is planted in large clumps, preferably among bushes or in a place protected from the wind. Despite the long history of culture, selection was not carried out, but the recently appeared T.flavum ssp. glaucum ‘True Blue’ with non-lodging strong stems, it has every chance of becoming one of the promising and fashionable new products. Basil false-petalled- Thalictrum petaloideum L.
It grows wildly in Siberia and the Far East, Central Asia, Mongolia, China and Japan. On meadows and gravelly steppe slopes. The plant is glabrous, with a strong grooved stem 15-40 cm high. The leaves are gray-green, matte, without prominent ribs, concentrated at the base of the stem, the blades are broadly triangular in outline, double-triple pinnate, 4-10 cm long. and 3-8 cm wide, terminal lobules are small, round, elliptical or obovate, entire or obtusely 2-3-lobed. The flowers are white or slightly pinkish, erect, on stalks 1-3 cm long, in a dense corymbose panicle. The stamens are white, numerous, 6-8 mm long, 2.5-3 times longer than the pistils, their filaments are club-shaped at the top, almost twice as wide as the anthers. The fruits are sessile, ovoid, thick, with 8 very prominent blunt ribs. Spout approx. 1 mm long, curved at the apex. Blooms in May-June for 30-35 days. Used in border plantings. Photo by Yuri Ovchinnikov |
 Small basil- Thalictrum minus L.
It is found in ripe meadows and mountain slopes in Eurasia and North America. Plant 80-100 (120) cm tall, evenly leafy. The leaves are on long petioles, gradually becoming smaller towards the apex and here sessile, the blades are broadly triangular in outline, triply pinnate; the terminal leaflets are obovate, wedge-shaped or rounded at the base, coarsely toothed or 3-lobed at the apex, leathery, with prominent veins below. The inflorescence is a wide-pyramidal panicle with drooping flowers, on stalks 0.5-2(3) cm long. Stamens with thin filaments, pendulous. The fruits are sessile, sharply oblong-ribbed with a straight nose. It has a number of more graceful dwarf forms. Blooms in midsummer. The flowers are inconspicuous yellow-green. Drought resistant. Shade-tolerant, but grows well in sunny areas. Winter-hardy without shelter. Photo by Yuri Markovsky |
  Basil filamentous- Thalictrum filamentosum Exported from the forests of the Far East. It is a long-rhizomatous, low (15 - 25 cm) perennial that forms a loose ground cover of soft green pinnately divided leaves. The flowers are numerous, white, collected in an openwork inflorescence. It blooms for 20-25 days from mid-May. The seeds ripen in July. There are from 7 to 50 seeds on one shoot, but filamentous basilisk mainly reproduces vegetatively, since the branching rhizomes annually grow by 6 - 8 cm and form from 2 to 4 renewal buds. The dense ground cover retains its decorative effect for 15-20 years without replanting; This species is especially interesting for growing on tree trunks. Photo on the left Knyazheva Valeria
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| Sakhalin Basil- Thalictrum sachalinense Lesou.
A slender plant with delicate white flowers that envelop the plant in an openwork cloud. The range is narrow, East Asian island type: Russia (Sakhalin and Moneron, Kuril Islands - Kunashir, Shikotan), Japan (Hokkaido). Grows in mixed-grass meadows and on the edges of mixed forests. Mesophyte. A decoction of the roots is used for stomach upset and pain. Powder from the roots, roasted with vinegar, is used to treat puncture wounds, juice from the leaves - for wounds caused by bruises (Sugawara, 1937). Sakhalin Basil can be planted in groups in parks, in open and semi-shaded places, on fertile, regularly moistened soil. Suitable for cutting. |
 Basilisk twisted- Thalictrum contortum L.
Homeland - Siberia, Far East, East. Mongolia, China. In valley forests, in thickets of bushes, along the edges. Stems are 100-120 (150) cm high, branched in inflorescences. The leaves are large, broadly triangular in outline, on long petioles, at the base turning into a brown, leathery, bordered sheath; At the base of the petioles of the leaf lobes there are wide membranous stipules. The leaf blades are double or triple pinnate, their terminal lobes are 2-4.5 cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, broadly obovate, with 3 large rounded teeth at the apex. The flowers are numerous, in a corymbose panicle, sitting on pedicels 5-20 mm long. The stamens are numerous, with colored filaments, club-shaped in the upper part, widened to the thickness of the anther. The fruits are pendulous, 5-7 mm long, ovoid-elliptical, steeply narrowed at the top, with a bent nose, 4-sided, with membranous wings along the ribs. Blooms in June - July. The flowers are lilac, less often white (see photo), collected in a large corymbose inflorescence. In GBS since 1953 (from Primorye), grows in partial shade. Blooms in June, about three weeks; the seeds ripen in July. In specimens from Primorye (grass, rhizomes), alkaloids +++ and flavonoids + were found (Schreter, 1972). Photo by Mikhail Polotnov |
 Thalictrum aquilegifolium "Thunder Cloud" Photo by Mikhail Polotnov |
 Thalictrum rochebrunianum Photo by Mikhail Polotnov |
 Thalictrum kiosianum Photo by Mikhail Polotnov |
 Thalictrum tuberiferum Photo Photo by Kirill Kravchenko |
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 Thalictrum reniforme Photo of Shakhmanova Tatyana |
 Thalictrum dioicum Photo of Rozantseva Tatyana |
 Thalictrum uncatum Photo by Mikhail Polotnov |
Location: Basil is best grown in the shade. In the sun, the color of the inflorescences by the end of June, especially in dry weather, fades and yellow tones appear. With a lack of moisture, the smell of flowers disappears. Frost-resistant.
The soil: All basil plants are undemanding to the soil, but develop better on fertile, deeply cultivated soil, rich in nutrients and well supplied with moisture.
Care: during periods of drought they need watering. Low-growing basil leaves do not need pruning; waterweed basil leaves are pruned after flowering.
Diseases and pests: In dry weather, aphids attack.
Reproduction: by dividing the bush, cuttings and seeds, which are sown in the beds before winter. Can be sown in spring in protected ground after a month's stratification. The seedlings are unpretentious, develop quickly, and bloom in the second year. The bushes are divided at the end of April or at the beginning of September and planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other. Plants can grow in one place for up to 10 years or more. Cuttings are taken with the “heel” from young shoots with incompletely developed leaves.
Usage: large cornflowers (T. aquilegifolium, T. flavum, T. delavayi, T. rochebrunnianum - in Rohebrunn) are suitable for herbaceous and shrub borders, for planting in large areas and as solitary plants. Small species - as ground cover (T. foetidus - stinky, T. kiusianum - kiusian, T. minus - small), in shady rock gardens (T. alpinum - alpine, T. minus, T. orientale - in. eastern). Their properties, such as abundant self-seeding, stability and competitiveness, attract lovers of natural wild gardens. Inflorescences and foliage are used for cutting. It is interesting to note that a number of species have very modest inflorescences (T. foetidus, T. minus, especially its variety ‘Adiantifolium’) and are used only as ornamental foliage plants.
Partners: Basil looks great against the backdrop of shrubs with dark foliage - mahonias, brilliant cotoneaster, purple-leaved euonymus, as well as next to large-leaved perennials - rhubarb, castor bean, buzulnik. It goes well with Siberian iris, columbine, gravilata, Asian swimsuit, brunnera, astilbe, and phlox.
used materials from the article by Yu. Bazhenov “Clouds on the grass” // “Garden with your own hands” - 2002 - No. 5