Erica pink meriton - what it looks like and how to grow
I bought a small bush with needles at the market. I thought it was some kind of conifers, but this miracle took and covered with red flowers in the spring. I looked for a name for a long time, until a friend came to visit and said that it was Erica the pink meriton. Please tell us what kind of culture it is and how to properly care for it. Seeing the bloom, she did not regret in the least that she had bought Erica. I want to dilute it in order to plant it on the site, dividing it into zones. Judging by the dense twigs, the bushes should be dense. And what is their maximum height?
If you love evergreens, plant Erica in your garden. A beautiful female name hides a perennial shrub of the heather family, herbaceous or tree-like. It is easy to recognize him among other representatives of the group by the very small leaves-needles and lush flowering. Erica is a relict plant that grew long before our appearance with you. Until today, thanks to the breeders, she had enough time to acquire many species.
There are more than 8 hundred varieties of erica, with both compact herbaceous and large tree-like plants among them. Most varieties of culture live in warm African expanses, but there are some that have taken root in our climate. Among them is Erica pink meriton, one of the smallest perennials with rich inflorescences. What is a shrub and how to grow it?
The shrub owes its name to delicate twigs that break easily. In Greek, the word "erike" means "to break".
Description of the plant
As mentioned, pink erica is the smallest evergreen perennial. The height of the bush does not exceed 20 cm, but it has a lush and dense crown. Erica grows many shoots, and those, in turn, release long side branches. They are covered with grayish bark and very small leaves that look more like needles. Their length does not exceed 1 cm, while the leaves grow at an angle of 90 ° to the branch itself.
The main attraction of the plant is not only its compactness, but also flowering. In early spring, already in April - May, thin leaves become almost invisible under the many inflorescences. The most beautiful and brightest can be called Erica pink meriton: contrary to the name, her flowers are almost red. The inflorescences themselves are also small and resemble rounded bells on thin curved legs.
Erica pink meriton - features of growing perennials in the garden
The evergreen prefers well-lit areas where it can show its lush bloom to the fullest. The soil should be loose and slightly acidic, and the site should be protected from the wind. In a draft, the bushes will hurt, and the gentle twigs will break the wind.
Erika's care is not difficult and includes:
Regular watering. Do not allow the earth to dry out, otherwise the lush heads of the bushes will disintegrate.
Mulching the soil under the bushes.
Pruning. It should be done after flowering, cutting off the green twigs with leaves. As a result, the bushes will be more compact and will set more buds next season.
Top dressing twice a season. It is enough to add mineral complexes before flowering and after cutting the bush.
Preventive treatment against diseases.Most often, perennials are attacked by gray rot, especially at high humidity. This can be avoided by adjusting watering and spraying the bushes in the spring with Topaz.
Shelter for the winter. Although Erica tolerates low temperatures well, in regions with harsh winters, the bushes need to be additionally covered in autumn.
Regardless of the species, Erica reproduces by seeds and cuttings. It is advisable to plant young bushes in open ground in the second year of life, when they get stronger.
