Ophiopogon Japanese, Japanese lily of the valley

Ophiopogon Japanese, Japanese lily of the valley - Ophiopogon japonicus. Homeland - Japan, China.

Ophiopogon is a perennial herb with thin, narrow linear, hard leaves up to 35 cm long. Plants with variegated leaves are found. On the Black Sea coast of Russia, O. Japanese grows in open ground and is often used as a border plant. It blooms in summer, in July - September. During this period, low (up to 20 cm) flower stalks grow on the ophiopogon, on which a rosette of small flowers painted in white or pale purple is formed. After flowering, blue berries ripen.

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Accommodation. Ophiopogon grows well on the windows of the north and south orientation, it feels great both in warm and cool rooms. In summer, it is advisable to take the plant to fresh air. In winter, it must be installed in cool, bright rooms with a temperature of 1 - 5 ° C.

Care. Moderate watering is required. Fertilize the plant with full mineral fertilizer twice a month. Young plants are transplanted every year, adults - every 3 to 4 years, planting them in a mixture of turf land, sand and humus soil (2: 1: 2) with the addition of bone meal.

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Pests and diseases. The main pests are thrips, spider mites. Due to improper care, spotting appears on the ophiopogon.

Breeding possibly rhizome division. Slices must be sprinkled with crushed charcoal. Ophiopogon can be propagated by seed.

On a note. Use the plant to create compositional arrangements.