The herbaceous perennial plant is part of the Barberry family. It is also called "elfof flower", or "epimedium". This plant can be found in nature on forest glades and in the foothills of Turkey, East Asia, the Caucasus and the Alps.
This ground cover plant has spectacular leaves, for which it is very popular in Western Europe. However, on the territory of Russia in gardens, this plant is extremely rare. Such a flower is not only able to decorate any garden, but it also has healing properties. That is why the mountain woman is worth the attention of gardeners, especially when you consider that she is distinguished by undemanding care.
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Features of the mountain woman
Horny Goat weed is a ground cover, which is also a perennial. Its branched rhizome is quite powerful. Stems in height can vary from 0.15 to 0.75 m. The plant grows rapidly in width, however, there is a gradual dying off of its middle part. The Goryanka genus is represented by both deciduous and evergreen species. Branched thin stems are covered with a smooth brownish-red bark. The leaf plates are very close to each other. The distance between them can vary from 10 to 70 mm. Moreover, the smaller the distance between the foliage, the more lush the curtain is formed.
Leaf plates of a deep green color have a petiole, as well as a lanceolate, heart-shaped or elliptical shape. Leaves can be thrice- or double-pinnate, the top of them is pointed, and the edge is serrate or smooth. Sometimes it happens that on leathery foliage, which is quite dense, you can see streaks of purple hue.
Blooming is observed in May. At this time, loose brushes are formed over the curtain. Corollas with an unusual shape in diameter can reach from 0.5 to 2 cm. Each of them has 2 rows of petals. Moreover, each row consists of four petals. In some species, thick hooked spurs can be seen on the petals.
If the flower is pollinated, then a dry achene will form in its place after a while. The seeds contain growths that contain nutrients that attract ants. This allows the Horny Goat Weed to spread over long distances, since the seeds are carried by the ants.
Planting and care in the open field
Landing
Horny Goat Weed in middle latitudes are propagated in two ways: by seeds and by dividing the bush. However, propagating this plant by seeds is not easy. The fact is that the seed material needs a two-stage stratification, and you also need to grow seedlings. Initially, the seeds are kept at room temperature for about 20 days, and then they are placed on a refrigerator shelf for 30 days. After that, this procedure is repeated again. When the seed material stays in the refrigerator for 1 month for the second time, it is sown into a substrate consisting of peat and sand. From above, the container with crops must be covered with foil. The optimum temperature for seed germination is from 15 to 20 degrees. The first seedlings appear after 7-15 days. Seedlings grow very quickly, and in the last days of May they can already be planted in the garden. For the first time, the bushes will bloom after three to four years.
By dividing the bush, only adult overgrown flowers are propagated. This procedure should be carried out in the first days of September. First, remove the bush from the soil, remove almost all the soil from its roots. Take a sharp knife and cut the root into several pieces. Each delenka should have three buds. Delenki are seated in pre-prepared holes, the depth of which should be from 40 to 60 mm. The planted plants need moderate watering, and on top they need to be covered with a layer of dry foliage.
When planting such a plant in the garden, make sure that the distance between the bushes is about 0.3–0.4 m. The soil needs fertile and well moistened. Horny Goat Weed can be planted in an area with light, loose soil, which contains a large amount of lime.
Horny Goat Weed
Such a plant is distinguished by its undemanding care, and it is also quite unpretentious. It grows well both in shade and in a sunny area. Most of the species are resistant to temperature changes, but if the frost is very strong, then the bushes can freeze very much.
Summer heat does not harm the plant, but in this case it needs to be watered more abundantly and often. This flower needs systematic watering, and they should be relatively frequent. But it is impossible to allow stagnation of liquid in the soil, as this can lead to the appearance of rot.
Experts advise covering the soil surface with a layer of mulch or it can be systematically loosened. In this case, the air will flow well to the roots. To prevent the roots from freezing in winter, they should be covered with a layer of compost. If the winter is frosty, then the top of the compost is covered with spruce branches and foliage. If the variety is evergreen, remember that it needs good shelter in any winter. When the snow melts in spring, remember to remove the cover from the bushes.
This plant does not require systematic feeding. If the soil on the site is nutritious, then it may not be fed at all. However, if there is a need for this, then the mountain goat should be fed with complex mineral fertilizer and compost once or twice during the season.
This plant is highly resistant to diseases and pests. However, it can be affected by mice, voles and slugs. They fight with them using traps or scaring devices.
Healing properties
Saponins, glycosides, alkaloids, steroids and flavonoids can be found in any part of the Horny Goat Weed. It has long been used in non-traditional and oriental medicine. It has choleretic, stimulating, tonic, diuretic and tonic properties. Means based on such a plant are used for:
- strengthening the body's defenses;
- treating hypertension and improving blood circulation;
- therapy of male sexual disorders and their prevention;
- getting rid of stress and chronic fatigue;
- elimination of toxins from the body after prolonged use of stimulants and drugs.
Horny Goat Weed also helps rejuvenate the body.However, it is forbidden to use it for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as for diseases of the thyroid gland.
Types of mountain woman with photo
The Goryanka genus unites about 50 species, while there are also several decorative varieties.
Horny Goat Weed (Grandiflorum) (Epimedium grandiflorum)
Thanks to the successful work of breeders, a large number of varieties and hybrids have been created on the basis of this species. An evergreen clump of a plant can reach a height of 0.2 to 0.3 m. On the surface of dense heart-shaped leaf plates there is an intricate pattern of a bronze-green hue. The racemose inflorescences consist of 4-15 lilac flowers. These flowers are known to have medicinal properties that are used in medicine. They are used to support men's health, which is why they are often referred to as "green Viagra". The best varieties:
- Lilacinum - the composition of spectacular inflorescences include flowers of a lilac-white shade;
- White Queen - the flowers of this plant are quite large and have a snow-white color;
- Pink queen - the flowers consist of deep pink petals.
Red Horned Goat Weed (Epimedium rubrum)
The bush includes a large number of upright shoots, which can reach a height of about 0.4 m. Small inflorescences grow on the tops of slightly leafy stems. The flowers, reaching about 15 mm in diameter, include yellowish-red petals, and in the middle they have a thickened column.
Horned Goat Weed (Epimedium Sagittatum)
This species was discovered not so long ago. The forming curtain in height can reach from 0.25 to 0.3 m. The composition of the lush crown includes a large number of pointed, elongated leaf plates. At the tops of the stems, few-flowered racemose inflorescences, which consist of small flowers, open.
Mountain Goat Weed (Epimedium koreanum)
This deciduous perennial plant reaches a height of about 15 centimeters. It is covered with rich green monochromatic foliage. In springtime, large flowers of a white-purple hue open above the bush. This species is frost-resistant and shade-tolerant. But this flower is slow in growth.
Mountain woman in landscape design
Goryanka, growing rapidly, is able to cover a large plot of land with a green carpet in a short time. Thanks to this, garden plots are planted with her, as well as places under trees. Also spectacularly lush curtains look in rockeries, rock gardens and mixborders. In springtime, flowering bushes look charming. Horny Goat Weed is recommended to grow next to primrose, lungwort, hosts, tiarella or fern. It can also be grown near small-bulbous plants and cereals.
