As of: March 27, 2024, 12:24 p.m
By: Ines Alms
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Snails despise them, insects love them - the robust willow trees are perennials with numerous advantages and more than deserve their place in the bed.
The Association of German Perennial Gardeners has the Willow Rich (Lythrum)
Chosen as perennial of the year 2024: The genus with around 35 species is an insect magnet for bees and butterflies with its large, mostly pink or pink-colored flower candles.
If you are looking for a tall growing perennial in the garden that blooms for weeks, the purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and the loosestrife (Lythrum virgatum) are particularly recommended.
The loosestrife is larger, the loosestrife is more delicate
The purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is an insect magnet.
Even when not in bloom, the leaves attract butterfly caterpillars.
© agefotostock/Imago
The purple loosestrife is a native wild plant that is often found on riparian areas or in wet meadows.
It can grow up to one and a half meters high with its long flowers.
The loosestrife originally grows from southeastern Europe to western Asia.
Depending on the variety, however, it remains below a height of one meter and appears somewhat more delicate.
And there is also a white-flowering variety ('White Swirl').
In contrast to loosestrife, loosestrife is not prone to self-sowing - the better choice if you want to have more control over your garden.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter from our partner 24garten.de.
Both species can bloom from June to September and, another advantage, snails avoid the frost-hardy plants.
The loosestrifes have the same requirements for the best place in the garden: “They need a location that is as sunny as possible and moist, nutrient-rich soil.
The loosestrife varieties in particular survive temporary droughts quite well if the soil is loamy and stores water well,” explains Professor Dr.
Bernd Hertle from the Association of German Perennial Gardeners.
Good bed neighbors for loosestrife are plants that have the same requirements for the location, such as red angelica, umbrella aster, palm lily man litter, swamp yarrow, meadowsweet or ornamental grasses such as switch millet.
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What to look for when buying perennials
In order for the loosestrife to develop all of its good qualities, you should pay attention to healthy plants when purchasing it.
These can be recognized not only by their strong and compact growth.
But also because the roots are white and may grow out of the bottom of the pot, explains the Federal Association of Allotment Garden Associations in Germany (BKD) to the German Press Agency.
It is better to stay away from perennials with brown, heavily matted or even slimy roots, as this could be a sign of waterlogging.
Weak plants have long, thin shoots - misshapen or curled leaves can indicate pests.