Lewisia

Family. Montiaceae.

Origin. North America.

Description. Lewisia is one of the most colorful flowering herbaceous plants. Fleshy, rounded or oblong-lanceolate waxy leaves form a symmetrical rosette. The peduncles are leafless, tall and carry 5-6 charming buds up to 5 cm in diameter at the top, bright pink, apricot, white, yellow or red. There are varieties with flowers of two different shades.

Height. Reaches 10 - 15 cm in height. 

Planting and care

Reproduction - growing from seeds 

Propagated by dividing large bushes during transplantation or by sowing seeds in spring.

Growing at home 

During the flowering period, lewisia leaves may dry out and fall off - this is normal.

When it blooms 

Flowering time is late spring - summer.

Containment temperature

Moderately warm content during the growing season at a temperature of about 20° C. In the winter months, lewisia provide a cool rest period at a temperature of about 12° C.

Lighting

A brightly lit location without direct sunlight.

Soil

Well-drained soil with the addition of 50% coarse river sand. The root collar of the plant can be surrounded with a layer of coarse sand or fine gravel for better moisture drainage. Ready-made mixtures for succulent plants are suitable.

Fertilizer

During the period of active growth, feed the flower every 2 weeks with liquid fertilizers at half concentration.

Spraying

Does not require spraying. In autumn and winter the air should be dry. Prefers ventilated rooms with constant air movement.

Watering

Water lewisia in such a way that the soil has time to dry out to at least half its depth before the next watering. During the winter months, the soil simply should not dry out completely. 

Transfer

Adult plants are replanted in the spring, when new growth begins, every 2-3 years. When replanting, the succulent is placed at the same depth at which it was previously located.

Pests and diseases

If overwatered, succulent easily rots. Of the harmful insects, the leaves of lewisia can be attacked by aphids, and when grown in open ground - by slugs and snails.

Purpose

A valuable ornamental flowering plant. Looks perfect in rock gardens. Plant 2-3 different varieties in one pot and get a miniature flowerbed with bright and long-lasting flowering.

Varieties:

Lewisia cotyledon

Compact, herbaceous, flowering, evergreen perennial plants of incredible beauty. The leaves are thick, juicy, oblong, collected in basal rosettes. Leaf blades are glossy, entire, green. The peduncles are leafless, strong, bearing funnel-shaped flowers at the tops with a diameter of up to 2.5 cm. The leaves reach a length of 18 cm. Each leaf rosette is capable of producing several peduncles. Flower colors range from white to yellow, pink, salmon, orange, lilac, red and purple. Plants bloom in late spring - early summer.

Lewisia longipetala

Attractive, evergreen, compact, herbaceous plants forming a rosette of long, green, strap-shaped leaves reaching 7 - 15 cm in length. Each plant can form many erect peduncles, at the top of which there are relatively large, attractive flowers with a diameter of up to 4 cm. Flower petals can be colored cream, white, yellow, orange, salmon, pink or lilac. 

Lewisia nevadensis

Green, attractive, herbaceous perennials that form a rosette of green, belt-shaped, thick, succulent leaves up to 13 cm long. The leaf blades sometimes have a bluish waxy coating. Low erect flower stalks bear loose inflorescences at the apex with bright, pastel-colored flowers up to 4 cm in diameter. Flower petals can have greenish, white, soft pink or light lilac shades. 

Lewisia pygmeae

A miniature flowering, evergreen perennial with long, very thick, almost round in cross-section, green leaves. The leaf blades reach a length of only 2 to 8 cm. The peduncles are very short - the buds are located almost at the base of the leaves. The flowers are bright, attractive, painted in white, lilac or pink shades. The height of the plant often does not exceed 4 cm.