Acidantera bicolor

If you want your Acidantera bicolor to bloom much earlier, start forcing the plant late in the winter. Just plant several bulbs at once in one pot at home.

Acidantera bicolor: flower description

Acidantera bicolor: flower photo

Acidantera bicolor is a bulbous plant from the family Iris (Iris). It is beautifully flowering and has a rather unusual appearance. Ethiopia is considered to be the homeland of this flower. The plant got its name (Acidantera) because of the combination of 2 words: Acid - sharp; Anter is a petal with a sharp edge.

Acidantera slightly resembles gladiolus in its appearance, and from afar with many leaves (5-8 pieces) it resembles daffodils. These leaves are very narrow, rich green shade, rather long (35-45 cm). From 10 to 13 cm in diameter, light beige flowers with a burgundy speck in the center can grow. Flowers directly grow in inflorescences (its length can reach 70 cm) in 3-7 pieces.

Acidantera has a delicate but rather intense aroma. For this property, she was dubbed the fragrant gladiolus. In a separate culture, two-color acidander was brought out in 1896.

In the natural environment of this plant, there are about 40 species. Thanks to the crossing of this flower with gladiolus, breeders have bred many fragrant hybrids. The most popular of these hybrids is the Lucky Star Gladanter variety.

Acidantera two-color: planting and care

Reproduction of acidantera bicolor can occur with bulbs, sometimes seeds or new "babies". Bulb planting and care is similar to gladioli. The bulbs of acidantera bicolor are quite small, only 2.5 cm, round in a brown sheath. This flower grows many "children", which are grown in separate areas.

It is necessary to sow with seeds in winter, and then by the beginning of the summer period the seedlings will be ready for transplanting into open ground. No prior stratification is required for sowing. Acidantera bicolor prefers warmth and sufficient light. It should be planted in open ground in the spring, having previously selected a suitable lighted (a little shade is allowed) area. The soil should be light, low in acidity, but well drained. However, even under such conditions, bicolor acidanters may not bloom, if the temperature in summer is low, the weather is cool.

It is very simple to care for two-color acidantera - it is very undemanding. All that is required is to trim off the leaves and tops after the end of the flowering period. When the first sub-zero temperatures begin in the fall, you need to dig up all the tubers, dry them well for several weeks and store in paper envelopes at a temperature of about 17-20 C. If the room gets colder, the bulbs may "fall asleep", this should be avoided.

Conclusion

If you plant a two-tone acidander on your flowerbed, you can get a very unusual and interesting accent. And thanks to the "bright", rich aroma, there will always be a pleasant and cozy atmosphere in your garden. Take some time when planting and caring for this plant, and then it will thank you with abundant and long flowering.

Acidantera two-color: photo