The lily of the valley tree, or Galesia, is an elegant rarity. Growing, planting and care. Photo

The lily of the valley tree is one of the most beautifully flowering representatives of woody plants. And at the same time - one of the rarest. Magnificent galesia (chalesia) is considered a crop that is completely unsuitable for cultivation in the conditions of the middle zone. But it has species and varieties that adapt well even to harsh climates. Of course, like any exotic, Galesia will require careful care, but all efforts will pay off. After all, the luxurious, delicate blossoms of the graceful lily of the valley tree are worth all the trouble.

Chalesia, or Galesia mountain. It is popularly called the “Lily of the Valley Tree”. © Carlin

Exquisite flowering galesia of rare beauty

When galesia is called amazingly beautiful, amazingly spectacular and incomparable - all these loud epithets are not at all an exaggeration. The plant received its botanical name galesia (we often use the name chalesia) in honor of the biologist Stefan Hale. But much more popular are more poetic epithets - the snow drop tree , our lily of the valley tree and the English Silverbell Tree - “ tree of silver bells ”. Such names really convey the character of this amazingly exotic thing much better.

In our gardens, Galesia (Chalesia) often develops in the form of a large shrub. This is a fast growing breed, developing slowly only in the first years. The foliage of Galesia is very beautiful, with an elliptical narrowed shape with a sharp tip, the length of the leaf blades is up to 15 cm. The dazzling green color of the leaves when blooming creates a surprisingly beautiful background for graceful flowering (greens bloom, as a rule, during flowering). Then bright light green gives way to dark green.

Galesia flowers are large, drooping, bell-shaped. The corolla consists of 4 petals. The plant received its nickname “lily of the valley tree” because the structure of the flower and pedicels really resemble lilies of the valley. But galesia attracts attention even before the flowers bloom: pinkish buds, not yet freed from gray bud scales, shine on the branches. The appearance of blooming galesia appears snow-white, although the petals themselves can be either snow-white or whitish-pink.

The flowering of Galesia cannot be called anything other than noble. It is unusual, but not in terms of flashy outlandishness, but because of its exquisite sophistication and extraordinary elegance. Galesia blooms in May-June, and even though the period itself lasts only 2 weeks, it is impossible to forget the sight of a blooming lily of the valley tree. And because the amazing spectacle unfolds against the backdrop of no longer an empty garden, but in the soft colors of spring full bloom, the beauty of the lily of the valley tree seems even more dazzling, and the shape of the inflorescences - amazingly touching, jewelry-like.

You should prepare for the fact that galesia blooms quite late, from 6-8 years of age. And abundant flowering is not an annual phenomenon. The stronger the frost and the more unstable the winter, the higher the likelihood of damage to flower buds. Therefore, in seasons with average and stable winters, galesia will bloom amazingly beautifully, and in extremely harsh winters it may not produce a single flower at all or bloom sparingly.

Halesia, or mountain Galesia (halesia tetraptera). © Phillip Merritt

Medicinal recipes

Recipes for decoctions, infusions, external ointments and poultices have been preserved in medical books and healing books:

Steaming helps with severe bruises. Leaves scalded with boiling water are wrapped in a napkin or towel and applied to the sore spot for 5-10 minutes.
The juice is used to treat wounds or ulcers for disinfection. You can apply fresh leaves to the affected areas.
For radiculitis, arthritis, joint pain, warm compresses and lotions are made from the decoction. To do this, 50 g of root is crushed, placed in a container, and 0.5 liters of boiling water is poured. To evaporate, place the container on low heat or in the oven for 30 minutes. The decoction is infused for at least 2 hours. Before use, the solution is filtered.
For bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections, the decoction is taken orally, 1 tbsp. l. 2-3 r. per day, before meals. Recipe: 1 tsp. dry crushed root, pour 250 ml of boiling water, boil in a water bath for 20-25 minutes. Before use, the finished mixture is filtered. The same recipe helps against worms.
A mixture of Kupena decoction and milk treats hernia and hemorrhoids. The preparation procedure is labor-intensive and time-consuming, but the result is effective. Initially, 3 liters of milk are poured into a large aluminum or clay container, crushed rhizome powder is added - 1 tsp. Place in the oven and evaporate until the liquid is reduced to 3 times. Strain in finished form. Drink 3-4 r. per day 2 tbsp. l. before every meal.
Dermatitis, abrasions, and bleeding wounds are treated with a decoction of fresh roots. This decoction is used internally, 2 tbsp. l. 3 r. per day for gout, rheumatism. The preparation method is similar to the previous ones: steam 1 tbsp. l. fresh raw materials 0.5 liters of boiling water, simmer over low heat for 1 minute. Wrap the closed container in a thick soft cloth, leave for at least 2-3 hours, strain through double-layer gauze.
For kidney disease, dropsy, swelling (diuretic effect), tincture of leaves and stems helps to lower body temperature. Infusion recipe: 2 tbsp. l. dried herbs pour 0.5 liters of boiling water. Wrap it up, put it in a warm place for 1-2 hours. Strain. Drink 3 r. per day in 20 minutes. before meals (at the same time). This remedy is recommended for use for jaundice, gynecological inflammation, and gallbladder pathologies.
The juice is wiped on the face to fade freckles and age spots.

Types of galesia suitable for the middle zone

Choosing the right Galesia variety is the key to success in growing it. Without exception, all galesias (chalesia) become more hardy over time, and their winter hardiness increases. But for regions with harsh winters, you need to choose those species whose “initial” frost resistance is quite good. Only two types of galesia are considered suitable for our conditions - Carolina and mountain. They can withstand frosts down to -28..-29 degrees.

Galesia (halesia) Carolina (halesia carolina) are tall shrubs that bloom irregularly and largely depend on the weather: in severe winters they can freeze and not bloom, in normal winters they develop rapidly and turn into beautiful, powerful, attractive bushes. This galesia forms straight, thick, bright brown and powerful trunks and pyramidal, wide crowns. The leaves are elliptical, reach up to 10 cm in length and are located alternately on the shoots.

Galesia blooms only at the end of May, and in cold spring - at the beginning of June. By the time flowering is completed, the still light green, bright young leaves are already blooming on the plant. Snow-white bells with four petals reach 1.5 cm in length, hanging down on thin stalks among the leaves. There are Carolina galesias with soft pink inflorescences. The duration of flowering never exceeds 15 days.

Despite the fact that galesias are considered exotic, they manage to form four-winged fruits even in regions with harsh winters. By the end of August, large, very beautiful silvery fruits up to 3.5 cm long ripen on the branches, which seem to glow on the branches.

In addition to the base plant, Carolina chalesia also has decorative varieties:

'Mollis' with more lush and larger foliage, not elongated-elliptical, but wide, with a beautiful edge on the underside;
variety "Rosea" with pink inflorescences that look like a watercolor vision;
form 'Meehanii' with brighter, rich green leaves, the surface of which is not smooth, but wrinkled, and deeply dissected corollas of inflorescences, giving way to dipterous fruits;
form 'Dialypetala' with an almost solid bell-shaped corolla of the flower.

Mountain galesia (halesia monticola, today reclassified as halesia tetraptera, but sold here under the old species name) is a rarer tree, growing up to 30 m in nature, but limited to 3-4 m in cultivation. The plant also blooms in spring , at the end of May, the color of the flowers is yellowish-cream, contrasting beautifully with the darker leaves. It is quite frost-resistant, but the flower shoots suffer from frost more often than those of the Carolina galesia, and the tree blooms much less consistently. The leaves are obovate, with a pointed edge, the flowers are larger, also drooping, collected in clusters.

Halesia, or Caroline Galesia (halesia carolina). © Margrit

Interesting facts about lily of the valley

The very first mentions of lily of the valley appeared in historical records of Egypt. It was there, shortly before our era. lilies of the valley were grown year-round along with roses.
In Europe they began to be cultivated only in the 16th century, but even then they quickly learned to select this species and grew lilies of the valley with pink and red flowers.
In Moscow, lilies of the valley first appeared on sale at the end of the 18th century; before that, they were collected and used exclusively for medicinal purposes to treat epilepsy, fever, etc.
During World War I, lily of the valley was used as an antidote for gas poisoning.
It was also used to treat cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, burns, and lily of the valley contributed to the appearance of a sedative effect.

But after some time they came to the conclusion that lily of the valley is not suitable for these purposes due to its toxic properties - all parts of the lily of the valley are poisonous. They were found to contain a high content of convallatoxin glycoside (more than 38 species). Ingestion of even a small amount of this plant causes stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting, and bradycardia. And in large doses, lily of the valley can lead to death due to heart failure. And therefore, doctors advise not to make independent decisions about taking medications that contain lily of the valley.

There have been cases of lily of the valley poisoning in domestic animals - cows, chickens, sheep, etc. They were not fed lilies of the valley at all, all this happened because people threw away dried flowers, and animals found and ate them.

In Finland, lilies of the valley are so popular that they are their national flowers. Before the introduction of the single Euro currency, lily of the valley could be seen on Finnish coins.

In France, mainly in Paris, May 1 is celebrated as “Lily of the Valley Day”. On this day, the demand for these flowers is very high; they are sent from the provinces to the cities by wagons, then distributed to kiosks and shops. People buy and give each other lilies of the valley, then carefully store the dried flowers. In the old days, it was believed that it was on May 1 that all flowers and plants acquired magical powers. This belief has survived to this day in the form that it is flowers such as lilies of the valley that bring happiness and good luck.

In Holland, newlyweds have a tradition of planting lilies of the valley in their garden immediately after the wedding. And every spring, growing again, they will be evidence of unquenchable love.

Despite the fact that lilies of the valley reproduce well, the number of these flowers is rapidly declining, especially near populated areas. In May, when the time for flowering comes, people begin collecting flowers en masse, uprooting lilies of the valley, making further reproduction impossible. Therefore, in some regions of Russia, lily of the valley is a protected plant and is listed in the Red Book.

Lily of the valley is widely used in perfumery. Essential oil is obtained from lily of the valley, which is then used to make perfume.

It can be summarized by the fact that lilies of the valley have always been associated with purity, tenderness, love and kindness among all peoples of the earth.

Features of the use of galesia in ornamental gardening

The lily of the valley tree is a plant that is used only in one status - a bright accent, a soloist, the pride of a collection. It is crowned with decorative groups, flower beds and compositions, and is used so that the plant immediately catches the eye and is the “highlight” of the garden design. Goes well with rhododendron and hazel, and other ornamental shrubs.

Galesia begins to bloom very late. And species suitable for growing nuts in the middle zone achieve their winter hardiness only at a considerable age. Because of this, it is recommended to buy a lily of the valley tree either after 3-4 years of age, or at first to grow it as a tub with wintering indoors.

Halesia carolina (right) and Dogwood (left) near the gazebo. © Jon Cutrell

General information

Chalesia began to be cultivated in the eighteenth century in the United States and western Europe. The name of the plant was given in honor of its discoverer Stefan Hale. When he first saw it, the scientist was fascinated by the similarity of the tree’s colors with lily of the valley and snowdrop. Indeed, this similarity is simply amazing and makes this crop one of the most beautiful in gardening.

If you want to plant this unique specimen on your site, you will have to make an effort, because Galesia is a very delicate plant and requires special attention. But believe me, if you create the necessary conditions for its growth and development, it will reward you with its delicate and elegant flowers, which will become a real decoration of the local area.

Conditions required by Galesians

It is best to place lily of the valley trees in the garden in the undergrowth, in places protected from drafts and wind with a more stable climate in which any frost is more easily tolerated. This plant will not refuse the neighborhood of large trees, which will serve as natural protection for the exotic and an environment in the form of shrubs. But it must be taken into account that galesia (chalesia) must be provided with a bright, only slightly shaded place, or better yet, a sunny location, because in insufficient light the plant practically does not bloom.

For a lily of the valley tree, you need to select fertile, high-quality, deeply worked soils. This plant is afraid of calcareous soils. The texture of the soil needs to be given special attention: the lily of the valley tree will grow only in light, loose soil, with light moisture.

Description

There are varieties and species that can adapt and survive even our winters. But for this you need to carefully monitor galesia and take into account some of its features. As a result, your garden will be greatly enhanced by the lily of the valley tree. Care is not so easy, but all the effort is worth such a wonderful result.

The flowering is very graceful. Delicate, lily-of-the-valley-like flowers delight the eyes of everyone who has taken responsibility for their care. The undergrowth is well suited for placing such trees, where there will be no drafts or piercing winds that harm them. The climate must be stable, because the lily of the valley tree prefers a warm and stable climate.

Planting a lily of the valley tree

Galesia in regions with harsh winters can only be planted in spring; autumn planting is unacceptable for this crop. The optimal month is April. When planting galesia, the lump of earth around the rhizome must be completely preserved without destroying it.

The size of the planting holes is determined by the size of the earthen ball. When planting in heavy or medium-heavy clay soils, it is necessary to lay a high layer of drainage at the bottom of the planting holes - a layer of expanded clay or broken brick up to 15 cm high, be sure to fill the drainage on top with coarse sand. The level of depth of the root collar in Galesia remains the same. Immediately after planting, the plants need to be watered and mulched abundantly. Moreover, only peat can be used as mulch.

Chalesia, or Galesia mountain. It is popularly called the “Lily of the Valley Tree”. © John Hagstrom

Reproduction of Chalesia

One of the explanations for the low prevalence of the lily of the valley tree is associated with reproduction difficulties: poor rooting of cuttings and low seed germination. For this reason, chalesia seedlings are rarely found on sale and their price is high.

However, the effort spent on obtaining new plants pays off handsomely - beautiful shrubs with charming lily of the valley flowers are becoming increasingly popular among domestic gardeners.

The optimal way to propagate chalesia in temperate latitudes is cuttings. The apical cuttings remaining after spring pruning are immersed with the cut end in indolylbutyric acid for a day, and then buried in a standard nutrient substrate, light and loose, covered with a glass vessel or plastic film. Some gardeners root cuttings in water. Planting in the substrate is carried out in early spring or September. Rooted cuttings are grown in tub culture for 2-4 seasons.

Seeds for the propagation of chalesia in temperate latitudes do not ripen, so, as a rule, purchased planting material is used, which is characterized by a significant dormant period. Seeded

The seeds sometimes sprout 2 or 3 years after planting. It is advisable to purchase seeds in a store that have already passed the dormant period; this should be indicated on the label. But even in this case, the seeds need stratification at a temperature of 4-5 degrees Celsius for 3 months.

Some gardeners advise sending crops for stratification in containers filled with peat-sand mixture and covered with film. After the crops have been in a cool room for three months, they are transferred to a brightly lit and warm place. Shoots appear after one and a half to two months. The seedlings are grown for 3-4 years in tubs before being planted in the garden.

Galesia care

For the lily of the valley tree to become the main pride of your garden, you will have to carefully care for it. This plant cannot simply be “planted and forgotten”: in fact, the decorativeness of the tree and its ability to survive in atypically harsh conditions directly depend on the quality of care.

One of the mandatory conditions for the normal development and ripening of a lily of the valley tree is watering. For this woody plant, it is necessary to provide systematic, regular procedures that will maintain light soil moisture. In dry, hot weeks, watering can be done frequently and abundantly; if there is sufficient rainfall, it can be done less than once a week. Watering is of particular importance in the fall and before winter: in order for galesia (chalesia) to overwinter successfully, you need to saturate the roots with moisture.

For galesia, two feedings are applied per season: immediately after pruning, the mulching around the bushes needs to be renewed with peat. The second and main fertilizing is applied with full mineral fertilizer before flowering, when the buds appear. Nitrophoska in a dosage of 30-40 g per 1 square meter of soil is perfect for the lily of the valley tree.

A mandatory measure for the lily of the valley tree is sanitary pruning. Galesia does not need to be formed, because every year they produce very good growth of branches on their own, and the outlines of the lily of the valley tree are very neat. But removing dry, damaged, frozen shoots as early as possible in the spring will allow the shrub to recover faster and bloom more profusely. You can repeat sanitary cleaning as needed at any time of the year.

Despite the fact that galesia fruits look attractive and last until next spring, it is better to remove them from the plant immediately after setting. Seeds in regions with harsh winters still do not ripen, but just for the sake of decoration it is not worth frustrating the powers of the lily of the valley tree. Removing fruits from a plant allows you to distribute resources more efficiently and allow the shoots to ripen.

It is better to whiten the trunks of the lily of the valley tree up to 3 times a year.

When grown in containers, watering is carried out regularly, as the top layer of soil dries, fertilizing is applied from May to September once every 2 weeks with universal fertilizers.

Lily of the valley tree, or Chalesia, or Galesia carolina. © Rick Webb

Agricultural technology

The beauty of chalesia lies in the hands of the gardener. This plant requires human help for a comfortable existence in unusual conditions.

Care and attention will give the culture its inherent brightness

Top dressing

Two feedings are required per season. One is immediately after trimming. Loose around the bushes with peat mulching. They also mulch with bark, shavings, and sawdust to acidify the soil. The second feeding is done just before flowering when the buds appear. Apply mineral fertilizer. Nitrophoska and nitroammofoska are perfect for chalesia. Calculate from 30 to 40 grams per square meter of soil.

Pests and diseases

Galesia is resistant to phytopathogens, infections, and parasites. But it will suffer from chlorosis if the soil is too acidic.

Sanitary pruning. You can’t do without it, although crown formation is not important for galesia. Gives rich growth of branches every year. The outline of the lily of the valley tree is extremely neat. Therefore, when pruning, only dry, frozen and damaged shoots are removed. To help the tree recover faster, pruning is done in early spring. It is repeated whenever necessary as needed.

Whitewash

It is enough to whiten the trunks of Chalesia two to three times a year.

https://www.botanichka.ru/article/landyishevoe-derevo-ili-galeziya-izyashhnyiy-raritet/
https://o-flora.com/haleziya-posadka-razmnozhenie-i-uhod/
https://fb.ru/article/248252/derevo-landyishevoe-opisanie-posadka-vyiraschivanie-otzyivyi
https://bookflowers.ru/derevja/1245-halezija.html
https://prolife.ru.com/2018/01/31/landyshevoe-derevo-ili-galezija-izjuminka-ljubogo-sada/

Wintering Galesia

Preparation of a young lily of the valley tree for wintering should begin in the fall. Regular watering and loosening the soil will better prepare for the cold period and saturate the roots with moisture. On the eve of cold weather, sanitary cleaning of the plant is repeated, removing all dry shoots. It is also better to cut off immature young branches immediately, because they will not be able to overwinter anyway. Preparation is completed by hilling the base of the bushes. But they begin direct shelter only when severe frosts begin: galesia is very afraid of damping off and early shelter can be disastrous for it.

The crown of the plant is wrapped for the winter with non-woven material or agrofibre, not too tight and dense, with holes for ventilation. As soon as the first snow falls, the lily of the valley tree needs to be trampled down, and throughout the winter it is better to continue tossing and trampling down the white blanket as much as possible.

Mature trees over 1.5 m in height are not covered, limited to hilling and classical preparation.

When grown in a container culture, galesia is removed with the arrival of the first cold snap, moving the containers to rooms with a temperature of 12 to 15 degrees.

Collection and preparation

It is important to correctly collect and prepare medicinal raw materials:

flowers, leaves, stems are cut off at the end of spring, during flowering;
The root is dug up in November or early spring.

Drying rules:

clean the root, wash in running water;
chop the rhizome or aerial part;
the berries are picked when fully ripe and dried in the usual way;
dry under a canopy, in the shade, out of direct sun;
ensure room temperature and good ventilation in the room;
store in linen bags, paper bags, wooden containers;
mixing with other medicinal herbs is contraindicated.

A kaleidoscope of other interesting woody trees

There are many more interesting and useful publications about unusual plants on our website:

beaded (or beaded) tree - Iranian melia (Melia azedarach). You met her in the article Melia Iranian, or clear tree;
candy tree - sweet govenia (Hovenia dulcis). You have already seen it in the material Trees with original fruits - decorating a summer house in the fall;
soap tree - Koelreuteria paniculata. It was discussed in the post Soap Plants;
coral tree - Erythrina crista-galli. We admired its beauty in the article Erythrina - coral tree;
handkerchief tree - Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana. She was discussed in the article Amazing Davidia.

What interesting trees have you come across? What exotics did you like best and what would you like to grow in your dacha?

Possible problems

If hydrangeas turn yellow, it can be assumed that the reason is a lack of light (or, conversely, excessive insolation). Yellowing associated with improper lighting is eliminated by moving the plant to another place or creating the necessary conditions artificially. Sometimes yellowness is caused by excessive moisture. In this case, the frequency of irrigation is immediately reduced. In the future, you just need to avoid making similar mistakes, and the problem will be eliminated.

Sometimes they encounter another defect - when hydrangeas turn pale. Correct use of fertilizers mainly helps to cope with the situation in which the leaves of an ornamental plant become lighter. It is likely that something was done wrong with them. Particularly a lot of feeding is required during budding.

This is not always why it can and should be treated. You must first check how mature a particular bush is. Only in the second year of life can we expect the formation of ovaries. In addition, we must remember that an exotic guest can be drowned out by nearby trees. Another nuance - good flower development is possible only on:

loosened;
containing a sufficient amount of useful substances;
thoroughly moistened soil (sometimes for the same reasons the crop even grows poorly).

Trimming

As for pruning, it is also of great importance and must be consistent. Formation is not necessary, since every year the branches grow well and the outlines are neat.

When the first rays of spring warmth appear, it is worth helping the tree get rid of old growths, remove shoots that have frozen, dried out or been damaged. Then recovery will be faster, and abundant flowering will be more likely.

Such cleaning can be done in any season if the garden owner considers it appropriate. The fruits look beautiful and can last quite a long time, but it is best to remove them after fruit set has occurred. If a tree is planted in a region with a harsh climate, the seeds are unlikely to ripen in it, so the tree will only waste its energy on this.

If unnecessary fruits are removed in time, the plant will be able to distribute resources in such a way that new shoots receive more useful elements. Whitewashing is carried out three times a year. If growing in a container, watering should be regular and should be done when the soil layer on top dries. The optimal time for feeding is May-September. Frequency – once every two weeks, the best material is universal fertilizer.

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Galesia is a whole tree of “lilies of the valley”!

The lily of the valley tree is one of the most beautifully flowering representatives of woody plants. And at the same time – one of the rarest.

Magnificent galesia (chalesia) is considered a crop that is completely unsuitable for cultivation in the conditions of the middle zone. But it has species and varieties that adapt well even to harsh climates.

Of course, like any exotic, galesia will require careful care, but all efforts will pay off. After all, the luxurious, delicate blossoms of the graceful lily of the valley tree are worth all the trouble.

Exquisite bloom of rare beauty

When galesia is called amazingly beautiful, amazingly spectacular and incomparable - all these loud epithets are not at all an exaggeration. The plant received its botanical name galesia (we often use the name chalesia) in honor of the biologist Stefan Hale. But much more popular are the more poetic epithets - snow drop tree , our lily of the valley tree and the English Silverbell Tree - “ tree of silver bells ”. Such names really convey the character of this amazingly exotic thing much better.

Galesia (Chalesia) - Halesia, or lily of the valley tree, is a beautiful flowering exotic native to North America. This plant belongs to the Styraxaceae and develops in the form of fairly large deciduous trees or shrubs. True, it is impossible to enjoy the beauty of the flowering of a 20-30-meter tree in countries with harsh winters: galesia never reaches its maximum height, most often being limited to 3-5 m. But even when frosted, it retains its natural pyramidal, wide and neat crown. In our gardens, Galesia (Chalesia) often develops in the form of a large shrub. This is a fast growing breed, developing slowly only in the first years. The foliage of Galesia is very beautiful, with an elliptical narrowed shape with a sharp tip, the length of the leaf blades is up to 15 cm. The dazzling green color of the leaves when blooming creates a surprisingly beautiful background for graceful flowering (greens bloom, as a rule, during flowering). Then bright light green gives way to dark green.

But galesia attracts attention even before the flowers bloom: pinkish buds, not yet freed from gray bud scales, shine on the branches.

The appearance of blooming galesia appears snow-white, although the petals themselves can be either snow-white or whitish-pink.

The flowering of Galesia cannot be called anything other than noble. It is unusual, but not in terms of flashy outlandishness, but because of its exquisite sophistication and extraordinary elegance.

Galesia blooms in May-June, and even though the period itself lasts only 2 weeks, it is impossible to forget the sight of a blooming lily of the valley tree.

The shape of the inflorescences seems to be incredibly beautiful, like jewelry

Therefore, in seasons with average and stable winters, galesia will bloom profusely and beautifully, but in extremely harsh winters it may not produce a single flower at all or bloom sparingly.

Types of galesia suitable for the middle zone

This galesia forms straight, thick, bright brown and powerful trunks and pyramidal, wide crowns. The leaves are elliptical, reach up to 10 cm in length and are located alternately on the shoots.

Galesia blooms only at the end of May, and in cold spring - at the beginning of June. By the time flowering is completed, the still light green, bright young leaves are already blooming on the plant.

Snow-white bells with four petals reach 1.5 cm in length, hanging down on thin stalks among the leaves. There are Carolina galesias with soft pink inflorescences.

The duration of flowering never exceeds 15 days. Despite the fact that galesias are considered exotic, they manage to form four-winged fruits even in regions with harsh winters.

By the end of August, large, very beautiful silvery fruits up to 3.5 cm long ripen on the branches, which seem to glow on the branches.

In addition to the base plant, Carolina chalesia also has decorative varieties:

"Mollis" with more lush and large foliage, not elongated-elliptical, but wide, with a beautiful edge on the underside;
variety "Rosea" with pink inflorescences that look like a watercolor vision;
form "Meehanii" with brighter, rich green leaves, the surface of which is not smooth, but wrinkled, and deeply dissected corollas of inflorescences, giving way to dipterous fruits;
"Dialypetala" form with an almost solid bell-shaped corolla of the flower.

Features of use in ornamental gardening

Galesia begins to bloom very late. And species suitable for growing in the middle zone achieve their winter hardiness only at a considerable age. Because of this, it is recommended to buy a lily of the valley tree either after 3-4 years of age, or at first to grow it as a tub with wintering indoors.

Conditions required by Galesians

Planting a lily of the valley tree

Galesia care

It is better to whiten the trunks of the lily of the valley tree up to 3 times a year.

When grown in containers, watering is carried out regularly, as the top layer of soil dries, fertilizing is applied from May to September once every 2 weeks with universal fertilizers.

Wintering Galesia

It is also better to cut off immature young branches immediately, because they will not be able to overwinter anyway. Preparation is completed by hilling the base of the bushes.

But they begin direct shelter only when severe frosts begin: galesia is very afraid of damping off and early shelter can be disastrous for it. The crown of the plant is wrapped for the winter with non-woven material or agrofibre, not too tight and dense, with holes for ventilation.

As soon as the first snow falls, the lily of the valley tree needs to be trampled down, and throughout the winter it is better to continue tossing and trampling down the white blanket as much as possible.

Mature trees over 1.5 m in height are not covered, limited to hilling and classical preparation.

When grown in a container culture, galesia is removed with the arrival of the first cold snap, moving the containers to rooms with a temperature of 12 to 15 degrees.

Pest and disease control

The lily of the valley tree is completely resistant to pests and diseases. On improperly selected soils it sometimes suffers from chlorosis.

Lily of the valley tree propagation

One of the reasons that galesias remain rare plants is difficulties with reproduction. The lily of the valley tree is characterized by both low rooting of cuttings and poor germination of seeds. But trying to get a lily of the valley tree on your own is worth all the effort: mature seedlings are very expensive, and they are extremely difficult to find.

The optimal method for the conditions of the middle zone is propagation by cuttings. Semi-lignified shoots in the summer after being treated for 24 hours in IBA (indolylbutyric acid) produce roots in 68% of cases. Rooting is carried out using standard technology in a nutritious light substrate, under a film or hood.

Some gardeners simply keep the cuttings in water after treating with acid. In this case, rooted cuttings are planted in the ground in September or early spring. When cuttings are taken, the plants are grown in a container for at least 1 winter.

Galesia (Chalesia) seeds in the middle zone do not ripen completely, so you can only use purchased seeds. Their germination rate is about 62%. The seeds are difficult to clear from the fruit tissues; they are difficult to open. In the lily of the valley tree, the seeds are characterized by a very long dormant period, which can last 2-3 years.

If you bought seeds that are ready for planting and have passed the dormant stage (study the manufacturer’s recommendations), then the strategy for growing them involves a single stratification. Germination of such seeds requires a simple three-month stratification at a temperature of 4-5 degrees Celsius.

It is better to carry out cooling after sowing: the seeds are buried in a mixture of peat and sand in shallow containers, and then placed on stratification under film or glass and constant light soil moisture is maintained.

After 3 months of cooling, the crops are moved to bright light and warmth. The emergence of seedlings will take 1.5-2 months.

When purchasing regular freshly harvested seeds, you need to sow them either in boxes or directly in open soil. When sown in the soil, the seeds germinate only after the second or third winter, and it is impossible to arrange artificial stratification for them.

Boxes with seeds are left in the garden virtually completely alone, only keeping the soil slightly moist in the warm season. After taking it out into the garden, all that remains is to wait until, as a result of 2-3 winters and the natural alternation of periods of heat and frost, the seeds sprout.

After which the young plants are transplanted into containers in the fall and put indoors at least for the first wintering.

Galesias obtained not independently must either be grown as indoor and tub plants until next spring and risk being planted as young ones in the soil, or for 2-4 years they must be grown only as tub plants and mature, more hardy plants must be transferred to a new location. You can grow the crop either as a container or indoor plant.

Tub galesias need a bright, sunny place, regular feeding during the period of active growth using universal fertilizers once every 2 weeks.

Plants are taken out into the fresh air only for the summer, gradually increasing the time spent outside for gradual adaptation. Watering for galesia should be moderate, maintaining light humidity without drought or waterlogging. source

Rules of circulation

This is the first stage in which the lily of the valley tree is introduced into your garden environment. Planting and care are of great importance for the life of the plant.

If you do everything correctly, it will become your pride and will invariably please your eyes. But you must help him survive in difficult and unusual conditions and show care. This process begins with watering.

They must be regular. This will keep the soil moist, but it is also worth overdoing it.

Particular emphasis on water can be placed only in hot weather, when temperatures are off the charts. If it rains often, you can reduce the number of procedures to 1 time per week.

Since the lily of the valley tree is a heat-loving plant, it is worth preparing it for the autumn and winter seasons. Just then the roots absorb a large amount of moisture, which the gardener must provide to the galesia. During the season you can apply 2 feedings.

The first is done immediately after pruning. Peat mulching is being updated. It is worth repeating the event while waiting for flowering. Then a mixture of mineral fertilizer is added. This operation should be carried out when you notice the first buds on the branches. Nitrophoska is often used in a dosage of 40 grams per 1 square meter. m. soil.

Alyssum varieties

The following are the most common varieties of alyssum with descriptions and photos of the varieties. You can look at photos of alyssum varieties and choose the appropriate type of crop for your garden.

Rocky Alyssum or Mountain Alyssum

Alyssum rock was first described by the famous scientist Carl Linn in 1753. It is a perennial evergreen plant that can reach 20 centimeters in height. Its leaves are simple and smooth. It produces cross-shaped inflorescences of yellow color (flowering time is from March to June). The birthplace of the flower is the entire territory of Europe, with the exception of the British Isles and Sicily.

Mountain alyssum prefers to grow in a sunny location in moderately moist soil. Externally, the bush resembles a golden basket, but is more compact. The leaves at the beginning of flowering are dark green, however, closer to autumn they turn yellow (take on a golden hue).

Look at the photo of rock or mountain alyssum:

Alyssum rocky "Gold placers"

Like other species, rock alyssum “Golden placers” have recumbent branches - it is not for nothing that it is often used as a ground cover plant.

The flowers are collected in a brush-shaped inflorescence of a radiant golden hue. They will look impressive on garden buildings (for example, a rock garden), they can cover your cracks in a concrete fence or any other walls. This variety of alyssum blooms very profusely.

A flower is planted using seeds in the spring at a distance of at least 20 centimeters - so that the bush has room to turn around, as they say.

In order for the seeds to begin to germinate, the air temperature should not fall below 18 degrees, and then within a week the first shoots will appear. After this, it is advisable to transplant the bushes to a greater distance - 30-40 centimeters.

Do not forget about fertilizing and regular watering; it is also worth loosening the soil around the bush from time to time.

The following are photos of rock alyssum “Gold placers”:

Alyssum marine

Marine alyssum is one of the varieties of this flower crop. Its name comes from the Greek word meaning "little pod" (a reference to the shape of the fruit). The name of the species - marine - implies a habitat: privileged, coastal zones.

This annual plant can grow up to 20 centimeters in length and the same in width. The stem is very branched with dense clusters of small flowers. The leaves are wide, with a hairy surface.

The fragrant flowers are five millimeters in diameter - four white petals in pink, purple, lilac and rose-red shades and four sepals. Six stamens with yellow anthers.

Flowers grow during the growing season and, in warmer regions, throughout the year. Pollination occurs with the help of insects. As a result, oval-shaped fruits containing two seeds are formed. The seeds themselves spread only with the help of wind.

Alyssum marine is native to the Mediterranean territories, and is also common in Macaronesia (Canary and Azov Islands) and France (specifically in the Bay of Biscay). It has also taken root in other temperate regions. Endemic species of alyssum marine are found on the territory of the island of Columbretes.

Typically this variety grows on sandy soils (beaches and dunes), but it can also grow on cultivated fields, steppes, slopes and wastelands (but in this case it is desirable to have calcareous soil). They can also grow at 300 meters above sea level.

Look at the photo of marine alyssum in various variations of use:

It is best to plant the plant in late spring, and it requires virtually no care. If you prune, the alyssum will bloom much more actively.