The enchanting cuckoo flower transforms wet meadows, flower beds and the banks of ponds into a picturesque sea of flowers. Blossoms and leaves add a culinary touch to a fresh spring salad. Don't ask yourself how the native wild perennial thrives. The following answers to frequently asked questions sum up all the details.
Plant meadowfoam correctly
A wild perennial grown in a container can be planted in the ground throughout the growing season. That finds ideal conditions meadowfoam when the planting season extends over the mild autumn months. Thoroughly loosen the humus-damp soil in a sunny to partially shaded location. At a distance of 20-30 cm, dig small pits that are half the volume of the root ball. Ideally, you put the excavation in a wheelbarrow, to mix in compost, horn shavings, bark humus or leaf soil. Before you pot the young cuckoo flower, soak the root ball with water until no more air bubbles rise. Placed in the middle of the planting hole, fill the cavities with the enriched substrate up to just below the lower pair of leaves and water. A mulch layer of leaves, grass clippings or bark mulch improves the rooting process.
care tips
In order to enjoy the dreamy flower aspect, you need this manageable care program:
- Keep the soil constantly slightly moist
- An organic start fertilization in March with compost and horn shavings
- Cut back the withered flower stalks to the leaf rosette
- Cut close to the ground in autumn or late winter
We only recommend light winter protection in the year of planting. It is sufficient to cover the wild perennial with leaves and brushwood before the first frost. If the flower thrives in a pot, wrap the pot in foil and set it on wood. Water occasionally during the winter to keep the root ball from drying out.
Which location is suitable?
The cuckoo flower spreads its natural charm in sunny to partially shaded locations with moist soil. The soil should have a structured structure that is rich in nutrients, humic and loamy. The distinctive wild perennial is therefore ideal for greening ponds, streams and small water worlds. A dreamy look is created when the perennial is integrated into the planting of a colorful mixed wildflower meadow.
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The right planting distance
Since a single cuckoo flower does not produce a carpet of flowers, an arrangement in small or large groups makes sense. Make the planting pits at a distance of 20-30 cm. For an extensive greening, we recommend the arrangement of 10-12 specimens per square meter.
What soil does the plant need?
The native meadowfoam feels most comfortable in fresh, moist soil. A nutrient-rich, humic and loamy structure perfectly meets the modest needs of the wild perennial. A neutral pH of around 7 is advantageous, but this is not a mandatory criterion.
When is flowering time?
From April to June, the cuckoo flower delights us with racemose inflorescences densely covered with four-petalled individual flowers. The dominant colors are white, pink and a light violet. Numerous insects, such as the unique Aurora butterflies, are attracted by these flowers. The flower stalks are covered with alternate pinnate leaves and rise above a basal leaf rosette.
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Cut meadowfoam correctly
It is up to you to decide whether and when to cut meadowfoam. We have compiled all possible events for you here:
- Cut off withered flower stalks promptly, unless self-sowing is desired
- Cut the perennial close to the ground in autumn to enable independent propagation
- Cut all parts of the plant in late winter to use the fallen leaves as a natural winter protection
- To decorate a vase, cut the flower stalks just before the buds open
- Cut the leaves in time before flowering to use them as herbs
As part of a flower meadow, separate cutting measures are unnecessary, as these take place as part of the early summer and autumn mowing anyway.
Water meadow smock
If the meadow smock is under drought stress, you will look in vain for the sea of spring blossoms. Therefore, water the perennial regularly when the surface of the soil has dried and there is no rain. In tub culture, the watering can is used more often because the substrate dries out more quickly due to the exposed location. Put the water directly on the root disc. Overhead irrigation detracts from the beauty of the flowers and unnecessarily offers fungal infections a chance to attack.
Fertilize meadowfoam properly
At the right location, the meadowfoam provides itself with the necessary nutrients. However, the wild perennial willingly accepts an initial fertilization with compost in the spring. In pots and balcony boxes, apply a liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks from March to August, unless the flower has just been planted in pre-fertilized substrate. In this case, the nutrient supply starts 6-8 weeks after planting.
Diseases
Lovingly cared for, the historic wild perennial has a robust constitution and wards off diseases independently. In warm and humid weather, the meadowfoam is not immune to the ubiquitous fungal infection mildew. If a mealy-white coating spreads out on and under the leaves, a tried and tested household remedy can help. Mix lime-free water and fresh milk (no UHT milk) in a ratio of 9:1. Poured into a spray bottle, apply the solution to the top and undersides of the leaves every 2-3 days. Before doing this, cut off all parts of the plant that are already infected and dispose of them in the household waste.
pests
The meadowfoam owes its name to its most important pest. These are black, brownish, straw-colored or mottled moths 5-8 mm long. The larvae of the foam cicada cavort in small piles of foam on the perennial. This foamy covering protects the fry while they suck the sap on the stalks. However, since this process does not cause any significant damage to the flower, we recommend that you refrain from any control measures. In fact, in nature, the leafhopper is considered an essential factor in the ecological structure. As a first-order consumer within the herbivores, the insect serves as food for a variety of animals.
hibernate
The cuckoo flower can withstand freezing temperatures of up to – 28.8 degrees Celsius unscathed. This feat of strength succeeds because the above-ground parts of the plant are drawn in in autumn. Only the root ball survives the winter in the protective soil. There are therefore no special precautions to be taken. For a freshly planted perennial, we still recommend a layer of leaves as winter protection, as the frost hardiness has not yet fully developed.
Propagating meadowfoam
In the hobby garden, 2 methods of propagation have proven excellent. The root ball is divided in spring or autumn. To do this, dig out the perennial, divide the root ball and 2 or more segments. At the new location, plant the sections as deep as before and then water regularly and plentifully.
Collect the ripe pods with the seeds in July/August to dry them in an airy place. Stored in a dark screw-top jar, the seed stays fresh until February. Sow the seeds thinly on poor soil. The light germs are not sieved, but lightly pressed and moistened with a fine shower. Germination progresses rapidly on a partially shaded, warm window seat. The strongest seedlings are transplanted into individual pots when they have 2 pairs of leaves. The linchpin of a successful course is the continuous water supply.
How do I plant correctly?
The meadowfoam doesn't blame you for a change of location. If the perennial takes care of itself in too dark a location in soil that is too dry, transplanting has a vitalizing effect on growth and abundance of flowers. This is also an excellent opportunity to rejuvenate an aging plant. How to proceed professionally:
- In spring or autumn, the root ball with the digging fork loosen
- With the spade lift it out of the ground and place it on a firm surface
- Cut off bald spots, stunted roots with a knife
In a sunny location, dig a pit in moist, nutritious and humus-rich soil. Mix the excavation with compost and horn shavings. Put the cuckoo flower precisely as deep into the ground as at the previous location. Water the day itself and regularly thereafter to aid rooting.
Meadowfoam in a pot
As long as a sufficient water supply is ensured, there is nothing to be said against cultivating meadowfoam in pots. Commercially available substrates can be used potting soil be used on a compost basis. Although the wild perennial requires fresh and moist conditions, waterlogging must not occur. Therefore, insert some potsherds between the bottom opening and the substrate as drainage. Water regularly once the surface of the potting soil has dried. Freshly planted in pre-fertilized soil, start with an additional supply of nutrients after 6 weeks at the earliest. Apply a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants every 3-4 weeks until August. Promptly cut off wilted flower stalks. The wildflower ideally spends the winter in a bright, frost-free area. If there is not enough space, wrap the pot in foil and place it on wood.
Is meadowfoam poisonous?
Meadowfoam is not poisonous. On the contrary, blossoms and leaves enrich healthy cuisine as vitamin-rich ingredients. The slightly hot leaves give quark, herbal quark, soups and salads an aromatic pep. Prepared as a tea, the leaves of the wild perennial alleviate health problems such as rheumatism, colds and light headaches. However, only enjoy the plant in moderation, as the bitter substances it contains can cause slight stomach irritation.
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Is the meadow smock edible?
The young, tender leaves can be harvested and eaten before flowering. Rich in vitamin C, they round off your spring salad, herbal quark or cream cheese as a healthy ingredient. Thanks to the mustard oil glycoside it contains, meadowfoam tastes slightly spicy, similar to cress. In addition, the leaves have made a name for themselves as a tea preparation in folk medicine to relieve rheumatism, kidney problems and pain in a natural way. Avoid consuming large amounts, as the bitter substances they contain can irritate the stomach.
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