Liver balm ∗ The 10 best care tips and types

Origin and Distribution

Originally the Liver balm (bot. Ageratum houstonianum or A. mexicanum) from Mexico, where it grows in damp, wooded or Regions lined with bushes as well as meadows and pastures up to altitudes of up to 1000 meters occurs wild. The pretty, warmth-loving plant can also be found in many places in Guatemala, Belize and the southern United States. In its tropical to subtropical home is the liver balm, which belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae), a perennial plant, but usually only becomes annual here cultivated.

use

The intended use of the liver balm depends largely on its height. Low and compact growing varieties work in

Window boxes(€ 7.99 at Amazon *) and as a border or underplanting of beds and borders, especially pretty. In addition, they are often suitable as perennial flowering ground cover, which cleverly cover the lower bare areas in shrub and shrub borders or serve as gap fillers. Taller varieties are also very suitable for group planting, with the typically blue-violet flowers especially in Combination with yellow blooming tagetes and marigolds (calendula), but also with verbenas, sun eyes, rudbeckia or coreopsis (Girl's eye). Grove flowers (Nemophila), snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), Mary's bell flowers (Campanula medium) and ornamental tobacco (e.g. Nicotiana x sanderae) are attractive companions.

Furthermore, higher growth forms of the liver balm (for example the blue blooming 'cut miracle') are popular cut flowers for the vase.

Appearance and stature

From a botanical point of view, the liver balm is a semi-shrub or even a dwarf shrub that is only between 30 and 60 centimeters high and lignifies in the lower stem area. Most varieties grow rather compact and form dense cushions. The leaves, which are between five and seven centimeters long, are lightly fluffed and have a pretty heart shape. The leaf margin is typically notched or wavy.

Blossoms and flowering period

The fine flower heads, which are only up to 14 millimeters in size, are extremely numerous between May and October and form dense clusters of up to 40 individual tubular florets. The short-stalked flowers sit directly above the leaves and are usually blue, blue-violet or purple in color. But there are also white, pink and even purple cultivars that bring variety to the flowerbed. When the flowers have faded, tiny, inconspicuous achenes (closing fruits) are formed, which contain the numerous seeds.

Toxicity

All plant parts of the liver balm are poisonous and can be typical when consumed Symptoms of intoxication such as headache, dizziness and nausea, including cramps and vomiting and cause diarrhea. Neither leaves nor flowers (or any other ingredient) may be used in meals, no matter how attractive they look. Furthermore, children and pets are to be kept away from the plants.

Which location is suitable?

In order for the liver balm to grow healthily and vigorously and to develop numerous flowers, it needs a location that is as sunny and warm as possible. If it receives at least five hours of direct sunlight a day, you can also use it in the clear Penumbra set. The flower only develops blossoms when it is bright enough. In terms of rain and wind, however, it is quite insensitive.

Soil / substrate

The liver balm only develops its magnificent abundance of flowers in the right soil. This should be rich in nutrients, humic and well drained. The plant thrives particularly well in loamy, loose and fresh soils. The ideal pH value is neutral to slightly acidic between 5.5 and 6.6. It is best to plant liver balm cultivated in pots in a high-quality compost-based compost-based soil for flowers. Make sure there is good drainage in the garden bed as well as in the planter, for example with gravel or Expanded clay,(€ 16.35 at Amazon *) because the liver balm is very sensitive to waterlogging.

planting

For a particularly compact and dense growth, you should place liver balm in groups of five in the bed. Loosen the planting area well and dig planting holes at regular intervals. These should be about twice as big as the roots of the plants. Mix the excavated material with compost, horn shavings and, if necessary, sand to loosen up rather heavy soils.

Planting time

Since the liver balm has its home in the warm regions of this planet, it does not tolerate frost. You should therefore only plant it out after the ice saints, as soon as night frosts are no longer to be expected. However, you can prefer the plant in pots on the windowsill.

Plant spacing

The optimal planting distance depends on the selected variety and is between ten and 40 centimeters.

Pour liver balm

With regard to the optimal water supply, the liver balm needs a lot of attention, as it will only develop a few flowers if it is insufficiently supplied. You should therefore water the plant regularly, which is particularly important in dry locations as well as in hot weather and on well-drained soils. At the same time, however, the liver balm is also sensitive to waterlogging, which is why good drainage must be ensured, especially with potted plants. Don't let the plant dry out, but don't flood it either.

Fertilize liver balm properly

In addition to an adequate supply of water, liver balm also needs an appropriate supply of nutrients for a lush flowering. Fertilize You potted plants about every two to four weeks with a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants that you apply with the irrigation water. Liver balm in the bed is already used when planting with a suitable one Slow release fertilizer supplied, but you can also mix compost and horn shavings into the excavation and then add mature compost to the plants mulch.

Cut liver balm correctly

So that the flowering time of the liver balm is prolonged as long as possible, you should regularly remove dead shoots. If this does not happen, the plant will develop seed-containing closing fruits and stop flowering prematurely. However, you can leave individual shoots for seed production.

Multiply liver balm

You can easily sow liver balm yourself on the windowsill from February onwards. And this is how it works:

• Fill a seed tray with nutrient-poor mixed with sand Growing substrate.(€ 12.99 at Amazon *)
• Spread the seeds on the substrate and press them lightly.
• However, do not cover the seeds with soil as it is a light germinator.
• Moisten the substrate with the help of a spray bottle.
• Cover the seed tray with cling film or a translucent hood.
• Place the container in a bright and warm place at at least 20 ° C.
• In the first few days, the vessel should be as warm as possible at at least 25 to 28 ° C.
• Ventilate daily and always keep the substrate slightly moist.

The first seedlings appear after a few weeks and can be pricked out after around four weeks and planted in groups of three in small pots (at least nine centimeters in diameter). Keep the young plants warm at temperatures between 16 and 20 ° C and bright, but not directly sunny. After the ice saints, plant the liver balm outdoors, either in the garden bed or on the balcony. Before doing this, slowly get the plants used to the lighter location.

Alternatively, propagation via cuttings is also possible, but is hardly practiced due to the difficult wintering of the liver balm.

Overwinter

Since the liver balm is not frost hardy with us, it is usually not overwintered. It is easiest to only cultivate the small shrubs as an annual and to sow them again every spring.

Diseases and pests

The main problem with liver balm is excessive moisture or even waterlogging soon through missing or browning flowers, brown leaves and general wilting shows. In order to avoid this, good drainage is immensely important in both the bed and the pot. However, brown leaves often indicate a pest infestation. Spider mites and aphids are particularly common. Strengthen the plants and prevent infestation by watering bedding plants with nettle stock from time to time. This also provides valuable nutrients. In addition, brown or otherwise ill-looking parts of the plant must be removed as soon as possible.

Species and varieties

Many different types of liver balm are available in stores, either as F1 hybrids or as a true-seed variant. Only from the latter can you collect the seeds and use them again sowing use. These varieties are particularly suitable for gardens and balconies:

• 'Arielle Blue': Height between 20 and 30 centimeters, blue-violet flowers
• 'Blue Danube': will be approx. 20 centimeters high, medium blue flowers
• 'Blue Fields': low growth, dark blue flowers
• 'Capri': Height between 20 and 30 centimeters, blue-violet flowers
• 'Madison': low growth, medium blue flowers
• 'Old Gray': stature up to approx. 50 centimeters, gray-blue flowers
• 'Pacific': low growth, bright purple-violet flowers
• 'Royal Hawaii': low growth, dark blue flowers
• 'Cut pearl': between 50 and 70 centimeters high, large, dark blue flowers
• 'Cutting miracle': between 50 and 80 centimeters high, deep blue flowers
• 'White cut': stature height up to approx. 60 centimeters, pure white flowers
• 'White Hawaii': low growth, white flowers

In addition, there are native perennials with similar names that are also well suited for garden planting. However, these sometimes have different requirements in terms of location and maintenance:

• Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis): low growth up to 15 centimeters in height, blue-violet flowers, perennial, hardy, for partially shaded to shady locations
• Alpine liver balm (Erinus alpinus): also alpine balm, low growth up to 20 centimeters in height, cushion-forming, red, pink or white flowers, for dry and sunny locations

Similar pretty blue flowers, but also perennial and more robust than the liver balm, is also the small periwinkle (Vinca minor), which blooms continuously between April and September, quickly covers the ground with a thick carpet and is also perennial and is hardy.