Flowers have been beautifying the earth for a long time, giving meaning to our existence. Many people and many groups use them as their trademarks. They are often associated with world peace and love for all. Their scent hypnotizes, prevents revolutions and wars! Today we will try to look at those plants that start with the letter L. For example, we will try to contribute to your botanical knowledge, through the flowers Lavender, Lantana, and Lobelia.
Lavender, one of the plants that start with ‘L’ is a popular essential oils.
The Lavender flower now commercially grown for the extraction of essential oils is known for its divine origin medicinal action. In ancient times, it was used to make aromas, lotions, and baths. It is most common in the Mediterranean, but today the whole world has accepted it. As for what kind of plant it is, it is an evergreen, which emits terrific aromas. It is also in the form of a bush that reaches almost one meter. The Lavender is very decorative and can be used to beautifully decorate your yard. Trim it properly and place it along the fence. Spring is the season to plant lavender. But be careful where you plant it because it does not like very moist soil.
Since it originates from the Mediterranean countries, it is best to plant it in a warm place under the sun. Of course, she will reach her best potential if she is taken care of properly. Pruning is a condition for her beauty, i.e. cutting the top about 20 cm. Be careful not to cut down part of the old tree when pruned in autumn.
Planting Lavender in a Pot and How to Care for it :
- Select the right size of container that will give your Lavender enough room to grow. About 12-16 inches pot is good.
The pot should have at least 1/2 inches of a hole at the bottom. For swift drainage, add small stones to the bottom of the container. - A good sandy potting mix that easily drains water is very ideal. Fill the pot about 3 quarters full and add lime.
Place your Lavender plant and fill the pot with soil within a couple of inches of the top. The Lavender’s crown should stick up about 1 inch above the soil. To remove air pockets, firm the soil. - Water thoroughly. To help retain moisture, add a 2 inches layer of mulch.
- Shelter your Lavender from the wind but place your pot in a sunny location. Remember that Lavender requires at least 6 hours of sunshine per day. Shade reduces growth and fragrance.
- Lavender is fairly drought-tolerant once established. However, it grows bigger and blooms freely with regular watering.
- Drench so that it freely flows water out of the bottom of pots when the soil is dry.
- Feed soil with a liquid fertilizer weekly to encourage more flowering and better flower color.
- To protect your lavender during winter, store your potted Lavender plants in a garage or indoors.
- Water it less from November to February. Wait until plants start to wilt and then water only on top of the compost. During dormancy, do not fertilize.
Uses and Benefits of Lavender :
- More than being beautiful to the eyes, the Lavender flower also contributes to chasing away harmful insects that can be annoying during the summer.
- Because Lavender has a strong aroma, its flowers can be dried in the sun. It does not lose its scent when dried flowers are stored in a bag and used for different purposes.
- Many perfumed-based products such as soaps, shampoos, scented oils, and others use the essential oil of Lavender.
- That the scent helped cure depression, anxiety and that it cast out evil spirits as told during a plague in medieval Europe
Lantana Camara
Lantana plant is a beautiful and important plant found mostly in South America and tropical countries. Its shape, even though recognizable, is certainly in the form of a bush. It is interesting to know that its growth is moving at a high speed. But we must say that in relation to this plant, there are about 200 species and they all differ in leaves and flowers.
In Europe, for example, it is grown as a plant that lasts all season. It can survive the winter, of course, if the temperature does not fall below minus. Being rich in nectar, Lantana is the most beloved plant of bees. The nectar that bees collect from flowers become honey is both delicious and nutritious.
The plant produces multicolored clusters of flowers in shades of white, pink, yellow, red, and purple on bushy evergreen growth. What makes this plant special is that the colors of the flowers can change, and then it gives fruits that are in the form of mulberries, they also have seeds from which this plant multiplies.
How to take care of Lantana plant :
Lantana plant is a flowering plant that needs a lot of suns. But unlike the one we mentioned earlier, this one needs a lot of water. Since it is fragile and its leaves can dry out, it requires obligation that you should water it. It needs fertilizer to grow properly. It also lasts in a pot so arrange when the spring season arrives to get a beautiful bush.
In spring, this plant multiplies from the seeds found in the fruit. It is necessary to bring it indoors during the winter when the temperatures will drop below 0 degrees. Bacteria and disease can easily attack it because it is fragile. So give it conditions in which bacteria will not multiply.
Lobelia
The Lobelia plant is a beautiful, delicate plant that has round leaves, and the flowers abound in a variety of colors. But it is also significant that it has a symbolic “eye” in white. Like the previous plants we mentioned, this one grows in the form of a bush that goes and grows towards the ground. That is why it is especially beautiful if it serves as a decoration in a room or a pot. And because this flower is tilted, the pot is hung and it is let down like a creeper. But of course, you can put it next to the fence, along the path, but they need sunny weather and a little shade.
Keep in mind, though it is necessary to constantly water it, you must not overdo it. Plants will dry out when watering is too much. Lobelia loves enriched soil that it needs fertilizer to strengthen this plant. It is necessary to trim a little especially on the tops to stimulate growth and flowering. Lobelia plant propagates through seeds. As for propagation, the Lobelia plant is planted through seeds. The best time to propagate is spring when all the snow has melted. Place the small bushes at a sufficient distance from each other.
Additional list of plants that start with ‘L’ :
There are other beautiful plants that start with the letter ‘L’, but we focused on flowers and shrubs that abound in wonderful scents and aromas. We have separated those we consider to be the most beautiful and most important. Although we cannot separate the flowers, because each flower, like a person, is individually beautiful in its own way.
But in a game through which we looked at those plants that start with ‘L’, we introduced a little education. However, it is worth mentioning other flowers and plants that start with L, such as Limonium, Lilac, Lotus, Lovage, Lupine, Lomatia, Lyonia, Leontice, Larix, Loasa, Libertia, Liverwort.
