What is Claytonia?

Claytonia is a gender of succulent, low -growing perennials belonging to the Perkala family, Portulacaceae. The genus is best known for small flowers that produce these plants from the beginning to mid -spring. Most 20 recognized Claytonia species are originally from North America, but less common species have also been discovered in South America, New Zealand and Asia. Clayytonias are considered very difficult to cultivate outside their natural environment, if the gardener does not have access to a special type of greenhouse.

The plant species of the genus Claytonia have long, strong roots and tubers that produce new hairless, fleshy leaves from early spring to the end of summer. Most species produce stems full of several simple flowers, which in the spring bloomed with five individual petals and five separated. These flowers are in the shape of a cup or a bowl shape and are usually colored yellow or white.

Claytonia with spring beauty, c. Virginica is a special favoriteEnthusiasm among the enthusiasts of wild flowers. Spring beauty is a small perennial that grows in clusters of dark colored tubers. The plant produces fleshy leaves that are wide when it emerges from the ground and then narrows to become thin as grass. In spring, a flower stem, which is 3 to 12 inches (about 7 to 30 centimeters), is growing, above leaves and flowers with a number of up to six white flowers with pink veins.

Despite the reputation that Claytonias is difficult to cultivate outside the wilderness, advanced gardeners are sometimes able to increase healthy samples in a controlled environment. Cabier Clayytonias grow in rocky or bold soil in mild areas that have a particularly cool spring. As a result, most members of the genus Claytonia will only prosper inadvertently in the type of station known as an alpine greenhouse.

Alpine greenhouse is a type of greenhouse that is designed to imitateNatural climate of plants, such as members of the family Claytonia . Instead of providing additional heat and moisture, such as a traditional greenhouse, alpine greenhouses provide shade and temperature that create similar conditions as an alpine environment. In the case of the Claytonia , these greenhouses mimic all the important cold years that need these types of plants to survive.

Claytonias can be spread from seeds in early spring in the Alpine greenhouse with minimal effort. These plants require a very fertile but well -drained soil, which will have to be maintained through the whole growing season. Most types of Claytonia require a certain degree of direct sunlight.