I can call up the first fourth dimension I record about Zaluziantkya – prove to sound out it in my head before dare to address it out loudly . It ’s one of those words that once you get over pronouncing it , you just love to say it over and over again like a two twelvemonth quondam . At the very least , you will ingrain your friends . Za - loo - zee - ann - ski - ya .
While Zaluzianskya may go like a Polish polka , it does have a connection to Poland as the genus was name in honor of the a Polish botanist Adam Zaluziansky von Zalusian in the late 1500s , so I speculate the name potentially could have been even more of a tongue twister . Even though it is nt all that coarse , the works does has a long story as a container plant in Europe . The genus is great than one may think , with more than 50 specie all native to South Africa , but only three species are more often than not grown ornamentally and one , Z. capensis being the favour one .
Why grow this pocket-sized flower with a long name ? One reason only – fragrance . It ’s not going to seem like much during the day as the small , 1/2 wide-eyed gross ashen flowers will conclude into maroon , rounded buds while in full sun , but everything changed once evening arrived . Like most night - blooming plants , these tiny white star - like blossom are pollinated by nocturnal louse or moths . Zaluzianskya transmute a garden at sunset when it give out a topnotch - sweet fragrance not unlike vanilla extract extract . And while it is just as intense as some garden writer make it out to be ( for case , I ’ve never found it strong enough to ‘ waft across a garden ’ ) it ’s more like that first scent of a can of manoeuvre - doh .
cum of only one species is commonly feel , and at that , only in good seed catalog . Z. capensis does have a named cultivar , diagnose ‘ Midnight Candy ’ but a duet of other relatives are deserving seek out such as Z. vilosa or Z. ovata , which is taller develop and may ripe selection for cut - bloom growers seek something different for even weddings . The plants themselves can be straggly and visually not much more wizard than a weed but if plant out in larger container ( which is the best way to enjoy them ) such as in pots 12 inch in diam with 6 plants each , the show is effective enough to garner attention from visitant , and of grade , once the scent butting is pushed at sundown , everything becomes all about this plant .
sluttish to turn from seed , inseminate it indoors early on at least 8 - 10 calendar week before last rime , and no vexation as it transplants well . Keep light bright ( under sparkle is OK ) to keep seedlings strong . Pinching plants is essential to stimulate side branching . filch out the growing point just as the 2nd brace of leaves begin to spring .
High birthrate helps create lusher growth and more flowers , so this is one property where a balanced liquid state feed bi - weekly will help the final display as it will upgrade lush growth and more blossom buds .
As a native of South Africa , the filth mixture should be well - drained , be it in a bed or in a container . pick out an airy commercial mix ( ProMix HP -HighPorosity is excellent ) or create a mix with half sand , or with 50 % Perlite and 25 % sand . These are native of the noted Namaqualand in South Africa where many annuals and cutter greenhouse bulbs grow .
As it is with many flora from Namaqualand , periodical droughts sometimes pass off , but generally the floral time of year follows a rainy period . Similar conditions are shared by many plant aboriginal to the Cape area in South Africa . Most benefit from brief full stop of drying out between watering so that the roots can grow deeply , searching for urine as they do in the natural state . It ’s also a good insurance policy in case you leave to water during a warmth wave .
VARIETIESZaluzianskya capensis ‘ Midnight Candy ’ – The most commonly found cultivar is an improvement on the species as it produces more abundant flowers .
Zaluzianskya ovata – a true perennial shrub , this is sometimes available at nurseries , but the flowers are not as fragrant as ‘ Midnight Candy . ’ Nurseries often produce it as the flowers remain exposed during the day , but its viscid leafage can smell strongly of a wet farm blackguard if touched .
Z. vilosa – Nearly as fragrant as Z. capensis , it has a more almond - like scent than vanilla extract , but also with the annoying wet - dog aromatic leafage . Just do n’t touch the leaves !
