Clitoria MACROPHYLLA

Clitoria MACROPHYLLA - Large-leaved clitoria, Clitoria macrophylla.

The flowering plant genus Clitoria includes about 70 species of plants in the legume family (Fabaceae). They grow in Southeast Asia, the tropical zones of Central and South America, the temperate zone of North America, as well as in Africa and Australia.

Clitoria is a perennial evergreen plant, representing a vine, shrub, or subshrub. Under natural conditions, it can reach 350 cm (11.5 ft). The stem is often prostrate. The leaves are pinnate, usually trifoliate, with lanceolate-ovate leaflets up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long. The upper surface of the leaflets is usually dark green, while the lower is glaucous-green. There are stipules several millimeters long and very short subulate stipels.

The flowers in representatives of this genus are usually solitary (rarely gathered in small inflorescences) and fairly large. The size of the largest part of the flower - the corolla - reaches up to 5 cm (2.0 in); it blooms with axillary flowers. The flower coloration depends on the species. There are cultivars with double flowers. The wings and keel form a dense crest up to two-thirds the diameter of the standard.

Pollination is carried out by insects that penetrate inside this crest for pollen. The flowering period lasts for 5 months (May - September). Representatives of this genus have flat pod-shaped fruits ranging in length from 4 to 13 cm (1.6-5.1 in).

Large-leaved clitoria is an unusual perennial evergreen vine. It differs from other species in the large size of its leaves.

Seeds are presoaked in warm water for 10-15 hours, preferably in a thermos flask, then sown in soil with a loose, nutrient-rich base, moistened from a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun, at a temperature of 21-24 °C (70-75 °F). Seedlings require aeration. Both waterlogging and complete drying out of the sowings must be avoided.

Seeds begin to emerge 7-14 days after planting, but in some cases this period can extend to 4-5 months. It begins flowering as early as 6 weeks after germination. Strengthened seedlings can be planted out into the open ground only during the warm season. The plant is susceptible to mite infestation and requires treatment with pest control preparations.

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Clitoria prefers a warm location, so it is undesirable to keep it at temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F). Today, the plants are also cultivated outdoors. If seeds are sown in the winter period (February), the plant's flowering period will begin in June. The plant should be planted in a container or directly into the ground, preferably placed near trellises. In the autumn period, seeds must be brought indoors again.

Clitoria is a flower of tropical regions where there is plenty of light and warmth. In this regard, good lighting is required for its cultivation, and indoors it is best placed on a southern window. However, it tolerates direct rays poorly, so it must be shaded during hot periods. For the summer period, it can be planted out into the open ground.

The optimal temperature regime ranges from 20 °C to 25 °C (68-77 °F). In winter, it tolerates temperatures within 12 °C to 15 °C (54-59 °F) well, but it should not drop below 10 °C (50 °F). For this reason, when planting clitoria in one's garden, it must be dug up for the winter and transferred to a heated room. When growing the flower under indoor conditions, one must remember that it does not like drafts.

A loose substrate consisting of a mixture of turf, sand, humus, and peat is preferable. To avoid waterlogging, well-draining soil must be used. Planting is carried out in a perforated pot.

Watering must be carried out regularly, but one should not overdo it. For watering, it is best to use settled water at room temperature. In winter, watering is reduced to a minimum. The flower does not require special air humidification, but it can be sprayed periodically.

Clitoria grows very well with regular fertilization during the flowering period. In this regard, from spring to autumn, it is necessary to feed the flower with mineral fertilizers once every two weeks.

When growing perennial species in the spring period, they must be pruned and repotted into a new, larger pot. The flower can be grown in shrub form, for which young saplings are pinched and the plant is shaped through pruning. For climbing vines, a support is used.

Clitoria is propagated by cuttings and seeds. In propagation by cuttings, their harvesting is carried out from April to July. They root well; peat pellets, loose soil with good moisture, or sand can be used for this. Root formation can be stimulated with rooting agents, but this is not strictly necessary, as clitoria roots well.