Wildflowers can often be spotted on mountain trails. Their petals resemble butterfly wings and are adorned with slender stamens, like spider's claws, with some soft fluff and a variety of colors, most commonly lilac or pale pink. Today we are going to introduce the protagonist of the "Summer Night Flower" - the Drunken Butterfly Flower.
Drunken butterfly flower is an annual herbaceous plant. As it grows, it freely gives birth to seeds, which are scattered around the plant, and the following year it is able to rediscover the beauty of the flowers. The main character of the drunken butterfly flower grows erect and erect, generally without too many branches, and is usually medium and short, about 50 cm in height. The leaves are small, rectangular-lanceolate. It has a relatively long flowering period, lasting from May to October, spanning two seasons. Although the flowers appear to be delicate on their own, when they are gathered together, they resemble butterflies fluttering, and they are especially eye-catching when the wind blows, making them extremely ornamental.
This mysterious "flower of the summer night" got its name for two reasons. First of all, the flowering period of drunken butterfly flowers is mainly concentrated in summer;Secondly, the flowering period of its single flower bud is very short. It usually begins to bloom in the evening, and the shortest may wither in the early morning of the next day. Despite the short lifespan, the petals of the drunken butterfly flower are constantly changing during this time. It is milky white at first, and as the temperature drops and time passes, it gradually changes to pale pink, and then turns to a rich lilac, which is the most common state. Finally, within a few hours of dying, it will turn pink and white again. This change in color makes the drunken butterfly flower look very attractive on a midsummer night, so it is also known as the "flower of the summer night".
Among the many flowers and plants, the drunken butterfly flower is quite drought tolerant and heat tolerant, so it is very suitable for outdoor maintenance. And, since its flowering period is mainly concentrated in the summer. The drunken butterfly flower also has another nickname, which is "spider flower", because the aforementioned stamens look like spider's feet. However, the fluffy flower bulbs are more eye-catching, especially in the wind, where the petals and stamens sway in the wind, matched with bright colors, like butterflies fluttering, full of romantic fragrance.
If you want to grow a butterfly flower in your personal garden, you usually do it by propagating it from seed. When sowing, it is recommended to soften the soil first, and you can add some humus soil such as pine needles, which helps the germination of seeds and the absorption of nutrients. Especially in slightly acidic soils, it is more conducive to the growth of drunken butterfly flowers. If it is pot maintenance, you can use mixed soil to mix pine needle soil, river sand, gravel and other cultivation materials to ensure that the soil is fertile and breathable. Although the growth ability of the drunken butterfly flower is strong, on this basis, strengthen the absorption of water and nutrients by the root system, and then directly sow the seeds, so that it can quickly take root and sprout. In the later stage, you can add some ferrous sulfate regularly to make the drunken butterfly flower grow better.
Due to the relatively poor ability of drunken butterfly flowers in terms of cold tolerance, it is necessary to ensure that the nutrients are sufficient, fertilize regularly, and supplement some fertilizers such as Huaduoduo No. 1 in the process of maintenance, especially in midsummer, to reserve more nutrients and promote faster differentiation. The place of maintenance should also choose a sunny place to promote the growth of branches and leaves. Especially after the flower fails, basically when one flower fails, another bud is already in the process of being bred. Therefore, the use of phosphorus elements such as Hua Duoduo No. 2 to promote faster differentiation of flower buds can ensure the uninterrupted flowering of drunken butterfly flowers.
Overall, for flower lovers who like flowers, don't miss this "summer night flower" - drunken butterfly flower. It has a long flowering period spanning two seasons, especially in summer, when it blooms like a butterfly, exuding a beautiful fragrance that makes people intoxicated.