La Dorycnium pentaphyllum It is another of those plants that because of its name, it is quite difficult to pronounce or associate it with a plant you know. It is a fact that scientific name is quite difficult to name and remember, but this does not make it a species that is not worth it and is quickly ignored.
You could say that it is a perfect plant for people who have low maintenance gardens and do not require as much care. So this is the main reason why it is an option for those in the know.
General data of the Dorycnium pentaphyllum
On the other hand, you may still know some details about this plant or at least knew about its existence. Fortunately, this article will be dedicated to revealing the most important details of this species.
If you are wondering if this plant has an easier name than its scientific name, know that there is. It is known vulgarly by the name of white ball, and its scientific name has a meaning which means, by its translation, spear with five leaves.
If you look at a photo of this plant you will understand the reason why it has this name, the stems that have the flower have a shape similar to that of a spear. That is, the flower on this plant grows right at the end of its stems (not all).
At first glance it is you may notice that the white ball has qualities of a bush, but the big difference is that it is not as leafy or has large dimensions, as other species could have. It is relatively small and does not take up much space.
Now, in terms of its distribution and / or habitat, It is usually seen in the north of the Mediterranean and North Africa. In the same way, it can be seen occupying large land in the Iberian Peninsula, with the exception of the northwest of the peninsula.
Their favorite place to grow and live are more the bushes and places with a lot of grass. It has even been seen that they can grow to a height of more than 1500 meters above sea level, so you don't have to worry if you live in a very high area.
The funny thing is that its appearance and growth in a place lacking in nutrients, causes the earth to enrich little by little and it goes from being poor to rich in nutrients for other plants, so it should be kept near plants that need fertilizer from time to time, to stay alive and healthy.
Features
As already mentioned in previous paragraphs, this plant does not reach too high, and to be more precise, it reaches a maximum height of 1.5 m. Likewise, its stems that emerge from the "main trunk" reach lengths of 10 to 20 cm. The stems of the plant are woody at their base.
The size of this shrub, as already mentioned, is not so bulky. While its maximum height reaches 1.5 m, its width does not exceed 60 cm. Of course, if you plant several at the same time, it will look more leafy and as if it were a single plant.
The plant itself has excellent adaptability to multiple terrains, but the most remarkable thing is its great resistance to cold. Surprisingly, the maximum temperature it can withstand is below 0 degrees, is almost -18 ° C. Of course, it has to be in full sun or else it will die.
In the same way, it requires being in a place where the humidity is low and the soil has efficient drainage, but despite being very resistant to low temperatures, it can also be adapted to temperate environments.
Despite its small size and simplicity, is capable of creating both flowers and small fruits. In the latter, they have an ovoid shape, whose dimensions are 3.3 mm in diameter, their appearance being slightly stretched and with a color like brownish purple.
Inside it has one to two seeds that are even smaller than the fruit itself. Instead, its seeds are of a light part. It should be noted that the flowering of this species is between April and July to be exact.
Uses of the plant
Thanks to what is a plant capable of enriching the land where it has grown with the simple fact of being and living there, is used mainly to enrich lands and soils, where it is very difficult for a common plant to grow.
This takes time, so that the plant can grow and as it spreads, the quality of the soil improves. On the other hand, it has a much more practical use for some.
For example, imagine you have several slopes, where some of them are dry, some are poor, and some are in the process of degradation. Using this plant will allow you to fix your slopes regardless of their state, as well as They can be used to cover floors that are too dry.
Now, assuming that you are a beekeeper or near where you live or are there is a hive of bees, you have to know that the mere existence of this plant will be crucial for pollination and the manufacture of natural honey, since thanks to the large number of flowers that this plant generates, it can become a feast for bees.
Finally we can say that you can give an ornamental use to the plant, and the best thing is that it does not require too much care and / or maintenance. Just make sure you water it as necessary and don't give him too much compost. If you can limit yourself in the use of compost, much better, since its main function is to change the infertile soil for a fertile one.
We sincerely suggest that you find where this plant is and take it home. Over time it can multiply to the point that it ends up being an extremely lush shrub. As long as it is not in bloom you will not see its beauty, but once it does, you will see how your garden changes in a positive and beautiful way.