These beautiful unpretentious flowers - one of the first heralds of spring. The scientific Latin name of the plant comes from the Greek word "cons" - the helmet, and it is associated with the appearance of the flower. Crested hen is a plant belonging to a genus that numbers more than 300 different species, as regards its description, here it is necessary to list its numerous advantages: it is frost-resistant, immune to diseases and pests, does not need specific care, is a magnificent honey plant, and also multiplies. Let's talk about it in more detail.
- Botanical description
- Popular species
- Where to plant a crested bird?
- Location and lighting
- The soil
- How to plant a crested bird: breeding methods
- Peculiarities of care
- Primrose distillation
Botanical description
A perennial herb from the family of Smoky. On average, the height reaches no more than 30 cm. The leaves are green or bluish in color, divided into lobules. Small flowers, which consist of 4 petals, form racemes in the apex of the stem. 
The inner and outer colors are different, which adds a certain charm to the plant.The color palette of colors is very diverse. At the end of flowering fruits are formed - dry pod-shaped boxes.
Popular species
The most common and unpretentious are forest and alpine species of this plant such as: Bush crested chick, Caucasian crested chick, Kashmir crested chick, dense crested and Marshall crested.
All of them are connected by the fact that they are tuberous ephemeroids, that is, their roots are rounded and grow, forming tubers that are updated annually (the old one dies off and the young one replaces it). 
There are also rhizomatous perennial species that are undeservedly less popular: yellow crested crest, noble crested crest and gray-yellow crested crest.
Their undoubted advantage over the tuberous species is that the growing season lasts much longer, and they do not lose their decorative effect from the beginning of summer until the end of autumn
Where to plant a crested bird?
The choice of a place for landing directly depends on the species. Despite the fact that the plants are unpretentious, should take into account certain nuances. 
Location and lighting
Slightly shady corners of a deciduous garden are better suited for forest tuberous ephemeroids, they are not very fond of open sunshine.
In landscape design, they are often used for decorating lawns, as herbaceous plants bloom very early, and go to rest just as early as all ephemeroids.
For rhizomatous species suitable as the sun and light areas, and shaded. It all depends on the goal, for example, in a well-lit area a grassy shrub will bloom longer and more abundantly, and in the shade forms a plush green carpet of leaves, but flowering will be moderate.The soil
As in the choice of a place for planting, the choice of soil should be guided by the preferences of the plant species. Forest crested hens are best planted on loose clay or sandy soils.
They absolutely do not tolerate drought. As for rhizomatous species, a well-drained, loose, sandy soil is suitable for them. Prefer dried soil, do not tolerate stagnant water. 
How to plant a crested bird: breeding methods
Absolutely all species reproduce perfectly by seeds, which must be harvested and sown immediately after the end of the growing season. In forest ephemeroids, seed pods ripen around June, then you need to start sowing. In rhizomatous species, flowering continues throughout the summer.
Do not remove the flowering inflorescences, giving the opportunity to ripen the seed box. The seeds of these plants are strictly not recommended to be dried, and they should be planted as soon as they are ripe.
Tuberous plants can be transplanted, both in the dormant period, at the end of the growing season, and during flowering. They multiply mainly by seeds (this method is considered the most productive),and in very rare cases the division of tubers. 
Rhizome species also tolerate transplantation very easily, even during flowering.
Peculiarities of care
The crested hen is an exceptional plant that does not require certain skills, both when planting and caring for it in the open field. It is necessary to ensure timely watering, taking into account the peculiarities of the species, as well as to maintain the aesthetics of your plot, cut off the yellowed leaves after the plant enters a state of rest.
Primrose distillation
For cultivation in room conditions, only one type is suitable - the crested hen is dense. 
For this, a medium-sized tuber is placed in a pot with soil to a depth of no more than 5 mm, then the plant must be placed in a dark and cool place, with an air temperature not higher than 8 ° C for 9 weeks.
It is necessary to ensure that the plant does not dry out, but at the same time and be wary of excess moisture. During flowering, a comfortable temperature for a grassy shrub is 18-19 ° C. At the end of the growing season, stop watering and move the pot to a cool place again. 
The crested hen and all its numerous species have long been highly valued by gardeners for their unpretentiousness and ease of care. The decorativeness of this plant is not a bit inferior to the most capricious.
Its undeniable advantage is that it will not be difficult to grow a flower from seeds, and charming flowers will delight with their flowering with the advent of the first sun rays.
