Gelenium autumn planting and care. Gelenium, landing and care. Reproduction of autumn helenium vegetatively

Gelenium belongs to the genus of herbaceous annuals and perennials of the family Asteraceae or Compositae, in the wild it can be found in Central and North America. Some varieties are usually chosen for growing as an ornamental plant. The photo below shows this plant in blooming state.

Family: Compositae.

Homeland: North and Central America.

Stem: large, straight shape.

Leaflets: regular, lanceolate.

Fetus: in the form of seeds.

Reproduction: by dividing bushes and seeds.

Shine: light-loving plant, some varieties tolerate partial shade.

Care: abundant watering.

: second half of summer and autumn.

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Consider the main varieties of the Gelenium flower, which are mainly grown by most summer residents in the open field and not only:

1. Autumn Gelenium

This variety has become widespread since the 17th century. The main advantage of the variety is considered to be late and rather abundant flowering. Its bushes in the autumn have a columnar shape. The stems are strong, leafy and woody throughout their height, growing to a height of about two meters and are very branching in their upper region. Any of the branched shoots ends with a golden flower - a basket, the diameter of which is about 6 centimeters. As a result, up to two hundred flowers bloom on any stem. Its flowering period is from August to late summer. Seeds begin to ripen only by October.

Today there are a number of varieties that can be effectively used for landscaping. The photo below shows this variety in the garden.

Varieties with a yellow palette of marginal flowers:

• Magnificum - this is a low-growing variety that reaches 80 centimeters in height, baskets up to 6 centimeters in diameter, in the middle the flower has a yellow color; flowering period from July to August.
• Gartenzonne - this plant reaches 110 cm in height, baskets are about 5 cm in diameter, the middle of the flower is brown; flowering period from late July.
• Katarina - grows up to 140 cm, baskets - about 5 cm, the middle of the flower is brown; flowering period from mid-August.
• Moerheim Beauty - this plant grows up to 180 cm in height, the basket reaches 6 cm in diameter, the middle of the flower is yellow-brown in color; flowering period begins in mid-August.
• Superboom - this plant reaches 180 cm in height, baskets in diameter reach 6 cm, the middle of the flower is yellow; blooms in August.
• Septemberzonne - this plant grows up to 160 cm in height, baskets 6 cm in diameter, the middle is yellow-brown in color; blooms in the second half of August.

Varieties with a yellow palette of marginal flowers with red strokes:

• Altgold - this plant grows to 90 centimeters in height, the basket reaches 6 cm in diameter, the reverse area of \u200b\u200bthe marginal flower with red strokes, the middle of the flower is brown; flowering begins in the second half of August.
• Altgoldriese - this plant grows up to 110 centimeters in height, baskets 4 cm, the reverse side of the marginal flowers with red strokes, the middle is dark brown; flowering period - from mid-August.

Gelenium gained natural distribution in damp, swampy areas. Its roots are superficial, very poorly developed. In the culture of the variety of this flower, it is possible to grow in a well-lit area in the garden in soils with good watering and with the indispensable garter of the plant to the stakes. The photo is shown. It is better to transplant and plant Gelenium in the third or fourth year. An excellent time for transplanting is early spring, the beginning of regrowth.

1. Gelenium Chupa

It is a Rocky rop plant. It has a strong root system, large lanceolate basal leaves and strong stems, which are highly branched in the upper region, about 80 centimeters high. Flower baskets are large with orange color, they are collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. The flowering period is from June to July. You can transplant this flower in both spring and August. The photo below shows this variety.

1. Helenium hybrid

This includes many garden hybrids of unknown origin, but Gelenium chupa is generally considered the main source variety. Varieties can be distinguished by height, size, shape and palette of inflorescences, periods and duration of flowering. You can look at it in the photo below.

Growing

Growing a plant like Gelenium is possible by separating outlets. However, its cultivation from seeds is also not inferior in its position. It should be noted that flower seeds in the northern section are characterized by a rather low germination rate. The best solution in such a situation is to grow them in the winter, then the chances that the seeds will still take root much more. In addition, you can still see the first flowers no earlier than 2-3 years. We plant the seeds in soil with organic fertilizers, cover them with plastic wrap or glass and keep them in this state until the first shoots appear. Do not forget to sometimes water and air the flowers.

When planting in the garden for one square meter we plant about 4-5 bushes, because the roots need a large enough area for life. Reproduction using cuttings will take less time, and it is even easier - during growth you need to cut off the cuttings and root them in the ground. You can also hold it in a special root-forming mixture.

Care

By placing on personal plot Gelenium, you need to remember where and how they live in nature: moist fertile meadow soil, dense forbs.

They will grow well in dense planting. Plant low-growing varieties in the foreground or in a border, tall ones - in the background. The majestic shrubs look great as a tapeworm against the backdrop of the lawn. In this case, they need constant care in the form of watering, because they do not tolerate overdried soil well.

Maintenance also includes watering in dry and hot summers. The plant responds well to mineral and organic fertilizing, which can be carried out several times during the season. After 3-4 years, you need to think about a transplant - the bushes instantly age. It is not recommended to carry it out in the autumn. If you nevertheless bought a flowering version at the end of the season, before planting, cut the stem to a height of about 11 centimeters and try not to injure the root system of the plant.

The bush of this plant is only conventionally called a bush. Strictly speaking, this is a colony of independent plants, in which stems bloom, like most perennial plants, they live only for one season. However, in contrast to them, at the end of the season, not only the stem, but also the root collar dies off, and the renewal buds near the base of the stem by this period quite often create small rosettes. They are independent plants with their own completely autonomous root system. If the winter period turned out to be snowy or without severe frosts, young plants winter well and do not need care, and in frosty and snowless ones they simply freeze out. This circumstance is aggravated when we are dealing with other varieties, in the creation of which other types of Geleniums were used, especially the more thermophilic Gelenium Bigelow.

In preparation for winter, care consists of mulching the plant with moss or sawdust. Also, leaving should consist of covering with lutrasil. For better wintering, we cut and mulch adult plants. This was the main care for this plant.

Flowers for your site must be selected in such a way that they bloom continuously, from spring to late autumn. Autumn flowers are especially delightful, as they extend warm summer days. It is to such flowering plants that helenium belongs - bright golden or orange flowers, creating a whole shining sea of \u200b\u200binflorescences, blazing in autumn garden... Gelenium, which is easy to plant and care for in the open field, will be an excellent element of landscape design.

This article will discuss the features of this unusual plant and its main types and varieties. We will also take a closer look at the main nuances of agricultural technology for growing helenium.

Features and description of gelenium

Gelenium is an annual or perennial herb that belongs to the large family Asteraceae or Asteraceae. Today the genus of this culture has about 30 species, of which only 5 are used and grown in horticulture. The natural habitat of this bright and attractive Gelenium flower is the territory of Central and North America, mainly the western part of the United States. These plants thrive in the wet meadows and swamps of this country, from where the culture got its distribution throughout the world. However, gelenium is not very popular in Russia, which is very sad. After all, this flower has a very spectacular and bright appearance and allows you to extend summer warmth and colors until late autumn.

Like the beauty of this plant, there is also a legend about its appearance on earth. According to ancient Greek myths and legends, the plant received the name "helenium" in honor of the wife of the ancient Greek king Menelaus Helena, who was abducted by Paris. The princess sat in the besieged Troy and cried all the time. And in the place where her tears fell, bright golden flowers appeared.

Description of Gelenium:

• Gelenium - perennial herbaceous plant, however, it does not have a perennial rhizome.
• In autumn, all the stems and roots of the helenium die off. But thanks to young underground buds, a rosette with new leaves and roots is formed on the annual stem by spring. In fact, this plant does not have any bush, but is represented by a large number of single-stem plants.
• Gelenium is a tall plant that can grow up to 160 cm in height.
• Stems are erect, very branched in the upper part, lignified and densely covered with leaves.
• Leaves are oblong, lanceolate. In the root part they are located on petioles, and in the upper part they are sessile. Arranged alternately on the stem.
• There can be a large number of inflorescences on one stem at the same time.
• Gelenium flowers are thyroid inflorescences, chamomile-like, slightly convex in the middle.
• In shape, the flowers can be double or semi-double, it all depends on the specific variety.
• The flower consists of the marginal reed petals of yellow, orange, purple, brown, and also of the central tubular yellow or brown.
• Gelenium has a wonderful scent that attracts bees to itself.
• Flowering begins in late summer and lasts until frost. Differs in a rather long period.
• The fruit of this plant is an oblong achene.

Variety of species and varieties of helenium

In total in nature, there are about 30 different types, which make up a small genus of heleniums. However, only five are used for landscaping and decorating areas: autumn helenium, hybrid helenium, Hupa helenium, Bigelow helenium, spring helenium. Let's take a closer look at the features of each species.

Spring Gelenium

• It is a perennial herb.
• It can reach a height of 1 m.
• Stems are straight, branched at the tops, densely covered with leaves.
• Leaves are oval, lanceolate, dark green in color.
• At the tops of the shoots, single flowers are formed or collected in thyroid inflorescences.
• Flowers reach 7 cm in diameter, orange.
• Flowering is long, begins in mid-May and lasts a month.
• Very cold-resistant species, perfectly withstands even Siberian frosts without shelter.

Gelenium Chupa

• This type of helenium is sometimes called gupesa.
• In nature, this plant prefers to grow on rocky hills in North America.
• Perennial herbaceous flowering plant with rhizome.
• It can reach a height of 90-100 cm.
• Stems erect, strongly branched in the upper part.
• Leaves are oblong, green with a grayish tint.
• Flowers are solitary, formed at the ends of the stems, about 8-9 cm in diameter.
• Gelenium Chupa blooms with yellow golden inflorescences.
• Flowering begins in late June or early July.

Helenium hybrid

• TO this kind include plants of ornamental varieties, which are obtained by crossing various species, the main of which is autumn helenium.
• All varieties of this group of plants differ in height, color of flowers and leaves.

Popular varieties of helenium hybrid:

• Variety "Gartesonne". A very tall plant that can grow up to 130 cm. It blooms in small flowers, up to 3.5-4 cm in diameter. The petals are reddish-yellow in color, and yellow in the middle with a slight brown tint. Flowering begins in July and lasts about a month.
• Variety "Goldlaktsverg". This plant is formed by erect stems that can reach a meter in height. Flowers are small, 3-4 cm in diameter. This variety of Gelenium blooms in an orange-brown shade with yellow tips.
• Variety "Rothhaut". Herbaceous perennial, reaching a height of about 120 cm. Flowering begins in July with dark red flowers with a brown tint.

Autumn Gelenium

• It is the most popular and widespread type of helenium in Russian gardens.
• The natural habitat is the territory of North America, namely wet meadows and swamps.
• Autumn Gelenium has been used in landscape design since the 17th century.
• The stems of the plant are strong, lignified, erect, can reach a height of 2 m.
• The stems grow very tightly to each other, thereby forming a columnar bush.
• In the upper part, the shoots are strongly branched.
• Flowers small size, up to 6 cm in diameter. Blossom at the end of each branched shoot, therefore, during flowering, the entire bush is abundantly strewn with bright golden flowers.
• Flowering begins in August and lasts for a month.

Popular varieties of autumn helenium:

• Variety "Magnificum". It belongs to the low-growing varieties of helenium, reaches a maximum of 80 cm in height. It blooms with bright yellow flowers with the same yellow core. Inflorescences reach 6 cm in diameter.
• Variety "Katarina". A tall variety of helenium that can grow up to 140 cm in height. The marginal petals are yellow, and the central ones are brown. This variety blooms in August.
• Variety "Superboom". Flowers up to 160 cm high. Golden flowers bloom from mid-August.
• Altgold variety. The plant is of medium height, it can grow up to 90 cm in the garden. The inflorescences are small, only 6 cm in diameter. Marginal petals are yellow with unusual reddish strokes, the middle is brown. Flowering begins in late summer.
• Variety "Di Blonde". Tall flowers that can reach 170 cm. The shoots are straight and strong, forming a dense bush. Inflorescences are small, only 5-6 cm in diameter. Reddish brown in color.
• "Glutauge" variety. It is distinguished by its short stature, bright red flowers with the same red core. The diameter of one inflorescence is 6 cm.

This is just a small list of gelenium varieties that are perfect for decorating your site.

Gelenium breeding methods

All types of helenium can be bred in several ways: by seeds, dividing the bush, and even by cuttings. Seed breeding and dividing the bush are considered the simplest.

Propagation of helenium by seeds

• Gelenium seeds have a very low germination rate, it does not matter if you sow them immediately after harvest or after a while.
• It is best to sow seeds for seedlings, so you can get strong and healthy seedlings that will better adapt to open ground.
• Sowing seeds for seedlings is best around February.
• However, the planting material must be stratified beforehand within 1-1.5 months. To do this, you need to pour soil into the container and sow seeds on top. After that, the entire container is wrapped in foil and placed in the refrigerator. And after 1.5 months, they take it out and place it in the heat.
• The rest of the time, the seeds should be under artificial lighting and a comfortable temperature. The optimum temperature for seed germination is considered to be 18-22 degrees Celsius.
• The first shoots will already appear within 2-3 weeks.
• Caring for young seedlings consists in maintaining a comfortable temperature, watering and timely picking.
• When 2-3 leaves appear on the seedlings, they can be planted in separate pots.
• Plant seedlings in a permanent place in open ground will be possible in early summer.

Propagation of helenium by dividing sockets

This method is the simplest and it is used by almost all experienced gardeners who are engaged in the cultivation of helenium on their own.

• All helenium bushes consist of a large number of independent single-stem plants, which together form the columnar shape of the plant.
• Once every three years, or more often, each helenium bush must be divided into several parts, since by this period the number of stems can reach 30.
• It is possible to propagate a plant by dividing a bush in spring and autumn. However, the most optimal time is still May.
• You need to carefully dig up an adult helenium bush and divide its roots into several pieces. To do this, you do not need to make any efforts - the bush itself disintegrates into leaf sockets.
• After that, plant each section in a pre-selected place.
• With this method, you rejuvenate adult plants, enhance their decorative effect.
• Flowers grown in this way will bloom only next year.

Propagation by cuttings

• Propagation of helenium by cuttings can be carried out at the time of active growth of the stems.
• To do this, you need to cut the cuttings about 10-12 cm long with a sharp knife.
• After that, they can be treated with a special root-forming solution, for example Kornevin.
• For the appearance of roots, cuttings can be placed in water, or they can be buried in the soil in a greenhouse.
• After the roots appear, young seedlings are planted in a permanent place in open ground.

Preparation stages before planting helenium in open ground

Preparation before planting a plant is the key to obtaining a strong and healthy flower, which will be a great decoration for your site. If your site does not yet have this beautiful flower and you have no place to get planting material, then it is important to purchase quality seedlings in the store. Also, take into account all the features of the plant and choose the most suitable place for its active growth on your site.

Stage 1. Selection of seedlings

• It is best to buy helenium seedlings in separate containers in specialized stores. It is better to refuse to purchase planting material in spontaneous markets or from strangers, so you risk getting low-quality material.
• Before buying, ask your consultant about all the features of growing a particular variety of helenium.
• It is also important to carefully examine the seedling. It should not show any damage, signs of disease or pests, dry soil in the container.
• When buying a helenium seedling, you need to consider the future location of the plants. Get taller varieties for single plantings or planting along the fence, and undersized varieties for framing flower beds.

Stage 2. Choosing a site for planting gelenium

Gelenium is a very decorative plant, therefore ideal place for its full growth, there will be a well-lit area. It is in such conditions that you get a beautiful plant with abundant and bright flowering. However, this culture does well in light partial shade.

When choosing a place for planting gelenium, take into account your plan garden composition... With these bright colors you can perfectly decorate nondescript buildings or a fence, and lower grades can be used to frame borders.

Stage 3. Preparing the soil

This culture thrives on fertile, light and permeable soils. The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral. Gelenium is an unpretentious plant, but it is best to prepare the soil before planting. It is important that it is drained, as stagnant water at the roots is also detrimental to helenium. The selected area must be well dug about on the bayonet of the shovel. When cultivating the soil, a little compost can be added, as the plant responds very well to the introduction of various nutrients.

Technology for planting gelenium in open ground

• The optimal time for planting gelenium in open ground is May or early June. It is at this time that the threat of return frosts disappears.
• In a few days, the soil at the planting site is dug up and fertilized with compost.
• Before planting, you also need to prepare the helenium seedlings. To do this, they need to be carefully removed from the containers and lowered for a while in a container of water so that the roots absorb as much moisture as possible. The time spent in the water should be approximately 5-7 minutes.
• Next, dig planting holes in the prepared place. Their size should be twice as large as the root system of the seedling together with the earthy clod. The seedlings should be planted no deeper than in the pot.
• If you are planting several seedlings side by side, then it is imperative to observe the distance between the planting pits and rows. There should be at least 30 cm between the flowers of the helenium, and at least 35 cm between the rows.
• A drainage layer can be placed at the bottom of each pit to prevent moisture from accumulating at the roots. It is recommended to use expanded clay or broken brick as drainage.
• Next, place the seedlings of the plant in each planting hole and sprinkle them with soil, gently tamping them with your hands.
• After planting, the area around the plants should be mulched to prevent moisture evaporation. Dry peat or humus can be used as mulch.

Agrotechnics of growing gelenium: features and secrets of care

Planting gelenium will not be difficult even for novice florists, but even this unpretentious plant requires attention and constant care. Throughout the season, the plant needs abundant watering, loosening, feeding and prevention of pests and diseases.

Watering helenium

Caring for the helenium includes regular and abundant watering. In its natural environment, this culture prefers to grow in wet meadows and marshy lowlands, therefore, exactly the same conditions must be created on your site. The soil around the plant should always be in a slightly moist state, since this plant does not tolerate a dry substrate. In dry summers, the amount of watering increases. Some gardeners recommend giving preference to drip irrigation.

Loosening and mulching

Despite the fact that helenium is very fond of moisture, it does not tolerate excessive stagnation of water at the roots and stems. Therefore, after watering, it is periodically recommended to loosen the soil around the bushes to saturate it with oxygen. To reduce the amount of weeding and loosening, it is important to constantly add fresh mulch. Dry peat, sawdust or humus can be used as mulch.

Top dressing

For full growth and lush flowering, helenium must be fed throughout the season.

• The first feeding should be done in early May. It is during this period that the green part of the plant begins to actively grow. It is important to fertilize helenium with urea and any complex liquid fertilizer. You can also use mullein solution.
• The second feeding is carried out to stimulate the flowering of the helenium. You need to take 10 liters of water and add about 1 liter of mullein solution there, one tablespoon of Agricola-7 and Agricola-fantasy each.
• The third feeding is carried out after flowering and it allows the plant to gain strength before winter. Superphosphate and potassium sulfate are used to fertilize gelenium during this period.

Pruning and replanting

If you want your helenium to be more lush and delight you with abundant flowering, then it is advisable to do a little pruning at the beginning of summer. In the course of it, slightly remove the tops of some shoots. It is also important to remove faded flower buds in time, thereby you will stimulate the growth of new ones.

Once every three years, the plant needs to be replanted and planted. Each year, the plant forms more and more stems and there is a threat that young buds may eventually come to the surface. Therefore, it is imperative to dig up the plant and divide it into several outlets.

Pest and disease control

Gelenium has good resistance to various diseases and pests. However, sometimes the bushes of this spectacular flower can be affected by the chrysanthemum nematode. When it appears, brown spots appear on the leaves and buds of the plant, the flower stops blooming. To combat this worm, it is necessary to douse all plants with hot water, about 50 degrees, and sprinkle the soil with lime or sulfur.

Preparing for winter

Before the onset of frost, around October, all helenium stems must be cut off. The place of plant growth must be mulched. Natural materials such as peat, moss, sawdust, fallen leaves can be used as mulch. Alternatively, you can cover the plant with a nonwoven fabric.

Using helenium in landscape design

Gelenium is perfect for decorating and landscaping the site. There are several options for using it:

• Tall heleniums look great in single plantings against the backdrop of a lawn.
• This tall plant can be used to decorate unsightly walls or fences, or to create small flowering hedges.
• Lower grades of helenium are suitable for framing garden paths or borders.
• High and low varieties are used to create flower beds. In this case, tall flowers are planted in the background, and undersized flowers in the foreground.

Photo of gelenium in landscape design

You can more clearly see all the features of using gelenium in decorating a site in the presented photos.

Using Gelenimum for planting along the fence

Growing helenium in combination with other plants

Using helenium in single landings

Gelenium is bright and spectacular flower, which will help you create a kaleidoscope of golden hues in the autumn area, thereby prolonging the warmth of summer.

The wonderful flowers of Gelenium will remind you of the passing summer throughout the fall. In doing so, they will help to make landscape design suburban area is even more attractive.

general description

Gelenium is a perennial. Flowering occurs from July to October. The plant reaches 70-150 centimeters in length. Depending on the variety, the color of the petals can be:

• orange;
• red;
• yellow;
• brownish red.

The inflorescence is chamomile. The middle is convex. The edges of the petals are curly.

The homeland of the plant is Central and North America. Gelenium has no perennial rhizome. Flowering stems to winter period die off. At this time, rosettes with leaves appear on the underground part of the annual stem. The next year, a flowering stem appears from it. Thus, the bush as such is absent; there are only many united independent plants.

Stems reach a height of 160 cm, straight, branching at the top. The leaves are lanceolate, arranged in a regular order. Achenes are slightly pubescent, oblong-cylindrical. Inflorescences are baskets.

Varietal variety

In July, one of the most popular varieties of helenium blooms - MoerheimBeauty. It is distinguished by an unusual bronze-red color of flowers. The helenium of the presented species reaches 90 cm in height.

At the end of summer, you can enjoy the flowering of varieties such as:

• "BaudirektorLinne", flowers are red-brown (plant height - 130 cm);
• "Waltraud", yellow-brown flowers (plant height - 80 cm);
• "Koenigstiger", yellow flowers with a red border (plant height - 120 cm);
• "Magnificum", reaches 80 cm in height, low-growing variety, yellow middle.

In the fall, varieties such as "Sonnenwunder" and "Septembergold" bloom. The first grade is distinguished by amazingly beautiful orange flowers, the second grade has yellow flowers.

Photo gallery

Use at their summer cottage

Helenium blooms in August, but it acquires brightness in the autumn period. The plant looks great in group plantings.

Planting helenium should take place on slightly damp, nutrient-rich soil. If the soil is heavy, compost and sand will need to be added.

The best option placing flowers on the site - near the fence. There they are reliably protected from precipitation and look very attractive. Gelenium often covers ugly outbuildings.

You can also plant a flower near ornamental shrubs, singly or in groups, in the background of flower beds. The plant goes well with asters, which bloom in autumn. Geleniums look very good in bouquets.

Gelenium: description and care (video)

Important! Flowers should be cut only after they have blossomed, otherwise they will not open in the water.

Combination with other plants

You can also use helenium in combination with perennials in a flower bed. Moreover, it should be located in the middle or in the foreground of the flower garden. After choosing the option presented, make sure that other plants do not interfere with the growth of the helenium. The plant looks great against the background of cascading flower beds. The best neighbors for him will become:

• stonecrop;
• delphiniums;
• rudbeckia;
• asters;
• snow-white phlox.

Helenium looks interesting with geyher, marigold, steep, goldenrod, garden yarrow.

Another option is to land near a pond or pond.

Gelenium can be used in combination with plants that are in the same colors (cape figelius, marigolds, goldenrod) and with white flowers.

Planting and leaving

• The soil is prepared in spring. It is dug up to a depth of 30 cm and compost is added. The seedlings are removed from the pots and placed in water for 5 minutes, it is important that the roots absorb moisture. The hole should be 2 times larger than the root ball. It is not necessary to deeply deepen the helenium, the same depth as in the pot is enough.
• In dry weather, plants need watering. Drip irrigation should be preferred.
• Gelenium, the planting of which will not be difficult, has special requirements for care. It is important to remember how plants exist in nature. They require fertile and moist soil. Flowers place high demands on lighting. In partial shade, plants with red petals will not bloom, but you can try to grow plants with yellow petals in such conditions. In dry times, watering is done 2 times a week.

• It is worth noting that geleniums feel great in flower beds with a dense planting. In the foreground, you can place undersized species, in the background - tall ones. Against the background of the lawn, tapeworms look great. However, in this case, the plants require additional care in the form of timely watering.
• Flowers will be grateful for the introduction of mineral dressings, just a couple of times per season. After three years, a transplant is carried out - the bushes age quickly. However, it is recommended to carry it out in the autumn.
• When growing gelenium, you need to know that even with proper care, the bush may not survive the winter. In snowless and frosty winters, flowers quickly freeze. It is noted that in this case the state of plants created using other varieties, for example, "Bigelow", is worse.
• For the winter, the soil near the plant is mulched with sawdust and moss. Shelter is made from above with lutrasil. Pruning is recommended for the winter.

• The acquisition of seedlings should be dealt with in the spring. In this case, the plants must be healthy.
• To obtain spreading bushes in the spring, pinch off the tops of the shoots.
• The soil should be rich in nutrients.

Rejuvenation of the bushes is carried out in spring or autumn. To do this, the plant is dug out, then it is divided and planted again.

The flower helenium belongs to the extensive botanical family of Compositae.

Photos of flowers of various colors are widely presented on various pages of Internet sites.

Description and characteristics

Flowers helenium (Latin Helenium) are ubiquitous in the North and South continents of America, as well as in Canada.

Wild flowers are often found in sunny glades of evergreen and deciduous forests. The inflorescences-baskets of the heads always look at the sun and their name is from the Greek word "helios" - the sun.

According to legend, it is believed that helenium acquired its name in honor of the beautiful Helena, the wife of Tsar Menelaus, with whom the beginning of the Trojan War is associated. This character is familiar to us from Homer's ancient Greek poem Iliad.

The genus helenium has about 50 species and subspecies of annual and perennial flowering plants. The value of decorative perennials that bloom at the end of summer is that they are not demanding to care for.

The most common among them is autumn helenium with yellowish inflorescences. All the other various varieties originate from it.

The originality of the plant lies in the non-wintering rhizome. The stems of flowers die off together with the roots, at the base of which there are already developed numerous small rosettes.

In the spring, having survived severe cold weather, they all give new shoots and clumps of helenium plantings grow very quickly. The first cultivated variety, Gelenium, was bred in 1909 by the American botanist Maurice Pritchard. It was named "Riverton Beauty".

The ornamental plant was 1.2 meters tall with yellow-brown inflorescences. Very quickly, other, new varieties of various colors began to appear, from yellow to orange and red.

Cultivated flower varieties are now cultivated almost all over the world. This is facilitated by their resistance to frost and drought, they are unpretentious to growing conditions.

Beautifully flowering perennials reach 70-160 centimeters in height. Multiple strong, erect trunks branch out in the upper parts, covered with delicate hairs and leaves. Stem leaves are oblong with small teeth of dark green color.

note: the root system of the plant is developed with a large number of adventitious roots growing in the surface layer of the soil.

The inflorescences of the plant are large, can reach up to 8 centimeters in diameter. Baskets consist of small tubular flowers of yellow-brown shades, forming a convex bump in the center. The so-called petals of various colors are located around the circumference of the bump. Their color range is quite diverse: from pale yellow to piercing red.

Geleniums are sun-loving, which justifies their name. Plants love fertile soil, with the addition of organic and. Watering is necessary regularly, but they also tolerate drought calmly. Flowers are practically immune to infections.

Growing from seeds

Adherents of growing gelenium rightly recognize the fact that the best way is to divide the sockets. But you can also sow it with seeds. It is important to take into account that in the northern zones with a cold climate, it is better to use seeds of zoned varieties.

You can sow seeds in the fall directly into loose, fertile soil with the addition of organic and mineral fertilizers. With this method of sowing, the flowering time of the plant may be postponed to the next year or later.

The low germination of seeds, especially freshly harvested ones, dictates the decision to grow seedlings of helenium flowers in room conditions... Sowing of seeds is carried out in February-March in boxes with prepared moist soil, covered with glass or plastic wrap.

The temperature for germination should be + 18-22 degrees. One must not forget to regularly water and ventilate the seedlings upon emergence.

At the age of 2-3 true leaves, the plant must be dived. They are planted in a permanent place in fertilized soil at a distance sufficient for further root formation and growth of seedlings.

Landing

Seedlings can be planted in open ground when the time of night cold passes, this is the end of May - beginning of June. We give preference to sunny, open areas, shady places are not excluded, they can grow there too.

Before planting, remove the sod - the vegetative layer of soil. We carry out digging with compost, humus, introduced mineral fertilizers to the depth of the shovel bayonet.

The holes in the ground for seedlings are made twice as wide as the size of the root ball. Then we water the holes. We lower the root system of seedlings into a special solution for root formation, or simply moisten with water.

Gardener's advice: Varietal specimens cannot be propagated by seeds for the reason that when sown with seeds, the parental, varietal characteristics are not preserved. For propagation of varietal specimens, a vegetative method is used.

We plant seedlings, deepening its root system. The gaps between the plants are at least 30-35 cm. Then it is necessary to thoroughly mulch the plantings with compost or crushed peat. As a rule, seedling helenium will only bloom next year.

Outdoor care

When planting gelenium and caring for it, there will be no difficulties if you know some of the features of its cultivation and have some agricultural engineering skills.

Its main feature is that it should grow mainly on sunny place with fertile moist soil without stagnant water. The soil should be with good water and air permeability. On hot days, watering is carried out more often and more abundantly.

The main care also consists in loosening the soil and weeding from the weeds. Important! Top dressing of gelenium is carried out 3 times during the summer season:

• May - one tablespoon of potassium sulfate and Effekton per bucket of water. After the main watering, feed at the rate of 1 liter per plant;
• Flowering - a liter of liquid manure, a tablespoon of Agricola fantasy and Agricola7 per bucket of water. Apply 1 liter per plant after watering;
• End of October - dilute a tablespoon of potassium sulfate and superphosphate in a bucket of water. Apply 1.5 liters under the plant.

Popular species and varieties

Moerheim Beauty grade

The most famous varieties of helenium are hybrid and simple species, selected by professionals as a result of selection from all sorts of variations of flowering specimens.

Their hybrid varieties are distinguished by the flowering period, which is longer than that of simple species by 1-1.5 months, and by the decorativeness of large buds.

The most common varieties:

• "Moerheim Beauty" - blooms from July until frost, stem height 90 cm on sandy soil, 120 cm on fertile, inflorescences have a range of shades from red to copper and gold;
• "Waltraud" - bred in 1947, flowering in August, golden brown inflorescences, 80 cm high.
• "Koenigstiger" - decorative variety, blooms in August, flowers are colored in yellow with red reed petals, shoot height 120 cm.
• "Baudirektor Linne" - flowering period - August, inflorescences of brown-purple shades, the height of a powerful stem up to 130 cm.

• "Sonnenwunder" - flowering period - September, a powerful, bright plant, blooms in September with golden yellow flowers, stem height 150 cm.
• "Septembergold" - translated as "September Gold", the plant blooms in September with yellow inflorescences.

Diseases and pests

Gelenium is characterized by high resistance to pests, infections and diseases.

However, it can be affected by the main pest - the chrysanthemum nematode, which can quickly destroy many plants. The pest affects not only the leaves, but also the buds of the inflorescences, which dry out.

The fight against the nematode consists in pruning and destroying the affected leaves. They must be taken out of the site and burned. Thermal treatment with water at a temperature of +50 degrees has a positive effect. If these measures are ineffective, a thiophos solution is used.

Preventive measures consist in the correct preparation of plants for winter, they must be mulched with sawdust, moss or non-woven covering material such as lutrasil. The introduction of ground lime and sulfur into the soil is also an effective measure.

Reproduction methods

Dividing the bush

In addition to the method of propagation by seeds, there is a simpler and more acceptable method - vegetative. It consists in dividing an adult bush, which after 2 years forms about 30 stems.

The division of the plant is usually done in the spring - in May. To do this, you need to dig out a bush, while it independently begins to fall apart into sockets, you just have to plant them in a prepared place.

In the spring, in the month of May, you can use another method of reproduction of helenium - cuttings of shoots. It is produced using annual young stems 15-20 cm long.The upper part of the shoot is cut off, rooting takes place in a greenhouse, micro-greenhouse, under glass jars or plastic bottles.

When the first young leaves appear on the stem, the shelter from the processes can be removed and planted in a prepared place. Important! They need to be watered, mulched, and cared for.

Seed collection and wintering

Despite the fact that gelenium seeds are easy to find in modern shopping centers, they can also be collected by hand.

If you decide to collect seeds from your flowers for the purpose of reproduction, you need to do this immediately, since they will simply rot during the autumn showers. The degree of readiness of seed material for collection is indicated by dried and darkened inflorescences.

The storage area for seeds must be dry. You need to store them in a linen bag or cardboard box.

It is important to know: most of the professional breeders and amateur flower growers still prefer the vegetative method of reproduction due to the low germination of seeds and the loss of the plant's "parental" properties.

Competent preparation of plants for winter is a guarantee that the next season the bushes will delight you with the beauty and splendor of flowering. You need to make a minimum of effort - to mulch the beds with helenium plantings with peat, humus, sawdust about 5 cm thick or lutrasil. You must first cut off the stems, leaving hemp 10-15 cm high.

At the end of summer, when the majority ornamental plants and flowers have already faded, the helenium explodes with fireworks of spectacular, colorful inflorescences that can delight even on the darkest day. The indisputable advantage is its long flowering and unpretentiousness.

How to grow helenium, see the tips in the following video:

For those who first decided to grow this attractive chamomile-like flower on the plot, the recommendations will be interesting: helenium - planting and care. By the way, this is a favorite of gardeners and landscape designers the whole world a plant that fits well into any design of plots, gardens and even individual flower beds.

Photo 1. Gelenium is home to Central and North America.

Description of gelenium

There are more than 30 species of Geleniums (genus of annuals and perennials of the Asteraceae family). Their homeland is Central and North America. There is a legend according to which the beautiful Helena, the wife of Tsar Menelaus, kidnapped by enemies and imprisoned in a tower, cried about her grief, and her tears, falling to the ground, flashed with a bright flame and turned into golden flowers. They were called geleniums. Modest and unremarkable up to a certain point, at the end of summer they bloom with warm and velvety flowers and charm with their unusual beauty.

The roots of perennial helenium die in winter, but underground buds remain.

Perennial helenium is not what we used to think of perennial flowers. Plants die off to the cold along with the roots, but they have already formed leaf rosettes from underground buds, which will give new shoots in spring. What looks like a bush from afar is in fact a set of closely growing erect peduncles branching in the upper part. The height of the "bush" can reach up to 1.5 m, although there are also undersized varieties. The plant has lanceolate, alternate leaves. Flower baskets can be single or collected in corymbose inflorescences. The baskets are painted in yellow, orange, red, brown and purple tones, there are also two-color. The fruit is a pubescent achene with an elongated shape. Gelenium has interesting property change color during the growing season. Yellow bushes turn orange, red ones turn brown.

A photo of gelenium conveys the beauty and singularity of a flower much better than words (photo 1).

Reproduction methods

A decorative flower is propagated in two ways: by seeds and vegetatively - by separating rosettes and cuttings.

Seeds from gelenium must be harvested in the fall.

Seeds from helenium are harvested in the fall. This must be done before the prolonged autumn rains begin. As soon as the cone turned black and the reed flowers darkened, the seeds were ripe. But it is not a fact that a plant grown from harvested seeds will be a copy of its "parent". In addition, the germination rate of freshly harvested seeds is quite low. Therefore, it is better to purchase seeds in a specialized store, where helenium is presented in various varieties.

Seeds are sown in the ground in the fall, and by the summer young bushes of flowers will take shape. And in early spring (late February - early March), you can sow them in containers for seedlings. After the seeds are sown, the container is wrapped in polyethylene and placed in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment for 1-1.5 months. This process is called stratification. Then the container is placed in a warm place with good lighting. The air temperature should be + 18-22 degrees. Seedlings dive with 2-3 true leaves, and helenium will bloom only in a year.

The most effective way flower reproduction is considered to be branching outlets. They are planted in May, when the probability of night frosts will be reduced to zero. Can be propagated by helenium and stem cuttings during the regrowth of stems. Cuttings are cut and rooted in the soil. You can pre-hold them in a mixture for rooting. The optimal planting density of rosettes and cuttings is 4-5 per 1 sq. m.

Planting and caring for an ornamental plant

Watering the helenium should be frequent and fairly abundant.

It is better to choose a sunny area, but in the shade, heleniums grow and bloom well. The soil should be well-drained, neutral, light and nutritious. Before planting, the soil is dug up with compost on a shovel bayonet.

For planting, pits are prepared, 2 times the root ball of the plant. Gelenium roots are dipped in water for a few minutes to saturate with moisture, then planted to the depth at which the plant grew in the box. The minimum planting pattern is 30x35 cm. Then the soil is mulched with humus or peat.

The peculiarity of gelenium is that dry soil oppresses it. Watering should be frequent and abundant, especially on hot days. At the same time, the plant does not tolerate too wet soil. Regular weeding and shallow (to a depth of 7 cm) loosening are required. Mulching the soil after planting will make the work of weed control easier.

Top dressing is carried out 3 times with mineral and organic fertilizers:

1. In May. For 10 liters of water, take 1 tbsp. l. organic fertilizer Effekton, potassium sulfate, urea. Consumption - 3-4 liters per 1 sq. m.
2. Late August - early September. For 10 liters of water, take 1 liter of liquid mullein, 1 tbsp each. l. liquid Agricola-fantasy and Agricola-7. Consumption - 2-3 liters per 1 sq. m.
3. At the end of October. For 10 liters of water, take 1 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate and superphosphate. Consumption - 5 liters per 1 sq. m.

Photo 2. Bright flower bushes of heleniums will decorate any area in the country.

You can spray the plant for better budding with a growth regulator Bud (take 10 g for 10 liters).

For more lush flowering, you need to remove wilted inflorescences. By pinching the tops, they increase the branchiness and density of the bushes.

Before the onset of winter cold, the stems of the plant are cut off, leaving small tails above the ground. Then the place is mulched with sawdust or moss and covered in case of a snowless winter or severe frosts with lutrasil. If winters are mild, the plant will survive them well without shelter. Over time, helenium loses its frost-resistant properties, and the ground under it is depleted, so it must be replanted every 4 years.

Geleniums in the design of sites

Bright flower bushes can decorate any area (photo 2). Of tall plants make mono-plantings, perfectly masking fences and buildings that have an unpresentable look. In a flower bed, helenium is placed in the center so that shorter plants are not obstructed by spreading tall flowers... Of undersized varieties make picturesque borders.

Photo 3. Very beautiful decorative flower Helenium is hybrid.

Geleniums are very beautifully combined with asters, rudbeckia, stonecrops and ornamental shrubs... They look no less impressive in bouquets, but it should be borne in mind that flowers that have not fully opened in water will no longer bloom.

Some types of helenium are specially designed for garden decoration. For example, autumn helenium, popularly called "sneezing plant", and helenium bigelow. In the old days, dry leaves of autumn helenium were used in the manufacture of tobacco, which, when inhaled, caused sneezing, thereby expelling evil spirits from the body. Usually the plant grows up to 1 m, but there are species that reach 2 m. Geleniums can vary in color: yellow, red-brown, orange. The flowering period is from August to October. The flower does not like a large number of dressings.

And helenium bigelow blooms in June-July, the middle flowers have brown color, reed - yellow. Plant height - 80 cm. At the same time, helenium gupesa blooms.

There are plants that bloom in spring. The flower is called so - spring helenium. Its height reaches 1 m, from mid-May to mid-June it pleases the eye with orange-brown flowers.

A very attractive decorative flower is hybrid helenium (photo 3).

There are a lot of plant varieties, and everyone can choose their favorite helenium and use it in landscaping their site, creating beautiful and intricate flower beds and green hedges.