Karyopteris - there is nothing simpler and more beautiful. Xeranthemum - an ideal flower for dry bouquets Xeranthemum reminds of endless summer steppes

Xeranthemum

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Family Asteraceae. Name: comes from the Greek words " xeros" - dry and " anthemon" - a flower for its widespread use in dry bouquets.

Description: homeland - Mediterranean, North Caucasus, Balkans. 6 species are known. The plants are annual herbaceous, erect, densely or tomentosely pubescent. The leaves are arranged in alternate order, elongated or lanceolate. Inflorescences are single, white, pink, purple. The large petal-shaped scales of the multi-row involucre give the inflorescences a decorative appearance. The fruit is a wedge-shaped, brownish-brown achene with a yellow or brown tuft. There are up to 700 seeds in 1 g.

Grows in Crimea, Ciscaucasia, southern Western Europe, and the Mediterranean. The plant is annual, herbaceous. Stems are straight, highly branched, 50-60 cm tall. The leaves are sessile, linear-lanceolate, arranged in alternate order. Stems and leaves are silky tomentose. Inflorescences are single baskets, white, pink, purple, 3.5-4 cm in diameter, on long, thin peduncles. The flowers are small. The inner leaves of the multi-row involucre of the inflorescence are petal-shaped, membranous, hard, much longer than the flowers and of the same color. Blooms in July-September. The fruit is an achene. In the middle zone, seeds ripen in August-September and remain viable for 2-3 years. In culture since 1570.

Location: areas in sunny places, cold-resistant.

The soil: not demanding, but feels better on light nutrient soils. To obtain vigorous shoots during the initial growing season, it requires sufficiently moist soil, and from the moment budding and flowering begins, it prefers drier conditions, without the need for watering.

Care: is simple and consists mainly of weeding and loosening the soil around the plants.

Reproduction: sowing seeds in March - April in boxes. Seedlings are planted in groups of 3 in 9 cm pots. Seedlings are planted in the ground at the end of May - beginning of June according to a 25 x 20 cm pattern. It is possible to sow in ridges of open ground, but flowering will not occur until August if the summer is good. In the latter case, the seedlings need to be trimmed. In the middle zone and to the south, sowing in open ground is preferable, since the plant does not tolerate transplantation well. In the north it is better to grow in seedlings, otherwise the plant will bloom too late.

Usage: in landscaping, xeranthemum can be used in border plantings, flower beds and rock gardens, but is mainly used as an immortelle for cutting, which is done when the baskets are not fully opened.

For drying xerantsumum inflorescences cut off in the phase of incomplete dissolution and dried, hanging in bunches in a dry, shaded place. To give dry inflorescences a brighter color before drying, they can be dipped in a weak solution of hydrochloric acid (1:12) for 2-3 seconds, then gently shaken and dried in the usual way.

Xeranthemum (lat. Xeranthemum) is a genus of brightly flowering plants from the Asteraceae family. The second, no less common name is dried flower. Under natural conditions, plants are found in Asia, southern Europe, the Mediterranean, mainly on rocky soils of meadows, near roads or vineyards.

Xeranthemum annual

Description

The genus Xeranthemum is represented by herbaceous annuals, reaching a height of up to 60 cm. The stems are branched, erect, covered with a white edge. The leaves are alternate, almost sessile, narrow (about 3 cm long, 0.5 cm wide).

The inflorescence is represented by a single basket in the shape of a hemisphere with several rows of petal-shaped scales, up to 4 cm in diameter. The coloring of the petals (actually reed flowers) can be white, lilac, pink, red or purple. The inflorescence-baskets of wild species are usually non-double, while those of decorative species are double or semi-double.

Xeranthemum, Rose variety

Flowering is abundant, begins in July and lasts until September. After drying, the inflorescences retain their shape and color for a long time.

The brownish-gray fruits ripen in August and are shaped like a wedge-shaped achene with a small tuft. The seeds are very small, there are about 700 pieces in 1 g. They remain viable for 2-3 years.

The genus is represented by 6 species, but only xeranthemum annual (lat. X. Annuum) is used in floriculture. In its inflorescences, the petal-shaped multi-row involucre is longer than the petals themselves and has the same color, which can be white, purple or pink. The most attractive varieties:

Rose – with double pink inflorescences, 3.5 cm in diameter;
Violet-purple - with bright raspberry-violet inflorescences with a diameter of about 3 cm.

Photo gallery

Growing and care

Xeranthemum prefers sunny places. It is not picky about soil, but grows best in light, nutritious soil with good drainage. The plant is drought-resistant; regular watering is required only during the period of planting seedlings and until they are completely rooted. With the appearance of buds and during the flowering period, it is recommended not to moisten the soil. Watering is allowed only in extreme heat.

Xeranthemum does not need special care. Several times a season you should remove weeds and loosen the soil. The dried flower is resistant to various diseases and is of little interest to pests.

Reproduction

Dried flowers reproduce by seeds. When growing xeranthemum from seeds, at the beginning of spring it is sown in a container with a light, loose, moistened substrate to a depth of 0.5 cm, covered with film or a glass jar. For seed germination, the optimal temperature is within +20°C. Young seedlings pick up 3 pieces each. in separate pots with a diameter of 9 cm.

Xeranthemum before flowering

Xeranthemum seedlings can be planted in open ground at the beginning of summer at a distance of about 25 cm. In order not to injure the root system, the earthen lump must be preserved. Until the young plants take root thoroughly, xeranthemum plantings should be watered regularly.

It is allowed to sow seeds directly into open ground, preferably under film. The emerging seedlings will need to be thinned out. Plants grown in this way will bloom only in late summer under good weather conditions.

Usage

Xeranthemum is planted in various flower beds, rockeries and rock gardens. Can be used in single or mixed plantings. Goes well with millennial, astrantia, salvia, etc.

Xeranthemum in the landscape

Dried inflorescences can be used to create bouquets and decorate rooms. To do this, stems with buds that have not fully blossomed need to be cut, collected in bunches and hung in a dark room with good ventilation. Dried xeranthemums retain their color and shape for many years.

Helianthemum is a genus belonging to the Cistus family. In our country, representatives of this genus are also known as “sunflowers”. Sunflower flowers open with the appearance of the sun's disk and close only with its sunset. They are well suited for growing in rockeries and alpine slides.

Varieties and types

The most famous species is. An evergreen species that came to us from the Pyrenees and Balkan Mountains. It consists of small clumps. The flowers are rich yellow in color and bloom throughout the summer. It does not have much winter hardiness and requires shelter.

The distribution area covers Asia Minor and southern Europe. A perennial that forms small bushes. The foliage is lanceolate, covered with a small down. The flowers are small, collected in pink racemes.

Mediterranean semi-shrub species, slightly taller than its relatives - height up to 40 cm. The foliage is round, pointed at the top. The flowers are yellow, small. It tolerates frost well and does not need insulation for the winter.

Low perennial species. The foliage is lanceolate, slightly pubescent. The flowers are small, pale pink. It blooms in late spring and early summer for a month. Resistant to frost.

A species growing wild in Western Europe. The height of the shoots is up to 30 cm, the foliage is oblong and round. The flowers are relatively large - up to 5 cm, bright yellow in color. Flowering begins in mid-summer and lasts one and a half to two months. It withstands frost well and does not require shelter.

This is the general name for varietal forms that are created by crossing different species of a given plant, most often Monetchaty And Apennine . Typically, these varieties have poor winter hardiness and need shelter.

A popular hybrid form is the series Wisley . Plants in this category have bluish foliage, and the color of the petals depends on the variety. Includes varieties:

• Wisley White ,

• Wisley Orange ,

• Pink Wisley

Series varieties Ben having a high level of frost resistance. Among which:

• Ben More ,

• Ben Burrow .

Also popular variety Jubilee with large double flowers.

Variety Fire Dragon with deep orange petals.

Helianthemum planting and care in open ground

Helianthemum is a mountain plant that does not live in the easiest conditions and therefore is not particularly demanding in terms of care.

Helianthemum should be planted in open, well-lit places. The soil should have a coarse structure and not retain water, that is, sandy soils or those containing crushed stone are best suited.

The best hydrogen reaction will be neutral or slightly alkaline, but in general this crop is not particularly demanding on this indicator, as long as the soil is not too acidic. If the soil is too clayey, then when digging up the area you need to add dolomite flour.

The landing site is selected in such a way as to avoid unnecessary transfers in the future. Sowing is carried out directly into the flowerbed in early May.

Gaillardia is an interesting perennial plant that is grown when planted and cared for in open ground. It also does not require special conditions, but still requires compliance with several nuances. Recommendations for growing and caring for this plant can be found in this article.

Watering helianthemum

This plant does not tolerate waterlogging, which is why the soil must be permeable.

Watering may be required only during prolonged heat, but even in this case you need to approach this procedure with restraint.

Fertilizer for helianthemum

Fertilizers are needed only if the soil is very poor, otherwise the flower will have enough minerals available in the substrate.

If you decide to fertilize, then choose one with a reduced amount of nitrogen, since if there is an excess of this element, the foliage may grow too much and flowering will not occur.

When flowering is over, the shoots are cut back by a third to encourage the reappearance of flowers.

Helianthemum dormant period

Although many species do not need shelter for the winter, those with bluish foliage have low winter hardiness and need insulation. To do this, you can use dry fallen leaves or spruce branches.

Helianthemum growing from seeds

Common and many types of helianthemum normally reproduce by seeds, but F1 hybrid forms (first generation) can subsequently only be propagated vegetatively.

As mentioned above, sowing directly into the ground is mainly used; the seedling method is also possible, but it has its own nuances:

• Due to the tenderness of the horse system, diving is unacceptable - the seeds must be sown in peat pots.
• Seeds germinate unstably - from seven days to a month, so sowing is carried out in early spring. The seeds are simply laid out on a loose substrate and sprinkled with a little sand.
• Crops need a lot of light and a temperature of about 22°C. After the seedlings hatch, the temperature should be reduced to 16°C.

When the seedlings grow up, they are thinned out, and at the end of May-beginning of June they are transplanted together with pots into a flower bed.

Helianthemum propagation by layering

Since this crop has a sensitive root system, dividing the rhizome is not suitable for its propagation.

Propagation of helianthemum by cuttings

Another way is cuttings. In the spring, the material is cut and rooted in a greenhouse in peat pots. Then, throughout the year, the young plants are grown indoors.

Next spring they are transplanted into a flower bed. After transplantation, young plants will take a long time to recover and take root.

Diseases and pests

Helianthemum practically does not suffer from diseases and pests.

Among the pests there are thrips And aphid .

• Thrips can eat both the roots and the above-ground parts of the plant. These thin worms leave behind thin traces and the plant after damage starts to turn yellow And perish .
• Aphids occupy the stem in black clouds and drink the juices, which leads to drying out leaves and ultimately death .

These insects are controlled by treating with insecticides, for example, Fitoverm.

Diseases appear only when the rules of care are violated. The most common thing here is waterlogging, which causes powdery mildew .

This fungus forms a white coating on the foliage. To cope with it, you need to carry out a couple of sprays with Bordeaux mixture with an interval of 10 days.

The blooming summer is quickly ending, and only bright photos and dry bouquets remind of it. Dried flowers have long been successfully used not only by florists, but also by ordinary amateur flower growers.

In autumn, the extinct garden is decorated with bright lanterns of perennial physalis, teasel cones, silvery inflorescences of lunaria, and from mid-summer to autumn, annual dried flowers delight: helichrysum, molucella, statice. Several years ago I planted a xeranthemum and fell in love with it for its delicate appearance and unpretentiousness.

Xeranthemum is an annual plant, native to the southern regions of Russia, the Mediterranean, and does not overwinter in the middle zone. The stems are straight, highly branched, reaching about 60 cm in height. The elongated leaves are arranged in an alternate order. Inflorescences-baskets with a diameter of up to 5 cm are hard to the touch, simple or semi-double, they are white, pink, red and purple. Several terry forms are also known in culture. Xeranthemum blooms from July to October, the seeds ripen in September and remain viable for up to 3 years.

The culture is cold-resistant, but is afraid of frost, so it is better to grow it in seedlings and plant it in the ground at the end of May. You can sow it directly into the ground in May, but then it will not bloom until August. I sow xeranthemum seeds in April in a greenhouse along with cabbage, and by mid-May excellent seedlings grow. By the way,

Xeranthemum produces a small amount of self-seeding, so in the spring you can find ready-made plants at the site of last year’s planting.

Xeranthemum does not like transplanting, so I plant the seedlings carefully, with a lump of earth. It is better to plant several specimens together in one hole to create a lush bush.

Xeranthemum is not picky about soils, but feels better in light, nutritious soils in a sunny, open place. To obtain vigorous shoots in the initial growing season, it requires sufficiently moist soil, but with the appearance of buds and the beginning of flowering, it prefers drier conditions and does not need watering. Care is not at all complicated and consists mainly of weeding and loosening the soil around the plants.

Xeranthemum is good in border plantings, flower beds and rock gardens, but is mainly used for cutting. Plants are cut at a time when the baskets have not fully opened. Dry them by hanging them in bunches in a dry, shaded place. However, when dried, the flowers turn pale. Therefore, experts recommend dipping the inflorescences for 2-3 seconds in a weak solution of hydrochloric acid (1:12) before drying, then gently shake and dry in the usual way. The color will become more vibrant. In my opinion, Xeranthemum annua is one of the best plants for making dry bouquets.