The name "chrysanthemum" in Greek means "golden-eyed". Such a regal name was not given to this plant by chance: for a long time it was idolized in the imperial houses of Japan and China, forbidding ordinary mortals to breed. The initial forms of the flower were exclusively yellow, and the chrysanthemum was symbolized by power, wealth and nobility of the royal family.
Known for many millennia, the culture is loved by many flower growers, although in European countries they only got to know it in the 18th century. Today, considered the queen of autumn, yellow chrysanthemum gives sunny joy and the delicate beauty of star-shaped inflorescences to falling asleep gardens. We will talk about this amazing flower, its some varieties and their features in this article.
Species and varieties
There are so many of these representatives of the Asteraceae family, or asters, that different and very extensive breeding classifications operate in different countries. There are shrubs and herbaceous plants, perennials and annuals that bloom over the season. A huge number of species gives rise to significant differences: for example, stems of various degrees of omission, leaves of various shapes, sizes and colors. Inflorescences-baskets consist of rows of tubular and reed flowers.
We, considering certain flowers - yellow chrysanthemums - and focusing on precisely such shades of inflorescences, we learn about the characteristics of some representatives of the varieties of this "golden-colored" culture. We will select the most vivid and most loved varieties of gardeners.
Early grades
One of them is a large-flowered chrysanthemum with the mythical name βGolden Fleeceβ - an early variety, ideal for cutting. The advantages of the plant are a strong straight stem with dark, dense, figuredly carved leaves and a large bright yellow inflorescence-basket, consisting of 300 or more reed and tubular flowers, arranged in even rows. The "Golden Fleece" blooms in August, which is very unusual for autumn flowers. A perennial plant with a strong, branched rhizome grows rapidly, forming strong shoots, reaching a very impressive height of 0.8-1.2 m. The flowers have a fresh, pleasant smell.
Chrysanthemum "Orange", or "Golden Orange", is a bush variety of early flowering. It splendidly branches and grows up to 50-60 cm. In August, it blooms with a lot of terry flowers of rich orange shades, reaching 6-8 cm in diameter. Flowering ends already in mid-October. The variety is winter-resistant, withstands frosts up to -29Λ.
Late flowering chrysanthemums
One of the late varieties blooming in late October is Rivardi. These chrysanthemums are very effective: large (up to 20 cm in diameter) pompoms of golden inflorescences are collected from clear rows of long reed flowers.
All of these varieties are combined in the form of garden chrysanthemums, and we will talk about growing these magnificent autumn stars.
Agricultural Engineering Planting
Very severe climatic conditions in most regions of Russia dictate the cultivation of chrysanthemums through seedlings. Planted it in the spring, with the weakening of the threat of return frosts. Yellow chrysanthemum (and all other species) is a warm and photophilous plant that develops well on neutral or slightly acidic fertile loamy soils. Based on these preferences, they select a place for landing: it should be lit, inaccessible to groundwater and protected from through winds. Pre-dig the site and make nutrients - per 1 square. m 10 kg of humus and 35-40 gr. granules of mineral fertilizers.
For planting seedlings in a flower bed, a non-hot cloudy day is chosen. The scorching sun is an undesirable factor that can significantly slow down the rooting of young plants. They are planted in holes with intervals between them of 25-50 cm, focusing on the spreading of the bush. In planted plants, they pinch a growth point, which stimulates branching and the appearance of new shoots.
Crop care
Itβs easy to look after a growing chrysanthemum, you just need to follow a number of mandatory rules. For example, pinching a growth point is a necessary operation for a bush plant, and large-flowered varieties, including yellow chrysanthemum, do without this procedure, since strong straight stems, ending with a chic inflorescence, give them a special charm. In such species, on the contrary, lateral stems are removed, leaving some of the strongest. Tall varieties require additional support, which will not allow the bush to fall apart.
Watering and feeding
Chrysanthemum is a moisture-loving culture, it needs generous watering, since a lack of water will certainly affect decorativeness. When watering, adhere to this rule: avoid water getting on the leaves and inflorescences, after which the soil under the plant is loosened and the weeds are removed.
The necessary feeding is supported by bright flowering. During the summer, they are carried out three times: in spring, humus or compost is added under the chrysanthemum, phosphorus-potassium preparations are added before flowering, phosphorus fertilizers are anticipated in the winter.
Pests of culture
Yellow chrysanthemum, like other species, become prey for pests quite rarely. But aphids or thrips can settle on the back of leaves and multiply rapidly, forming colonies and nullifying all efforts to grow the flower. If an attack of pests is noticed at the very beginning, then it will be enough just to tear off the damaged leaves, in advanced situations you will have to use an insecticide (Actellik, Aktara), treating plants 2-3 times with weekly intervals if necessary.