The name "chrysanthemum" in Greek means "golden". Such a royal name for this plant was not given by chance: for a long time it was idolized in the imperial houses of Japan and China, forbidding mere mortals to breed it. The original forms of the flower were exclusively yellow, and the chrysanthemum symbolized the power, we alth and nobility of the royal family.
Known for many millennia, the culture is loved by many flower growers, although in European countries they met it only in the 18th century. Today, considered the queen of autumn, the yellow chrysanthemum brings sunny joy and the delicate beauty of star-shaped inflorescences to sleeping gardens. We will talk about this amazing flower, some of its varieties and their features in this article.
Types and varieties
There are so many of these representatives of the Asteraceae family that different and very extensive selection classifications operate in different countries. There are shrubs and herbaceous plants, perennials and annuals that bloom in a season. Hugethe number of species gives rise to significant differences: for example, stems of varying degrees of omission, leaves of various shapes, sizes and colors. Basket inflorescences consist of rows of tubular and reed flowers.
We, while examining certain flowers - yellow chrysanthemums - and focusing on precisely such shades of inflorescences, we learn about the features of some representatives of the varieties of this "golden" culture. Let's choose the brightest and most popular varieties of flower growers.
Early varieties
One of them is a large-flowered chrysanthemum with the mythical name "Golden Fleece" - an early variety, ideal for cutting. The advantages of the plant are a strong straight stem with dark, dense, figuratively cut leaves and a large bright yellow basket inflorescence, consisting of 300 or more reed and tubular flowers arranged in even rows. "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. Flowers have a fresh pleasant smell.
Chrysanthemum "Orange" or "Golden Orange" is a bush variety of early flowering. It branches magnificently and grows up to 50-60 cm. In August, it blooms with many double flowers of rich orange hues, reaching a diameter of 6-8 cm. Flowering ends in mid-October. The variety is winter-hardy, withstands frosts down to -29˚С.
Late flowering chrysanthemums
One oflate, blooming at the end of October, varieties is "Rivardi". These chrysanthemums are very spectacular: large (up to 20 cm in diameter) pom-poms of golden inflorescences are collected from clear rows of long reed flowers.
All of the varieties listed are combined to form garden chrysanthemums and we'll talk about growing these gorgeous fall stars.
Agriculture planting
Very harsh climatic conditions in most regions of Russia dictate the cultivation of chrysanthemums through seedlings. Plant it in the spring, when the threat of return frosts is weakened. Yellow chrysanthemum (and all other species) is a warm and light-loving plant that develops well on neutral or slightly acidic fertile loamy soils. Based on these preferences, a landing site is selected: it must be lit, inaccessible to groundwater and protected from through winds. Previously, the site is dug up and nutrients are added - per 1 sq. m 10 kg of humus and 35-40 gr. mineral fertilizer granules.
For planting seedlings in a flower bed, choose a non-hot cloudy day. The scorching sun is an undesirable factor that can significantly slow down the rooting of young plants. They are planted in holes at intervals of 25-50 cm between them, focusing on the spreading of the bush. In planted plants, they pinch the growing point, which stimulates branching and the emergence of new shoots.
Crop care
Caring for a growing chrysanthemum is easy, 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 in a chic inflorescence give them a special charm. In such species, on the contrary, the side stems are removed, leaving a few of the strongest. Tall varieties require additional support, which will not allow the bush to fall apart.
Water and fertilize
Chrysanthemum is a moisture-loving crop, it needs generous watering, since the lack of water will necessarily affect the decorative effect. When watering, they follow this rule: they avoid getting water on the leaves and inflorescences, after which the soil under the plant is loosened and weeds are removed.
Support bright flowering necessary top dressing. During the summer they are carried out three times: in the spring, humus or compost is brought under the chrysanthemum, before flowering - phosphorus-potassium preparations, on the eve of winter - phosphate fertilizers.
Crop pests
Yellow chrysanthemum, like other species, rarely become prey to pests. But aphids or thrips can settle on the back of the leaves and multiply quickly, forming colonies and nullifying all efforts to grow a flower. If the attack of pests is noticed at the very beginning, then it will be enough just to cut off the damaged leaves, in advanced situations you will have to use an insecticide ("Aktellik", "Aktara"), treating the plants 2-3 times with weekly breaks if necessary.
