Growing blue chamomile, photo
Felicia is an African blue daisy. Thanks to its bright unusual shade, it stands out from other colors.
Unlike its white relative, felicia is a medium-sized plant. It grows up to 25 cm in height, but grows strongly to the sides. Shoots grow up to 40-50 cm in length. The leaves are small, gray-green.
Blue chamomile is native to South Africa.
During the flowering period, the plant is completely covered with flowers in the form of stars. Their size is 2-2,5 cm in diameter. The color of the inflorescences is blue with a lilac tint. The middle of the flower is bright yellow. The photo shows the blooming of a blue chamomile, which lasts until late autumn. Flowers appear by the end of June or July.
There are 2 varieties of felicia for growing in the garden:
- “Ammeloid”. The plant is a perennial, but in our climate it can be grown as an annual. Bushes grow up to 60 cm in height. Inflorescences of a pale blue or turquoise shade.
- “Gentle”. Low-growing variety up to 20 cm in height. It blooms in July or August. Abundant flowering.
Both varieties do not tolerate drought well. This must be taken into account when caring for a flower.
For planting felicia, choose a sunny area, always with fertile and light soil. At noon, the flower needs shade. Direct sunlight adversely affects the plant.
You can grow a flower from seeds. Sow them in seedling pots or outdoors in May. Seedlings appear 1-2 weeks after sowing. Chamomile seedlings can be sown in March. When sowing in open ground, place the seeds at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Chamomile blooms 1,5 months after seed germination.
Care:
- Water the chamomile as the soil dries. Increase watering in hot weather. Flowering depends on moisture.
- Remove dried shoots. To bush the chamomile, pinch the stems without inflorescences. If there are flowers on the branches, do not touch them.
- Feed the felicia with compound fertilizers for ornamental plants once every 3 weeks.
Chamomile is a cold-resistant plant, therefore it tolerates temperature changes in autumn well. Cooling does not affect flowering.
Felicia can be used in landscaping. It goes well with calendula, marigolds and white daisies. Flowers can be planted on rocky hills, along curbs or in containers. Since the plants are short, they are suitable for decorating paths.