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The Sunflower flower got its name due to the curious property of its delicate buds to open with the rising of the sun and crumble at the same time as darkness falls. Helianthemum is a beautifully flowering ground cover that is distributed throughout the world. Not all of the many species of this plant found in the wild have taken root in cultivated horticulture, however, on the basis of those that breeders and designers chose, a significant number of varieties have been bred, with an impressive variety of shapes and colors. Sunflower does not impose special requirements on environmental conditions: it often grows successfully and blooms even without special care. However, considering his modest needs, the Helianthemum will surely thank you. You can easily get a charming and delicate garden decoration with bright sunny flowers, which will perfectly fit into the design of any “paradise”.
Description and characteristics of the sunflower perennial flower
Sunflower, or helianthemum, is a numerous genus of the Cistus family, uniting about 80 plant species. Its representatives can be found in the coastal and mountainous regions of both American continents, in the Mediterranean part of Europe, in the south and in the center of Asia, in North Africa.
Sunflowers are annuals and perennials, shrubs and herbaceous plants. The helianthemums are united by belonging to the evergreen representatives of the flora, growing easily and quickly.
Bright, beautifully blooming helianthemum grows rapidly, frost-resistant and unpretentious
Long stems of flowers are both straight, sprawling, and creeping along the ground. Their surface is slightly pubescent. The size of the helianthemum shoots varies between 10-45 cm.
The leaves of the flowers are simple, oval or slightly elongated, their edges are usually slightly bent down. The plates are arranged oppositely on the shoots. Depending on the type and variety of helianthemum, the leaves can be painted in all shades of green and look very decorative.
Sunflower inflorescences usually have a complex raceme shape, but simple single flowers are also found. Each of them consists of 5 separate petals. The color palette of helianthemum flowers is very rich. You can find all shades of yellow, white, pink, orange, blue, blue and lilac tones. In the middle of each flower is a set of bright yellow stamens. Helianthemum has no pronounced aroma. However, the bright color of the corolla of the flower and the large amount of pollen attract bumblebees, bees and other pollinating insects.
Helianthemum flowering is abundant and lasts a total of 30-35 days. Its period depends on what kind of weather prevails in summer. In the hot, sunny season, helianthemum buds will begin to appear and open early – in its first half. If the summer is cool and rainy, then flowers should be expected no earlier than July-August.
The fruit of the helianthemum is an upper one- or three-celled capsule containing a large number of small seeds.
Monet-leaved sunflower – one of the types of helianthemum, which are commonly used in ornamental gardening
Types and varieties of Sunflower
Of the variety of sunflower species, only a few are used in ornamental gardening. However, on their basis, many varieties of helianthemum have been bred, providing a rich choice of shoot lengths, shapes and colors of flowers and leaves.
Monetary Sunflower
Monetary, coin-leaved or ordinary sunflower (lat. Helianthemum nummilarium, aka vulgare), is characterized by the shape of a shrub with densely pubescent, spreading, strongly branching stems about 40-45 cm high. In the wild, this flower is found on the Mediterranean coast. The upper side of the oval leaf blades of this helianthemum is dark green, the lower side is grayish, covered with pile. Monetary sunflower flowers are united in one-sided brushes up to 12 pieces each. It is a winter-hardy species that does not need shelter for the winter.
Henfield Brilliant
Henfield Brilliant sunflower variety is the winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain. Plant height 15-20 cm. Vigorously growing dense shrub forms a picturesque flower carpet from late spring to mid-summer. The leaves of this sunflower are dark, silvery-green in color. Flowers about 3 cm in diameter. The petals are rich orange, yellow stamens are clearly visible against their background. Each bud of this helianthemum opens for only one day, but a very large number of them are formed, which allows flowering to last for a long time.
Henfield Brilliant – winner of the AGM Award of the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain
Cerise Queen
The length of the shoots of the sunflower variety of the monet Seriz Queen (Cherry Queen) averages from 10 to 25 cm. The foliage is shiny, rich green in color. Flowers are double, bright red. Among the advantages of this sunflower is the ability to tolerate strong temperature fluctuations well.
Cerise Queen – terry helianthemum, not afraid of sudden changes in temperature
Belgravia Rose
The Belgravia rose sunflower has long (15-20 cm) dense shoots, gray-green leaves and bright cherry-pink flowers, shaped like poppy heads. The color of their petals is usually darker in the central part, but becomes lighter at the edges. This sunflower variety is drought tolerant. However, the flower looks best if, during the hottest periods of summer, it is watered from time to time.
The tender Belgravia Rose is actually very hardy and drought tolerant.
Apennine sunflower
The birthplace of the Apennine sunflower (lat. Helianthemum apenninum) is Asia Minor and the southwest of the European continent. The bushes of this helianthemum are usually of medium size (20-25 cm). The leaves are small, up to 1 cm long, elongated, lanceolate, pubescent on the reverse side. Racemose inflorescences unite small buds about 1,5-2 cm in diameter. This helianthemum usually blooms in May-June.
Wisley Pink
The most popular variety of the pink variety of the Apennine sunflower is Wisley Pink. It is distinguished by dense leaves of pale gray and green color. The flowers are pale pinkish, appear in late spring or early summer. This sunflower looks very beautiful growing among rocks or planted in containers.
Sunflower Apennine Wisley Pink looks very decorative against the background of stones
sunflower alpine
In the wild, Alpine sunflower (lat. Helianthemum alpestre) can be found in the mountainous regions of the Pyrenees and the Balkans. Its shoots do not grow above 10 cm. The leaves of this helianthemum are tiny, only about 0,7 cm long. The plant forms low-growing lush mats covered with pale yellow flowers. The period of their appearance is from early to mid-summer.
Alpine sunflower bushes for the winter must be covered
sunflower lunate
Under natural conditions, the moon-shaped sunflower (lat. Helianthemum lunulatum) grows on dry, rocky landscapes of the Alpes-Maritimes. This shrub is considered partly deciduous. Its straight branches eventually grow up to 25 cm and become sprawling. The leaves are small, elongated, gray-green. Helianthemum flowers are bright yellow with an orange crescent-shaped spot at the base. Their size in diameter is 1,5 cm. Flowers form in the first half of summer.
Sunflower lunate refers to partially deciduous plants
Arctic Sunflower
Arctic sunflower (lat. Helianthemum arcticum) is a species currently recognized as endangered. Listed in the Red Book. In nature, it grows exclusively on the territory of Our Country, in the Murmansk region, along the sea coast. This sunflower is a densely branching semi-shrub, the length of which is from 10 to 40 cm. The color of the stems varies from green to purple, in the lower part they become woody. Compound inflorescences of arctic helianthemum usually combine from 3 to 6 golden yellow flowers, each of which reaches about 2,5 cm in diameter. The period of their appearance is July.
A rare arctic sunflower grows only in Our Country and is listed in the Red Book
sunflower hybrid
The species Sunflower hybrid (Helianthemum x hybridum) combines a large number of varieties obtained by crossing the Helianthemums of the Apennine and monetary. Usually these are semi-shrubs 20-40 cm tall, forming dense mats or low pillows on the soil with numerous single flowers and green foliage. Most often, it is the hybrid sunflower that can be seen in flower beds in garden plots. It should be remembered that many varieties of this helianthemum need dry shelter for the winter.
Amy Baring
Amy Baring hybrid sunflower cultivar appeared in Scotland in the 1920s. The shoots of this plant form wide mats up to 12 cm in height. The leaves of this sunflower are narrow, elliptical in shape. The flowers are painted in a rich yellow tone with an orange central part. They appear in late spring.
Homeland hybrid sunflower Amy Baring – Scotland
Ben Affleck
Sunflower Ben Affleck looks very elegant: its silvery-gray leaves serve as a picturesque backdrop for bright rich yellow or deep orange flowers with an orange center. The flowering period of this helianthemum occurs twice: in May-June and in September.
Ben Affleck variety can bloom twice during the season
Wisley White
The quivering white flowers of the Weasley White helianthemum variety with pale yellow centers justify another popular name for this plant – “softness”. Its shoots usually reach 25 cm in length. The foliage of this helianthemum is colored silvery green. The budding period lasts from May to July. After its completion, the helianthemum needs careful pruning.
Delicate Weasley White requires pruning at the end of the flowering period
Raspberry Ripple
The original sunflower color of the hybrid Raspberry Ripple really resembles crimson stains applied with watercolor paint. The delicate pink shade of the petals of its flowers darkens, pouring into a bright blush, in places, closer to the edges, turns pale almost to milky white. Shoots, covered with gray-green elongated foliage, usually grow up to 15-30 cm. Flowering of this helianthemum occurs in late spring and lasts until mid-summer.
Raspberry Ripple’s coloring is reminiscent of streaks made with raspberry watercolor.
Jubilee
The double lemon-yellow flowers of the beauty Jubilee look extremely decorative against the background of light green foliage. The height of the stems is 20-25 cm. Helianthemum Jubilee blooms in late spring and early summer.
Jubilee’s lemon-yellow flowers have a double structure.
the bride
Charming The Bride (The Bride) attracts the eye with cream flowers with a golden “eye” in the center, which make up an excellent ensemble with silver-gray leaves. The height of its stems is about 20 cm. It blooms throughout the summer. This helianthemum looks great in rockeries against the background of decorative stones.
Cream buds Brides sparkle with a golden speck in the middle
Methods of reproduction
The most popular method of propagating the species sunflower is seed sowing. Hybrid forms of the helianthemum of the first series are often cut from cuttings, since it is this method that allows you to fully preserve all the characteristics that the mother plant possesses. It is also not difficult to propagate an adult sunflower by rooting layering.
Growing Sunflower from Seeds
Most often, the sunflower is grown from seeds in seedlings, but in milder, warmer climates, seedless is also used. In the first case, strong grown seedlings have the opportunity to take root better in the ground. The advantage of the second is the absence of the need for a flower transplant: the helianthemum does not tolerate this procedure.
Layering
Sunflower propagation by layering is performed in the spring. The developed shoot is gently tilted, pressed to the surface of the earth and sprinkled with soil, leaving the upper part free. Helianthemum layering is regularly watered and monitored. By autumn, the nodes of the shoot of the sunflower should take root. After that, the layers can be separated and transplanted to a new place. On the roots of the flower, it is imperative to save a clod of earth.
Cuttings
To propagate the sunflower by cuttings, the apical shoots without flowers are cut off from the plant by about 10 cm. They are placed in a container filled with peat or sand, under a transparent cover made of plastic or film. The soil under the improvised “greenhouse” is kept moist and condensed moisture is removed from time to time. After new leaves appear on the helianthemum cuttings, they can be considered accustomed and planted in open ground.
Planting and caring for the sunflower
The sunflower is unpretentious – usually this flower grows quickly and easily. Compliance with the simple rules for planting and caring for helianthemum seedlings will help create optimal conditions for them, thereby keeping the plants in excellent shape and allowing them to remain decorative for a long time.
When growing a sunflower from seeds, it should be remembered that it does not tolerate transplanting very well.
Dates of sowing and planting in open ground
Sowing sunflower seeds for seedlings is usually done in early March. It is taken into account that the germination period of this flower is quite long and takes about 4 weeks in total. The transfer of grown and strengthened plants to a permanent place in the garden in this case can be carried out in late spring or early summer.
Helianthemum seeds should be sown directly in open ground no earlier than the first decade of May. Be sure to wait until warm weather finally sets in (at night, the air temperature should not fall below + 14 ° C).
Seeding for seedlings
Since any transplant invariably weakens the root system of a sunflower, peat pots or tablets, or individual cups, will serve as the best container for germinating seedlings of this flower. 2-3 helianthemum seeds are sown in one container.
They do it like this:
- well moisturize and slightly loosen the substrate;
- spread sunflower seeds on the surface;
- lightly cover them on top with a thin layer of sand;
- once again moisten the landing from the spray gun;
- cover the containers with a transparent film or glass;
- transferred to a warm (+ 18-24 ° C), well-lit place with diffused light;
- provide the helianthemum with daily airing and regular gentle watering.
After the emergence of seedlings of the flower, the “greenhouse” is removed, and the temperature is somewhat lowered (+ 15-16 ° C will be enough).
Care for helianthemum sprouts at this stage comes down to moderate watering as the soil dries up and systematic, careful loosening of the soil surface near the seedlings.
When the seedlings grow up, they will need to be thinned out, cutting off the weakest shoots in each pot at the base and leaving one of the strongest and most robust flower.
1,5-2 weeks before being transferred to open ground, helianthemum seedlings will need to be hardened. To do this, sunflower seedlings begin to be taken out into the open air in calm calm weather. Initially, they are left in such conditions for a couple of hours, but every day they increase the time spent by the seedlings of the flower on the loggia or in the yard, gradually bringing it up to a whole day.
Sunflower fruit – a box with small seeds
Site and soil preparation
The plot in the garden where it is planned to place a flower bed with a sunflower must meet the following requirements:
- well lit by the sun;
- be protected from strong winds, drafts and rain;
- have loose, well-drained soil with a neutral or alkaline reaction.
Transplanting
Planting sunflower seedlings in the ground occurs according to the following rules:
- Holes are dug in the prepared area at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other. Their depth should be such that it is easy to place a peat pot with helianthemum roots.
- Immediately before planting, the sunflower seedling bushes are well watered.
- Set peat pots with flowers in the pits, carefully fill the empty spaces with soil.
- Lightly tamp the surface of the earth around the sunflower stems.
- Helianthemum is watered abundantly.
Aftercare and winterization
Caring for a sunflower growing in the field is extremely simple. Basic Rules:
- Watering the helianthemum is carried out only in summer, during long dry periods. To do this, it is desirable to use settled, slightly heated water in the sun. In spring and autumn, the helianthemum, as a rule, has enough moisture, which is provided by natural precipitation.
- A sunflower growing on nutritious soil does not need additional feeding. If necessary, before the start of the flowering period, you can add a little organic matter in liquid form to the soil. However, it must be remembered that in the case of an excess of nutrients, the sunflower will begin to grow shoots and foliage at the expense of flowers.
- To maintain a decorative appearance, the helianthemum must be trimmed regularly. About a month after the first buds appeared, shoots with wilted inflorescences should be shortened by about 1/3. This procedure will also contribute to the formation of new helianthemum flowers.
The area in the garden where the sunflower grows must be well lit.
Most types of sunflower have good winter hardiness and in temperate latitudes do not need shelter for the winter. However, in some cases, additional protection should be provided to the flower. It is necessary:
- helianthemum alpine;
- some hybrid sunflower varieties, especially those with red flowers and silvery leaves.
Pests and diseases
Sick sunflower infrequently. Of the most common problems that can affect the health of the helianthemum, the following should be mentioned:
- Mučnistaâ rosa. The development of this disease is often facilitated by waterlogging – excessive watering of the sunflower or a prolonged period of rains. It manifests itself in the form of a whitish coating on the leaves, petioles, young shoots of the helianthemum and gradually affects the entire plant. The organs begin to rot, the flower quickly dies. It is necessary to cut and destroy the affected parts of the sunflower, try to establish a watering regime. To treat powdery mildew, you will need to treat the helianthemum plantings with biofungicides 2 or 3 times with an interval of 10 days. From folk remedies, it is recommended to use an infusion of rotten hay, in particular, in rainy times for preventive purposes.
Powdery mildew can quickly affect the above-ground organs of plants when waterlogged.
- septoriosis. It manifests itself in the form of numerous spots of brown color on the leaf blades of the sunflower. Against this fungal disease, the treatment of flower plantings with Bordeaux liquid (1%) is effective. It is first necessary to cut and burn all the affected leaves of the helianthemum.
Septoria appears as brown spots on the leaves of the plant.
- Aphids and thrips. These pests feed on sunflower juice and can quickly destroy the entire planting. Against them, it is recommended to use spraying of flowers with a soapy solution with the addition of wood ash. Chemical insecticides (in particular, Fitoverm) are highly effective in combating these insects.
Thrips, like aphids, feed on plant sap.
Stone flower in landscape design
An unpretentious, fast-growing and extremely decorative ground cover helianthemum is widely used in landscape design. Examples of using sunflower flowers to decorate a garden are shown in the photo:
Helianthemum is an excellent element for creating a beautiful cover on rocky or bare areas.
Bright sunflower looks advantageous in the foreground of almost any flower garden
This flower is a real find for decorating picturesque borders along garden paths.
The sunflower is wonderfully combined with stones in rockeries, on alpine hills, feels great on various screes and slopes
Helianthemum easily gets along with many drought-resistant perennials – stonecrops, ornamental cereals, allium, sage, lavender, speedwell, bluebells, flax
Sunflower also does great as a container plant.
Sunflower Monetolidny – what they treat
Monetary sunflower is considered a medicinal plant and is actively used in folk medicine. It is believed that its stems, flowers and leaves have healing properties.
Sunflower herb infusion is used:
- in the form of lotions as a means of healing wounds;
- with dysentery;
- with colitis as an astringent;
- to get rid of the effects of stress, panic, solving problems with sleep;
- as an antiepileptic drug.
Conclusion
Bright and beautiful flower Sunflower is a wonderful and unpretentious decoration of the garden. A fast growing ground cover perennial, it is undemanding to care for, resistant to heat and frost, and grows easily on all sorts of slopes and rocky soils. Helianthemum is charming during the flowering period, lasting about a month, and often longer, and very decorative the rest of the time, representing a lush mat of dense gray-green foliage. This is a real find for landscape designers and a wonderful choice for someone who has just begun to comprehend the intricacies of gardening, but at the same time wants his site to look elegant and original.
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