Decorative sunflower: planting and care in the open field, growing from seeds, varieties

Colorful decorative sunflower is a close relative of the well-known oilseed sunflower. Both plants belong to the same species, and both are actively used in garden design.

Decorative sunflower, planting and care

which will be described later, is more than 100 varieties with special features. All varieties differ both in size and color, and in the nuances of cultivation.

Description and features

The sunflower belongs to the Asters family and combines a variety of species, most of which are decorative. Plants differ from each other, but share common characteristics:

high straight stems from 0.6 to 3 m;
hard large leaves;
inflorescences in the form of baskets with several rows of encircling petals;
fruits are represented by compressed achenes.

Ornamental sunflower includes both annual and perennial varieties. The differences are in the height of the plants and the color of the petals, which can have different shades:

white;
cream;
yellow;
orange;
red;
burgundy;
brown.

Origin

The plant is native to the South American continent. It is believed that the first sunflowers appeared in Europe after the return of Columbus from Mexico. The appearance of the flower influenced the appearance of its name - helianthus, which can be translated as a solar flower.Sunflowers appeared in Russia at the beginning of the 18th century. first as a decoration of gardens, and later as an agricultural crop.

Growing seedlings

Sunflowers can be sown directly in open ground, but it is preferable to use the seedling method of growing. It is advisable to purchase seeds in stores and nurseries, although you can collect them yourself, but this method does not guarantee the preservation of the original characteristics of the plant.

Sowing dates

The sowing time directly depends on the timing of planting seedlings in open ground. For sustainable development in a permanent place, the age of plants should be 3-3.5 weeks. On average, seeds are planted between late April and early May, but varietal requirements may shift this period.

Soil requirement

The soil for growing decorative sunflowers needs loose and very light.The best option would be sandy soils. The land must be prepared for planting at least 24 hours in advance. The site should be dug up, dense clay soil or loam should be diluted with sand.

High rates of decorativeness are associated with moderate moisture and soil nutrition. And the presence of high acidity and salinity has a negative impact on the appearance of sunflowers.

Date of planting

Ornamental sunflower varieties are not particularly resistant to frost, so it is recommended to plant seedlings after warm weather has settled. Usually plants are planted starting from the second half of May. With seedless cultivation in the southern regions, seeds are sown in late March or early April, and starting from the middle latitudes and to the north, the period shifts to the end of May.

Sowing sunflower seeds in open ground can be carried out not only in spring, but also in autumn. However, in this case, seedlings appear in spring only in warm climates with mild snowy winters.

Plant pattern

The distance between individual seedlings depends on the sunflower variety. Low-growing plants are located no closer than 0.3 m from each other. Tall ones need even more space, and it is optimal to distance the specimens by 0.7 m. No more than 3 shoots can be placed in each hole, but tight planting leads to a decrease in the size of the flowers.

Care

Sunflowers do not have high care requirements. The most important condition is the abundance of sunlight, plants can not be placed even in partial shade. Strong stems are not afraid of winds, but undersized varieties are best planted in sheltered places.

Irrigation

Flowers need abundant regular watering. It is impossible to allow both the drying of the soil and the stagnation of moisture at the roots. Plants are watered weekly, and in conditions of sultry heat - daily. A sunflower needs water especially strongly during the formation of leaves, as well as during the appearance of buds and during flowering.

Loosening and weeding

The soil must be loosened after each watering, as well as after rain. This stimulates the vegetation of the plant and saturates the roots with moisture and oxygen. At the same time, weed grass is removed, which takes nutrition from the sunflower and shades the seedlings.

Feeding

Decorative qualities of sunflowers are enhanced by the presence of nutrients in the soil. A month after the appearance of the first shoots, the plants can be fed with nitrogen fertilizers; during flowering, complex mineral supplements or phosphorus-potassium mixtures can be used.

Pests and diseases

Ornamental sunflower can be affected by insects and bacterial diseases. Dangerous infections:

Downy mildew. Pests and high humidity stimulate the development of the disease, from which a white coating appears at the bottom of the sheet. The diseased parts of the plant must be cut off, and the plantings should be treated with fungicides or soapy water with the addition of copper sulfate.
Brown spotting. The disease causes the appearance of dark drying spots on the leaves in conditions of high temperature and humidity. For treatment, drugs "Vectra" or "Strobi" are used.
Rust. The fungus forms orange pustules filled with spores, you can get rid of the disease with the help of fungicides.

Sunflower moth

Caterpillars of sunflower moths or moths infect plant leaves. You can get rid of insects with the help of insecticides, but there is no preventive control of these pests, in addition to weeding.

Sunflower barbel

These beetles lay their eggs in sunflower stems, and the larvae destroy its structure. Proper care and removal of weeds will save plantings, and chemicals will destroy insects.

Sunflower spikelet

The pest lays its eggs in the axils of the leaves, and the larvae quickly penetrate the stem. Deep digging of the soil and removal of dry shoots is a good prevention against thorns. Plants can be treated with Vantex, Fufanon or similar.

Pruning faded inflorescences

Sunflowers do not always bloom at the same time, for the reappearance of baskets it is recommended to cut off the previous ones immediately after the loss of attractiveness. This procedure will stimulate the plant to re-develop flowers. In autumn, the shoots of perennial varieties are cut off completely.

Views

The sunflower genus includes at least 50 plant species with ornamental characteristics. Most common:

annual or oilseed;
tuberous or Jerusalem artichoke;
ten-petalled;
Maximiliana;
holly;
red stem;
bright-flowered.

Tuber-bearing

The main difference of this species is the formation of tubers in the underground part of the plant. Appearance:

shoot height up to 3 m;
stem lightly covered with leaves;
small baskets from 2 to 6 cm;
petals are golden yellow.

Ten-petalled

A common decorative look is characterized by:

plant height 1.5m;
dark green leaves;
flowering from the second half of August until late autumn;
simple or double inflorescences;
petals are golden or lemon yellow.

Popular varieties

There are a lot of varieties of decorative sunflower, as well as hybrids. Plants vary according to size, climatic requirements and external characteristics.

All varieties, both pure and hybrids, have a subtle, pleasant smell, attract bees and are honey plants.

Vanilla ice

Characteristics of the variety:

used for bouquets;
simple basket shape;
vanilla petal color.

Teddy bear

External plant data:

shoots up to 1 m;
double flowers about 22cm across;
bright yellow petals;
long flowering.

Red Sun

Sunflower features:

height no more than 2 m;
long flowering;
red-brown color of the petals.

Moulin Rouge

The flowers of this variety are different:

center petals burgundy red;
light edge;
core is dark.

Kong

Variety Features:

height about 5 m;
shoots tend to break in the wind;
use as a hedge.

Procut Red Lemon Bicolor

The appearance of the flowers of this variety is characterized by:

black core;
petals red inside;
flower edge turns yellow.

Moonlight

Features of the variety:

height up to 1 m;
simple inflorescences;
lemon yellow petals.

Giant Single

Special features of these sunflowers:

height 2 m;
large baskets;
simple form of inflorescences;
petals are golden.

Italian White

External variety differences:

light, almost white petals;
dark center;
simple shape of baskets;
high growth.

Cherry Rose

Foreign variety is characterized by:

fast growth;
center almost black;
the middle of the petals is red-cherry;
light yellow edges;
no pollen.

Florenza

Features of these sunflowers:

used in bouquets;
central half of petals burgundy;
flower edges are yellow.

Black Magic F1

Characteristics of the hybrid:

shoot height 1.2 m;
rich maroon color of baskets;
use in bouquets.

Use in garden design

In the decoration of garden plots, both single plantings of decorative sunflowers and a combination with other flowers are widely used. The plant adorns flowerbeds and hedges, creates a bright accent and forms a rustic interior.

Flowerbeds

When forming a joint flower bed, it is worth planting yellow sunflowers in combination with blue, purple or white flowers. Large inflorescences harmonize well with chrysanthemums, lavender, small wild flowers, white liatrises and delphiniums.

Decoration of fences, compost heaps, buildings

Short sunflower can be planted along the edge of garden paths and at the border of hedges. High grades look good against the background of the blank walls of buildings. Lush plants can hide unattractive compost heaps from view. Sunflowers also make a good backdrop for rustic garden arrangements.

Bouquet, cut

Not too large bright baskets of sunflowers are used by florists to create original bouquets. Inflorescences create good harmony with roses, gladioli, asters and chrysanthemums. Sunflowers stay fresh for a long time and do not overwhelm other flowers.