Gelenium (51 photos): planting and caring for flowers in the open field, herbaceous plants Gelenium Hupa and hybrid varieties, description of yellow species and varieties "Rubinswerg", "Salsa" and "Fuego"

Description of gelenium

The flower was first discovered in the region of North and Central America. At the moment, it has about 30 species, but gardeners are actively growing only a few of them. The height of perennial helenium is on average 0.5-1 m, but there are varieties that can grow more than 160 cm.The trunks of a plant, depending on the variety, are rough and smooth, erect, branched. Leaves are most often lanceolate, stem. The flowers are rounded, in the form of baskets, look like a daisy, solitary or collected in corymbose plants. The color range of inflorescences depends on the species characteristics: yellow, purple, orange, brown, and even multi-colored. The flowering period lasts from 30 days to one and a half months. After budding, in place of flowers, cylindrical fruits are formed, representing a pubescent achene.

The plant is considered light-loving, but can tolerate slight shading. Its roots are weak, with the arrival of winter they die off, and in their place a young bud is formed, which, with the arrival of heat, puts out new stems and roots. All varieties of culture are thermophilic, they do not tolerate subzero temperatures and, with the onset of cold weather, need shelter.

The color palette of perennial helenium depends on the variety

Overview of species and best varieties

In nature, there is a large varietal variety of gelenuim - these flowers can have different sizes, tones, they also differ in the flowering period.

Yellow and red:

"Canaria" - a variety with double outer petals of a yellow hue, the height is about 1.5 m;
"Double Trouble" is a tall variety, stems up to 1 m long, has rich yellow petals and a lemon core;
"Goldraush" - a plant with yellow petals and a brownish basket, up to 1.5 m in height;
"Bishop" - a bush with dark yellow, almost brown baskets and rich dark yellow petals, stem length - 80-90 cm;
"Moerheim Beauty" - beautiful flowers with a delicate orange-scarlet bloom, height - 70-80 cm;
"Rubinkuppel" - the petals of this variety are almost red, the basket is brownish, small, grows up to 90-100 cm;
"Rubinzwerg" - optimal for cutting and group planting, scarlet petals, yellow core, stem length - up to 50 cm.

Two-color varieties:

"Fursigel" - this helenium has yellow and brown petals, stem length 110-120 cm;
"Flammenrad" - yellowish-orange flowers, grows up to 1 m;
"Rauftopas" - the flowers of this variety are painted in yellow shades from above, and in orange tones from below, the height of the stems is 90-100 cm;
"Sunrise" - yellowish-red decorative flowers.

Low-growing varieties:

"Moerheim Beauty" - a reddish-brown flower, the height of the bush reaches 75-80 cm;
"Crimson Beauty" - reddish-orange helenium, stem size - 50-60 cm;
"Red Army" is a reddish-brown perennial no more than 60 cm high.

The varieties that bloom in June-early August include:

Pumilum Magnificum;
Waltraut;
Wesergold.

Among plants with an average flowering period (late July - early August), there are:

"Autumn Gelenium";
Biedermeier;
Goldraush;
"Maryachi".

Gelenium of late flowering is represented by varieties:

Bandera;
"Baudirector Lina";
"Wild forms".

Gelenium: planting and care in the open field - plant magic

Gelenium is one of the most favorite plants among summer residents. Bright yellow-orange flowers and ease of maintenance make it a popular resident in many areas.Gelenium is a perennial plant, it belongs to the Asteraceae family. He came to our latitudes from America. Today there are many varieties of helenium, some of which exist even in the wild. Gelenium stems are very strong and quite tall. The flowers are small - up to 7 cm in diameter, but there are usually a lot of them on one stem. Gelenium is considered an autumn flower, since its main flowering period falls on August-September.
Methods for growing helenium
Most gardeners consider one of the most effective ways to propagate helenium - separating the outlets

Despite this, sowing of seeds is the most popular; cuttings are also often used.
Sharing with rosettes is important not in the autumn. Since helenium blooms relatively late, it may not have time to recover by the onset of cold weather.

The most suitable time for this breeding method is spring. The division should be carried out as carefully as possible, since the root system of the plant is rather fragile.
Cuttings of helenium are also carried out in the spring. For this, the tops of young shoots are cut, which are approximately 8 cm in length. Then they are rooted and covered with a transparent jar on top. After the new plant has released young leaves, the jar can be removed.
Sowing helenium seeds can be carried out both in spring and autumn. It is most convenient to plant seeds in a box in February. Already in May-June, the seedlings can be transferred to open ground. Diving is carried out only when the sprouts have at least three leaves. Before planting in open ground, the roots of the plant should be immersed in water for 10 minutes, this will significantly improve its growth.
Seat selection
Gelenium, like most plants, prefers a place well lit by the sun. However, it adapts well in partial shade. Given the length of the stems, the bushes are planted, as a rule, in the far part of the flower garden. It is important to ensure that the helenium does not obscure other, more fragile plants. It is also perfect as a decoration for fences, house walls and other buildings.
Gelenium does not tolerate drought well, so it is better to plant it on moist soils, which, however, do not suffer from stagnant water. For the same reason, it is recommended to water the plant abundantly immediately after planting. And so that moisture is better retained at the roots, the planting site is fertilized with compost.
Seasonal work
Gelenium rarely suffers from diseases. Sometimes he can be annoyed by garden snails. Also, with excessive watering, rotting of the root system can occur.
Given the fact that helenium is a water-loving plant, the main point in caring for it is timely and sufficient watering. It is very important that it is regular, but not plentiful. It is recommended to increase the amount of water only during periods of drought and extreme heat. Helenium also reacts well to regular fertilization, although it can do well without it. Top dressing is usually carried out three times a year - in May during the flowering period and at the end of it. In addition, in the spring, annual mulching with the use of humus is carried out.
In the fall, after the helenium has faded, the bushes are pruned by about 10 cm. Despite the fact that it tolerates frost well, it is recommended to cover it for the winter period. The plant needs to be replanted every 2 or 3 years, as it becomes smaller and degenerates. It is preferable to transplant in the spring.

Planting site, soil

Caring for the plant is simple, it is enough to adhere to a number of rules. Mature plants grow well in any temperature regime and are able to withstand slight frosts. Young seedlings should be grown between 20-22 ° C above zero.

Seed planting

Planting helenium perennial should begin by soaking the seeds in water. It is enough to keep the seed in liquid for 2 hours, and then treat it with a solution of potassium permanganate.After completing the procedure, the seeds must be dried.

Variegated plants prefer light, airy soil with good drainage.

It's important to know! The flower does not tolerate abundant watering, flooding with rains and melt water. Due to excessive liquid, the roots of the helenium rot and the bush dies

Step-by-step instructions for planting seeds:

Earth is poured into a small container and slightly moistened.
Seeds are distributed on the surface of the soil, without deepening them too deeply. It is recommended to sprinkle them with sand on top 3-4 mm.
The container is covered with foil or glass to retain heat and accelerate germination.
Be sure to store containers in a warm and well-lit place. The first time it is necessary to moisturize and ventilate the seedlings daily.
For full development, daylight hours should be at least 65 hours.

The first shoots usually appear after a week. When the seeds have sprouted, the greenhouse can be removed, but the lighting is left at the same level. It is necessary to wait until 3 leaves grow and then dive into different containers. After 14 days, you can make the first feeding.

Transplanting

Landing in open ground and care behind helenium - the most important stages in the life of a plant. It is necessary to plant seedlings in May, when the soil has warmed up enough. You must first dig small holes. The distance between them is from 40 to 80 cm, depending on the type of flower. The depth of the hole is 20 cm. It is imperative to lay out drainage at the bottom, which will prevent stagnation of water in the root system of the plant. The soil is poured into the hole in half and warm water is poured. The seedling is transferred to the hole and covered with soil layer by layer.

The depth of the hole must be at least 20 cm

Additional Information! Each layer must be carefully compacted.

Gelenium

herbaceous

Compositae (Asteraceae)

decorative flowering

fertile, medium fertility, drained, neutral

wet

perennial

direct sunlight, scattered sunlight

cuttings, seeds, division

spring, autumn

According to legend, Helenium was named in honor of the wife of Tsar Menelaus Helen. Helen, kidnapped by Paris, in the besieged Troy, weaved cloth for a cloak and shed bitter tears about the fate of the city, and about her own fate too. Falling to the ground, tears burst into gold and became flowers.

Of the thirty known species of heleniums, five are found in culture: helenium Hupa (H. hoopesii), helenium Bigelow (H. bigelovii), helenium spring (H. vernalis), hybrid (H. x hybridum) and autumn (H. autumnale).

Gelenium Chupa is a beautiful juvenile plant native to the west of North America, blooms in June-July with bright yellow daisies up to 10 cm in diameter.Its beautiful, dense gray-green leaves up to 20 cm long, collected in a root socket. Slightly branched naked stems, reaching a meter in height, bear one basket at the ends. Propagated, as a rule, by sowing seeds in the ground. Flowering begins in the second year.

Gelenium Bigelow is a perennial rhizome plant from California. In June-July, it blooms profusely with large, up to 7 cm in diameter, daisies with yellow marginal flowers and a brown center. Plant height - up to 80 cm, straight stems.

Autumn Gelenium, the most popular of these, is a perennial herb that grows in sunny, moist meadows in North and Central America, and has been cultivated in gardens since the 17th century. This species is the basis of varietal heleniums. Attracting other species, American and German breeders have created by now several dozen varieties that differ in bush height, color, and flowering time.

Stems of helenium, straight, strong, woody, covered with leaves along the entire height. In the upper part, they branch out, forming scute inflorescences up to 40-45 cm in diameter, crowned with many yellow, orange, red, brown daisies-baskets with convex centers.

Helenium blooms in the second half of summer, in the Moscow region - from mid-August. Blooms for a long time, almost until frost. The delicate, subtle honey aroma attracts bees. They constantly swarm over flowering bushes.

Planting and caring for helenium

Planting gelenium is done in early summer or late autumn, depending on the species you choose. Numerous varieties have been developed specifically for growing in the garden, mainly autumn helenium and bigelium helenium. It is preferable that these were gardens in those areas for which the flower is indigenous, but in the conditions of our country it will not be so difficult to grow helenium from seeds. The soil for planting gelenium must be fertile with a huge amount of organic fertilizer in the form of compost, manure or other rotten organic matter, in addition to a full course of mineral fertilizers throughout the spring. In summer, only two or three additional feeding is required. If you do not divide the plant for a long time, then the resulting outlets will begin to freeze, and the earth will be depleted very quickly. It is beneficial to place helenium near fences and decorative elements that require additional decoration and are an important element of your garden or vegetable garden. The plant looks very good in an autumn bouquet, especially with asters. Gelenium must be grown in full sun (but can tolerate partial shade and shade) with moist soil and good drainage. They are drought tolerant, but they must be watered regularly during planting and until full bloom. It is necessary to protect the plant bush from winter cold and various drafts (but it is worth ventilating). Caring for helenium consists in timely watering, fertilizing with minerals and loosening the soil to a depth of 7 cm around each bush. Also, during the care of the helenium, an attempt can be made to form a bush, but it is advisable to do this only with single plantings along the curbs.

Description of the flower helenium

Perennial or annual rhizome plants from 75 to 160 cm in height with strong straight stems branching in the upper part, and oval lanceolate leaves, petiolate in a basal rosette, sessile, alternate on the stem.

Most species in nature, growing in wet meadows and swamps of North and Central America, lack perennial rhizomes. By autumn, their stems die off, but buds form on the underground part, from which new rosettes with young roots develop later. The species growing in mountainous regions have a powerful, deep-lying, perennial rhizome.

Gelenium flowers - single or collected in a scutellum baskets with a diameter of 3-7 cm, with yellow, red, orange, brown, monochromatic or two-colored marginal ligulate, and yellow or brown convex central tubular flowers. The fruit is an oblong-cylindrical achene with slight pubescence.

Gelenium flower in the photo.

According to legend, the flower helenium received its name in honor of the wife of the king of ancient Greek Sparta Menelaus, the beautiful Helen, kidnapped by the Trojan Paris. Her tears, falling to the land of Troy, turned into golden flowers.

In culture it has been used since 1635, in scientific literature it was first mentioned in 1755, when Karl Linnaeus described the only known on that moment species, H. autumnale (autumn helenium).

Peculiarities

Gelenium is a herbaceous bush that can be both perennial and annual. This beautiful flower is native to Central and North America. Today, there are more than 30 types of helenium, each of which has its own description. These herbaceous plants differ in one feature - with the onset of winter, their peduncles die off simultaneously with the roots.But on the underground part of the stems in the fall, buds are formed, forming rhizomes with a leaf rosette, which the next year gives a new flowering stem.

The plant itself can grow up to 160 cm in height, its stems are straight and have branching at the top. Gelenium leaves are lanceolate, they are located on the stem in the next order. The flowers of the shrub are solitary, they are formed from inflorescences-baskets. Inflorescences can have different colors. As a rule, the marginal (reed) flowers are colored brown, purple, orange, and the central (tubular) flowers are yellow.

Geleniums do not like partial shade and prefer to grow in areas well-lit by the sun.

This is important to consider for novice gardeners. In addition, it is important to know that the flower must be planted in areas with fertile soil.

For the rest, it is unpretentious and its cultivation in summer cottages does not require much work.

Diseases and pests

Perennial helenium is characterized by strong immunity to many diseases and insect attacks. Perhaps the only thing that can affect a plant is viral diseases, due to which the flower cannot fully grow and develop, it loses its beautiful appearance, its leaves and buds become deformed. If the helenium is affected by such an infection, then it will have to be dug up and destroyed.

From pests to dangerous enemies for a perennial plant snails and slugs, eating all its parts, and chrysanthemum nematode, which infect flowers and leaves, are considered. In the first case, insecticides are used to control pests or wormwood, chamomile and sage are planted next to helenium. In the second case, the affected plants are dug up and burned, and slaked lime is added to the soil.

Seat selection

Gelenium, like most plants, prefers a place well lit by the sun. However, it adapts well in partial shade. Given the length of the stems, the bushes are planted, as a rule, in the far part of the flower garden.

It is important to ensure that the helenium does not obscure other, more fragile plants. It is also perfect as a decoration for fences, house walls and other buildings.

Gelenium does not tolerate drought well, so it is better to plant it on moist soils, which, however, do not suffer from stagnant water. For the same reason, it is recommended to water the plant abundantly immediately after planting. And so that moisture is better retained at the roots, the planting site is fertilized with compost.

general description

Interestingly, the adorable flower owes its name to Queen Helena, because of whose beauty the Trojan War began. Autumn Gelenium refers to tall herbaceous plants, it is able to stretch more than 1.5 meters up. External characteristics:

stalk of a strong type, forks;
at the end of the season it is covered with a woody layer;
miniature foliage, light green color, with jagged edges;
inflorescences are in the form of chamomile;
the center of the flower is convex, during the flowering period yellow anthers appear on it, the shape becomes like a ball;
basket size - from 3 to 6 cm;
curly petals along the edge;
the petals are directed in different directions like a ballerina's pack;
each stem is decorated in the upper part with about 15-20 inflorescences;
the bloom palette is reddish-yellow with an orange tone, luxuriously fits into the autumn landscape.

Helenium blooms with mid-summer to the first frost, and some varieties are able to change colors during this time. When cut, this flower is no less beautiful than in the landscape. It is recommended to cut it off before the bud opens, in which case the bouquet will stand for quite a long time. As for placement in the garden, helenium is often used to decorate fences, hedges, abandoned areas. It is optimal to place the culture in a composition with other flowers, since it is not individual enough.

Low-growing varieties are used as front borders, tall ones are an ideal background for other representatives of the flora. Geleniums look good and get along with asters, cereals, rudbeckia, phlox. Often the plant is called a shrub plant, but this is erroneous or arbitrary. The flower grows as a colony of individual plants.

Autumn helenium does not have a root system that tolerates winter. Once the flowering period is over, the roots and stems die. In their place, new sockets are formed, which become independent.

Planting and caring for perennial helenium in the open field

Growing and caring for a crop does not require much effort. If everything is done correctly, at the right time, adhering to the recommendations, then the flower will serve as a flower bed decoration throughout the summer.

Basic rules to remember when growing it:

Perennial Gelenium does not tolerate drying out of the soil.
There should be no stagnation of moisture in the plant bed.
The flower requires three times fertilization per season.
Bushes should be pruned periodically.

When to plant helenium seeds for seedlings in open ground

To grow perennial helenium from seeds for seedlings, certain conditions must be met

It is very important to correctly plant the plant: pre-prepare the seeds, soil and containers. Seedlings are sown for seedlings in February or March.

The landing is carried out in the spring, from the second half of April. In the northern regions, the procedure is postponed to May, when the risk of recurrent frosts is excluded. Perennial perennials are immediately planted in the soil in the fall, so that the seedlings have time to adapt to winter.

To increase the germination of planting material, everything should be done according to the instructions.

Do gelenium seeds need to be stratified?

To prepare the seeds of perennial helenium, you need to act quickly, before the onset of the autumn rainy season. The degree of their maturity can be judged by the black color in the darkened flowers. The collected material must be stratified, that is, placed in a cold place.

Soil and site requirements

The site for perennial helenium is chosen so that it is protected from strong winds and is not located in the lowlands. It is better if the place is well lit by the sun. The soil needs to be loose, nutritious and breathable, with neutral acidity. A mandatory requirement is the presence of drainage. Before planting, it is advisable to disinfect the soil and fertilize it with compost.

How to sow helenium for seedlings in open ground

The procedure for sowing seeds of perennial helenium is similar to planting other flowers and looks like this:

The seeds are soaked in water, after which they are kept in a growth stimulator.
A bed with loose soil is prepared, clay soils are mixed with sand.
Furrows are made in 30 cm increments.
Seeds are rarely sown so as not to dive.
The emerging seedlings are watered and weeded.

The bushes are transplanted when they grow to a height of 8-10 cm.

Seedling care and planting in open ground

It is recommended to grow helenium seedlings at a temperature of + 6-8 degrees, you can keep it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. A container with seedlings is placed in a spacious bag, periodically ventilated in a lighted place, watered regularly (once a week). When three leaves appear, the seedlings are picked, after which they are left at room temperature in a sunny place.

Follow-up care

Perennial helenium care is as follows:

The plant needs regular watering (every 3 days), does not tolerate drought well.
Mulching is recommended to retain moisture in the ground.
Several times a month, the soil where the flower grows must be loosened and weeded.
The crop should be fed three times a season. In May - with urea and potassium sulfate, during flowering - with mineral complexes, in October - with superphosphates.
For the formation of bushes in spring and autumn, pruning should be carried out, and during flowering, wilted and dried shoots should be removed.
For tall varieties (over 1 m), it is recommended to install supports.

Fertilizers for helenium should be applied strictly on schedule.

Preparing for winter

Since October, perennial helenium begins to prepare for winter. To do this, it is cut off, removing the surface shoots so that the length of the cut stems is 5-6 cm. After the procedure, they are covered with sawdust, dry leaves or moss. When growing helenium in Siberia and the Urals, the bushes are covered with burlap or foil.

Use in landscape design

Many gardeners use helenium when decorating landscape design, since this ornamental plant allows you to originally mask buildings and fences. In addition, the flower looks beautiful on a flowerbed with such autumn plants as rudbeckia and delphinium. If you need to create monochromatic flower beds, then Gelenium can be combined with Heuchera, marigolds, goldenrod and all types of garden yarrow. Low varieties of plants are ideal for framing curbs, the only thing is that for this they will have to give the correct shape, timely pruning.

If the garden plot is large and allows you to create a rock garden, then helenium can be planted next to stone decorations, supplemented with other bright plants. These decorative bushes also look good against the background of the opening buds of gladioli and asters. Snow-white daisies will help fill the composition with tenderness.

In addition, solar gelenium blooms can be used to create luxurious tapeworms or mixborders. This tall perennial will serve as a chic backdrop for more restrained flowers. The bushes, which occupy the central place in the composition, also look interesting. They need to be supplemented with snow-white and pink shades.

Transplanting and dividing the helenium bush in the video.

How to start planting gelenium?

The seeds of these plants are sold in specialized stores, so it is worth buying a pack and preparing a small plot of land. Reviews of many gardeners confirm that after the first flowering season of the plant, it is rational to collect and separate the sockets so that the plant grows well. But if the plant is planted for the first time, then start growing helenium from seeds.

Sonnenbraut (Helenium)

You need to know that the germination of these flowers in the northern part of the country, for example, in Vladivostok, Siberia, is 30–40% lower than in the southern part. This is due to the fact that the plant needs warm sunlight and abundant watering.

How to germinate helenium if the seeds do not germinate?

If the seeds do not germinate or all the shoots dry quickly, then it is worth creating a mini-greenhouse for the flowers. For this, helenium is planted in boxes or pots, the distribution method is the same as for seedlings. The seeds are covered with polyethylene, which can be replaced with a glass cover, and the first shoots are expected. Natural organic fertilizer must be added to the ground, but this does not accelerate germination either.

Perhaps you will see the first perennial shoots in 1-2 seasons after planting. Please note that the greenhouse must be constantly ventilated and watered; it is better to use a spray bottle so as not to erode the soil.

Growing and caring for helenium

The red, orange or yellow color of helenium smiles brightly from the bush, and it's time to talk about caring for this plant.

The natural habitat of perennials is a humid fertile swamp, therefore, for full growth, you will have to recreate such a microclimate in your area. First of all, watering is important. The fact is that perennial helenium has a poorly developed root system, and cannot extract water for itself from the deep layers of the earth.

We have already talked about the importance of planting bushes, it is advisable to do this every 2 years. And before the cold weather comes to your area, be sure to insulate the root system of plants.

For these purposes, young moss and a mixture of sawdust, which cover the planting site of the helenium, are perfect.If winter in your region is accompanied by a thick layer of snow, then you do not need to insulate, but it all depends on the type of flowers.