Features of the variety
Maiden chrysanthemum (Pyrethrum) is an unpretentious perennial Compositae plant of the Aster family. In the wild, it is found in North Africa, the Middle East and Southern Europe. In the temperate climate of central Russia, it is grown as an ornamental garden culture, cultivated as an annual.
Chrysanthemum "Matrikaria"
The name "pyrethrum" comes from the Greek word "pyretos", which means "fever": earlier this plant was used as a medicine for fever to reduce body temperature. There are other names as well:
- The matrix is exceptional;
- Feverfew;
- Chamomile is maiden;
- Chrysanthemum maiden White stars;
- Chrysanthemum girl's snowball;
- Chrysanthemum Snowball;
- Tanacetum.
This compact bush plant has a strongly branching stem, covered with numerous miniature, from 1.5 to 3 cm in diameter, inflorescences. In shape, they resemble snowflakes (semi-double varieties) or snow flakes (double varieties) with a small creamy center. In many double forms, basket flowers are collected in apical spherical corymbose inflorescences. From here, by the way, came the English name of the latter - chrysanthemum maiden snow ball.
Chrysanthemum "Feverfew maiden"
The bushes of maiden chamomile, depending on the conditions of development and the place of planting, grow in height by 20 -80 cm. The leaves of Pyrethrum are with rounded edges, twice and three times pinnately dissected, the lower ones are petiolate, the upper ones are sessile, light green, sometimes with a yellowish tinge. The plant has a pronounced characteristic bitter chrysanthemum aroma, which mostly disappears after cutting.
This variety is super early. Depending on climatic conditions, the first buds appear in July and even in June and delight gardeners with abundant flowering until the first frost.
The most popular varieties:
- Schneeball and Goldball. Rounded, dense bushes up to 25 cm high, inflorescences are spherical, densely double, white or yellow, respectively, with an extreme row of reed flowers, forming a kind of lace skirt.
- Virgo. A bushy plant that grows up to 80 cm with snow-white, button-like inflorescences without a skirt.
- Ball's Double White. The same inflorescences as in the Virgo variety, but the height of the bushes does not exceed 25 cm.
Description and photo of the variety
These flowers are usually called Korean because their distant ancestor - the Siberian chrysanthemum - was brought from Korea at the beginning of the 20th century and later crossed with one of the small-flowered varieties. Although the first descriptions of these gifts of Flora are found in the works of ancient Greek scientists. A huge variety of varieties of a wide variety of colors and properties were derived from the resulting hybrid by further crosses.
This type of chrysanthemum is white, but if its flowers "overripe" a little, they can change color to an intense lilac.
Chrysanthemum "Umka" changes color
Perennial korean chrysanthemum varieties Umka (Umka) is an erect bush with terry snow-white multi-headed inflorescences, similar to pompons. The maximum plant height reaches 70 cm, and the flower diameter is 7 cm. Ripening and fading, Umki's “pompons” change their color, becoming intensely lilac or even lingonberry. With proper care, this variety blooms from late summer to the very frost. Its peak bloom is in September. The plant tolerates wintering quite well even without additional shelter.
Umka pompom baskets look great on flower beds, flower beds and mixborders, soloing or acting as a background for ornamental shrubs and other stunted perennials.The bushes look very beautiful, densely covered with snow-white pompom flowers in street pots, placed along the walls of a country house or garden paths.
The Umku variety is also grown for cutting. It is noteworthy that in bouquets, with proper care, this delicate daughter of Flora retains freshness for up to 2 weeks. From its delicate white inflorescences, you can make the most beautiful bridal bouquets. Cute "pompons" will also decorate a first grader's bouquet, becoming an excellent alternative to traditional, but such bulky gladioli.
Application in bouquets and landscaping
Bouquet of chamomile chrysanthemums
The Ariel variety is versatile. Chrysanthemums thrive in the open field, where they tolerate winter well, and are also successfully grown in pots, used for cutting. Decorating a flower bed, terrace, balcony, drawing up a beautiful bouquet - all these tasks can be solved with the help of this plant.
Thanks to the lush, abundant flowering, large white inflorescences look advantageous in compositions against the background of green bushes. They can be combined with decorative coniferous and deciduous shrubs such as thuja and juniper, hydrangea and barberry. A good neighborhood of chrysanthemums is demonstrated with other representatives of the Aster family: asters, helenium, rudbeckia.
The "Ariel" variety is often used for the formation of borders, planning of flower beds. The peculiar appearance of the flowers is perfect for decorating a country-style garden.
The value of this variety of chamomile chrysanthemums also lies in the fact that it can be successfully used as a removable culture. Its spectacular flowers begin to decorate the flower beds precisely at the time when the flowering period of many biennial plants, for example, forget-me-nots, viols, daisies, ends.
Florists love to use white chamomile chrysanthemums to decorate wedding bouquets and celebrations, create complex flower arrangements, and fill baskets. In bouquets, they are combined with kermek, gypsophila and cereals.
Planting and leaving
There are several ways to grow the Korean chrysanthemum Umku on your site. The plant is propagated by seeds, cuttings or by dividing rhizomes. The easiest way to get a new bush is by dividing the rhizome of the mother plant in the spring when new shoots appear on it. Separated shoots must have roots, otherwise it will be almost impossible to root the plant.
But the most common way of reproduction of chrysanthemums, including Umki, is by cuttings. Cuttings cut and rooted in the first half of spring take root especially well. They are usually planted in open ground towards the end of May, when the last frosts have passed. Over the summer, the bushes have time to get strong enough, which means they will be able to overwinter without losses even in severe cold weather.
Chrysanthemum "Umka" in the garden
In order for the Umka variety to please with lush flowering, it is important to choose the right place for planting it. The planting of flower buds in a plant occurs only with good illumination, therefore it is imperative to plant chrysanthemums in the sunny part of the site
A plant in the shade is likely to stretch out and fade. These flowers are also responsive to proper watering, especially if the summer is dry. With a lack of moisture, plants can shed all the buds. However, stagnation of water in the soil should not be allowed, because in a too humid environment, chrysanthemums begin to ache and wither.
Umka is a garden plant; at home in a pot, she most likely will not feel very comfortable. If the apartment still allows you to place a fairly tall plant in it and provide it with good illumination, you can try to grow Umka at home.
To prolong the pleasure of contemplating the delicate "pompons" of chrysanthemums growing in the garden longer, you can choose a compromise cultivation option.With the first cold weather, the plant is dug out of the open ground, transplanted into a large container and brought into the house. In the warmth, the bush will bloom almost until the New Year. Faded Umka bushes must be cut off and removed to a cool place. In the spring, the plant should be returned back to the garden so that it can again please you with abundant flowering.
Chrysanthemums garden varieties photo
Bouquet chrysanthemums are distinguished by large trunks and large inflorescences, which are located at the very top of the stem. They form bouquets for sale and for a gift to loved ones. Large-flowered chrysanthemums came to our country from India.
They are called large-flowered so as not to be confused in foreign terms. This type of flowers is grown in greenhouses; in open ground, they do not develop well. If you want to grow flowers on a plantation, then you need to use a special technology.
Chrysanthemum Gazellé photo
The flowers are large in diameter and white. The average flower diameter is up to 14 centimeters, it is terry. Leaves are light green, relatively few of them on the stems. Chrysanthemum flowers begin in mid-August. This variety looks rich and interesting, it goes well in bouquets with other types of flowers.
Chrysanthemum variety Valentina Tereshkova photo
Chrysanthemums of this variety can be called primitive. They have the usual pink tint, the flower is lighter on top and darkens closer to the stem. They begin to bloom in late August, September and are great for sale. They are often purchased for September 1st, teacher gifts, and other purposes.
Chrysanthemum variety Alec Bedser photo
Flowers of this species grow impressive up to 70 centimeters in length. Chrysanthemum Alec Bedser has large inflorescences and a hemispherical shape. The average flower diameter is 14 centimeters, the shades of flowers may be different.
The flowering period of chrysanthemums of this species falls in the middle of September, and they bloom until the end of October. At the moment when everything in nature begins to prepare for winter sleep, Alec beautifully decorates the site.
How to choose?
To correctly choose a blooming chrysanthemum for the garden, you should adhere to the following recommendations.
- In the front gardens, it is most correct to grow annual chrysanthemums belonging to the small-flowered varieties. In this case, you can annually have attractive plants of different color and appearance on your site. In addition, it will be possible to choose a different place for the location of flowering bushes every season.
- Flowers look most effective when decorating border flower beds, as well as as components of a flower arrangement, where chrysanthemums will be located at the front edge. In this case, even a monochromatic fit will look more attractive.
- Tall species and varieties are intended for creating hedges; you can purchase such crops for decorating the walls of various buildings. Also, large chrysanthemums root in the background of mixborders.
- For group plantings, echinacea or verbena, asters, or ornamental cereal varieties of horticultural crops should be considered as the most suitable neighboring plants.
- Small or medium-sized varieties of chrysanthemums should be rooted in containers or pots, since plants with a high stem will need additional garter or support.
- For cutting, it is more correct to plant "large-headed" flowering varieties.
For all the intricacies of growing chrysanthemums, see the next video.
