Dimorphotheca

The genus Dimorphotheca contains 20 species of herbaceous annual and perennial plants that bloom in summer with very beautiful flowers similar to the inflorescences of chamomile. They remain open only in the sun. Perennial species are grown both as perennials and annuals. Dimorphotheca aurantiaca is a perennial root-springing species 35-40 cm high with elongated oblong leaves. Inflorescences-baskets with a diameter of 4-5 cm with a lot of bright orange marginal flowers and dark chestnut with intense blue ends of the middle ones. There are varieties with silvery-white and bright orange marginal and dark green median flowers and hybrids with baskets of various colors: white, yellow, bright orange and pink. Hybrid Dimorphotheca (D. hybridum), obtained from crossing rain dimorphotheca and dredged dimorphotheca, is an erect, densely branching bushy species, a plant 30-50 cm high, with lanceolate leaves and baskets 6-7 cm in diameter. Lingual flowers are shiny, of various colors, and the middle tubular ones are yellow. Rainwater dimorphotheca (D. pluvialis) is a very beautiful climbing annual species, 30-40 cm high, with oblong leaves and white-cream purple baskets below, with golden-brown median tubular flowers. The Ringens variety has marginal reed flowers with blue spots that form a ring. Dimorphotheca indentata (D. sinuata) is an annual species, 30 cm high, with 7 cm diameter baskets of bright orange-red color with a black ring around the center. The flowers are opened longer than in other species. Summer Dimorphotheca (D. annua) is a densely branching shrub 20-35 cm high. Marginal reed flowers are white above, purple below, tubular-dark, almost black.

The genus Dimorphotheca contains 20 species of herbaceous annual and perennial plants that bloom in summer with very beautiful flowers similar to the inflorescences of chamomile. They remain open only in the sun. Perennial species are grown both as perennials and annuals.

Dimorphotheca aurantiaca is a perennial root-springing species 35-40 cm high with elongated oblong leaves. Inflorescences-baskets with a diameter of 4-5 cm with a lot of bright orange marginal flowers and dark chestnut with intense blue ends of the middle ones. There are varieties with silvery-white and bright orange marginal and dark green median flowers and hybrids with baskets of various colors: white, yellow, bright orange and pink.

Hybrid Dimorphotheca (D. hybridum), obtained from crossing rain dimorphotheca and dredged dimorphotheca, is an erect, densely branching bushy species, a plant 30-50 cm high, with lanceolate leaves and baskets 6-7 cm in diameter. Lingual flowers are shiny, of various colors, and the middle tubular ones are yellow.

Rainwater dimorphotheca (D. pluvialis) is a very beautiful climbing annual species, 30-40 cm high, with oblong leaves and white-cream purple baskets below, with golden-brown median tubular flowers. The Ringens variety has marginal reed flowers with blue spots that form a ring.

Dimorphotheca indentata (D. sinuata) is an annual species, 30 cm high, with 7 cm diameter baskets of bright orange-red color with a black ring around the center. The flowers are opened longer than in other species.

Summer Dimorphotheca (D. annua) is a densely branching shrub 20-35 cm high. Marginal reed flowers are white above, purple below, tubular-dark, almost black.

Cultivation

Dimorphotheca is grown in the open ground in borders, mixborders, sometimes for pot culture. They are planted permanently in May, in light, fertile loamy, well-drained soil. The distance between plants is left, depending on the development of species, 15-30 cm.

Location

The plant is light-loving, place it in the open sun, if possible in a place protected from the wind.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to high air temperatures.

Watering

Water regularly as the soil dries and in hot weather.

Reproduction

Propagate by sowing seeds in the ground in April; as soon as the shoots grow up, they are thinned out. In addition, you can sow seeds in boxes, in March, indoors at a temperature of 18 °C, then later transplant the seedlings to a permanent place on the site.

Diseases

In the heat, with high humidity, gray rot of vegetable crops (Botrytis cinerea) can develop, which provokes rotting of leaves and stems. In this case, watering is temporarily stopped and treated with chemical preparations against gray rot.

Acquisition

Seeds can be found in flower nurseries and horticultural centers. For germination to be good, the seeds must be fresh, so check their shelf life.

Very similar genus Dimorphotheca is often confused with species of the genus Osteospermum due to their very large similarity. Osteospermum ecklonis (O. ecklonis) and osteospermum jucundum (O. jucundum) are more common. The first type, 50-60 cm high, grows very densely; inflorescences are baskets of white, purple lingual flowers on the underside and blue median tubular. Osteospermum jucundum (O. jucundum) is a 50 cm tall species with baskets of red reed flowers and dark purple tubular ones. The variety 'Silver Bengal fire' has white reed flowers.

Very similar genus

Dimorphotheca is often confused with species of the genus Osteospermum due to their very large similarity. Osteospermum ecklonis (O. ecklonis) and osteospermum jucundum (O. jucundum) are more common.

The first type, 50-60 cm high, grows very densely; inflorescences are baskets of white, purple lingual flowers on the underside and blue median tubular.

Osteospermum jucundum (O. jucundum) is a 50 cm tall species with baskets of red reed flowers and dark purple tubular ones. The variety 'Silver Bengal fire' has white reed flowers.