Helianthemum

The genus Sunflower, or Helianthemum includes more than 100 species of annual and perennial subshrub, shrub or annual herbaceous plants. In the summer, numerous flowers bloom, which are kept on the plant for a very long time. The flowers are always facing the sun, hence the name. First of all, numerous garden forms and hybrids with large decorative flowers are grown. Alpine sunflower (Helianthemum alpestre) is a semi-shrub species 10 cm high with opposite elliptical leaves and yellow flowers 2 cm in diameter. Dog helianthemum (H. canum) is a shrub 30 cm high, its leaves are painted in colors from green to gray. Yellow flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences. Helianthemum monotonous (H. nummularium) is a low-growing shrub species, 15-30 cm high, forming flowering yellow carpets in June-July. The leaves are intensely green in color. Numerous varieties have been bred with simple and double flowers of yellow, bright orange, white, scarlet-red, crimson and pink, for example, Ben Hope with pink-red flowers with a bright orange core and Bird with white-cream flowers with bright yellow core. Helianthemum thyme-leaved smooth (H. serpyllifolium glabrum), very similar to the alpine sunflower (it is often considered one of the varieties of the latter), is a ground cover plant with brown-green leaves. Flowers with intense yellow tint.

The genus Sunflower, or Helianthemum includes more than 100 species of annual and perennial subshrub, shrub or annual herbaceous plants. In the summer, numerous flowers bloom, which are kept on the plant for a very long time. The flowers are always facing the sun, hence the name. First of all, numerous garden forms and hybrids with large decorative flowers are grown.

Alpine sunflower (Helianthemum alpestre) is a semi-shrub species 10 cm high with opposite elliptical leaves and yellow flowers 2 cm in diameter.

Dog helianthemum (H. canum) is a shrub 30 cm high, its leaves are painted in colors from green to gray. Yellow flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences.

Helianthemum monotonous (H. nummularium) is a low-growing shrub species, 15-30 cm high, forming flowering yellow carpets in June-July. The leaves are intensely green in color.

Numerous varieties have been bred with simple and double flowers of yellow, bright orange, white, scarlet-red, crimson and pink, for example, Ben Hope with pink-red flowers with a bright orange core and Bird with white-cream flowers with bright yellow core.

Helianthemum thyme-leaved smooth (H. serpyllifolium glabrum), very similar to the alpine sunflower (it is often considered one of the varieties of the latter), is a ground cover plant with brown-green leaves. Flowers with intense yellow tint.

Cultivation

Plants of the genus Helianthemum are grown outdoors. They are ideal for rock gardens, flower beds, compact varieties can be grown even in curbs. They are planted in a permanent place in the ground in the fall or in March (in a rather wet ground). Plants are planted at a distance of 50-60 cm from each other, depending on the species. Any soil is suitable for them, but not waterlogged and well-drained (without stagnant water); the crop is responsive to organic fertilization such as manure. If the land is infertile, poor in nutrients, then in the spring and summer, every 20-30 days, a complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in an amount of 10-20 g per bucket - top dressing is performed. To stimulate the formation of new flowers and give the plants a compact appearance at the end of flowering, the shoots are pinched.

Plants of the genus Helianthemum are grown outdoors. They are ideal for rock gardens, flower beds, compact varieties can be grown even in curbs. They are planted in a permanent place in the ground in the fall or in March (in a rather wet ground). Plants are planted at a distance of 50-60 cm from each other, depending on the species.

Any soil is suitable for them, but not waterlogged and well-drained (without stagnant water); the crop is responsive to organic fertilization such as manure.

If the land is infertile, poor in nutrients, then in the spring and summer, every 20-30 days, a complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in an amount of 10-20 g per bucket - top dressing is performed.

To stimulate the formation of new flowers and give the plants a compact appearance at the end of flowering, the shoots are pinched.

Location

They prefer the open sun.

Temperature

Perennial species of sunflower are quite resistant plants, easily tolerate fluctuations in air temperature.

Watering

Water only during prolonged drought, primarily if the site is located on a slope.

Reproduction

In the summer, cuttings are taken from branches that did not have flowers, and they are planted to form roots in boxes filled with a mixture of peat and sand or peat and agroperlite, put in the shade and often watered. They are planted in the ground in the fall or in March of the next year.

Diseases

The appearance of brown spots on the leaves with reddish edges is caused by fungi, primarily representatives of the genus Phillosticta. The affected parts are removed and destroyed to prevent the spread of infection.

Acquisition

Plants of the genus Helianthemum are easy to find in flower nurseries and horticultural centers. Choose well-formed compact plants.