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Needle chrysanthemums are named for the unusual shape of their petals. Elongated and narrow, they are rolled into tubes, pointed at the end, like needles. When looking at flowers, it seems as if they are protected from the outside world. This opinion is not far from the truth, since many varieties are resistant to diseases and frosts. Without additional shelter, they can winter in open ground in many regions.
Description of needle chrysanthemums
Needle or ray chrysanthemums have a characteristic feature: reed flowers with long, curled petals. Hybrids bred by selective breeding have forked and untwisted tongues.
This variety of chrysanthemums is distinguished by the variety of colors of its petals. Large inflorescences with a diameter of 8-10 cm or more can be red, white and milky, yellow, orange, various shades of pink, crimson. Recently, breeders have managed to obtain hybrids with greenish petals.In addition, the “needles” can be painted in different shades on the inside and outside.
In flower shops you can find needle-shaped chrysanthemums in blue shades. The petals acquire these tones after being kept in special solutions with dyes. In fact, the flowers are white. To recognize them, just pay attention to the colors of the leaves and stems; they also acquire a bluish tint.
Varieties of needle chrysanthemums
There are many varieties of needle chrysanthemums with different sizes and shades of inflorescences. With their help you can create amazing summer and autumn flower beds.
Belochka (Squirrel)
The variety Chrysanthemum Sciurus, the name translates as “squirrel”, is a medium-sized plant with a stem length of up to 60 cm and rich green abundant foliage. The bushes form beautiful spherical crowns. The color of the petals is apricot. The inflorescences are large, about 12 cm. They bloom in early autumn. Flowering lasts until the first frost. Chrysanthemum overwinters in open ground.
The Belochka chrysanthemum variety prefers well-lit flower beds.
Splashes of champagne
Campanie Imbre, or Splash of Champagne, is a variety with varied, delicate shades of inflorescences, from golden to light pink. Hence the unusual name of this variety. The central part of the inflorescences is painted in a more saturated shade than the edges of the needle-shaped petals. The bushes reach 70 cm in height and have light green elongated leaves.
Chrysanthemum Splash of Champagne blooms in October
Vesuvius
Сhrysanthemum Vesuvius is a medium-sized variety with bright green, abundant foliage and medium-sized flowers. Their diameter does not exceed 7 cm. The petals are tubular. They are elongated at the edges. Visually, this shape resembles a volcanic eruption.The first inflorescences bloom on Vesuvius in September. Their natural color is white. But there are specimens on sale with green, blue and even black petals. Such plants are treated with special dyes.
One of the advantages of the Vesuvius variety is its ability to retain its appearance for a long time in water after cutting.
Linda
Variety Linda is a compact plant with large flowers. Chrysanthemums with a diameter of 10 cm bloom on the bushes. This occurs in mid-August. A variety with a straight stem and a developed root system that does not require pinching can branch independently. Gardeners value the Linda variety for the delicate color of its needle-shaped petals. They come in several shades: cool white and lilac-pink.
Flowering lasts a long time, until the end of autumn
Mirage
The Korean variety Mirage, or Chrysanthemum Imago, is a tall plant up to 1 m high, covered with dark green foliage, with a strong, straight stem. The highlight of Mirage chrysanthemums is their flowers, which look like gorgeous crimson stars. The diameter of the inflorescences is very large, about 15 cm. The needle-shaped tubular petals located at the edges are longer than the central ones, curved inward. "Stars" bloom on tall bushes in mid-autumn.
Chrysanthemums are good for cutting
Perlinka
Chrysanthemum Perlinka is a representative of the group of medium-sized varieties. It is distinguished by abundant branching. Doesn't need shaping. Perlinka's flowers are double. The length of the tubular petals, pointed at the ends, is about 5 cm. The colors are varied, from dark crimson to snow-white.
The advantage of the variety is lush, abundant flowering, it begins in mid-September and lasts until the end of autumn
Planting and caring for needle chrysanthemums
Needle chrysanthemums can be grown in open ground and in greenhouse conditions. The optimal temperature for abundant and long-lasting flowering of the “queen of autumn” is up to +14 degrees. When it drops lower, the plants droop and wither.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
Plants feel uncomfortable in the shade when there is stagnant moisture. The place for them should be located on an elevated, well-lit area of the garden. The preferred soil is loose, moisture-permeable, neutral or slightly acidic, saturated with nutrients.
You cannot overdo it with fertilizers, otherwise the growth of green mass will be to the detriment of flowering.
Landing rules
When landing, follow the following rules:
- Prepare holes 30–40 cm deep.
- Abundantly moisten the soil.
- I add drainage and a little vermicompost to the bottom of each hole.
- Plants are placed in the holes and sprinkled in such a way as not to deepen the root system too much. It develops parallel to the soil layer.
When planting tall varieties of chrysanthemums, it is important to provide supporting supports
For several days after planting, chrysanthemums need protection from direct sunlight. They are shaded using non-woven materials.
If the variety does not branch on its own, then immediately after planting the plants are pinched, removing the growing points. After 3 weeks, pinching is carried out again, and part of the shoot with several nodes is cut off.
Watering and fertilizing
To protect the root system of chrysanthemums from rot, they should be watered moderately. An exception should be made in hot, dry weather. On such days, you should not spare water, otherwise the plant stems will become woody and the lush inflorescences will lose their decorative appearance. Rain or settled water is suitable for irrigation.
As a top dressing, it is enough to add mullein infusion. The fertilizer is diluted with water at the rate of 1 liter per bucket of liquid. Before buds form on chrysanthemums, it is useful to use phosphorus and potassium compounds. From time to time, you can add nitrogen fertilizers; they help the plant grow green mass.
Solutions must be poured under the root so that the above-ground parts of needle-shaped chrysanthemums do not get burned
Propagation of needle chrysanthemums
Needle chrysanthemums are propagated using cuttings. They are planted in the ground with the onset of summer. During the growing season they have time to take root. In autumn, young plants are planted in a permanent place.
Diseases and pests of needle chrysanthemums
The main enemies of needle chrysanthemum are leaf rollers, mites, aphids, and snails. But the most dangerous among them are caterpillars. One individual can damage several inflorescences per day. The drugs Aktara and Fitoverm help fight insect pests.
To protect against diseases, it is recommended to treat flowers with special products, for example, Previkur, after each rain. And to prevent root rot, which often affects chrysanthemums, you can use Fitosporin.
Conclusion
Needle chrysanthemums are one of the most original and colorful inhabitants of city flower beds and summer cottages. Their blooms decorate gardens until late autumn. It is not for nothing that this flower has been grown for more than 3 thousand years, and interest in it is only growing.
