Garden perennial spherical chrysanthemum: planting and care, varieties + photos

Content

1 Characteristics of the species
2 Classification
3 Growing rules
4 Conclusion

Chrysanthemums are one of the most ancient ornamental plants. If a thousand years ago these flowers were grown for their medicinal properties, today it is customary to decorate the local area with chrysanthemums of different varieties and shades and use them in landscape design. One of the newest, but already very popular, varieties of chrysanthemum is the spherical Multiflora. The distinctive features of this group of chrysanthemums are the round, regular shape of the bush and many small inflorescences. The spherical varieties are very unpretentious; their line includes many species with different stem heights, hundreds of shades and shapes. However, Multiflora also has disadvantages, and the most important of them is mediocre frost resistance.

More information about the perennial garden spherical chrysanthemum, the rules for planting and caring for it will be discussed in this article. Below you can learn about the varieties and varieties of this flower, as well as how to preserve the spherical chrysanthemum in winter.

Characteristics of the species

Chrysanthemum multiflora belongs to the Asteraceae family and has small-flowered inflorescences. In the process of development, the bushes of this plant independently take on a rounded shape, which explains the origin of the second name of the flower - garden spherical chrysanthemum.

Attention! Multiflora is a perennial plant, so it is enough to plant a flower once and enjoy the beauty of its flowering for several years.

The perennial spherical chrysanthemum is a relatively young species, but already has several hundred varieties and hybrids. This flower is loved, first of all, for its decorative effect - compact bushes of the correct shape do not need shaping or pruning, and they can bloom in absolutely any shade (nowadays there are spherical chrysanthemums on sale with blue and even green flowers).

The spherical Multiflora has many advantages:

Long life span - a perennial flower can grow in one place for 4-5 years, after which it needs to be divided and simply transplanted to another place.
Multiflora is unpretentious, it develops well on any soil, and the only thing on which the beauty of a flower depends is a sufficient amount of sun.
The high decorative value of neat spherical bushes makes it possible to widely use Multiflora both in landscape design and for decorating balconies, gazebos, and interior interiors.
The variety of varieties and shades makes it possible to create interesting combinations using spherical varieties.
The flowering period of the spherical perennial chrysanthemum is quite extended - the flowering of the species can continue from late summer until the first serious frost.

Important! In principle, the spherical Multiflora has only one drawback - poor frost resistance. Flower growers have to solve this problem by insulating flower beds or digging up roots for the winter.

Classification

Ball-shaped bushes of flowering chrysanthemums can be found in gardens and parks, on flower beds and alpine hills; they are often grown in flowerpots or boxes - they are all one variety, only the plant varieties differ.

About four thousand varieties and hybrids of Multiflora are classified according to several criteria. One of the main signs of dividing chrysanthemum varieties into groups is the size of the bush. Depending on the length of the stem there are:

dwarf chrysanthemums, which can also be called low-growing - bushes of these varieties usually grow to a maximum of 25-30 cm;
medium-sized spherical chrysanthemums can have a height from 30 to 50 cm;
tall varieties form round bushes with a diameter of about 60-70 cm.

Advice! Low-growing spherical chrysanthemums can be grown not only outdoors; they are perfect for planting in pots, cache-pots and flowerpots.

By the way, novice flower growers should understand that Chinese chrysanthemum and Multiflora - It is the same. But Korean chrysanthemums represent a different group: the inflorescences of these plants are larger, and the bushes are not able to take the shape of a hemisphere without outside help.

The flowering time of spherical chrysanthemums may also differ slightly, but the common quality of all varieties is their ability to bloom until real cold. By choosing Multiflora with different flowering periods, you can create a unique composition from these flowers and enjoy their bright colors from late summer to the last days of autumn.

Taking into account the flowering time, varieties of spherical chrysanthemums are divided into the following groups:

early bloomers, opening their buds already in early August;
mid-flowering varieties delight with abundant flowering in mid-September;
late varieties bloom no earlier than the first days of October and bloom until snow and frost.

Attention! It is not at all necessary to form bushes of perennial Chinese chrysanthemums or trim them into the correct shape. Bushes in the shape of a ball are a genetic feature of these flowers. Although some gardeners still pinch the tops of sprouts with 2-4 pairs of leaves - this is how they achieve the ideal shape of the bush.

There are many varieties of perennial Multiflora; below are just a few of them.

Branbeach White

The variety is medium-sized - the bushes of this chrysanthemum can grow up to half a meter in height. The inflorescences of the plant are white, small-flowered, and numerous. Flowering time is mid-August.

Branindio Branindio

This spherical chrysanthemum blooms in mid-September. Its inflorescences are golden-yellow, very bright, perfectly in harmony with the tones of the autumn garden. The diameter of the bushes is decent - about 50 cm.

Branbeach Sunny

An early flowering variety with bright yellow inflorescences. Bushes of average height - about 0.5 meters. The buds open in the second half of August.

Branhill Red

Compact early flowering bushes, the height of which does not exceed 40 cm. The flowers of this Multiflora have a beautiful wine-red hue.

Branfountain Salmon

In mid-September, this medium-sized variety with bushes about 50 cm in height begins to bloom. Chrysanthemums are covered with delicate pink flowers.

Branfountain Lemon

Lemon-yellow spherical flowers bloom in mid-September. Medium-sized bushes - about 45-50 cm in diameter.

Branfountain Purple

This variety of chrysanthemums has lilac inflorescences. Medium-sized bushes bloom in September.

Branbeach Lilac

Very bright lilac-pink inflorescences of Multiflora, blooming in the second half of September. The bushes are quite tall - about 50 cm.

Branbeach Orange

The flowers are quite large, rich orange. Multiflora blooms in September.

Photos of spherical chrysanthemums of various varieties once again prove their uniqueness. Such a variety of shades and shapes allows you to effectively fit spherical chrysanthemums into almost any exterior of the site and garden.

Growing rules

There is nothing complicated in planting and caring for spherical chrysanthemums - these are very unpretentious flowers. The only difficulty is preparing the Multiflora for the winter. The wintering method is largely determined by the climatic conditions of a particular region and can be chosen by the gardener independently.

Reproduction and planting

Ball chrysanthemum can be propagated in several ways, but the most effective and affordable option is to divide an adult plant. Given the poor frost resistance, spherical chrysanthemums are not planted in the fall. The optimal time for planting these flowers is mid-April (the plant can withstand small return frosts without problems).

Important! The place for growing spherical chrysanthemums must be well lit by the sun. If the area is located in the shade or partial shade, the shape of the bush will suffer - individual shoots will begin to reach towards the sun, disturbing the harmony of the ball.

The recommended planting technology is as follows:

Before planting flowers, you need to prepare the soil. The soil for Multiflora should be loose and moderately nutritious.Too much fertilizer will lead to an increase in green mass and poor flowering, so you should not be overzealous with fertilizing. It is enough to add a little peat or humus to the soil.
Holes are made at intervals of 50-60 cm (depending on the height of the spherical chrysanthemum). The depth of the holes is about 40 cm.
You can pour a handful of coarse river sand at the bottom of each hole - it will act as drainage. Sprinkle some fertile soil on top and water the holes thoroughly.
The seedling is placed in the center of the hole, its roots are straightened and carefully sprinkled with earth. You should not bury chrysanthemums too deeply - the root system of these flowers is superficial.
Tall varieties may require supports; it is better to install them immediately at the time of planting.

The planting is completed, now all that remains is to provide the spherical Multiflora with proper care.

How to care for flowers

The spherical chrysanthemum is not capricious - caring for this flower is very simple and easy:

Since chrysanthemums are planted in the spring, immediately after planting the plant it is recommended shade from the burning sun. For these purposes, it is better to use non-woven material; it is positioned so that the fabric does not touch the leaves of the Multiflora.
Water Chrysanthemum will need to be used often, because it loves moisture. It is better to use rainwater or settled water for irrigation. If this is not possible, you can add two drops of ammonia (per bucket) to plain tap water to make it softer.
In the year of planting, Multiflora is not fertilized. Subsequently fertilize recommended twice per season: at the initial stage of the growing season (mullein or humus) and in the phase of bud formation (50 grams of superphosphate for each square meter of flower bed).
If chrysanthemum bushes are planted in partial shade or grown from seeds (in this case there is a high risk of loss of genetic qualities), you may have to adjust the form plants. Immediately after planting, the tops of the sprouts are plucked out; after three weeks, the procedure is repeated, removing the entire upper part of the central shoot.
From diseases and pests Multiflora is most often attacked by powdery mildew and caterpillars. For the purpose of prevention, it is recommended to follow the watering regime, loosen the soil and spray with special preparations.

Wintering rules

It’s clear how to grow spherical chrysanthemums; now all that’s left is to figure out how to preserve them until next spring. These perennial flowers could easily grow in one place for 4-6 years, but in most Russian regions this is impossible - the bushes have to be dug up annually for the winter.

Important! The frost resistance of some varieties is quite enough to survive the winter of the southern and even central regions. When buying Multiflora planting material, you should pay attention to the recommendations for wintering flowers.

In the warmest regions, chrysanthemums can overwinter in flower beds or in pots. Before the onset of cold weather, it is recommended to trim the flower stems to 10-15 cm and cover their roots with a thick layer of organic mulch.

Where winters are more severe, drastic measures cannot be avoided - spherical chrysanthemums will have to be dug up for the winter. To prolong variegated flowering, you can install a plastic frame around the bushes. When the stems begin to dry out, they are cut off and the rhizomes are dug up. Flowers are placed in sand or in soil mixed with sawdust, sand, peat (for better moisture retention) and put in a cool, dark place.

At the end of March, spherical chrysanthemums are taken out of their shelters and placed in a warm place under the sun's rays, so the flowers will begin to wake up. When the earth warms up well enough, you can return Multiflora to the flowerbed.

Advice! Do not rush and cut the stems of flowering chrysanthemums. These flowers set buds in late fall, and early pruning can harm this process.

Conclusion

Globular perennial chrysanthemums are a great way to decorate a garden or flower bed. These flowers are very unpretentious, they delight in the variety of varieties and species, and they have only one drawback - poor frost resistance.