Content
- 1 What do bush chrysanthemums look like?
- 2 When to plant bush chrysanthemums
- 3 Varieties of bush chrysanthemums
- 4 Bush chrysanthemums in landscape design
- 5 Planting and caring for bush chrysanthemums
- 6 How do bush chrysanthemums overwinter?
- 7 Propagation of bush chrysanthemums
- 8 Diseases and pests of bush chrysanthemums
- 9 Photos of bush chrysanthemums
- 10 Conclusion
Bush chrysanthemum is a favorite “tool” for many landscape designers. These perennial flowers have a huge variety of species, different in size, color, and flowering time, so they can be used in many flower arrangements. In addition, these plants are quite unpretentious, so they are grown in a variety of regions.
What do bush chrysanthemums look like?
Bush chrysanthemums are perennial herbaceous plants of the Asteraceae (Asteraceae) family. Numerous erect shoots form a rounded bush 0.3-1.5 m high. The root of the plant is well developed and fibrous. The leaves are cauline, have short petioles in the lower part, and are strongly dissected. Their size depends on the type and variety of the plant. The leaf blade is green, with a grayish tint on the reverse side, slightly pubescent or glabrous.
Bush chrysanthemums are universal in their use in the garden
Bush chrysanthemum flowers are bisexual, tubular and reed, numerous, collected in inflorescences-baskets located at the ends of the shoots. The structure and size of the inflorescences depends on the variety. The flowering of bush chrysanthemums begins in July and ends only with the first frost. The colors and colors of the petals are very different, from white to purple.
When to plant bush chrysanthemums
Seedlings of bush chrysanthemums grown from seeds or purchased in a store are planted in open ground quite late, at the end of May or in the first half of June. Such a late date is explained by the fact that young plants are very vulnerable to return frosts.
Varieties of bush chrysanthemums
All bush chrysanthemums are usually combined into several large groups in accordance with their characteristics and appearance:
- simple and semi-double;
These are varieties with an open middle of a flat inflorescence that looks like a chamomile
- anemone-shaped;
The inflorescences of such varieties also have an open middle, but it has a more convex shape
- feathery;
Varieties of this group have double inflorescences, with the flower petals completely covering the middle of the flower
- bristly;
Visually they resemble a round brush, the inflorescences are similar to the pinnate group, but the petals are less densely spaced
- pompons;
The inflorescences of this group of bush chrysanthemums are spherical and regular in shape.
- spoon-shaped;
This group got its name because of the characteristic shape of the petals, expanding in the shape of a spoon towards the end.
- fantasy, a young group of bush chrysanthemums that came from Japan;
The type of inflorescences of this group coincides with the pinnate ones, but have much longer petals
Below are several of the most popular varieties of perennial bush chrysanthemums, most often used in ornamental gardening and landscape design.
Alice
A low variety of bush chrysanthemums, grows up to 0.35-0.4 m. The bush is round, dense, the shoots are densely leafy. Alice belongs to the group of semi-double Korean chrysanthemums. The flowers are about 3 cm in diameter, bright yellow. Flowering begins in late July or early August and continues until September.
Alice looks great as a separate bush
Bacardi
This is one of the late flowering varieties. Its distinctive feature is the green or light green middle of the flower; the petals can be white, pink, or yellow. The inflorescences themselves are quite large, their diameter can reach up to 10 cm. The Bacardi bush chrysanthemum blooms at the end of summer and pleases the eye throughout September. Bush of medium density, up to 0.5 m in height. The shoots are hard and dense.
Bacardi is widely used for various bouquets
Baltika
This variety is especially popular among flower growers, since the flowers can be used both to decorate the garden area and for flower bouquets. The shoots are 65-85 cm long and form a rounded bush of medium density. Each of them can ripen up to 3 double inflorescences of various colors with a diameter of 12 to 20 cm. The Baltika bush chrysanthemum blooms all autumn until frost.
There are several varieties of Baltika chrysanthemums, differing in color and size of inflorescences.
- Baltic Pink - pink.
- Baltic White - white.
- Baltic Lilac - purple.
- Baltic Lime – light green with a greenish-lemon edging.
- Baltic Yellow - yellow.
- Baltika Purple - purple.
- Baltic VIP – white with purple or red streaks.
Bush varieties Baltika are excellent for cutting, maintaining their decorative value for several weeks. Very often they are grown as potted plants.
Lolipop
The length of the shoots of this variety of bush chrysanthemums reaches 0.7 m. The inflorescences are pompom type, quite large, 6-7 cm in diameter. The color of the petals is lilac-violet. The bush chrysanthemum Lolipop blooms in September-October. The flowers have a pleasant herbaceous aroma, stand well when cut, maintaining an attractive appearance for up to 3 weeks.
Mona Lisa
A popular variety of bush chrysanthemums, widespread among gardeners. The shoots are long and strong, the height of the bush can reach 1.5-1.7 m. This is one of the largest varieties with simple inflorescences.
Has several varieties:
- White. Inflorescences with white petals, the central part is green.
Flowering begins in September and ends only with the arrival of frost.
- Pink (Pink). The pale pink petals contrast well with the yellow-green center of the flower.
Pink inflorescences can be up to 8 cm in diameter
- Creamy. The petals are cream-colored, the central part is greenish-yellow.
The creamy variety blooms all autumn with beautiful inflorescences up to 7 cm in diameter.
Reagan
The height of the bush of these chrysanthemums can reach 0.7-0.9 m. Inflorescences with spoon-shaped petals are up to 10 cm in diameter. Flowering begins in August and ends at the end of September. The inflorescences consist of yellow, red or orange petals, the central part is yellowish-green.
Reagan is distinguished by spoon-shaped petals
Saba
Chrysanthemum Saba can grow up to 70 cm, forms a beautiful bush with very original inflorescences with a bright green central part and two-color bordered petals around it. The stem of the plant is strong, the foliage is medium.
Flowering begins in September and continues until mid-October. There are several colors of the Saba bush chrysanthemum: lilac-white, yellow-orange and many others.
Saba have an unusual two-color petal color
Minx
This variety of Korean bush chrysanthemums has a pinnate inflorescence. The color of the petals is dark red, burgundy or purple. The diameter of the inflorescence ranges from 5 to 10 cm. The flowering period is September. The bush is not very tall, the length of the shoots is 0.5-0.7 m.
Minx - a representative of Korean bush flowers with a feathery inflorescence
Bush chrysanthemums in landscape design
The rather late flowering period of bush chrysanthemums allows them to be used to decorate personal plots and gardening areas in the fall, when many ornamental plants have already bloomed.Traditionally, landscape designers use low varieties as border plants, planting them as part of mixborders along the walls of buildings, paths and alleys, and also as a colored background.
Colorful border of bush chrysanthemums looks great
Larger bushes are used as color and architectural accents in group or individual plantings.
Planting and caring for bush chrysanthemums
Some species of these plants are tolerant of the Russian climate and feel good in open ground. However, certain varieties of bush chrysanthemums, especially large-flowered ones, for example, in the Moscow region, are better grown as potted ones, putting them indoors for the winter and putting them out again in the garden in the spring. In general, caring for them is quite traditional and not particularly difficult.
Where to plant bush chrysanthemums
These flowers love good, but diffused lighting. In the shade they grow worse, become very elongated and may not even bloom. These flowers do not like open spaces where they can be damaged by the wind; the best place for them is closed areas or areas next to fences, walls of buildings, and structures. The soil required is breathable, loose, rich in humus. Clay areas and places where water stagnates are not suitable for chrysanthemums.
Landing rules
Plants are planted using seedlings obtained from seeds or grown vegetatively. The soil must be dug up in advance, adding humus, as well as urea and superphosphate. You can plant seedlings on any cloudy day, from May to mid-June, after the danger of return frosts has become minimal and the soil has warmed up sufficiently.
It is convenient to use a small metal spatula for planting chrysanthemums.
To plant seedlings in open ground, it is better to use a small iron spatula. Be sure to stock up on well-marked pebbles for laying drainage - stagnation of water in the roots can lead to the death of plants. Using a spatula, you need to dig planting holes and pour a layer of pebbles into them. Then the seedlings are planted, but they are not buried. Immediately after planting, plants are pinched to increase root survival. The distance between neighboring seedlings is chosen based on their variety and size of future chrysanthemum bushes. If their size does not exceed 0.5 m, then the interval between neighboring plants should be 0.2-0.3 m, the interval between large bushes should be at least 0.5 m.
If for some reason the spring planting was unsuccessful, the procedure can be repeated in the fall, at the end of September or at the beginning of October. Most often, this need arises when planting a bush using the division method, when each part actually becomes an independent plant. You should definitely wait until flowering is over, otherwise the chances of success of this procedure will sharply decrease. After planting in the fall, bush chrysanthemums need special care; they need to be mulched with peat, and before frost they must be covered with non-woven material.
Watering and fertilizing
Bush chrysanthemums equally dislike both excessive watering and lack of moisture. In the first case, the roots of the plants rot, and in the second, the inflorescences become smaller, the shoots become thin and tough. Water bush chrysanthemums moderately, at the root, with settled or rain water. It's better to do this in the evening.In hot weather, after sunset, you can periodically sprinkle the plantings. This will clean the leaves of dust and return them to a bright green color.
Specialized fertilizers for chrysanthemums replace traditional mineral ones
In spring, bush chrysanthemums are usually fed with urea, adding it in the form of an aqueous solution. During the season, you can use a slurry solution for feeding 2-3 times. Starting from mid-summer, the application of nitrogen-containing fertilizers is stopped. At the end of summer or autumn, complex mineral fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus are applied.
How do bush chrysanthemums overwinter?
In regions with warm winters, bush chrysanthemums overwinter well under minimal cover. Before wintering, all shoots are cut off at a height of 10-15 cm from the ground, hilled up, and then the plants are covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves or straw, and covered with spruce branches. In cold regions, bushes are dug up along with a lump of earth on the roots, put into boxes and stored in the basement at a temperature of + 2-5 ° C.
In cold regions, it is better to dig up bush chrysanthemums for the winter and put them indoors
Before winter, potted and indoor chrysanthemums are also trimmed and stored in a cool room. During wintering, the plants rest; no manipulations are carried out with them, with the exception of rare moistening of the soil to prevent the roots from completely drying out.
Propagation of bush chrysanthemums
To propagate bush chrysanthemums, you can use the seed method, as well as one of the vegetative methods:
- Seed method. It is rarely used in ornamental gardening because it takes a long time, and the resulting seedlings do not always retain their parental varietal characteristics. Most often, the seed method is used by breeders when developing new varieties. Planting takes place in January. To grow seedlings, use a container filled with special soil. The seeds are distributed over the surface of the soil without deepening them, and then they are moistened with water from a spray bottle. The container is placed in a warm, dark place. The first shoots appear in approximately 2-2.5 weeks. After the seedlings have grown, they are planted in separate pots and then planted in a permanent place.
To obtain seedlings from seeds, it is convenient to use special containers
- Dividing the bush. Bush chrysanthemums grow quickly, so the bush needs to be divided approximately once every 3 years, at the end of spring. Using a knife, the rhizome is divided into several parts, each of which should contain shoots with their own roots, and then they are planted at a considerable distance from each other.
- Cuttings. Chrysanthemum root shoots containing at least 3 internodes are excellent for preparing cuttings. Carefully cut cuttings are placed in a nutrient mixture of chernozem, humus and sand, mixed in a ratio of 2:1:0.5, deepening them to about 3 cm. The container with planting material is covered with film, simulating greenhouse conditions, and kept, periodically moistening the soil, for about 1 month. During this time, the cuttings will form their own root system. After this, they can be planted in a permanent place.
Chrysanthemum cuttings take root well if the algorithm is followed correctly
Diseases and pests of bush chrysanthemums
Bush chrysanthemums are more susceptible to fungal diseases resulting from improper care or the vagaries of the weather:
- Gray rot. Most often it is found on the petals in the form of brown spots, gradually spreading to the entire above-ground part of the plant. Affected areas should be cut out and burned, and the plants should be treated with fungicides.
Areas of the plant affected by gray mold must be removed
- Powdery mildew. The disease is detected by a characteristic light coating on the leaves. Often a consequence of sharp fluctuations in temperature and humidity, it may indicate a lack of nutrition. Infected plants are removed, and neighboring plantings are sprayed with a soap solution with the addition of soda ash.
Powdery mildew can be detected by a characteristic whitish coating on the leaves.
- White rust. It appears on the leaves in the form of numerous round spots of light color, becoming brown over time. If found, affected leaves should be cut off and burned, and the bushes should be treated with fungicides - antifungal drugs (Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride, etc.).
Yellowish dots on the leaves are a sign of rust
Among the pests on bush chrysanthemums, the following insects can most often be found:
- Greenhouse or brown chrysanthemum aphid. These small insects feed on young foliage, buds, and succulent greens, slowing down the growth of the plant and worsening its appearance. They can be detected by deformed leaves and small holes in them, as well as damaged flower buds. They fight aphids by spraying the bushes with various insecticidal preparations.
Brown aphids can damage above-ground areas of chrysanthemums
- Spider mite. A sucking insect, which can be detected by spider nests entangling the tops of the shoots. This proximity greatly depresses the plants, chrysanthemums get sick, turn yellow and dry out. Special products are produced against ticks - acaricides, which should be used to treat the plantings.
A sign of a spider mite is the tips of the shoots entangled in cobwebs
- Meadow bug. Most often, its appearance is recognized by characteristic swellings on the leaves, leading to their deformation and death. The result is loss of decorativeness and lack of flowering. Insecticides such as Decis, Karate, Inta-Vir, etc. are used against bedbugs.
The meadow bug is a sucking insect that damages leaves.
Photos of bush chrysanthemums
Below are several photographs illustrating the use of bush chrysanthemums in ornamental gardening.
A multi-colored river of bush flowers is a great way to zoning a site
Plants, as decoration elements, can even be used in potted form
A non-standard design move - a stream of flowers will look great at the entrance to the garden
A multi-colored border will be a great way to highlight the path to your home.
A flowerbed with bushes is a classic solution for decorating a plot or a separate corner in the park
Conclusion
A bush chrysanthemum in the skillful hands of a garden designer can become a real highlight of a personal plot. The variety of shapes and colors allows you to surprisingly accurately select color schemes and create compositions. Bush chrysanthemum is an excellent way to prolong summer and preserve many bright colors in the garden until the cold weather.
