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The perennial plant Matricaria belongs to the general family Asteraceae Asteraceae. People call the picturesque flowers chamomile for the detailed similarity of the inflorescences-baskets. It is known that in the 16th century the culture was called “Roman flower”, from the Polish word “romana” - “Roman”. Matricaria is a herbaceous plant characterized by a pinnately dissected leaf structure. Corymbs with hemispherical inflorescences in the shape of baskets, bisexual tubular flowers of a yellow tone, collected in a disk, pistillate false reed buds of a white hue.
Matricaria flowers do not emit a strong, but specific smell
Views from photos
Some types of matricaria are very popular among modern landscape designers. Unpretentious flowers emphasize the Russian style favorably and naturally, evoking associations with endless fields dotted with a scattering of white daisies with yellow centers.The genus Matricaria has about 20 different species, among which the most popular for planting on personal plots are Sadovaya, Chikhacheva, Pakhuchaya, Devichya.
Sadovaya
The large garden daisy Matricaria, or the greatest popovka, belongs to the Asteraceae family. Flowers of this type have a specific aroma, as well as the following characteristics:
- branched, tap root system;
- single, erect, faceted, branched stem;
- stem height - up to 70 cm;
- leaf blades are oblong, spatulate, serrated along the edges;
- the arrangement of leaves is alternate, sessile;
- the shape of the inflorescences is single baskets, up to 12 cm in diameter;
- tone of inflorescences: tubular buds of a yellow hue, false-linguate flowers of a white tone;
- fruit - cylindrical seeds, up to 2 mm in size.
In the garden, flowers are placed in the same zone with field crops to create an additional natural flavor of the composition.
Chikhacheva
The Chikhachev flower species (Matricaria tchihatchewii) is characterized by lush flowering. In the wild, plants are found on the rocky hills of Asia Minor. The following parameters are typical for decorative flowers:
- bush height - up to 30 cm;
- bush shape - highly branched;
- peduncles - leafless;
- inflorescences - solitary, in the form of baskets;
- tone of inflorescences: tubular flowers are yellow, reed flowers are white.
In modern landscape design, the Matricaria Chikhachev flower is used to decorate rock gardens
Smelly
Matricaria discoidea is not used for decorative purposes. Its main purpose is medicine and cosmetology. The culture whose homeland is the Far East is characterized by the following characteristics:
- bush height - up to 30 cm;
- bush shape - highly branched;
- leaves are twice pinnately divided, with pointed lobes of linear flat shape;
- leaf arrangement - sessile, alternate;
- baskets of inflorescences of small sizes;
- tubular flowers of a yellow-green hue.
Scented Matricaria is characterized by the presence of only tubular flowers and the complete absence of reed flowers.
Odorous Matricaria is used to treat inflammatory processes, poisoning, and also in cosmetology for hair coloring.
Maiden
Matricaria parthenium, or Matricaria eximia, or Chrysanthemum parthenium, compares favorably with other varieties of daisies. A decorative flower is characterized by compact size, pronounced aroma and the following parameters:
- bush shape - highly branched;
- bush height - up to 40 cm;
- leaf plates - carved, bladed;
- the shape of the inflorescences is baskets (simple or terry);
- diameter of inflorescences - up to 2.5 cm.
Maiden chamomile has a large number of varieties that are distinguished by amazing decorative properties.
The Matricaria variety "White Star" is characterized by simple white inflorescences.
The Matricaria variety "Aureum" is distinguished by large leaf blades of yellow-golden color, bright inflorescences with a yellow center and snow-white marginal flowers
The Matricaria flower variety "Golden Ball" amazes with the beauty and grandeur of its chic spherical inflorescences of golden tone, which contain exclusively tubular flowers
The Matricaria variety "Snow Ball" is characterized by lush spherical white inflorescences with wide reed flowers
The delightful convex shape of the inflorescences of the Matricaria variety "Lemon Santana" is distinguished by the light yellow color of the baskets
How to grow from seeds in open ground
At home, chamomile matricaria can be grown from seeds. The seedling method is considered the most effective.
When to plant
Seeds are sown for seedlings in late March or early April. In the second half of May, when warm weather sets in, the strengthened and hardened seedlings can be transplanted into open ground.
Matricaria seedlings are transferred to open ground once the threat of return frosts has passed.
Basic Rules
Experienced gardeners note several simple rules, the use of which will ensure guaranteed high-quality and healthy seedlings of Matricaria flowers:
- Small, shallow containers or boxes are chosen as containers for seedlings.
- The soil should be light, loose, fertile, made up of equal parts of peat, garden soil and sand.
- The seeds are laid out at a distance of up to 3 cm from each other to a depth of 1 cm.
- After seed placement is completed, the crops are thoroughly moistened with a sprayer.
- To create a greenhouse effect, the container with seedlings is covered with plastic film or glass.
- The place to place the container with crops should be well lit and warm.
- Periodically, the shelter is cleaned, ventilated and condensation is removed, and if necessary, sprayed with a spray bottle.
- After the first shoots appear, the seedlings are transferred to a cooler place to prevent the seedlings from stretching to height.
- After two true leaves appear, the seedlings are picked and placed at a distance of no more than 4 cm from each other (in the case of transferring plants into a common container) or in disposable containers.
- Before planting in the ground (second half of May), the seedlings are hardened off for 2 weeks.
- Seedling bushes are planted in prepared shallow holes along with a lump of earth at a distance of up to 30 cm from each other.
- After transplanting Matricaria seedlings into open ground, the plants are thoroughly moistened.
- After absorbing water, the bushes are sprinkled with compost or dry soil.
Most decorative varieties of Matricaria can be grown independently from seeds
Care
Caring for decorative Matricaria flowers is quite simple. Each plant needs its own area to develop. As they grow, the seedlings branch, close together, and form a beautiful and picturesque sketch. Chamomile is completely undemanding and unpretentious to growing conditions. For a crop, it is enough to carry out the basic stages of care: watering, fertilizing, loosening the soil, removing weeds, removing faded inflorescences to maintain a neat and well-groomed appearance.
Chamomile meadow is an amazing sight that can decorate any local area
Lighting
Matricaria chamomile flowers prefer sunny, open places or partial shade. In the shade of buildings and tall trees, plants will stretch in height and flowering will be less intense.
Decorative chamomile “loves” the bright rays of the sun, so it blooms luxuriantly and profusely in open meadows
The soil
There are no special requirements for the composition of the soil for different varieties of Matricaria chamomile. The culture prefers universal soil, since in the natural environment plants are found on almost all continents. Chamomile will grow and develop more successfully if you provide high-quality drainage, sufficient fertilizer and moisture.Attention should be paid to groundwater levels. The accumulation of water after snowmelt and the rainy season can cause waterlogging of the soil and cause the death of the root system.
Matricaria flowers can reproduce by self-sowing in any soil
Fertilizer
Complex organic and mineral fertilizers are suitable for decorative chamomile. The first fertilizing is applied 2-3 weeks after transplanting the seedlings into open ground. During the growth period and at the budding stage, fertilizing with nitrophoska (2 tablespoons of the drug per 10 liters of water) is ideal.
All subsequent feedings are carried out every 2-3 weeks throughout the entire flowering period. After flowering is completed, use potassium sulfate or superphosphate (1 tablespoon of product per 10 liters of water).
It is important to periodically fertilize decorative matricaria with compost, rotted manure or peat to ensure more active flowering
Watering
Decorative Matricaria chamomile flowers “prefer” regular, moderate watering. The plant tolerates drought more easily than stagnation and excess moisture, which harm the root system. Experienced gardeners recommend watering chamomile with warm water in the morning or evening.
Decorative chamomile should be watered after sunset to avoid exposure to the sun's scorching rays.
Trimming
After flowering, wilted Matricaria flowers are cut off so as not to spoil the decorative appearance of the flower garden. Using sterile, sharp garden tools, it is necessary to cut off injured, broken, dried stems, shoots, leaves, and flower stalks so that the plants look neat.
In late autumn, the bushes are trimmed completely, covered with peat, sawdust, leaves, and spruce branches.
In spring, the cover is removed, perennial bushes of decorative chamomile develop with renewed vigor
The difference between caring for garden and home chamomile
Caring for garden and home (indoor) chamomile has its own differences.
When gardening, you should remember that seedlings and early shoots that have just been planted in open ground need intensive and frequent watering. 2 weeks after engraftment, plants in flower beds and beds adhere to the following mandatory elements of care:
- watering 2 times a week;
- loosening the soil;
- weeding;
- mulching plants with a thin layer of peat 1-2 times per season.
Matricaria flowers are popular “residents” of modern mixborders, which add a touch of naturalness and closeness to nature, and are most preferable for eco- or ethno-areas of landscape design
Homemade daisies in a pot are a unique interior decor. Most often, compact, decorative, unique plants called pyrethrum or cornflower are planted in containers. Since the height of the bush reaches 20 cm, the plants require the following care:
- small but spacious pot;
- nutrient soil;
- timely watering.
After flowering, the plant is pruned and transferred to a cold room, watering is reduced, and “hibernation” is ensured. In February, the indoor plant is moved to a warm room and watered abundantly after the first buds appear.
Touching nevus pleases with delicate flowering for a long time
Reproduction
Various species and varieties of Matricaria flowers are propagated in three ways:
- seed, by self-sowing or growing seedlings;
- by dividing a bush of an adult plant;
- cuttings, separation of viable shoots from an adult plant.
The seed method is the most commonly used in practice
From seeds
The vast majority of flowers of the Matricaria genus are grown from seeds. Under natural conditions, daisies reproduce by self-seeding. Flower growers prefer to grow seedlings, which are planted in open ground in late spring or early summer.
Matricaria flower seedlings are planted in open ground when the air temperature is above + 15 ⁰C
Dividing the bush
Adult bushes of Matricaria ornamental flowers (4-5 year old plants) must be periodically renewed. Division is carried out in September, after flowering has ended. The mother bush is completely removed from the ground using a shovel. The plant is divided into parts, and young, healthy, viable root shoots are selected for propagation.
Plots of Matricaria flowers, planted in the ground in the fall, transform into a beautifully blooming, healthy plant in the spring.
Cuttings
In the summer, healthy shoots of adult Matricaria flowers can be cut for cuttings and immediately planted in open ground. The soil for placing the cuttings must be watered abundantly, and the hole must be filled with wet moss. The shoots are deepened and covered with plastic film to create a greenhouse effect (heat and diffused light).
Rooting of cuttings of Matricaria flowers occurs after 15-20 days
Diseases and pests
Decorative species of Matricaria flowers, like their wild “relatives,” are resistant to pathogens and pests. In some cases, the crop may be affected by the following diseases:
- gray rot;
- fusarium;
- rust;
- powdery mildew.
To get rid of fungal diseases, you should treat the affected matricaria bushes with fungicide solutions 2-3 times per season.
Fungal infections most often appear on matricaria bushes during periods of prolonged rains
Among the insect pests that cause damage to Matricaria flowers are wireworms, thrips, aphids, and star flies. For prevention purposes, weeds should be constantly destroyed and insectoacaricides should be used.
To get rid of wireworms that harm matricaria flowers, you need to set special traps
Decorative role in the garden and interior
In landscape design, Matricaria flowers are used as a border crop, in single plantings, or in ensembles with other ornamental plants.
Matricaria decorative flowers planted along the paths delight the eye with an attractive and well-groomed appearance until late autumn.
To design landscape areas, it is best to choose terry varieties of garden matricaria, which are characterized by lush flowering and an abundance of large inflorescences
Chamomiles easily get along with various garden crops: marigolds, cypress spurge, ageratum, cornflowers, field poppies, roses, lilies
Since chamomile blooms from June to late autumn, the plant gradually replaces its “neighbors” in the garden and retains its decorative properties for a long time
Pink pyrethrum, or medium-sized chamomile (up to 50 cm tall), with inflorescences of crimson, pink, purple flowers, has exceptional decorative properties
Conclusion
Matricaria goes well with the vast majority of ornamental garden plants: with the reigning rose and the modest forget-me-not.The height and size of chamomile bushes are in perfect harmony with other representatives of the world of flora. Many popular beliefs claim that chamomile brings love, tranquility, peace, luck and harmony to the home. Translated from Greek, the flower “matricaria” sounds like “heat.” Since ancient times, people have used the healing properties of chamomile during childbirth as a pain-relieving drug.
