Doronicum (Kozulnik): photos of perennial flowers, planting and care in open ground

The Doronicum flower is a large yellow daisy that stands out against a background of bright green foliage. Looks great both in single plantings and in compositions. Does not require frequent fertilizing, only needs regular watering. Therefore, every gardener can grow these pleasant bushes.

Description and characteristics

Doronicum (doronicum) is a perennial flowering plant from the genus of the same name, belongs to the Asteraceae family. Under natural conditions, it is found everywhere in the foothills and mountains (up to 3500 m) of the temperate climate of Eurasia and partly in the countries of North Africa.

Doronicum is also called yellow daisy, because in appearance it really resembles this flower (the shape of the petals and stamens). Another synonym is kozulnik.

The bush is small in height - on average from 30 to 100 cm (depending on the specific species or variety). It is quite spreading in width - reaches 40-50 cm, sometimes more. Shoots are erect, weakly branched. The leaves are a pleasant green shade, heart-shaped, quite wide (5-6 cm), arranged alternately.

At the base of the root there is a basal rosette of leaves with particularly long cuttings. Often, slight pubescence is noticeable on the shoots and foliage. The root system is superficial, so the roe deer needs frequent watering.

The yellow flowers of the roe deer look very attractive against the background of green foliage.

Doronicum forms flower baskets of rich yellow color, the core is orange, closer to light brown. They are large in size - they can reach from 5 to 12 cm in diameter (although there are smaller ones, it all depends on the type). Consist of 1 or 2 rows of narrow, elongated petals. The flowering period also depends on the species - it can begin in May, June and even in April (generally lasting from 4 to 6 weeks). Flowers are united in corymbose inflorescences.

After the flowering of the roe deer, brown seed fruits ripen, reaching a length of only 3 mm. Inside them you can find several very small seeds that can be collected and stored at home. They will sprout not only next season, but also in 2 years.

Attention! Doronicum is a winter-hardy plant - it tolerates frosts down to -35 ° C. Therefore, the flower can be grown in most regions of Russia, but in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East additional preparation for winter will be required.

Types of Doronicum flowers

There are approximately 40 species of plants in the genus Doronicum, many of which are used in garden design. Popular types of roe deer with photos are described below.

Doronicum austriacum

Quite a tall bush (up to 70 cm) with straight stems. The leaf blades are ovoid, the inflorescences are up to 5 cm wide. This species of Doronicum is native to Mediterranean countries. It has been grown in Austria for a long time, which is why it received the appropriate name.

The flowers of the Austrian doronicum are bright yellow, with dissected petals.

Doronicum orientale

This type of roe deer is a low-growing (height up to 0.5 m) and compact (width up to 0.4 m) bush. The shoots are straight, without branches, the leaves are rich green in color, mounted on long petioles. The shape is ovoid, oval. Oriental doronicum blooms for 4-6 weeks - from June to July.

Doronicum bush produces many bright yellow flowers up to 5 cm in diameter

Altai Doronicum (doronicum altaicum)

This type of gooseberry can be of various sizes - from 10 to 70 cm in height. The stems are purple, red and even brown. There is little foliage, peduncles are noticeably higher than the main part of Doronicum. Inflorescences up to 6 cm wide.

Fluffy flowers of the Altai culture look great against the background of large oval leaves

Doronicum columnae

This species of Doronicum reaches from 40 to 80 cm in height. The flowers are yellow daisies up to 6 cm in diameter. The peduncles are bare, the stems are branched, so the entire bush is covered with beautiful inflorescences.

The color of the flowers of the Column variety is closer to lemon yellow

Doronicum Clews

The original type of Cluse's roe (doronicum clusii) is a miniature bush up to 30 cm in height. The leaves are deep green, elongated, the flowers are single, bright yellow.It is found in nature in the foothills of the Alps, so in the garden it will look especially beautiful in rocky hills and rock gardens.

The flowers of the Cluse variety are bright yellow, closer to light orange.

Doronicum plantagineum

This type of kosulnik is distinguished by very large peduncles - up to 140 cm and large flowers from 8 to 12 cm. Includes 2 popular varieties:

Excelsium (Excelsium) is a large bush of roe deer up to 1.5 m high with yellow flowers reaching 10 cm in diameter.
Mrs. Maison (Mrs. Mason) is a miniature plant. Its height does not exceed 60 cm.
The leaves of Doronicum Mrs. Mason are somewhat reminiscent of plantain

Doronicum oblongifolium

This type of roe is represented by miniature bushes from 10 to 50 cm in height. The peduncle is tall, the flowers are quite large - up to 5 cm in diameter.

Doronicum oblongata got its name due to its elongated leaves with pointed ends.

Doronicum turkestanicum

A type of medium-sized roe deer, growing up to 70-75 cm in height. Despite its name, it is also found in Kazakhstan and Siberia and is characterized by high winter hardiness.

The flowers of the Turkestan roe deer are medium in size, up to 4 cm in diameter.

Doronicum caucasicum

The Caucasian variety is represented by medium-sized bushes up to 0.3-0.5 m in height. Flowering begins in mid-May and continues for more than a month.

The leaves of the gooseberry are heart-shaped, with serrated edges.

Important! After the end of flowering, the leaves of the Caucasian doronicum fall off, so it is better to plant it in the far corners of the garden.

Methods for propagating the perennial Doronicum

Kozulnik can be grown from seeds at home or propagated by dividing an adult bush (aged 3-4 years and older). Despite the complexity, the first method is the most reliable. Although it is still necessary to divide the doronicum bush, and it is advisable to do this at least once every 4 years. This allows you to rejuvenate the bush, stimulating the development of new shoots.

Growing Doronicum from seeds

Kozulnik seeds can be planted:

For seedlings - in the first half of April.
Directly into the ground - at the end of May or mid-October.

For cultivation, use universal soil for seedlings or your own mixture made up of coarse sand and peat, mixed in equal quantities. The most convenient way is to take cassettes and plant 2-3 seeds in one cell. Doronicum grains are simply placed on the surface and lightly sprinkled with soil, after which they are moistened with a spray bottle, covered with a lid and placed in a warm place (25 ° C). In this case, the light is needed quite bright, although diffused.

The first shoots of roe deer appear in 1.5-2 weeks. After the seedlings reach a height of 4 cm, one bush is left in each cell, and the rest (weaker, lagging behind in development) are cut off at the root (there is no need to pull them out). After 3-4 leaves appear, the side shoots are pinched so that the future doronicum bush becomes lush.

Important! A week before transplanting the bushes into the ground, they are hardened off on the street or on the balcony, first taking them out for a few minutes and gradually increasing the time to 1.5-2 hours.

Doronicum seedlings can be grown in any containers, including plastic pots

Dividing the bush

Another way to propagate Doronicum is by dividing the bush. This is a simple method that is used at the end of September, after the rosettes have grown.The roe bush is dug up with a sharp shovel, then carefully shaken off and divided into several parts.

In this case, each division should have at least 2-3 healthy shoots. They are planted in a permanent place, buried, and then a layer of mulch (peat, humus, dry leaves or other materials) is laid.

Important! Doronicum is also propagated by cuttings of rhizomes. They are also cut in the fall and planted in open ground. The first shoots will appear next season.

Planting and caring for Doronicum

Caring for doronicum comes down to regular watering and loosening the soil. If fertilizers were added to the hole when planting, new fertilizing will only be needed in the next season.

When to plant Doronicum

Despite the fact that Doronicum is a cold-resistant plant, young seedlings are transferred to the ground only at the end of May or even at the beginning of June, when frosts definitely will not return (in the south it is possible in the first half of May). It is best to divide the bush in mid-September, about a month before the first noticeable cold snap (below +5-10 °C).

Preparing the site and soil

Doronicum loves moderate light, so for planting it is better to choose a slightly shaded area, for example, not far from tall shrubs and garden trees. It is advisable that the place be slightly elevated (to prevent moisture accumulation and root rotting) and protected from strong winds.

Before planting the roe grass, the area needs to be dug up with half a shovel and 1-2 kg of manure added for every 1 m2 or it must be sealed into the planting holes. This is especially important if the soil is infertile.

Important! If the soil is heavy, then when digging it is advisable to add 10 kg of sand for every 1 m2, and if it is light, 5 kg of peat for the same area. This will be beneficial for all plants.

Planting in open ground

Sequence of actions when planting doronicum:

Several shallow holes are formed (according to the size of the rhizome) at a distance of at least 40-50 cm from each other - in this case the planting will be dense, but it can be done less frequently.
Place a small layer of small stones on the bottom (for drainage).
The seedlings are rooted and sprinkled with fertile soil or a mixture of garden soil with peat and manure (2:1:1).
Water generously.
Mulch with straw, wood shavings, peat or other materials.

It is better to plant goat grass in the garden at the end of May or at the beginning of June

Aftercare

Further care for doronicum includes the following actions:

Water regularly, but not excessively (the soil should remain slightly moist).
It is better to loosen after each watering. This must be done very carefully, since the roots of the roe deer lie very close to the surface.
Every year in April, apply any organic or complex mineral fertilizer - this will be enough.
Mulching with mowed grass, peat, sawdust. The layer needs to be updated periodically.
In September or October, all peduncles and stems are cut off at the root, leaving stumps 4-5 cm high. In regions with harsh winters, the kosulnik is covered with dry leaves, hay, and straw. Remove the layer in early spring.
Replanting and dividing the bush is carried out every 3-4 years.

Attention! For irrigation, it is advisable to use water at room temperature that has been standing for 24 hours (you can leave it to warm up under the sun’s rays).

For lush flowering of the roe deer, it needs to be watered regularly and fed occasionally.

Diseases and pests of the Doronicum plant

With improper care (excessive moisture), as well as in unfavorable, too rainy weather, the goat can suffer from various diseases:

gray rot;
rust;
powdery mildew.

Therefore, as a preventative measure, it is necessary to treat plants with any fungicide in April:

"Maksim";
"Fitosporin";
"Skor";
"Ordan";
Bordeaux mixture.

Important! If the roe bush is already affected by these diseases, it should be immediately dug up and burned so as not to infect neighboring plants.

Also, aphids and thrips often settle on the leaves and stems of Doronicum. They feed on plant juices, which causes the flowers to begin to deform and die. Dealing with it is quite simple - you need to treat it with insecticides:

"Aktellik";
"Akarin";
"Decis";
"Karbofos";
"Agravertine";
"Fufanon."

Advice! Slugs pose a great danger to the roe deer. They can be collected by hand, and to repel them, scatter eggshells or nut shells, dry mustard powder or crushed chili peppers near the flower bed.

Doronicum perennial in landscape design

Doronicum enlivens the garden with bright, sunny daisies abundantly covering the miniature bushes. The plant can decorate remote, nondescript parts of the garden (including hiding old buildings), not only in single plantings, but also in compositions with other flowers:

primrose;
daffodils;
irises;
tulips.

Below are several interesting options for using roe grass in garden design:

Single landing near the entrance.
Kozulnik next to the fence, in a composition with fern and cornflowers.
Planting next to an old fence.
Rocky hill with Doronicum.
Multi-tiered composition with roe deer and other flowers.
Doronicum in a single planting on a nondescript area.

Conclusion

Doronicum flower is one of the simplest and most proven ways to revitalize the garden, giving it spring freshness.Yellow inflorescences appear at the end of April. With proper care, there is often a second wave of flowering - it occurs at the beginning of August. Kozulnik will easily fit into the design of any garden, decorating the central parts and far corners.

Flower Kozulnik (Doronicum): growing from seeds, when to plant, photo