Yellow Chrysanthemum - Queen of Autumn

The name "chrysanthemum" in Greek means "golden-colored". Such a royal name for this plant was given not by chance: for a long time he was idolized in the imperial houses of Japan and China, forbidding to breed to mere mortals. The original forms of the flower were exceptionally yellow, and the chrysanthemum symbolized the power, wealth, and nobility of the royal family. Known for many millennia, the culture is loved by many florists, although in European countries it was only discovered in the 18th century. Today, being considered the queen of autumn, yellow chrysanthemum gives sunny joy and delicate beauty of stellate inflorescences to falling asleep gardens. About this amazing flower, some of its varieties and their peculiarities, let's talk about this article.

Species and varieties

These representatives of the family of Compositae, or astroves, are so numerous that different and very extensive selection classifications operate in different countries. There are half-shrubs and herbaceous plants, perennials and annuals, which bloom during the season. A huge number of species also gives rise to significant differences: for example, stems of different degrees of descent, leaves of various shapes, sizes and colors. Inflorescences-baskets consist of rows of tubular and reed flowers. We, considering certain flowers - yellow chrysanthemums - and focusing on precisely these shades of inflorescences, we learn about the characteristics of some representatives of varieties of this "golden-colored" culture. Choose the most vivid and enjoying the special love of the cultivator variety.

Early varieties

One of them is a large-flowered chrysanthemum with the mythical name "Golden fleece" - an early variety, ideal for cutting. Advantages of the plant are a strong straight stem with dark, dense, figuratively carved leaves and a large bright yellow inflorescence, a basket consisting of 300 or more reed and tubular flowers arranged in even rows. The Golden Fleece blooms in August, which is very unusual for autumn flowers. A perennial plant with a strong, branched rhizome grows rapidly, forming strong shoots, reaching a very impressive height of 0.8-1.2 m. The flowers have a fresh pleasant odor.

Chrysanthemum "Orange", or "Golden Orange", is a cluster variety of early flowering. It branches splendidly and grows to 50-60 cm. In August, a multitude of double flowers bloom in rich orange blossoms, reaching a diameter of 6-8 cm. The flowering is coming to an end in the middle of October. The variety is winter-hardy, withstands frosts down to -29 ° C.

Chrysanthemums of late flowering

One of the late blooming in late October, varieties is the "Rivardi". Chrysanthemums are very effective: large (up to 20 cm in diameter) pompoms of golden inflorescences are collected from clear rows of long reeds.

All these varieties are combined in the form of garden chrysanthemums, and we will talk about the cultivation of these magnificent autumn stars.

Landing technics

Very severe climatic conditions in most regions of Russia dictate the cultivation of chrysanthemums through seedlings. Planted in the spring, with a weakening threat of recurrent frosts. Yellow chrysanthemum (and all other species) - the plant is warm and photophilous, well developing on neutral or slightly acidic fertile loamy soils. Based on these preferences, a place for landing is selected: it must be illuminated, inaccessible to groundwater and protected from through winds. Preliminary, the site is dug and brought in nutrients - 1 square. M 10 kg of humus and 35-40 g. Granules of mineral fertilizers.

For planting seedlings in the flower bed choose a low cloudy day. The scorching sun is an undesirable factor that can significantly slow down the rooting of young plants. Plant them in the holes with intervals between them 25-50 cm, focusing on the spread of the bush. Planted plants are pricked with a growth point, which stimulates branching and the appearance of new shoots.

Care of the culture

Caring for a growing chrysanthemum is not difficult, you just need to comply with a number of mandatory rules. For example, pinching a growth point is a necessary operation for a bush plant, and large-flowered varieties, including a yellow chrysanthemum, are dispensed with without this procedure, since they are given a strong charm by sturdy straight stems that end with a chic inflorescence. In these species, on the contrary, the lateral stems are removed, leaving a few of the strongest. Tall grades require additional support, which will not allow the bush to fall apart.

Watering and feeding

Chrysanthemum is a moisture-loving culture, it needs generous watering, because a lack of water will necessarily affect decorativeness. When watering, adhere to such a rule: avoid water from falling on leaves and inflorescences, after which the soil under the plant loosen and remove the weeds.

Support the bright flowering of the necessary fertilizing. Over the summer they are carried out thrice: in spring chrysanthemum is applied humus or compost, before flowering - phosphate-potassium preparations, on the eve of winter - phosphorus fertilizers.

Pests of culture

Yellow chrysanthemum, like other species, becomes a prey of pests rather rarely. But aphids or thrips can settle on the back of the leaves and multiply rapidly, forming colonies and nullifying all efforts to grow a flower. If the attack of pests is seen at the very beginning, then it will be enough only to tear off damaged leaves, in neglected situations it will be necessary to use an insecticide (Actelik, Aktara), treating plants 2-3 times with weekly breaks, if necessary.