Heliopsis

The herbaceous annual and perennial heliopsis belongs to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The wild plant can be found in the North American territory and in the center of America. The name of the culture in translation means "sun-like", this is explained by the fact that the inflorescence looks like the sun. This culture includes more than ten varieties. The typical variety is "Sunflower" (Heliopsis helianthoides), its hybrid varieties are often cultivated by flower growers.

Heliopsis description

Shoots are vertical, branching, reaching a height of about 1.5 m. The leaves are elongated, opposite or alternating, their edges in the form of denticles. Inflorescences are semi-double, double, simple baskets, in cross section they are 90 mm, are combined into chic panicles. The inflorescences contain flowers in the form of a tongue, painted in yellow or orange colors, in addition, the composition of the inflorescences includes the middle flowers of a tubular shape, which can be colored in orange, yellow and brown shades. The fruit is a bare flattened achene.

Heliopsis seed cultivation

Sowing seeds for seedlings.

The flower is grown by seedlings and seeds directly into the open ground. Seeds are sown under the open sky at the equator in spring or late in the autumn season, sowing for seedlings is carried out at the end of the winter season.

When growing heliopsis by seedlings, it is necessary to prepare a soil mixture, it must be enriched with coarse sand, soddy soil and peat in a 1: 1: 1 ratio. The substrate is spilled with a strong solution of potassium permanganate 15 days before sowing the grains, after this procedure, the container is covered on top with glass or polyethylene. Right before sowing, the soil mixture should be poured into a container, its bottom should have drainage holes, also remember that you need to lay a good drainage system, which includes expanded clay. Next, it is necessary to level the surface soil layer and distribute the grains over it equally, then the container is covered with glass or polyethylene on top and rearranged in a well-lit and warm place with temperature conditions of about 20 degrees, the seedlings will live here for seven days. Do not forget that plantings require bright, but diffused illumination by the sun's rays. After that, the seedlings are transferred to the coolest room with a temperature of 3-4 degrees, here they will live for a month, during this time period the grains are stratified. At the end of stratification, the box is transferred to a warm room with a temperature regime of 25-28 degrees. Remember that it is necessary to regularly remove the covering material in order to ventilate the crops, and also remove the accumulated water droplets from the surface of the shelter.

The covering material is removed completely only after the formation of true leaves in the seedlings. Seedlings dive when they have the first pair of true leaves. For picking, peat glasses filled with a soil mixture are used (the composition is the same as for seedlings). After picking, the seedlings are transferred to a colder room with temperature conditions of 13-15 degrees. Seedling care is easy, timely watering is required, regular loosening of the surface layer of the substrate.

Heliopsis landing

Optimal planting time.

Seedlings are transplanted under the open sky at a time when repeated frosts are no longer likely to threaten, namely, from May 15 to the beginning of the first summer month.For planting, a well-lit place is selected, which is protected from a draft. The soil should be clayey, moisture and air permeable. For this purpose, a layer of crushed stone (20 cm) is laid under the soil at the site of cultivation, then it is covered with sand. The even drainage layer is covered with clay soil, previously combined with compost fertilizer.

How to correctly plant heliopsis.

In the place prepared for planting, pits are dug for planting, the interval between them is 0.3-0.5 m. Deep in the holes should be dug so that the root system of the seedlings along with an earthen lump can easily fit in them. After planting seedlings, you need to fill up all the holes with the required amount of soil, which must be tamped and watered. If you grow varieties of strong growth, props are mandatory installed near the bushes during planting.

Heliopsis care

The care of a flower grown outdoors is identical to that of most garden plants. Agricultural technology includes watering and loosening, carried out in a timely manner. In order for the flowers to retain their spectacular appearance for quite a long time, you need to pinch the tops of the stems, this will stimulate tillering, and you also need to timely remove the baskets that have begun to wither, if necessary, you should form a bush and tie it to a support, for this you can use a wooden peg , a rod made of metal or a metal mesh frame.

Transplanting.

When this plant is grown on one site, over several years its gradual growth will begin and the rest of the vegetation will be displaced from their places. To avoid this, heliopsis are pulled out of the ground 1 time / 5-7 years, divided into parts, planted in individual pits in a new place.

Watering.

This crop is drought-resistant, so frequent watering is not required. The plant has excellent heat tolerance, does not wither during a prolonged drought. But, if a flower feels a lack of water for a long time, then it will bloom poorly and transiently. For this reason, during a long dry period, the bushes should be watered systematically, 2-3 times / 7 days, in the evening or early morning hours. You need to water with settled water and well warmed up in the sun. After watering, the surface soil layer is gently loosened.

Fertilization.

They begin to feed the plant at 2 years of development, apply fertilizers systematically, 1 time / 4 weeks. For this purpose, organic fertilizers and mineral complexes for flowering vegetation are applied in turn. For the entire first season, heliopsis will feed on elements introduced into the ground during site preparation.

How to prepare a flower for the winter season.

If you take proper care of the flower, then it will finish blooming only by the equator of autumn. Before the onset of cold snaps, the aboveground part of the plant is cut off to the surface soil layer. Shelter of the root system for the winter season is not required.

Diseases and harmful insects

The flower can be attacked by black aphids. If the plant still has a small number of these insects, then you can fight them by spraying with a harmless infusion (tomato, celandine, nightshade or wormwood are used to prepare the solution). Before the procedure, a small amount of soap is poured into the infusion. If the pests are no longer counted, then the fight against them is carried out with insecticides, then the more affected bushes are dug up and destroyed.

Also, the culture can be affected by fungal infections - rust and powdery mildew. If a grayish-white bloom has appeared on the flower, therefore, powdery mildew has covered the plant. If the leaves are covered with spots of brown staining, this means that heliopsis has been affected by rust. To save the culture, the aerial part is sprayed with 2% Bordeaux liquid several times.Copper sulfate and other fungicides, such as Fundazol, are also used for treatment.

Other diseases and pests do not affect this flower, because it has a strong immunity to them.

Heliopsis varieties

Heliopsis "Sunflower" (Heliopsis helianthoides).

Another name is heliopsis "Sunflower". This is a perennial with vertical bare shoots that branch out and grow up to 1 meter. The leaves have denticles at the edges, and become sharp towards the top. The inflorescence is a basket, painted in golden yellow colors.

Heliopsis "Rough" (Heliopsis helianthoides var. Scabra).

This is a type of heliopsis "Sunflower", is a flower, reaching a height of about 1.5 meters. The shoots branch, their surface is rough, and later the shoots lignification occurs. The leaves are opposite, have short petioles, are presented in the form of an egg or an oblong oval, their edges have denticles. Inflorescence - basket, in cross section is 60-70 mm. The inflorescences contain tubular flowers of yellow color and flowers in the form of a tongue of golden hue. This variety has been cultivated since 1819.

The best varieties of heliopsis.

Benzinggold.

The plant is large in size, semi-double inflorescence is a basket, which contains flowers of a tubular type of orange color and flowers in the form of tongues of yellow hue.

Winter Sun, Lorraine Sunshine Heliopsis.

The bush is compact, grows up to 0.9 meters. Leaves are silvery-grayish in color; dark green veins can be traced on the surface of them. When the plant blooms, yellow baskets appear on it.

Heliopsis variegated "Sunburst".

The leaves are cream-colored with well-visible streaks of dark green color. A simple inflorescence - a basket, has a golden yellow color.

Venus.

The shoots of the bush are strong, grow up to 1.3 m.In cross section, the inflorescence is about 12 cm, the basket has a golden-yellow color.

Asahi.

The plant grows to about 80 cm, its inflorescences are terry.

"Sommertswerg".

The bush grows to about 60 cm, the leaves are lush, painted in a dark green color. When heliopsis blooms, many baskets of golden yellow color appear on it.

Sonnenglut.

The plant stretches up to 120 cm. Its leaves are glossy, painted in dark green. Inflorescences are orange-yellow in color.

Waterberry Gold.

The flower stretches up to 120 cm. The flowering of this variety is very long, its inflorescences are semi-double, painted in a rich yellow color.

"Ballerina".

The plant stretches to about 120 cm. Inflorescences and leaves are large.

Summer Sun.

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Heliopsis is drought-resistant, grows to about one meter. The inflorescences-baskets are terry, 70 mm in cross section, their coloring is bright yellow.

Prairie Sunset.

The bush grows to about 160 cm. Shoots are dark green in color with a violet tint, inflorescences-baskets are painted in a golden-yellow color, their middle is orange.

Summer Knights.

Inflorescences are bright yellow in color, their middle is orange.

Florists also breed such varieties of heliopsis: "Summer Pink", "Summer Green", "Goldgrunhertz", "Golden Ball", "Midwest Dreams", "Sommerzonne", "Tasken Sun", "Goldfider".