Coreopsis (Coreopsis) perennial
Content:
The sea of golden flowers that make a summer cottage or a personal plot from July to September elegant and bright is coreopsis, a garden plant that is easy to care for and can effectively decorate not only a street landscape, but also well suited for cutting and storage in home vases. Perennial Coreopsis is a herbaceous plant cultivated for ornamental purposes.
Plant characteristics
All species and varieties of perennials are characterized by colorful flower baskets, over and over again covering the bushy stems. The usual range of yellow tones, thanks to the emergence of new hybrids, has been expanded to a whole palette of bright colors. Now there are varieties of red, pink, white, reddish brown colors.
A small sensation was the one-year cultivated handsome C. tinctoria, or coreopsis dyes with a red ring on yellow petals. The name "dye" refers to the ability of a plant's seeds to color water, which turns yellow from their presence.
What Coreopsis looks like
Leaves are usually very narrow, sometimes feathery, dark green, larger at the base of semi-rigid, herbaceous and branched stems. Height varies greatly. Most species grow up to 60-80 cm, but there are varieties that can reach 2 m. The root system is fibrous.
The name of the plant comes from the appearance of the seeds, which resemble the outlines of a bug. "Coris" means "bug" in Greek.
What family does it belong to
Coreopsis belongs to the extensive Asteraceae family. The genus includes, along with perennials known for their abundant flowering, also annual coreopsis.
Origin story
In nature, the plant is distributed mainly in North America, Mexico, the Hawaiian Islands, the Andes, and is known in several species, differing in height, flowers and leaves. Grows at altitudes up to 1000 m.
While some of the 115 species grow in Africa, many of them are native to the North American prairies, most of the cultivated varieties are bred in the United States. The flower came to Europe in the 80-90s of the 18th century, began to be widely cultivated in cultural gardening at the beginning of the 19th century. At the same time he entered Russia from Europe.
Description of perennial species Coreopsis
Perennial varieties are most popular with gardeners because of their ease of care. The pale yellow, orange, light lilac and rose-red tones of these flowers can be enjoyed for several years, starting in June and ending with the first frost.
Whorled
Coreopsis verticulata lives and blooms for about 6 years, being in one place.The bushy plant has thick, light green leaves that retain their color until they freeze.
Coreopsis verticulate
The flowers of Coreopsis verticillata resemble many stars of yellow, pinkish-purple, burgundy-red shades against a background of lush greenery.
Large-flowered
This Coreopsis is called grandiflora in Latin and is characterized by large flowers on powerful, straight stems. The leaves are arranged in pairs, opposite each other, have a feathery shape. Inflorescences are yellow in color, which ranges from lighter on ligulate flowers to darker on tubular central flowers.
Coreopsis grandiflora
The beginning of flowering is July. It is recommended to plant a new bush of large-flowered coreopsis once every three years.
Lanceolate
This type of plant owes its name to the appearance of the leaves. In the lanceolate coreopsis, they are narrow, long and pointed, densely growing near the surface of the earth, almost not rising upward.
Coreopsis lanceolate
The height of the bush is 0.6 m. It is distinguished by large flowers of 5 cm in diameter, golden shades.
Terry
Terry coreopsis do not stand out as a separate species, they belong to lanceolate or large-flowered. On the inflorescences of such plants, reed radial flowers are arranged in several rows and have a fringe.
Variegated
In variegated coreopsis, not only flowers, but also leaves are beautiful. It is a variegated variety derived from grandiflorum with large flowers and dense foliage.
Variegated coreopsis
On the leaves, contrasting stripes of pale green and saturated green colors alternate.
Hybrid
Most cultivars belong to hybrid varieties, especially with unusual bright colors of inflorescences and double petals. The most used species for crossing are Coreopsis grandiflora, Coreopsis rosea, Coreopsis verticilata.
Pink
They are characterized by small inflorescences, not exceeding 2 cm in diameter, and a color that includes a wide palette of pink tones: from slightly pinkish, almost white, to deep red-violet.
Coreopsis pink
The stem is relatively low (0.4 m), branched, with very narrow leaves, similar in shape to the foliage of cereals.
Most popular varieties
All coreopsis varieties are of hybrid origin.
Earley Sunrise
Earley Sunrise Coreopsis has won several prestigious awards, including the Fleuroselect Gold Medal. This perennial plant produces many bright golden yellow flowers 5 cm in diameter, adorned with several rows of beautiful double petals. Dimensions - 45 cm high and 45-60 cm wide. Sunrise is one of the earliest coreopsis; inflorescences appear in some regions at the end of June.
Coreopsis Earley Sunrise
Golden globe
Another hybrid derived from Coreopsis grandiflora. Terry inflorescences form balls of outstanding beauty, color from golden to orange.
Coreopsis Golden globe
The leaves are pinnate, dissected on the upper part of the stem. Height - up to 1 m, flower diameter - up to 8 cm.
Sunshine
This is a variety of yellow coreopsis with double inflorescences, not as lush as Golden ones, and with a more modest size (height - only up to 50 cm).
Coreopsis Sunbeam
However, the flowers are just as large.
Zagreb
A hybrid derived from Coreopsis verticilata. It has yellow flowers, similar to chamomile, 3-4 cm in diameter, the central disc of the inflorescence is darker. The filamentous leaves give the plant a fine structure and airy look. Zagreb is not very tall - only up to 45-50 cm.
Terry sun
Large-flowered variety with lush yellow double inflorescences (6 to 8 cm in diameter). It grows up to 0.8 m. Differs in good resistance to frost and drought.
Coreopsis Terry sun
Refers to lanceolate.
Golden baby
One of the varieties very similar to Terry Sun and Sunbeam. The baby is named because of the small growth of the stems, only up to 0.4 m. But the large inflorescences are 6 cm in diameter.
Moonbeam
Comes from Coreopsis verticilata. Medium height (up to 60 cm) and wide enough (45-60 cm). Moonbeam has pale yellow buds with a 2.5 cm radius. Threadlike foliage on vertical stems adds delicate texture to landscape elements.
Coreopsis Moonbeam
It is very profitable to use it as an accent plant; it looks unusually impressive in case of mass plantings.
How coreopsis reproduces
Coreopsis flower reproduces in several ways, each method has its own advantages.
Dividing the bush
Stages of dividing a bush:
- Dig up the bush in spring or fall. Most often this is done in the spring so that the plant has time to take root well;
- Shake off most of the earth;
- Use a sharp knife to cut the root ball into pieces, each piece containing enough roots, shoots and leaves. The separated root should not be smaller than the fist;
- Plant the separated plants in a new location.
Growing from seeds
Seed cultivation is usually used for annual plants. The seeds are bought or harvested after flowering.
Procedure:
- Seeds are sown in March or April in special containers, lightly sprinkled with soil, placed in a fairly bright and warm place, under a film. The soil should remain constantly slightly moist.
- At a temperature of about 18 ° C, germination takes up to 4 weeks. After germination, young coreopsis must be hardened by keeping for several days at a lower temperature (12 ° C), then they can be planted in open ground.
Growing coreopsis from seeds
Cuttings
Cuttings are cut from an adult plant in June or July. You need to choose a not too hot sunny day. Cuttings from flowering shoots are not cut off.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings are cut 15-20 cm long and should have 4 to 5 healthy leaves. They are planted in separate containers to a depth of about 3 cm and form roots there after a few weeks. They are planted in open ground in May.
Features of care in the garden
Planting and caring for a perennial coreopsis is not too cumbersome.
Watering
In the absence of rain, regular watering is required, weekly or after the soil dries out. An indicator of a lack of moisture is drooping heads. The best time to water is early morning or evening. Be sure to ensure that moisture does not stagnate.
Spraying
Spraying is not required for garden plants.
Humidity
Since the plant naturally grows in places with not too high humidity and is able to withstand long dry periods, it should not be planted in humid shaded areas. Coreopsis does not tolerate excessive watering and stagnation of moisture in the soil.
Priming
Coreopsis adapt to any type of soil, but they grow better in loose soil, with good moisture removal and rich in organic matter.
Top dressing
Fertilize the plant in the spring and during the flowering period every 2-3 weeks. Leaf compost is used to improve the soil before planting. In the future, ready-made complex preparations for flowering plants, soluble in water, are used. Coreopsis should be fed in moderation.
When and how it blooms
What many people take for coreopsis flowers are not actually coreopsis flowers. These are basket inflorescences, in which flowers of different types are collected.
Types of flowers
The inflorescence has two types of flowers:
- reed, which are often mistakenly called petals;
- tubular, forming a dense center.
Flower shapes
The description of the inflorescences is determined by the various shapes and the mutual arrangement of flowers. The reed flowers can grow in one or two rows around the central disc and have a relatively smooth surface. They often have jagged edges. Terry inflorescences with serrated reed flowers, tightly adjacent to each other and forming volumetric forms, are very popular among gardeners.
Flowering period
Early coreopsis bloom in June, other species in July. Flowering continues until September-October.
Changes in care during flowering
During the active period, the plant needs timely watering and periodic feeding.
Transplant after purchase and during reproduction
Plants are transplanted into the ground together with an earthen lump, observing the sequence:
- Coreopsis is carefully dug up, the earth is only slightly shaken off;
- Pits are made in the ground according to the dimensions of the earthen coma. The distance between individual plants is maintained at least 25 cm;
- The coreopsis placed in the pits are covered with soil from above and carefully compacted. Then, moderate watering is done.
Possible growing problems
Despite the fact that coreopsis is a sturdy plant, if not properly cared for, it can be attacked by diseases and pests.
Leaf problems
If the plant is over-watered, or it is exposed to prolonged rains, the leaves begin to turn yellow and become covered with brownish spots. It can be a fungal disease called Fusarium.
In this case, you need to remove diseased leaves, spray the rest of the plant with a fungicide. If this does not help, the bush is completely dug up and destroyed.
Pests
Of the pests, coreopsis is often attacked by aphids, which are destroyed by insecticides. Sometimes, if you look at the coreopsis bush, you can find various bugs, caterpillars or slugs. They are removed by manual collection.
Diseases
Leaf rust is a disease spread by a fungal virus. Its sign is the presence of orange pustules on the backs of the leaves. Rust can completely destroy the plant if you do not take action in time.
Leaf rust in coreopsis
For treatment, it is necessary to spray the coreopsis with fungicides.
Signs of improper care
Consequences of improper care and methods of plant restoration:
- From too abundant watering, root rot occurs: the leaves dry out, the stems become weak, thin. Coreopsis must be dug up and transplanted to another location;
- Also, due to excessive humidity or tight plantings, powdery mildew occurs.
Coreopsis is an easy-to-care, unpretentious and abundantly flowering plant that will surely attract everyone's attention and decorate any summer cottage and garden plot.
