Arctotis

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Arctotis (lat. Arctotis) - flowering decorative culture; a genus of annuals, biennials and perennials of the Asteraceae family. The homeland is considered to be the southern regions of Africa. The genus has more than 30 species, naturally occurring not only in Africa, but also in South America and even Asian countries. The culture got its name from two Greek words: "arktos", which means "bear" in Russian, and "otos", which means "ear", in combination "bear ear". The culture probably got this name for its unusual external characteristics, namely, fleshy stems and leaves, densely pubescent over the entire surface.

Characteristics of culture

Arctotis is represented by annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants or dwarf shrubs equipped with silvery whitish pubescent stems bearing dentate, opposite or alternate foliage. Like other representatives of the Astro family, or Compositae, arctotis are famous for their rather large saucer-shaped inflorescences-baskets.

Outwardly, the flowers are similar to gerbera flowers. Inflorescences-baskets are solitary, located on long pubescent peduncles, consist of purple, purple, silvery-violet or dark brown (sometimes black-brown) tubular flowers, and yellow, pink, bright orange, purple, pearl white or snow white ligulate (marginal) flowers. A distinctive feature of arctotis flowers is the presence of a multi-row wrapping of the basket, consisting of a huge number of scales.

Fruits are achenes, equipped with a tuft, and having a grayish-brown color. Seeds are small, remain viable for only two years. Arctotis bloom for a long time and profusely, usually from the second decade of June to October (in the southern regions of Russia - until November). Arctotis inflorescences close with the onset of deep evening. Most species are characterized by drought-resistant and cold-resistant properties.

Common types

The most common species among gardeners is considered hybrid arctotis (lat. Arctotis x hybridus). It includes many varieties and hybrids, differing in the shape of the bush, the size and color of the inflorescences. The species includes both perennials and annuals. All of them boast rather large inflorescences, reaching a diameter of 10 cm, and sometimes even 12 cm. The color of reed flowers can be very diverse - lilac, white, red, orange and yellow. The middle, that is, the tubular flowers, are usually purple or purple with a brownish tint. Among the varieties and hybrids, there are semi-double varieties.

Another equally common species that is especially popular in Russia is called stemless arctotis (lat. Arctotis acaulis). The species is represented by perennial herbaceous plants (in the Urals and Siberia, cultivation is possible only as an annual), equipped with beautiful feathery leaves, green on the outside and silvery-white on the back. In the process of growth, it forms medium-sized inflorescences-baskets, they do not exceed 6 cm in diameter. The inflorescences consist of blackish-reddish tubular flowers and yellow reed flowers with a purple tint. Long-lasting, abundant flowering occurs in early July.

The third species belonging to the category of common ones is considered to be arctotis stoechadifolia (lat. Arctotis stoechadifolia). The species is represented by perennials cultivated as annuals. They have erect branched stems, from 50 to 100 cm in height, covered with silvery-white oval-lanceolate wavy-toothed foliage, against which inflorescences-baskets flaunt, reaching a diameter of 6-9 cm, and consisting of small purple tubular flowers with a gray tint and creamy white or yellowish reed flowers.

The subtleties of cultivation

Arctotis is quite picky about growing conditions. He prefers drained, moderately moist, light, loose and calcareous soils. He does not accept community with waterlogged, highly acidic, dense, heavy clay soils, as well as soils filled with fresh organic matter. Location plays an equally important role for arctotis. Sunny and warm areas protected from cold winds are preferred.

It is not forbidden to plant plants in rocky gardens, because in nature they grow among stones. Also, plants will be appropriate in flower beds, mixborders, curbs and ridges. Suitable also as a container culture. Arctotis is unpretentious to care, it is enough to carry out regular watering (especially in drought), pinching for tillering, weeding, loosening and removing faded inflorescences.