Heliantemum

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

Heliantemum (lat. Helianthemum) - a genus of plants represented by semi-shrubs, shrubs and, less often, annual or perennial grasses. They are distinguished by the special devotion of their flowers to the sun, folding their petals tightly, should the sun hide behind dark dense clouds or retire at night. Some even shed their petals with the departure of the luminary from the firmament.

What's in your name

The Latin name of the genus means "Sun flower", which was expressed in the Russian name of the genus - "Sunflower". It is possible that such a binding name was given to plants for the bright yellow color of flower petals, which is more common than white, pink or orange. Or for the special loyalty of the flowers to our luminary, without which the flowers refuse to please growers with their relatively large saucer-shaped flowers, tightly covering their stamens and pistils with petals.

For the short life of each flower for a period of one day, the plants are also called "Tender". True, to replace the departed morning, new ones bloom, maintaining the continuity of flowering from May to July.

Description

The genus unites more than a hundred species of plants, and therefore, in different species, simple leaves can take different shapes: oval, narrow-lanceolate. Leaves differ in color, from dull green to bright green.

The bushes do not tend to grow in height, rising to a maximum of 30 cm. This makes the plant attractive for flower gardens such as rockeries, alpine hills.

Flowers can be single, or forming loose inflorescences: panicles or brushes. Five large petals give the flower the shape of a saucer, in the center of which very sensitive stamens stick out.

The fruit is a capsule containing numerous seeds.

Heliantemum in nature forms a symbiosis (mutually beneficial cohabitation) with mycorrhizal fungi, which are also “friends” with the Oak tree. Therefore, in natural conditions, the plant can be found in oak groves.

Varieties

* Sunflower monotonous (lat. Helianthemum nummularium) - luscious green leaves and an abundance of yellow-eyed flowers form a real living carpet in the flower garden. Varieties have been bred that have changed the traditional color of the petals, becoming white, orange, pink, scarlet.

* Heliantemum canine (lat. Helianthemum canum) - slight pubescence of green leaves makes them grayish to match the stems of a low shrub (height up to 30 cm). Flowers with traditional yellow petals form inflorescences - loose clusters.

* Alpine sunflower (lat. Helianthemum alpestre) is a practically creeping shrub, rising above the ground by a maximum of 10 cm. It is distinguished by green elliptical leaves and yellow flowers, which are rather large for such a small plant.

Growing

To enjoy the abundant flowering of Heliantemum, the most open place of the summer cottage should be allocated for the Sunflower bushes.

Love for the sun is combined in a plant with an enviable cold resistance, and therefore you can not shelter it for the winter, unless weather forecasters predict particularly severe frosts.

The plant is unpretentious to soils, and therefore grows well on gravel, strengthening a loose slope with its roots and easily tolerating drought. But the stagnation of water for the Sunflower is contraindicated. This will not be canceled by rare (no more than 1 time per month) mineral fertilizing, combined with watering.

To stimulate continuous flowering, the faded shoots are pinched.

Propagated by cuttings, selecting shoots without flower buds during the summer.

Usage

For summer cottages in the mountainous area, Heliantemum is a real find that can not only decorate, but also strengthen the talus. In flat terrain, fans of the Sunflower specially build alpine slides or rocky walls that provide good protection against stagnant water.

Along the garden paths in sunny areas, a border of compact Heliantemum bushes will be appropriate.