Helipterum

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

Helipterum (lat. Helipterum) - a small genus of flowering herbaceous plants belonging to the Asteraceae family, or Compositae. Includes less than a hundred species. In their natural form, wild-growing representatives of the genus are found in warm regions, in particular Australia and South Africa. Today, a small part of the species is used in decorative gardening and applied arts to create crafts and winter bouquets.

Characteristics of culture

Helipterum is represented by annual and perennial herbaceous plants, as well as small dwarf shrubs, endowed with naked or pubescent numerous stems. They, in turn, are crowned with whole, stalk-embracing, alternate, oblong, often heart-shaped foliage of green or gray color. Inflorescences in all species correspond to the Asteraceae family, they are represented by small or medium-sized baskets, consisting of tubular and ligulate flowers.

The color of the inflorescences completely depends on the species and varietal affiliation, for example, in Humboldt's helipterum (Latin Helipterum humboldtianum) reed and tubular flowers of a rich yellow color, and in Mengles' helipterum (Latin Helipterum manglesii) - purple with white or silvery blotches. The flowering of representatives of the genus is observed in summer, as a rule, it begins in the second or third decade of June and ends with the arrival of night frosts (in each region taken in different ways, for example, in the Urals and Siberia, flowering ends in September).

Famous representatives of the genus

Among the representatives of the genus who have won an honorable place in the gardens of amateurs and experienced florists, it is worth highlighting

Helipterum Humboldt (lat. Helipterum humboldtianum) … Despite the small inflorescences (maximum 6 cm), the plants can be safely attributed to the group of highly decorative crops. This aspect is due, as already mentioned earlier, to a rich bright yellow color, which persists even in the sun and during the drying of inflorescences cut for winter bouquets. Another distinctive feature of the species under consideration is its relatively small growth - only 30-40 cm. The plant is suitable for decorating almost all types of flower beds, including rustic-style plots.

Helipterum Mengles (lat. Helipterum manglesii) also interested florists and gardeners with its beauty and easy care. It is characterized by low growth (30-35 cm), erect and strongly branching stems, as well as small single baskets that develop on fairly thin peduncles. The reed flowers give the plant a special flavor. They can be pink, purple, silver and even white, often the shades are reunited into a single whole. Today the species is actively used in breeding. In the garden market, you can already find very interesting varieties with carmine reed flowers.

Growing features

Representatives of the genus cannot be called whimsical plants, however, for a favorable development and abundant flowering, it is still worth observing some nuances. So, it is best to plant a crop in sunny and well-warmed areas with protection from cold northern winds, which can break thin flower stalks of plants. The soil is preferably light, loose, neutral, moderately fertilized and moist. On heavy, swampy, strongly acidic, saline and waterlogged soils, the culture will not reveal its true beauty, on the contrary, it will greatly lag behind in growth and often get sick.

Caring for representatives of the genus consists of simple procedures, namely, regular weeding, loosening and always watering. Watering should be carried out as the soil dries up, in a drought it is recommended to double the volume of water, and the soil around it should be mulched with natural material, for example, dry hay. It protects the soil from rapid evaporation of moisture and additionally eliminates the need to weed weeds. Top dressing is also welcome. They stimulate vigorous growth, are responsible for the abundance of flowering and prolong the flowering period.