Chamomile

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

Pupavka (lat. Anthemis) - a small genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the Asteraceae family. Plants can be found in nature in European countries, in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, as well as in Siberia. Outwardly, the presented genus is very similar to the chamomile, which, by the way, belongs to the same family.

Characteristics of culture

Pupavka is represented by annual and perennial herbaceous plants with weakly branched stems, the shoots of which are crowned with complex, pinnately dissected, green foliage. Inflorescences are baskets, disc flowers are yellow, marginal, depending on the species, are snow-white, light yellow, yellow. The baskets are placed singly. Their distinctive feature is the presence of a wrapper, which includes oblong, less often ovoid leaves. The fruits are represented by conical achenes, which bear a large number of seeds.

Common types

• Field navel (lat. Anthemis arvensis) represented by herbaceous plants up to 40 cm high, endowed with numerous, moderately branched stems bearing oblong, pinnately dissected foliage and small baskets. The inflorescences do not exceed 3 cm in diameter, they consist of disc yellow flowers and marginal white elliptical reeds. Blooming umbilical field occurs in spring, usually in early to mid-May and lasts until the end of September.

• Pupavka Bieberstein (Latin Anthemis biebersteiniana) represented by perennial herbaceous plants up to 25 cm high, which are characterized by feathery silvery foliage. Inflorescences in the form of baskets, consist of disc yellow and golden marginal flowers. Highly decorative, it has taken a firm place in Russian horticulture.

• Mountain navel (lat. Anthemis montana) It is represented by perennial plants up to 30 cm high, topped with fragrant silvery-gray foliage and small inflorescences consisting of yellow disc and white or pinkish reed flowers. Flowering later, begins in the first or second decade of August and lasts until the onset of frost.

• Noble navel (lat. Anthemis nobilis) It is represented by perennial herbaceous plants no more than 20 cm in height with complex, feathery, fragrant foliage and small baskets that form by mid-summer. The species is used in breeding, to date, several interesting varieties have been obtained, some of which boast double inflorescences. Also on sale is a species that does not form inflorescences during the growth process. It is used as an alternative to lawn grass.

Growing features

Pupavka can hardly be called a whimsical plant in terms of location and care. However, certain conditions must be met. It is preferable to plant navel on sunny and well-heated areas, endowed with light, sandy, nutritious, drained soils with a neutral pH reaction. Representatives of the genus will not tolerate commonwealth with heavy, clayey, swampy, saline and acidic soils.

Representatives of the genus are propagated by means of seeds or vegetatively (by dividing the bush). Sowing is carried out in early spring. Also, podzimny sowing with cover with natural material is not prohibited. Most species bloom in the second year after sowing, when dividing the bush - in the same year. When planting, a distance of 25-30 cm is observed between the plants.

Care is very simple. Plants require regular watering, weeding, loosening and feeding. It is advisable to carry out the latter three times a season using complex mineral fertilizers. Some species also need anti-aging pruning. This manipulation allows you to start the flowering process again by autumn.