The sea of golden flowers that makes the summer cottage or homestead elegant and bright from July to September is Koreopsis, a garden plant that is easy to care for and can effectively decorate not only the street landscape, but also well suited for cutting and storage in home vases. Perennial Koreopsis is a herbaceous plant cultivated for decorative purposes.
Plant characteristics
All types and varieties of perennials are characterized by colorful flower baskets that cover bushy stems over and over again. The usual range of yellow tones, thanks to the advent of new hybrids, has been expanded to a whole palette of bright colors. Now there are varieties of red, pink, white, reddish brown.
The annual cultivated handsome C. tinctoria, or coreopsis tincture with a red ring on yellow petals, became a small sensation. The name "dyeing" refers to the ability of plant seeds to stain water, which turns yellow from their presence.
What does Koreopsis look like?
Leaves are usually very narrow, sometimes pinnate, dark green in color, larger at the base of semi-rigid, grassy and branched stems. Height varies greatly. Most species grow to 60-80 cm, but there are species 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 shape of a bug. "Coris" - in translation from Greek "bug".
Important! Coreopsis is an extremely hardy plant that can withstand both frost and extreme heat.
Which family belongs to
Coreopsis belongs to the vast Asteraceae family. The genus includes, along with perennials known for their abundant flowering, also annual coreopsis.
Origin history
In nature, the plant is distributed mainly in North America, Mexico, the Hawaiian Islands, the Andes and is known in several species, varying in height, color and leaves. It grows at heights of up to 1000 m.
Although some of the 115 species grow in Africa, many of them are natives of the North American prairies, most cultivated varieties are bred in the USA. In Europe, the flower came in the 80-90s of the 18th century, began to be universally cultivated in cultural gardening in the early 19th century. From Europe, then penetrated into Russia.
Interesting. In Europe, coreopsis is known as the "Parisian beauty", more often it is called "girl's eyes." In total, about 30 species are cultivated.
Description of perennial Coreopsis species
Perennial varieties are most popular with gardeners because of the ease of care. You can enjoy the pale yellow, orange, light lilac and pink-red tones of these flowers for several years, starting in June and ending with the first frosts.
Whorled
Coreopsis whorled lives and blooms for about 6 years, being in one place. A bushy plant has thick, light green leaves that retain their color until they freeze.
Coreopsis whorled
The flowers of Coreopsis verticillata resemble many stars of yellow, pinkish-purple, burgundy red shades against a background of lush greenery.
Large flowered
This Latin Coreopsis is called grandiflora and is characterized by large flowers on powerful straight stems. Leaves are arranged in pairs, opposite each other, have a feathery shape. Inflorescences are yellow in color, which varies from light tones on reed flowers to darker ones on tubular central flowers.
Coreopsis grandiflora
The beginning of flowering is July. It is recommended that once every three years a new bush of coreopsis large-flowered be planted.
Lanceolate
This type of plant owes its name to the appearance of the leaves. They are narrow at the coreopsis lanceolate, long and pointed, grow densely near the surface of the earth, almost not rising up.
Coreopsis lanceolate
The height of the bush is 0.6 m. It differs in large flowers of 5 cm diameter of golden hues.
Terry
Terry coreopsis do not stand out as a separate species, they belong to the lanceolate or large-flowered. On the inflorescences of such plants, reed radial flowers are arranged in several rows and have a fringe.
Variegated
Variegated coreopsis not only have beautiful flowers, but also leaves. 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 alternate.
Hybrid
Most cultivars are hybrid, especially with unusual bright colors of inflorescences and terry petals. The most used species for crossing are Coreopsis grandiflora, Coreopsis rosea, Coreopsis verticilata.
Important! When propagated using seeds, hybrid varieties of perennials can lose variety characteristics.
Pink
They are characterized by small inflorescences not exceeding a 2-centimeter diameter, and color, including a wide palette of pink tones: from slightly pinkish, almost white, to saturated red-violet.
Coreopsis pink
The stem is relatively low (0.4 m), branched, very narrow leaves are located on it, in shape similar to cereal foliage.
The most popular varieties
All varieties of coreopsis are of hybrid origin.
Airlie sunrise
Corelopsis Airlie Sunrise is the winner of several prestigious awards, including the Fleuroselect Gold Medal. This perennial plant gives many bright golden yellow flowers of 5 cm diameter, decorated with several rows of beautiful terry petals. Dimensions - 45 cm in height and 45-60 cm in width. Sunrise is one of the earliest coreopsis, inflorescences appear in some regions at the end of June.
Coreopsis airlie sunrise
Important! Cutting off the first wave of flowers in mid-summer promotes autumn re-blooming.
Golden globe
Another hybrid originating 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 terry inflorescences, not as lush as Golden, and with more modest sizes (height - up to 50 cm).
Coreopsis Sunbeam
However, the flowers are as large.
Zagreb
Hybrid derived from Coreopsis verticilata. Has yellow flowers, similar to daisies, 3-4 cm in diameter, the central disk of the inflorescence is darker. Filiform leaves give the plant a fine structure and airy appearance. Zagreb is not very tall - only up to 45-50 cm.
Terry sun
Large-flowered variety with lush yellow terry inflorescences (diameter - from 6 to 8 cm). It grows to 0.8 m. It is characterized by good resistance to frost and drought.
Coreopsis Terry Sun
Refers to lanceolate.
Golden baby
One of the varieties, very similar to the Terry Sun and the Sunbeam. He is called a baby due to the small stalk growth, only up to 0.4 m. But large inflorescences are 6 cm in diameter.
Moonbeam
Comes from Coreopsis verticilata. Medium height (up to 60 cm) and quite wide (45-60 cm). Moonbeam has pale yellow inflorescences with a radius of 2.5 cm. Filamentous foliage on vertical stems adds a delicate texture to the elements of the landscape.
Coreopsis Moonbeam
It is very advantageous to use it as an accent plant; during mass plantings it looks unusually spectacular.
How coreopsis propagates
Coreopsis flower propagates in several ways, each method has its own advantages.
Bush division
Important! Division of the bush is especially recommended for perennials, as it serves as a good anti-aging agent.
Stages of separation of the bush:
- Dig a bush in spring or fall. More often this is done in the spring so that the plant has time to take root well;
- Shake off most of the land;
- Cut the root ball with a sharp knife into parts, each of which should contain enough roots, shoots and leaves. The separated root should not be smaller than the fist;
- Plant separated plants in a new place.
Seed cultivation
Seed growing is used, as a rule, for annual plants. 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 the 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 should be hardened, keeping several days at a lower temperature (12 ° C), then it can be planted in open ground.
Growing coreopsis from seeds
Important! If it is not possible to harden the sprouts, you need to wait with the planting until about mid-May.
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.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings are cut 15-20 cm long and should have from 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. In open ground they plant in May.
Important! Cuttings do not always take root well, so you should prepare and plant several of them.
Features of gardening
Landing a perennial coreopsis and caring for it is not too burdensome.
Watering
In the absence of rain, regular watering is required, weekly or after drying of the soil. An indicator of a lack of moisture is drooping heads. The best time to water is in the early morning or evening. Be sure to ensure that moisture does not stagnate.
Spraying
For garden plants, spraying is not required.
Humidity
Since the plant in natural conditions grows in places with not too high humidity and is able to withstand long dry periods, you should not plant it in humid shaded places. Poor tolerance to coreopsis is 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.
Important! Too acidic soils neutralize the nitrogen necessary for the development of the green mass of the plant. Therefore, lime is added to improve them.
Top dressing
Fertilize the plant in the spring and during flowering 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 moderately fed.
When and how it blooms
What many take for Coreopsis flowers, in fact, are not. These are basket inflorescences in which flowers of different species are collected.
Types of flowers
There are two types of flowers in an inflorescence:
- reed, which are often mistakenly called petals;
- tubular, forming a dense middle.
Flower shapes
The description of inflorescences is determined by various shapes and mutual arrangement of flowers. Reed flowers can grow in one or two rows around the central disk and have a relatively smooth surface. Often they 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 begin to bloom in June, other species in July. Flowering continues until September-October.
Changes in flowering care
In the active period, the plant needs timely watering and periodic top dressing.
Transplant after purchase and during reproduction
Plants are transplanted into the ground with an earthen lump, following the sequence:
- Koreopsis carefully digs out, the earth only slightly shakes off;
- Pits are made in the soil according to the dimensions of the earthen coma. The distance between individual plants is maintained at least 25 cm;
- Coreopsis placed in pits are covered with soil from above and neatly compacted. Then, moderate watering is performed.
Possible problems in growing
Despite the fact that coreopsis is a strong plant, if not properly taken care of, it can be attacked by diseases and pests.
Leaf problems
If the plant is excessively watered, or it is exposed to prolonged rains, then the leaves begin to turn yellow, become covered with brownish spots. It may be a fungal disease of fusarium.
In this case, you need to remove the 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 killed by insecticides. Sometimes, if you look at the coreopsis bush, you can find various bugs, caterpillars or slugs. They are removed by manual collection.
Disease
Leaf rust is a disease spreading by a fungal virus. Its sign is the presence of orange pustules on the backs of leaves. Rust can completely destroy a plant if measures are not taken in time.
Leaf rust in coreopsis
For treatment, coreopsis must be sprayed with fungicides.
Signs of improper care
The consequences of improper care and methods of plant restoration:
- From too much watering, root rot arises: the leaves dry out, the stems become weak, thin. Coreopsis needs to be dug up and transplanted to another place;
- Powdery mildew also occurs due to excessive humidity or close plantings.
Tip. For the treatment of powdery mildew, experts advise spraying the plants twice a week with a milk-water mixture prepared in a 1: 9 ratio. Microorganisms contained in milk fight mold. Only milk should be live, not sterilized.
Coreopsis is an easy-to-care, unpretentious and abundantly flowering plant that will surely attract everyone's attention and decorate any summer house and garden.
