Flowers marigolds. Species and varieties of marigolds. Growing flowers

Man is used to planting flowers just to be able to enjoy their fragrance and beauty. Hardly any of us thought that there are such plants that bring not only aesthetic pleasure, but also a significant benefit. It turns out that nature has given people such a miracle. These are flowers of marigolds, which can often be seen on urban flower beds, than in summer residents on the site.

general information

The fact that these beauties rarely grow in gardens, and more often on the street, is due to the fact that they are unpretentious and blossom all summer, and therefore municipal landscapers stop choosing them, although they are one-year olds. And the fact that the flowers of the marigolds are not widely spread among the summer residents, has a very prosaic reason - many do not really like their smell. But few know that what some consider a minus is a plus. This odor, not so loved by people, repels not only the person, but also many harmful worms, which cause great damage to the crop.

But this can be easily avoided, if you plant around the perimeter of the site, where the cultivated plants grow, the flowers are velvet. And then there will be no worms on the site.

Description

The name of the flowers of the marigold got, most likely, because of the amazing velvety ebb of the brownish-red petals. Depending on the varieties, their height varies from twenty centimeters to one meter. For example, varieties Mandarin or Petite orange are undersized, they form compact bushes, and such as Hawaiian or Mary Helen swing almost to the height of the fence on the site.

Representatives of the genus in the wild are most often found in Central or South America. Many varieties are cultivated in Mexico, Chile, Brazil, etc. In our country, as an introduction plant, marigold eruptions are most common. They are cultivated as ornamental plants.

Kinds

These flowers are also called tahetesami, and Ukrainians call them black-hens. There are several species of this plant. According to the shape of the flower, marigolds are rejected and erect. The first variety is also called French. Of these, beautiful curtains and curbs are obtained. Especially beautiful look compositions, if you alternate in color contrast, but similar in structure and form of the variety. Marigolds rejected have a sprawling form of bush. As a rule, they are of low growth.

Another species - marigolds erect, or African - these are real giants with powerful stems. They reach a height of one meter and have very large double flowers.

The smallest species are marigolds thin-leaved or Mexican. Their flowers form a huge number of thick-leaf shoots, on which are grown very delicate thin carved leaves. Apparently, this is what their name came from. In our country, yet another species is not widely spread - marigold anise.

Features

The Tagetes belong to the family of astroids or Compositae. Today in our country there are not only annuals, but also marigolds perennial, brought to us from Arizona.

All varieties have a well-developed fruiting root system. This plant blooms quite abundantly. Leaves of it - pinnately-dissected or separate, dentate, from light to dark green, located in the next order or opposite and having translucent glands.

The fetus of marigolds is a black or blackish-brown strongly flattened seed, which retains the germination capacity of four years. In its one gram from two hundred to seven hundred seeds.

Inflorescence

They are in Tagetes are terry or simple baskets, painted in yellow, orange or brown. Heads in inflorescences are of medium magnitude. Their cylindrical coverlet consists of one row of leaves, fused together. Marginal female flowers are reed, and achenes - linear, to the base narrowed. The marigold flowers are abundant, beginning in June and until the frosts. The aroma that surrounds the plant in this period is very peculiar and strong. Such a smell is difficult to confuse with another.

It is believed that the flowers of the marigold have a positive energy. In the Chinese they are a symbol of longevity.

Cultivation

Flower growers know that orange and yellow marigolds are quite unpretentious and not demanding. Especially this statement concerns the varieties of the rejected species, which grow well even along the busy highways. They perfectly tolerate the negative effects of exhaust gases, urban smog and poor soil condition.

Almost all varieties prefer open areas, but if they are planted on a shady garden plot, they will nevertheless please the owners with their long flowering. Soil for planting and growing should be neutral, loamy. In this case, it is necessary to maintain the optimum humidity in it.

Reproduction

In open soil the seeds of marigolds are sown in late May or early June. Already after 10 days, the first shoots appear. Primer at first it is desirable to cover with nonwoven material - acrylic or lutrasil. In this case, the seeds can be planted for a week or a half before the established time, thereby accelerating flowering.

For seedlings earlier than other varieties - in the middle of March - marigolds are erect erect, while rejected or thin-leaved - since early April. With optimal care, the blossoming of all three varieties will begin in June. Plant transplant transplant easily even in blossoming condition.

Tagetes erecta

Marigolds erect or African have large terry inflorescences, reaching in diameter up to fifteen centimeters. Coloring of flowers begins with a pale yellow and ends in a dark orange. I must say that this species prefers more sunny areas in the garden, and therefore reluctantly blooms in shaded places.

Varieties vary in height: there are giant, reaching to a height of a meter, high (60-90 cm), medium (45-60 centimeters) and low. The most common representatives of the species are the Antigua marigolds, which have the lowest growth. This plant forms with proper care numerous inflorescences with a diameter of up to ten centimeters. The marigolds of Antigua can be seen not only in the gardens of summer residents, but also everywhere in parks and lawns right on the street.

Another representative of the upright type - the Gold Dollar - has compact tall bushes, strong, thick, ribbed shoots of light green color. It has large dark leaves and almost spherical clove-shaped inflorescences of red-orange color, which do not have a smell. This is an early variety, it blooms from the end of May to the first frost. In landscape design, the Gold Dollar is used for cutting and high groups.

Very often in the gardens you can find bright yellow marigolds. This is Gelber Stein, whose bushes grow to seventy centimeters. Inflorescences of the yellow stone are chrysanthemum, light-golden.

Other varieties of upright Tagetes, such as Golden Light, Sunny, Lemon Prize, etc., are not very common among gardeners. They are most often used in parks for group planting.

Tagetes declined

They are called French differently. In comparison with the erect they are much lower in height and reach a maximum of up to forty centimeters. They can have both terry and chrysanthemum inflorescences, which are also beautiful. Varieties of deviated marigolds are very numerous.

For example, the Golden Ball has spreading, strongly branched bushes growing to half a meter. The shoots of this variety are green, ribbed and strong, with a reddish-brownish coating. The leaves of the Golden Ball have an average value. Inflorescences are simple and semi-double, in diameter up to four centimeters. Ligula flowers of this variety, located in one or two rows, are velvety and have a reddish-brown color, while tubular flowers are golden yellow. The golden ball, being early, blooms from the first days of June. It is used most often for cutting.

Another representative of the rejected Tagetes, Queen Sofia, is a slightly double terry inflorescence: they appear red, with an orange-bronze fringe, but gradually, slightly scorching in the sun, they acquire a brown shade. They reach a diameter of up to seven centimeters.

The most interesting from the point of view of appearance are marigold lemons - Lemon Gem. They have densely leafy compact, strongly branched bushes growing up to thirty centimeters, which are spherical in shape. The shoots of the lemon marigolds are thick and strong, with dark red ribs. The leaves are of medium size and dark green in color. Inflorescences are nail-colored terry, up to four centimeters in diameter, consisting only of bright yellow reed flowers. This is an early enough variety. Specialists recommend to grow it for beds and flowers, to decorate balconies. The deviated Tagetes also includes Golden Head, Orange Flame, Fireball , etc.

Thin leaf variety

These flowers have beautiful openwork thinly cut leaves and small compared to other varieties of non-marrow inflorescences, reaching a maximum of two centimeters. The most popular representative are marigolds thin-leaved varieties of Gnome - globose densely leafy branched shrubs with strong shoots. They are often used as pot culture.

Anise marigolds

This is perhaps the most amazing species in this plant. Its stem, leaves and flowers exude the smell of tarragon, but it is much more pleasant and stronger. And the taste of the plant is very similar to this greenery. The aroma of anise marigolds is felt even at a sufficient distance. They bloom abundantly all summer months and are well suited for any type of flower garden, even with a limited amount of soil. The plant is unpretentious, drought-resistant, but at the same time very fond of warmth.

Diseases and pests

A great advantage of the flowers of the marigolds is their stability. Phytoncides, which are distinguished by their leaves, excellently repel insects, including those living in the soil. And yet from time to time they can be observed black leg or gray rot, which are the result of the activity of fungi, as well as bacterial and diseases.

Marigolds, if properly cared for, thank their master not only with abundant growth, but also with a beautiful long flowering. For the plant to grow safely and develop even on poor soils, regular feeding is necessary: at least two or three times during its growing season.

Properties

Flowers marigolds look great either in pots or flower-pots on apartment balconies, either alone or in a group with other annual or perennial plants. Many of them decorate flower beds and curbs, believing that these flowers are simply indispensable for decorating the garden plot.

But, in addition to their decorative characteristics, the marigolds also have a number of other useful properties.

They are able to heal soil and plants on it from infection by a nematode, safely rid them of pests such as aphids, bears, cabbage fly and even a cotton worm. The green mass of this crop, laid down in the fall in the compost, is an excellent fertilizer that enriches and revitalizes the earth.

Few know that marigolds are excellent healers. Their flowers help from a number of diseases. First of all, they contribute to the preservation of vision, since they contain lutein. If you eat before eating one or two small flowers or inflorescences, then you can forget about the visit to the oculist. You can dry marigolds and add one tablespoon of dry raw material to the tea. Such a natural drink has a beneficial effect during colic and bloating.

When insects bite at the cottage, and afterwards very unpleasant and itchy swellings remain, fresh juice from the leaves of the marigold will help. They need to be rastered in the hands, attach to the problem site.