Flowers for your site should be selected in such a way that they bloom continuously, from spring to late autumn. Autumn flowers are especially pleasing, as they help extend the warm summer days. Helenium is one of these flowering plants - bright golden or orange flowers, creating a whole shining sea of inflorescences, blazing in autumn garden. Helenium, which is easy to plant and care for in the open ground, will be an excellent element of landscape design.

This article will discuss the features of this unusual plant and its main types and varieties. We will also take a closer look at the main nuances of agricultural technology for growing helenium.

Features and description of Gelenium

Helenium is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the large family Asteraceae or Asteraceae. Today, the genus of this crop includes about 30 species, of which only 5 are used and grown in gardening. The natural habitat of this vibrant and attractive helenium flower is considered to be the territory of Central and North America, mainly West Side USA. These plants thrive in the wet meadows and swamps of this country, from where the culture spread throughout the world. However, Helenium is not particularly popular in Russia, which is very sad. After all, this flower has a very spectacular and bright appearance and allows you to extend the summer warmth and colors until late autumn.

Just like the beauty of this plant, there is also a legend about its appearance on earth. According to ancient Greek myths and legends, the plant received the name “gelenium” in honor of the wife of the ancient Greek king Menelaus, Helen, who was kidnapped by Paris. The princess sat in besieged Troy and cried all the time. And in the place where her tears fell, bright golden flowers appeared.

Description of Helenium:

Helenium - perennial herbaceous plant, however, it does not have a perennial rhizome.
In autumn, all stems and roots of helenium die off. But thanks to young underground buds, a rosette with new leaves and roots is formed on the annual stem by spring. In fact, this plant does not have any bush, but is represented by big amount single-stem plants.
Helenium is a tall plant that can reach a height of 160 cm.
The stems are erect, very branched in the upper part, woody and densely covered with leaves.
The leaves are oblong, lanceolate. In the basal part they are located on petioles, and in the upper part they are sessile. They are arranged alternately on the stem.
There can be a large number of inflorescences on one stem at the same time.
Helenium flowers are thyroid inflorescences, chamomile-like, slightly convex in the middle part.
The shape of the flowers can be double or semi-double, it all depends on the specific variety.
The flower consists of marginal reed petals of yellow, orange, purple, brown shade, as well as central tubular yellow or Brown.
Helenium has a wonderful aroma that attracts bees.
Flowering begins in late summer and lasts until frost. It has a fairly long period.
The fruit of this plant is an oblong achene.

Variety of types and varieties of helenium

In total, there are about 30 in nature various types, which make up a small genus of Heleniums. However, only five are used for landscaping and decorating areas: autumn helenium, hybrid helenium, Hoopa helenium, Bigelow helenium, spring helenium. Let's take a closer look at the features of each type.

Helenium spring

This is a perennial herbaceous plant.
It can reach 1 m in height.
The stems are straight, branched at the tops, densely covered with leaves.
The leaves are oval-shaped, lanceolate, dark green in color.
At the tops of the shoots, single flowers or collected in thyroid inflorescences are formed.
Flowers reach 7 cm in diameter and are orange.
Flowering is long-lasting, beginning in mid-May and lasting a month.
A very cold-resistant species, it can withstand even Siberian frosts without shelter.

Helenium Hupa

This type of Helenium is sometimes called Gupesa.
In nature, this plant prefers to grow on rocky hills in North America.
Perennial herbaceous flowering plant with rhizomes.
It can reach 90-100 cm in height.
The stems are erect, highly branched in the upper part.
The leaves are oblong, green with a grayish tint.
The flowers are solitary, formed at the ends of the stems, approximately 8-9 cm in diameter.
Helenium Hupa blooms with yellow golden inflorescences.
Flowering begins in late June or early July.

Helenium hybrid

This species includes plants decorative varieties, which are obtained by crossing various species, the main of which is autumnal helenium.
All varieties of this group of plants differ in height, color of flowers and leaves.

Popular varieties of hybrid helenium:

Variety "Gartesonne". A very tall plant that can grow up to 130 cm. Blooms small flowers, up to 3.5-4 cm in diameter. The color of the petals is reddish-yellow, and in the middle they are yellow with a slight brown tint. Flowering begins in July and lasts about a month.
Variety "Goldlaktswerg". This plant is formed by erect stems that can reach a meter in height. The flowers are small, 3-4 cm in diameter. This variety of helenium blooms in an orange-brown hue with yellow tips.
Variety "Rotgaut". grassy perennial, reaching a height of approximately 120 cm. Flowering begins in July with dark red flowers with a brown tint.

Helenium autumn

It is the most popular and widespread type of helenium in Russian gardens.
The natural habitat is the territory of North America, namely wet meadows and swamps.
IN landscape design Helenium autumnalis has been used since the 17th century.
The stems of the plant are strong, woody, erect, and can reach a height of 2 m.
The stems grow very tightly to each other, thereby forming a columnar bush.
In the upper part the shoots are highly branched.
Flowers small size, up to 6 cm in diameter. They bloom at the end of each branched shoot, so during flowering the entire bush is abundantly strewn with bright golden flowers.
Flowering begins in August and lasts for a month.

Popular varieties of autumn helenium:

Variety "Magnificum". It belongs to the low-growing varieties of helenium, reaching a maximum height of 80 cm. It blooms with bright yellow flowers with the same yellow core. Inflorescences reach 6 cm in diameter.
Variety "Katarina". A tall variety of Helenium that can grow up to 140 cm in height. Marginal petals yellow tint, and the central ones are brown. This variety blooms in August.
Variety "Superboom". Flowers up to 160 cm high. Golden flowers bloom from mid-August.
Variety "Altgold". The plant is of medium height; in the garden it can grow up to 90 cm. The inflorescences are small, only 6 cm in diameter. The marginal petals are yellow with unusual reddish strokes, the middle is brown. Flowering begins in late summer.
Variety "Di Blonde". Tall flowers, which can reach 170 cm. The shoots are straight and strong, forming a dense bush. The inflorescences are small, only 5-6 cm in diameter. Reddish-brown in color.
Variety "Glutauge". It is distinguished by its low growth, bright red flowers with the same red center. The diameter of one inflorescence is 6 cm.

This is just a small list of helenium varieties that are perfect for decorating your site.

Methods for propagating helenium

All types of helenium can be propagated in several ways: seeds, dividing the bush and even cuttings. The simplest are seed propagation and dividing the bush.

Reproduction of helenium by seeds

Helenium seeds have very low germination, no matter whether you sow them immediately after harvesting or after some time.
It is best to sow seeds for seedlings, so you can get strong and healthy seedlings that are better adapted to open ground.
It is best to sow seeds for seedlings around February.
However, the planting material must first be stratified within 1-1.5 months. To do this, you need to pour soil into a container and sow seeds on top. After this, the entire container is wrapped in film and placed in the refrigerator. And after 1.5 months, they take it out and place it in a warm place.
The rest of the time, the seeds should be kept under artificial light and at a comfortable temperature. The optimal temperature for seed germination is 18-22 degrees Celsius.
The first shoots will appear within 2-3 weeks.
Caring for young seedlings consists of maintaining comfortable temperature, watering and timely picking.
When 2-3 leaves appear on the seedlings, they can be planted in separate pots.
Plant seedlings on permanent place V open ground It will be possible at the beginning of summer.

Reproduction of helenium by dividing rosettes

This method is the simplest and is used by almost all experienced gardeners who breed helenium on their own.

All Helenium bushes consist of a large number of independent single-stemmed plants, which together form a columnar shape of the plant.
Once every three years, and possibly more often, each helenium bush must be divided into several parts, since by this period the number of stems can reach 30.
The plant can be propagated by dividing the bush in spring and autumn. However, more optimal time It's May after all.
You need to carefully dig up an adult helenium bush and divide its roots into several parts. To do this, you don’t need to make any effort - the bush itself breaks up into leaf rosettes.
After this, plant each division in a pre-selected place.
Using this method, you rejuvenate adult plants and enhance their decorative properties.
Flowers grown in this way will bloom only next year.

Reproduction by cuttings

Helenium propagation by cuttings can be carried out at the time of active growth of stems.
To do this you need sharp knife cut cuttings approximately 10-12 cm long.
After this, they can be treated with a special root former solution, for example Kornevin.
For roots to appear, the cuttings can be placed in water, or they can be buried in the soil in a greenhouse.
After the roots appear, the young seedlings are planted in a permanent place in open ground.

Stages of preparation before planting helenium in open ground

Preparation before planting a plant is the key to obtaining strong and healthy flower, which will be an excellent decoration for your site. If your site doesn't already have this beautiful flower and you have no place to get planting material from, it is important to purchase high-quality seedlings in the store. Also take into account all the characteristics of the plant and select the most suitable one for your site. appropriate place for its active growth.

Stage 1. Selection of seedlings

It is best to buy helenium as seedlings in separate containers in specialized stores. It is better to refuse to purchase planting material at spontaneous markets or from strangers, so you risk getting low-quality material.
Before purchasing, ask your consultant about all the features of growing a particular variety of helenium.
It is also important to carefully examine the seedling. There should be no damage, signs of disease or pests, or dry soil in the container.
When purchasing a helenium seedling, you need to take into account the future location of the plants. Purchase taller varieties for single plantings or planting along a fence, and low-growing varieties- for framing flower beds.

Stage 2. Choosing a place to plant helenium

Helenium is very ornamental plant, That's why ideal place for its full growth there will be a well-lit area. It is in such conditions that you will receive beautiful plant with abundant and bright flowering. However, this culture does well in light partial shade.

When choosing a place to plant helenium, take into account your intended garden composition. These bright colors you can perfectly decorate nondescript buildings or a fence, and lower varieties can be used to frame borders.

Stage 3. Soil preparation

This crop thrives in fertile, light and permeable soils. The soil must have a slightly acidic or neutral reaction. Helenium is an unpretentious plant, but it is best to prepare the soil before planting. It is important that it is drained, since stagnation of water at the roots is also detrimental to helenium. The selected area needs to be dug well, about the size of a shovel. When cultivating the soil, you can add a little compost, since the plant responds very well to the addition of various nutrients.

Technology for planting helenium in open ground

The optimal time for planting helenium in open ground is May or early June. It is at this time that the threat of return frosts disappears.
Within a few days, the soil at the planting site is dug up and fertilized with compost.
Before planting, you also need to prepare helenium seedlings. To do this, you need to carefully remove them from the containers and place them in a container of water for a while so that the roots absorb as much moisture as possible. Approximately the time spent in water should be 5-7 minutes.
Next, dig planting holes in the prepared area. Their size should be twice as large as root system seedling along with a lump of earth. Seedlings should be planted no deeper than in a pot.
If you plant several seedlings side by side, then it is imperative to maintain the distance between planting pits and in rows. There should be at least 30 cm between helenium flowers, and at least 35 cm between rows.
A layer of drainage can be placed at the bottom of each hole, which will prevent moisture from accumulating at the roots. It is recommended to use expanded clay or broken bricks as drainage.
Next, place the plant seedlings in each planting hole and sprinkle them with soil, gently compacting them with your hands.
After planting, the surface around the plants must be mulched to prevent moisture evaporation. Dry peat or humus can be used as mulch.

Agricultural technology for growing helenium: features and secrets of care

Planting helenium will not make special labor even for beginner flower growers, but even this unpretentious plant requires attention and constant care. Throughout the entire season, the plant needs abundant watering, loosening, fertilizing and prevention of pests and diseases.

Watering helenium

Caring for helenium includes regular and abundant watering. IN natural environment this crop prefers to grow in wet meadows and swampy lowlands, so you need to create exactly the same conditions on your site. The soil around the plant should always be slightly wet, since this plant cannot tolerate dry substrate. In dry summers, the amount of watering increases. Some gardeners recommend giving preference to the drip irrigation method.

Loosening and mulching

Despite the fact that helenium loves moisture, it cannot tolerate excessive stagnation of water at the roots and stems. Therefore, after watering, it is periodically recommended to loosen the soil around the bushes to saturate it with oxygen. To reduce the amount of weeding and loosening, it is important to constantly add fresh mulch. Dry peat, sawdust or humus can be used as mulch.

Top dressing

For full growth and lush flowering helenium needs to be fed throughout the season.

The first feeding should be carried out in early May. It is during this period that the green part of the plant begins to actively grow. It is important to fertilize helenium with urea and any complex liquid fertilizer. You can also use mullein solution.
The second feeding is carried out to stimulate the flowering of helenium. You need to take 10 liters of water and add about 1 liter of mullein solution, one tablespoon each of Agricola-7 and Agricola-fantasy.
The third feeding is carried out after flowering and it allows the plant to gain strength before winter. Superphosphate and potassium sulfate are used to fertilize helenium during this period.

Pruning and replanting

If you want your helenium to be more magnificent and delight you abundant flowering, then at the beginning of summer it is advisable to carry out a small pruning. During this process, lightly remove the tops of some shoots. It is also important to remove faded flower buds in a timely manner, thereby stimulating the growth of new ones.

Once every three years, the plant needs to be replanted and replanted. Every year the plant develops more and more stems and there is a threat that young buds may eventually come to the surface. Therefore, it is imperative to dig up the plant and divide it into several rosettes.

Pest and disease control

Helenium has good resistance to various diseases and pests. However, sometimes the bushes of this spectacular flower can be affected by the chrysanthemum nematode. When it appears, brown spots appear on the leaves and buds of the plant, and the flower stops blooming. To combat this worm, you need to douse all the plants. hot water, approximately 50 degrees, and sprinkle the soil with lime or sulfur.

Preparing for winter

Before the onset of frost, around October, all helenium stems must be cut off. The place where the plant grows must be mulched. Can be used as mulch natural materials, such as peat, moss, sawdust, fallen leaves. Alternatively, you can cover the plant with non-woven material.

Using helenium in landscape design

Gelenium is perfect for decorating and landscaping a site. There are several options for using it:

Tall heleniums look great in single plantings against the background of a lawn.
This is a plant high grades can be used to decorate unsightly walls or fences, as well as to create a small flowering hedge.
Lower varieties of helenium are suitable for edging garden paths or borders.
High and low varieties are used to create flower beds. IN in this case Tall flowers are planted in the background, and short ones in the foreground.

Photo of helenium in landscape design

You can more clearly see all the features of using helenium in decorating a site in the presented photos.

Using Gelenimum for planting along a fence

Growing helenium in combination with other plants

Using helenium in single plantings

Helenium - bright and spectacular flower, which will help you create a kaleidoscope of golden shades in the autumn area, thereby prolonging the warmth of summer.

Helenium is a genus of perennial and annual herbaceous plants, numbering 32 species. It belongs to the Asteraceae family. These flowers are common on the North American continent. Most of the varieties grow in the central part of the mainland.

Gardeners fell in love with heleniums for their delicate beauty, which is fully revealed between August and October. It is at this time that flowering occurs. In autumn, flowers enliven the garden, attracting attention with bright baskets.

Gelenium - external characteristics

The height of the plant, depending on the species, can vary between 0.5–1.6 m. Straight or branched stems are erect. In some species they are bare, in others they are covered with a dense pile of thin hairs.

Leaf blades are petiolate and sessile. Their shape and size also differ. Most varieties of heleniums have alternate, lanceolate, oval leaves with jagged edges. The baskets can be either single or collected in inflorescences.

Spherical flowers with a diameter of 3 to 6 cm consist of marginal petals of red, orange, bright yellow, purple or brown. The central tubes are colored yellow or brown. After flowering ends, fruits are formed in the baskets - oblong seeds covered with thin fluff.

Types of heleniums

The genus of Heleniums is numerous, it includes 32 species of plants, differing in height, shape of the stem and leaves, size of flower baskets and their color. The table shows the most prominent representatives of the genus.

Species name	Short description	Photo
Hybrid	It is customary to include all known garden varieties and varieties. Plant height reaches 1.3 m. Baskets are 3.5–5 cm in diameter, painted in different shades of orange, purple, brown
Autumn	This species was taken as the basis for developing the most popular varieties for the garden. The stems are dense, branching, up to 1.6 m in height. The leaf blades are elongated, lanceolate, serrated at the edges. Flower baskets are collected in lush inflorescences. Tubular flowers are made in brown shades, and reed flowers are painted bright yellow. Flowering duration is 50-60 days. It starts at the end of July
Perennial	A variety up to 90 cm high. Single baskets up to 5 cm in diameter. Tubular flowers in the central part are yellow, brown at the edges. Petals are purple with orange highlights
Brown	The plant is 130–160 cm high. The leaves are lanceolate, the marginal reed flowers are orange-brown, the tubular flowers are dark brown.
Gupesa	The stem reaches 90 cm in height. The leaf blades are gray-green, narrow, elongated. Baskets are single, tubular and reed flowers are bright yellow

Based on Helenium Autumn, breeders managed to develop many interesting varieties. A significant share of labor in the creation of hybrid garden crops contributed by German scientists. The table shows popular varietal hybrids.

Variety	Description	Photo
Rubinzverg	This variety is popular among gardeners. The height of the plant reaches 60 cm, the stem is branched and dense. Numerous flower heads attract attention with ruby petals and central yellowish tubular flowers. Starts to bloom in July
Autumn Jazz	Straight branched stems grow up to 120 cm in height. The leaf blades are narrow-lanceolate with serrated edges. Flowers up to 5 cm in diameter are collected in inflorescences. The petal reeds are red-yellow, and the tubular flowers are yellow-brown.
Double Trouble	Stems are erect, 1–1.2 m long, branched. The leaves are elongated, oval-shaped, pointed at the ends. Flower baskets are plain, bright yellow
Cockade	Bush 1.2 m high. Leaves are sessile, lanceolate. The diameter of the flower baskets is 4.5 cm. The reed petals are colored red-brown, closer to the center of the flower the red shade is more saturated. The tubular petals are brownish-yellow. Flowering begins in August
Moerheim Beauty	The height of the plant reaches 120 cm. Flowering begins in August and continues until November. The variety is popular among gardeners due to the unusual colors of the baskets. When the buds open, the petals show shades of brown, orange, yellow and red. Once in bloom, the flowers turn brownish-red

Growing heleniums in the garden

Heleniums cannot be called capricious and demanding plants. This is an unpretentious crop, easy and pleasant to care for. In open ground they are usually grown in seedlings. Flowers take root well and do not require much attention.

Caring for helenium includes standard procedures:

proper watering;
fertilizing;
loosening the soil;
weed removal;
preparation for wintering (in perennial species).

Planting seeds for seedlings

Helenium can be planted in two ways - seeds and seedlings. The first option is more often used by gardeners from the southern regions. They sow in the fall, since the planting material needs stratification, and in the soil this process will take place naturally.

Suitable for residents of the middle zone seedling method growing helenium, since there is a high risk of seeds freezing when sowing in open ground in the fall. To get ready seedlings by mid-May, sowing work begins in February or March, but first the seeds are stratified.

When growing heleniums by seed, flowering is expected only in the second or third year.

Since the seeds will have to be kept in the cold for at least a month, sowing should be done in mid-January. You will need a small container of wet sand. Planting material First, soak in water for 30 minutes, then lightly dry and scatter on the surface.

The container is wrapped in cling film and stored in the refrigerator. The suitable temperature for seed stratification is no higher than +7 ºС. This means there is a compartment for fruits and vegetables. The package should remain there for 30–40 days.

By the end of February, the container is placed in a well-lit place. Shoots will appear in 2–3 weeks. It's important to keep track temperature conditions. The thermometer should not fall below +22 ºС. When the seedlings hatch, the film is removed. Picking of seedlings is carried out after the appearance of the third leaf.

Young plants are dug up with a spoon, trying not to damage the delicate roots, and planted in separate containers filled with fertile soil. Seedlings are protected from exposure to direct sun rays and watered regularly. From the end of April they begin to harden them in order to accustom them to external conditions.

Planting seedlings in open ground

The seedlings are transferred to open ground when the threat of night frosts has passed. In the northern regions - at the end of May or beginning of June. Before planting, you should prepare the area and dig it up with compost. If the soil in the garden is heavy, it is recommended to add sand to loosen it.

The best time of day for planting is after sunset.

Seedlings are planted according to a 35x30 cm pattern. The diameter of the holes should be twice the size of the root system of the seedlings. Plants are deepened into the soil to the same level at which they grew in cups.

After planting is completed, the heleniums are watered and the soil is mulched. You can use peat or humus. Thanks to this coating, it retains moisture at the plant roots longer. Mulching serves another purpose - it prevents the growth of weeds.

Features of garden care

Caring for flowers is not difficult if you are familiar with their characteristics. Experienced gardeners They know that heleniums do not tolerate drought. Missing watering can be disastrous. If the heat is very hot, the plants are watered every day in the evening. In cool weather, when moisture evaporates slowly, reduce watering to 2 or 3 times a week.

Weeding is an important aspect of flower care. Weeds They will not bother the gardener if he mulched the soil immediately after planting. Otherwise, you will have to actively fight them. Weeds deplete the soil, causing cultivated plants lack of nutrients.

The soil around the stems must be loosened the day after watering. The formation of a dense crust around the bushes is unacceptable; the soil must have good air permeability.

How to feed helenium

During the entire growing season, the bushes are fed three times. Both organic and mineral fertilizers are used. detailed instructions on the introduction of fertilizing is contained in the table.

Gardeners recommend using and foliar feeding helenium. During budding, they spray the bushes with a growth stimulant. The drug Buton is suitable for these purposes. To prepare the product, you need to dissolve 10 g of powder in 10 liters of water.

During flowering, it is advisable to remove dry flower stalks. Thanks to this, new buds will form more actively. You can increase the bushiness of the stems by pinching the ends.

Preparing for winter

Perennial heleniums overwinter in open ground. When the above-ground part of the plants has completely dried out, the stems are cut off, leaving small fragments 12–15 cm long. In regions with warm climates, gardeners do not worry about covering the crop, other than pouring dry leaves over the planting site.

IN middle lane flowers need a reliable insulated layer. After trimming the bushes, you should cover the area with a dense layer of sawdust or peat. If a snowless winter is predicted, lutrasil is placed on top. Immediately after the snow melts, insulating synthetic material removed, otherwise the helenium roots will be banned.

Diseases and pests

Helenium is resistant to diseases and is rarely affected by pests. The danger for it is stagnation of moisture in the soil. It can cause root rot. This problem can be avoided by adding sand to the soil when planting to make it porous and light.

The plant can be attacked by chrysanthemum nematodes - thin thread-like worms. They penetrate inside the stems and flower buds, where their full cycle development. When infected by pests, helenium leaves become thinner, discolored and covered with yellowish spots. Damaged ones soon die and fall off.

If signs of nematode infection are detected, diseased plants must be burned and the soil under them must be poured with boiling water. Usage chemicals not always effective.

Heleniums are unpretentious and beautiful flowers. They are loved for their bright blooms, which sometimes last until mid-autumn. These plants are one of the few that decorate an already yellowed garden.

Helenium: planting and care, types and varieties, photos.

. The reeds are yellow golden, the outside is orange-red, with a reddish border along the edges, the tubular flowers are yellow and brown. Flowering is abundant.

Helenium does not have a perennial rhizome. Helenium has stems winter period die off with roots. And the buds formed on the underground part of the stem form a rosette of foliage with roots.

There are many the most beautiful flowers, which decorate summer cottages, but there is one that is recognized as a garden favorite in Europe. This is a sun-like, bright and beautiful helenium. The flower is well known to gardeners. It is unpretentious and easy to breed summer cottage. The perennial plant is native to North and Central America. Its stems are tough and durable. The flowers are very bright colors: yellow, red, variegated. Due to the variety of varieties, it is suitable for creating picturesque flower arrangements in flower beds or as a tapeworm (that is, it can be grown without mixing with other species). Helenium will look very impressive in both cases. Its flowering time is August.