Erigeron is a perennial decorative flowering plant of the aster family. The genus includes more than 200 species, widely distributed throughout the world. It adorns street flower beds, as well as balconies and hanging flowerpots. Compact flowers are unpretentious and frost-resistant.
Botanical characteristics
Due to the large number of needle or reed petals, the plant received a second name - small petals. "Erigeron" is translated from Greek as "early elder", which is explained by the early maturation of seeds.
The plant forms loose spherical bushes with a large number of branched shoots. The average height and width of the bush is 40-60 cm. The shoots are grassy, soft. Greens saturated dark green color.
The bush is evenly covered with baskets of flowers, single or collected in rare paniculate inflorescences. Petals are multiple multicolor. There are flowers of pink, purple, lilac, white, blue, yellow and other shades. Petals can be arranged in several rows (terry varieties) and in one row (simple). The core of the flower is magnificent, yellow. Baskets are different in size, on one plant flowers are found in 2 and 4 cm. Flowering occurs from June to October. Then, pubescent small seeds are formed in the box.
Lanceolate leaves cover the entire stem, basal rosettes consist of more rounded leaves.
Varieties of erigerone
With ampel growing Erigeron Karvinsky is popular. Its bushes do not exceed 15 cm in height, while in breadth they can grow by 60 cm. Creeping shoots are abundantly covered with leaves. Unusual and flowers of this variety. At the beginning of flowering, the petals are light pink and, as if burned out, become almost white, but gradually acquire a pink and saturated raspberry shades. Moreover, each basket goes through all stages of ripening separately, therefore, on the bush at the same time there are buds of different colors.
Erigeron "Pink Diamond" will please the average size of the bush and pink-purple terry baskets. It blooms profusely, but the side branches are creeping, a garter is required to create a form.
The variety with the unusual name "Treasures of Agra" is popular. Frost-resistant perennial plant is unpretentious in care. Bushes up to 60 cm in height are pleased with numerous miniature inflorescences. The variety includes plants with different colors of flowers, which creates mosaic overflows on the site.
Most imitates the aster variety erigerone "Pink Treasure". Tall bushes (up to 70 cm) are covered with three-row pink and raspberry baskets with a yellow core. The flowering is plentiful two-stage in July-August and in September-October.
It will attract the attention of gardeners Melkoplepetnik Orange (Erigeron aurantiacus Regel). Bushes up to 40-50 cm high abound in orange lush reed flowers. Pedicel thickened, covered with villi. The leaves are oval, large at the base and smaller at the top.
For lovers of rare specimens, the following hybrid varieties are suitable:
- Violetta - purple, double terry inflorescences;
- Rosa Triumph - covered with dark pink terry flowers;
- Sommer - a tall bush with large inflorescences, the color of young flowers is white, gradually turning pink;
- Prosperity - with blue needle baskets;
- Rote Shengayt - covered with pink and red semi-double flowers.
Propagation and cultivation
Erigeron propagated by seed and dividing the bush. Seeds are sown in late autumn or spring. In the northern regions, it is preferable to grow seedlings with subsequent planting in the garden. Seeds are characterized by low germination, so it is better to stock them in excess.
Sowing in boxes and pots is carried out in early March, as seedlings do not appear for a long time, and young sprouts slowly develop. Seeds are distributed evenly and moistened into moist moist fertile soil, it is not necessary to sprinkle. A distance of more than 10 cm is left between them. To prevent moisture from evaporating quickly, cover the container with glass or film.
Crops need a moist environment and a temperature of 10-15 degrees Celsius. An ordinary window sill or a glazed balcony is suitable. In a month, the first shoots will appear. They are very small and thin, but gradually take root and begin to grow faster. It is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out, carefully watered in small portions of warm water. In late March, you can transplant seedlings to a permanent place. The transplant is done carefully so as not to damage the fragile roots.
Even after several months of growth in open ground, the plant does not differ in special strength, therefore, seedlings of the first year are covered for the winter so that the roots do not freeze.
Egerone is much easier to breed by dividing the bush. To do this, in the early spring they dig a large overgrown bush 2-3 years old. Its roots are divided into several sprouts. Young shoots with small own roots (heels) also take root well. So you can rejuvenate and deal with excess vegetation, which is recommended to do every five years.
Between young plants, regardless of the method of reproduction, they keep a distance of 35 cm. This allows their roots to grow normally and does not impoverish the soil.
Care for erigerone
Small petals are suitable for those gardeners who do not like or cannot spend much time on plants. This does not affect his health and the number of flowers. It is enough to competently perform the initial actions and this flower will delight the owners for several years.
The soil is desirable alkaline, light, well-drained. Also, erigerone can grow on loamy and neutral soils. It is important to prevent waterlogging or stagnation of water.
For planting, choose sunny areas of the garden, a small draft is allowed. In damp and dark places the plant is sick, instead of abundant flowering, foliage develops strongly and long shoots form.
If there are few sunny days, and damp and cloudy weather persists for a long time, the plant can affect mold and other fungal diseases. This is manifested by the presence of brown and brown spots on the leaves. With a minor lesion, the following measures are recommended:
- sprinkling soil with ash near the bush;
- processing plants 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture.
If most of the bush has undergone disease, then it is necessary to cut off all the damaged shoots and burn them.
Overgrown bushes require support or garters, otherwise they will lose their shape and will spread along the ground. Fading buds must be cut, then new peduncles will appear in their place. So they achieve a long flowering period or stimulate a second (autumn) color.
Using
The small petle is well established as an ampel plant. Suitable for decorating balconies, porches or flowerpots at the porch. Low bushes are used in the design of rabatki, rock gardens, mixborders.
The plant is preferably used for the foreground, as well as bordering lawns and territories near paths. Using a compact shoot with multi-colored buds, you can create decorative compositions in your own summer cottage. Even a beginner gardener can handle curved lines or small paintings.
