Beedens is a bright annual plant that looks like a small green cloud strewn with yellow stars. It comes from Guatemala and Mexico, therefore, loves light, but does not suffer too much from drought and cold. Its other name is also known - a decorative or ferulolate series, but bidenz has nothing to do with drugs.
Botanical characteristics
The plant is branched, forming spherical bushes with a height of 20 to 90 cm and 30-80 cm in diameter. Shoots are not too strong, creeping. Foliage of a dark or gray shade with carved, needle-shaped edges resembles fennel. Leaves cover the stems along the entire length, which contributes to the formation of a dense crown.
Flowers are solitary, located on the tops and lateral processes of shoots. There are a lot of them and they stretch over the entire surface of the bush. On one bud there are eight petals, the core is lush, covered with a large number of stamens and has one ovary. There are petals of white and all shades of yellow. The diameter of one flower is 2-3 cm. The flowering period begins in July and lasts until the end of October. At this time, the garden is filled with a pleasant strong aroma that attracts butterflies and other insects.
Varieties
The popularity of beedens in our country is still very small, so it can be difficult to find seeds, especially various varieties, on sale. However, the decorative series has several variations:
- white - voluminous bush with snow-white flowers;
- aurea (golden) - small bushes up to 60 cm in height, richly covered with golden baskets;
- golden ball - small bushes, up to 50 cm in diameter, are dotted with yellow and light yellow flowers 2-4 cm in size;
- goldie - medium bushes with shortened and wide leaf blades;
- golden goddess - differs in the largest flowers;
Breeding
The flower is propagated by seeds, the very next year you can find a lot of self-sowing, which saves gardeners from the extra hassle of cultivation. However, if you do not plan to get rid of the plant, you need to collect at least part of the seeds for the winter. Under adverse conditions, he will simply die out and will have to deal with seedlings.
Seeds are harvested in autumn, at the end of the flowering period. Withered flowers are cut and dried, and then the seeds are separated and stored until spring. In the northern regions, seedlings are first grown, but in a temperate climate, sowing can be done immediately in open ground.
For seedlings, use a light, friable substrate, which is moistened with warm water. In early March, the seeds are planted to a depth of 1 cm and are crushed with a layer of earth. The container is covered with a film to avoid drying out. Shoots appear together in 12-14 days. From mid-May, you can plant grown plants in the garden at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other.
To preserve special varietal properties, propagation by cuttings is used. This method is complex and requires good preparation. The mother plant in this case is transplanted into a pot in the fall and brought into the room for the winter with an air temperature not lower than + 5 ° ะก. At the end of winter, cuttings are cut and dug them to form roots. In spring, rooted shoots are planted in open ground.
Cultivation and care
Light fertile soils are prepared for planting biden, although it can also grow on loam. It is important to provide good drainage with sand, brick chips or other materials. The plant loves the sun, and in the shaded corners of the garden will not bloom so abundantly. This should be considered when choosing a place for future planting. The rest of the flower is very unpretentious, watering requires only in case of prolonged drought.
To form more buds, you can feed the bushes once a month with complex fertilizer with potassium and phosphorus. Do this before flowering begins. To prevent drying out of the soil, the topsoil is dug with compost.
To give the bushes the correct spherical shape, you need to trim. The plant tolerates this process well. Too lateral shoots are usually cut off, and after 10-14 days new peduncles will appear on this spot.
So that the weeds do not harm the plant, weed should be periodically carried out and wild growth removed. Withered buds are cut off and new flowers appear in their place.
The sequence is a honey plant and actively attracts bees and butterflies. But the pests are not afraid of her, which greatly facilitates the care for lazy gardeners.
Bidenza application
Due to its compactness and spherical shape, the bushes are used for ampel growing. That is, they practice planting in flowerpots, planters and boxes. A series of beautifully decorate the balcony, and tall bushes will please both passers-by and households. It tolerates direct sunlight and drafts well and this does not affect the appearance at all. Many gardeners give Beedens a well-deserved top five for vitality.
In addition to ampel plantings, the plant looks good in decorating borders or as a solitaire on the lawn. When decorating flower beds, this flower will bring bright colors to the overall composition.
You can achieve a two-year flowering if you transfer the pot to the greenhouse or a glazed balcony. The flower is quite resistant to cold and continues to grow with only five degrees of heat.
