The immortelle (Helichrysum) is a herbaceous perennial that belongs to the Asteraceae family. In addition to the main name, you can hear the plant address cmin, zheltyanka or helihrizum. Shoots branch out to the sides and are decorated with inflorescences of various colors. The buds are hard to the touch. Their beauty lasts for a long time. Drying, the petals seem to freeze and still look bright and attractive.
The origin of the flower began in Africa, then the immortelle was brought to Australia and the countries of Asia Minor. The immortelle herb is popular in the organization of landscape design, has medicinal properties, is used in medicine and as an element of floristry. There are many subspecies in the genus, thanks to which immortelle compositions will be an excellent basis for any bouquet. To get a beautiful and healthy flower garden, you must adhere to the recommendations for growing immortelle from competent gardeners.
Description of the plant
Wild and cultural immortelle plantings refer to both perennial and annual forms. Outwardly, the plant resembles a low-growing shrub with a rich spreading crown of shoots. The rhizome goes slightly into the ground and has only a few branches. The length of the shoots varies between 30-120 cm. The shoots are erect. On it are narrow leaves in the next order. Closer to the surface of the soil, the size of the leaves increases. The plates are painted in a dark green tone and have a fleecy coating that retains moisture and prevents rapid evaporation.
Helichrysum inflorescences bloom in July. The tops of the stems are decorated with bright flower baskets up to 7 cm in diameter. The inflorescences consist of bisexual, small, tubular, threadlike buds surrounded by petals. At the first stages of budding, the flowers look dense, but towards the end of the season they become loose. The color of the flowers is completely varied, for example, pink, yellow, purple, red or silver. Small baskets are woven into umbrella inflorescences.
The pollination process takes place at the expense of insects. In place of the inflorescences, as they ripen, oval-shaped seed pods with a rough surface are formed, like prisms. The top of the box is decorated with a single-row crest.
Growing immortelle
The immortelle herb is grown from seeds or vegetative parts. Some varieties are annuals, which is why they have to be sown in a new way every year. Seeds are purchased in stores or harvested on their own, but in the latter case, there is no one hundred percent certainty that the new plants will retain their maternal characteristics. The cultivation of annual immortelles is not difficult.
First, they are engaged in breeding seedlings of immortelle. The boxes are filled with a damp substrate. A mixture of peat and sand is suitable. The seeds are poured onto the surface of the soil and lightly pressed. Green shoots begin to appear on the fourth or sixth day.After a few weeks, the seedlings can be dived into different containers. The immortelle is planted in open ground at the end of spring, when the threat of frost has passed. The interval between seedlings should be at least 20 cm. Plants are picked carefully, trying not to disturb the young roots and keep the earthen lump. Peat pots are used for picking.
In April, the plants are transferred to the flower bed. You should not expect the immortelle to bloom soon. It usually occurs only after a year. It is important to thin out thickened plantings in time, to devote time to watering and weeding.
Overgrown shrubs need to be separated. With the arrival of spring, they are carefully removed from the soil and cut into several parts with a shovel so that there are two buds in each section.
Young shoots harvested during the season are used as cuttings. Rooting of the shoots is faster if the pots are filled with garden soil and sand. In warm weather, the pots are left in the fresh air. When the cold comes, they are transferred to a closed room. Seedlings are transplanted every other year in the spring.
Immortelle care
Caring for the immortelle is not difficult even for beginners. An important point is a well-chosen site for planting an immortelle. The flower needs sunlight. However, there are also species that develop better in the shade. A loose and nutritious substrate without excess moisture with a neutral environment is suitable for grass.
Before sending immortelle seedlings into open ground, the flower bed is thoroughly prepared, enriched with mineral fertilizers used for growing flowering crops, and compost. The bottom of the hole is covered with a drainage layer.
The immortelle is drought-resistant. However, at the peak of flowering, you need to provide abundant watering. Water for irrigation is defended and heated in the sun. The bushes are watered in the evening or early in the morning, then there is no need to fear that the leaves will get burned.
Perennials do not forget to periodically feed. Organize several organic or mineral feedings. The flowerbed is loosened and weeds are removed. Withered buds, like dry stems, must be cut off.
Diseases and pests
The immortelle plant is only occasionally affected by fungal infections. Nematodes are a particular danger to grass among insects. Insecticidal preparations will not work, since the pests hide in the stems and get inside the leaves. Sick shoots must be destroyed.
Types and varieties of immortelle with a photo
The genus includes about 500 species, of which only 30 species of immortelle are grown as horticultural crops.
Sandy immortelle
This herbaceous plant prefers to inhabit saline, sandy loam soils or stony areas in Eurasian countries. The rhizome is shortened, with erect, low-branched shoots up to 40 cm long. Shoots are covered with oval leaves, pubescent with felt. Inflorescences begin to bloom in early June. The color of the species is presented in yellow tones. Blooming baskets gather in complex large shields. The vegetative parts of the herb are used for medicinal purposes.
Immortelle pink
The described perennial is a network of branched shoots, the shell of which is covered with felt. The lower tier of foliage looks like wide, clawed leaves. Smaller leaves are located in the middle of the stem. Baskets are formed from white-colored bisexual flowers. The budding process is activated in May or early June.
Immortelle large
One of the tallest species of Astrov. Its shoots are capable of growing up to 80 cm. The stems of the grass are ribbed to the touch, with narrow leaves. The surface of the leaves is smooth. Flowers at the moment of full disclosure look much larger. The plant is common among gardeners.In the center are tubular baskets surrounded by shiny petals. Their colors can be yellow, orange, red or white. The flower blooms in mid-summer and adorns the garden until late autumn. Crested achenes grow in place of pollinated inflorescences. Among the varieties of large immortelle, one should highlight:
- Violet is a tall bush, whose shoots reach a meter in height, has wide purple or dark red baskets;
- Fireball is an erect shrub with even leaf blades and convex flower baskets framed with brown shiny petals;
- Hot Bikini is a low, highly branched bush with small scarlet inflorescences.
Application
Charming immortelles, attracting the eye with bright flowering baskets and dark green leaves, will look great in any garden next to other perennials in flower beds, near buildings or a border. Plants are decorated with rockeries, rock gardens and other landscape compositions. Florists often use immortelle when creating bouquets, wreaths and flower garlands.
Buds that have not yet fully opened are cut in September or October, retaining part of the stem, but removing the leaves. Cut flowers are dried by hanging them down in baskets. There is an opinion that “dead” flowers cannot be kept at home. However, such prejudices are easy to argue with. Gelikhrizum is a talisman of youth. The plant helps to protect sleep, gives a person courage, gives joy and relieves ailments.
Collecting immortelle
The raw materials are harvested when the baskets are half-open. Simultaneously with the inflorescence, cut off a part of the peduncle up to 1 cm long. After collecting the immortelle, fresh flowers are dried in a thin layer on paper sheets or shelves in a dark, well-ventilated room. To speed up the process, it is allowed to use ovens. The dried raw material has a slightly perceptible aroma, pleasant with a bitter taste. Store the herb in cloth or paper bags. The shelf life should not exceed 3 years.
The healing properties of the immortelle
In medicine, sand and meadow immortelle are most often used, they have medicinal properties. Inflorescences contain flavonoids, glycosides, ascorbic acid, essential oils, resins, coumarins, and many trace elements.
Tinctures and decoctions are prepared on the basis of cmin. They are used alone or as a collection along with other herbs. Essential oil containing yellow oil is used during aromatherapy sessions.
The plant is considered an excellent choleretic, tonic, antispasmodic and hemostatic agent. The herb is successfully used in the treatment of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cholecystitis, gastritis, atherosclerosis, gout, as well as in kidney diseases.
Herbal decoctions are prescribed to drink to patients suffering from pain from the accumulation of kidney stones. The substances in the tissues of the flower have a beneficial effect on the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system.
Contraindications
The immortelle herb has practically no contraindications, but people suffering from hypertension, thrombophlebitis, obstructive jaundice and increased stomach acidity fall under the risk category.
