Erigeron, or small-petal - a herbaceous plant, belongs to the Astrov family. According to various botanical literature, the genus numbers about 200-400 species. About 180 species are native to North America. Certain cultivated species of small petals, popularly called erigeron, can be found in garden plots. The word has two roots, in translation meaning "early" and "old man", which is related to the structure of the flower. We are talking about quickly ripening seeds, decorated with silvery pubescence.
Erigeron flower description
Small petal flower is presented in the form of a herbaceous annual or perennial plant with a developed rhizome. Tall stems give it the shape of a semi-shrub, according to the description, resembling aster bushes. Straight leathery shoots branch slightly. Solid and elongated leaves of the lower tier are collected in a rosette. The leaf blades located in the middle of the stem are smaller and sparse. Their length reaches only 10 cm. The tubular flowers form baskets, which are placed singly on the stems. In some species, the flowers are combined into paniculate inflorescences. During flowering, the bushes are strewn with decorative baskets of various shades. For example, there are white, purple, cream or yellow varieties of erigeron. After the withering of the buds, ripening of densely pubescent or smooth achenes begins, which act as the fruits of the small petals.
Growing erigeron from seeds
Small-petal propagates by dividing the bush, cuttings and seeds. Seeds are planted in the ground in autumn or spring. However, not all species exhibit high germination properties. It will be safer to grow seedlings first. For these purposes, in March, seeds are poured onto moistened soil, which is filled in a wide box or any other container. From above, the seeds are sprinkled with a thin layer of earth and lightly pressed to the ground. The creation of a greenhouse effect is provided by glass or polyethylene. Store containers with crops in a cool lighted room. The formation of the first green shoots occurs after 3-4 weeks. Gradually, seedlings increase in growth.
The pick is performed at the stage of formation of a pair of true leaves. Sparse planting of seedlings can not be thinned out, they are sent directly to the open ground. Fortified seedlings should be tempered daily, and the boxes should be taken out to the veranda or balcony.
Planting small petals in open ground
Erigeron prefers sunny areas. Cultivation in partial shade is allowed. The plant is unpretentious in the choice of soil, but it is better to avoid a damp and heavy substrate. An open, illuminated area, where an alkaline environment and moderately nutritious soil is present, is considered a favorable place for planting.
They are engaged in planting in open ground at the beginning of summer. Seedlings are carefully removed from the container, keeping the earthen lump. The wells are placed at a distance of about 25 to 30 cm from each other.The flowering of small-petals with the seed method of cultivation is observed only in biennial adult bushes.
Caring for Erigeron in the garden
Planting activities will not cause much difficulty, even for beginners in horticulture. As for the care of erigeron, here it is necessary not to forget about regular watering, loosening the soil between the rows and removing weeds that interfere with the growth of seedlings and block out the sun's rays. It is not at all necessary to carry out additional feeding, however, during the budding period, the introduction of a small amount of mineral compounds into the soil will make the flowering abundant and long-lasting. When the baskets have faded, the stems are cut at the root. For the winter in regions where cold and snowless winters prevail, flower beds with small petals are insulated with dry foliage.
Diseases and pests
During the lingering summer rains, erigeron grown outdoors is exposed to fungal diseases. Signs of infection are dark brown spots covering the leaves. The treatment of the ground part of the bushes with a solution of Bordeaux liquid helps to cope with the problem. To consolidate the effect, the procedure is repeated after 10 days. In advanced cases, you will have to completely cut off the bushes. The area where the diseased plantings of small petals were located is disinfected and sprayed with fungicidal preparations. Rejuvenation and pruning are carried out on three- or four-year-old plants.
Types and varieties of erigeron
To date, breeders have managed to breed several ornamental flowering species of small petals. In addition, there are also equally attractive hybrid forms.
Small petals beautiful - occurs in culture quite often. Naturally, it grows in the western regions of North America. This species has a short, straight rhizome and branched stems, rough to the touch. The height of the shoots is not more than 70 cm. The leaves located near the roots are spatulate, and the stem leaf blades are of the lanceolate type. Blooming baskets are formed from multi-colored tubular buds that gather in large shields. You can observe flowering in the middle of summer; its duration is about a month. The cultivation of this species in garden culture began to be engaged in in 1862.
The most popular varieties of beautiful small petals among gardeners are Violetta, Wuppertal, Dunkelshnee Adler, Lilofee, Sommerneusnee, Rosa Triumph, Festers Laibling, Rote Shengayt and Prosperity.
Petal Karvinsky - one of the smallest species, which grows mostly in Central America. As a cultivated plant, it began to be grown quite recently. Locals treat wild erigeron like a common weed. The stems reach a height of 15 cm. Due to its compactness, the plant looks great in hanging baskets and pots. In the flower beds, over time, the bushes grow strongly. The buds form at the ends of the stems and resemble tiny pink daisies. Then they gradually turn white, and in the last days of flowering, they change color to a deep coral shade.
Erigeron orange - origin came from Central Asian countries, including China. The height of the semi-shrub is 30-40 cm, the diameter of the growth of shoots is 50 cm. The plant is characterized by erect stems and elongated leaves. Yellow or orange tubular inflorescences are arranged singly. As a cultural representative of the flora, the species began to be bred in 1879.
Erigeron alpine - in the natural environment occurs in the countries of Western and Central Europe, Asia Minor. The bushes reach a height of about 30 cm. The stems of the aforementioned perennial are even and rough, the shape of the leaves is lanceolate. The leaves of the middle layer are sparse and elongated. The baskets are spaced apart from each other and are formed from tubular reed buds of purple and yellow. Erigeron alpine blooms in mid-June.He received distribution among gardeners much earlier than orange erigeron.
Small petals acrid - called in another way small-petals acute, is a variable plant form. Bushes from 6 to 75 cm in height have straight and pubescent shoots, branching closer to the crown. Leaves are sparse, green. Paniculate baskets have pinkish and yellowish tubular buds.
Small petals annual or fine-bore - brought to European countries from North America. This plant is of medium length with smooth, slightly branched shoots, the surface of which is covered with stiff bristles. The leaf blades are hairy, the paniculate inflorescences are two-rowed. Their diameter does not exceed 15 cm. One row of reed flowers is pale blue, and the other is yellow. Since the plant is not able to boast of decorativeness against the background of other varieties, many take the thin-wedge for a weed.
Canadian small petals - an annual dwarf shrub also without any distinctive decorative qualities. However, in folk medicine, the plant is of particular value. It is used in the treatment of uterine bleeding. Small tubular flowers are combined into white or yellow inflorescences. In addition to the above types of attention, one-flowered erigeron, naked erigeron, northern erigeron, drooping erigeron deserve attention. Each of them has its own specific characteristics and color.
