Coreopsis (Coreopsis), or Lenok, or Parisian beauty is a herbaceous flowering annual or perennial plant from the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family. There are more than 100 different species of this plant.
Description of the coreopsis flower
Coreopsis is a herb or shrub with highly branched and erect stems that grow from forty-five to one hundred and twenty centimeters in height. The leaves of the plant are opposite, pinnately dissected or finger-separated. The flowers are somewhat reminiscent of a chamomile flower. Price Venus has brown or yellow tubular flowers, and around the center there are tongue-shaped petals of pink, yellow or yellow-brown color. The fruit of the plant is the achene, in which it evokes a large number of seeds.
Growing coreopsis from seeds
Sowing seeds
Caring for coreopsis is quite simple, the flower does not require much attention to itself. The annual plant can be planted both in open ground and in a greenhouse. For planting in open ground, May is considered the most appropriate time, since it is in May that the ground warms up well and the threat of night frosts passes. The second half of April is perfect for planting seeds in a greenhouse. Perennial species begin to bloom only in the second year after planting. But if you want to get a flowering plant in the very near future, then it is best to plant a flower using seedlings.
You need to plant seeds for seedlings in the first half of March. To do this, you need to prepare containers and fill them with nutritious garden soil. Spread the seeds evenly over the surface without deepening them, but simply pressing them a little against the soil. To create a greenhouse effect, you need to cover the container with seeds with plastic wrap or glass. You need to germinate seeds in a bright and warm place.
Seedlings of coreopsis
Coreopsis seeds are distinguished by good germination, so absolutely everything that was planted is likely to germinate. Every day, plastic wrap or glass should be removed from containers in order to check and remove accumulated condensation. The first shoots will appear in about 10 days, at which time the shelter can be removed. Watering the seedlings should be regular, but moderate, since various diseases may appear due to waterlogging of the soil. After each watering, be sure to carefully loosen the soil around the seedlings, but without damaging it. When the seedlings develop two true leaves, they will need to be transplanted into separate pots.
Planting coreopsis in open ground
When is the best time to plant
The best time for planting coreopsis seeds in open ground is the second half of May. At this time, the earth will already warm up enough, and the night frosts will definitely not return.Before planting seedlings in open ground, it must be hardened for 2 weeks. To do this, you need to take out the pots with seedlings to fresh air, starting at 10 minutes and gradually increasing the time every day. The seedlings will be ready for planting when they can be outdoors all day.
How to plant correctly
It is best to choose a sunny place for planting coreopsis. The plant needs soil that is moderately moist, light, loose, neutral and well-drained. As for fertility, some varieties will bloom worse due to too fertile soil. Therefore, before planting, you need to make very little compost or humus. When planting seedlings in open ground, you need to remember that the distance between the plants should be at least 30 cm. After planting, you need to thoroughly compact the soil and carry out abundant watering.
Coreopsis care in the garden
Caring for coreopsis is very simple and even a novice gardener can handle this matter. The plant must be watered occasionally, thoroughly loosened the soil after watering, remove weeds and wilted flowers.
Watering
Coreopsis is a fairly drought-resistant plant; only seedlings need regular watering. If the summer is too hot, then you will need to water the plant very rarely. And during normal weather conditions and precipitation, watering for the plant is not required at all.
Fertilization
If during the digging before planting fertilizers were not applied to the soil, then the plant must be fed with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer during the period of active flowering. If organic fertilizers were applied to the soil, then the plant does not require additional feeding. Re-fertilization will only be required next year.
Flower support
Tall plant varieties may need support. To do this, you will need to stick a stick or other support next to the plant and carefully tie it up. After flowering is over, the plant will need to be cut by a quarter. Before the onset of frost, annuals must be removed from the flower garden, and perennials must be completely cut off.
Shelter for the winter
Coreopsis does not need additional shelter for the winter. But in regions with harsh and snowy winters, it is still worth covering the plant with dry foliage or sawdust. The plant multiplies very quickly, so every four years it is necessary to carefully dig up the plant, divide it and plant it immediately. A plant is suitable for division even during the flowering period. The main rule for transplanting is wet soil, since delenki take root in it faster.
Diseases and pests
Plants can infect fungal infections due to rainy summers or over-watering. For example, fusarium, rust and various spots. Signs of these infections can be seen on the terrestrial part of the plant. Severely affected plants must be removed from the flower garden, and the rest must be treated with a solution of special fungicides. Such preparations are sold in absolutely any store for florists and gardeners.
As for pests, the plant can be attacked by aphids and beetles. You can get rid of bugs with the help of manual collection, but with aphids, everything is much more complicated. It must be dealt with with the help of special preparations that must be bred in accordance with the instructions and the plants must be carefully processed.
Types and varieties of coreopsis
Annual species of coreopsis
Coreopsis Drummond (Coreopsis drummondii = Coreopsis basalis) - the root of this plant is fibrous, and the stems are strongly branching. Grows from 45 cm to 60 cm in height. Leaves are pinnately divided. Baskets are single terminal, up to 5 cm in diameter. The middle of tubular flowers are brown. The petals of the flower are yellow and have a brownish-red spot closer to the middle. There are varieties with other colors.
Coreopsis tinctoria - stems are thin and branched. Grows from 30 cm to 1 m in height. The leaves are at the bottom. They have a pinnately dissected shape. Single inflorescences, up to 4 cm in diameter.The middle consists of tubular flowers of a dark brown hue, and the petals are arranged in several rows and have a velvety yellow, dark red or golden yellow hue. The most popular varieties of this species that are grown in culture:
- Goldstral - grows up to 50 cm in length. In the middle, the flowers are dark brown, and at the edges are golden yellow.
- Bluetrot Zwerg - grows up to 25 cm. The middle is dark brown, and the petals are dark red.
- Coreopsis Roll is a variety with crimson flowers with yellow stripes.
- Coreopsis Amulet is a dwarf plant that grows no more than 25 cm in height. The middle is brown, and the petals are red-brown.
Coreopsis ferulele (Bidens ferulifolia = Coreopsis ferulifolia) - is grown in culture very rarely. It grows from 50 cm to 1 m. Leaves are dissected, baskets of a golden hue. The stems are highly branched. Despite its small popularity, this species has several interesting varieties:
- Goldie - the leaves of this variety are slightly shorter, but wider.
- Golden Goddes - the flowers of this variety are much larger.
- Samsara - the bushes of this variety are very compact, therefore they are most often grown in hanging pots.
Perennial species of coreopsis
Coreopsis grandiflora (Coreopsis grandiflora) - the stems of this species are strongly branched. The bush grows up to 1 m in height. The upper leaves are pinnately dissected, and the lower ones are whole. The middle of the baskets is dark yellow, and the petals are golden yellow.
Coreopsis lanceolata (Coreopsis lanceolata) - a highly branched plant. Grows up to 60 cm in height. Leaves are linear or lanceolate. The middle of the flowers is dark yellow, and the petals are golden yellow. Popular varieties of this species:
- Golden Queen - grows up to 60 cm in height. Inflorescences are golden yellow and rather large.
- Goldfink - grows up to 30 cm in height and is considered to be dwarf.
- Rotkelchen - the middle of this variety is red, and the petals are yellow.
There are many other perennial coreopsis species, but they are not so popular among gardeners and are rarely grown.
