Craspedia is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant. Belongs to representatives of the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family, the genus of which includes about 30 species. The area of growth of flowers is concentrated in a humid lowland area, however, some specimens are able to climb up hills and mountain plains. This herbaceous flower prefers the climatic conditions of subtropical and tropical zones.
The flower craspedia gained popularity among gardeners not so long ago. The plant began to spread from Australia. Florists were amazed at the beauty and unusual appearance of this exotic. During flowering, the bush is strewn with buds, shaped like drumsticks, for which the plant received the same name. Craspedia is often used as a bouquet compositional element.
Description of craspedia
Small filamentous roots extend from the central root of the craspedia. Strong erect shoots have a round cross section. They are not easy to break in the wind. The stems and foliage of the plant are painted in a pale green tone. At the end of the season, the color of the ground parts becomes more intense. The longest shoots can grow up to 70 cm. The inflorescences look spherical.
Leaf blades with smooth edges are covered with thick pile. The stems are practically non-leafy, since the leaf rosettes are located near the base of the bush. Every morning dew droplets accumulate on the plates, thanks to which the plant receives additional moisture. Some species and varieties of craspedia still show a tendency to build up green mass of leaves.
Each inflorescence consists of many small flowers, colored in a lemon shade. The flowers are closely adjacent to each other, forming a hard spherical bud. Flowering begins first at the lower and lateral flowers. The top is blooming last. The serrated petals grow together and bend back slightly, resembling the silhouette of a woman's hat. The core looks like a small column covered with stamens. The width of the inflorescence does not exceed 3 cm. The budding process occurs at the end of summer. After the buds have faded, they do not lose their attractiveness even when dried and stay on the stems of the plant for a long time.
The seeds ripen in capsules. One gram contains about 1500 seeds.
Growing Craspedia from seeds
Craspedia is grown using seeds. First, they start breeding seedlings, which are eventually transferred to open ground. The peculiarity of the flowering of the plant is that this process depends on the length of daylight hours. For this reason, the bushes will not be able to bloom in the first decade of summer. If sowing seeds is postponed until a later date, you should expect flowering only next year.
Seedlings develop well in loose peat substrate. Craspedia seeds are poured into wide flower pots, then the roots will not be damaged when removing the seedlings.Too thicken the crops should not be in order to save time in the future for thinning. Crops are covered with foil and periodically sprayed with water. The containers are kept in a lit room at room temperature on windowsills. To evaporate condensation, the pots are regularly ventilated.
The sprouts begin to appear after two weeks. The film is removed, and the crops are carefully watered. Seedlings will grow faster if a fluorescent lamp is installed above the pots. Craspedia care activities are similar to the cultivation of other Astrovids. Seedlings are transferred to an area under the open sky at the end of May. It is recommended to transplant craspedia in warm weather, when the spring frosts recede. Seedlings are placed in a flower bed at a distance of 25 cm.
If you grow craspedia bushes at home, you should take into account the fact that the stems tend to grow. This property is often used for vegetative propagation. The rhizome is carefully removed from the ground, divided into parts and transplanted into different pots. Autumn is considered a favorable time for transplanting.
For successful adaptation in a new place, it is required to provide the plants with regular watering and feeding. Mineral fertilizers and organic matter are used as top dressing.
Planting and caring for crasped
Planting and caring for kraspedia is not difficult for an experienced flower grower. The bushes must be planted in a nutritious, air-permeable substrate. Sandy and sandy loam soil types with an alkaline or neutral environment are perfect for these purposes. The dug holes are covered with gravel or broken brick, and a layer of compost is poured on top. At first, young plants are fed with nitrogen complexes of mineral fertilizers, mixing organic matter. By the time the inflorescences are formed, they switch to superphosphate.
For abundant flowering of craspedia, a site is selected that is as illuminated as possible and hidden from drafts. However, the process of budding can be interfered with by cold and prolonged rains, then there will be much less flowers.
Craspedia can withstand drought, but requires constant soil moisture. Pest and disease attacks pose almost no threat to the flower. Despite being thin, the stems are able to withstand strong gusts of wind.
Craspedia cultivars can only tolerate short fleeting frosts. Because of what, the flower is recommended to be dug up in the fall and transferred to a closed room.
Types and varieties of craspedia with photos
Craspedia globosa
On personal plots, only one species representative is grown - spherical craspedia, which was named due to the shape of the inflorescences. Breeders managed to breed three hybrids that differ in color palette:
- Gold Ball- a tall bush that blooms with yellow spherical buds;
- Trommelstock- the length of its stems reaches about 60 cm, the balls have a bright yellow color.
- Billy Baton - a perennial plant, but in a climate of the middle zone - an annual. Plant length up to 60 cm. It blooms with bright yellow buds.
Craspedia uniflora (Craspedia uniflora)
On the territory of the Netherlands, there are wild plantings of one-flowered craspedia - the shortest species of Astrov, decorated with a lush leafy rosette covered with a long matted pile. On the tops of the shoots, semicircular inflorescences in orange tones are formed, the diameter of which varies within 3 cm. One bush is capable of overgrowing several peduncle arrows at a time.
Craspedia in landscape design
On the garden plot, planting craspedia decorate paths along the curbs, rock gardens, flower beds, where flowers are planted as a tapeworm. The flower looks great against the background of daisies, cereals and succulents.
Cutting plant is no less popular. Flowering stems are used to create bouquet arrangements or boutonnieres.
In dried form, craspedia flowers still retain their attractiveness, which is especially appreciated in floristry.The stems are cut at the peak of flowering, which will allow the buds in bouquets not to crumble for a long time. Hanging from the ceiling, sheaves of freshly cut stems are stored in a ventilated room until they are completely dry.
Wild plantings have a rich palette of colors, mostly in yellow tones. Although it is not uncommon to see bouquets of blue, purple, pink and orange spherical Aster. The secret lies in the usual coloring of inflorescences with the help of aerosol paints, which are sprayed from a can.
Craspedia is widely used in interior design. Today, many are familiar with the concept of florarium - one of the new trends in design, when glass jars or vases are filled with sand, shells, beads, dried flowers and other interesting gizmos. Such original jars will be a wonderful decoration on shelves or countertops. Bright yellow dried flowers will fill the room with warm colors and create a mood.
