Osteospermum (Osteospermum) is a beautiful flowering and unusual perennial herb or shrub from the Astrovye family. South America and the Arabian Peninsula are considered the birthplace of osteospermum. Hence the second name of the plant - African chamomile. You can meet such a flower in almost every garden.
Due to its unpretentiousness, easy care and very beautiful inflorescences with interesting colors, osteospermum is very popular among gardeners. This article will tell you how to properly plant and care for osteospermum outdoors.
Description of the osteospermum flower
Osteospermum is grown as an annual as well as a biennial plant. Stems are straight and reach a height of 30 cm to 80 cm, sometimes even up to 1 m. The leaves have an oblong ovoid shape, the edges can be even or jagged. The color of the stems and leaves can be any shade of green and with a grayish tint. Flowers can grow up to 8 cm in diameter, very similar to chamomile inflorescences. The cores and petals can have a variety of colors: blue, pink, blue, purple, yellow, orange and all kinds of shades of these colors. The shape of the petals depends on the variety, there are double and pointed at the tips. Flowering continues throughout the summer, and if the weather permits, then until mid-October.
Growing osteospermum from seeds
Sowing seeds
This planting method is considered the most favorable for the reproduction of osteospermum. The flower reproduces well both with the help of seedlings and self-sowing. The most suitable time for planting seeds for seedlings is March. It is necessary to plant immediately in separate pots, this will avoid transplanting. Osteospermum seeds are distinguished by good germination, so a couple of seeds are enough for one pot.
As a soil, you need to use loose and fertile soil, you can use a ready-made substrate for flower seedlings. It is not necessary to deepen the seeds much; it is enough to slightly sprinkle them with soil on top. After planting, be sure to thoroughly spray the soil and place the seed pots in a warm room with diffused lighting. Watering should be replaced with regular spraying so as not to wash the seeds out of the soil.
Seedlings of osteospermum
After the seedling has grown to a phase of 5-6 true leaves, it is necessary to start pinching. This will allow the plant to be more bushy and lush. A couple of weeks before the expected date of planting seedlings in open ground, it is necessary to start hardening. To do this, it is necessary to take out the seedlings to fresh air, constantly increasing the time. When the seedlings have been outdoors for almost a full day, they will be ready to be transplanted outdoors.
Planting osteospermum in open ground
You can transplant osteospermum seedlings in mid-April. This time is considered the most favorable, since the frosts have already gone, and the soil has warmed up well.For planting osteospermum, it is best to choose a sunny location. A couple of days before planting, it is necessary to carefully dig up the soil and dig holes, which should be slightly larger in size than the root system of the seedlings. The distance between the pits should be at least 30 cm. The seedlings should be planted together with an earthen clod, this will allow the plant to take root faster and grow healthier and stronger. After planting, you need to thromb the soil and water it well.
Osteospermum care in the garden
Osteospermum is a plant that is highly drought tolerant. But in order to achieve abundant and prolonged flowering, watering is still needed. The main thing is not to allow waterlogging of the soil and stagnant water.
In order for the flower to bush well and be lush, it is sometimes necessary to pinch the top. Fertilizers need to be applied at least three times over the summer: a couple of weeks after planting, during the bud formation period and at the end of summer. It is better not to use organic fertilizers as top dressing. A balanced complex of mineral fertilizers, which is specially designed for flowering garden plants, is perfect.
In order for osteospermum to bloom longer and abundantly, it is necessary to regularly remove dried inflorescences and leaves so that the plant does not waste energy on them. It is also necessary to control weeds as needed.
Wintering
Osteospermum does not tolerate cold. In order for the plant not to freeze, it must be carefully dug up and placed with extreme care in a large box along with an earthen lump. Then place it in a dark and cool place, occasionally spraying the soil. In the spring, the plant can be planted again in the garden. In warm regions, everything is much simpler. After the plant finishes its flowering, it is necessary to carefully cut it and cover it with a large layer of peat, sawdust or dry leaves.
Diseases and pests
Osteospermum is rarely attacked by insects and disease. But if you do not follow the rules of watering, then a variety of rot can begin to develop. In order to get rid of it, it is necessary first of all to regulate watering. Then remove the diseased areas and burn them. Spray the plant thoroughly with a solution of fungicides.
Of the pests, only aphids can attack the African chamomile. It is quite simple to deal with it, it is necessary to thoroughly spray the plant with a special solution, and remove the heavily affected areas so that the pests do not move to neighboring plants.
Osteospermum in landscape design
Osteospermum is grown both outdoors and in pots, pots and boxes. This option is great for decorating various buildings in the garden, as well as for balconies and verandas. Thanks to the variety of colors with the help of African chamomile, you can make a bright and original flower bed. Osteospermum looks great if you plant Carpathian bells, lavender, allisum, petunias, asters, forget-me-nots, geraniums, iberis, cinquefoil, cuffs and other flowering plants next to it.
Osteospermum is also great for making bouquets. From bright, original in shape and color of flowers, very beautiful flower arrangements are obtained, which delight not only with their beauty, but also with a pleasant aroma for a long time.
Types and varieties of osteospermum
There are more than 70 species of this perennial herb or shrub plant. Below we will talk in more detail about the most popular types and varieties.
Osteospermum Ecklon (Osteospermum ecklonis) - is grown as an annual. The plant is very lush and branches well. The stems can grow over one meter in height. The leaves are narrow, oblong and with a jagged edge. The core has a purple tint with a red tint. The petals are white with pink veins at the base. The most famous varieties of this species:
- Zulu - flowers have a bright yellow color.
- Bamba - color can be either white or purple.
- Sky and ice - this variety has an original color, the leaves are white, and the middle is soft blue. Hence the name.
- Volta - inflorescences have a pale pink hue, but in the process of flowering they become lighter and acquire a white color.
- Pemba - the leaves have an original and interesting shape. Reed petals, twisted into a tube almost to the middle.
- Buttermilk - bright yellow inflorescences at the beginning of flowering, eventually lose their brightness and become almost snow-white.
- Silver Sparkler - flowers of the usual form and a place of white color.
- Congo - flowers are large and can be either pink or purple.
- Sandy Pink - flowers have a bright pink color with a lilac tint.
- Serri Ice is a very unusual variety. The petals are tongue-shaped and fold in half as if. Above, the petals are snow-white, and below they have a slightly grayish tint.
- Peach is a whole series of hybrid varieties. For example, Pink Lace, Dwarf Salmon. All these varieties are very beautiful and original, have a varied petal shape and an unusually beautiful color of inflorescences and cores.
Osteospermum (Osteospermum jucundum) - this species has large inflorescences of various colors. The petals can be either white or purple, sometimes becoming purple with a purple tint. Leaves and stems are bright green. The most popular varieties of this type:
- Buttermilk is a stunted plant with an unusual color. The flowers have a slightly yellow tint, on the back of the petals with a bronze tint.
- Lady Leitrim is the original strain. The core is very dark, sometimes even almost black. The petals are delicate lilac.
- Bengal fire is a variety with an interesting color. The petals are white at the base of the petal, which smoothly turns into a pale blue tip.
Shrub osteospermum (Osteospermum fruticosum) - the bush does not grow higher than 30 cm, in rare cases it can reach up to fifty. It is quite compact and not sprawling. The color can be white, pale pink, hot pink and lilac.
Subject to all the rules for planting, caring for and growing osteospermum, it will grow into a lush and strong bush with a large number of bright and unusually beautiful inflorescences that will delight the eye throughout the summer.
