Decorative sunfloweris grown in gardens for its beautiful, usually quite large flowers that can be admired throughout the summer. Among the ornamental varieties of sunflower, you can find many interesting forms, differing in size, colors and structure of flowers. Meet the most interestingornamental sunflower varietiesand learn aboutgrowing sunflowers in the garden
Decorative sunflower
Sunflower(Helianthus) belongs to the Asteraceae family.The Latin name Helianthus is derived from two Greek words: helios, meaning sun, and anthos, meaning flower. The reason for this nomenclature is probably that the inflorescences of sunflowers resemble the disc of the sun, and the fact that the inflorescences always point towards the sun, following its course. Sunflowers include both annuals and perennial sunflowers that can grow for many years.
Annual sunflower - varieties
Common sunflower(Helianthus annus) is considered to be one of the most magnificent flowers of summer. It grows up to 3.5 m in height, and its inflorescence, called a basket, can be even over 50 cm in diameter, which makes it the largest among annual flowers. The center of the inflorescence is filled with tubular flowers, which differ in color depending on the variety. It is surrounded by lingual flowers, commonly known as lingual flowers, most often yellow in color. The flowering period is from July to October, depending on the sowing date.Manyornamental varieties of sunflower , differing in growth strength and colors, were bred for the purposes of gardening and flower arrangement. Here are the most interesting varieties found in Poland:
Sunflower 'Abendsonne'- a variety with quite numerous side shoots, crowned with baskets 8 to 15 cm in diameter, red-brown in color with yellow petals, reaching a height of up to 2 m,
Sunflower 'Giganteus'- a variety creating only one shoot with a large yellow inflorescence and a basket diameter up to 25 cm, it can be over 2 m high,
Sunflower 'Goldener Neger'- strongly branching variety with yellow inflorescences reaching a diameter of about 20 cm, height up to 3 m,
Sunflower 'Hohe sonnegold'- produces few side shoots, flowers are full, orange-yellow, up to 160 cm high,
Sunflower 'Floristan'- creates unbranched shoots ending in red-brown-yellow baskets up to 15 cm in diameter, distinguished by serrated leaves, up to 120 cm high,
Sunflower 'Prado Red'- a variety with very red flowers,
Sunflower 'Sonnengold'- golden yellow flowers, full or semi-double, 50 to 60 cm high,
Sunflower 'Sunrich Lemon'- non-branching variety with brown inflorescences with sulfur-yellow tongues and a diameter of up to 20 cm, height up to 150 cm,
Sunflower 'Sunrich Orange'- unbranched, stiff and thick shoots, 80 to 120 cm long, inflorescences with a dark brown center and orange-yellow petals,
Sunflower 'Valentin'- a variety with many branches ending in inflorescences up to 15 cm in diameter with a brown-black shield surrounded by lemon tongues, up to 150 cm high.
Decorative sunflower
Growing annual sunflowers
Use of sunflowers
In the garden withsunflowersyou can create groups or plant them individually.Since they are honey plants, they can also be sown for the benefit of bees. There are varieties intended mainly for cut flowers, as well as varieties suitable for growing in pots and containers.
Soil requirements and fertilization of sunflower
The stand for sunflowersshould be sunny and, if possible, sheltered from the wind. These plants need a large amount of nutrients - they require moderately moist, fertile and well-fertilized soil. They should be provided with adequate amounts of potassium and trace elements - boron and molybdenum. After producing 2 pairs of leaves, it is good to feed the plants with a multi-component fertilizer with micronutrients in the amount of 30 g per m². During growth, until the baskets are formed, they can be additionally fed with potassium sulphate, spreading the fertilizer over the beds and lightly mixing it with the top layer of soil.
Sowing sunflower seeds
Sunflowers tolerate transplanting rather badly, thereforesunflower seeds should be sownimmediately in the permanent place, in the second half of April (when there is no fear of frost) or in May.We put 4-5 seeds together, and after the seedlings emerge, leave only the strongest one. Tall varieties should grow 50 x 75 cm apart, and short ones 25 x 50 cm. Place the seeds at a depth of 2 to 3 cm to prevent birds from pecking them.
How to extend the flowering of a sunflower?Sunflowers bloom from July to September. Flowering can be delayed for approximately 3 weeks by pinching the tops above the third pair of leaves when the shoots are 25 to 30 cm high.
Diseases and pests of annual sunflowers
Properly cared for, sunflowers are rarely attacked by pests and diseases. The leaves and cones of plant growth can be eaten by snails. In spring, aphids may also appear on young leaves and shoot tips, which should be treated with aphicidal preparations such as Decis 2.5 EC or Pirimor 500 WG. The cultivation of sunflowers can also be attacked by fungal diseases such as gray mold and powdery mildew.In this case, the use of fungicides, the so-called fungicides.
Sunflowers growing in allotments in Sopot. Summer 2005
Perennial sunflowers - species, varieties, cultivation
Apart from annual sunflowers, in gardens you can also findperennial sunflowers . Here are some perennial species:
Ten-petal sunflower(Helianthus decapetalus) - a plant with weakly branched shoots, yellow inflorescences with a diameter of 8 cm, blooms from August to October, height up to 150 cm, mainly grown as a cut flower,
Rough sunflower(Helianthus rigidus) - branches moderately strongly, inflorescences about 8 cm in diameter, blooms from August to September, height up to 180 cm,
Soft sunflower(Helianthus mollis) - a knotty hairy plant, inflorescences placed on single-growing shoots, reaching a height of up to 1 meter, this species is the only one that tolerates sandy soils,
Willowleaf sunflower(Helianthus salicifolius) - in this species the inflorescences develop very late and are small, its main decoration are numerous, dense, narrow leaves 15 to 40 cm long, the plant grows quickly, reaches a height of up to 3 meters,
Jerusalem artichoke(Helianthus tuberosus) - a plant with strong stems, branching at the top and topped with yellow inflorescences 6 to 8 cm in diameter, up to 2 meters high, with polysaccharide-rich tubers that can be eaten after baking or as animal feed, it is also called Jerusalem artichoke.
Giant sunflower(Helianthus giganteus) - this is one of the largest perennials (up to 3 meters high), inflorescences in the form of small, numerous baskets appear in August and persist until until the first frost.
Perennial sunflowerscan be planted singly or in groups on lawns, parks, and often also on the banks of water.Like annual sunflowers, they require fertile and moderately moist soil. They can be propagated in spring by cuttings or by dividing. The spacing between planted plants should be 80 to 100 cm. All the perennial sunflowers described above can be left in the ground for the winter. However, there are species that are less resistant to frost, such asreddish sunflower , whose rhizomes should be dug up in the fall and stored in a cellar, or if left in the ground for winter, the plants must be well covered.
