Description of the plant dimorphoteka, tips for growing in the open field, recommendations for breeding Cape marigolds, protection against diseases and pests, notes for flower growers, species and varieties.
Dimorphotheca is a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family or, as it is also called, Compositae, which is considered the largest (it includes 32,913 species of dicotyledonous flora). The genus of dimorphoteka itself has combined 20 varieties. The native habitat of this flower is considered to be the lands of the Cape Province in South Africa. On the territory of central Russia, it is customary to grow it as an annual.
| Family name | Astral or Compositae |
| Life cycle | Perennial, but can be grown as an annual plant |
| Growth characteristic | Herbaceous |
| Reproduction | Seed |
| Landing period in open ground | Planting of seedlings is carried out at the end of May or at the beginning of June. |
| Disembarkation scheme | About 25-30 cm is left between the seedlings |
| Substrate | Loose, not very nutritious |
| Illumination | A flowerbed brightly lit by the sun and blown by the winds |
| Moisture indicators | Drought-resistant, but regular moisture is recommended |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height, m | Up to 0, 4 |
| Coloring flowers | Reed flowers - yellow, orange, snow-white or burgundy; tubular of a darker yellow or purple hue |
| Type of inflorescences or flowers | Single basket inflorescences |
| Flowering time | Summer |
| Decorative period | Summer |
| Application in the garden | Flowerbeds, rock gardens, landscaping of borders, landing in garden containers, decoration of terraces and balconies |
| USDA zone | 5–9 |
The plant got its name from the combination of two Greek words "dimorphos" and "theke", which means "has a double shape" and "capacity" or "container", respectively. This is because dimorphoteka has two types of flowers, which, when pollinated, form different types of fruits. People call it “Cape marigolds” because of the shape of the flowers. But calendula (the scientific name of the plant is "marigold") is characterized by smaller flower sizes.
All types and varieties of dimorphoteka can be both annuals and perennials. In height, their stems are measured within 40 cm. At the base, they have strong branching, grow erect or ascending. Foliage, narrow in outline, jagged, sometimes there is a feathery division. Occasionally, leaf plates are pubescent. Leaves grow on stems in a regular sequence or can be collected in a basal rosette.
Under natural conditions, Cape marigolds grow even on a loose, but still rubble-like substrate, which can retain moisture in its depths. This affected the root system of the plant - the root processes are quite long, they look like rods with a fibrous end.
During flowering, which falls in the summer period, a single basket inflorescence is formed in the dimorphote, consisting of lingual and tubular flowers. The diameter of such an inflorescence ranges from 7–8 cm. The inflorescences are crowned with long strong flowering stems. The color of the petals of the reed flowers of Cape marigolds can include yellow, orange, snow-white or burgundy shades. The central part, consisting of tubular flowers, is velvety, characterized by a darker, yellow or purple color scheme.
Each inflorescence can remain fresh for 4-5 days, but when it fades, new buds that open immediately take its place. Therefore, the impression of continuous flowering is created. This process usually takes 1–2 months - from June to the end of August.
Different types of flowers, respectively, give rise to different types of fruits. Instead of ligulate, wedge-shaped achenes are formed, having a slightly ribbed shape, located along the edge of the flower basket. Achenes with a flat and smooth surface are distinguished by a wide border in the central part, which looks like a wing, and flattening along the edge. Despite the different types of fruits, the plants grow from them the same. The size of achenes in Cape claws reaches 0.7 cm, and one gram contains up to five hundred seeds. Seed material retains its germination capacity for 2-3 years.
The plant is loved by flower growers because of its unpretentiousness and bright shade of flowers, as well as the duration of flowering. In the design of flower beds, Cape marigolds are used to create bright spots, decorate borders, balconies, terraces and places between stones in rock gardens or rockeries.
Tips for growing dimorphotek: planting and care in the open field
- Choosing a landing site. Since cape marigolds are native to South African lands, then, as in nature, it is necessary to pick up a flower bed, constantly illuminated by the sun's rays, preferably in a southern or southeastern direction. Protection from the wind is not needed, as this summer loves it when its foliage is under the influence of air currents. It is important that the place when planting a dimorphoteka was without the proximity of groundwater, and with prolonged precipitation, its stagnation did not occur. It is noticed that with excessive moisture in the soil, the heads of the inflorescences are inclined, and if the summer is very rainy, then the plants may not only fail to bloom, but even die.
- Soil for Cape Marigold they also try to make it similar to the conditions of natural growth - poor, but with good water and air permeability to the root system. If the soil is nutritious or too fertilized, the plant will grow deciduous and flowering will become scarce.
- Planting dimorphoteka held in spring, when the threat of return frosts has passed - around the end of May or the beginning of June. Since the plant suffers from waterlogged soil, this is taken into account when planting - drainage is used (expanded clay, crushed stone, broken brick) or water is diverted from the flower bed by digging grooves. You can mix the planting soil with river sand or put a little drainage layer on the bottom of the hole before planting, which will take away excess moisture, but at the same time will not allow the roots to dry out. It is recommended to keep the distance between seedlings within 25-30 cm from each other. Moreover, if the bushes of cape marigolds are planted in rows, then they try to leave 30–35 cm between them. Everything so that the rod-shaped rhizome of one plant can receive the moisture due from the area allotted to it.
- Watering. Since dimorphoteca grows in some of the hottest and driest regions of the planet, it can perfectly withstand a long period without regular soil moisture. If the weather is long without precipitation in summer, it is recommended to water it periodically when caring for the plant. Although many growers argue that for comfortable growing, it is preferable that the soil is moistened as soon as it begins to dry out from above. Waterlogging of the soil is prohibited. After watering or rains, it is necessary to immediately loosen the soil, preventing it from compaction and becoming a crust. Also, when caring for Dimorphotheca, you will need to regularly deal with weeds, which can provoke plant diseases and attract pests.
- Fertilizers for Cape Marigold must be applied during the period of bud formation. For this, top dressing is selected containing potassium. For example, you can use nitroammophoska in the dosage indicated by the manufacturer on the package. When flowering, you can use special mineral preparations for flowering plants.
- General advice on caring for Dimorphoteka. When the inflorescences fade, it is recommended to remove them, as this stimulates the formation of new flowers and maintains the planting in a decorative state.
- Wintering on the territory of central Russia is impossible, since only some specimens can withstand such a drop in temperature, and worse, snowless winters. If you like any Cape marigold plant and want to save it, then you can try to carefully dig up an adult bush, trying not to damage the taproot (this usually becomes a problem). In this case, it is recommended not to destroy the earthen lump, which is entwined with the root system. But the easiest way is to grow this representative of the Astrovs from seed.
- The use of dimorphosis in landscape design. Since this plant prefers depleted crushed stone soil, which is inherent in rock gardens or rockeries, Cape marigolds will decorate the gaps between the stones with their bright inflorescences. Such plantings show themselves well when decorating balconies or terraces, they are not afraid of the sun and a short lack of watering. Due to the small height of the stems, curbs are planted with such bushes, group plantings also look quite impressive.
In order to prevent the place where the dimorphoteka is planted from looking like an unattractive green spot in a cloudy period, garden plants are placed next to them, which have flowers with a contrasting color. Such representatives of the flora can be snow-white ageratums, pelargoniums, as well as petunias and other annuals.
Breeding tips for Cape marigolds - growing from seeds
In nature, dimorphoteka can easily reproduce by self-seeding. Basically, the seed method is used for growing new annuals.
Pollination takes place on its own, without the involvement of insects or humans. By mid-August, the seed pods ripen. If they begin to darken, then you need to cut them off. If it turned out that the fruits were unripe, then they perfectly achieve the desired condition under room conditions.
Seed material can be placed directly in open ground, but then flowering will have to wait a long time. Therefore, the seedling method is recommended.
For growing seedlings, seeds are sown in mid-spring, then at the beginning of summer you can enjoy the flowers of the dimorphoteka. The best soil is considered to be a mixture composed of sod and leafy substrate, humus and river sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 2: 2. The soil is poured into seedling boxes and the seeds are sown. Then the container with the crops is placed in an unheated greenhouse, a greenhouse, or a film is stretched over it. The best temperature for growing seedlings is 15-16 degrees, bright lighting is also important. Care will consist in airing the seedlings, and if the soil begins to dry out, then it must be sprayed from a spray bottle. After 2-3 weeks, you can see the first sprouts of Cape marigolds.
After that, a pick is performed in individual pots, it is recommended to do this early, since the root system of the dimorphote is very sensitive to transplants and is easily injured. It is better to take peat containers so that the root system does not experience subsequent stress, since when planting in open ground, plants can not be removed from such pots. Disembarkation is recommended during the period when return frosts have passed. Before that, you need to harden the seedlings - put containers with seedlings outside, leaving for 15 minutes. Then this period is gradually increased so that it reaches around the clock.
If the sowing of seed is carried out directly into the ground, then in the southern regions this operation is performed in April, in others it is possible later. Just as in the case of seedlings, the crops are covered with plastic wrap. When caring for crops, watering is carried out once a week. Usually, after 14 days, sprouts of Cape marigolds can be seen. When unfolding the third leaf plate, the planting is thinned so that the remaining plants can develop normally.
Dimorphoteka protection from diseases and pests
The biggest problem when caring for Cape marigolds is waterlogging of the soil, low temperatures and lack of ventilation of the root system (if the soil is not loosened and weeds are weeded). These factors can provoke root rot, which is manifested by the appearance of brown spots on the foliage, which have a grayish tinge on top. For treatment, spraying of dimorphoteka plantings with Bordeaux liquid or other preparations containing copper is used. Then the bushes are thinned out, and watering is reduced.
If the planting is carried out when morning frosts are possible, then the seedlings will invariably die. If the taproot is accidentally damaged during transplantation, the results will be the same, therefore it is important to transplant it using the method of careful transshipment.
If at the beginning of flowering the duration of daylight hours is insufficient or there is little lighting, then the buds will not be tied, and the grown ones will not open. If the landing site is under aggressive sunlight, then flowering may also stop.
When too much fertilizer or very nutritious soil is applied, the green mass builds up to the detriment of flowering. To avoid uncontrolled self-seeding, it is recommended to manually remove the fruits in a timely manner.
As for harmful insects, such problems practically do not occur when growing this plant. But if the appearance of pests is noticed, then you can spray the dimorphic bushes with insecticidal preparations (for example, Aktara or Aktellik). To prevent diseases, it is recommended to carry out seed treatment before planting. They are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour, but many growers use formalin or other fungicides instead of potassium permanganate.
Notes on the flower dimorfoteka for gardeners
Cape marigolds tend to open their buds only if the day is sunny. Thus, nature protected the pollen of the plant from abundant dew at night or the threat of rain during the day.
Types and varieties of dimorphoteka
Despite the fact that there are about 20 types of Cape marigolds, it is customary to grow the following in gardens:
Dimorphotheca sinuate,
which is also referred to as Dimorphoteka orange or Dimorphotheca aurantiaca, Dimorphotheca calendulacea. It is an annual plant, the stems of which reach a height of 30–40 cm. Branched shoots, brittle leaves grow densely on them. The leaf plates are notched, have an elongated shape, and their surface is smooth. During flowering, the formation of basket inflorescences occurs, crowning strong, pubescent flowering stems. The diameter of the inflorescences is 5–6 mm. Regional flowers (ligulate) with shiny petals, their color is bright orange, at the base have a dark speck. The central part, consisting of tubular flowers, has a black-brown tint. The flowering process takes place from July to September.
The variety has been in culture since 1798. The most popular variety is Polar star, in which the inflorescences-baskets are characterized by a diameter of up to 8 cm. The petals differ from the base species by the presence of a dark purple spot.
Dimorphotheca rainbow (Dimorphotheca pluvialis)
or as it is called Summer Dimorphotheca (Dimorphotheca annua). Compared to the previous species, the height of the stems of these plants is only 15–20 cm. Shoots can grow straight or creep along the ground. The leaf plates are elongated, with pubescence, the color is saturated bright green, along the edges are distinguished by the presence of smoothed projections. The flowering process can take not only the summer period, but even the first autumn month.
Flowering is characterized by baskets formed on the tops of long peduncles. The ligulate flowers on top have a white or cream shade, their reverse side is purple, the central part of the tubular petals is golden brown or golden in color with a purple border. During flowering, there is a pleasant aroma, which is emitted by both the inflorescences themselves and the foliage. It has been used in floriculture since 1752.
These species became the basis for breeding a large number of varieties with various colors of inflorescences-baskets and their sizes.
Dimorphotheca hybrid (Dimorphotheca hybridum)
is an annual plant, characterized by erect stems, which vary in height within 15–40 cm. The shoots of the plant are densely branching, alternately narrowed leaf plates grow on them. The leaf edge can be solid or serrated. Their length is about 10 cm. When blooming, inflorescences open, consisting of tubular flowers in the center of a yellow color scheme, while ligulate flowers can take on a snow-white, blue, yellow, orange or pink hue.
The most famous varieties are considered to be:
- Tetra Goliath - an annual with 10 cm inflorescences in golden-orange tones. The plant is a voluminous bush, many inflorescences bloom, crowning long peduncles. Recommended to grow in flower beds or mixborders.
- Tetra Polarstern may also be called Tetra Polestar … An annual variety, characterized by snow-white inflorescences-baskets, which can reach 8 cm in diameter. The stems measure 40 cm in height. It can be used for landscaping balcony boxes.
- Giant Mixed represents a particularly popular variety, since the bush is characterized by splendor and is 30 cm in height. At the same time, basket inflorescences that have a yellow, orange and sometimes even pinkish tint can bloom on it.
Video about dimorphotek:
