Content
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine is a perennial from the Astrov group. It is popular for its decorative properties and unpretentiousness. The Lorraine Sunshine variety often serves as a decoration for flower beds, flower beds, and recreation areas. He is loved for the unusual color of the leaves and the bright positive color of the flowers, which gives joy and good mood even on gloomy, cloudy days.
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine has variegated leaves and bright yellow flowers
Description of Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine
Heliopsis loraine sunshine has high erect stems that rise above the ground up to 80 cm or more. Leaves are gray-white, decorated with green veins. During the entire vegetative period, heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine does not change its color. The flowers are bright, yellow-saturated in color. They have petals rounded at the ends. Bloom long and profusely, in July-September. Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine looks like a large yellow chamomile or sunflower, and the beautiful variegated leaves give it a unique charm. Pleases with its flowering and light aroma until frost.
Heliopsis are native to North and Central America, but have gained popularity around the world. Loraine Sunshine is named after the grower who first discovered and documented the existence of the plant. Despite its southern origin, the flower has taken root perfectly in regions with a temperate climate, including in our country. Feels good in the north - in the Urals, Siberia, the Far East.
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine goes well with many plants
Application in landscape design
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine is a versatile component of gardens, flower beds, flower beds. Looks great in group compositions and single landings. Due to the rather high length of the stem, the plant is best placed behind the others growing in the flower bed. Otherwise, it will shade other representatives of landscape decoration.
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine looks good in rustic plant compositions. It is better to combine it with herbs, ornamental shrubs (low-growing conifers, lavender, barberry) or various items. For example, an old wooden cart surrounded by heliopsis thickets will look great. The Lorraine Sunshine perennial will serve as a hedge. Its high dense thickets rise 1-1.5 m above the ground, creating an impenetrable curtain.
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine is used to create bright sunny flower beds, flower beds. It goes well with any plants in the lilac range, including:
- phlox;
- daylilies;
- hydrangeas;
- miscanthus;
- trees;
- bladderworms.
Thanks to its long stems, the decorative perennial Lorraine Sunshine is involved in the creation of summer bouquets. It goes well with simple, discreet colors, which in their color and appearance "sound" a tone lower. The fading autumn garden fills with bright colors, breathing cheerfulness into it. Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine looks great along with other autumn flowers and plants - asters, cereals, rudbeckia.
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine looks beautiful in group plantings
Breeding features
Depending on how the reproduction will take place, Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine can be planted in both autumn and spring.Perennial cultivation methods are as follows:
- from seeds;
- in open ground (before winter, with the approach of frost, plant seeds directly into the ground, but if a thaw is not foreseen, otherwise they may germinate, and young shoots will die with the onset of cold weather);
- through the seedlings (at the end of May, plant the strengthened seedlings into the ground at a distance of 40 cm);
- by dividing the bush (in spring or autumn, dig a 4-5-year-old bush out of the ground and divide the rhizomes so that there is at least one bud on each plot, then immediately plant it in the ground after 30-40 cm);
- cuttings (cut in the middle of summer and placed in a container with a substrate until the next season);
- self-seeding (involuntary reproduction often occurs, without human intervention).
Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine is often propagated by seed. When spring comes, sow them using planting containers. Do it like this:
- first put the drainage in the container, then the loose substrate with an admixture of peat, water the soil with potassium permanganate, plant the seeds;
- cover with foil or glass, leave in a warm, bright place where the temperature does not drop below +20 degrees;
- after a week, move the container to a dark, cool room with a temperature of approximately + 3 + 4 degrees for a month;
- after this period, move again to heat (+25), under the rays of the sun and wait for the first shoots;
- continue growing at + 10 + 15 degrees.
All this time, Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine must be watered as it dries. When warm weather becomes stable, plant outdoors.
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine for 4-5 years of life can be propagated by dividing the bush
Planting and leaving
Growing heliopsis Loraine Sunshine is not difficult, no specific operations are required. You just need to carry out procedures that are mandatory for any perennial. First, dig a hole 30x30x30 cm in size, fill it by a third with humus, ash, complex fertilizers, mix everything. If the soil is clayey, heavy, add peat and sand to the planting hole.
When you have to plant Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine in a light earth, act differently. Add a little clay to keep the nutrients near the roots. Then place the plant in the hole, deepening the growth point by no more than 2 cm. Straighten everything, cover with soil, tamp. Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine loves to grow in nutritious, fertile soils, but this is not necessary. It will take root well in any soil. You can choose both sunny places and light partial shade.
Heliopsis Lorain Sunshine can be planted in open ground in May
Recommended timing
To grow heliopsis Loraine Sunshine seedlings, seeds must be sown in February-March. In this case, the planting of seedlings in open ground will take place on time, in early May. If the seeds are fresh, they can be planted right away. Those that have been stored for more than a year should be wrapped in a damp cloth, placed in a plastic bag and kept in the refrigerator for a month. On the twentieth of April, the seedlings can be hardened. Take outside, starting at one hour and gradually increase the time spent in the environment.
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine will take root well anywhere
Site and soil preparation
For planting, it is better to open sunny places with fertile soil. On heavy ground, select raised or well-drained areas. Since the plant is of southern origin, it is not afraid of heat and drought. Therefore, heliopsis Loraine Sunshine can be planted in any corner of the garden - it will adapt to different conditions.
The ancestors of this flower in their homeland always grew on dry, poor soils, in which there were few nutrients. Therefore, the plant does not need enhanced feeding. Excessive amounts of mineral fertilizers, on the contrary, can damage the flower. The green part of the plant will begin to develop rapidly, while the number of buds can be sharply reduced.
Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine can be propagated by seed
Landing algorithm
Moisten the soil before removing the seedlings from the container. It is better not to remove the earthy lump. This will save the entire root system. In May, plant in the ground, taking into account the following points:
- the distance between the holes is 30-40 cm;
- the gap between the rows is 60-70 cm;
- the first 10 days - abundant watering.
Planting with seeds in autumn, in October-early November, or in spring in March-April, but can be postponed until May-June. The landing features are as follows:
- furrow depth - 2-3 cm;
- the distance between them is 65-70 cm;
- the gap between the seeds is 20-30 cm.
After the emergence of seedlings, thin them out, removing every second, or transplant.
On hot days, the plant needs regular watering.
Watering and feeding schedule
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine is unpretentious in care, comes from southern countries, therefore it is resistant to drought. But to achieve decorativeness, it needs regular watering. In the absence of this condition, the flowers become smaller, become less lush and the duration of budding is reduced. On dry, hot days, it is recommended to water several times a week. The time for this is to choose evening or morning, and the water is warm.
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine is fed in spring with complex fertilizers
Weeding, loosening, mulching
With the right choice and preparation of the soil, fertilizer is applied only in the second year of flower growth. Top dressing is done about once a month. In this case, you should use a universal fertilizer (with organic matter) for horticultural crops.
If Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine is regularly mulched, you can do without spring feeding
Preparation for wintering
In the middle of the autumn period, Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine can begin to prepare for winter. Cut off the bushes, leaving the hemp 5 cm high. This is necessary to prevent chaotic reproduction of the plant. In this form, heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine endures wintering.
Perennial for the winter is enough to properly cut
Diseases and pests
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine often suffers from black aphids. If the infection with pathogenic insects has not spread very much and there are few pests on the bush, you can try to get rid of them with folk remedies in the form of infusions of such herbs:
- wormwood;
- tomato;
- celandine;
- nightshade.
In this case, do not forget to add a little liquid soap. If aphids have affected the whole plant or there is a lot of it, the most affected bushes should be removed, and the rest should be treated with insecticidal preparations.
Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine can be susceptible to fungal diseases such as rust (brown spots on the leaves) or powdery mildew (gray-white bloom). To cure the plant, you need to spray it with a solution:
- Bordeaux mixture (2%);
- copper sulfate;
- fungicidal preparations, for example, Fundazol.
Excessive watering and increased moisture concentration in the soil also contribute to the appearance of fungal infections on the plant. Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine has strong immunity to all other pests and diseases.
Conclusion
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine has bright decorative properties, light aroma and unpretentious cultivation. It can be distinguished from other varieties by whitish leaf plates with green veins.
