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A disdainful attitude has developed towards goldenrod - as to a regular in village front gardens, a plant, wild specimens of which can be found on wastelands and along highways. The Josephine goldenrod hybrid bred by breeders is a thriving perennial that amazes with its beauty. Inflorescences of a deep yellow color, which completely cover the plant, will decorate any corner of the personal plot.
Goldenrod Josephine has sunny inflorescences, for which it is called "northern mimosa"
Botanical description
Goldenrod (Solidago) sem. Asteraceae are herbaceous perennials, from 0.5 to 2 m in height, with greenish or pink vertical stems. Bright green ovoid or lanceolate leaves with a scalloped border are arranged alternately. The rhizome is powerful, creeping, rapidly growing in breadth and depth. Yellow inflorescences-baskets cover the plant from July until the onset of cold weather.
In the European part of the country, common goldenrod is common, in Siberia and the Far East - Daurian solidago. These are aggressor plants, there are inhibitors in the roots that inhibit the development of other plants. Foliage and stems contain valuable flavonoids and antioxidants, and goldenrod is an excellent honey plant.
For decorative floriculture, Canadian goldenrod is of interest, which has become the basis of most hybrid forms. The Josephine variety is a compact plant with a height of 40-60 cm with a dense crown of a beautiful shape. The leaves are elongated, located alternately on the stem with a bluish skin. The root system does not grow much, the hybrid perfectly coexists with other plants. It blooms profusely from early July until the onset of cold weather in large yellow inflorescences.
Perennial Josephine is unpretentious in care, the record holder for drought resistance and frost resistance. It adapts well to any growing conditions: withstands partial shade, is able to develop on poor soils. The compact bush does not require a tie to the support. The shrub is recommended to be rejuvenated every 4-6 years.
Application in landscape design
Josephine goldenrod is often used in landscape gardening
The unpretentiousness, endurance of the perennial and the long flowering period make the Josephine goldenrod a valuable element in the design of mixborders, flower beds and flower beds. The shrub is planted in rock gardens, along the paths, fill the shady areas of the flower garden.
Josephine's goldenrod looks especially bright against the background of perennials with blue and purple flowers: aconite, asters, garden geraniums. The hybrid creates picturesque autumn compositions with chrysanthemums, heleniums, dahlias and rudbeckia.
The Josephine hybrid is often planted alongside coniferous hedges along with hosts and ornamental grasses. The plant is used to cover unaesthetic areas, decorate the northern and eastern sides of buildings.
Breeding features
The Josephine variety is easily propagated by seeds and vegetative methods: using green cuttings and dividing the bush. Goldenrod seeds remain viable throughout the year, sowing should be carried out immediately after harvest. You can sow directly into the ground, seedlings grown using seedlings bloom faster.
Josephine's goldenrod can be propagated with 8-15 cm green apical cuttings, which are cut from the mother plant. There should be no buds and inflorescences on the planting material. Cuttings are planted in containers with loose fertile soil, a mini-greenhouse is built from polyethylene. After about 15 days, the cuttings are rooted, after a month they are planted in a permanent place.
The first flowering of a young Josephine goldenrod bush is not too abundant
It is easy to split the hybrid bush into several parts using a disinfected knife. The procedure can only be carried out with adult bushes over four years old. Josephine's little girls are blooming this year.
Growing from seeds
Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in February-March. The prepared container is filled with a loose fertile substrate. Seeds are laid out on the surface, without embedding them deep into the soil. Cover with polyethylene and put in a well-lit place with t 18-20 ˚С. Germination of seedlings in 2 weeks. When the seedlings have a pair of true leaves, they are dived into separate containers of small size. Young seedlings are planted on the beds after the threat of return frosts has disappeared.
Planting and care in the open field
Goldenrod Josephine is an unpretentious plant that does not require special attention. A perennial can grow with minimal care, but long-term lush flowering is achieved by observing the rules of flower agricultural technology.
Recommended timing
Planting new seedlings and dividing the bushes is carried out in the spring in April-May or in the fall, a month before a steady cold snap. If the plant has not finished blooming, all peduncles are cut off so as not to further weaken the plant.
Site selection and preparation
Josephine goldenrod likes to grow in areas with good sunlit, but withstands placement in partial shade. The shrub prefers loose, fertile soils, but if necessary, the flower will grow on scarce soils, for example, on an alpine hill.
The bright flowers of Josephine goldenrod with a pleasant aroma attract bees and bumblebees
Landing algorithm
The site selected for planting is freed from weeds and dug up.
Step-by-step instruction:
- dig holes for plants measuring 30 cm, the distance between plantings is 40 cm;
- humus and mineral fertilizers are applied to the bottom of the planting pit, fertile soil is added, the mixture is thoroughly mixed;
- a goldenrod bush is placed in the middle of the hole, the root system is evenly distributed;
- pour a layer of soil, the plant should be buried to the same level as before planting;
- gently water the flower, trying not to expose the root system.
The Josephine hybrid easily takes root in a new place. When planting in spring, the full flowering of the plant is observed.
Watering and feeding schedule
Goldenrod bushes tolerate drought well, require watering in hot weather without rain. The plant needs to be watered rarely, but abundantly. The Josephine hybrid is fed three times per season:
- spring fertilizer should contain 20% nitrogen;
- phosphorus-potassium elements are introduced before flowering;
- in the fall, perennials are fed with potassium sulfate or wood ash.
An excess of nitrogen and organic matter leads to the fact that the perennial begins to build up green mass, which negatively affects flowering.
Weeding and pruning
Josephine goldenrod is a strong enough plant that inhibits the growth of most herbs. Weeds are removed by the root, gently loosen the soil around the flower. The hybrid does not need formative pruning. The inflorescences are removed without waiting for the seeds to ripen; goldenrod is easily propagated by self-sowing. Perennial seeds are provided with a tuft, gusts of wind can carry them over long distances.
Preparing for winter
Goldenrod Josephine has high winter hardiness and perfectly tolerates frosts without shelter. In the fall, when the foliage is dry, the ground part is removed.The plant is slightly huddled.
Pests and diseases
The Josephine hybrid is a hardy perennial with high immunity against diseases. In warm rainy weather, it can be affected by fungal diseases: powdery mildew and rust of leaf plates. The development of diseases is facilitated by an excess of nitrogen in the soil and thickening of plantings. Preventive treatments with 1% Bordeaux mixture and other copper-containing fungicides help keep plants healthy.
In summer, aphids can appear on the tops of goldenrod shoots, perennials are annoyed by leaf-eating caterpillars and slugs. Insect pests are fought with a soapy solution of onion husks, tobacco dust or garlic.
An adult hybrid bush throws out 40-50 lemon-yellow inflorescences
Conclusion
The goldenrod Josephine, with abundant flowering for several months, deserves a place in any flower garden. It is attractive as a specimen plant and as part of a landscape composition. The unpretentiousness and vitality of the perennial, the ability to grow in the shade, adaptability to any soil and weather conditions, make the hybrid popular among flower lovers.
