The sunniest flower is an ornamental sunflower: species, varieties, cultivation and care. Decorative sunflower: photo, sowing, growing method

15960

Fried sunflower seeds are a favorite delicacy of many Russians. Opening a fragrant bag, few people know that sunflower is not only a supplier delicious product but also a real natural pharmacy. Petals, stem, root, leaves - all its parts in folk medicine are used to prepare various potions. Its other name is sunny flower, given to him for the rich yellow color of the petals and because of interesting property- to turn after the daylight.

Giant from Mexico in Russian gardens

An oil plant known to everyone cannot be confused with any other. On a powerful stem, reaching a height of up to three meters, there is a large green basket, the edges of which are bordered by golden petals from the inside. It is filled with small yellow flowers, fruits are formed under them - seeds that we all love to gnaw.

Sunflower came to our gardens from sultry Peru and Mexico. It develops well and fully acquires healing properties in a warm climate on fertile moist soils. To keep such a giant, you need a strong root that clings well to the soil. In this case, it looks like a huge carrot with hairs extending from a thick stem.

A set of medicinal components

The edible part, the seeds, are rich in essential nutrients. They contain a lot of vitamin D, vitamins A, B, F, amino acids, tannins, minerals.

The oil squeezed from the grains is used in folk medicine to prepare formulations for a variety of diseases.
Roots, leaves, petals have also accumulated many useful components that help from various diseases. Resins, bitterness, glycosides, pectin, vitamins and other components are used in the treatment of ailments. Contains sunflower and saponins that prevent DNA synthesis in tumors.

How to collect and save

1. The petals of the baskets must be collected when blooming. Dry them immediately in a ventilated area. High-quality raw materials should have a bright yellow color, a faint honey aroma and a slightly bitter taste.
2. The leaves are harvested at the end of flowering, dried in the fresh air in the shade. The finished product is odorless, dark green in color, rough, with fluff on the veins. It is undesirable to collect too large or damaged specimens.
3. The roots are harvested after harvesting the seeds. Each must be split into thin slivers and dried in the shade in a draft.
4. Useful substances are stored in seeds longer than in other products, but only when they are covered with a peel. Refined grains sold in stores will do more harm than good. You need to store blanks in linen bags. Healing qualities last up to two years.

Beneficial features

For medicinal formulations, sunflower is ready to offer a person everything: both the underground root and the above-ground parts.

You can just eat raw seeds: this is an excellent prevention of all kinds of diseases. They will help you quickly recover from heavy physical exertion or illness, get rid of juvenile acne, and lower cholesterol. In folk medicine, they are used in the treatment of respiratory organs, nervous system. The oil obtained from the grains is used in external and internal medicines.

If it is necessary to treat joints, dissolve stones and salts in the kidneys and gallbladder, the roots of the plant are used. And flowers and leaves - for ailments of the liver and digestive organs, nervous system, allergies. For oncological diseases, a decoction of the petals is used instead of tea.

The healing properties of sunflower are not only in its chemical composition, but also in the structure of the seeds. With depression, constantly bad mood Every day, eat a glass of grains, which you need to clean with your hands. fine motor skills fingers will favorably affect the mental state.

Application in traditional medicine

From kidney stones, salt deposits, osteochondrosis, prostate adenoma, the root is used:

• dry preparation - boil 1 cup in 3 liters of water,
• insist 3 hours
• drink a liter a day.

Treatment with this decoction should last 2 months.

A recipe used in folk medicine for stomach cancer:

• pour 3 tbsp. spoons of fresh flowers 1 liter of milk,
• simmer on a steam bath until half the volume remains.

Strain and drink three times a day for 1 tbsp. spoon half an hour before meals. The course requires 2 liters, then take a break for 3 weeks.

Anorexia, loss of appetite, fever:

• 1 st. a spoonful of sunflower petals
• brew 200 ml of boiling water, like tea.

Drink half a cup half an hour before meals.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia, headaches:

• dry sunflower stalks, grind into powder
• one pinch pour a glass of boiling water
• after 20 minutes, drink half the serving.

If there is no improvement, drink everything.

With mastitis: noticing the first signs of the disease, immediately begin treatment with folk remedies.

• 20 g of walnut leaves;
• pour 100 ml of sunflower oil;
• close and leave for a week.

Boil 5 minutes and strain. Heat the mass freed from the thick in a water bath for half an hour, add 20 g beeswax and cool with constant stirring. Apply the ointment on the sore spot under the bandage.

Contraindications

Although sunflower is a unique natural pharmacy that can be trusted to treat most diseases, it also has contraindications. The most dangerous of them is allergies. This reaction most often occurs to pollen, but roots, seeds, and other parts can be dangerous.

Excessive eating of grains can harm tooth enamel. In addition, they are high in calories, so those who want to lose weight should eat them in moderation. With caution, use the seeds for gastritis.

For the treatment of salt deposits and kidney stones, the roots are used. This may increase the pressure slightly and cause burning in the joints. These are not contraindications, but the body's addiction to an unfamiliar remedy. Reduce the dose of the compound until the body adapts, and gradually approach the full norm. Unpleasant sensations in the bones arise due to the fact that the composition dissolves and washes out harmful salts and toxins from them. With this treatment, you need to follow a diet: give up alcohol, pickles, smoked meats and fatty foods.

The bright garden sun, which has a powerful root, a strong stem and a beautiful yellow head, not only cheers up the owners, but also helps to keep them healthy. Its healing properties can hardly be overestimated. Plant a sunflower on your plot, spare no effort in caring for it, and it will pay back with care for all family members. There are not many plants on earth in which all parts are rich healing properties. One of them is the amazing Peruvian sun flower.

The content of the article:

Sunflower flowers (lat. Helianthus annuus) are inflorescences of an annual plant from the Astrov family, the genus Sunflower. Popular names: grass of the sun, Peruvian flower, sunflower. In the pharmacy, dried petals can be purchased under the names: Helianthi flos or Flores Helianthi. The root of the plant is taproot, descends 3-3.5 m deep into the soil. The stem is hollow, powerful, branched. The leaves are large, heart-shaped, pubescent with short petals. Lower sessile, upper with short petioles. In the center of the inflorescence-basket are tubular flowers of yellow, orange and purple, along the edges of the flowers are reed. The basket is surrounded by frilled leaves. Flowers are arranged in spirals, which are called Fibonacci arcs. In a medium-sized sunflower inflorescence, 34 spirals twist in one direction, and 55 in the opposite direction. AT large heads spirals different directions 89 and 144. Flowers are pollinated by wind and bees. In the basket, fruits are formed, which are called seeds. It is because of them that the plant is cultivated throughout globe except for cold climates. Small homeland sunflower is considered to be North America, but by the 15th century it was successfully grown in England, France, and Spain.

The composition and calorie content of sunflower flowers

Flower petals can be purchased at a pharmacy or in a store that sells a variety of teas. Hungary and Poland specialize in collecting inflorescences.

The calorie content of sunflower flowers is low, so when calculating nutritional value food and drinks do not count.

Cooks and pharmacists appreciate chemical composition sunflower flowers, in it a large number of useful substances:

• Vitamin D- provides absorption of magnesium, phosphorus and calcium, increases the strength of bones and muscle tissue;
• Vitamin E- prevents the formation of blood clots and slows down age-related changes;
• Vitamin K- increases blood clotting;
• Magnesium- participates in the fermentation process, is necessary for the production of protein, the breakdown of glucose and the removal of toxins;
• Flavonoids- strengthen blood vessels and relieve spasms, block the synthesis of mast cells, have an anti-inflammatory effect;
• Carotene- strengthens the regenerative properties of the skin, improves visual function;
• Betaine- stimulates the production of bile, promotes the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients;
• Phenolcarboxylic acids- they have an anti-inflammatory effect, but at a high content they can provoke intoxication;
• Stearin- has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system and stimulates the formation of brain cells;
• Glycosides- stabilize the work of the muscles responsible for the contraction of the heart, in particular, the myocardium;
• Choline- this is a vitamin of group B (B4), lowers blood cholesterol levels, has a sedative effect and prevents the development of depression;
• Anthocyanins- are antioxidants and have an antimicrobial, pronounced antibacterial effect;
• Astaxanthin- slows down the processes of photoaging and protects the gastric mucosa from the aggressive effects of hydrochloric acid;
• Lecithin- normalizes the work of the central nervous system and maintains a stable level of blood pressure;
• Tannins- reduce the secretory function of the digestive tract, protect the mucosa from toxins and pathogenic bacteria.

The inflorescences of the sun flower in the diet can replace the intake of a vitamin-mineral complex on the eve of the season of epidemics and after a long winter.

Useful properties of sunflower flowers

Despite the fact that among the Incas and Maya the plant was revered as sacred, healers widely introduced petals into medicines.

Benefits of sunflower flowers:

1. They have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce the characteristic symptoms of colds.
2. They have an analgesic effect when taken orally and anesthetic as a means of local action, lower the temperature.
3. Eliminate the manifestation of allergies - urticaria, pruritus; help cure eczema, neurodermatitis, psoriasis.
4. They have a mucolytic and expectorant effect.
5. Eliminate spasms of the intestines and cramps in the limbs.
6. They stop the activity of the herpes virus.
7. They have a pronounced diuretic effect, contribute to the removal of stones from the kidneys.
8. Isolate toxic substances in the intestines and prevent intoxication.
9. Stimulate bile secretion and accelerate its progress through the ducts.
10. They have a sedative effect, prevent the development of depression, and fight nervous excitability.
11. They prevent the formation of cholesterol plaques in the vessels, prevent the development of ischemic and hypertension disease and atherosclerosis.

Official medicine introduces an extract of sunflower flowers into medicines to normalize blood pressure, stimulate bile secretion and prevent atherosclerosis.

Contraindications and harm of solar grass

You should not supplement the diet with dishes, the ingredient of which are sunflower inflorescences, if you have to constantly control your weight. Their use improves appetite.

Sunflower flowers can cause harm in people with individual intolerance to this type of plant. An allergic reaction may occur in persons who cannot consume seeds, sunflower oil, cannot walk through a flowering field without first taking an antihistamine.

Do not experiment with drugs from the arsenal traditional medicine pregnant, lactating and children under 12 years of age. It is not necessary for the above categories to supplement dishes with dried flowers - a too pronounced medical effect and it is not known what organic reactions will occur.

How are sunflower flowers eaten?

The collection of sunflower flowers begins immediately after flowering. Tubular flowers should be soft to the touch, and marginal - thin and delicate. As soon as the formation of seeds begins, all parts of the plant will coarsen.

Do not eat sunflower flowers as greens, adding to cold dishes and snacks. Before use in fresh they need to be blanched beforehand. Only in this way can a pronounced choleretic effect be stopped.

Inflorescences are rarely used for culinary purposes. You can try adding scalded tubular flowers to boiled vegetable salads or decorate appetizers with brightly colored outer petals.

To prepare a salad with sunflower flowers, a chopped head of red cabbage, 200 g of spinach, fresh tubular flowers - 1.5-2 cups, a bunch of chopped cilantro are combined. Stir in 2 pressed garlic cloves. Dressing: 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar olive oil a tablespoon of Dijon mustard. Salt, pepper, mix vigorously and close the lid, let stand for 10-15 minutes, so that the juice stands out. If there is not enough juice, add 1-2 tablespoons boiled water, mix again. Sprinkle with hot roasted sunflower seeds and chopped basil before serving. They serve it right here.

French peasants in the 18th-19th centuries baked tubular flowers on coals along with artichokes, and now culinary specialists from elite restaurants can offer guests steamed fresh sunflower buds seasoned with various spices and spices. But these dishes are more likely to be experimental, and gourmets are able to appreciate them.

Inflorescences give a new taste to marinades and pickles, but they are not used as spices in their pure form. Vinegar is insisted on flowers: fill the jar by 1/3 and fill it with ordinary vinegar essence. Then the liquid is filtered, squeezing the cake. Store tightly closed glassware avoiding access to sunlight.

Recipes for drinks with sunflower flowers:

• . A tablespoon of dried flowers of various types is brewed with 0.5 liters of water, allowed to stand for 15 minutes, filtered. In the hot season, it perfectly quenches thirst. Sweeten with fructose.
• hearty drink. Sunflower flowers are poured with boiling milk, insisted for 20 minutes, sweetened. Dilute half with water.
• Compote. Vitamin compote is boiled from dried fruits and fresh tubular flowers are poured 1-2 minutes before turning off, 1 handful per 1 liter of liquid. Filter. Sweeten with honey.

Official medicine introduces flowers solar plant in many medicines. But the Indians gave this healing ingredient esoteric meaning. They believed that such an addition to a potion, tincture or dish balances the feminine and masculine, increases confidence in own forces.

Sunflower flowers are added to bath mixtures, soap and candle making materials due to their delicate, refined aroma. To flavor bed linen, you can make a sachet yourself - dry the petals in the shade in daylight.

The Indians of Peru, the Incas, the Aztecs, and the Otomi of Mexico worshiped the sunflower as a solar deity. The locals called the god Punchao or Inti. They made golden images of the plant and worshiped them.

In Europe, seeds were first sown in 1510 in botanical garden Madrid. The botanist and naturalist L'Obel in 1576 called the plant the flower of the Sun. The plant was first grown in decorative purposes, and then in medicinal, and only then as a food culture. However, seeds gained "popularity" much later, to XVIII century, and used them as a substitute for coffee beans. For the manufacture of butter, they began to be used in early XIX century. And in the 17th century, flower baskets were baked on coals and consumed with sunflower oil and vinegar.

Sunflower was brought to Russia by Peter I, where large-scale production began sunflower oil. It was here that the seeds were evaluated in the form they use now. They have become a popular delicacy.

But in America, latex began to be extracted from sunflowers. Products from it are hypoallergenic and are in demand in medicine.

The sunflower flower is a symbol of:

• In Kansas (USA) and Kitakyusha (Japan) - cities;
• Vegan Societies;
• Aesthetic movement in the 19th century;
• Spiritualist Church;
• Sunflower Movement - 2014 protest.

A blooming sunflower helps not only people, but is also used to cleanse the soil. After the Chernobyl disaster, the banks of ponds and lakes were sown with flowers in order to quickly remove strontium-90 and cesium-137 and clean the soil. And after flowering, the plants were removed and burned. Seeds could get on the market and provoke a series of cancers.

Popular varieties of sunflower are presented in the table:

Name	Characteristic	Maturity, days
Antey	Basket medium size 23 cm, medium height	111
Bogdan	High yielding, basket 18 cm	112-118
Odysseus	Tall, 24 cm	105-109
Jan	High yielding, 25 cm, large seeds	100-104
Alexei	Small, undersized, basket up to 20 cm	114
Gourmand	Undersized, environmentally adapted	110
Nutcracker	Drought tolerant	114-119

Recipes with Sunflower Flowers Remedies:

1. From temperature and to eliminate the symptoms of SARS. A tablespoon is infused in a glass of boiling water and a tablespoon of honey is diluted. You can take 2-3 glasses per day.
2. To improve immunity and prevent colds. Reed flowers-petals are tightly folded into glass jar, filling 1/3. Fill with vodka and clean in a dark place. insist on room temperature until the liquid in the jar turns into a dark oily substance. Dose for adults - 1 tablespoon 3 times a day one hour after meals. Adolescents are enough for a teaspoon 2 times a day. The medicine is very effective, the duration of treatment is no longer than 3 days. Can be used as an external remedy for psoriasis.
3. For gout. A tincture is made, as in the previous recipe, but instead of flowers, vodka or alcohol is poured into a mixture of an equal number of flowers and lower leaves. Take on an empty stomach in a tablespoon diluted in half a glass of water for 30 days.
4. From muscle strain. Dried flowers are brewed so as to obtain a homogeneous slurry, filtered excess liquid and use raw materials as lotions.
5. Antipyretic. Thick tea is brewed - 4 tablespoons of flowers per glass of water. It is taken hot in half or a third of a glass symptomatically.
6. Diuretic. Brewed with boiling water, 250 ml, 2 tablespoons of sunflower flowers, boil for 10 minutes. Strain, squeeze. The liquid is brought to the original volume. Take 2 tablespoons 20 minutes before each meal, 4 times a day.

During chemotherapy in the treatment of stomach cancer, the following recipe is used: pour 3 tablespoons of dried flowers of the plant into 1 liter of milk and put on water bath to reduce the volume by half. Cool first at room temperature, then in the refrigerator. Take 30 minutes before meals, 3 times a day. The course of treatment is repeated three times, with a break of 3 weeks. For each course you need to drink 2 liters of stewed milk.

Regardless of the variety of culture, flowers have the same properties. By planting a sunflower in the garden, you solve several problems: you will get healthier and get a valuable addition to the diet.

The fields with sunflowers look amazingly beautiful - plants whose inflorescences look like the sun from children's pictures. This golden yellow miracle is not only gorgeous in appearance, it is also very useful.

In this article we will talk about what a sunflower is. This is an annual or perennial plant, in what conditions it grows, what species and varieties are, you will learn by reading it.

The history of sunflower oil production began in England at the end of the eighteenth century. Since then, various varieties of sunflower have been bred, which are united by high resistance to various pests and diseases.

General information

Annual sunflower is the most important in the world. Responsive and grateful to the applied agronomic technologies, it is very useful and fertile. It is not for nothing that in heraldry the sunflower flower symbolizes prosperity and fertility. In addition, a plant surprisingly similar to the sun in any weather in any area creates a bright and warm atmosphere.

Sunflower is grown in almost all fertile agricultural zones as a raw material for the production of high-quality vegetable oil. It is also used as a honey, medicinal and ornamental plant.

It turns out that there is another unusual variety of it - tuberous sunflower. It is considered a vegetable crop.

Description

Annual sunflower (composite family) - a plant with a good root system, relatively quickly developing deep into the soil up to 140 cm (and in special conditions - up to 5 meters), and up to 120 cm wide. The woody stem of the plant is high (reaches in places and 4 meters), covered with hairs. Oval heart-shaped leaves are large, with pointed tips.

Sunflower inflorescence is a multi-flowered basket (for oil-bearing forms with a diameter of 15-20 cm) with a slightly convex or flat disc. large flowers located along the edges - asexual, reed, yellow-orange in color, and the median ones completely cover the receptacle - bisexual, tubular, much smaller.

And a huge variety of seeds has a ripened sunflower. An annual has an achene-fruit, consisting of a nucleus and a shell. contain an average of 22-27% oil, and the most the best varieties- 46% and more. One basket, depending on the variety and nature of sunflower care, has from 200 to 7000 seeds.

Has excellent medicinal properties(astringent, anti-inflammatory, etc.) annual sunflower. Flower formula: *L(5)T(5)P1.

Sunflower in Russia

Sunflower is a typical plant of the steppe and forest-steppe zones with any climatic conditions. Approximately 70% of all crops in the world are concentrated throughout Russia. This plant is the main oilseed crop cultivated in Russia. Edible and industrial oil is produced from its seeds in the country.

The remains of processing also do not disappear: cake is used in the preparation of feed for farm animals; potash is obtained from the ashes from the stems, as well as fertilizer; the tallest varieties (up to 3-4 m) with a huge green mass are cultivated as a silage crop.

cultural history

The plant is native to southern North America. Annual sunflower was brought to Russia in the 18th century already from the countries Western Europe. Initially, it was grown as an ornamental plant, but later sunflower seeds began to be used as a delicacy, in connection with which they began to grow it more and more in gardens and orchards.

It is known that the cultivation of sunflower as an oilseed plant in the field culture is associated with the name of the peasant-serf Bokarev, who first developed oil from it in 1835.

The sunflower culture was originally widespread especially in Voronezh and Saratov, and then appeared in other Russian regions.

Forms of annual cultivated sunflower are divided into 3 groups:

• gnaw, having large achenes with a small core, and therefore they have a low oil content. In the pericarp of such a sunflower, there is no shell layer, so this plant is relatively easily damaged by sunflower moth caterpillars;

• oilseeds have smaller achenes with a shell layer in the pericarp;

• mezheumki representing transitional forms between oil-bearing and nibbling varieties.

In Russia, varieties of oilseed sunflower are of the greatest production interest.

About sunflower varieties

Annual sunflower has a wide variety of varieties cultivated in our time, fully meeting the requirements of existing production.

There are varieties of early-ripening and mid-ripening. There are also decorative, widely used to decorate garden and park areas. Below is a summary of some of the most common sunflower varieties in cultivation.

Early ripe varieties

Sunflower Albatross is distinguished by its rather high oil content. The variety is drought-resistant, resistant to diseases and damage from pests. It responds well to extensive cultivation methods. This variety grows up to 195 cm in height.

Buzuluk contains 54% oil in seeds. Quite a drought-resistant variety and has a stable yield in different climatic conditions. Requires fertilizing with fertilizers and high-quality agricultural technology. Its height reaches 168 cm.

Mid-season varieties

Variety Flagman is characterized by large harvest volumes. The oil content in it is 55%. Quite a tall plant, reaching 206 cm.

Favorite also has a high oil content - 53%. The variety is also distinguished by its resistance to hydrolytic oil breakdown, and therefore the resulting raw material has a low acid number. The plant grows up to 200 cm in height.

The highly productive variety Master contains 54% oil in seeds. It responds gratefully to the application of appropriate mineral fertilizers.

All listed varieties are highly tolerant to Phomopsis, resistant to broomrape, sunflower moth and powdery downy mildew.

A little about tuberous sunflower (Jerusalem artichoke)

This species is grown as a fodder, technical or ornamental crop. The plant grows well in more southern climatic zones. This is due to the fact that its ripening occurs only from September to November, depending on the variety. The yield of Jerusalem artichoke is up to 35 tons of ripe tubers per hectare.

There is another plant obtained by crossing - Jerusalem artichoke. Such a sunflower has large oval tubers.

Sunflower cultivation: conditions

The plant is demanding on soils, the best of which for it are sandy loamy chernozems, loamy, and rich in various nutrients. Sandy soils are unsuitable. Excellent predecessors for sunflower are spring barley, corn and legumes. Again, in the same place, sunflower is sown no earlier than after 7-9 years. It is not at all worth sowing it at the place of cultivation in the past year of root crops, Jerusalem artichoke, perennial herbs, namely after crops that have common diseases.

Sunflower responds well to fertilization. The most dangerous pests for the plant are wireworms, beetle, thorn beetle, sunflower barbel. Various methods are used against pests and diseases (white rot and rust): agrotechnical, chemical, mechanical.

Sowing

How is an annual sunflower cultivated? Growing from seeds right in open ground- the main way. You can plant and pre-prepared seedlings.

For sowing, seeds of zoned varieties with a fairly high germination rate and good ones are used, as a rule, they should be calibrated, because it is exactly the same in size that sprout evenly and amicably, and this increases the yield.

Be sure to sow sunflower seeds after warming up the soil to +10 ... +12 ° C, otherwise there will be a decrease in seed yield.

It's curious

The annual sunflower is grown all over the world. But the sunflower is a truly Russian plant, and this is also recognized abroad. An integral part of rural landscapes are these yellow flowers with black seeds located in the center.

The German amusement park Europa-Park (the largest in Germany and the second largest in Europe in terms of the number of visitors) has a Russian zone where sunflowers grow. And in Berlin, in one of its districts, the “Sunflower Labyrinth” is arranged in the summer: a sunflower field with intricate paths. In Austria, there is a sunflower park with these plants, and the most different types and varieties.

Conclusion

Vast fields covered with blooming golden sunflowers look picturesque, bright and cheerful even in inclement weather. Those who want to decorate their household plot and to create the same bright, cozy and cheerful atmosphere, you can use beautiful decorative annual sunflowers.

They have surprisingly fluffy yellow flowers, in which the seeds are almost invisible. Even their varieties have pleasant soft names: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Bear, Teddy Bear. Indeed, the flower is a neat golden ball, more like a fur pom-pom. Such bear sunflowers look quite impressive in flower beds and bloom for a long time.

This cute unpretentious flower with bright yellow petals will bring more light, freshness and lots of solar energy to the garden.

Many housewives would like to grow a decorative sunflower at home, but not everyone knows the intricacies and nuances of planting, growing and caring for this plant. The decorative sunflower differs from a similar oilseed crop not only in its more attractive appearance, but also in the presence of a large number varieties, and most importantly its purpose is to create a unique style in the garden or near the house.

In Europe, the sunflower has been known for more than 500 years, it is constantly admired, songs are written about it, it is in many paintings by famous artists. To date, breeders have bred more than 150 different varieties ornamental sunflowers, and every year new varieties and hybrids appear. There are tiny decorative flowers, and there are giant plants, the color can be from pale cream to bright red, uniform and heterogeneous.

Today, decorative sunflower can be found in almost any part of our planet, it is in Europe, America, Japan, Africa. Not far from Vienna there is a "Sunflower Park", which presents both ornamental and oilseed varieties, as well as wild representatives of this genus. The park is very popular among tourists who come to admire this beautiful plant.

Ornamental varieties have gained their popularity due to the variety of shapes and colors, in addition, their care and cultivation are simple and affordable. Depending on your preferences, you can grow varieties in your garden that are no more than 30 cm high or those that grow to 3 meters or more in height, with one or more stems.

You can choose for yourself plants with a stem thickness of up to 5-20 cm, and they will help you hide the part of the house or yard that is not very beautiful view, and a variety of colors allows you to choose a plant that fits organically into any exterior.

How to plant?

decorative sunflower, like its oilseed relative, loves a lot of sun, so planting and cultivation should be done in sunny areas of the yard or garden that are protected from the wind, and the soil should be well drained.

Before the seeds are planted in the ground, they are recommended to be properly prepared. The process of preparing seed material takes place according to the following plan:

• spoon first wood ash and half a liter of water make a solution;
• a piece of soft cloth is impregnated with this solution, which should absorb water well;
• seeds prepared for planting are wrapped in cloth;
• in this state they are left for a day;
• if during this time the fabric dries out, it must be moistened periodically;
• seeds are ready for planting.

Sowing an annual ornamental sunflower can be started in May and continued throughout the summer, so this beautiful plant will constantly bloom in your yard.

The depth of planting seeds in the ground should not be more than 3-4 cm, while the distance between neighboring plants, depending on the variety chosen, can be 30-70 centimeters. If perennial varieties are grown, then in this case reproduction is carried out by dividing the bush, this can be done every 2 years in spring or autumn.

How to care and water?

Decorative sunflowers are undemanding plants and so they are fairly easy to take care of. To maximize the period of their flowering, it is necessary to carry out regular watering. Although watering should be plentiful, it is impossible for water to stagnate in the soil, as this can lead to the death of the plant.

In addition, the care of this plant consists in the constant weeding so that they do not interfere with growth, and in the periodic loosening of the soil. Faded flowers are recommended to be removed periodically, this stimulates the growth of new buds, and the plant will look more attractive.

If you have fertile soil on the site, then the plants do not need to be fed, they themselves will find all the necessary substances that will ensure normal growth and development. If the soil is not very fertile, then you can feed the flowers with any organic fertilizers, this must be done at the beginning of the growing season.

If you notice the appearance of any pest, you must use the appropriate means of protection to combat it. To combat fungi, drugs such as Vectra, Abiga-peak, Strobi are used, which are diluted to the desired consistency and process the entire ground part of the plant.

Among folk remedies, the most effective and frequently used is a solution of soap and blue vitriol: per liter of water take 3 grams of copper sulfate and 25 grams laundry soap, and process the plant. If you see damaged leaves, they must be removed.

If it becomes necessary to remove one of the plants damaged by pests from the site, then you just need to cut off its stem at ground level. If you decide to uproot a diseased plant, you risk damaging the root system of nearby healthy sunflowers.

Growing a flower in an apartment

You can grow this plant in a room on the windowsill. This unpretentious flower can be grown even by children who enjoy watching the growth of a decorative sunflower. For growing in a room, it is necessary to choose decorative dwarf varieties.

The container is taken taking into account the size of the future plant in such a way that later you do not have to replant it, since the sunflower does not tolerate transplantation well. For dwarf varieties a pot with a diameter of 30-40 cm is quite enough.

For planting, use ordinary soil, to which you can add crystals that retain moisture. To provide a plant necessary quantity nutrients, well-rotted compost is added to the soil 1: 1.

When planting, it is best to plant a couple of seeds, and when shoots appear, the weaker plant must be removed. Before germination, watering is recommended to be carried out once every two days, while it is necessary to control soil moisture. Seedlings should appear already on the 3-8th day, if this did not happen after 10-14 days, then they will no longer sprout.

Since this plant is very fond of sunlight, it must be installed in a place that is well lit.

A little about the types and varieties

If we talk about flower varieties, then annual decorative sunflowers are most often grown, but there are also perennial varieties, one of them is Jerusalem artichoke, which belongs to this species and is called tuberous sunflower. Its height can reach 3 meters, and the tubers are eaten, they have healing properties.

Another of the common perennial species is a ten-petal sunflower, it has smaller dimensions: the height is only up to 1.5 meters. Flowering occurs from August until the first frost.

One of the most popular annual plants is the "Teddy Bear", which is also called the "teddy bear". His distinctive feature are large flowers that in their appearance resemble a plush toy - hence the name "bear cub". It blooms from mid-summer to early autumn, and its height is usually no more than a meter.

"Red Sun" differs from other varieties in flowers that have a red-brown color. One of the largest varieties is 'Kong' which can reach a height of 5 meters. This plant has thick stems and wide leaves, so it is often used to create a decorative fence.

There are many different varieties and types of sunflowers that vary in size and color. If you decide to grow such a miracle in your area, you can find seeds to your liking and not only enjoy the view yourself this plant but also bring joy to people.

August 13, 2015

Without a sunflower, it is impossible to imagine our usual Russian garden! Yellow flowers along the wattle fence or near the fence look very elegant. But sunflower in its classic form is not accepted by all gardeners and summer residents: some consider it too simple plant with agricultural specialization, others are not satisfied with its tall, stiff stems, which makes the sunflower look good only near the hedge. And yet they say that this flower must grow on suburban area- its bright petals make the garden more fun, and solar energy cleans the general atmosphere. If you are not a fan of the classic "darling of the sun", then this article is for you - we will talk about a decorative sunflower.

There are tall, short and even miniature types of ornamental sunflowers. These flowers are highly respected by florists, as cut plants can stand perfectly for half a month.

Not all plants have the standard yellow color of the petals: sunflowers of red, raspberry, white, cream, orange, apricot colors are currently bred. In some plants, flower baskets combine several colors: reddish with yellow, orange with brown ... Petals can be long and short, curved, double. Depending on the variety, the shape of the flowers and their number on the stem may vary.

It is curious that seeds appear on ornamental sunflowers after flowering. Small but very tasty!

Sunflowers are grown all over the world. On both hemispheres of our planet, you can find these sun-loving flowers, while the sunflower is a very Russian plant, this is also recognized abroad. Yellow flowers with black delicious seeds are an integral part of rural landscapes. In the German amusement park Europa-Park (by the way, it is the largest in Germany, and the second in Europe in terms of the number of visitors) there is a Russian part, and it is here that sunflowers bloom. For several years in a row, in one of the districts of Berlin, the “Sunflower Labyrinth” is organized in the summer: a field of sunflowers with intricate paths. The labyrinth is small, but the locals love it very much, especially since you can enter and walk there completely free of charge. And in Austria there is a whole “Park of sunflowers”, where “flowers of the sun” of various varieties and types are presented.

Reproduction and planting of decorative sunflowers

Annual species of ornamental sunflowers are easily propagated by seeds. No one forbids simply throwing a dry seed into the ground - if the seed material is good, then the flower will grow. However, a caring gardener will wrap the seeds ornamental plants in a cloth soaked in an infusion of warm water with ash (a tablespoon of ash per half a liter of water), and only a day later it will start sowing.

Depending on the variety of ornamental sunflower, seeds should be sown to a depth of up to 3 centimeters. The distance between plants depends on their height: between undersized plants should be about 30 centimeters, and tall ones require more space - at least 70 centimeters. You can plant sunflowers all summer, starting in May, then bright flowers will delight you all season.

Perennial sunflowers can be propagated every two or three years by division. The bush is divided during the period of relative dormancy of the plant - in early spring or late autumn. This procedure rejuvenates the sunflower. As a rule, after division, more flowers appear.

Decorative sunflowers are very fond of the sun (which is not surprising!), Therefore, they need to be planted in open places. If you plant flowers in the shade, then expect trouble - they will begin to look for sunlight, bending and stretching the stems. It is desirable that the area with plants be protected from the wind, otherwise, with strong gusts, thin stems will not be able to hold heavy flower heads. Sunflowers need fertile and well-draining soil.

Caring for decorative sunflowers

Ornamental sunflowers are quite unassuming plants to care for. They do not need much of your attention, it is enough to weed them, sometimes loosen the soil and water them periodically. Be careful with watering - sunflowers do not like stagnant moisture.

If the land on your site is poor, then you can’t do without top dressing, otherwise you won’t get lush flowers like in the picture with seeds. feed better organic fertilizers after the plants got stronger and began to prepare buds.

Be sure to feed the tall varieties of sunflower, if this is not done, then the plants will pull everything out of the soil nutrients, and next year it is unlikely that something worthy will grow here.

In areas with cold winters, perennial decorative sunflowers must be covered so that they do not freeze out.

Sunflower pests - fight!

Ornamental sunflowers have their enemies both among insects and among plants. If the leaves and petals begin to curl and turn yellow, check if aphids have settled on the plants. If the flowers are not severely affected, then wash off the insect colonies with soap and water, and in case of severe damage, use a special preparation (for example, Antitlin, Commander, Iskra, Fas).

Sunflower moth (aka sunflower moth) lays eggs in flower baskets, caterpillars emerge from the eggs, which begin to gnaw flowers and even seeds. Three weeks before the caterpillars have pupated, they can significantly damage the plant. Against these villains (as well as against the caterpillars of the meadow moth, which do not eat flowers, but sunflower leaves, sometimes the stems also get it) will help chemicals, as well as folk remedies from leafworms.

Varieties of decorative sunflower with a photo

It seems that summer residents and gardeners of Russia have the most tender love for decorative sunflowers with fluffy yellow flowers, in which seeds are practically not visible. On packages with seeds, similar images and even similar titles: ‘Teddy Bear’, ‘Bear’, ‘Teddy Bear’, ‘Teddy Bear’ and ‘Teddy Bear’... There are a lot of variations, but the idea is the same - a neat golden ball that looks like a soft fur pom-pom.

Almost all "bear cubs" are low (up to 1 meter) with rather large flowers for their size (from 10 to 20 cm). Bear sunflowers bloom for a long time and look spectacular in groups in flower beds.

There are many varieties of ornamental sunflowers with red and burgundy inflorescences. Such a flower can hardly be called a sunflower, it is rather a gerbera or even a dahlia ... But no. This is a real sunny flower! You can choose a variety ‘Red Sun’. A plant with dark red flowers grows up to one and a half meters in height. Loves warmth and sunshine fertile soil, tolerant of the lack of moisture. Looks great in the cut, suitable for creating bouquets with dried flowers.

Another red sunflower variety has a name 'Moulin Rouge'. This is a variety of foreign selection. Its velvety burgundy (even with a slight transition to brown) flowers look noble and stylish. Moulin Rouge is a tall sunflower, it can reach 2 meters. Each such sunflower can be considered a full-fledged bouquet, because dark red flowers grow and bloom both at the top and along the entire stem.

A compact and low sunflower that is suitable for growing in containers, on a balcony, in the foreground of flower beds and discounts - sunflower ‘Sunspot’. Disproportionately large and bright baskets up to 20 cm in diameter bloom on a small bush.

However, be careful with the names and be sure to read the description on the package with seeds. Another manufacturer can offer you sunflower 'Sunspot', however, it will turn out to be a rather tall branched friend with large quantity small inflorescences.

A low (up to 40 cm in height) variety of decorative sunflower is simply called - 'Summer resident'. It is suitable for planting in flower beds, and groups of golden "cottagers" look great on the lawn. Diverse ‘Gnomes’, ‘Sun Bunnies’, ‘Topolino’, ‘Pacino’ and other varieties of dwarf ornamental sunflowers similar to ‘Dachnik’, will also be able to decorate flower beds and will look cute in flowerpots. Just do not get confused in the range! Good for small gardens sunflower 'Elves Blend'- however, it still needs to be found on sale, since it is not very common with us.

There are many varieties of sunflowers with light petals. pay attention to 'Moonlight' and 'Moon light'. The first one can reach a height of up to 180 centimeters, a large inflorescence at the top is complemented by lateral flowers - all lemon-colored. On the package with seeds, the color of the petals is precisely lemon, although a sunflower can grow with petals of the color of real moonlight: light, almost silvery.

A similar metamorphosis can occur with a similar variety 'Moon light': Large lemon florets may be lighter or darker than intended. Lunar pale with a lemon tint will be the petals of a decorative sunflower 'Vanilla Ice'.

Tall varieties of sunflowers look good with heathers, cloves, tuberose. Sometimes it is recommended to combine "solar giants" with curly ones that will braid a powerful stem - clematis, morning glory, thunbergia.

Experienced gardeners say that often tall varieties of ornamental sunflowers grow much higher than stated on the package. For example, instead of a two-meter handsome man, a four-meter giant appeared on the site ... On good soil and with proper care, this may well happen. Just be aware that this can happen and if size matters to you, it's best to look into dwarf forms.

What can be the conclusion? In the numerous varieties of ornamental sunflowers, it is very easy to get lost and confused. Therefore, first of all, decide on the height - this way the breadth of choice will narrow significantly, then choose a color that suits the design of the garden, and after that decide on the variety. Whatever decorative sunflower you choose, it will definitely brighten up your garden and add some more sun to it!