Dorotheanthus (Dorotheanthus Schwant) is a genus of small succulent plants in the Aizoaceae family, native to the arid regions of South Africa. Used as decorative garden and indoor crops.
- Family: aizovye.
- Origin: South Africa.
- Rhizome: roots are fibrous, 20-25 cm.
- Stem: creeping, fleshy.
- Leaves: fleshy, sessile.
- Fruit: box.
- Reproductive capacity: propagated by seeds.
- Illumination: photophilous.
- Watering: drought tolerant.
- Content temperature: cold-resistant.
- Flowering time: June to frost.
Description of Dorotheanthus
Low-growing succulents with creeping or creeping highly branched stems and fleshy ovate or linear leaves, sessile, opposite below, alternate above.
The height of the bushes does not exceed 10 cm, individual specimens grow up to 20-25 cm wide. The shoots and leaves are covered with spectacular papillae, similar to dew drops or ice crystals, for which the plant is sometimes called “crystal grass”.
Dorotheanthus flowers are solitary, large, up to 5 cm in diameter, located on long pedicels, they look like chamomile and daisies . The color is yellow, white, red, pink, in the center there are dark stamens, often surrounded by a light ring.
The doroteanthus flower is short-lived, lives only for a few days, but numerous new ones bloom in place of wilted ones. The buds open only in sunny weather for a few hours in the middle of the day, for which the culture received another name, “noon”. The fruit is a box with very small, up to 3000 pcs. per 1 g, with seeds that ripen in autumn and remain viable for up to 2 years.
The name of the plant means “flower of Dorothea”, this name was given to him in honor of the mother of the famous German botanist Gustav Schwantes, Dorothea.
Dorotheanthus is a perennial grown in an annual crop, as it can grow vegetative mass very quickly. Valued for ease of propagation, long flowering time, ability to grow, forming dense low curtains with bright colors. Feels good in rockeries, rocky hills, can be grown as a potted plant, while it is recommended to plant several specimens in one container. Effective for decorating balconies and loggias located on the south side.
Common varieties and types of Dorotheanthus
Of the 20 species that make up the genus, the daisy doroteanthus (D. Bellidiformis) is most often grown in culture, a ground cover plant up to 10 cm high, with recumbent shoots and narrow to lanceolate fleshy leaves about 7.5 cm long, covered with shiny hairs. It blooms from June until frost with bright red, pink, yellow, orange flowers 3-4 mm in diameter, blooming in sunny weather.
Among the varieties and hybrids of Dorotheanthus can be noted:
Bright yellow Dorotheanthus Yellow in the photo.
Variety Marmalade in the photo.
Bicolor Gelato Dark Pink with cyclamen outer petals and white inner petals.
As well as Magic Carpet Mix, with flowers of various colors.
Below are photos of Dorotheanthus daisy.
Dorotheanthus daisy in the photo.
Dorotheanthus daisy in the photo.
Dorotheanthus daisy in the photo.
Dorotheanthus eye (D. Oculatos) , another decorative , but less commonly grown species no higher than 10 cm high, with spatulate-lanceolate leaves 2-10 mm wide and 10-45 mm long. Flowers with light or dark golden petals, at the base of each there is a bright red speck, for which the species got its name. The stamens and pistils in the center of the flower are also colored red.
Dorotheanthus gramineous or herbaceous (D. Gramineus) , in some catalogs called doroteanthus tricolor (D. Tricolor)
Another undersized strongly branched species, sometimes found in our gardens. Reddish fleshy stems, covered with small shiny papillae, form a dense curtain. The leaves are linear, up to 5 cm long, the flowers are pink and red with a dark center. There are varieties of white and yellow colors.
Dorotheanthus flowers: cultivation and care
One of the advantages of the plant is the ease of its cultivation. Dorotheanthus is planted as seedlings in sunny areas with breathable, infertile, preferably sandy soil without stagnant water. Sowing of doroteanthus for seedlings is carried out in the second decade of March in light soil mixed with sand. Seeds are rarely laid out on the surface, providing a sufficient feeding area, since seedlings do not tolerate picking well. Plants sprout unevenly, the first sprouts may appear after 7 days, others – even after 3-4 weeks. Seeds germinate at 15°C, then the temperature is lowered to 10°C. At first, seedlings develop slowly, require moderate and careful watering, because with excess moisture they can rot.
Flowers are planted in the ground when steadily warm weather sets in, maintaining a distance of 15-20 cm between individual specimens. Placed in rockeries, along paths and borders, which in a short time are covered with a carpet of greenish-gray doroteanthus bushes. Caring for planting during the growing season is not difficult. Plants are drought-resistant, watering is necessary only until the seedlings take root, then they have enough moisture from atmospheric precipitation. Feeding is not needed. It develops and blooms better in sunny weather without rain; in damp summers, flowering is weakened.
The culture is quite cold-resistant, in the fall, when the first frost occurs, planting can be covered with spruce branches or any covering material, and when warm days come, they will continue to bloom.