Dimorphotheca (Dimorphotheca) is a genus of perennial or annual herbs and shrubs of the aster family (Asteraceae), which naturally grows in wet pastures or in the foggy desert regions of South Africa. Some species are grown as ornamental annuals.
- Family: aster.
- Origin: South Africa.
- Rhizome: Long taproot.
- Stem: straight or ascending, branched.
- Leaves: narrow, entire or notched.
- Fruit: seed.
- Reproductive ability: propagated by seeds .
- Illumination: light-requiring.
- Watering: drought-resistant.
- Content temperature: does not tolerate frost.
- Flowering time: 35-65 days from June to September.
Description of the flower dimorfoteka
Beautiful flowering annuals and perennials with erect or ascending stems no more than 40 cm tall. The leaves are narrow, serrated or pinnately divided, sometimes pubescent, alternate or collected in a basal rosette. In nature, dimorphoteka grows on loose soil, mainly consisting of rubble, where moisture accumulates at a depth, so its roots are very long, taproot, fibrous at the end. Dimorphoteca flower – apical single basket 7-8 cm in diameter on a long strong peduncle, with glossy reed flowers, yellow, orange, white or burgundy, and a velvety tubular center, dark, yellow or purple. Dimorphotheca flowers open only during the day in sunny weather, which protects the pollen from exposure to moisture at night and when there is a threat of rain. The life of an individual inflorescence is no more than 4-5 days, but new buds appear in place of the withered ones, providing the plant with abundant flowering for 1-2 months, usually in July-August.
Dimorfoteka in the photo
The genus name consists of two Greek words: “dimorphos”, or “has a double form”, and “theke”, or “capacity”, which reflects one interesting feature of the dimorphotheca. She has both reed and tubular flowers fertile, but they form two different types of fruits, wedge-shaped achenes of a slightly curved ribbed shape along the edge of the basket and flat, smooth achenes with a wide, thickened wing-shaped border in the center, while the same flowers grow from both types. The appearance of dimorphotheca seeds is in the photo below. They are large in size, up to 7 mm, 1 g – about 500 pieces, germination lasts 2-3 years.
Decorative types and varieties of dimorphotecs – rain (summer), notched and others
The genus includes about 20 species. In the gardens, 2 natural varieties are grown, dimorphotheques notched and rainy, as well as a hybrid, which includes hybrids and varieties derived from them. The following is a more detailed description and photo of the dimorphotheque of these species and some popular varieties.
Dimorfoteka notched or orange (D. sinuate, D. calendulacea, D. aurantiaca), an annual plant 30-40 cm high with erect, branched, densely leafy stems and fragile, notched leaves, elongated, not pubescent. Inflorescences are baskets on strong pubescent peduncles with a diameter of 5-6 mm. The marginal petals are shiny, bright orange, with a dark spot at the base, the center is black-brown. It has been grown in gardens since 1798. A popular variety of notched diforfoteka is the Polar Star with white baskets up to 8 cm in diameter and a contrasting dark purple spot at the base of the petals. .
Dimorfoteka rain or summer (D. pluvialis, D. annua) , more undersized, 15–20 cm high. The stems are straight or creeping, the leaves are long, pubescent, baskets on long peduncles with white or cream top, purple bottom ligulate flowers and golden brown tubular center. It has a pleasant aroma, both flowers and leaves smell. In floriculture since 1752
Dimorfoteka hybrid (D. hybridum) , obtained by crossing the previous species, an annual with an erect, densely branching stem 15-40 cm high, alternate narrow leaves with a serrated or solid edge, and large, up to 10 cm, inflorescences with a yellow center and outer petals of various colors, white, blue, yellow, orange, pink.
Among the varieties:
Orange Golden East and Las Vegas;
Blue Regenz;
Pure white Glising White.
Tetra polyploid varieties are especially interesting, for example, the Goliath hybrid with very large, up to 10 cm, orange inflorescences, decorated with a black spot at the base of the petals.
Growing dimorfoteka in the garden
In the middle lane is grown as an annual. Prefers a warm sunny place, better on southern slopes, and loose, permeable soil, loamy or sandy, not too rich in nutrients. It does not grow on moist soils; with an excess of fertilizers, it grows intensively to the detriment of flowering. In a cold rainy summer, it develops poorly.
When choosing the right place and soil, growing a dimorphoteca does not present any particular difficulties. It is drought-resistant, requires no more than 1-2 mineral supplements per season. To prolong flowering and preserve decorativeness, wilted baskets are recommended to be removed regularly.
The flower propagates by seeds, which are harvested at the end of summer in several stages, since the baskets ripen unevenly and easily crumble. Self-seeding is often observed. To preserve the decorativeness of the variety, early-flowering large-flowered specimens are chosen for reproduction. Seeds are planted directly into the ground in May or seedlings in greenhouses in early April. At 16 ° C shoots appear in 10-14 days. In open ground, they are thinned out, leaving a distance of 10-15 cm. In greenhouses, due to a weak root system, seedlings try not to replant or dive, it is better to grow them at once in 3 pieces in separate peat pots . Seedlings are transferred to the ground in June. When growing dimorphoteca from seeds, it will bloom 2 months after sowing.
Due to drought resistance, the flower grows well both in the garden , and in containers, pots . Resistant in cutting, used for bouquets.