Pyrethrum is a perennial plant with herbaceous shoots. It belongs to the family Asteraceae and grows in Eurasia and North America. This unpretentious plant is sure to appeal to lovers of daisies, as the flowers are very similar in shape to them. But at the same time they are distinguished by a lush core and bright shades of petals. In addition to its high decorative properties, feverfew is known for its ability to deter harmful insects such as fleas and bed bugs. Sometimes the plant can be found under the names "Dalmatian", "Persian" or "Caucasian chamomile", which reflects the habitat of a particular species.
Botanical Description
The pyrethrum has a fibrous root system and erect grassy shoots 50-70 cm high. The leaves of a feathery-dissected shape are painted in bright green color. The largest number of them is collected at the base in a thick outlet. Also, several leaflets are next located on the stem, however, they are smaller.
The top of each shoot is crowned with a large inflorescence "basket" with a diameter of 3-6 cm. It has long petals and a lush core, consisting of reed and tubular flowers. Reed flowers are concentrated along the edge, often they have a pinkish color. Yellow tubular flowers are in the center of the inflorescence. Smooth linear petals can be painted white, yellow, pink, raspberry or lilac. Flowering of the feverfew occurs in June-July. By cutting, you can achieve longer flowering.
After pollination, the fruits ripen - light brown achenes. They have up to ten ribs and a lobed or serrated crown. Long small seeds retain germination for 3 years.
Types of feverfew
Some botanists claim that about 50 plant species exist in the pyrethrum genus, but other experts are sure that their number has exceeded one hundred. The most common types and varieties:
Feverfew. Dense erect shoots branch at the top. By the structure of the bush and leaves, they resemble chrysanthemums. Vegetation 50 cm high ends with beautiful inflorescences with a bloated, pom-pom-like core. Inflorescences with a diameter of about 2 cm are painted white or yellow. Varieties:
- White Stars - a compact bush up to 25 cm high dissolves snow-white, similar to pompons of inflorescences;
- Gold Ball - dense compact bush with yellow double flowers.
Pyrethrum pink. A perennial plant with branched shoots grows 60-70 cm in height. The upright shoots below are covered with dissected light green foliage. Single baskets up to 6 cm in diameter consist of a bright yellow core and light pink long petals. Blooms in June for a month. Varieties:
- Atrosanguinea - a branchy bush 60 cm high is covered with large flowers with dark red petals and a bright yellow core;
- Brenda - blossoms bright pink terry flowers;
- Kelway Glorious - with scarlet lush inflorescences.
The pyrethrum is large-leaved. The perennial height is 1-1.5 m. It is a bush with sparsely branched stems covered with long pinnately dissected foliage. Small white flowers with a sufficiently large core are collected in corymbose inflorescences up to 10 cm in diameter.
Breeding
Pyrethrum is propagated by seeds, division of the bush and petioles. Seed propagation is quite simple, because every year plants give a lot of seeds. However, flowers are often pollinated, so seedlings rarely inherit varietal traits of mother plants. Even from a single seed box can grow completely different daisies. In early March, seeds are sown for seedlings in shallow boxes with sand and peat soil. When two real leaves appear, seedlings are dived in separate pots. In May, when frosts pass, flowers are planted in open ground. In the first year, only a few plants bloom.
Pyrethrum is constantly growing bush due to lateral processes. It is recommended to divide it every 3-4 years. To do this, at the end of flowering, a large bush is dug up, freed from an earthen coma and divided by hand with parts. Too finely divided feverfew is not necessary. Immediately after the manipulations, the delenki are planted in the prepared planting pits and well watered.
Some types of pyrethrum are propagated by cuttings. To do this, from May to August, young root shoots are cut. They are rooted in partial shade in a loose fertile substrate. It is advisable to cover the cuttings with a film so that they do not dry out. You need to regularly ventilate and spray young plants. After 2-3 weeks, they will take root and the seedlings can be moved to a permanent place.
Plant care
Even busy or lazy gardeners can plant feverfew in their yard, as the plant needs minimal care. For its landing, well-lit sunny places are chosen. You can plant feverfew and in partial shade, in this case the shoots will stretch a little more. The soil for planting can be almost any. Pyrethrum poorly tolerates only heavy, marshy soils. On fertile garden land, plants will look an order of magnitude larger. Too acidic soil, it is recommended to add a small amount of ash.
Pyrethrum is a drought tolerant plant. They need to be watered only in prolonged intense heat, when the leaves begin to lose turgor, and the soil cracks. Watering during flowering is more important. The rest of the time, plants completely bypass natural precipitation. Immediately after planting, the soil can be mulched with peat or chopped grass. In this case, after watering, a dense crust will not form, and weeds will stop bothering.
Feeding is carried out 2-3 times per season. Mullein plants respond very well. The first fertilizer is carried out in the spring, before flowering begins. Immediately after the inflorescences wither, a complex mineral composition is introduced. At the end of summer, you can water the bushes with infusion of shredded weeds.
Wilted inflorescences need to be cut. This will prevent self-seeding, and also allow the plant to build up strength and repeat flowering after 1-2 months. High grades in an open, blown area may need a garter.
You can not grow flowers in one place for a long time, since overgrown bushes with their roots interfere with each other and deplete the soil. Every 3-4 years they are divided and transplanted to a new place.
Pyrethrum resistant to plant diseases and most parasites. Their juicy greens liked the slugs. You can get rid of pests with the help of an impenetrable barrier made of ash or crushed eggshells. Some gardeners place boards near the bushes under which slugs hide in the summer heat and from where they are easy to get and destroy.
Pyrethrum from bugs and fleas
A few centuries ago, the property of feverfew was known to rid the house of unpleasant parasites. The fact is that the pyrethrin alkaloid in its composition causes nerve palsy in insects. From time immemorial, housewives collected Persian chamomile flowers, dried them and ground them into powder. He was added to the bathtubs for bathing, as well as decoctions were made, which were sprayed with linen, clothes and animal hair.
It must be remembered that in the light useful substances quickly disintegrate and efficiency decreases, so you need to store the powder in a dark place. Repeat spraying items every 1-2 days.
Garden use
Bright flowers of the pyrethrum perfectly enliven the flower garden and fill the garden with colors. They are suitable for creating a flower garden in a natural style. Bushes are planted in groups on the sides of paths or in the frame of a flower garden. Pyrethrum goes well with bells, nyvyanik, doronicum, red poppy, basil and cosmea. High varieties are used not only in the garden, but also for cutting and arranging bouquets.
