Classification of marigold species, description and characteristics of varieties and hybrids
Many owners of private houses and summer cottages make flower beds on the site for growing flowers. Among the most common flowers planted in a flower bed are marigolds. The characteristic features of these plants include the compactness and straightness of the stems. Before planting a flower bed with crops, you need to familiarize yourself with the main types of marigolds.
Species diversity of marigolds
Marigolds are called unusual flowers with a pleasant aroma, which appears due to the fact that they contain phytoncides. The plant is protected from pests and many diseases. Flower varieties can vary in seedling height, leaf shape and petal shape. All flower varieties are divided into three broad categories:
- Thin-leaved. Plants belonging to this group are characterized by branching and small bush height, which grows up to 20 centimeters. They have small flowers that can be colored orange or yellow.
- Rejected. Such marigolds are taller, as they grow up to 40-50 centimeters. In the process of flowering, flowers with yellow petals appear on the bush. The distinctive features of the plant include small and thin leaves.
- Large-flowered. This group includes tall flowers that grow up to 80-90 centimeters in height. Large tubular flowers form on adult plants, which always turn bright yellow.
Color variety of marigolds
It is no secret that velvet flowers can be painted in different colors and therefore it is recommended to get acquainted in more detail with the tint variety of the plant.
Yellow
Most often, plants are grown on the plots that have yellow flowers. The Lemon Prince is considered a common variety with yellow flowers. This is a tall flower with large inflorescences, the diameter of which reaches ten centimeters.
Red
All varieties of marigolds with red petals are distinguished by compact spherical bushes about 25-30 centimeters high. The bushes are covered with dissected leaves and have thin stems.The flowers are small, since their diameter does not exceed 2-3 centimeters.
Orange
Gardeners who want to grow bright flowers can plant orange marigold varieties on the site. Common varieties with orange petals include Discovery, Boy, and Lunasi Orange.
White
White-petaled marigolds are quite rare and therefore there are not many such varieties. The most popular hybrid of white marigolds is Kilimanjaro. This is a plant with tall seedlings that grow up to 75 centimeters. The flower diameter reaches 10-12 centimeters.
Lemon
Plants from this group have double yellow flowers with a light orange color. It is customary to plant them in flower beds with other yellow plants.
Variegated
Some growers do not want to grow monochromatic flowers in flower beds. In this case, it is better to plant variegated marigold varieties, in which the petals are painted in several bright colors. These include Bonita, Carmen, Bolero and Sofia.
Purple
Lilac flowers with a purple tint can decorate any flower bed. Most purple varieties have tall bushes with large inflorescences.
Varieties of marigolds by flower type
There are six main types of marigolds, which differ in the type of inflorescences.
Anemone
Plants with an anemone type of inflorescences have large tubular flowers, which are located in the center of the bush. Popular varieties of such marigolds include Durango with bright orange petals.
Clove
Carnation plants have ligulate inflorescences with petals dissected along the edges. A striking example of such flowers is the Carmen variety with corrugated reed inflorescences of an orange hue. The flowering of such plants lasts 3-4 months.
Terry
A distinctive feature of terry marigolds is that their inflorescences are formed from tubular and reed flowers. Eskimo is considered a popular terry plant. The inflorescences of this hybrid grow up to 12 centimeters.
Semidouble
In semi-double plants, inflorescences are formed in several rows. This group of marigolds includes the Red Brocada variety with small flowers and the Golden ball with yellow inflorescences.
Plain
Simple inflorescences include a number of reed-type flowers and several tubular flowers. Their petals are small and grow only up to 10-15 millimeters. Most often they are orange or yellow in color.
Chrysanthemum
Completely composed of tubular inflorescences. This group includes almost all annual varieties of marigolds.
Annual varieties
Some growers prefer to plant annual flowers in the garden. There are four popular varieties of annual marigolds.
Kilimanjaro
Hybrid variety with low-growing bushes 45-50 centimeters high. A distinctive feature of Kilimanjaro is that it has a pronounced main stem. Blossoming of inflorescences begins in early summer and ends in September.
Eyes of the Tiger
A low-growing plant that grows up to 35 centimeters. The eyes of the tiger have bright inflorescences with yellow petals. The advantages of the variety include its simplicity in care and long flowering.
Red gem
To decorate flower beds, a Red gem is often planted, which has neat spherical bushes. At the end of May, reddish inflorescences with a diameter of three centimeters form on them. The red gem blooms from early June to mid-September.
Antigua
This is a dwarf variety, in which the height of the seedlings does not exceed 25 centimeters. During cultivation, elongated green leaves appear along the main stem. Antigua has a double inflorescence with a diameter of 8-9 centimeters.
Perennial varieties
Before planting perennial marigolds, you need to familiarize yourself with the popular varieties of such varieties.
Bonanza
Bonanza belongs to the group of miniature plants that do not grow taller than 25-27 centimeters. They have terry inflorescences with a diameter of 50-65 millimeters. A feature of the variety is considered to be early flowering, which begins in early May.
Harmony
The most beautiful varieties of marigolds include Harmony, whose inflorescences consist of several middle flowers. Their edging is colored golden, and the tongues are brown with a brownish tint.
Bolero
The main feature of these flowers is the speed of their development. A month and a half after planting, inflorescences are formed on the seedlings, which begin to bloom in May. The advantages of Bolero include drought resistance and unpretentiousness to soils.
Classification of marigolds by bush height
Marigolds, like any other plants, can differ in their height.
Low-growing varieties
In compact flower beds, stunted and miniature flowers are most often planted.
Mandarin
People who grow dwarf varieties often plant Mandarin in flower beds. The variety has annual bushes, the height of which does not exceed 20 centimeters. Mandarin is propagated by seeds, which are usually planted in the first half of April.
Gnome
Florists who are attracted to small bush plants can plant Dwarf marigolds in the garden. Such bushes do not need to be grown in flower beds, as they grow well in small boxes or pots.
Petit Gold
These low flowers are often planted near vegetable gardens to scare off insects with the pungent smell of inflorescences. Petit Gold blooms throughout the summer and loses its decorative effect in the first half of September.
Medium-sized varieties
Some growers consider medium-sized marigolds to be the best choice for planting, since their bushes are not low and not too tall.
Gold Ball
The variety has branched bushes that grow up to 40-45 centimeters. Gold Ball has thick shoots, on the surface of which a reddish bloom. Flowering begins in mid-June and ends in October.
Feuerbal
Feuerbal's height is 45-55 centimeters, but in greenhouses the bushes grow up to 75 centimeters. The flower has reliable and strong shoots that do not need to be tied.
Farbenklane Harmony
The variety has lush bushes, on which inflorescences appear 2 months after planting. Farbenklane Harmony has a long flowering period that lasts until November.
Tall varieties
Tall marigolds are considered the most suitable flowers for large flower beds.
Lemon Queen
Among the tallest marigold hybrids, Lemon Queen is distinguished with a height of one and a half meters. The seedling has powerful stems, on which yellowish inflorescences form over time.
Glitters
Glitters has tall bushes that grow up to one meter. A distinctive feature of the variety is its late flowering, which begins in the middle of summer and ends in early autumn.
Golden Fluffy
The lowest tall flower with a maximum height of 85-90 centimeters. Golden Fluffy blooms in early August and blooms for 75 days.
Large-flowered varieties and hybrids
Florists who like large-flowered plants should pay attention to hybrid marigolds.
Hawaii
Among the plants with large flowers, the Hawaii variety is distinguished, in which the inflorescences grow up to 15 centimeters. They are bright orange in color.
Fantastic
This is a whole series of varieties that differ in the color of the inflorescences. Fantastic can have orange, golden and dark yellow petals. Their diameter is 12-14 centimeters.
Vanilla F1
To decorate flower beds, large Vanilla marigolds are often planted, which have tall and leafy bushes. Vanilla has large inflorescences with lemon-colored petals.
Types of hybrid marigolds
There are several varieties of hybrid varieties, the features of which should be familiarized.
Erect (African) varieties
There are six African varieties that are most commonly planted in flower gardens.
Guilbert Stein
The main feature of the hybrid is considered to be its spherical inflorescences, which resemble chrysanthemums. Gilbert Stein has strong, tall bushes that do not need to be tied up.
Gold Dollar
A tall flower that is resistant to pests and low temperatures. The Gold Dollar has large inflorescences that turn red during flowering.
Mary Helen
The main stem of the plant grows up to 80 centimeters in height. It is covered with large green leaves with cuts along the edges. Mary Helen blooms from late June to October.
Aztec
A variety with bright inflorescences that can have lemon and yellow hues. Aztec does not tolerate low temperatures and therefore is often grown in greenhouses.
Lime Green
It is a unique flower with bright green petals. Lime Green is resistant to high temperatures and easy to care for.
Beatles White Moon
The most beautiful erect variety with white flowers. The plant is considered versatile, as it is suitable for decorating a garden, creating elegant decorative compositions and marigold flower beds.
Rejected (French) varieties and hybrids
Before planting a flower bed with French marigolds, you need to familiarize yourself with the popular hybrid flowers.
Notti Marietta
The cultivar is known for its dwarf bushes that can be grown in small pots. Inflorescences of Notti Marietta are also compact and grow up to five centimeters in diameter.
Rusty Red
Low-growing marigolds with resistance to frost and common pathologies. Flowering peaks in the second half of July and early August.
Orange Flamme
Bushes are distinguished by strong branching and low height. Rusty Red inflorescences form in one row, they bloom in early June.
Little hero
The advantages of the Little Hero include its abundant and long flowering, which ends in autumn. Also, the flower is resistant to drops in temperature and unpretentious in care.
Carnival
An annual plant with branched low-growing bushes 20-22 centimeters high. Carnival is easy to care for as it is resistant to high humidity and drought.
Ferbul
Ferbul is suitable for growers who grow early flowering plants. The variety blooms in late May and ends in November.
Harlequin
Harlequin has beautiful inflorescences with yellow-red petals. The variety blooms in spring when the air temperature does not drop below 10-12 degrees Celsius.
White hybrids
There are three hybrid varieties with white inflorescences.
Kilimanjaro F1
An erect, powerful shrub that, with proper care, grows up to 65 centimeters. Kilimanjaro is distinguished by its large white flowers that bloom in summer.
Beatles White Moon F1
This hybrid is known for its resistance to temperature extremes and high humidity. Snow-white inflorescences bloom in late spring and wither in the 20th of October.
Eskimo F1
A variety with compact bushes that bloom in late May. Most often, Eskimo is planted in small beds, since the height of the bush is only 25-35 centimeters.
Thin-leaved (Mexican) varieties
Mexican fine-leaved flowers are often used in garden decor.
Lulu
Marigolds with small inflorescences 2-4 centimeters in length. Lulu blooms in early spring and fades with the onset of the first frost.
Golden Ring
A popular thin-leaved flower that is often grown in compact flower beds. Golden Ring has an abundant flowering that stops at the end of November.
Ursula
These are spherical bushes that grow up to 25-27 centimeters.Reddish inflorescences form on them, which bloom in March and fade after the first night frosts.
Lemmon marigolds
Lemmon marigolds are called flowers with lemon-colored inflorescences. These are tall plants that can grow up to 120-155 centimeters. They have large inflorescences 5-10 centimeters in length. A distinctive feature of Lemmon marigolds is a pleasant aroma that attracts bees and butterflies.
Conclusion
When creating flower beds, many flower growers plant marigolds. Before planting such flowers, you need to familiarize yourself with their main varieties and distinctive features.
