There are flowers in the gardens that are much more luxurious than cosmetology, they are perennial, large, fragrant ... but I nonetheless cosplay with its airy green cloud and slightly bitter smell, with satin, shining in the sun, and in the twilight petals like more .
And how the drops of dew or rain look fresh and touching on her pinnate leaves, how wet the heads of flowers gravitate from the moisture and how proud they straighten, just dry out! ...
The name of this plant is derived from the Greek kosmeo - "decoration", others refer to the similarity of its bright inflorescences burning against the background of pinnate foliage, with the constellations shining on the night sky ... True, there is an offensive nickname - "unkempt lady", given Obviously for the similarity of thin foliage with unruly curls. Personally, I prefer the name "babe". But I'm ready to agree to the space.
The native land of the plant is tropical and sub-tropical America. We only grow two species - the double-billed (C.bipinnatus) space and the sulfur-yellow space (C.sulphureus).
Depending on the variety, the double-billed space (C.bipinnatus) can be from 60 cm to 1.5 meters in height. But babies and young ladies with the growth of the "supermodel" have thick-stemmed erect stalks with double-baked fingers as follows from the name itself on threadlike lobes with openwork leaves. Inflorescences-baskets large, up to 10 cm (according to some sources - up to 15 cm) in diameter, consist of marginal flowers, commonly called petals, and tubular, small, most often yellow, forming a small disc. In this case, the marginal flowers can be of various colors - from white through pink to red or purple, different shades and degrees of saturation. The "petals" themselves are arranged in one or more rows, while demonstrating a different degree of terryness. There are colors with gentle transitions of color, as, for example, in the popular Dream Picotee. Moreover, breeders have brought out a variety with edge flowers in the form of conical tubes or long fungi, called Sea Shells - "sea shells".
Varieties of beauty set out a lot . Among them, we can mention Rum (lilac-pink with a purple middle), Sensation Rosenelfe (pink). Sensation Purety (pink), Cosmos Rogly (scarlet), Albatros 1 m high (pure white). Candy Stripe - 1 m (pinkish-white with a pink border). Daygdream - 80 cm (whitish pink with purple center), Dazzler - 1 m (fiery crimson), Early Summer Series - early blossoming (mixture of white, crimson and pink) Elysee - 1.2 m (large white), Fruhwunder - 1 (mix of white, red and pink), Cazebo Mixture - 60 cm (large-color mixture), Cloria - 1 m (dark pink with crimson zone), Hinomaru - 1 m (white with pinkish-red base), Imperial Pink -1 , 2 m (bright pink with a dark center), Louvre - 1.2 m (large, pink), Opera - 1, 2 m (large, light pink), Picotee - 1 m (pure white with a pinkish-raspberry border ), Pinkie - 1 m (bright pink), Psyche Mixed - 80 cm (semi-double cm ), Radiaance - 1 m (pure pink with a crimson stain), Schnitt Series (a mixture of pink, purple and white), Sea Shells (mix of colors), Sonata - 60 cm (mixture of white and pink), Trianon - 1,2 m (raspberry-red), Yega Series (low, large, red, pink and white), Versailles Series (dark pink, red and white), Yellow Garden 1.2 m high (gentle lemon yellow).
The second representative of the "glorious family" is called the sulfur-yellow space (C.sulphureus) . It occurs from the mountainous areas of Central America (from Mexico to Brazil). This beauty differs from its northern sister not only by wider shares of dissected leaves, but also by much smaller flowers (4-6 cm), lowered stalk and much more sensitive to colds. Growth, however, these more pampered southerners are also not small - up to 150 cm.
The color of the petals in them is not very different - they have only different variations of orange and golden yellow . Well, the varieties of this cosme is smaller, and the names often hint at the connection with gold. For example, the cultivar of the South American plant is for some reason called the Klondike (which is known to be located in North America), although it would be more logical to link it to local legends about the gold placers of Eldorado. However, what to give the variety "name" - breeders know better.
Serdi varieties of cosmea sour-yellow are worth paying attention to the following: Klondirke, Orange Flame (orange), Yellow Ruflkes Cold height of 30-35 cm (orange, terry), Bildo - 25 cm (bright yellow), Bright Lights - 75 cm ( half-cup mixture of yellow and orange), Crest Series - 75 cm (lemon, gold, orange, red). Lady Bird Series - 30 cm (semi-double yellow and orange), Lichterfest - 60 cm, PoLidor Mixture - 75 cm (semi-double colorful mix), Sunny Series - 30 cm (golden and red semi-double), Sunset - 85 cm (orange).
As for agrotechnics, both beauties are flyers and prefer a sunny place. However, in all other respects, this "person" is rather compliant - they are undemanding to the soil, cold-resistant, drought-resistant enough, they tolerate the transplant quite well.
Seeds of Kosmia oblong - usually dark brown, grayish, gray-yellow in color, 7-12 mm long, a bit like claws of animals. They sow them either in April in the open ground, or (less often) in seedlings in a cold hotbed, followed by a landing in a permanent place in May. Sown in the middle of May, cosmees are shown from the ground in 5-7 days. The ascending plants are thinned (and seedlings are planted) 35-40 cm apart.
Seeds of cosmece are not very easy-germination lasts 1-2 years . And I will note: cosmea - the plant is cross-pollinated, therefore, no matter how carefully you harvest seeds from your varietal plants, next year when you sow your eyes will open all sorts of colors, and the most interesting, most likely, will not be reproduced. Hardly you will wait for any appreciable terry or the refined petals curled in the manner of a sea shell, and the prevailing colors, most likely, will be pink-lilac. Although, of course, interesting hybrids can turn out, but they are unlikely to be reproduced in the offspring. So it's better to buy varietal seeds from well-established firms.
It should, however, be borne in mind that with a thickened planting, the cosmoses grow small, with thin lobed stems . Especially "willingly" plants fall around during downpours with sharp gusts of wind. This means that individual plants and curtains require support. In this case, for high single specimens fit imperceptible metal supports, painted in green, and for curtains and curbs the ideal option - to pull between the supports around the perimeter of the band wire or twine.
Intensively growing, actively branched cosmetes will quickly hide these means of support with lush curly openwork leaves.
To prevent lodging, it is useful to periodically plant the plants, which causes the formation of accessory roots . A more powerful root system makes plants more drought-resistant.
Blossoms of the cosmos in July and pleases with the rainbow of flowering to the very first frosts, which unfortunately kill our beauty almost immediately. She, in my opinion, very attractive buds (agree, this can not be said about all the colors, dense, tight, slightly flattened and very shiny.
Breaking off all the discolored baskets, it is possible to stimulate the formation of new buds, and the flowering will be intense until the first autumn frosts. If the withered heads are left, the carpet can give the cosme.
... And how brightly on its background are piercing blue cornflowers and convulsive-volus, bright eshcols and golden marigolds, marigolds! And also cosmonaut - the mistress to hide unsightly sites in the garden, until the accomplishment of which has not yet reached the hands. This is where the high beauty curtains come in.
The beauty and houses in a cut will please . And though she stands in the vases not very long, but it happens that even single large buds are revealed. Personally, I really like bouquets of "garden motley grass", not the last place in them is occupied by the cosmos.
And all that is necessary is to sow the seeds in a properly cultivated land. And in a couple of months, this place will be filled with lush jungle of an openwork plant shining with stars of brilliant flowers.
A. SEDOV.
Magazine "My Favorite Flowers" № 7 2006
