Godetia flower is one of the most popular herbaceous annuals grown in gardens and parks. The name was based on the surname of the outstanding botanist from Switzerland C.H. Godet, who long time studied and classified unusual plant. Despite the fact that godetia comes from Southern California, it has perfectly adapted to the Russian climate and can be grown in almost all regions of the country. Its main advantages are excellent decorative properties and unpretentiousness. Of particular value are the delicate, silky flowers, which strongly resemble the buds of azaleas and clarkias.
What godetia looks like
Godetia is a small, beautiful annual plant of the fireweed family, which is often used to decorate plots and balconies.
It is a herbaceous, highly branched plant with erect shoots that can reach up to 65 centimeters in height. The stems form dwarf bushes, which, depending on the variety you choose, can be spreading or pyramidal. The oblong leaves with a pointed apex are arranged alternately on the stem, the leaf blade is entire. During flowering, which lasts from early summer to late autumn, godetia is densely covered with bell-shaped or cup-shaped large flowers (diameter 5-10 cm). They are located on small peduncles, can be double or ordinary and consist of four delicate petals gathered into a delicate brush. There are varieties on the market with white, coral, blood red, purple, peach and multi-colored buds, so godetia is perfect for creating beautiful flower arrangements. At the end of flowering, fruits form on the plant in the form of a tetrahedral cylindrical box. The seeds are quite small, their similarity remains for 3-4 years.
Types and varieties of godetia
More than 20 species of godetia grow in the world, on the basis of which breeders have created many different varieties and hybrids. This variety will allow you to choose a plant with the desired size, color, shape of foliage and inflorescences, so you can make even your wildest fantasies come true when decorating your flower garden. In such abundance it is easy to get confused, so to do right choice, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristic features of each variety. We invite you to consider the most popular types of godetia among gardeners, which can become an unrivaled decoration for your summer cottage.
Exists more than twenty varieties of godetia, and new varieties and hybrids are also being developed
Godetia grandiflora
Large-flowered godetia grows as a medium-sized bush from 20 to 40 cm, with fragile erect stems, which become woody after the growing season. The flowers are large, reaching 10 cm in diameter and can be bell-shaped or cup-shaped. The buds are collected in leafy inflorescences located at the tips of green shoots. Different varieties of this species differ in the shape and color of the petals. Godetia grandiflora is characterized by a rather long flowering period, which lasts from July until the first October frosts. This species was the basis for such hybrids as Weisser Schwann and Orange Room. The first is distinguished by delicate, silk-like, snow-white flowers, and the second has bright buds of a fiery red color.
Godetia grandiflora, as the name suggests, has larger flowers compared to other species.
The lovely godetia has tall, erect, brittle stems that become semi-lignified towards the end of the growing season. The flowers of various varieties are bell-shaped or cup-shaped, the diameter of the bud is about 6 cm. Satin petals can be white or bright in color. The narrowly lanceolate leaves have pointed tips. Flowering lasts for three months (July-September). Based on this species, breeders have developed many varieties. Crystal snowflake is a tall plant, with stems up to 75 cm. It has charming snow-white flowers, with petals of a simple, unassuming shape. Also widely used is a hybrid called Kirshkenigin, which during flowering is covered with colorful pinkish-red flowers.
Godetia Charming is one of the tallest species of Godetia with large flowers.
Godetia Azaleaflower
Godetia azalea flower is the best choice for those who want to transform their garden plot, but without spending a lot of time and effort on caring for it. The plant is unpretentious and can quickly adapt to conditions. environment and tolerate temperature changes. Seedlings can be planted in early spring without fear that the flower will suffer from frost. This variety is a compact plant, reaching 40 centimeters in length, its stems are highly branched. Azalea flower godetia is valued for its excellent decorative properties and abundant flowering, during which the bush is decorated with large, lush, double flowers.
Godetia azalea flower is one of the most unpretentious varieties of godetia, able to withstand even frosts
Godetia Terry
Let us immediately note that terry godetia is a hybrid variety of a large-flowered variety, and therefore is not found in nature. It has fairly large decorative inflorescences, which can be double, semi-double or densely double. For example, the azalea variety is represented by the following popular hybrids:
- diamond - has large carmine-colored flowers with snow-white splashes;
- bride - distinguished by azalea-shaped snow-white flowers, which can also have a delicate pinkish tint;
- Cattleya is a compact bush with gorgeous fuchsia-colored buds.
Due to its decorative properties, Godetia terry is perfect for a bouquet
But the varieties called Sybil Sherwood and Rembrandt have become most widespread, so we will look at them in more detail.
The monarch is a low-growing, neat bush that grows up to 20 cm. The graceful bell-shaped godetia flowers in the photo have a carmine spot at the base and can be of various colors: white, pale and hot pink, crimson. You can grow this dwarf plant at home, for example, on a balcony or windowsill. If you want to decorate your garden plot with godetia monarch, then you will certainly be pleased with the fact that it has increased frost resistance and is able to tolerate well spring frosts. Despite the fact that the bushes are quite compact, they need a sufficient amount of free space to develop. Experts recommend maintaining a distance of 25-30 centimeters when planting seedlings in open ground.
Godetia Monarch - a low-growing mixture of gocedia with many flowers
It is a decorative annual, characterized by lush, long-lasting flowering and increased frost resistance. The bush grows up to 40 centimeters in height, the shoots and foliage are colored rich green. During the flowering period, the plant is densely covered with large flowers, the diameter of which is 5-8 centimeters. Godetia red wine can grow both in containers (pots) and in open ground. The seeds are sown in May, and already in August the flower will delight you with colorful, terry, scarlet-red buds. As a rule, it is used to decorate park flower beds, alpine slides, garden borders and rabatok, often grown for cutting.
Godetia Red wine has a beautiful rich burgundy color
Godetia Rembrandt
Rembrandt is a low-growing variety with straight growing stems. It has large flowers with a diameter of up to 6 cm, which stretch vertically upward. The inflorescence consists of wavy petals, cut along the edges, with a carmine spot near the center. Unusually graceful flowers resemble silk fabric. The pinkish-green stems bear narrow, pointed leaves. The bush has a semi-spherical shape and does not grow higher than 35 centimeters, so it will certainly appeal to lovers of compact plants. This type Ideal for planting in small containers or flowerpots, it will also make an excellent decoration for your flower bed. Flower borders created from godetia look bright and elegant.
Godetia Rembrant has a large flower with a watercolor reddish spot at the base
Godetia Meteor
Meteor is a herbaceous annual that can reach up to 40 centimeters in height. Thin, erect shoots are covered with tiny fibers and form a fairly compact bush. Double, cup-shaped flowers grow up to 8 centimeters in diameter and can be soft pink, bright red or purple. You can sow planting material in the garden at the beginning of April. The first flowers appear on the bush in July, flowering lasts until the first frost. It is recommended to place Godetia in a sunny area with loamy soil. Perfect for decorating flower beds, balconies and terraces.
Godetia Moth
This is a low-growing godetia that reaches up to 40-50 centimeters in height. It is sown between May and April. Flowering lasts from July to October. During this period, beautiful, lush flowers are formed on compact bushes. Depending on the variety you choose, they can be semi-double or double. There are also hybrids with a fringed border or wavy edges, like butterfly wings. The moth is characterized by a fairly long flowering period, so it will delight you with colorful buds throughout the entire summer season. Looks great in flower beds and suitable for decoration leading edge borders.
Godetia moth sepals resemble butterfly wings
This hybrid is one of the most popular among gardeners. Cinderella gained such popularity due to its very abundant flowering, during which many colorful inflorescences cover the bush. It is interesting that sometimes it is difficult to see the bright green leaves and stems behind the large (up to 8 cm in diameter) flowers. During flowering, the bush, reaching up to 60 centimeters in height, resembles a lush bouquet. The flowers consist of double translucent petals with a pearlescent sheen. As a rule, this variety is used in the formation of mixborders and group plantings, but it also looks great in outdoor pots or balcony containers.
Godetia Cinderella - a double type of Godetia with a pearlescent sheen of flowers
If you want to bring more bright colors to your garden plot, then Godetia orange glory will be the best choice. Its colorful semi-double flowers will definitely not leave you indifferent. The main advantages of this variety, experts include unpretentiousness, frost resistance and abundant, long flowering. The plant has the form of a compact, branched bush with rich green leaves. Delicate, wavy petals form silky buds, the edges of which are colored salmon-orange. When cut, velvet inflorescences look great, but more often they are used when decorating a summer cottage.
Godetia Orange Glory has semi-double salmon-orange flowers.
Godetia Sybil Sherwood
Sybil Sherwood - forms small bushes up to 45 cm. Has large, up to 7 cm in diameter, semi-double flowers of an unusually delicate pink color with a lighter tone of the edges and central yellow eye. The leaves are bright green and the stems are pinkish-green. Flowering lasts from early July to mid-October, so you can fully enjoy the unusual beauty of this plant. With its help, you can easily transform an inconspicuous border, border or flower bed; planting in hanging garden flowerpots is also possible. Flowerbed beauty prefers to grow in well-lit areas or in light partial shade, otherwise the color of the flowers may be less saturated.
Godetia Sybill Sherwood - a small bush with soft pink flowers
York - grows with low spreading bushes up to 40 centimeters. It has large, bowl-shaped flowers, about 6 cm in diameter, with entire petals. At the base the red-purple bud is colored White color. The bush is formed by reddish-brown stems with fragile, wide lanceolate-shaped leaves, which are practically invisible during the flowering period due to the large flowers covering the plant. Godetia looks great in combination with other flowers, so it is often used to create a variety of flower arrangements, design alpine slides and flower beds.
Blitzstral is a medium-sized plant, but proper care can reach 60 cm. Large delicate cup-shaped flowers with a diameter of about 6 cm have barely wavy petals of a fiery red color. This variety is characterized by long flowering, frost resistance and unpretentiousness. Perfect for beginner gardeners who want to transform their summer cottage, but do not yet have enough experience to grow capricious exotic plants. In addition, godetia grows well in room conditions. Plant the seedlings in a special container or flowerpot, and then decorate your apartment, cottage or balcony with colorful flowers.
We have presented to your attention a description of the types that are most often found on the market. Naturally, there are many other varieties that have remarkable decorative properties. Varieties such as godetia clarkia, yesenia, cornflower, weiser ostrich, tourmaline and girlish blush deserve special attention. Mixed hybrids are also often found on the market. The Aelita company distributes planting material containing seeds of various varieties. For example, Godetia bornita is a mixture of low-growing hybrids, dragonfly is an early-blooming hybrid, and a wedding bouquet consists of large-flowered varieties that are excellent for cutting.
How to care for godetia at home
Godetia, unpretentious in care and planting, does not require special maintenance conditions and is capable of blooming even with minimal attention to it. But in order for it to be able to show all its beauty and splendor, simple agrotechnical measures will be required. If you carefully care for godetia, it will thank you with large, lush flower buds.
Lighting
The main condition for the luxurious flowering of godetia is the amount of sunlight. For planting it, it is better to choose open, well-lit areas. In shady places, a bush reaching towards the light will spend a lot of energy, so flowering will be more moderate and the flowers will be smaller than those of plants located in places warmed by sunlight.
Godetia grows well in well-lit and open places
Temperature
The plant can tolerate temperature changes well, so it can be planted in early spring. To obtain vigorous shoots, it is necessary that the average daily air temperature be 16-18°C. Despite its relative cold resistance, godetia is a heat-loving annual and prefers to grow in areas well-warmed by the sun. Be sure to take this into account when choosing a place to plant seedlings.
Godetia temperature is suitable for growing outdoors in summer
Humidity
Godetia does not tolerate prolonged exposure to conditions with excessively high air humidity, so spraying should be carried out only when absolutely necessary. For example, in too hot weather.
It is worth noting that an excessively rainy summer can be harmful delicate flower, so we recommend that you take care of its protection.
Watering
The amount of moisture should be moderate. Flowering will be impaired if the soil is dry, so regular watering will be required during dry times. Prolonged waterlogging of the earthen coma also negatively affects the intensity of flowering, but with the advent sunny days godetia will quickly replenish the luxurious inflorescences. The amount of watering largely depends on the air temperature in summer. In dry, hot weather, the plant will need more moisture, so it will have to be watered 3-5 times a week. At the beginning of autumn, watering is slightly reduced so as not to harm the root system of godetia.
Godetia needs moderate watering
Top dressing
Lush and abundant flowering, which begins in July, is well promoted by the application of mineral fertilizers, which contain components intended for flowering plants. This is especially recommended during the budding period. Fertilizers used should contain a minimum amount of nitrogen. Fertilizing should be done once a month; excess fertilizing can lead to excessive growth of the bush to the detriment of flowering.
For more rapid growth and the blooming of godetia flowers, you can fertilize the soil with mineral fertilizers
Bloom
Delicate and graceful godetia flowers delight with their beauty for only three days, after which they wither and new ones appear to replace them. Faded inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner - this stimulates the formation of new buds and prolongs the flowering period of the bush. Godetia flowers are self-pollinating and in order for the fruit to ripen, the inflorescence is not removed after flowering, but is left to ripen. Its cylindrical box produces a large number of very small seeds, which, after drying, are ready for sowing. Seeds for growing godetia can be used after a long time, because they retain their germination capacity for up to four years.
How to grow godetia from seeds
We have already said that godetia is an annual plant. It follows from this that propagation by cuttings or dividing the bush is impossible and the only option for gardeners is growing from seeds. Fortunately, there is nothing complicated in this method and even inexperienced gardeners can cope with the task. There are several ways to sow seeds. In areas with warm climates, seeds are added to the soil for the winter. In temperate latitudes, seeds are sown in open ground in April. In colder areas, seedlings are first grown and only when the weather warms up are they transplanted into open ground.
Godetia is an annual and reproduces by seeds
When to plant godetia
Godetia reproduces exclusively by seeds. They ripen after flowering in a cylindrical fruit-box. When it begins to darken, it is removed from the bush and dried, after which it is opened and a large number of very small seeds are removed. Autumn sowing of seeds is carried out in late autumn, when there is very little time left before the first snow falls. During this period, the seeds will gain moisture, but will not have time to germinate. Plants grown from seeds sown for the winter adapt better and resist diseases and climate changes well, but such plantings can survive the winter and produce active seedlings only in a warm climate zone. Seedlings grown from seeds planted in the winter produce abundant flowering 2-3 weeks earlier than those planted in the spring.
The soil
Godetia loves neutral and nutritious soil when planting and caring for it. To do this, it is enough to add organic and mineral fertilizers to the soil before planting. Loamy soil is preferable, since sandy plant will grow more slowly. To grow a healthy plant, it is necessary to provide the roots with space and breathability, this is done by loosening and weeding the soil surrounding the seedlings. Removing weeds will protect young shoots from leaf-chewing pests that quickly spread in the dense foliage of the grass.
Godetia prefers neutral soil acidity
Planting godetia for seedlings
If there is a need to sow seeds for seedlings, then prepared containers with loose and nutritious soil and good drainage are used for this. To ensure that the planting is not too dense, the seeds are mixed with sand and this mixture is sown on the surface of the soil. A thin layer of earth is poured on top and a greenhouse environment is created by covering it with film. For ventilation, the film is removed daily. It will take about ten days before the shoots appear and after that the film will no longer be needed. After two true leaves appear, the seedlings must be plucked and, after pinching the roots, planted in separate pots, 2-3 sprouts in each. If you leave godetia for further growth in pots, it will perfectly decorate a balcony or veranda with its generous flowering. It is better to use low-growing varieties for this. Transplantation into open ground is carried out in May or June, depending on weather conditions. You must be prepared for the fact that the seedlings will get sick for some time after suffering stress. Godetia reacts very poorly to transplantation, so you should resort to this method of planting only if other planting methods are impossible. To reduce damage to seedlings, it is better to plant the plant together with a ball of earth, transferring the plants to a new place. The distance between seedlings should be at least 20 cm so that, as they grow, they do not interfere with each other. For tall varieties, the distance between seedlings is increased to 0.5 meters. It is better to transplant early in the morning or at sunset, for easier survival; it is good to choose cloudy weather for this work.
Planting in open ground
The most common method of planting godetia in the spring, immediately in open areas. Before planting, in order to protect future seedlings from diseases, it is necessary to keep the seeds in a light solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. Mineral fertilizers, humus and wood ash are added to the dug up and moistened soil. Godetia seeds are very small, so they are shallowly immersed in the ground by about 0.5 cm. The first shoots appear after 12 days, to speed up this process you need to create greenhouse conditions. To do this, the planting site is covered with film. The shoots are usually too dense, so picking should be done when two true leaves appear. Young plants with a small root system are less likely to be injured and experience stress more easily. Flowering begins 65-70 days after planting the seeds. During this period, young shoots must be fertilized three times. To do this, you can use a nitrophosk solution. If flowering does not occur within the specified time frame, perhaps you have not fertilized the soil well enough or the location chosen for planting is not suitable for growing a delicate flower.
Adult Godetia seedlings are planted in open ground in the spring.
Diseases and pests of godetia
Godetia is not capricious and not very susceptible to various diseases. The most common disease is root rot, which damages root system with excessive soil moisture. To prevent the disease from spreading to healthy individuals, affected plants must be removed and burned. This will prevent the spread of putrefactive phenomena.
In flower beds overgrown with weeds, leaf-eating pests quickly grow and can cause damage and spoil appearance flowering bushes. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and destroy weeds in a timely manner. If spots appear on the leaves and stems, you can suspect that the plant has been affected fungal diseases: downy mildew or rust. Timely treatment of bushes with fungicides will save them from further spread of the disease. Pests that can cause damage to godetia include flea beetles and aphids. They are destroyed by spraying the bushes with insecticides or a solution of laundry soap and ash.
Godetia can be affected by fungal diseases
Godetia flowers are open in any weather and do not lose their decorative effect until they fade. The plant is perfect for cutting; it remains fresh for a long time when standing in vases and fills the room with its light aroma. If there were unopened buds on the branch before cutting, then they will definitely bloom in the vase.
Godetia can conquer anyone forever. Planting and caring for it is not much more difficult than any garden flower, and there is a whole lot of joy from the fruits of your labor. That's right - a sea of bright flowers of the most unexpected colors, pleasing the soul and the eye until frost. What kind of beauty is this? Does it grow everywhere? Are there any specifics to growing it?
Description
Godetia, the planting and care of which are discussed below, is a lovely annual.
It is often mistakenly called Clarkia, which is quite similar to it. A distinctive feature of these two “sisters” from the same fireweed family is the flowers and the height of the stem. Clarkia is slightly taller (up to 1 meter), and its inflorescences are smaller. In godetia they can be about 10 centimeters in diameter, and in clarkia they can be up to a maximum of 6.
Godetia grows in compact bushes, sometimes spreading, sometimes looking like pyramids. Their average height- from 20 to 60 centimeters. The leaves are slightly elongated, pointed, resembling a lancet. Hence the name - lanceolate.
The plant has unusually spectacular flowers. Godetia, planted and cared for correctly, forms entire living carpets - red, pink, white, lilac. And all of these are of different shades. Moreover, both terry and simple types look equally beautiful. The plant delights caring gardeners with its beauty from July until the first frosts, which do not arrive in different regions of Russia at the same time.
Growing by seeds
Godetia propagates in two ways - by seeds and seedlings. Seeds are sown in winter (two weeks before frost) or in spring - in April, or possibly in May.
This method is preferable if there is no urgent need to get flowering before July. Godetia seeds are very small. There are up to 3 thousand of them in 1 gram. You need to sow such a small thing on the ground, and lightly sprinkle it with earth on top. Before planting, the bed must be dug up, loosened and watered. It’s a good idea to add fertilizer, for which godetia will later thank you with lush flowers. Planting and care in open ground are simple, but require attention. The plant blooms best when there is enough space for each bush. You should not plant them closer than 20 cm to one another, but it is not possible to sow small seeds accurately. If they grow thickly, they will have to be thinned out. Moreover, most often young sprouts are thrown away because they have a hard time with transplanting. To make sowing more convenient, you can mix the seeds with a small amount of dry soil or sand. The bed after sowing and before germination, which appears after about 2-2.5 weeks, should always be moderately moist, for which it is carefully watered with a watering can (not with a hose!).
Growing godetia seedlings
If you want to surprise your neighbors with beautiful flowers already at the end of May - beginning of June, Godetia seedlings are used. Planting and caring for seedlings is somewhat difficult, since the plant does not like moving from place to place.
But here, too, everything can be done so as not to damage the root system of the flowers. For this purpose, around March, special plastic seedling cassettes are purchased. Some people use plastic cups. Several seeds are placed in each cell filled with soil (in case some do not sprout). The soil is moistened. You can cover the cassette with the planted seeds with glass or polyethylene. After emergence of seedlings, the covering material is removed. This method is simpler than sowing seeds in a common box and then picking the seedlings into separate pots. Naturally, while the seedlings are growing, make sure that the soil in the cells is moist. Some gardeners already begin fertilizing at this stage.
Planting seedlings in open ground
In order for godetia to develop well, planting and caring for it must be carried out according to rules that have been proven over the years. Seedlings are planted in a flowerbed when several true leaves appear on them.
Is it necessary to warm up the soil in the flowerbed and install a greenhouse above the seedlings planted in the ground? It depends on the region where the gardener lives. If this is the north (for example, Surgut), then yes, measures must be taken to prevent the sprouts from freezing. But if this is the south of Russia, where in May even at night the air temperature is not lower than +15+20 degrees, then additional insulation is not required.
Godetia seedlings are planted in prepared holes dug at a distance of 20-25 centimeters from one another. Before this, the cells are well moistened. This way you can remove the sprout from them (it’s convenient to do this with a teaspoon) without destroying the clod of earth and without damaging the roots at all. To make it easier for the planting godetia to spend its first day in a new place, planting and caring in open ground is carried out in the evening or in cloudy weather. Another trick is that before planting on the street, home seedlings need to be hardened, that is, gradually accustomed to the open air. To do this, boxes with sprouts are taken out of the house several times, first for an hour, then for two, and the next day the time is increased again.
Further care
Correct planting and care (for Godetia to bloom magnificently) are of paramount importance.
The photos show what flowers look like if the gardener follows the following rules:
Don’t forget to water (godetia is not a cactus, it doesn’t live without water);
Do not fill with water (even in prolonged rainy weather the plant suffers);
Don’t be lazy to destroy weeds in a timely manner (such harmful insects who love to feast on delicious godetia leaves);
Fertilize (you can use mineral fertilizers or organic matter, for example chicken manure, the main thing is not to get carried away with nitrogen);
From time to time, carefully loosen the soil between the plants;
In extreme heat, it is advisable to shade godetia;
To prolong flowering, pick off dry inflorescences and resulting fruits.
Diseases and pests
Of course, it is important that godetia pleases with color, planting and care. The photo below shows a healthy godetia at the peak of its bloom.
However, we must not forget about illnesses. In this case, it is downy mildew (or the more familiar downy mildew), root rot, and rust.
Downy mildew reveals itself as spots of whitish coating on the leaves, less often on other parts of godetia. Control measures are fungicides. If the disease has affected one or two plants, it is better to remove them from the flowerbed. Prevention - avoiding dense plantings and regular waterlogging of the soil.
Root rot (fusarium) also develops in areas that are constantly damp. The disease is caused by a fungus that penetrates from the roots into all parts of the flower. It reveals itself by wilting leaves. Control measures include destroying diseased plants; spraying does not help. Prevention - before planting, treat the soil with antifungal drugs.
Rust is also a fungal disease. It is easy to spot by its characteristic red spots. Control measures - fungicides, “Topaz”, “Strobi”. It is advisable to remove diseased plants and spray healthy neighboring ones.
Of the pests, aphids love godetia. They fight it using the usual methods for this insect: if the pest is small, you can treat the plant with a soap solution, and if there is a lot, then with special preparations.
Where should godetia grow? Planting and care. Photo in the garden
For godetia, the question of where to plant it is very important. She loves the sun, will not refuse partial shade, and in dense shade she will not please with flowers. It is more comfortable on loamy soils than on dry, sandy soils, where at best it will not bloom, and at worst it will simply wither away.
Another whim of hers is water. It should be enough, but without going overboard. That is, where it is constantly wet, it should not be planted. In general, the clever godetia grows well even on balconies in flowerpots and boxes. In gardens, this wonderful flower looks impressive both in single plantings and in a community of others that are suitable for the growth of plants. Godetia is used to decorate borders and is used in garden decorations. High varieties are used for cutting. Flowers last in a vase for up to 2 weeks.
The photo above shows a wonderful border of different varieties of godetia. This plant has quite a lot of them. Let's talk about some that are especially common on sale.
Godetia Monarch. Planting and care. Photo
This variety, although its name is majestic, is dwarf. Monarch bushes in rare cases reach up to 30 cm. More often their height is 18-20 cm. But they are compact and lush, withstand frost better than others, bloom earlier and fade later. Godetia Monarch, planting and caring for which is practically no different from those for other varieties, is very well suited for growing not only in a flowerbed, but also on a balcony in pots. The low height of the variety is ideal for decorating garden paths, borders, and edging flower beds with taller plants. The flowers of this variety match the plant itself - not very large, up to 5 cm in diameter. Their color range is 50 shades of red. In the photo - Godetia Monarch.
Terry
Godetia flowers can be simple, with one row of petals, or double, similar to roses. Terry is not a variety, but a type of plant. There are quite a lot of varieties with lush petals. Gardeners especially like Godetia Azalea. Its flowers come in pink, red, salmon and every shade in between. Azalea bushes are lush and tall. That's why it is cut for bouquets.
Aurora is also a tall variety with red, pink, purple flowers. Aurora tolerates weather changes better than others, for which it is valued by gardeners. But the Rubicunda variety has not gained popularity, because it is still new and not very well developed. However, the variety has significant advantages. The petals of Rubicunda flowers have absorbed the entire palette - white, pink, red, combined. They are up to 6-7 cm in diameter with a bush height of 60 cm and above. Rubicunda blooms profusely and for a long time. Godetia terry, planting and caring for which is carried out according to general scheme, unusually decorates any yard, any flower bed. The splendor and height of the bushes make it possible to plant this variety in small groups, which looks very impressive, or to make a living, fragrant carpet out of it.
Large-flowered
It is the large-flowered varieties that have the most luxurious (up to 10 cm in diameter) godetia flowers. Planting and care (the photo shows large-flowered terry godetia) for these plants are ordinary.
If you follow the recommendations given above in this article, large-flowered godetia varieties will delight you with their beauty from June (using the seedling planting method) until October. The bushes of this species of godetia are different. There are dwarf varieties, for example Feuerkönig, whose flowers are up to 4 cm, red with a white spot, and the bush is only up to 23 cm. There are medium ones - Sybil Sherwood, Rembrandt, Meteor. The height of their bushes is up to 40 cm, the flowers are up to 6 cm in diameter, simple or double, the color of the petals is red and pink. Rembrandt's petals, in addition, are wavy and jagged along the edge.
Tall varieties include Blitzstral with dark red wavy petals and a calyx of flowers up to 6 cm, as well as Orange Room with orange, slightly reddish flowers resembling bells.
Lovely
In appearance, this godetia fully corresponds to its name. Planting and caring for it are, again, usual for the species. You just need to take into account that the Lovely Godetia grows up to 60 cm, its bushes are slender but lush. Therefore, when planting, the flower must be given enough space. Its flowers are not very large, only 5-5.5 cm in diameter, but there are a lot of them on the bush, which always looks impressive. The petals are slightly widened along the edge, wavy or smooth, shiny. Their shades range from red to lilac. Godetia the Charming is good both in flower beds and in bouquets. It blooms until frost and produces a lot of seeds. Their germination lasts up to 3 years.
Godetia are annual herbaceous plants of the fireweed family (Onagraceae). The genus includes up to 20 species, originating mainly from the Northern and South America. Most species grow bush-like and have a compact crown of a narrow pyramidal shape. Lanceolate leaves are arranged alternately. Godetia has beautiful bell-shaped flowers up to 10 cm in diameter. This feature allows this plant to be used as a tapeworm on the lawn. Many gardeners plant godetia in flower beds, borders and mixborders. Place in the garden for godetia: loamy soil of medium density is suitable for the flower. It grows well in a sunny location and tolerates partial shade. Watering - moderate, regular. Godetia is propagated by seeds.
The most popular varieties are Godetia grandiflora and azalea (azalea).
There are also a huge variety of other types:
- terry,
- monarch,
- Rembrandt,
- red wine,
- dragonfly,
- butterfly,
- cornflower,
- corrugation,
- girlish blush,
- Yesenia,
- Katerina,
- gorgeous,
- weiser ostrich,
- summer paradise,
- darling,
- Maiden Blush,
- meteor,
- orange glory,
- cinderella,
- lovely and others.
Some of them are shown in the photo.
Photos of varieties: large-flowered, azalea-flowered, monarch, Rembrandt and others
Description of popular varieties of flowerbed flowers
- Godetia grandiflora: a plant about 25-30 cm high, distinguished by beautiful pinkish flowers.
- Pleasant godetia: has alternately arranged linear-lanceolate leaves, the height of this species can reach 60 cm. The flowers of pleasant godetia can be either simple or double, single-colored (white, pink, lilac, red) or variegated. Blooms profusely from July to September.
Bushes strewn with delicate white, pink, red, crimson flowers cause admiration. Their flowers are 6-7 cm in diameter with silky, satiny, shiny double petals, similar to roses and azaleas. But this plant is long years settled in my garden thanks to its vitality, endurance, abundant and long flowering.
Propagation by seeds, planting, cultivation and care in open ground
Every year in early spring I sow godetia seeds on permanent place straight into open ground. This is the most effective and simplest method, since seedlings can only withstand transplantation at a young age. Godetia blooms much better and earlier when sown before winter.
Weeding, loosening the soil, fertilizing - that's all this plant requires. Responds to the application of organic fertilizers. I add mullein infusion (1:10) or bird droppings infusion (1:15) at the beginning of growth.
My favorite is Godetia terry pink azalea. Although popular varieties are Rembrandt - terry, pink with a large carmine spot, Diamond - terry, bright red with a white spot, Bride - azalea-shaped, white with a soft pink tint. Godetia charming is unusually impressive when planted in groups. Its delicate tones are beautiful combined with striking groups of hybrid varieties of antirrhinum (snapdragon).
If you want your flower garden to be elegant and beautiful all summer, be sure to plant godetia in it. 
Godetia translated from Portuguese means “ray” - it really is like a ray of sunshine that warms the soul with its beauty in any weather.
I love this flower very much, and every year it never ceases to delight me with its splendor. The plant has a branched stem, flowers - simple or double, of a wide variety of colors - are collected in short racemes. It is amazingly cold-resistant. Grows well in loamy soils with a high humus content. Photophilous. However, for my godetias I usually choose a place with slight shade from the scorching midday sun, protected from drafts.
I sow godetia for seedlings in mid-March. Although the instructions often write that it can be sown before winter. However, my experience shows that in this case the plant either does not germinate at all, or out of 10 seeds only a couple germinate.
When the seedlings have two or three true leaves, they can be picked into separate pots and then planted in the ground. I noticed that the plants, when planting which I added white clay to the holes, grew and bloomed much faster and more abundantly, and the flowers themselves were bright, saturated colors.
In dry weather, godetia needs regular watering, but we must remember that excess moisture is unacceptable. During the growth period, loosening and fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers, alternating with the addition of organic matter, are necessary. As for mineral fertilizers, I prefer Aelita-flower, and for organic fertilizers, mullein infusion (1:20).
Flowering of godetia begins on the 70-80th day after planting and lasts until frost. And the flower stays in bloom, according to my observations, for about 3 days. In order for flowering to last (unless, of course, you are interested in collecting seeds), faded inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner.
Godetia flowers are somewhat similar to purslane flowers, but unlike them, they are open in any weather (except rain) from morning to evening, emitting a subtle aroma of vanilla.
If you want to put godetia in a vase, throw a few crystals into the water citric acid- the vanilla aroma will intensify.
If you think that godetia can only be grown in open ground, then this is not at all true: with proper care, it will feel great both on the balcony of an apartment and when grown at home.
The garden flower godetia is a beautiful plant that belongs to the fireweed family. Originally from sunny California. Godetia is able to transform any area, giving it sophistication and originality. The flower does not require special conditions, so it is easily grown from seeds in a garden bed.
Description of godetia
Godetia is an annual flower, usually ranging in height from 15 to 65 centimeters. The stems are smooth and branched, often pressed to the ground. The buds are quite large, but elegant. They can be terry and smooth, the diameter reaches 7-10 centimeters, and are collected in luxurious inflorescences. The shade can be very diverse: from dark purple and bright red to soft pink and snow-white. In the photo of godetia you can easily see the diversity and richness of the shades of its bud. The plant blooms from late June until frost.
This plant is frost-resistant and can easily tolerate temperatures down to -5 degrees.
Godetia has a pleasant vanilla aroma. When you cut the flower and place it in a vase, add a little citric acid to the water. This will enhance the aroma.
Yulia Petrichenko, expert
Godetia is a popular flower. There are many types and varieties.
Types of godetia
- Large-flowered
The length of the stem reaches 30-40 cm. This variety is characterized by abundant flowering. The funnel-shaped bud with a diameter of up to 10 cm has pink, scarlet, snow-white, and dark burgundy shades. - Terry
The size of the stem is 30-65 cm. The flowers are hairy, diameter is 5-8 cm. The shades of the buds are scarlet, pink, snow-white. In some cases, the flowers are two-colored. - Meteor and Rembrandt
They are considered the most common varieties of godetia. The buds are a rich red color, hairy. - Monarch
The second name of the variety is “dwarf godetia”. The height is usually no more than 20 cm. The shape of the buds resembles bells. Variety of colors. The budding period is from June to September. - Azaleaceae
Flowers in soft pink tones.
Flowering duration
Peduncles appear 2-2.5 months after the seeds germinate. This phase can be easily extended - remove wilted buds regularly. In a bouquet, a flower pleases the eye for a very short period of time. Therefore, gardeners prefer to grow it in the front garden or on the windowsill in a pot.
Growing godetia from seeds
Godetia is an unpretentious plant; you can easily grow the flower at home. Plant directly in open ground or plant in pots. In our country, gardeners use growing godetia from seeds at home.
The seeds do not lose their viability for three to four years.
How to collect seeds
Start collecting seeds a month after flowering. That's how long it will take them to mature. As soon as you notice the darkening of the boxes, cut them off and dry them a little. Then open the boxes and pour out the seeds. Sow before winter or store in a dark place until spring.
Planting seeds
Plant in open ground in April, after soaking the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate. This will protect the seedlings from various diseases. IN winter time Store the seeds for 24 hours in a cool, dry place. Godetia thrives in slightly acidic or neutral soil. The flowerbed should be on the sunny side.
Procedure:
- Dig up and moisten the soil. Add fertilizer and tree ash. Apply humus at a dosage of 5 kg per square meter.
- Sow the seeds into the soil, sowing depth is half a centimeter. Make the distance between flowers about 20 cm.
- Cover the planting with film, then the first shoots will appear within 7 days.
- Thin out too densely sprouted shoots.
The seedless method is superior to the seedling method in that in the second case there is a greater likelihood of injury and death of flowers.
Godetia seedlings
Sow the seeds in early March in containers filled with loose soil. Make small greenhouses out of them. Mix small seeds with sand and sprinkle on the surface. Add a small layer of soil on top. Place a film over the seeds, which will create a greenhouse effect. Ventilate and water the soil daily.
Expect the first shoots in a week. After they appear, get rid of the film. Pick up the seedlings after two full-sized leaves have grown on the seedlings. Diving involves digging up a seedling, clearing the soil, trimming the long roots and transplanting it into individual pots of 2-3 pieces.
Transplanting godetia seedlings and caring for seedlings
At the end of May, seedlings with a height of 6 cm are planted in a flower bed. Be sure to do this together with a lump of soil to avoid injury to the roots. When landing, the absence of bright sun is welcome. Plant before dawn or after sunset. Maintain a distance of 20 cm between sprouts. The taller the plant, the greater the distance between seedlings.
It is enough to look at a photo of godetia to fall in love with the flowers that will bloom with proper cultivation and care of the sprouts.
Basic tips:
- Large-flowered godetia is most suitable for growing seedlings. It is not as fragile as other species.
- Avoid contact of seedlings with cold air.
- When planting godetia in the ground, do not expose the fragile roots.
- Plant the plant in medium-density soil.
- When planting seedlings, add a pinch of white clay to each hole. This will speed up the growth of the plant and make the buds colorful.
Godetia care
The flower is unpretentious in care, but it is not immune from diseases and pests. To eliminate all kinds of risks, follow the main rules:
- Loosen the soil around the plant.
- Weed the weeds; there should be plenty of space in the flower bed.
- Water frequently, but not too much. Oversaturation with moisture is just as destructive for godetia as its lack. Excessive watering causes root rot. In this case, burn all diseased specimens.
- Avoid overheating the godetia. Do not leave the plant in the open sun, in mandatory build a shade for the flowers.
- Help tall godetia stems grow by tying them to wooden sticks or steel rods.
- Provide regular feeding of flowers with fertilizer with a low nitrogen content. Do the procedure once every three to four weeks. Recipe: Mix 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska with 10-12 liters of water.
- Use humus, compost, ash, and Agricola as top dressing. Organic fertilizer recipe: mullein 1 to 10 or bird droppings 1 to 15, apply to the soil at initial stage plant growth.
- Remove dried leaves and faded buds in a timely manner. This will make flowering vigorous and long lasting.
- Do not plant the flower near melons. This will help avoid fungal diseases. Signs are dark blotches on leaves and flowers. In case of powdery mildew or peronosporosis, use fungicides.
Interaction with other plants
The plant gets along well with all the flowers in the flowerbed. The ideal combination is godetia and rudbeckia. The delicate flowers of the first set off the bright long petals of the second. This annual plant looks great with clarkia.
Godetia is a plant that requires virtually no care. At the same time, it generously rewards its owners with beautiful flowering. The plant is often used in decoration landscape design, perfectly complements flower beds and lawns.
Do you grow godetia at your dacha? Share your experience with us.
This one is gentle and beautiful flower won the hearts of gardeners with its grace, beauty and charm. Godetia is rightfully considered the decoration of any garden. The plant does not require any special care. It is quite easy to propagate, and soil preparation and planting do not take much time. Sometimes the plant is affected by diseases, but they can also be dealt with if radical measures are taken. In the photo you will see some varieties of godetia grown by flower growers in their gardens and summer cottages. With their appearance they attract the views of people who visit these fairy gardens, evoking thoughts of tenderness, love and beauty.
Origin and characteristics of godetia
Annual herbaceous plant was first discovered on the American continent, or more precisely, in Southern California. History is silent about how it got to Europe, but it got its euphonious name from the botanist C. Godet from Switzerland. He studied and classified the flower, described its structure, began breeding research and achieved significant results in its improvement and hybridization.
Today, through the efforts of Godetia and his followers, there are more than 20 species and hybrids of godetia all over the world.
Characteristic features and structure of the annual plant
A bushy, erect plant of the fireweed family reproduces by seeds and consists of a medium-sized rhizome, stems, leaves, flower and fruit:
Godetia blooming
- Root - as is typical for annual plants, the roots do not grow to great depth or breadth; they are compact shoots with small branches.
- The stem is straight, formed into pyramidal or branched bushes, depending on the variety.
- Leaves - have an oblong shape with sharp ends, alternate, leaf edges are smooth, without teeth or grooves.
- The flower - its structure resembles cups or bells, is very reminiscent of azalea flowers, sizes vary from 3 to 10 cm in diameter, and has short pedicels.
- The fruit is a capsule with four sides, elongated in length, in which small seeds ripen in large quantities. They retain their germination capacity for up to 3 years without losing varietal qualities.
The size and color of godetia flowers depend on the variety; they come in the most delicate and unpredictable shades: snow-white and pink, purple and peach, plain and combined.
Brief description of popular godetia varieties and hybrids
- Grandiflora - large flowers up to 10 cm in diameter, compact, fluffy bush, 20 to 40 cm high, bloom from July to October. The color of the petals can be varied; shades of crimson, red and white predominate.
- Weisser Schwann is a branched bush up to 35 cm high, flowers are white, cup-shaped, small (up to 6 cm).
- Orange Room - the height of the bush reaches 50 cm, the shades of flowers are red-orange, the diameter is up to 5 cm, the shoots are brown-green.
- Lovely godetia - has fragile stems, flowers of different shades of red and purple, flowering time - from July to September.
Lovely godetia
- Crystal snowflake - the flowers are white, like bells, turned upward, the stems reach a significant height of 75 cm.
Reproduction, planting and care of godetia
Like all annual plants, godetia is propagated by seed. Seeds are collected a month after the end of flowering, in September - October. The boxes are dried a little and the seeds are taken out of them. If further storage is planned, the seeds must be dry. Another way is to leave whole seed pods for storage, but this does not guarantee complete safety of the seeds.
Flower seeds are sown in prepared areas or seedlings are grown for further transplantation into the ground. When it is still cold outside, and you want to see blooming godetia in your garden as early as possible, this method is suitable; it will allow you to bring the flowering period closer by 1-2 weeks.
Planting seedlings
Sowing in containers is carried out in March-April, small seeds are mixed with sand and sown in nutrient soil, sprinkled with crushed peat mixed with soil on top. The container can be covered with film or glass.
When the plant produces its first shoots (after 10-12 days), the film can be removed. Then they pick, that is, plant the sprouts in separate containers of 2-3 pieces. Now you need to wait until the weather allows you to plant the plant in open ground.
Attention! If you use polyethylene film, you need to remove it every day for a few minutes to ventilate it, and also moisten the soil with a small sprayer to prevent movement of the top layer of soil.
Selecting a sowing site and preparing the soil
Godetia is a heat-loving plant, so choose better place open to sunlight. According to the composition of the soil, this plant prefers slightly acidic loamy areas. Before planting, you need to add organic and mineral fertilizers: ash, humus, phosphorus and potassium additives. Next, proceed as follows:
Godetia sprouts
- dig up the entire area allocated for planting godetia, loosen the soil thoroughly;
- pour generously from a watering can with small holes, wait until all the moisture is absorbed;
- mark the planting sites, maintaining a distance of more than 25 cm between plants;
- Use the handle of a shovel or a simple peg to make 5 cm indentations;
- Place one seedling in one hole, dig it in, and mulch the plantings.
When sowing with seeds, the same method of soil preparation applies, but the seeds are sown in a certain order: in furrows or scattered. Then, after the sprouts appear, they are thinned out, creating regular rows or other shapes. During the season, it is recommended to carry out one or two feedings, water as needed, no more than 2 times a week, and regularly cut off dried stems, leaves and inflorescences.
Advice. Godetia seeds are also planted in open ground before winter, but keep in mind that cold winters are not suitable for this heat-loving plant; such sowing is only possible in southern latitudes. If desired, it is better to plant it in a pot as a houseplant and enjoy the beauty in winter in your own greenhouse or on the windowsill.
How to deal with godetia diseases
The main diseases that affect this plant are root rot, rust and downy mildew, fungal diseases that are almost untreatable. Effective methods are considered:
Take preventive measures against various diseases
- Treatment of the plant and the entire plantation with fungicides ( chemicals) before flowering begins.
- Removal and disposal of diseased plants.
Attention! The use of toxic chemicals is not justified and is not recommended for use in small flower beds.
Loading...