In the world there are a large number of flowers of all sizes and colors, however, not all of them are prepared to resist any type of climate. In this article, you will learn about summer flowers so that you can understand their incredible characteristics. Continue reading.
summer flowers
When thinking about flowers, many associate them with the season known as spring and there is no doubt about it, since it is where most of the plants that come to bloom develop. However, it cannot be denied that there are other seasons when they also bloom. Summer flowers are one of them, they grow during these months and whose main characteristic is that they are very resistant to heat. Some examples that can be mentioned are: sunflowers, begonias, lavender, dragon's mouth, among others. Next, we will explain what the main species are:
Sunflower
It is native to North and Central America. It is known that it was planted around 1000 BC, but already in the Aztec culture there are images of sculptures where it was cultivated around 2600 BC, as evidence of this was found in the excavations of San Andrés. In those Native American cultures, such as the Aztecs, Otomi and Incas in Peru, they used it as a symbol to represent the sun. This was demonstrated when Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conqueror, went to look for him in Tahuantinsuyo, when he was venerated by the indigenous people.
It was these settlers who sold the flower to Europe in the early XNUMXth century, and after that it began to be cultivated all over the world, not only as an ornamental but also for food. Also, in the XNUMXth century, when sunflower oil began to be used in Russia, by members of the Russian Orthodox Church, as it was one of the few oils that could be used, as it was allowed for Lent in use. of the fast In the XNUMXth century, it began to be marketed by Daniil Bokarev, who invented a technique to extract it in larger quantities.
To know if we are facing this summer flower, the following characteristics can be highlighted. It is a plant that is born every year. Its height can range between one and three meters. It contains a kind of rough hair, and its stems and leaves are arranged in an upright and elongated position. In turn, the plant has a central part consisting of several seated flowers, which are placed as if in a disk or cup and in turn are protected by bracts or leaflets.
On the other hand, it can be noted that its outer flowers are yellowish, while the small ones inside are light to dark brown. Before the stigma is receptive, the anthers mature. Common spread occurs through interbreeding with others. The fruits are generally cream-colored, and the rest have fine dark-colored and vertical lines, containing two scales, and the size can vary from 3 to 5 millimeters.
gazania
It is a class of very hardy summer flowers that do not need much maintenance and bloom almost all year round, especially in hot climates, although they usually bloom from spring to late summer. They all close every night to reopen their flowers, like the daisy, during the day. There is a wide variety of Gazanias depending on the color of their flowers and their leaves are very bright green to silver. It is a plant that does not grow much and blooms when placed in full sun. The climate must be mild, resisting sporadic frosts down to -5ºC.
It must be watered frequently in summer, but without excesses, to which fertilizer can be added during the flowering season every 15 days. If we want them to bloom regularly, we must remove the withered flowers and take into account that they have an average life of five years. There are varieties with stems like vines so that they can be used to form bushes or massifs. It is also perfect for use by the sea, since it is not affected by salt, although it needs a very well-drained and slightly moist soil.
canna indica
It is a rhizomatous plant with erect stems that is often used in the garden to form beautiful isolated clusters. The leaves are light green, lanceolate in shape. The flowers are tubular and form terminal clusters at the end of a thick stem. They have bright colors: red, yellow with red spots, strawberry or pumpkin. It should also be placed in a sunny and sheltered place as it is sensitive to cold and wind, even if it is bright. Irrigation will be abundant in summer and almost nil in winter.
It is not very demanding in terms of soil, so it can be planted in any type of soil; although he always appreciates good compost with manure. The time to plant or move the rhizomes is in late winter or early spring. They should be planted about 30-50 cm. far away from each other. It is advisable to dig up the rhizomes after flowering. Once the plant has wilted, clean it up and store it in a dry, dark place until it's time to replant. The most common disease that Achira can suffer from is bud rot, caused by overhydration.
Dragon mouth
It is a class of summer flowers originating from the Mediterranean basin, it can grow between 40 and 60 cm in height, but there are many cases in which it can reach a meter in length. This is a fairly common size for this plant. All of them have leaves arranged in the form of a cascade, this may become their greatest attraction, because in nature there are very few plants that grow naturally in this way, some must be planted on hangers, so it can be developed in this way special.
petunias
They are summer flowers of the permanent type, categorized as annuals. They are small in size, the smallest measuring 15 centimeters and the largest 60 centimeters, depending on the variety or species. The leaves of this plant are arranged alternately or opposite, that is, one above the other. Its shape is elongated in some cases and rounded in others, showing entire edges and covered by a hair that has a somewhat sticky texture. As for their stems, these plants have a very branched character and whose dimensions do not exceed 45 centimeters in height.
The flowers come from the crests of the branches. It has a trumpet or bell shape, the flowering process is quite intense, it begins in spring and lasts until the end of autumn. In addition, they are of different colors, there is even a type of two colors. There are colors like white, lavender or lavender, blue, yellow, red and even black. The only color it doesn't have is orange. Another fact about the properties is that, although they are not registered as aromatic plants, they give off a pleasant aroma.
Geraniums
They are summer flowers that can be classified as annuals, biennials, and perennials, making them perfect for displaying in open spaces. In addition to having a subtle aroma. This upright and bushy plant, which can reach a meter and a half in height, is born from horizontal stems from the ground, that is, from an underground stem with several buds that grow horizontally, from which roots and herbaceous shoots are born from its nodes. The stems are herbaceous when they are born and in the growth stage they become woody when the branch matures.
The leaves are orbicular, that is, almost round, with three or five lobed segments, with hairy leaves. Its flowers are borne in pairs of the hairy gland type, its blades or foliar organs near the flowers are lanceolate and sessile. These flowers form an inflorescence called a pleocasium, which means that under the main axis, which ends in flower, three or more lateral floral branches are formed. The flowers are umbrella-shaped and can be obtained in various shades, from light to dark.
festivals
It can be determined that this class of plants is a perennial or biennial herbaceous species with a long shelf life. It is a cushion or creeping plant with a height of up to 25 centimeters. The leaves are opposite each other and vary according to the height at which they are. The upper ones have a peduncle with a jagged edge with numerous lanceolate leaves, the lower ones are incised and the smaller ones are sessile, that is, they do not develop a stem.
As for the flower, it is shaped like a very small tube, with dichotomous inflorescences where the main axis ends with a flower. They can come in different colors like purple, pale pink, white, red, orange making it a really eye-catching plant with a little care. This plant needs good sun exposure. It requires little irrigation, since they can be placed at a distance and with small amounts of water, which always avoids waterproofing, which makes a good drainage system necessary. As for the substrate, it must be fertilized with organic compost and some sand.
Marigold
Calendula is a type of yellow daisy with intense orange tones that can be classified as a short, very dense herbaceous plant that generally flowers most of the year. They can be outdoors, on patios or on balconies. Calendula is one of those flowers that can be used for just about anything, if you know how to use it. On the one hand, the oil obtained from this type of winter flowers is in great demand for its healing properties.
Hibiscus or Hibiscus
This is a class of summer flowers, which has developed from a type of shrub native to Asia that begins to bloom in mid-spring and ends its season in early fall. They reach a height of 1 to 2 m. Its flowers are large, 10 to 15 cm in diameter, with 5 red, pink, white or bicolor petals. It can be grown in different ways, the most common are pots with hedges.
Nemesias
They are small annual plants that are barely 45 cm tall, with light green and opposite leaves, which can be entire or lobed. The attractive flowers appear in clusters and are small and profuse (many different colors occur). They bloom in summer and spring. They can be used on balconies and terraces or for stones, beds, curbs or mixed borders in the garden. On the other hand, it needs to be exposed to full sun (avoid the strong midday sun in a Mediterranean climate) and cannot tolerate changes in temperature, cold or excessive humidity.
Lobelia
It is a plant that is characterized by the formation of unique flowers, which has its origin in the south of the African continent. It is a genus of plants that includes more than 400 different species, it grows to form bushes, although it can also be planted in pots. It is small in size, as it can reach about 30 cm in height. It has a ball shape, so it is usually grown in large containers. Also, it is annual or, in other words, it grows, flowers and dies in the same year. However, in hot climates it can behave as a perennial species.
The leaves of these summer flowers are alternate, oval and spatulate. But, if there is something that draws the attention of this plant, it is its flowering. In the specific case of its flowers, these come to develop in spring and its flowers can last until the end of autumn. Its petals have a blue tint that fills every corner with life and serenity. On the other hand, it can be noted that there is a great variety of shades that this class of African flora can develop, that is, white, pink or violet.
Lavender
It is one of the most popular summer flowers in the world, not only for its decorative nature, but also for the number of properties it enjoys. Its delicate fragrance is used in various products, cosmetics, body care and at home, also as an aroma and, of course, as a medicinal plant. It originates from the Mediterranean region of Europe. They are tiny flowers that sprout in great numbers and are a real spectacle with a pleasant aroma.
This plant is a wild shrub, perennial aromatic type with branched stems, which can reach 1 meter in height. The stem is woody and erect from which some herbaceous branches emerge. The leaves are complete and spherical, ash-green in color, growing opposite and narrow, slightly leathery. On the other hand, it is necessary to point out that its small purple flowers with cylindrical terminal tips can contain between 6 to 10 specimens.
Zinnia
It is an annual plant native to North America of small size that reaches between 15 and 90 centimeters in height depending on the variety. Its flowers, similar to those of dahlias, can be found in a wide range of colors and can be single, double or bicolor. The leaves are very rough to the touch, oval in shape and dark green in color. These plants bloom from spring through fall and are perfect for both potting and gardening.
Varieties of these summer flowers with green stems are ideal for cutting and placing in a vase. Zinnias love sun and warm temperatures. They need a light substrate and frequent watering, but without flooding or wetting the leaves. The flowers, we will have to remove them once they are withered and we will pay them every 15 days with a specific fertilizer for flowering plants. Reproduction in spring is by seed.
Convolvulus
They are a class of summer flowers that develop each year, originating from the temperate and warm regions of the world. They are characterized by having intact trumpet-shaped flowers, of colors that can be white, violet-bluish, pink or bicolor that are exposed to the sun. They can grow up to 2 meters high, but in cultivation they rarely exceed 30 cm. They are especially interesting for covering floors, but you can also have them in pots.
Jerusalem artichokes
Perennial plant 0,5 to 2 m tall, stem erect. The petiolate leaves are opposite at the bottom of the stem, alternating at the top. Also, they are broad and ovoid with jagged edges; the lower ones can be 30 cm long, the upper ones are smaller and narrower. As for the flowers of this plant, it can be said that they are yellow and with a diameter of 5 to 10 centimeters. The florets reach thirty and have the same color. The fruits are achenes very similar to those of the sunflower, that is, with a villain with 2 main awns of 9-12mm and 1 or 2 smaller deltoids.
Begonia
It is a species of plant that belongs to the Begoniaceae family. It is native to the tropical regions of the American, African and Asian continents. The flowers vary in shape and size, the color being the most important as it is very intense and soft. There are approximately 1500 species within this genus, but only 150 are used for landscaping. The petals are very characteristic, due to their size, width and lightness, they have a helix shape arranged in layers one on top of the other. In addition to the representation of hybrid species, there is also pink and red among the colors.
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