The initially spherical flowers of this yellow flowering perennial have an immense luminosity. It is rarely found in the wild, which is due to the fact that its natural habitats are increasingly disappearing.
Characteristics
- Plant family: Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
- Botanical name: Trollius
- German names: Trollblume, Goldköpfchen, Butterblume, Butterrose
- Growth: persistent, herbaceous, clump-forming
- Height: 20-60 cm
- Foliage: green, pinnate, dull, coarse, leaf margin roughly serrated, shedding leaves
- Flowering period: May to June / July
- Flower: yellow or orange, simple, spherical, later cup-shaped
- Fruits: Follicle fruits consisting of many beaked follicle fruits
- Toxicity: poisonous
- Lime tolerance: tolerates soils poor in lime
Location requirements
The globe flower is found in nature (Trollius) preferably in ditches, on river banks, on moderately fertilized wet meadows and in bogs, where water and nutrients collect. As a result, it would ideally be in partial shade in open, moist and airy places in the garden.
- Goldköpfchen needs a location with sufficient light
- but should be protected from strong sunlight
- especially during lunchtime
- is particularly suitable for near-natural planting
- on the banks of ponds, streams, other bodies of water or wet spots in the garden
- Also suitable for perennial borders, provided the soil is right
- generally prefers moist to swampy locations
- with poorly drained, humus and nutrient-rich soils
- Gold heads completely unsuitable for dry locations
- as well as for underplanting trees
- does not tolerate root pressure from larger plants
Tip: Good companion plants
for this pretty perennial, for example, cranesbill, funkie, swamp forget-me-not, clove root, ziest, iris and bleeding heart.
planting
The best time to plant is in spring. You create correspondingly large planting holes and insert the plants. If necessary, you can enrich the soil with a little compost. The buttercup forms a broad and dense root system that extends to a depth of up to 40 cm. Their space requirements are accordingly. You calculate about seven to nine plants per square meter. Plant spacing of approx. 30 cm recommended. This perennial looks particularly beautiful in group plantings, then it is particularly bright.
Tip: Since the globe flower is now one of the protected species and is also one of the most important suppliers of nutrients for bees, planting in the garden is definitely recommended.
Care instructions
The demands on the maintenance of this perennial depend primarily on the respective location. Since it is constantly dependent on moisture, maintenance in sunny locations is much more time-consuming than in partially shaded and damp places. Under optimal conditions, however, this plant is very robust and easy to care for.
to water
Globeflowers need a constantly moist soil level from spring to autumn. Even brief periods of flooding are no problem for them. In the first few days after planting, water should be used extensively, unless the perennial is directly on the water. The need for water is particularly high in very dry summers. Accordingly, the demand must then be met from outside. In general, the sunnier the plant, the more often it should be watered.
Fertilize
Next to a damp and partially shaded location
the buttercup needs a humus environment with sufficient nutrients. Consequently, it should be fertilized from time to time. It is best to give a commercial complete fertilizer or compost in the spring before flowering. In this way, the plants are well supplied with nutrients over a longer period of time. If there is no compost at hand, a flowering fertilizer rich in phosphorus is also suitable.Cut
During the flowering period, wilted flowers should be cut off regularly. This stimulates the formation of new flowers and can lead to a re-flowering. Once flowering is complete, the plants can be cut back close to the ground. As a rule, it is not absolutely necessary to cut close to the ground, as the globe flower moves in anyway in autumn. After pruning, it is advisable to fertilize one more time, e.g. B. with compost.
Overwinter
Thanks to its European origin, buttercups are hardy even in our latitudes. The above-ground parts of the plant freeze back to the ground in winter. Usually a small stalk remains, from which the plant sprouts again in the next year. The roots survive in the ground and also sprout again. If extreme frosts threaten, it is advisable to cover the root area with a fleece, brushwood, leaves or a layer of mulch. Further protective measures are not necessary.
Multiply
sowing
If you leave a few flowers on the plant in autumn, fruit bodies form, which then ripen. When the fruits are ripe, they dry up and open, the plant sows itself. The seeds rest in the ground over the winter and then sprout again in spring. If you want to lend a hand and multiply the plant by sowing, you should also do so from autumn.
The seeds of Trollius are among the so-called cold germs. Because of this, they do not have to be grown in the house, but can be sown on the spot from October to December. They are subjected to a natural cold treatment that they need to germinate for several weeks. If the seedlings are big and strong enough, they can be separated. However, the seeds germinate relatively poorly, so that the result is not always satisfactory.
Tip: It can take about two years for this plant to flower for the first time.
division
A division promises much more success. This not only serves to multiply this long-lived perennial, but also to rejuvenate it. The division also has the advantage that single-variety plants can be obtained from it. The best time to do this is in early spring.
- First division after ten years at the earliest
- in spring with the beginning of shoots or after flowering
- excavate the entire rootstock
- with spade or digging fork
- if necessary, loosen the soil around the roots a little
- Cut the bale into several pieces with your hands or a sharp knife
- each section should have sufficient roots
- replant newly harvested plants
- water everything thoroughly
Diseases
Powdery mildew
Even if the buttercup is attacked by diseases relatively rarely, it can occasionally be attacked with powdery mildew. The cause are often unfavorable site conditions or deficiencies as a result of improper care. Powdery mildew shows up as a mealy coating on the upper side of the leaves. Later he covers the entire plant. Early treatment is most promising. It looks like that all infected parts of the plant should first be cut off and disposed of in the household waste.
If the plant moves in in autumn, it is advisable to cut it down close to the ground. A minor infestation can be got under control with various home remedies. If it is already well advanced, there is no avoiding the use of appropriate fungicides.
Tip: To prevent an infestation, spraying with field horsetail broth is recommended in the spring.
Leaf spot disease
Leaf spot disease can also be the result of deficiency symptoms. The signs of this disease are brown, red, or yellowish spots on the leaves. Here, too, it is important to remove infected parts of the plant as quickly as possible, as well as any parts lying on the ground. It is treated with a suitable broad-spectrum fungicide from the specialist trade and, if necessary, several times. If the infestation is too strong, it is advisable to completely remove the plant in question and dispose of it.
Caution poisonous!
The globe flower (Trollius) is considered to be slightly poisonous. The toxicity corresponds to that of the buttercup family, to which this perennial is related. The poisonous effect is based on the alkaloid magnoflorin. As a rule, symptoms of poisoning are only to be expected when large amounts are consumed. Younger children, who like to put something in their mouths, are particularly at risk.
After ingesting the fresh herb, stomach and intestinal problems, diarrhea, burning sensation in the oral mucous membranes and general pain can occur. In severe cases, dizziness, shortness of breath and severe convulsions may occur. Externally, irritations of the skin up to blisters and swellings are possible in sensitive people. Allergy sufferers in particular can show symptoms such as runny nose and burning eyes.
Tip: If there is any indication of poisoning, especially in children, a doctor should be consulted or the poison control center called as soon as possible.