Glebionis
( gleb - ee - OH - niss )
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At-A-Glance InformationThis genus of flowering herbaceous annuals includes species that need full sun and moderate water for best performance. These are fast-growing plants and have ferny foliage. Daisy-like blooms come in a variety of colors, including white, red, pink, yellow, and orange. Use these flowers in mixed beds and borders, in containers, or as members of pollinator, informal, or cottage gardens.
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Glebonis Species and Varietals
The genus Glebionis includes just two species, and is a member of the plant family Asteraceae. This genus was previously included under the genus Chrysanthemum. These flowers grow best in zones 1-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Glebonis carinata (Ismelia carinata, Chrysanthemum carinatum) (Tri-color Daisy, Painted Daisy)
This native of Morocco gets 1-3 feet tall and 3 feet wide and has bright green leaves. In summer and fall, these plants bloom profusely in purple, orange, scarlet, salmon, rose, yellow, or white with bands of contrasting colors around a darker center. They last a long while in water as cut flowers. The foliage can cause skin irritation or allergic reaction.
This native of Morocco gets 1-3 feet tall and 3 feet wide and has bright green leaves. In summer and fall, these plants bloom profusely in purple, orange, scarlet, salmon, rose, yellow, or white with bands of contrasting colors around a darker center. They last a long while in water as cut flowers. The foliage can cause skin irritation or allergic reaction.
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'Merry Mix'
Multicolored bulls-eye flowers on 2-3 foot tall plants. |
'Summer Festival Mix'
Includes single, semidouble, and double blooms in a range of colors. |
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Glebonis coronaria (Chrysanthemum coronarium) (Crown Daisy, Garland Chrysanthemum) This species is native to the Mediterranean and gets to 2.5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide and has light green leaves. Flowers bloom in spring and summer and are yellow. The varietal Chrysanthemum coronarium spatiosum is also known as Shungiku, or chop suey greens. It can be eaten after being lightly steamed or added to soups. |
Caring for Glebionis
Coleostephus, or Corn Marigold, is best when grown in full sun. Ideally, these plants should be receiving between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day for best performance and flowering. They appreciate soil that is well-draining and moderately fertile with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. After planting, mulch around the base with organic mulching material to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold. Fertilizing these plants is not necessary; they can perform well even in poor soils. If plants seem to be struggling, have yellowing foliage, or are not flowering well, they may benefit from a yearly early springtime feeding with a 2-inch layer of compost applied around the planting area. No pruning is needed other than to deadhead for a neater appearance and more blooms. If plants are getting leggy, they can be sheared back by about half to encourage a bushier habit. Water new plants regularly to help them establish a strong root system. At maturity, these plants like to have a slightly moist soil around their root systems.
Propagation
Glebionis can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Glebionis flowers, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Glebionis by Seed
Propagating Glebionis by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
Propagating Glebionis by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Propagating Glebionis by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
- Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
- Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
- Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.
Glebionis seed heads form after flowers fade.
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Glebionis seeds.
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Problems and Pests
These plants are known in some areas for escaping garden cultivation and becoming invasive. Take care when planting these flowers to ensure that they stay within their bounds; deadheading blooms can help greatly in this effort. Glebionis flowers are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
- Aphids
- Slugs and Snails
- Leaf Spot
- Blight
Gallery
These flowers commonly escape garden cultivation and colonize disturbed soils.
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Glebionis flowers are drought-tolerant, and are popularly grown in rock gardens.
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Bees are important pollinators of these flowers.
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Videos
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Growing Glebionis from seed.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 340, Glebonis
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