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The winter hardiness of the cockade flower varies slightly from species to variety
Is the cockade flower hardy?
The cockade flower (Gallardia) is a robust and easy-to-care shrubs of the daisy family. The richly colored flowers, which become darker from the center to the edge, look extremely attractive and make themselves very good in every perennial flowerbed. The plant is even moderately hardy and comes with the right winter protection, even with low temperatures cope well.
Previous article How is the cockade flower cut?The winter hardiness
How hardy the cockade flower is also seems to be dependent on the species. While some garden owners disappointed in the spring that Gallardia is no longer exhausts, others report that the cockade flower thrives reliably even in very rough locations every year. It is therefore worthwhile to experiment with different varieties.
Preparing for the winter
Do not completely shorten the cockade flower in winter, but leave as much foliage as possible on the plant. In cold areas, it is recommended to cut Gallardia in September. The perennial drifts then fresh green that can serve as winter protection. Spread a loose mulch cover over it and sprinkle with sprigs of pine.
Wet in winter
Not only in the summer months, even in winter Gallardia is very sensitive to too much moisture. Often the plant does not come in because it was too cold, but because the wintry wetness did it all.
Therefore loosen heavy soils when planting with sand or fine gravel. A mixture of compost ensures that the soil is looser and thus water permeable. In addition, fill a drainage layer of sand or gravel into the planting hole so that the cockade flower does not have permanently wet feet.
Tips
In harsh areas it is advisable to place the cockade flower in a sheltered location, for example in front of a wall. It stores the heat of the day and releases it to the environment at night. This noticeably reduces the effect of very cold winters.