Meadowsweet is a useful and beautiful herb. We grow houses of unusual beauty meadowsweet

The genus Labaznik has more than 10 species distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Meadowsweet has its own history in culture, biological features, healing properties.

Now interest in meadowsweet is growing, but, unfortunately, it is difficult to get rare species. With varieties it is much easier, they can be purchased at nurseries.

meadowsweet

Grows in Siberia, the Caucasus, Western Europe, Central Asia, Asia Minor. AT natural conditions forms large thickets in meadows near small rivers.

Elm-leaved meadowsweet - high, perennial, 1.5m in height. The meadowsweet has thick rhizomes bearing countless buds from which flower shoots grow. Stems with large pinnate foliage.

The inflorescence of this meadowsweet is dense, consisting of cream or white flowers, retains its decorative effect for 25 days. Since about 8 inflorescences develop on this one plant, the flowering time is extended until the end of July.

The fruits are spirally twisted, they ripen in September. The fruits in the double flowers of the meadowsweet are not tied, and from this, the inflorescence loses all its decorative effect after flowering. Elm-leaved meadowsweet grows well on sunny places, as well as in partial shade, but very picky about humidity.

Elm-leaved meadowsweet looks good in groups on the lawn. There are varieties:

Meadowsweet Aurea-with yellow-green foliage.

Meadowsweet Rosea-with pink flowers. Very rare to find in culture.

Meadowsweet "Captivity"("plena")- beautiful variety with white double, multiple flowers. The only disadvantages are his high growth, 1.7 m, and exposed shoots. But this can be easily fixed by planting the meadowsweet in the background.

Meadowsweet "Aureovariegata"("Aureovariegata") - an unusual form with golden yellowish stains on the foliage. Despite the colorful appearance, for this variety, you need to carefully select the environment in order to increase decorative effect. bright coloring only possible on open areas.

Meadowsweet red

Under natural conditions grows in North America.

A powerful herbaceous perennial that forms large groups. Plant 2.3 m in height. Stems with large leaves. Dense inflorescence of tiny pink flowers. Flowering occurs in August.

The plant is light-loving and demanding on soil moisture. It grows well and blooms in open areas and in partial shade. With a lot of shading, it may stop blooming. The fruits of the red meadowsweet, painted in raspberry color, are also decorative.

There are varieties with white, dark pink flowers, and a low-growing variety 30 cm tall.

Meadowsweet ordinary or six-petal

Under natural conditions, it occurs in the forest-steppe zone. The common meadowsweet grows in the steppes and meadows.

Plant 100 cm tall. Flowering stems have a basal rosette of leaves pinnately dissected into small slices. The stem foliage is similar, but smaller. Dark root tubers form on the roots. The flowers of the meadowsweet are large, cream or white, pink in buds.

Flowering occurs in May, 25 days. The six-petal meadowsweet does not lose its decorative effect even after its flowering. Meadowsweet - unpretentious plant, undemanding to moisture, grows well in open areas.

The six-petaled meadowsweet has the following forms: terry - a bush with dissected segments, which is a rarity in our country; large-flowered - with creamy yellow flowers.

Planting a meadowsweet: planting a meadowsweet is carried out in the fall no more than 5 cm to a depth. Rhizomes are placed horizontally. Labazniks are unpretentious. Prefer light loamy, fertile soils. No need to waterlog the soil during the autumn planting. Good watering they need in the summer. The soil should not be dry.

Carefully you need to monitor the plants planted in the open. Insufficient watering can lead to wilting of inflorescences and leaves.

Flowering shoots need to be cut in July, after flowering.

All meadowsweet are winter-hardy in Russia in middle lane and do not require preparation for winter.

Reproduction of the meadowsweet

The meadowsweet propagates by seeds and vegetatively. For vegetative propagation, the rhizomes are cut into small pieces 5 cm long. They are planted in the soil or kept in a cool place in winter, in sawdust or in wet sand.

A beautiful site is a huge job that requires knowledge in the field of landscape design and the botanical characteristics of all plants. Recently, artificial ponds and reservoirs have been very popular, which effectively fit into the overall garden composition. However, to frame the coastal zone of such a reservoir, it is also necessary to choose the right plants. The best option is to use meadowsweet grass - a plant that has a very bright appearance, airy flowers that create whole foamy clouds during flowering, and simply a unique honey aroma.

Meadowsweet flowers will help hide small flaws and irregularities in your area, and will also become useful. folk remedy for the treatment of certain diseases.

In this article, we will consider the features of growing a meadowsweet plant, give a description of popular species and varieties, as well as important rules for planting and caring for this herb.

Botanical description and features of the meadowsweet

Meadowsweet is a herbaceous ornamental leaf and ornamental flowering plant, which is a perennial, which greatly facilitates the work of growing it. In one place, this plant can be up to 8 years. A few years ago, scientists did not attribute the meadowsweet to a separate genus, they believed that this plant does not have distinctive characteristics. All types of this culture belonged to the genus Spirea. However, recently this ornamental grass has nevertheless become a separate genus, which, in turn, belongs to the large Rosaceae family. The natural habitat of the meadowsweet is considered to be a territory with a temperate climate of the entire Northern Hemisphere, so this wonderful plant can be found everywhere in wild nature European part of Russia. It is worth noting that the meadowsweet prefers to grow in the coastal zone, so this detail must be taken into account and used profitably - to decorate an artificial pond beautifully.

A bright representative of the Pink meadowsweet family has a large number of names that, to varying degrees, have taken root in colloquial speech. The scientific name of the herb is Filipendula, which comes from the fusion of two words: filum - threads, pendulus - hanging down, hanging down. Literally, it can be translated as hanging threads. This can be explained by the structure of the root system of the meadowsweet - it is represented by small tubers that hang on filamentous roots. Another name for the culture is "meadowsweet", the origin of which there are several opinions. In the Turkic dictionary there is the word "tubylyy", which is translated as meadowsweet or honeysuckle. The Kyrgyz dictionary also has a similar word for meadowsweet. The most popular name for the plant is the meadowsweet, which comes from the word "labazina", meaning a reed, twig, stick or staff. This is due to the fact that the stalk of the meadowsweet in its appearance just resembles a twig or cane.

The moisture-loving plant meadowsweet is widely used in horticulture for framing swampy areas and the banks of reservoirs. In addition to its decorative value, this plant is impressive and a large number useful properties for which it is considered a medicinal plant.

Description of the meadowsweet:

  • Meadowsweet or meadowsweet is a perennial herbaceous plant that has a high decorative value due to its beautiful foliage and lush paniculate flowers.
  • These are rhizomatous plants root system which are growing rapidly. Annual growth can be from 2 to 15 cm. Sometimes plants form a root system, reaching several tens of centimeters in length. This allows the plant to grow quickly, take root well, and in some cases weed - fill all the free space with itself.
  • The rhizome of the meadowsweet is a small tubers that are attached to thread-like roots.
  • The stem of this herb is erect, rather stiff. In height, it can reach an average of 40-60 cm at undersized species and 80-150 cm, and sometimes 2 m, in tall representatives of the genus.
  • The entire stem of the meadowsweet is covered with simple leaves, which are arranged alternately on it.
  • In shape and structure, the leaves can be palmate or pinnate, somewhat reminiscent of a fern leaf plate.
  • The leaves at the roots are collected in a neat rosette.
  • The color of the leaves is dark and very saturated, green, which is a good background for light shades plant inflorescences.
  • The flowering of the plant begins in June or early July and lasts almost until the frost.
  • Flowers are the decorative value of the meadowsweet. They are airy, like foam, openwork panicles of various shades.
  • The flowers are small, consist of 5 or 6 petals of lilac, pink, yellowish or white, it all depends on the specific variety of meadowsweet.
  • All flowers of the plant are collected in openwork corymbose-paniculate inflorescences.
  • Meadowsweet is an excellent honey plant. Its flowers contain a large amount of nectar, the honey smell of which attracts many bees.
  • The plant has a rather strange feature - mosquitoes and flies cannot stand its smell.
  • After the flowering of the inflorescences, fruits appear in their place in the form of a multi-nutlet, consisting of one-seeded nuts and covered with a dense shell.
  • During the dry period of the year, the meadowsweet can almost completely deprive of foliage, which begins to grow in autumn.
  • This plant has good frost resistance and moisture resistance.

Characteristics of popular species and varieties of meadowsweet

Meadowsweet in last years is becoming more and more popular. Many gardeners strive to get the rarest species of this plant, but getting them is quite difficult. In garden centers or nurseries, you can find a wide variety of varieties of meadowsweet. In culture, there are about 10 varieties of meadowsweet, which have different botanical characteristic and growing habits. Consider the most common types of meadowsweet in Russia.

Meadowsweet ordinary

  • You can find another name for this type of meadowsweet - six-petal.
  • The natural habitat of this plant is the territory of Europe, as well as countries such as Morocco, Turkey. It prefers to grow in deciduous forests, as well as in steppes, meadows and forest edges.
  • A perennial herbaceous plant with a good root system, which is represented by tuberous thickenings attached to filamentous roots.
  • The stem of this species of meadowsweet is erect and thin, it can reach an average height of 80-100 cm.
  • On the stem there is a basal and stem foliage, which differs in its size. In the basal rosette, the leaves are larger, pinnately divided in shape, consisting of several small leaves. Leaves similar in structure, only smaller in size, are attached to the stem.
  • The color of the leaves is a rich dark green hue.
  • The flowering of the meadowsweet ordinary or six-petal begins at the end of May and lasts about a month.
  • The flowers are large in size, consist of six petals of white or cream shade. In buds, the color of the petals is slightly pinkish.
  • All flowers form corymbose-paniculate openwork inflorescence.
  • The fruit of this type of plant is a pubescent leaflet that ripens around August.
  • A feature of the common meadowsweet is the fact that its tubers can be eaten, as they contain a lot of starch.
  • The flowers of this plant contain essential oils, so they can be used to brew tea and flavor wine and beer.
  • There are terry and large-flowered varieties.

meadowsweet

  • The natural habitat of this species of meadowsweet is the territory Western Europe, Asia Minor and Central Asia, as well as Siberia and the Caucasus. In nature, it prefers to grow in groups in small forests along the banks of rivers.
  • It is a perennial rhizomatous plant whose root is quite thick with large quantity buds that form flower shoots.
  • The stem is erect, ribbed, covered with leaves. In height, it can reach about 50-200 cm.
  • The leaves of the meadowsweet are intermittently pinnate, consisting of several broadly ovate incised-serrated leaves. The color of the foliage is dark green, the lower leaf plate has a white felt coating.
  • At the roots it is collected in a socket.
  • The flowering of this plant begins around the end of June or early July and lasts about a month. Sometimes you can see repeated flowering in August-September.
  • The flowers are small, yellowish-white. Collected flowers in loose paniculate inflorescences. During flowering exude a fragrant aroma.
  • Around August, the fruit begins to ripen, which is presented in the form of a twisted nut.
  • This species is characterized by moisture and frost resistance. It is a medicinal plant.
  • Cultivated in horticulture decorative forms, which are distinguished by beautiful variegated foliage, due to which such plants are often called variegated meadowsweet. The most popular include the following: Meadowsweet Variegata - white-green variegated foliage, Rosea - with pink flowers, Pleno - terry form of meadowsweet.

Purple meadowsweet

  • A tall perennial plant that reaches a height of about 2 m.
  • This variety of meadowsweet is found much less often than previous varieties, although it has a very attractive appearance.
  • Flowering begins around June-July and lasts for 25-30 days.
  • The flowers are small, bright reddish-pink, collected in corymbose-paniculate inflorescences.
  • After flowering, in place of the buds, fruits of the same color as the inflorescences appeared - reddish-pink. Due to this, this variety of meadowsweet is considered the most decorative.

Meadowsweet red

  • The natural habitat of this species of meadowsweet is the territory of North America.
  • This is a perennial tall plant that has a very spectacular appearance.
  • It has a rather powerful and tall stem, which can reach a height of about 2-3 meters. In nature, it grows in groups and forms dense thickets.
  • The leaves are large, dark green in color, divided into basal, collected in a rosette, and stem.
  • Flowering begins around the end of July or early August and lasts until frost.
  • The main value of the species are the flowers, which are collected in dense corymbose-paniculate inflorescences.
  • Flowers are small, reddish-pink.
  • A feature of this species is the fact that it is difficult to draw a line between the end of flowering and the beginning of fruiting, since flowers and fruits have the same pink hue.
  • Many different varieties have been bred that look spectacular in the garden: Venusta meadowsweet - with carmine-red flowers, Albaplena - white double flowers.

Reproduction of meadowsweet: the most common methods

Meadowsweet, like any other types of perennial herbaceous plants, can be independently bred at home. This plant reproduces in two ways: seed and vegetative. The second option includes the division of the rhizome and bush, as well as cuttings. Each of the proposed methods has its own characteristics that must be taken into account in order to obtain a beautiful plant. After all, not all varieties of meadowsweet can be bred, for example, using seeds. Plants with double flowers do not set fruit and reproduce only vegetatively.

Seed propagation of meadowsweet

  • This type of reproduction is the most time-consuming and is not suitable for all varieties of meadowsweet. When using seeds, you must be prepared for the fact that the young plant will not receive all the maternal or varietal characteristics, the color of the inflorescences or foliage may change.
  • The seeds of the meadowsweet are covered with a waterproof shell, which in itself makes it difficult for them to germinate. Therefore, before sowing, you will have to work hard enough to get a large number of seedlings in the future.
  • It is important to carefully carry out all pre-sowing activities, which include soaking in a root former stimulator, stratification, and drying. First of all, the seeds are soaked in stimulants for several days, and sometimes for a week. You can soak them in warm water for a week, then take them out and dry them, and then soak them again. After the stimulants, the seeds are placed in containers with peat and put in the refrigerator or buried in the snow. This process lasts until about February or March.
  • The germination of meadowsweet seeds is always different. This may depend on the place of collection of planting material, on the variety, on storage conditions.
  • After stratification, the seeds can be sown directly in open ground on a specially prepared bed for growing seedlings. It is best to shade the bed, as the seeds of this plant are very sensitive to light.
  • It is recommended to deepen the seeds no deeper than 5 cm. Some advise not to sprinkle the seeds of the plant with soil at all.
  • Seeds germinate for a very long time and unevenly, so waiting for full-fledged young seedlings in the first year is not always true, they may appear in the next season.
  • After the seedlings have two strong leaves, they can dive on permanent place and grow there.
  • In order for the meadowsweet grown from seeds to bloom, it may take about 3-4 years.

Reproduction of the meadowsweet by dividing the rhizome

  • This method of reproduction of the meadowsweet is used by gardeners much more often, since it is less laborious, gives best result and is suitable for all varieties and varieties of meadowsweet.
  • It is recommended to divide the overgrown bushes of the meadowsweet every 5 years. At this time, you can also do the division of the rhizome to breed the plant.
  • You can divide in the spring before flowering or in the fall, after it ends.
  • It is preliminary recommended to water the adult meadowsweet bush well, and then carefully dig it from all sides with a shovel. At this stage, it is important not to damage the root system of the plant, which is located horizontally.
  • After that, a bush of their soil is carefully removed, it is necessary, if possible, to remove the soil from the roots.
  • Next, you need to take a sharp and disinfected knife and divide the rhizome into several parts, while making sure that each division has 2-3 growth buds.
  • Cut points can be treated with crushed coal.
  • Before planting delenok, you need to prepare the soil, loosen it and water it.
  • Delenki are planted in the ground at a distance of about 30-35 cm from each other.

Preparation before planting meadowsweet

Meadowsweet is rightfully considered one of the most unpretentious plants that will not require you to special efforts and time. Most importantly, to conduct a quality preparatory work before planting the meadowsweet in open ground, which includes the preparation of planting material and the choice of the most suitable place.

The choice of variety and planting material of the meadowsweet

  • First of all, you need to decide on the variety of the meadowsweet. Give preference frost-resistant varieties that have been acclimatized in your area.
  • Also pay attention to the height of the plants, this is necessary for planning a future garden composition.
  • Next, you need to purchase a quality planting material. You need to decide which one. You can buy seeds and start growing meadowsweet seedlings on your own. You can also purchase delenki in garden centers and nurseries that have already reached optimal growth and will bloom almost immediately.
  • You need to buy planting material only in professional firms that are engaged in plant breeding. At the same time, you can get competent advice regarding the cultivation of a particular variety of meadowsweet.
  • You can plant seedlings or delenki plants in autumn or spring. However, when buying parts of the rhizome in the fall, they must be planted immediately. If you did not have time to do this, then you need to store the planting material in a dark and cool room.

Choosing a place for planting meadowsweet

  • The meadowsweet prefers to grow in a well-lit place, so it is best to choose a site for it on south side garden or yard, where all day long they will fall on him Sun rays.
  • This plant also allows some shade.
  • If the meadowsweet is planted in the shade, then you will not see bright flowering and beautiful decorative foliage.
  • Seedlings of this culture can be planted along the shore of an artificial pond or reservoir, or in the lowland part of the garden.
  • The meadowsweet prefers to grow on light and nutritious soil with a neutral reaction. If the acidity is high, you can add a little lime.

Planting meadowsweet in open ground - instructions

  • The optimal time for planting meadowsweet in open ground is autumn or spring. However, experienced gardeners recommend using autumn planting, as this plant has good frost resistance.
  • Pre-prepare the planting site. To do this, it must be carefully dug up and loosened. At this stage, it is also recommended to add to the soil a complete complex mineral fertilizer. It is necessary to prepare the soil for planting in about 2 weeks.
  • For planting, you can use seeds or delenki that were purchased in advance. Seedlings are not recommended for use, as this plant does not tolerate such a transplant.
  • It is necessary to plant tall varieties at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other, for undersized plants it is enough to observe an interval of 30-35 cm.
  • In the prepared holes, be sure to add some coarse clean sand or small stones that will serve as drainage.
  • It is also important to water each planting hole thoroughly before planting.

How to properly care for a meadowsweet

You will not need almost any effort to care for the meadowsweet - this is a completely unpretentious and simple plant. The main thing is to plant it correctly and choose the best place for this.

  • Watering. Meadowsweet in nature prefers to grow along the banks of rivers, so it loves moist and soft soils. Therefore, for its full growth and flowering, it is important to constantly keep the soil moist. Undoubtedly, this plant can withstand a small drought, but not for long. It is recommended to water quite often, about 1 time per week, and more often in case of severe drought. To reduce watering, you can plant a plant in a lowland or provide it with artificial watering.
  • Loosening and mulching. Periodically, it is recommended to loosen the soil around the plants a little, but this must be done very carefully, since the root system is located horizontally. To prevent excessive evaporation of moisture, the near-stem circle can be covered with a layer of mulch. As mulch, you can use decorative sawdust, peat.
  • Top dressing. For successful growth and abundant bright flowering, it is important to regularly feed the plants. On average, you need to fertilize every month, using a complete complex mineral fertilizer or organic matter.
  • General care. During flowering, it is recommended to constantly remove all faded flowers and withered leaves in order to maintain the decorative appearance of the meadowsweet and direct the plant's forces to the formation of new inflorescences.
  • Fight against diseases and pests. Ornamental species and varieties of meadowsweet are practically not susceptible to infection by diseases, and pests rarely damage them. Aphids can sometimes be seen on the foliage, which can be controlled with insecticides or charcoal.
  • Preparing for winter. All types of meadowsweet are considered frost-resistant plants, so you do not need to worry about their shelter. Before the onset of cold weather, it is recommended to cut off all the stems, leaving stumps 5-6 cm high. When pruning, you must be careful not to damage the bud from which next year will grow a stem.

Photo of the meadowsweet

On the Internet, a large number of photos of this plant are presented, which demonstrate the features of its use in landscape design.

Meadowsweet is a bright and unusual herbaceous plant that will help you not only decorate your site, but will also become an excellent healing tool for you. All parts of the plant are used to treat diseases. of cardio-vascular system, hypertension, problems with the musculoskeletal system, with colds.

Meadowsweet (meadowsweet) is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the Pink family. In nature, it grows in a temperate climate, meadowsweet can be found in meadows, river banks or lakes.

It is harvested during the flowering period, dried and used to prepare medicinal decoctions and infusions. The meadowsweet plant can also be grown at home - it has a long and abundant flowering.

plant description

Meadowsweet brings together more than 16 varieties, of which 4 are used in folk medicine. These are perennial plants that have a straight, strong stem and leaves. different shapes- they differ depending on the species.

Grass meadowsweet in nature reproduces by seeds, grows rapidly and forms thickets. Bushes can reach 80 to 150 cm in height.

Flowers form inflorescences, painted white or bright colors appear in late spring and early summer.

Types of meadowsweet and their use

Meadowsweet is grown as an ornamental plant, to decorate the garden or flower beds. For medicinal purposes, only 4 varieties are suitable: elm-leaved, six-petal, Kamchatka and palm-shaped. Varieties of this grass are easily distinguished by the shape of the leaves, the size and color of the flowers.

Meadowsweet six-petal (common)

Common meadowsweet is one of the most useful species. mature plant does not exceed 60-80 cm in height, while it has a developed rhizome with tubers.

It can be found in well-lit areas: in meadows and roadsides, and grass can also grow on forest edges.

Flowers form paniculate inflorescences with a white tint and a pronounced smell.

This type of meadowsweet is used for medicinal purposes. From its root, leaves and dried flowers, infusions and decoctions are prepared. Such funds help with various pathologies:

  • chronic inflammatory diseases gastrointestinal tract;
  • diseases of the kidneys and urinary system (meadowsweet has a diuretic effect);
  • arthritis, arthrosis, joint pain of various origins;
  • rhizome decoction - for washing wounds, from bites of poisonous animals and insects.

Meadowsweet ordinary is a rather rare species. However, it has the most pronounced medicinal properties and has found application, including in official medicine.

meadowsweet

Elm-leaved meadowsweet is the most common variety. It is a high herbaceous plant, it can reach up to 150 cm. Its habitat in natural conditions is forest thickets, shores of swamps and reservoirs.

This species is also used in folk medicine and is part of the official preparations.

It has a pronounced anticonvulsant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, can be used for a number of diseases:

  • disorders of the heart and blood vessels, especially hypertension;
  • disorders nervous system;
  • dermatological problems, including burns, ulcers, diaper rash and dermatitis of any origin;
  • any inflammatory pathologies of internal organs;
  • cold appearances.

According to the photo, the meadowsweet is easy to distinguish from the ordinary. This plant is larger, has a straight strong stem and feathery leaves. The inflorescences are white, but they are larger and more lush.

Meadowsweet elegans

The elegans meadowsweet variety is distinguished by bright decorative inflorescences, painted in a purple hue. These are bushes of medium height (50-100 cm) with original palmate leaves.

They grow quickly, so they can be used to create flower arrays or hedges. Meadowsweet can also be added to bouquets, but more often it is planted in open ground.

This variety is popular for home breeding for several reasons:

  • unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention - plants tolerate temperature extremes well and adapt to weather conditions;
  • flowering duration - the period lasts throughout the summer;
  • the ability to endure winter in open ground without shelter.

Photos of the meadowsweet elegans will be different. The shades of flowers vary from soft pink to bright crimson, the height of the plant also differs. It depends not only on growing conditions, but also on the method of reproduction - individuals grown from seeds are smaller and weaker.

Plena variety

Plena meadowsweet are low ornamental plants that can reach up to 40 cm. They are popular in landscape design due to their spectacular appearance and unpretentious care.

This variety adapts well both in the shade of trees or taller shrubs, and in open areas.

It is popular for decorating flower beds, creating lush flower arrays and low decorative borders.

In late May or early June, flower stalks up to 15 cm long appear on each bush. They are lush white inflorescences, which consist of flowers about 1 cm in diameter. The flowering period lasts at least a month.

Meadowsweet red Venusta

Meadowsweet Venusta is one of the largest varieties. Adult bushes can reach up to 2.5 m in height, they are distinguished by a particularly strong stem and a developed rhizome.

Flowers are collected in lush inflorescences, acquire coloring of various shades of pink. Meadowsweet begins to bloom in early summer, but retains its decorative appearance until the first frost due to the unusual shape of the leaves.

They are large, five- or seven-bladed.

Red meadowsweet is a wild plant. It can be found everywhere: in the forest-steppe zone, on the banks of rivers and reservoirs. In landscape design, these flowers are popular for creating hedges, landscaping adjoining areas and recreation areas.

Shrubs can be planted both in open areas and in the shade of trees and in mixed plantings with larger plants. However, severe darkening can lead to loss of flowering.

Growing at home

Meadowsweet can be found in natural conditions.

For medicinal purposes, it is collected during the flowering period, and it is also sold in pharmacies in dried, crushed form.

At home, decorative varieties are often grown. They quickly take root, do not require daily care and shelter in the cold season.

There are two ways to propagate meadowsweet: seeds and division. The first method is simpler, it is enough to collect the seeds and plant them in late autumn.

They need stratification (tolerate the winter temperature drop), so spring planting is not suitable for them. A more reliable way is cuttings. For planting, rhizome sections or shoots with 2-3 vegetative buds are suitable.

It is enough just to place them in the ground at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other. The procedure is carried out in September or April.

Meadowsweet is an unpretentious plant. It can thrive and bloom in shade or full sun, and can even tolerate brief periods of drought. However, there are a few rules that will help achieve the fastest growth and lush flowering bushes:

  • maintain constant soil moisture in the flower bed;
  • periodically loosen the ground;
  • weeds are removed for decorative purposes - the meadowsweet quickly displaces foreign crops;
  • bushes can be transplanted at least 1 time in 5 years;
  • Neutral or slightly acid soils work best.

The meadowsweet has one feature - its rhizome grows upwards. If you do not periodically add new soil under the bush, it may be under the open sun.

Photos of the meadowsweet, planting and caring for which will not be difficult even for beginners, will be different. Due to the wide variety of varieties, you can choose between lower or taller varieties with flowers in different shades.

These plants are more suitable for outdoor cultivation and landscaping, but they can also be grown under the cut. In bouquets, they are in harmony with other flowers, complement pastel colors and dilute brighter shades.

Meadowsweet (meadowsweet) is more than 15 varieties of wild herbs. They are used for decorative and medicinal purposes, collected in natural conditions or grown at home.

Plants look impressive thanks to large bright inflorescences and leaves. unusual shape. This is a non-standard solution for decorating flower beds, lawns or prefabricated bouquets.

Meadowsweet in the garden - video

Source: http://www.glav-dacha.ru/labaznik-trava/

Meadowsweet (Meadowsweet): perennial hardy herbs

Perennial herbs and herbaceous shrubs of the Pink family are Meadowsweet or Meadowsweet, a plant actively grown in our country to decorate gardens.

In the genus there are only 13 or 17 studied and very hardy species, many of them are used in culture.

In the wild, the perennial is found in temperate climatic zones northern hemisphere.

Botanical description

According to the botanical description, the meadowsweet is a perennial plant with a long creeping rhizome. The roots of the plant are strong, branch well. In culture, meadowsweet is unpretentious garden plant with some medicinal properties.

Useful qualities have such types of meadowsweet as Kamchatka, Vyazolistny, Flap-shaped and Ordinary. Meadowsweet has upright, vertically growing branches. They form not a large bush, up to 60-100 cm high.

Very rarely there are specimens with the ability to grow up to 2 meters. The stems are ribbed, turn red over time, they end at the top with many-flowered inflorescences. Meadowsweet leaves are collected in a basal rosette.

These are not large blades similar to feathers of a rich dark green hue. The inflorescence is apical, spike-shaped, collected from numerous small flowers of white, pink, purple, yellow or cream color.

The meadowsweet blooms in the first half of summer very abundantly, as can be seen in the photo of the plant. The calyx of the flower consists of 5-6 petals with a double perianth. After flowering, fruits are formed - polynuts.

Botanists characterize meadowsweet as a moisture-loving, unpretentious plant. It easily tolerates severe frosts, so it is actively grown almost throughout our country. For some flower growers, the meadowsweet runs wild and begins to grow like a weed culture - spontaneously multiplying by self-sowing.

Picturesque views of meadowsweet for landscaping the site

Numerous species of meadowsweet are often confused by our flower growers and gardeners with weeds. Many of them are very difficult to use when forming decorative compositions.

Next, let's look at the photo and read about the most picturesque types of meadowsweet that can be used for landscaping the site.
The simplest and most common form is meadowsweet ordinary, we will see a photo of it below.

Botanists characterize representatives of the species as perennial rhizomatous herbs. Plants grow up to 80-90 cm in height. Leaf plates are collected in a large basal rosette.

The leaves are pinnate, similar to protruding feathers with a sharp tip and uneven edges. Small white flowers have 6 petals and a double perianth.

Common meadowsweet blooms in early summer, the fruit ripens in August - a pubescent polynutlet. Often this variety is grown for certain medicinal properties.

So, for example, she has an edible rhizome, which contains a large amount of starch and nutrients. The flowers of the common meadowsweet are used to brew tea and make decoctions.

Such funds help in the treatment of "female" diseases and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. For cultivation as an ornamental plant, terry and large-flowered forms are used. hybrid varieties do not exceed a height of 40 cm.

For example, the Plena meadowsweet variety is known - it forms large inflorescences with double flowers.

Meadowsweet oil, whose properties are known in traditional and official medicine, has a pleasant aroma. It is even used in the treatment of mental illness and psychological disorders. Also, this remedy from the meadowsweet helps with the deterioration of the somatic system.

meadowsweet- perennial with high ribbed stems up to 80-120 cm. Blooms small flowers yellow or white, less often they can be pale cream.

Buds of 4-6 petals are collected in a dense paniculate and corymbose inflorescence. When growing meadowsweet, you can hear a pleasant sweet aroma, which stretches in a train from plantings for several meters.

From the medicinal properties of perennial it is known that it helps to get rid of cramps, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Raw materials prepared from the tops of the plant are actively used for diseases of the kidneys and the genitourinary system.

As decorative forms, the following varieties of meadowsweet are grown:
1) Rosea– pink flowers with mild sweet aromas

2) Aurea- meadowsweet with yellow-pink foliage and large inflorescences

3) Variegata- ornamental deciduous plant with large foliage

six-petalled meadowsweet or meadowsweet - an excellent honey plant, most often it is grown near apiaries and beehives to produce flower honey. The plant is fragrant, blooms with large purple or pink flowers.

The most popular variety of the meadowsweet elegans is a perennial, up to 50-100 cm high. The palmate leaves are collected in a basal rosette. Buds appear from the beginning of June, when flowering ends - fruits with small seeds ripen in August.

In the wild, six-petal meadowsweet is found only in Japan.

Red meadowsweet found in North America, in our climatic zones the perennial can withstand temperatures as low as -35 degrees.

The plant reaches a height of 1.5-2 meters, the stems form a poorly branched shrub with grassy shoots. The leaves are very large, pinnate, consist of 5 or 7 lobes, with sparse teeth along their edges.

The flowers of the red meadowsweet are rich pink, very fragrant. Inflorescence racemose, dense. Perennial blooms from June to early August.

Even with the ovary of the fruit, the plant looks original, since the polynutlet has a crimson hue and looks like a closed bud.

Meadowsweet Venusta- a rare plant in culture, up to 2.5 meters high. This perennial is planted to create decorative compositions with pink flowers. Some botanists believe that this is a hybrid of the red meadowsweet, but slightly taller.

palmate meadowsweet or meadowsweet grows up to 100-110 cm in height. The leaf blades are palm-like: a palmately divided form with 5 or 7 lobes.

The leaves are collected in a large basal rosette and covered with small felt hairs on the underside. Small flowers last about 30 days in early summer. They are collected in beautiful inflorescences of the brush, up to 25-30 cm long.

There are varieties with pink flowers, as well as large-flowered and double forms.

Possesses medicinal properties meadowsweet kamchatka, which is also often found in cultivation as a tall herbaceous shrub up to 1.5-3 meters tall. Leaf plates are palmate or lobed, up to 40-50 cm long. The flowers are very fragrant, in the garden you can find forms with melliferous qualities.

Reproduction of meadowsweet and planting in open ground

It is best to plant a meadowsweet at the right time for this - in spring or autumn before winter. For this, they select optimal placement. It is best for the meadowsweet to grow in light partial shade or on open sun.

With a strong dimming, the plant will not bloom. When placed in the open sun, meadowsweet quickly consumes moisture, so it is recommended to carry out water procedures much more often, otherwise the perennial is threatened with drought and death from it.

The easy reproduction of the perennial allows you to update the meadowsweet every few years. The meadowsweet propagates by dividing the bush or rhizome. The most important thing is that the perennial has several regrowth buds. Usually 2-4 is enough.

The division is carried out in the period from early April to autumn. The delenki are seated immediately, without drying, at a distance of 40-50 cm between each other.

You can dig into the ground to a level of 10-12 cm, if more, then the plant will need a lot of strength to break through the earthen ball.

When planting delenok, make sure that the regrowth buds are in the upper part. This is the grossest mistake of flower growers when they are placed deep into the ground ("face down") - in this position, the plant will not be able to grow and will die or will "sleep".

For the first time, flower growers who met meadowsweet propagate it by seeds. It is very simple to do this, as the planting material retains its germination capacity for a long time. The plant is capable of self-propagating by self-sowing.

Before planting, the seeds are soaked in warm water or a solution with growth stimulants for a day. It is best to sow planting material in open ground before winter. late spring, because otherwise it would be necessary a long period stratification. We make small grooves 10-20 cm long.

A bed for growing is chosen in shady place so that the young spring sun does not burn out the plantings. The soil of the young should not dry out, it must be constantly moistened with a watering can or a spray bottle.

Young plants can be transplanted to a permanent place when it gains a large green mass. The flowers of the meadowsweet will appear with this method of reproduction in the second life.

Caring for an undemanding perennial meadowsweet

The meadowsweet is not demanding for care, it calmly develops on its own. The most important thing is that the soil is always slightly moist, in a drought the plant can die irrevocably.

Choose a sunny warm place for the plant, which is under direct sunlight for at least a few hours a day. Meadowsweet soil needs light sandy soil, loam is perfect.

Perennial does not like acidic soils, better fit slightly acidic or neutral composition. Meadowsweet normally tolerates short-term drought, but it can cause the perennial to stop flowering and may shed its ground mass.

Meadowsweet can be grown on coastline artificial ponds and streams. If plantings are on dry soil, then they need constant abundant watering.

In one place, the meadowsweet will live for about 5-6 years, then it begins to grow and lose its decorative effect. Therefore, it is divided and seated in new places. Once a season, you can do formative pruning, especially if the perennial is tall.

Also, in order for the flowering to last the whole summer season, remove faded inflorescences.

Meadowsweet does not tolerate proximity to weeds and other cultivated plants, so the soil must be constantly weeded, and before planting, remove all perennial roots from the soil.

Source: http://cvetochkino.ru/?p=176

Meadowsweet or meadowsweet (Filipéndula ulmária)

Meadowsweet (meadowsweet) is a fragrant horticultural crop with beneficial properties used in the treatment of various diseases.

How often, walking along the summer forest clearings or river banks, you catch a sweet honey aroma. It is published by a well-known species of plants Meadowsweet ordinary from the genus Meadowsweet of the Pink family.

In nature, the herbaceous perennial Filipéndula ulmária is quite common in all parts of the country.

Due to its beneficial properties, the plant is recognized as medicinal and is widely used in official medicine.

No more than 15 species are represented in the genus, most of them are used as horticultural crops.

Based on the representatives of the meadowsweet, a large number of hybrids with white, pink and purple flowers have been bred. The decorative meadowsweet honey plant is a great addition to any garden.

Meadowsweet has another name - meadowsweet. In any description, this plant will be accompanied by a reference to the meadowsweet.

For them, there are similar rules for growing and agricultural care for personal plot. All varieties and types of plants can be found on this page. The useful and medicinal properties of the culture are also quite extensively described.

Look at the meadowsweet (meadowsweet) in the photo, which illustrates all the botanical features of the culture:

Elm-leaved meadowsweet can be used in the landscape design of a personal plot. Lush white meadowsweet during flowering fills the garden with a delicate honey aroma

Description of the meadowsweet (with photo)

According to the description of the meadowsweet in other Internet sources, these are perennial herbaceous shrubs growing from 60 to 150 cm.

There are larger forms up to 2 meters tall and dwarfs (often with double inflorescences) with stems no more than 40 cm long.

The variety of forms is very large, we will see some of them in the photo below:

It has a meadowsweet and another name - meadowsweet, it could be heard from grandmothers, who often used the plant for health and beauty recipes. The rhizome is creeping and very strong.

A ribbed erect stem is formed from it, from 40 to 200 cm high. Over time, the shoots turn red and form apical racemose inflorescences on themselves, consisting of small buds.

Meadowsweet grass is more often pinnate green leaf plates.

An unpretentious garden plant can have decorative leaves e.g. bronze.

Meadowsweet Vyazolistny easily tolerates low temperatures and frosts, without detracting from the picturesque flowering, which usually lasts from mid-June to early August.

From the first days of the last summer month fruits are formed - polynuts.

Most of the species are used in folk and official medicine, but the greatest number of useful properties are found in the grass and flowers of the meadowsweet, common and Kamchatka.

Description of species, varieties of meadowsweet and their medicinal properties

In the genus meadowsweet, there are only 15 species, not many of them are used as a picturesque plant.

Most inexperienced gardeners mistake meadowsweet for a weed, not even suspecting that this plant has a large number of species and varieties that differ in decorative and medicinal properties. Let's look at their description and photos below.

The most common in Russia is the meadowsweet, it received this name for the similarity of the leaf plate with the elm leaf. It's high herbaceous plants with shoots up to 120 cm long.

Most often there are cultures with white small buds with a yellow tint, collected in densely double racemose inflorescences.

The meadowsweet is one of the best honey plants, during the flowering period, which falls on June-July, the plant produces a huge amount of pollen and nectar. The bright honey aroma attracts many insects.

Even if you just walk past the meadowsweet and shake it, we will see how the pollen scatters in different directions.

The organs of a plant of this species carry a large amount of useful enzymes and substances, thanks to which they are used as an anti-inflammatory, bactericidal agent.

Along with medicinal properties, the decorative effect of some varieties is also highly valued, namely:

  • "Aurea" - decorative leafy culture. To maintain the beauty of the bronze basal leaves, it is recommended to cut the flower stalks at the nucleation stage;
  • "Rosea" - pink meadowsweet with small flowers in racemose inflorescences;
  • "Variegata" - another variety with decorative leaves;
  • "Captivity" - a large herbaceous shrub with double white inflorescences.

The greatest number of various hybrids and varieties is found under the guise of Common Meadowsweet or Six-Petal. These are perennial rhizomatous herbs, up to 80-120 cm high.

Cirrus leaves often do not represent decorative value, they are collected in powerful basal rosettes. The flowers are observed from the beginning of June to the end of July, white small, consisting of 6 petals.

The rhizome of the common meadowsweet contains a large amount of starch; based on it, there are many useful medicinal recipes.

The meadowsweet flowers can be used as a substitute for tea, in production they act as a flavoring agent for beer and wine drinks. There are large-flowered and terry (up to 40 cm tall) plant forms.

Pink meadowsweet - meadowsweet purple

As a garden plant, the pink meadowsweet, originally from Japan, is the most picturesque. This species is commonly called meadowsweet purple. Its stems are no more than 1 m long, they have palmate leaf plates.

At the tops of the shoots, small buds of a crimson or dark pink hue bloom, collected in terry racemose inflorescences. Purple meadowsweet blooms for a long time, taking up to two months from the beginning of June.

Most Popular garden variety"Elegance" with raspberry buds.

The most frost-resistant specimen that can withstand temperatures as low as -35 degrees is Red Meadowsweet, originally from North America. These are powerful herbaceous shrubs, growing from 1.5 to 2.5 meters.

Large leaves at the tip are dissected into 5-7 lobes, which makes the plant even more picturesque. pink flowers collected in very dense paniculate inflorescences, even the fruits have decorative value due to the bright crimson color.

Most famous variety Red meadowsweet - "Venusta", an average height of 2 meters.

palmate meadowsweet

In gardens, the palm-shaped meadowsweet is often grown with decorative foliage resembling a human hand. The average growth of plants is up to 100 cm. The leaf plate from the lower part has a gray felt pubescence.

The inflorescences of this species are very large and can reach 25 cm in length, there are many varieties with pink buds.

The Kamchatka meadowsweet is considered the largest garden specimen; such herbaceous perennials form dense bushes up to 3 meters high with powerful basal foliage up to 40 cm in diameter.

Growing and planting meadowsweet

Meadowsweet or meadowsweet is very easy to propagate and grow after planting in open ground. In order to get a new plant for your garden, you can use seed propagation.

Planting material is bought in flower shops. When purchasing it, make sure to buy a plant that will easily take root in the climatic conditions where you live.

There are many hybrids that cannot withstand winter frosts, and the meadowsweet blooms only in the second year of life, therefore, planting it will be pointless.

Pay attention to the fact that F1 cultivars are fruitless, it will be possible to propagate the plant you like only by dividing the bush or rhizome.

Purchased seeds should not be older than 5 years, since by this time meadowsweet has lost its germination. Prematurely soak the planting material and keep in a humid environment for at least a day.

Seeds are sown at the end of autumn, before winter, so that they can go through a natural stratification.

Initially, the meadowsweet is grown as "seedlings" in a shaded garden, after planting in the spring reaches a height of 10-15 cm, they can be transplanted to a permanent sunny place.

For the cultivation of all ornamental species, except for the common meadowsweet, moist soils are preferred. Seeds are sown in grooves to a depth of about 0.5 -1 cm. Keep a distance of at least 15 cm between the grooves.

The division of the rhizome is necessary for "elderly" plants, when the meadowsweet sprouts in one place for at least 5 years. The mother plant is dug up and its root is divided in such a way that there are 2-3 vegetative buds on each division.

Planting material can be planted in holes to a depth of 10-15 cm, at a distance of at least 0.5 meters from each other.

It is better to do this in April-May, when the plant is before the start of active growth, it is easier for such plantings to take root in a new place.

Meadowsweet Care

To care for the meadowsweet is also quite unpretentious. The main thing for ornamental crops is to observe soil moisture. Only six-petalled meadowsweet requires light, dry soil.

As for the soil, it should in no case be acidic. Suitable for growing meadowsweet neutral or slightly acidic sandy soil mixtures or loam. Almost all species withstand short-term drought.

For them (excluding common view) requires frequent watering.

To maintain soil moisture, gardeners prefer to plant a plant on the coastline of natural or artificial reservoirs. We allow mulching.

The division of the bush must be carried out as it grows, no more than once every three years. Usually, flower growers carry out such a procedure 5-6 years after planting.

For representatives of some species, especially tall ones, formative pruning of shoots is required - this provokes an increase in the growth of green mass and inflorescences.

Weeding and light loosening of the soil will also have a good effect on the development of young and adult plants.

Diseases and pests rarely affect meadowsweet, the only thing that can occur is fungus and root rot when moisture stagnates in the soil with plantings of ordinary meadowsweet.

Source: http://floribus.ru/tavolga-ilabaznik/

Growing meadowsweet in open ground: reproduction, care features, varietal diversity

Many gardeners grow meadowsweet on their plots, which has about 15 varieties.

The airy inflorescence of meadowsweet smells like honey and has healing properties. It is planted in open ground by seeds or rhizome.

Caring for the plant is quite simple: water on time, fertilize a couple of times.

Appearance, varietal variety of meadowsweet

In the wild form, meadowsweet or meadowsweet are found along the banks of rivers, on the outskirts of marshes, since the plant is quite moisture-loving. Meadowsweet is perennial grass with an upright strong stem belongs to the Pink family.

Openwork white or pink panicles exude a vanilla-honey aroma, bloom in early summer. The leaves of the meadowsweet are pinnate or palmate, wide. Ornamental varieties are planted in the garden, on suburban area, in the flower beds.

Although the plant reaches a height of 1 m, its root system is small, so you can not be afraid that it will "capture" the entire flower bed. This is another reason gardeners love to grow meadowsweet in their gardens.

For some reason, flies and mosquitoes do not like the smell of meadowsweet. And it attracts bees and wasps with its honey aroma, which ensures good pollination of cultivated plants.

There are several varieties of meadowsweet:

  • narrow-bladed;
  • silk-screen;
  • naked;
  • Korean;
  • six-petal;
  • purple;
  • red (North American species);
  • western.

Some of them can be seen in the photo. Ornamental varieties such as purple meadowsweet are grown in gardens.

The flowers of this variety are bright red, after flowering, seeds of the same color are formed, which prolongs the period of decorativeness.

The lush flowers of meadowsweet terry are white. Meadowsweet willow leaf blooms with soft pink buds.

Types of reproduction and planting rules

The meadowsweet has two types of reproduction:

Seeds can be purchased at a specialized store. Seeds are sown in spring and autumn.

Autumn sowing is carried out at home. Sow seeds in containers or boxes to a depth of 5-6 cm. Make sure that the soil is constantly wet.

Water frequently, but little by little. After the appearance of two true leaves, the seedlings need to be transplanted into separate pots.

In the spring, when the soil warms up, it can be planted in open ground.

If you decide to sow seeds in the spring, then you need to do this immediately in open ground. Sowing depth is about 5-6 cm, deeper is not recommended.

Do not compact the soil after sowing the seeds. After the appearance of seedlings, they are transplanted into flower beds.

Since the meadowsweet will grow up to a meter in height, the distance between seedlings should be about half a meter.

In spring, meadowsweet can be sown immediately in open ground.

Reproduction by rhizome can also be done in autumn and spring.

To do this, carefully dig out the rhizome mother plant, divided into the required number of parts.

The rhizome is planted to a depth of 5-7 cm, watered, the soil is not compacted, so the meadowsweet will germinate faster.

Attention! The root is placed horizontally. Make sure that the buds of young shoots are directed upwards.

Meadowsweet loves the sun, but not the scorching rays. Choose a slightly shaded area. In dense shade, the meadowsweet may not bloom.

The soil should be light and neutral, with drainage. If the soil is heavy, add sand to the bottom of the hole, it will also serve as drainage.

Acidic soil can be neutralized with lime.

Features of care: the timing of fertilization, the frequency of feeding, diseases and pests

Caring for the meadowsweet is very simple. If you applied humus or compost before planting, then during the growing season it is enough to apply complex fertilizers a couple of times. If the soil has not been used for a long time, or autumn top dressing was carried out, fertilizers can be applied 1 time in the spring.

The soil around the seedling needs to be loosened from time to time. Watering should be frequent, but not plentiful, so that there is no waterlogging. Excess water in the soil can lead to the development of fungal diseases.

Attention! The soil must not be allowed to dry out. Meadowsweet is a moisture-loving plant. Does not tolerate drought well.

Meadowsweet is not very susceptible to diseases.

Wild-growing specimens can be affected by rust, become covered powdery mildew. Decorative varieties almost do not get sick. Occasionally, ramulariasis may appear in the form of greenish spots.

Against the disease, "Fundazol" or other fungicides are used.

Spend preventive treatment plants from disease

Among pests, aphids and tube-rollers can cause particular damage. Insecticides are used to control insects. Against aphids, you can use wood ash, an infusion of garlic, onions.

Advice. And it’s better to plant high varieties of marigolds next to meadowsweet in the spring: it’s beautiful, and the aphid will not bother.

With the onset of autumn, the stem is cut at a height of 5-6 cm. The plant does not need additional warming, as it is frost-resistant.

The use of meadowsweet in landscape design, combination with other plants

Landscape design uses single and group plantings. A singly planted meadowsweet can "dilute" too bright design flower beds, as it resembles a cloud in shape.

It can be planted in the center of the flower bed, around the circumference of undersized flowers. Group plantings can be planted in the background, this will create the effect of a foggy haze of pink or white.

Tall varieties of meadowsweet are used as hedge, undersized - for framing flower beds, like borders.

The height of the plant allows you to use it to divide the site into zones. For example, you can separate the gazebo, sandbox, etc. Meadowsweet is used in mixborders.

A flower bed of different varieties of meadowsweet looks beautiful.

Meadowsweet planted around the perimeter of a house or fence looks great. You can arrange a path leading to the house, it will look not just beautiful, but solemn and elegant.

Meadowsweet in landscape design

In landscape design, the meadowsweet goes well with ferns, lilies, and astilba. In combination with hydrangea, you can create a picturesque fence. Meadowsweet is planted next to various varieties of hostas, marigolds. Use a combination of meadowsweet with different plants:

But most often you can find meadowsweet along the banks of artificial reservoirs.

A dazzling white, weightless cloud of inflorescences above the blue expanse of water, in which, as in a mirror, you can see the same airy reflection.

The photo shows the most popular combinations of meadowsweet in landscape design.

If you want to enjoy the magical aroma of honey and vanilla all summer long, plant meadowsweet on your plot.

The flowers of the meadowsweet help with colds, flu, and disorders of the nervous system; you can make fragrant tea from them.

plant type:
perennial
Attitude towards light:
shade-tolerant, light-loving
Relation to moisture:
moisture-loving
Wintering:
winter-hardy
The soil:
prefers garden soils
Flowering time:
spring-summer (May-June), summer (July-August)
Height:
high (above 100 cm), medium (50-100 cm)
Value in culture:
beautifully flowering

Filipendula, meadowsweet, philipendula, meadowsweet. Varied in size, leaf shape and flower color. They have a characteristic inflorescence shape - it is a dense multi-flowered panicle with a shortened central axis and long lower branches. Flowering time - depending on the species from May to August.

Etymology

It is derived from the Latin words fllum - "threads" and pendulus - "hanging": in the common meadowsweet, root nodules hang on filamentous roots.

Types and varieties of meadowsweet

The genus includes about 10 species growing in the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Three species are widely used in culture - mainly for creating compositions of mixborders, edges, in mixed plantings of ornamental perennials with trees and shrubs.

Three main species are grown in the garden: common meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris), red meadowsweet (Filipendula rubra) and Kamchatka meadowsweet (Filipendula kamtschatica).

Common meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris)

Perennial drought-resistant plant up to 80 cm tall. The basal rosette consists of openwork pinnate wintering leaves. The flowers are quite large, up to 1 cm in diameter, white or cream, pink in buds, collected in paniculate inflorescence up to 15 cm long. Blossoms in May-June 25-30 days. This type of meadowsweet is remarkable in that it does not lose its decorative effect even after flowering. Oblong sharp fruitlets replace the inflorescences and form beautiful jagged crowns at the ends of the branches.

In culture, a terry form with snow-white flowers ‘Plena’ (30-35 cm high) is often grown.

Red meadowsweet (Filipendula rubra)

Herbaceous perennial 1.5-2.5m tall. The leaves are five-seven-lobed, the flowers are small, pink, collected in dense racemose inflorescences 15-20 cm long. Blooms in July-August.

Popular varieties of red meadowsweet:

‘Venusta’ with dark pink flowers;

‘Magniflca’ - with carmine-red flowers;

‘Pygmaea’ - with a compact bush 30 cm high.

Kamchatka meadowsweet (Filipendula kamtschatica)

Wet coniferous and deciduous forests of Kamchatka, Sakhalin. Short-rhizome perennial, forms a tall bush up to 150-300 cm with large leaves and a panicle of white flowers (grows well in partial shade on wet, clay soils). Vegetates from April to mid-October. Blooms in July for a month. Seeds in August, abundant self-sowing, seedlings bloom for 2 years.

Hand-shaped meadowsweet (Filipendula palmata)

Raw meadows and forests of Eastern Siberia and Far East. Short-horned perennial, up to 100 cm high. Plant grows from April-May to September. Blooms from mid-June for 25-30 days. Fruits in July-August.

Purple meadowsweet (Filipendula purpurea)

Wet forests and glades of the Far East. Long-rhizome perennial, up to 100 cm high. Plant grows from April to September. Blooms in June for 25-30 days. Fruits in August. Forms a loose thicket. Propagated by dividing the bush, less often by seeds.

Filipendula ulmaria (Filipendula ulmaria)

Wet meadows and forests of Eurasia. Long-rhizome perennial, up to 150 cm high. Plant grows from April to September. Flowers from mid-June for 25-30 days. Fruits in July. Reproduction: by dividing the bush, less often by seeds.

The popular variety ‘Plena’ is a plant up to 150 cm high. The flowers are small, double, white, up to 1 cm in diameter; does not bear fruit. Blooms from mid-June.

Meadowsweet Care

Prefers a sunny location, but most species tolerate partial shade. Requires abundant regular watering in summer, especially when planting in an open area, does not tolerate overdrying of the root system. Grows best in fertile, well-drained loamy soils. In late July-early August, at the end of flowering, pruning of flowering shoots is necessary.

Reproduction of the meadowsweet

Propagated by sowing before winter in open ground and dividing the rhizomes. Segments of rhizomes 5-6 cm long are planted in autumn to a depth of about 5 cm.

Use in garden design

Meadowsweet planted in mixborders, mixed landings with ornamental perennials, trees and shrubs. The common meadowsweet is perfect for planting in sunny rockeries and borders. Meadowsweet Kamchatka is a very large plant, it is often used for single plantings among the lawn.

Meadowsweet is a perennial ornamental grass or shrub from the Rosaceae family. Inhabits the forest edges and clearings of the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Often meadowsweet is called "meadowsweet" or "spirea". The plant is used as a garden decoration. From the beginning of summer until the very autumn, it will delight with caps of lush lace inflorescences. Their intense honey aroma spreads far around the flower garden. Meadowsweet is also valued for its medicinal properties. Decoctions and infusions of herbs help to cope with many diseases.

plant description

Meadowsweet - perennial deciduous plant in the form of tall herbs or shrubs. The height of the shoots is 15-80 cm. Some varieties can grow 2-2.5 m. Thin, erect rods are covered with smooth brown bark. Shoots of some varieties creep along the ground. On old processes, the bark exfoliates in longitudinal plates.

The next leaves on long petioles are painted in gray-green color. They have a lanceolate, lobed or rounded shape. Felt pubescence is often present on the reverse side.


















By the end of June, dense paniculate or corymbose inflorescences bloom on the tops of the shoots, and sometimes along their entire length. They consist of many small flowers of white, cream or pink color. The diameter of the inflorescence is about 15 cm. A single corolla does not exceed 1 cm in diameter. It consists of 5 petals, an ovary and a bunch of long stamens. It is thanks to the stamens that the inflorescences look fluffy.

The complex aroma of meadowsweet includes notes of vanilla, almond, honey and light bitterness. Flowering lasts 1-1.5 months and may occur again at the end of summer. After pollination, fruits ripen - leaflets with several seeds of dark brown, almost black color. The length of the seed is 1-2 mm.

Meadowsweet species

Meadowsweet grass is very diverse, in total about 100 species are registered in the genus. Here are some types:

Meadowsweet ordinary (meadowsweet ordinary). It is a sprawling shrub about 80 cm high. The shoots are covered with feathery, fern-like leaves. At the end of June, loose creamy-white panicles bloom on the tops of the stems, which persist for a month. They consist of flowers with six petals and fluffy stamens. Varieties:

  • Captivity - shoots 40-50 cm high bloom fragrant double flowers of white color;
  • Grandiflora - a bush 40-60 cm in height in the middle of summer is covered with creamy inflorescences with large flowers.

It is this species that is most widespread in Russia. It is found along the banks of fresh water bodies and rivers. Loose bushes with a creeping rhizome reach a height of 1.5 m. The shoots are covered with regular pinnately dissected dark green leaves. The lobes are broadly ovate or oblong-lanceolate. Paniculate inflorescences up to 20 cm in diameter bloom in June-July. They consist of small creamy flowers with a strong aroma. The small calyx is surrounded by five petals and stamens twice as long as the petals. Varieties:

  • Aurea - a bush up to 1.5 m high grows large golden-green leaves;
  • Rosea - blooms beautiful pinkish inflorescences;
  • Aurea variegata - a plant up to 50 cm high is covered green leaves with creamy yellow stains and shapeless spots.

The plants are native to North America and are sprawling shrubs up to 2.5 m high. Reddish-brown stems are covered with dissected foliage. In July-August, fluffy corymbose inflorescences with white-pink flowers appear. Light pink five-petaled corollas have pinkish stamens and a crimson eye in the center. Varieties:

  • Magnifica - a bush up to 1.5 m high dissolves dark pink inflorescences;
  • Venusta - the plant is distinguished by the largest inflorescences of bright red color;
  • Pygmy - vegetation up to 30 cm high is covered with compact pink panicles.

Herbaceous growth up to 3 m high is abundantly covered with large palmate leaves of bright green color. The width of the leaf reaches 30 cm. In July, slender thickets are decorated with large fragrant inflorescences of a white-cream shade. By August, pubescent fruits ripen. The species is endemic to Kamchatka. Young shoots and rhizomes are used as food by both animals and local residents.

Reproduction methods

Meadowsweet is propagated by seed and vegetative methods. Seeds are usually sown immediately in open ground. A landing site is chosen in partial shade. Seeds are sown in mid-autumn, in winter they undergo natural stratification, and in spring the first unfriendly shoots appear. In order not to confuse them with weeds, make markings. The soil must be regularly moistened. Flowering of seedlings begins from the second year of life.

Meadowsweet constantly gives lateral shoots and basal shoots, therefore vegetative propagation happens much easier. It should also be borne in mind that it is this method that allows you to preserve the varietal characteristics of ornamental plants. Cuttings are cut in July-August from young annual shoots. Each should contain 5-6 leaves. The leaf at the lower cut is removed along with the petiole, the remaining leaf blades are cut in half. The lower cut is treated with a growth stimulator for several hours, then rooting is carried out in individual pots with sandy soil. The cuttings are placed at an inclination of 30-45 °, the soil is watered and the plants are covered with a transparent film. Keep them in a shady, warm place. In autumn, rooted plants are dug in the garden directly with pots. From above they are covered with boxes or banks. In the spring, when young shoots appear, the cuttings are transplanted to a permanent place.

Elm-leaved meadowsweet and some other species have a horizontal rhizome. In the spring, young shoots appear next to the bush. They are dug up and transplanted to a new place. Seedling adaptation is quick and easy. Flowers will appear soon.

You can propagate meadowsweet by layering. To do this, in the spring, the lower branch is dug in with earth. By the end of summer, roots form on it. The shoot is cut off and planted separately.

Landing and care

Meadowsweet grows well in shady, moist corners of the garden. But in a place that is too dark, he will be uncomfortable. It is better to plant the plant in a place where direct sunlight hits the branches in the morning and evening. The meadowsweet needs light, fertile soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. In too acidic soil, wood ash or chalk is preliminarily added. The optimal soil mixture consists of turf and leaf soil, peat and sand. Broken red brick is additionally added to heavy soils.

Before planting, the earth is dug up with nitrogen fertilizers. Planted meadowsweet in the garden in early spring or in autumn. The best time to do this is on a cloudy day. rainy weather. When planting, the root neck should be at ground level. The optimal distance between plants is 30-40 cm. The soil is rammed and mulched to a height of 7 cm with peat.

Meadowsweet should be watered often, as its roots are located close to the surface of the earth. Excess liquid should be quickly absorbed into the soil. After watering, the earth is loosened so that air enters the roots.

Several times during the season, meadowsweet is fed with complex mineral compositions for flowering plants. In summer, a solution of mullein and superphosphate is additionally added.

Over time, the bushes grow strongly and lose their shape, so they are cut regularly. Pruning stimulates more lush flowering. Manipulations are carried out in the spring, and again - at the end of summer. Every 7-14 years, lignified, bare shoots are cut to the very ground, thereby rejuvenating. Young shoots soon appear from the stumps, forming a spherical growth.

Meadowsweet is used to decorate the garden. It looks good in group tape plantings, in the form of a hedge or framing a flower garden. Openwork fragrant inflorescences attract bees, so meadowsweet is an excellent honey plant. undersized, creeping varieties used to decorate the border. Meadowsweet looks good against the background of conifers and evergreens, as well as the middle tier under the trees. Inflorescences are also used in bouquet compositions.

Aromatic meadowsweet is used in cooking. Its flowers are added to tea, wine and spirit tinctures. Honey syrup is very popular.

Medicinal properties

The meadowsweet is widely used in folk medicine and pharmacology. It has anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties. Decoctions and alcoholic infusions are prepared from meadowsweet grass and its roots, which help to cope with rheumatism, gout, diseases of the genitourinary system, hemorrhoids, gastrointestinal upset, bleeding, conjunctivitis, and fever.

Compresses, lotions, as well as decoctions and tinctures for internal use are made from preparations. Due to the large amount of vitamins, tannins, phenol, flavonoids and essential oils, the preparations not only relieve diseases, but also strengthen the immune system.

Despite the beauty and benefits of meadowsweet, its strong aroma and an abundance of pollen often cause allergies. Treatment is contraindicated for people with hypersensitivity and a tendency to allergies. Do not use meadowsweet for pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under 12 years old. It can cause serious disorders in people with a tendency to hypotension, suffering from poor blood clotting and constipation.