The botanical name of this plant is "Badan", as they say, "not heard." However, all gardeners and gardeners are perfectly familiar with this gorgeous plant, albeit under different names. It is commonly known as the saxifrage. In Altai it is called Chigir tea, in Siberia - Chagyr or Mongolian tea. For large, rounded or heart-shaped leaves, among the people badan received the nickname "elephant ears".
Badan is a herbaceous perennial of half a meter in height with large, often shiny, leathery leaves that change color in autumn to a red, sometimes even crimson color.
It blooms early - in May. Badan has pink medium-sized flowers that look like bells. Flowers are collected in an inflorescence located at the top of the stem. During its flowering, berry is especially good: its inflorescences look spectacular in contrast among the dark green shiny leaves.
Badan has a powerful horizontal rhizome. One of the fascinating facts of plant growth is its ability to "crawl" around the area. This movement occurs due to the fact that the berry rhizome annually adds in "growth". Well, since it is creeping, the impression of a certain movement of a plant is created.
Features of growing badan
The plant is very unpretentious, and therefore it can be found throughout our country. However, it also has its own preferences:
- Badan loves light shading and grows well in the shade of trees and shrubs. It looks worse in open and well-lit areas than in the shade.
- Badan prefers loose, permeable and well-drained soils. It will decorate any alpine slide or decorative rocky garden.
- Stagnation of water is extremely undesirable for the rhizome of badan. The plant also does not tolerate prolonged drought. Badan signals a moisture deficit by the absence of flowering and withering, shrinking leaves. For all its unpretentiousness, badan needs regular watering.
- Badan is distinguished by the constancy of the place of growth, he does not like and painfully tolerates the transplant. This should be remembered when choosing a place to plant a plant. It must be constant.
Badan breeding methods
Badan can be propagated in two ways:
- seeds
- vegetatively, by dividing the rhizome
Seed propagation is quite laborious. Badan seeds are long (a month) and do not germinate well. In addition, when propagating by seeds, you will have to wait 3-4 years for bergenia to bloom. If you are ready for this, then you need to start by growing seedlings. To obtain them, berry seeds are germinated at room temperature in high humidity conditions in special containers. Seed boxes must be darkened. Seedlings develop very slowly. After two leaves appear on the seedlings, they can be planted in open ground. This is best done in early summer, in June. First-year plants have a small rosette of 4-5 leaves and delicate roots. Therefore, for the winter, they should be carefully covered with a good layer of dry leaves.
It is much easier and simpler to propagate bergenia with rhizome areas. This can be done both in spring and autumn. First, we will choose a place and prepare the soil by clearing it of weeds and making a hole 30 cm deep.Fill the hole with water and place a section of the rhizome right into it, carefully filling it to ground level. It is advisable to mulch the top layer with peat or sawdust. With this planting, the next watering will be required in 6-7 days.
On the flower beds of the middle lane, thick-leaved berry most often meets. It is distinguished by early and repeated flowering. It blooms for the second time in autumn: in August or September. During autumn flowering, the leaves of the plant turn red.
Badan application
Badan is a very useful and valuable plant. It is used in cooking, medicine, cosmetology and even industry. Therefore, in places of natural growth of badan, they are engaged in its industrial cultivation and processing.
In medicine, all parts of this plant are valued and used: rhizomes, leaves, flowers and even seeds.
Rhizome is widely used as a remedy that relieves inflammation of the mucous membranes in stomatitis and angina, is widely used in gynecology.
The drugs created on its basis contribute to the narrowing and strengthening of the walls of blood vessels, increase the heart rate, and treat hypertension.
Teas made from dried badan leaves are widely known. They help with diseases of the lungs and digestive organs.
In cosmetology, badan is used in the treatment of dermatitis and seborrhea, sweating and acne.
In cooking, the rhizome of the plant is used, from which soups and side dishes are prepared for meat.
In industry, it is used in the production of fabric dyes and leather tanning.
