Meadowsweet (meadowsweet)

Meadowsweet, or Tavolga (Filipendula) is a genus of plants from the Pink family. It includes about 16 species that live in the temperate climatic zone. Meadowsters prefer humid wetlands, as well as coastal areas of water bodies, forests or meadows. In the wild, it spreads over impressive distances, forming continuous thickets.

The scientific name of meadowsweet is translated as "hanging threads". It is associated with the structure of the roots of some of its species: the nodules on them are located on thin roots.

Earlier, meadowsweet belonged to the genus Spirey. This plant is also known as meadowsweet. It has an impressive range of medicinal properties, but the interest of gardeners in the shrub is often associated with its spectacular appearance.

Description of meadowsweet

Meadowsweet are tall perennial grasses, sometimes resembling shrubs. They have a short rhizome, from which straight stems with feathery (sometimes finger-like) foliage extend. The average height of the shoots is about 80 cm. The bushes are especially attractive due to their inflorescences, scutes or panicles. The size of the inflorescences reaches 15-20 cm. They are formed by many white or pink flowers. Varietal meadowsweets may also have more brightly colored inflorescences. The period of their appearance more often falls on the first half of the summer and lasts about 1.5 months. The flowers exude a pleasant aroma. The plant attracts pollinating bees, but at the same time has the ability to drive away mosquitoes and flies.

The moisture content of the bush is associated with its structure. In summer, the large meadowsweet leaves evaporate a lot of moisture, which is why many plant species begin to dry out their leaf blades during the hot period in order to reduce evaporation. In autumn, after the return of cool, wet weather, foliage grows again. All meadowsweet are cold-resistant, so in the middle lane they can be grown without shelter.

In gardens, meadowsweet is grown in group plantings, as well as in combination with other plants. A composition of meadowsweet and astilba will look spectacular. Due to the fact that the meadowsweet can live in conditions of high humidity, it can be used to decorate the coastal areas of garden reservoirs. From large bushes, you can create a hedge or frame paths with them. Thanks to the lush flower caps, this arrangement of plantings will be very decorative. Although meadowsweet does not get sick often, sometimes the bushes can be damaged by aphids. The appearance of the pest can be prevented by growing meadowsweet bushes in combination with large marigolds or other flowers with a characteristic odor that drives this insect away.

Brief rules for growing meadowsweet

The table shows brief rules for growing meadowsweet in the open field.

Growing meadowsweet from seeds

Sowing seeds

Meadowsweet seeds remain viable for a long time - up to 6 years, although this period depends on the place and time of their collection, as well as on compliance with storage rules. Seeds harvested in dry areas are best stored. For germination, they need a period of stratification. The easiest way to fulfill this condition is by sowing seeds before winter.

The plot prepared for sowing must be prepared in advance. It is cleaned of weeds, and then the soil is moistened. Due to the fact that the seeds are sensitive to sunlight, and its excess can harm them, it is recommended to place the beds with them in semi-shady places. When sowing, the seeds are buried no more than 0.5 cm. This depth will facilitate germination. The distance between the shoots should be about 30 cm. So the seedlings will be able to develop and not interfere with each other.

When sowing meadowsweet in the winter, the first shoots appear in the second half of spring. Seedling growth rates are low. During the first year of life, only up to 5 leaves are formed on them. At the same time, young plants can already overwinter under the snow.

The first flowering of meadowsweet obtained from seeds occurs at 2-3 years of development. The appearance of buds also depends on the growing conditions of the bushes.

If necessary, you can sow meadowsweet in the spring. But the seeds are prepared for this in advance, keeping in water for at least a day. This will help soften the dense seed coat, as well as weed out non-viable specimens - they will float. It is recommended to additionally hold the seeds in a growth stimulant solution. The moisture content of the soil in the seedbed must be monitored, as well as provide them with sufficient (but not excessive) shading. Otherwise, seedlings may not appear. The rate of development of such plants will be even slower than with winter sowing. Flowering in this case will come later - at 3-4 years of age, which is why the first sowing option is considered more preferable.

Seedling meadowsweet

In spring, seeds can also be sown for seedlings. This is done at the very end of March. Seeds are superficially distributed over loose soil, without sprinkling with earth. Then the container is covered with a film and placed in a warm corner so that the direct sun does not fall on the seedlings. Periodically, the soil is moistened - it should not dry out. The sprouts will hatch in a couple of weeks. When the seedlings get stronger, they are carefully dived into separate pots along with an earthen lump. They are transferred to the ground at the very end of spring or early summer, maintaining a distance of 20-50 cm.

Planting a meadowsweet in open ground

Choosing a landing site

Although meadowsweets prefer moist corners, they should not be planted in places where water stands for a long time. With a high level of groundwater, it is necessary to raise the beds and lay a good drainage layer under them. Garden varietal plants do not tolerate stagnant moisture well.

Bushes should not be planted in deep shade: a sunny or slightly shaded place is more suitable for them. The lighter the area is, the brighter the color of the meadowsweet flowers will be.

Soil selection

Nutritious soil with a neutral reaction is best suited for growing meadowsweet.Too acidic soil can be supplemented with lime or wood ash. It will be possible to fertilize poor soil by introducing humus or compost. Sand is added to too heavy soil. It is important not to forget about the drainage layer.

Care of the meadowsweet

Watering

A meadowsweet growing in the garden will need regular watering. Its volume must correspond to the growing conditions and weather: a constant stagnation of moisture at the roots of a plant can lead to the development of fungal diseases. As a rule, the bushes are watered about once a week.

The common meadowsweet is considered the most drought-resistant species. It grows well in light soil and does not need abundant watering.

Top dressing

If meadowsweet was originally planted in nutrient soil, the bushes need not be fed. In other cases, a couple of dressings per season will help stimulate growth and abundance of flowering. For this, both organic matter and mineral fertilizers are used. But an excess of nitrogen will have a bad effect on the formation of buds, and they will appear at a later date.

Pruning

In order for the garden forms of meadowsweet that do not form seeds to retain a neat appearance, wilted inflorescences should be cut off. You can pinch off the shields themselves with your hands, or completely remove the faded branch. At the same time, many species of meadowsweet remain very decorative even after the formation of seeds. Their fruits are often decorated with cilia or are brightly colored. In such plants, branches with peduncles are cut off only at the very end of summer, so as not to hurt the bud of the next year's renewal.

Support

When growing large meadowsweet bushes, you should take care of the presence of support. If the shoots lie on the ground under the weight of the inflorescences or bend from the wind, they should be tied to pegs.

Wintering

This plant is considered very hardy, but the bushes should be prepared a little before wintering. Before the onset of frost, the shoots of meadowsweet are cut at a height of 5-10 cm from the ground. Planting will need shelter only in regions with too harsh and little snowy winters. In this case, immediately after pruning, the garden bed with meadowsweet can be covered with compost or peat up to 10 cm thick.

Diseases and pests

Wireworms or aphids can attack the meadowsweet plantings. In the fight against wireworm, liming of the soil helps. Aphids are the least likely to affect the meadowsweet, but if the pest nevertheless appears on the site, a soap solution or an insecticide will help to cope with it.

Meadowsweet breeding methods

There are three main ways of breeding meadowsweet: with the help of its seeds, dividing a bush or separating root tubers (in this way, meadowsweet is propagated). Seeds for sowing are purchased or harvested directly from the bushes closer to autumn, after they have ripened.

Dividing the bush

The procedure for dividing an adult bush allows you to get flowering plants at an earlier date. That is why this method of reproduction is considered more common. The division is carried out in the fall, after the meadowsweet flowering, or in the spring - until mid-April. But, as in the case of seeds, autumn division allows you to get plants that bloom earlier.

Healthy overgrown specimens not younger than 4-5 years old are suitable for division. A bush of such a meadowsweet is dug out of the ground and its rhizome is divided into parts. In order not to damage the rather weak roots, it is easier to dig out the bush along with the earthy clod and soak it in water. Delenki are seated on the prepared holes immediately after receiving them. If desired, planting material can be stored from autumn until the beginning of the next season, but parts of the bushes should be stored by burying them in the ground or wet sawdust. The plant cannot be stored for a long time in a dry place without nutrition.

The garden bed where the meadowsweet obtained in this way will be planted must be cleared of weeds. When landing, a half-meter distance is maintained between the divisions. Each bush is buried by about 5 cm. The roots in the holes are laid horizontally, so that the sharp tops of the buds are directed upward.At the same time, it is not worth ramming the earth in the hole. Young plants need to be watered systematically. As a rule, such meadowsweets take root very well.

Tuber propagation

The structure of the common meadowsweet allows it to be propagated with the help of nodules on the rhizome. But in the first year after planting, the bush obtained in this way will not bloom.

Medicinal properties of meadowsweet

The medicinal properties of meadowsweet are recognized by both folk and official medicine. The aboveground parts of the meadowsweet and its roots are considered medicinal. The plant can fight germs, as well as help with inflammation and relieve tumors. The herb is used in the treatment of cough and to normalize blood pressure in hypertension. Meadowsweet is also able to strengthen the immune system.

Not all types of meadowsweet have healing properties. Of these, only 4 types are classified as medicinal plants:

• Viscous;
• Palm-shaped;
• Kamchatka;
• Six-petal (aka ordinary).

Preparations based on them are used to combat colds. In addition, they are able to affect the acidity of the stomach: the infusion of meadowsweet flowers helps to cope with heartburn. A similar remedy is used to prevent blood clots. The meadowsweet also helps for cosmetic purposes: decoctions from it promote hair growth.

It is important that the bushes from which medicinal raw materials are collected grow in an ecologically clean area. The collection of inflorescences is carried out throughout the entire flowering period in the early hours - until the dew dries. You should choose the strongest, not wilted panicles. The stems are cut with a sharp tool, being careful not to break them. The grass is dried by hanging it in bunches or spreading it out on a burlap. The aboveground part of the meadowsweet can be stored for about 2 years.

For medicinal purposes, the rhizomes of meadowsweet are usually used, which have tuberous growths. These parts of meadowsweet are rich in tannins, as well as vitamin C, starch and the glycoside goulterin, a source of salicylic acid. The harvesting of meadowsweet rhizomes is carried out in early autumn or in the middle of spring, before the growth of shoots. Autumn time is considered the most successful for harvesting: during this period, the bushes prepare for wintering and accumulate valuable substances. For collection, plants are selected, whose aerial part has already begun to dry out. However, it should not be damaged. Selected bushes are carefully pulled out of the ground, trying not to hurt the rhizomes. It is desirable that they remain intact. Part of the plant, after separating the required amount of raw materials, can be planted back.

The aerial part and thin lateral roots are removed from the bush, and the remaining roots with nodules are washed in cold running water. Tubers should be dried in a cool, but well-ventilated room, periodically turning. Completely dried, whole rhizomes become very brittle and crunch when broken. Finished raw materials should be stored in paper bags, linen bags or in glass jars. For treatment, it can be used for 3-5 years.

Such nodules are added to infusions and decoctions used to improve digestion, with an inflamed bladder and other inflammations. Meadowsweet is used as a diaphoretic and fixative, and is also used for skin diseases. After drying, the rhizomes taste bitter.

Medicines from meadowsweet have practically no contraindications, but it should be remembered that self-medication is not worth it.

In addition to the healing qualities, fresh shoots and roots of meadowsweet can be used in cooking. Its foliage and fragrant flowers are sometimes used to make tea, and petals are also added to various drinks and desserts.

Types and varieties of meadowsweet with photos and names

The plant appeared in gardens in the 18th century, but of all its varieties, only about eight are used in culture.

Variegated rosewood (Filipendula ulmaria)

The height of the Filipendula ulmaria bushes can reach 2 m. Such a meadowsweet is common both in Europe and in some Asian countries.

The variegated form of this type is especially loved by gardeners. The height of variegated plants ranges from 1 m to 170 cm. The shoots are red-brown in color. The feathery foliage includes 3-5 lobes. On the outside, the leaf blades are painted in a dark shade of green and are complemented by yellow streaks and spots. On the seamy side, the foliage has a paler color. In addition, the leaves give off a pleasant aroma. To prevent the color from disappearing, such a plant must be planted in sunny areas.

The branched rhizome is devoid of nodules. It forms a large number of buds, developing in the summer into stems with inflorescences. The flowers are creamy or white in color and have a honey smell. Flowering lasts about 3 weeks and occurs in the first half of summer. The length of the inflorescences reaches 20 cm. After flowering, spiral fruits are formed.

The species also has varieties with yellow-green foliage, as well as pink-flowered and white double inflorescences. But terry varieties of fruits are not tied, therefore, after flowering, the bushes lose their decorative effect.

Kamchatka (Filipendula camtschatica)

Or a helomminer. In the natural environment, the species lives in the Far East, as well as in the north of Japan. The height of the Filipendula camtschatica bush reaches 3 m. It has a larger thick rhizome. Erect stems are pubescent and have a reddish color. The foliage is pinnate, basal. Its length reaches 30 cm, and its width is about 40 cm. On the outside, the leaves are glossy and green, and on the seamy side, pubescent. Smaller leaf blades are located on the stems. At the tops of the shoots, they acquire a slightly different shape - solid or 3-lobed.

Large inflorescences look like scutes. They are composed of fragrant white or cream flowers about 8 mm in diameter. Flowering occurs in the second half of summer. After flowering, the panicles become "fluffy". This effect is achieved due to the special shape of the fruit of the plant, covered with cilia at the edges. They ripen in late summer.

Purple (Filipendula x purpurea)

A hybrid with bright flowers, widespread in East Asian countries, is gradually gaining popularity in other states. Filipendula x purpurea bushes reach a height of one meter, but can be more compact. The foliage is green and has a finger-like structure with deep cuts. The lobes have pointed tops. Each sheet can contain up to 7 such shares. The amount of root foliage exceeds the smaller foliage on the stems.

The inflorescences of such meadowsweet are panicles of small purple or pink flowers. After flowering, noticeable fruits with cilia on the edges are formed.

The garden form of such meadowsweet - Elegance, has white inflorescences with bright red stamens that stand out against their background. Its flowering lasts a little less than a month and falls on July.

Red (Filipendula rubra)

The species lives in the east of North America. In nature, the height of Filipendula rubra reaches 2.5 m, although the garden hybrids of such a meadowsweet are slightly more compact. This meadowsweet can form real thickets. On its stems are large feathery leaves. Panicle inflorescences are formed by flowers of different shades of pink. After their flowering, bright crimson fruits appear. Flowering lasts up to 1.5 months and begins in July.

This species can be planted both in the sun and under the sparse crown of trees or bushes. But in too deep shade meadowsweet will not bloom.

Palm-shaped (Filipendula palmata)

The species has been cultivated since the beginning of the 19th century. Such a meadowsweet also grows rapidly. In nature, Filipendula palmata can be found in forests in the east of Eurasia, as well as in Japan. The name of the species was determined by the shape of its foliage, which resembles an open palm. On the outside, the leaf blades have a bright green tint, and on the seamy side they are covered with dense grayish pubescence. The size of the shoots reaches 1 m. The peculiarity of the species is the deeper bedding of the rhizome.

During the flowering period, panicles are formed on the bushes, composed of many small flowers, painted in white or pale pink. They exude a honey aroma, and as they grow, they change color to a lighter one. Each bush can form up to 8 such inflorescences. Flowering lasts about a month and falls in June-July.

Six-petaled or ordinary (Filipendula vulgaris)

Stunted view. The height of the stems of Filipendula vulgaris reaches 80 cm, but it can be about 30 cm. It is this meadowsweet that has the greatest garden distribution. In the natural environment, it can be found in fields and forest edges, not far from rivers, as well as in thickets of other bushes.

The rhizome of this meadowsweet is quite thin and resembles a cord. On it are tuberous thickenings of a dark color, because of which the species is also called "earthy nuts". The root rosette is feathery foliage. The plates located on the stems are smaller. Inflorescences up to 15 cm long include many small flowers with 6 petals. They are colored white or light pink. Flowering occurs in the first half of summer.

The species has a popular garden form - Plena. It is distinguished by the double structure of white flowers, due to which its inflorescences resemble lush caps of snow. The height of the bush reaches half a meter. As it grows, the lower part of the stems of such meadowsweet begins to bare, so they try to plant it in the central or rear part of multi-tiered flower beds.

Some of the most popular garden meadowsweets include the following varieties:

• Elegans - the height of the bushes of this variety reaches 1 m. The foliage has a bright green color and a finger-like structure. Panicle inflorescences consist of deep pink flowers. Long bloom, from June to August.
• Red Umbrella - a variety with decorative leaves. They have a finger-like structure and jagged edges. The green color is complemented by purple or reddish-brown veins. Inflorescences are paniculate, loose. The flowers are pink. Flowering begins in July and lasts almost until autumn, but thanks to the beautiful leaves, the bushes look good throughout the warm season.
• Rosea - a spectacular variety of meadowsweet, which is quite rare in gardens. The inflorescences are colored in a delicate shade of pink.
• Venusta - one of the varieties of red meadowsweet that lives in America. The height of its bushes is impressive - up to 170 cm. During flowering, large inflorescences with reddish-pink, less often creamy flowers are formed on the tops of the shoots. The bushes have a small rhizome and strong shoots, complemented by feathery foliage with large teeth.
• Magnifica - another variety of red meadowsweet. The height of its bushes also reaches 170 cm. The foliage has large lobes with denticles at the edges. The variety forms large inflorescences at the tops of the shoots. The flowers are painted in a very rich pink color. Flowering lasts 1.5 months and falls in July-August.