Common features of meadowsweet, description, recommendations on agricultural technology, breeding meadowsweet, pest and disease control, interesting facts and applications, types. Meadowsweet (Filipendula), or as it is sometimes called Tavolga, belongs to the genus of herbs with a long life cycle that are part of the Rosaceae family. Scientists attributed to this genus no less than 16 varieties of the same representatives of the flora that grow in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere of the planet.
The plant bears its generic name from the fusion of two Latin words "filum" and "pendrere", which translates as "thread" and "hang", respectively. Apparently, for the ancient scientists it was the type of nodules that seemed to "hang" on the filamentous roots that gave rise to such a name. However, along with this, in some sources, the plant bears the name of meadowsweet and meadowsweet. The first version comes from the Turkic word "tubylyy", which is translated as "meadowsweet, honeysuckle", also exists in the Kyrgyz dialect "tubylya" and means meadowsweet. Because of the thin twig-like shoots, meadowsweet was associated with a plant, a cane, or a twig. The term "meadowsweet" came from the word "labazina", which means a twig, a staff, a stick. Dahl's explanatory dictionary offers this plant the following names: tavolzhanka, volzhanka, steppe birch, meadowsweet, steppe meadowsweet, ivan's color, larkspur, smelt and others.
All representatives of this genus are rhizome plants, have large forms, a herbaceous type of growth, an erect stem. Rhizomes give an increase of up to 1–2 cm per year, but in some varieties the absolute size of the rhizome can be several tens of centimeters. Exceptions are the varieties of meadowsweet and narrow-bladed, since the growth of root shoots can be 10-15 cm per year, so they are distinguished by rapid vegetative reproduction and tend to "weed" and fill the surrounding areas.
Leaf plates with pinnate, less often palmate outlines. The contours of the foliage are very similar to leaf fronds (leaves) of ferns. The color of the leaves is dark rich green and it serves as an excellent background for inflorescences. The height of the shortest plant ranges from 40 cm to 60 cm.
When blooming, small flowers are formed, with a whitish or pinkish shade of petals. Terminal inflorescences with a corymbose-paniculate form are collected from them. The flowering process begins in the first half of the summer season. In a flower, the calyx consists of five or six petals, and the subacute (the perianth element external to the calyx) is absent. The perianth is double-shaped. After flowering, the fruitlets ripen in the form of a multi-root - a nut fruit, which is usually composed of single-seeded nuts, they are surrounded by a hard covering of a non-opening pericarp. Meadowsweet is a cross-pollinated plant. Flowers in themselves contain a large amount of nectar and next to them on quiet summer sunny days are full of bees and other insects.
All varieties of meadowsweet are distinguished by increased moisture-loving, and excellent winter hardiness. The meadowsweet plant has long been familiar to flower growers for its unpretentiousness and decorative appearance. Many of the species have medicinal properties and have also long been used by traditional healers in the treatment of many diseases.
In nature, the meadowsweet prefers to settle on damp meadows, the banks of natural and artificial waterways, in wet and damp forests, while preferring soils with good aeration, without stagnant water, so that there is flowing moisture. They can be found on meadow steppes, fallow lands and in shrubs, settle on the edges of light forests, but there, in moments of prolonged drought, they can completely lose their deciduous mass, which will begin to grow in the autumn period. This feature in botany is called the semi-femeroid type of development.
Growing a meadowsweet in the open field: planting and care
- Choosing a place for planting meadowsweet. First of all, it should be remembered that meadowsweet is a rather moisture-loving plant and the place for planting should be with high humidity and some protection from sunlight at noon - in the shade or partial shade. And only meadowsweet prefers to grow on sunny lawns and arid substrates. This variety shows itself perfectly under the direct streams of solar streams of light.
- Watering. Since meadowsweet prefers to settle in natural conditions near river arteries or in wetlands, the plant can tolerate heat and drought for a short time, but regular moistening of the soil should be carried out to help the meadowsweet. When growing a plant, it is advisable to provide for a place in the lowland, or the owner should take care of artificial watering of the flower bed. Many species are recommended to be watered frequently, but common meadowsweet is capable of growing in dry and temperate conditions.
- Fertilizer for meadowsweet are introduced during the beginning of its growing season, organic or complex mineral dressings are usually used, with a high potassium content. It is recommended to feed seedlings twice, approximately after a month and a half after planting, and then after three months. Liquid complex fertilizers are used.
- Meadowsweet transplant and soil selection. In one place, meadowsweet can grow normally for a long time. And such groups of plants are planted after a five-year period from the moment of planting the seedlings or divisions. But one should take into account the property that plants (like astilba, a representative of the Stonefragment family) grow up, only this process is slower, therefore it is recommended to pour fertile soil under it from time to time in the autumn period. If this is not done, then over time, the rhizome will have a bare appearance. The planting is carried out in the autumn, but if this did not work out, then the rhizomes are stored until spring in cool rooms covered with sawdust. A distance of 30–40 cm should be maintained between the plants. The meadowsweet is completely unpretentious to the composition of the soil, but it is better that the substrate be slightly acidic or neutral - acidic earth is not suitable. Nutritious garden soil is applied. In nature, meadowsweet can settle on water-saturated swampy substrates. But such conditions will act on the plant rather depressingly, since the rhizome and root processes need good aeration of the soil for normal respiration. In order for the meadowsweet to develop optimally, it is necessary to select a place with light loamy or sandy loamy humus substrates that will maintain a constantly moist state throughout the growing season. If there is no way out, and the soil is highly acidic, then lime and wood ash will need to be added to it.
- General recommendations for care. After flowering ends, and this happens in July or early August, the flowering stems should be cut off. This is done quite carefully, and in such a way that the bud, from which the formation of a new peduncle will take place next year, is not damaged. Since meadowsweet has excellent winter hardiness, no shelter is required for the winter months.
Tips for self-breeding meadowsweet
If there is a desire to get a new meadowsweet, then it can be carried out by reproduction by dividing a strongly overgrown bush, sowing seeds and segments of rhizomes.
Usually, with the help of rhizomes, an overgrown bush dug out for the same division can be divided. The operation is performed in September or in April. It is recommended to dig up the plant carefully with a shovel around the perimeter and remove it from the ground. Then try to remove the soil from the root system. Division must be carried out with a sharpened and disinfected knife. Each part of the rhizome should have 2-3 vegetative buds. Then the meadowsweet cuttings should be planted in pre-prepared holes at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other.
If it is planned that meadowsweet will be grown in a mixborder or a group of similar plants, then when planting it is recommended to deepen the rhizome into the substrate by 10-12 cm, since meadowsweet has the property of rapid growth.
With seed reproduction, sowing of seed material must be carried out in the autumn period before winter, since it requires stratification. It is also done by placing seeds on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to simulate winter conditions. The place for sowing is preliminarily removed from weeds and marked, and it is also important to monitor so that the substrate does not dry out, since the seeds sprout rather slowly and not all at once.
Such a school (the place where the seedlings of the first year will be grown - a mini-garden) for germinating meadowsweet from seed is best arranged in a shaded place. The seeds are so sensitive to light that it is not recommended to sprinkle them with soil on top.
Transplantation to a permanent place for the growth of young meadowsweet seedlings is carried out in the year when seedlings appear, and in the second year you can already wait for their flowering.
It is often customary to plant meadowsweet in whole groups along the edges of lawns, in the background of mixborders, or as separate plants that will be placed under the canopy of trees. It is customary to form green hedges from them, which will separate neighboring plots, or they can fence parts of the garden from the rest of the backyard territory.
Pests and diseases of meadowsweet, methods of dealing with them
The pests of meadowsweet are wireworms, aphids, spider mites. If harmful insects are found, the deciduous mass should be treated with a systemic insecticide, they can be, for example, Actellik, Aktara, Fitoverm or Agrovertin.
If the conditions of detention are violated, powdery mildew or rust appears from diseases. When the latter appears on the sheet plates, rusty spots appear. To cure, it is required to spray the foliage with a solution of copper sulfate and lime.
In the Kamchatka, red, elm-leaved and steppe species of Labaznik, due to the increased temperature in the summer period, foliage wilt and bud fall can be observed. This is a consequence of an overdried earthen coma, if moisture is resumed, then after a while the situation will be stabilized.
Interesting facts about meadowsweet
Since the meadowsweet contains a high content of ascorbic acid (about 300 mg), it is clear that the plant has been used in medicine from time immemorial; the meadowsweet also contains tannins, salicylic acid and its derivatives.
At the same time, the meadowsweet can relieve headaches of a different nature, as well as even rheumatic pain in the joints. Due to the composition of the substances, it can be used as an antibacterial and antiviral agent, and it is recommended for acute respiratory infections, herpes and even influenza. Also, folk healers observed anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects.
If you prepare an infusion of herbs with flowers, then such a remedy will help with diseases of the heart, bladder and kidneys, and will ease choking and dysentery. Such a drug is prescribed as an antihelminthic, diaphoretic and diuretic. If the infusion is made very strong and saturated, then it will acquire antitoxic properties, and will help to cope with alcohol poisoning. But also externally, the agent is applicable for washing wounds, ulcers, boils or other skin diseases, due to its antiseptic effect.
The meadowsweet is also used in cosmetology; with the help of a decoction, you can accelerate and enhance hair growth. Meadowsweet inflorescences can also be brewed as tea or added to inflorescences, as they have a honey aroma and a pleasant taste. In Scandinavia, it is customary to mix meadowsweet flowers into beer or wine to get a more aromatic drink. Young shoots of meadowsweet and root shoots can be eaten.
If you plant a meadowsweet in the garden, then it will serve as an excellent environment to protect against flies, mosquitoes and horseflies.
Types of meadowsweet
- Elm-leaved meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmarina) also called Tavolga vazolistnaya. Quite a tall rhizome plant with stem parameters up to 50-200 cm in height. It has a long-term life cycle. The stem is leafy, unbranched, its surface is ribbed. The leaf plates are intermittent-pinnate, with segments of a broad-ovate, incised-serrate shape, with a white-tomentose pubescence from the bottom. When rubbed, a pungent smell is felt. When flowering, fragrant flowers are formed, their number is multiple, the size is small, the color of the petals is yellowish-whitish. A dense paniculate inflorescence is collected from them. The flowering process occurs in June-July. The fruits ripen in the form of a twisted multi-root. Fruiting occurs in the period from July to August. In nature, the plant prefers to settle in swampy meadows, on lands located near waterways (both natural and artificial), in thickened shrub thickets. The plant has long been recognized as medicinal and is even included in the list of the official pharmacopoeia of Russia.
- Common meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris) bears the name Tavolga ordinary or Meadowsweet six-petal. In nature, it settles in the lands of Europe, Turkey, Syria and Morocco. It prefers to grow on soils of moderate moisture - in meadows, forest edges, meadows, as well as steppe slopes. Perennial with a rhizome with tuber-shaped bulges ("nuts") on the root processes. The stem is erect, thin, reaching a height of 80 cm. The leaves formed in the root rosette are pinnate. When blooming, small flowers appear, white or whitish in color, there are six petals in the corolla (this was the reason for the name of the variety). The buds make up a multi-flowered inflorescence of a corymbose-paniculate appearance. Fruits ripen in the form of leaflets with a pubescent surface. The flowering process occurs in June-July, and the fruits begin to ripen from July to the end of August. Due to the fact that the tubers are rich in starch, they are edible and have a pleasant taste. There is an essential oil in the flowers and it is customary to use them as a substitute for tea, used to flavor beer or wine. Flowers are excellent honey plants, producing a lot of nectar and pollen. If the grass is given fresh, then farm animals eat it poorly, when the meadowsweet is in the form of hay, then they eat it more willingly. Wild boars prefer meadowsweet tubers.
- Steppe meadowsweet (Filipendula stepposa) prefers to grow naturally in meadow steppes, fallow lands and shrubs. The native habitat is in poorly steppe meadows, birch edges in the regions of Siberia. Perennial with a height of 25-50 cm. Leaves grow most of all in the lower part of the stem, leathery with pubescence of whitish felt, from above they are naked or with a surface covered with bristly short hairs. Leaves on the sides are double-toothed, 5–8 pairs of them and 2–3 pairs of intercalated segments are formed. The upper segment is five or three-lobed. The inflorescences are dense, composed of a small number of flowers, compact. Fruitlets are spirally twisted, sessile, flattened, almost straight, with pubescence on the inner side.
For more information about the meadowsweet, see the video below:
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