Growing meadowsweet in open ground: propagation, care features, varietal diversity. Meadowsweet: types, medicinal properties, methods of use, contraindications, recipes

Landscaping personal plot requires some agronomic and botanical knowledge. This is important for correctly selecting plants, taking into account their demanding growth conditions and decorative properties. The herb meadowsweet belongs to a species of plants that natural conditions preferred growth coastal zones. Accordingly, it is advisable to use it on your site for landscaping the edge or lake. With the help of meadowsweet grass, you can not only hide some of the shortcomings of the existing landscape, but also create excellent conditions for shading flowers that are not demanding on the amount of sunlight.

Description of the herb meadowsweet and its photo

So, let's start describing the meadowsweet grass, and the photos will show you all the splendor of mature, developed bushes. First of all, let me reassure you, the meadowsweet plant is a perennial crop that can grow in the same place for 5 to 8 years. This greatly simplifies the procedures for caring for meadowsweet during the growing process. At a minimum, there is no need to dig up the soil and plant seeds or seedlings every year. Meadowsweet flowers are a magnificent, moisture-loving representative of the rosaceous species. This group also includes rose hips, roses and many other plants known to you. The history of the name of this herb is interesting. It comes from two Latin roots that literally mean “hanging by threads.” If you look at the meadowsweet in the photo, you will understand that the name is far from accidental. Its small tubers seem to hang on long thin threads of the root system.

About 10 simple and hybrid types of meadowsweet grass are used in decorative garden culture. The main place for cultivation is difficult marshy soils and the edges of ponds and lakes.

Common types

In order for you to be able to choose the right this plant for your garden, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the description of some types and varieties of meadowsweet. We will start with the most common meadowsweet, or as it is also called, meadowsweet.

Meadowsweet meadowsweet

Do you want the area around your artificial pond to smell fragrant already in mid-May, drowning in a sea of ​​snow-white horn-like flowers with a small bud diameter, which is about 1 cm wide? Then pay attention to meadowsweet, or meadowsweet: the photo shows mature bushy plants. In order to grow such a bush on your site, you will need about 2 years and proper care.
The inflorescence has 6 petals, which are collected neatly near the calyx with amniotic petals. White color. The leaves are concentrated at the base of the bush and have a patterned structure. As the shoot grows, the leaf mass becomes sparser and gives way to a paniculate arrangement of inflorescences. After the flowering of the common meadowsweet, meadowsweet develops edible fruits over the course of 2 months, which resemble in their shape a berry with a crowned edge.

Meadowsweet

Do you like slender tall thickets of openwork bushes that shade the shore of the pond from the hot midday sun? Then the meadowsweet variety has been bred especially for you. This is a powerful, tall, bush-shaped plant that reaches proper care height 120 cm. The entire bush is covered with large foliage with feathery forms, dissected in some places.
The first meadowsweet flowers appear in early June. The total flowering period is approximately 2 months. The flowers have a small diameter and a rich creamy white color.

Red meadowsweet "Venusta"

An excellent decoration for any site is a combination of plants of the same species, but of different varieties, which differ from each other not only in shape, but also in the colors of the inflorescences. All this can be fully attributed to such a plant as the herb red meadowsweet “Venusta”. It goes well in group plantings with common meadowsweet and common meadowsweet.

Look at the photo of red meadowsweet, and you will see how gracefully paniculate inflorescences, consisting of small-diameter flowers with different colors, are located on a high stem bordered by openwork elastic foliage. Red and pink flowers predominate, and they are successfully set off by white cream and yellowish buds. The result is an elegant and aesthetically attractive picture.

Caring for meadowsweet during cultivation

In the wild, this plant is widely distributed along natural bodies of water. In this regard, we can say that no special care for meadowsweet is required during its cultivation. And this will be a big mistake, since it is worth understanding that the natural habitat is an interconnected chain of processes in which nutrients are produced and the soil is loosened naturally. And replanting of wild plants occurs in a timely manner.
How to care for meadowsweet on your site?
First, you need to figure out where to plant it. It is best to choose southern sides with plenty of sun rays throughout the day. Although meadowsweet also tolerates slight shade, it also tolerates light shade. Well-structured loam is the type of soil that is preferred.
In the process of caring for meadowsweet, the most important point is watering. If the root system has access to liquid from your artificial pond, great. If not, then it is advisable to organize watering in such a way that the soil ball is always moist at a depth of 5 cm.
For the first landing they are used seedling method. You can start sowing seeds in protected ground or, more simply, on your windowsill at the end of February or beginning of March. By the beginning of May, the seedlings will already be strong and picked apart in individual peat pots. At this time, it is necessary to begin to harden the seedlings, taking them out to the ground every day. Fresh air for approximately 30 - 45 minutes.
Subsequently, you can propagate meadowsweet grass by dividing its rhizomes. Just in autumn, it is enough to dig up a root with a thickness of at least 1 cm and cut it into pieces of 5 cm so that each cutting has 2-3 growth buds.

In the article we discuss meadowsweet (meadowsweet). You will learn what the plant looks like and where it is found. We will talk about the medicinal properties of meadowsweet and list contraindications for its use. By following our tips, you will learn how to brew tea based on the plant, prepare infusions, decoctions, ointments and alcohol tinctures for diabetes, hypertension, stomach diseases, toothache and for women's health.

Meadowsweet or meadowsweet - perennial grass genus Meadowsweet (lat. Filipendula), family Rose (lat. Rosaceae). Latin name: Filipendula ulmaria. Other names of the plant: meadowsweet, weeping plant, borage, meadowsweet, ratchet, sludge, whitehead, bogula, zherdrovnik, thistle-eater.

What does it look like

Meadowsweet has a fibrous root system. The meadowsweet root is creeping, without tubers.

Meadowsweet grass reaches a height of 1.5−2 m. The plant has smooth, erect stems, densely covered with leaves.

The leaves of meadowsweet are 3−5 lobed, intermittently pinnately divided. Paired dark green leaves are located on a long petiole. Large leaf blades are serrate, small (intermediate) ones are sharply toothed, basal ones are broadly ovate or ovate-lanceolate. All leaves of the plant, when rubbed in the hands, emit a pungent odor.

Small pale yellow or cream flowers are collected in loose paniculate inflorescences up to 20 cm long. Meadowsweet blooms from June to July.

The fruits are seed pods consisting of 10-15 leaflets, which, as they ripen, harden and twist in a spiral. Meadowsweet bears fruit from July to August. Look what meadowsweet looks like in the photo. Appearance(photo) meadowsweet

Where does it grow

Meadowsweet herb wildlife found in Europe and Western Asia. The plant is cultivated in North America. In Russia, meadowsweet grows in the European part of the country, the Caucasus, and Siberia.

Meadowsweet prefers moist soils and shady areas. It is found in flooded meadows, swamps, along the banks of rivers and lakes, and in floodplain forests.

Meadowsweet grass, flowers and roots

The benefits of meadowsweet are recognized not only by folk medicine, but also by traditional medicine. The plant is widely used to treat disorders of the cardiovascular system, gastric diseases and diabetes. The roots, grass and flowers of meadowsweet act as medicinal raw materials.

Chemical composition

Meadowsweet contains:

• phenolic compounds;
• campform;
• flavonoids;
• caffeic acid;
• ellagic acid;
• ascorbic acid;
• fatty acid;
• tannins;
• essential oil;
• coumarins;
• chalcones;
• steroids.

Medicinal properties

The medicinal properties and contraindications of meadowsweet consist in its rich chemical composition plants. Flavonoids thin the blood and stimulate the heart, ascorbic acid has an immunomodulatory effect, and essential oil is bactericidal and anti-inflammatory.

The beneficial properties of meadowsweet herb are used to treat diseases of the cardiovascular system. Preparations based on the plant stimulate the work of the myocardium, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and relieve their spasms.

The plant has diuretic, analgesic, diaphoretic and antispasmodic effects. IN folk medicine Meadowsweet is widely used to treat diseases of the stomach and genitourinary system.

The medicinal properties of meadowsweet are used for cancer. Plant-based products stop the development of cancer cells and have an antitumor effect.

Meadowsweet is equally useful for men and women. It has an additional effect on women - it normalizes hormonal background, regulates the menstrual cycle and promotes pregnancy.

The plant has a pronounced regenerating effect. Preparations based on it are used externally to treat skin diseases and heal the epidermis after wounds and burns. Meadowsweet effectively eliminates skin rashes and heals ulcers.

Medicines based on meadowsweet are used to treat diseases of muscles and joints. Meadowsweet effectively eliminates pain and swelling of tissues associated with gout, rheumatism and osteochondrosis.

Did you find out medicinal properties meadowsweet. Now we’ll tell you how to prepare your own medicinal plant.

How to collect

The rhizome of meadowsweet is harvested twice a year - in spring and autumn. At this time the plant contains maximum amount biologically active substances. The stems and flowers of meadowsweet are collected during the flowering period.

When harvesting roots, they are dug up, cleared of soil, washed under running water and cut into pieces. The stems along with the flowers are cut with a sharp knife.

The collected medicinal raw materials are dried under a canopy or in the shade in a well-ventilated area. The optimal temperature for drying is 45-50 degrees.

Store dry grass and roots in a cool, dry place. The shelf life of medicinal raw materials is up to 3 years.

How to use

In folk medicine, remedies based on meadowsweet are used to treat diseases of the cardiovascular, respiratory and genitourinary systems, gastrointestinal tract, and diseases of the oral cavity. Herbal preparations are widely used in gynecology for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and normalization menstrual cycle. Let's look at common recipes based on meadowsweet.
Meadowsweet can be bought at a pharmacy

Infusion for diabetes

In folk medicine, meadowsweet is widely used for type 2 diabetes as an additional therapeutic agent. The infusion of the plant not only regulates blood sugar levels, but also removes harmful cholesterol from the body.

Ingredients:

1. Meadowsweet rhizomes - 1 teaspoon.
2. Water - 250 ml.

How to cook: Wash the rhizomes of the plant, grind them in a coffee grinder to a powdery consistency, pour into a thermos and pour a glass of boiling water. Infuse the drink for at least 8 hours. Strain the finished infusion through multi-layer gauze or a cotton-gauze filter.

How to use: Take the infusion in small sips throughout the day. The indicated amount of product is designed for 1 day.

Result: When consumed regularly, the infusion reduces blood sugar levels and normalizes metabolism.

Rinse for tooth cysts

In dentistry, meadowsweet based products are often used for dental cysts and granulomas. When used regularly, herbal remedies make it possible to avoid surgical intervention.

Ingredients:

1. Meadowsweet roots - 10 g.
2. Vodka - 100 ml.

How to cook: Wash the rhizomes, grind them in a coffee grinder to a powder and pour in vodka. Infuse the remedy when room temperature for 5 days, shaking the container daily. Strain the finished drink through multi-layer gauze.

How to use: Dilute 10 ml of tincture in a glass of water and use this liquid as a mouth rinse.

Result: The product effectively eliminates inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, has analgesic, disinfectant and antitumor effects.

Decoction for hypertension

Meadowsweet contains salicylates - substances that prevent platelets from sticking together. Meadowsweet is useful for hypertension, stroke, heart attack and capillary fragility.

Ingredients:

1. Meadowsweet - 50 gr.
2. Horse chestnut - 30 gr.
3. Strawberries - 5 pcs.
4. Water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Grind the dry ingredients, add water and place the container on water bath. Simmer the broth over low heat under the lid for 5-7 minutes. Remove the drink from the stove, cover the pan with a towel and let cool at room temperature. Filter the broth using a strainer.

How to use: Take 2 tablespoons 3 times a day. Course - 30 days.

Result: With regular use, a decoction of meadowsweet normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Tea for stomach pain

Meadowsweet contains a large number of salicylic acid, which is known to irritate the gastric mucosa. Despite this, plant-based products are indicated for use in stomach diseases, including increased acidity of gastric juice. To enhance the therapeutic effect, the herb is combined with other medicinal plants.

Ingredients:

1. Meadowsweet flowers - 50 gr.
2. Naked licorice - 30 gr.
3. Sandy immortelle - 30 gr.
4. Gray alder - 20 gr.
5. Water - 1 liter.

How to cook: Rinse the herbs with running water, pour them into a teapot and pour boiling water over them. Infuse the tea for at least 15-20 minutes.

How to use: Take 1 cup of tea half an hour before each meal.

Result: Tea normalizes digestion, eliminates pain and spasms.

Infusion for women's health

Meadowsweet is widely used for women. It is called a herb for treating infertility. Herbal preparations normalize hormonal levels, resolve adhesions, and eliminate inflammation in the fallopian tubes. Products based on meadowsweet are contraindicated during pregnancy, as they contain toxic substances.

Ingredients:

1. Meadowsweet flowers - 10 g.
2. Red clover - 10 gr.
3. Linden flowers - 10 gr.
4. Water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Combine the dry ingredients, pour them into a thermos and pour boiling water over them. Close the lid tightly and leave the product for 2 hours. Strain the finished infusion through multilayer gauze.

How to use: Take 50 ml infusion 3 times a day. The product can be used for douching by first diluting 5 tablespoons of the infusion in 100 ml of boiled water.

Result: The infusion has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. With regular use, meadowsweet normalizes the menstrual cycle.

Elena, 38 years old

A year ago I was diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease. Looking for natural remedy because of this disease, I came across information about meadowsweet. I consulted with my doctor and started treatment. Soon after starting to take the plant decoction, I felt a significant improvement in my health. After 2 weeks of therapy, I was no longer tormented by cramping and aching pain, and after six months of treatment, I completely forgot about the disease.

Olga, 42 years old

In the evenings after a day of work, my blood pressure constantly rose. I self-medicated, but to no avail. Finally, I went to see a doctor, who advised me to take a course of taking meadowsweet infusion. To my surprise, the result did not take long to arrive. After 2-3 days of therapy, blood pressure and heart rate normalized. I continue to take the drug for preventive purposes.

Forms of application

Various medicines are prepared on the basis of meadowsweet. water based and alcohol-containing preparations. They can be purchased at pharmacies or prepared at home from dry plant materials. Let's consider the main forms of using meadowsweet based products.

Tea

Meadowsweet tea is brewed from the herb or inflorescences of the plant. This drink has anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects. It is widely used to treat diseases of the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract. When consumed regularly, meadowsweet tea has a general strengthening effect.

Decoction

A decoction of meadowsweet is prepared from the roots and herbs of the plant. The drug is used internally to treat oncology, disorders of the cardiovascular system, intestinal disorders and diseases of the genitourinary system. The decoction is used externally for douching in gynecology and for disinfecting wounds and abrasions.

Infusion

An infusion of meadowsweet reduces blood sugar levels, normalizes sleep and has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in diseases of the liver, kidneys and genitourinary system. The product is widely used in gynecology to treat thrush, irregular menstrual cycles, mastopathy, cervical erosion and infertility.

Tincture

The plant tincture has anticonvulsant and sedative effects. It is prescribed for disorders of the heart and central nervous system. The product has high regenerative activity, so it is used to heal ulcers, cracks and erosions of the stomach.

Meadowsweet tincture is used externally for rubbing and compresses for rheumatism, gout, arthrosis and osteochondrosis. It is used to treat long-term non-healing wounds and trophic ulcers.

Ointment

Meadowsweet ointment is used externally to treat joint and skin diseases. The product effectively relieves pain and relieves inflammation in rheumatism, arthrosis and osteochondrosis. To prepare the drug, mix the powdered roots of the plant with butter, petroleum jelly or lanolin in a ratio of 20 g. dry raw materials per 90 ml of liquid.

Oil

Meadowsweet oil is obtained from the flowers of the plant through distillation. This remedy is used externally to treat damaged skin and treat joint diseases. It is widely used in aromatherapy to treat disorders of the nervous system.

The benefit of meadowsweet oil lies in its high concentration of biologically active substances. Thanks to this, the product has a pronounced calming, antispasmodic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Contraindications

Contraindications for use of meadowsweet:

• hypotension;
• thrombocytopathy;
• low blood clotting;
• tendency to constipation;
• individual intolerance;
• pregnancy period;
• childhood up to 12 years old.

Classification

Meadowsweet or meadowsweet belongs to the genus Meadowsweet (lat. Filipendula), family Rose or Rosaceae (lat. Rosaceae). The plant belongs to the order Rosales (lat. Rosales), class Dicotyledons (lat. Dicotyledones) or Magnoliopsids (lat. Magnoliopsida), department Flowering or Angiosperms (lat. Magnoliophyta).

Varieties

The genus Meadowsweet includes 16 species of herbaceous plants. The most common of them:

• Meadowsweet (lat. Filipendula ulmaria);
• Kamchatka meadowsweet (lat. Filipendula camtschatica);
• Common meadowsweet (lat. Filipendula vulgaris);
• Narrow-lobed meadowsweet (lat. Filipendula angustiloba);
• Meadowsweet (lat. Filipendula palmata);
• Smooth meadowsweet (lat. Filipendula glaberrima).

For more information about meadowsweet, watch the video:

Meadowsweet infographics

Photo of meadowsweet, its beneficial properties and applications:
Infographics on meadowsweet

What to remember

1. In folk medicine, remedies based on meadowsweet are used to treat diseases of the cardiovascular, respiratory and genitourinary systems, gastrointestinal tract, and diseases of the oral cavity.
2. Meadowsweet has anti-inflammatory, diuretic, sedative, analgesic, antispasmodic and disinfectant effects.
3. Contraindications for use of meadowsweet include: low blood pressure and blood clotting, thrombocytopathy, tendency to constipation, pregnancy, children under 12 years of age and individual intolerance.

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Classmates

Meadowsweet is a perennial ornamental grass or subshrub from the Rosaceae family. Inhabits forest edges and clearings in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Meadowsweet is often called “meadowsweet” or “spirea”. The plant is used as a garden decoration. From the beginning of summer until 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. Herbal decoctions and infusions help cope with many diseases.

Description of the plant

Meadowsweet is a perennial deciduous plant in the form tall grasses or subshrubs. 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 spread along the ground. On older shoots, the bark peels off in longitudinal plates.

The alternate leaves on long petioles are gray-green. They have a lanceolate, lobed or round shape. There is often felt pubescence on the reverse side.

By the end of June, dense paniculate or corymbose inflorescences bloom at 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 a slight bitterness. Flowering lasts 1-1.5 months and can occur again at the end of summer. After pollination, the fruits ripen - leaflets with several seeds of a dark brown, almost black color. The length of the seed is 1-2 mm.

Types of meadowsweet

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

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

• Pleno - shoots 40-50 cm high blooms fragrant double flowers of white color;
• Grandiflora - a bush 40-60 cm in height in mid-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 creeping rhizomes reach a height of 1.5 m. The shoots are covered with alternate pinnately dissected dark green leaves. The lobes are broadly ovoid or oblong-lanceolate in shape. In June-July, paniculate inflorescences up to 20 cm in diameter bloom. They consist of small cream 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, covered with green leaves with creamy yellow streaks and shapeless spots.

The plants live in North America and are spreading bushes up to 2.5 m high. The 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 blooms 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 shoots up to 3 m high are abundantly covered with large palmate leaves of bright green color. The leaf width reaches 30 cm. In July, slender thickets are decorated with large fragrant inflorescences of a white-cream hue. By August, the pubescent fruits ripen. The species is endemic to Kamchatka. Young shoots and rhizomes are used for food by both animals and local residents.

Reproduction methods

Meadowsweet is propagated by seed and vegetative ways. Seeds are usually sown directly into open ground. The planting 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. To avoid confusing them with weeds, make markings. The soil must be moistened regularly. Flowering of seedlings begins in the second year of life.

Meadowsweet constantly produces lateral shoots and basal shoots, so vegetative propagation is much easier. It should also be taken into account that it is this method that allows you to preserve varietal characteristics ornamental plants. Cuttings are cut in July-August from young annual shoots. Each should contain 5-6 leaves. The leaf at the bottom 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 rooted in individual pots with sandy soil. The cuttings are placed at an angle of 30-45°, the ground is watered and the plants are covered transparent film. They need to be kept in a shaded, warm place. In the fall, rooted plants are dug into the garden directly with their pots. They are covered with boxes or jars on top. In the spring, when young shoots appear, the cuttings are transplanted to a permanent place.

Meadowsweet and some other species have a horizontal rhizome. In spring, young shoots appear next to the bush. They are dug up and transplanted to a new location. Adaptation of the seedling occurs quickly and easily. Flowers will soon appear.

Meadowsweet can be propagated by layering. To do this, in the spring, the lower branch is buried in soil. By the end of summer, roots will form on it. The shoot is cut off and planted separately.

Planting and care

Meadowsweet grows well in shaded, moist corners of the garden. But he will feel uncomfortable in a place that is too dark. It is better to plant the plant in a place where there are straight Sun rays fall on the branches in the morning and evening. Meadowsweet needs light, fertile soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. If the soil is too acidic, add wood ash or chalk first. The optimal soil mixture consists of turf and leaf soil, peat and sand. Broken red bricks are additionally added to heavy soils.

Before planting, the soil is dug up with nitrogen fertilizers. Planting meadowsweet in the garden in early spring or in the fall. It is best to do this in cloudy and rainy weather. When planting, the root collar should be at ground level. The optimal distance between plants is 30-40 cm. The soil is compacted and mulched to a height of 7 cm with peat.

Meadowsweet needs to be watered frequently, as its roots are located close to the surface of the earth. Excess liquid should be quickly absorbed into the soil. After watering, the soil is loosened to allow air to flow to the roots.

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

Over time, the bushes grow greatly and lose their shape, so they are regularly trimmed. Pruning encourages more luxuriant flowering. Manipulations are carried out in the spring, and again at the end of summer. Every 7-14 years, lignified, bare shoots are cut down to the ground, thereby carrying out rejuvenation. Young shoots soon appear from the stumps, forming spherical shoots.

Meadowsweet is used to decorate the garden. It looks good in group ribbon plantings, as a hedge or as a frame for a flower bed. Openwork fragrant inflorescences attract bees, so meadowsweet is an excellent honey plant. Low-growing, creeping varieties are used to decorate borders. Meadowsweet looks good against the background of conifers and evergreens, as well as as a middle tier under trees. The inflorescences are also used in bouquet arrangements.

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

Medicinal properties

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

The preparations are used to make compresses, lotions, as well as decoctions and tinctures for internal use. Thanks to a large amount of vitamins, tannins, phenol, flavonoids and essential oils The drugs not only relieve diseases, but also strengthen the immune system.

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

08 Oct

Meadowsweet or meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmária)

Meadowsweet (meadowsweet) is an aromatic garden crop with beneficial properties used in the treatment of various diseases.

How often, when walking along summer forest glades or river banks, you catch a sweet honey aroma. It is produced by the widely known plant species Meadowsweet from the genus Meadowsweet of the Rosaceae family. In nature 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.

There are no more than 15 species in the genus, most of them are used as horticultural crops. Based on representatives of meadowsweet, a large number of hybrids with white, pink and purple flowers have been bred. The decorative honey plant, meadowsweet, is a great addition to any garden. Meadowsweet also has another name - meadowsweet. In any description, this plant will be accompanied by a reference to meadowsweet.

For them, there are similar growing rules and agricultural techniques for caring for a personal plot. All varieties and types of plants can be found on this page. The beneficial and medicinal properties of the culture are also described in some detail.

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

Meadowsweet can be used in landscape design personal plot

Lush white meadowsweet fills the garden with a delicate honey aroma during flowering.

Description of meadowsweet (with photo)

According to the description of meadowsweet in other Internet sources, these are perennial herbaceous shrubs growing from 60 to 150 cm. There are more large forms up to 2 meters in height and dwarfs (usually with double inflorescences) with stems no more than 40 cm long. The natural habitat is considered to be temperate zones northern hemisphere, here medicinal herb grows in moist soils, for example, on the banks of ponds or grassy swamps.

The variety of forms is very large, some of them can be seen in the photo below:

Meadowsweet has another name - meadowsweet; it could be heard from grandmothers who often used the plant for recipes for health and beauty. The rhizome is creeping and very strong. It forms a ribbed, erect stem, 40 to 200 cm high. Over time, the shoots turn red and form apical racemose inflorescences, consisting of small buds. Meadowsweet grass is often feathery green leaf blades.

An unpretentious garden plant may have decorative leaves, for example, bronze in color. Meadowsweet 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 - multi-nuts.

Most species are used in folk and official medicine, but the largest number useful properties Contained in the grass and flowers of the common and Kamchatka crabgrass.

Description of species, varieties of meadowsweet and their medicinal properties

There are only 15 species in the genus Meadowsweet, 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 descriptions and photos further.

The most common meadowsweet in Russia is the meadowsweet; it received this name for the similarity of the leaf blade to an elm leaf. It's high herbaceous plants with shoots up to 120 cm in length. Most often, crops are found with small white buds with a yellow tint, collected in densely double racemose inflorescences. Meadowsweet is one of the best honey plants; during the flowering period, which occurs in June-July, the plant produces great amount 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 into different sides. The organs of this type of plant contain a large amount of useful enzymes and substances, thanks to which they are used as an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal agent. Decoctions from parts of meadowsweet are recommended for diseases of the genitourinary system.

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

• "Aurea" is an ornamental foliage crop. To maintain the beauty of the bronze basal leaves, it is recommended to cut off the flower stalks at the embryonic stage;
• "Rosea" - pink meadowsweet with small flowers in racemes;
• "Variegata" is another variety with decorative leaves;
• "Plena" is a large herbaceous shrub with double white inflorescences.

The largest number of different hybrids and varieties is found under the guise of Common meadowsweet or Six-petaled meadowsweet. These are perennial rhizomatous herbs, up to 80-120 cm in height. The feathery leaves often do not have decorative value and are collected in powerful basal rosettes. The flowers are observed from the beginning of June to the end of July, small white, consisting of 6 petals. The rhizome of the common meadowsweet contains a large amount of starch, based on it there are many useful medicinal prescriptions. Meadowsweet flowers can be used as a tea substitute; in production they act as a flavoring agent for beer and wine drinks. There are large-flowered and double (up to 40 cm in height) forms of the plant.

Pink meadowsweet – purple meadowsweet

As a garden plant, the most picturesque is the pink meadowsweet, originally from Japan. This species is commonly called purple meadowsweet. Its stems are no more than 1 m long; they bear palmate leaf plates. At the tops of the shoots, small buds of a crimson or dark pink hue bloom, collected in double 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, which can withstand temperatures down to -35 degrees, is Red Meadowsweet, native to the North of America. These are powerful herbaceous shrubs, growing from 1.5 to 2.5 meters. The large leaves at the tip are dissected into 5-7 lobes, which makes the plant even more picturesque. Pink flowers are collected in very dense paniculate inflorescences; even the fruits have decorative value due to their bright crimson color. Most famous variety Red meadowsweet - "Venusta", average height of 2 meters.

Palm meadowsweet

Palm-shaped meadowsweet with decorative foliage that resembles a human palm is also often grown in gardens. The average plant height is up to 100 cm. Leaf plate the lower part has 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 largest garden specimen is considered to be Kamchatka meadowsweet; 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 new plants 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 are not able to withstand winter frosts, and meadowsweet blooms only in the second year of life, therefore, planting it will be pointless. Please also note that F1 cultivars are sterile; the plant you like can be propagated only by dividing the bush or rhizome.

Purchased seeds should not be older than 5 years, since by this time meadowsweet loses its germination capacity. Prematurely soak the planting material and keep it in a humid environment for at least 24 hours. Seeds are sown in late autumn, before winter, so that they can undergo natural stratification. Initially, meadowsweet is grown as “seedlings” in a shaded bed; after planting in the spring they reach a height of 10-15 cm, they can be transplanted to a permanent sunny place. To grow everyone decorative species In addition to common meadowsweet, moist soils are preferred. Seeds are sown in grooves to a depth of approximately 0.5 -1 cm. Keep a distance of at least 15 cm between grooves.

Dividing the rhizome is necessary for “older” plants, when the meadowsweet will germinate in one place for at least 5 years. The mother plant is dug up and its root is divided so that each division has 2-3 vegetative buds. 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.

Caring for meadowsweet

Meadowsweet is also quite unpretentious in terms of care. The main thing for ornamental crops is to maintain soil moisture. Only six-petalled meadowsweet requires light, dry soil. As for the soil, it should under no circumstances be acidic. Neutral or slightly acidic sandy loam soil mixtures or loam are suitable for growing meadowsweet. Almost all species can withstand short-term drought. For them (we exclude common appearance) requires frequent, abundant watering.

To maintain soil moisture, gardeners prefer to plant the plant on coastline natural or artificial reservoirs. Mulching is acceptable. The bush must be divided as it grows, no more than once every three years. Typically, flower growers carry out this procedure 5-6 years after planting.

Representatives of some species, especially tall ones, require formative pruning of shoots - 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 there is stagnant moisture in the soil with plantings of common meadowsweet.

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The genus Meadowsweet includes more than 10 species, common in temperate areas Northern Hemisphere. Meadowsweet has its own cultural history, biological characteristics, and healing properties.

Nowadays, interest in meadowsweet is growing, but, unfortunately, rare species are difficult to obtain. It is much easier with varieties; they can be purchased at nurseries.

Meadowsweet

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

Meadowsweet - tall, perennial, 1.5 m in height. Meadowsweet has thick rhizomes bearing countless buds from which flower shoots grow. Stems with large pinnately dissected foliage.

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

The fruits are spirally twisted and ripen in September. The double flowers of the meadowsweet do not bear fruit, and as a result, the inflorescence loses all its decorative effect after flowering. Meadowsweet grows well in sunny places, as well as in partial shade, but is very demanding on humidity.

Meadowsweet looks good in groups on the lawn. Varieties available:

Meadowsweet Aurea-with yellow-green foliage.

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

Meadowsweet "Plena"("Plena") - beautiful variety with white double, multiple flowers. The only disadvantages include its high height, 1.7 m, and exposed shoots. But this can easily be corrected by planting meadowsweet in the background.

Meadowsweet "Aureovariegata"("Aureovariegata") – unusual shape with golden-yellowish streaks on the foliage. Despite the colorful appearance, for this variety, you need to carefully select the environment in order to increase decorative effect. Bright colors are only possible on open areas.

Red meadowsweet

Under natural conditions it grows in North America.

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

The plant is light-loving and demanding of soil moisture. Grows and blooms well in open areas and in light partial shade. If there is too much shade, it may stop blooming. The fruits of red meadowsweet, painted crimson, are also decorative.

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

Common meadowsweet or six-petalled

Under natural conditions it is found in the forest-steppe zone. Common meadowsweet grows in steppes and meadows.

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

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

Six-petalled meadowsweet has the following forms: double - a bush with dissected segments, which is rare in our country; large-flowered - with creamy yellow flowers.

Planting meadowsweet: meadowsweet is planted in the fall at a depth of no more than 5 cm. The rhizomes are placed horizontally. Meadowsweet plants are unpretentious. They prefer light loamy, fertile soils. There is no need to over-moisten the soil during autumn planting. Good watering they need it in the summer. The soil should not be dry.

You need to carefully monitor the plants planted on open place. Insufficient watering can lead to wilting of inflorescences and leaves.

Flowering shoots need to be pruned in July, after flowering has ended.

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

Reproduction of meadowsweet

Meadowsweet reproduces 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 damp sand.