Content
Hand-shaped meadowsweet is a native of China, distributed in the eastern territory of Russia and in Mongolia. It is used as a medicinal and ornamental plant, but is often confused with other related species.
Description of meadowsweet and characteristics
There are 2 genera of plants that are often called meadowsweet: Filipendula and Spiraea. Most often in gardens, spirea is grown as an ornamental plant. But this is a deciduous shrub. Filipendula is a perennial herb.
In the reference book "Flora of the USSR", used in 1934-1964, the name "meadowsweet" is used only for the genus Filipendula, the word "meadowsweet" is reserved for Spiraea. But in other publications of the same time, the genus of Philipendul was called both meadowsweet and meadowsweet. Moreover, the terms were practically equivalent. In the explanatory dictionary of Dahl, a different genus is named in the same way as a meadowsweet and a meadowsweet: Spirea.
Therefore, when figuring out which plant we are talking about, you will have to focus on an additional word: palm-shaped. In botanical taxonomy, there is only one suitable plant species: Filipendula palmata. It is this representative of the genus Filipendula that bears the name "meadowsweet (meadowsweet) palmate".
It is a perennial herb with creeping stolon-like roots. Its age can reach 200-300 years. The height of the peduncle is 1 m. The leaves are strongly dissected, similar to the splayed fivefold. Serrated edges. The upper side is dark green, smooth. The lower one is covered with small whitish bristles.
The foliage of the plant is of two types: the lower ones, growing from the root rosette, and the upper ones, extending from the peduncles. Basal, that is, appearing the very first from the ground, and the lower leaves are larger than the upper ones. The latter have cuttings with which they are attached to the stem.
Meadowsweet flowers appear at the top of the peduncle. These are dense panicles, which are divided into many inflorescences. Each consists of 5 white flowers. Petals 5, 2-3 mm in size. There are about 8 panicles on each peduncle, with a total length of 25 cm. 5-8 very long stamens in each flower give the impression of a fluffy cloud on the stem.
The "life" of individual inflorescences is 20-25 days, the period of budding is from mid-June to mid-June
Reproduction methods
The meadowsweet is propagated in two ways: by seeds and by dividing rhizomes. All meadowsweets grow very slowly. It takes 9-10 years for Filipendula palmata to fully develop from seeds, and the rosette is formed only in the 2-3rd year of life. When propagated by rhizomes, meadowsweet blooms already in the 3-4th year.
Reproduction by roots
In addition to the speed of growing, this method has another plus: it is the simplest. The meadowsweet is propagated in this way in the autumn after the plant goes into hibernation. The root is cut into pieces of 5-6 cm, making sure that each has 3-4 vegetative buds. The resulting planting material is placed in open ground to a depth of 5 cm.
Autumn planting is preferable, as the plant will tolerate wintering well and receive the maximum amount of water in the spring.
Seed propagation
If it was not possible to get the rhizomes, and only seeds are available, you can try to get the meadowsweet in this way.In nature, some of its seeds germinate immediately, some only the next year, after natural stratification.
In cultural breeding, gardeners prefer to stratify artificially, controlling the process. Before planting, the seeds are treated with a growth stimulant. They must be planted in very moist soil. Therefore, meadowsweet is planted as soon as the snow begins to melt. You can, of course, make a man-made "swamp".
In the first year of life, the shoots must be protected from the sun. Under natural conditions, at this stage, the young palm-shaped meadowsweet is shaded by taller grass. Also meadowsweet needs very humid air. In the thickets of grass, movement is very slow, and the water is actively evaporating.
It is difficult to artificially create the conditions necessary for the meadowsweet, therefore it is easier to use vegetative propagation
Growing and care
The palm-like meadowsweet is such a moisture-loving plant that it is called "mosquito grass" in its homeland. In nature, it grows in waterlogged places and near water bodies. Mosquitoes that come out of the water hide in its leaves. Hence the Chinese name.
Accordingly, when planting a meadowsweet as an ornamental plant, it is necessary to choose an area saturated with water.
The meadowsweet does not require laborious care during the growing season. In addition to watering, it is only necessary to periodically loosen the ground and remove weeds. It's enough. If desired, you can make sure that the roots of the meadowsweet do not "encroach" on other areas. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting a garden completely overgrown with meadowsweet.
In autumn, the plant loses its attractive appearance. At this time, it is cut at a height of 5-10 cm from the ground. The palm-shaped meadowsweet does not require any more worries.
Top dressing
And here the meadowsweet does not require special frills. The usual complex fertilizer is enough 2 times a year: in spring and autumn.
Pests and diseases
With this aspect, meadowsweets of all types are not very good. Of the diseases, they, including the meadowsweet, are susceptible to powdery mildew, brown spot (ramulariasis), rust and thermal burns of inflorescences in hot weather.
Under natural conditions, meadowsweet more often get sick with powdery mildew and rust. In garden plots, ramulariasis is more common. In the palmate meadowsweet, powdery mildew often affects the inflorescences, due to which the plant loses its decorative appearance. Rosette leaves are most susceptible to spotting.
Of the pests, the falconer, aphid, a bear, a wireworm attack the meadowsweet.
The species composition of pests is the same for all types of meadowsweet.
Raspberry aphids can suck out all the juices from the meadowsweet before the plant blooms.
Application in landscape design
Since the time of the cultivation of the meadowsweet, enough time has passed for varieties to appear. That is, a group of plants of the same species, but often very different from each other.
The palm-like meadowsweet has at least three varieties: undersized (about 20 cm), medium-sized (60 cm) and tall (1 m).
The latter is the original variety of Chinese mosquito grass.
Taking advantage of the love of the meadowsweet for humid places, it is often planted next to an ornamental pond.
You can plant a meadowsweet in a separate bush or make a small clump along the shore of the reservoir.
A low-growing variety can be planted as a curb along a path, and from a medium and tall one, a living fence can be made. But in this case, you will have to water the plants often.
Also, meadowsweet is often planted in mixborders in the background or in the center of the composition. Palm-shaped meadowsweet harmonizes well with the following plants:
- lilies;
- ferns;
- astilba;
- hydrangeas;
- daylilies;
- irises;
- carnations;
- peonies;
- various types of tobacco;
- clematis.
The meadowsweet has a very pleasant aroma. If desired, they can arrange an entrance to the house. But this plant is also a honey plant. That is, along with a pleasant smell, bees will also penetrate into the house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sNCNnvHciU
Conclusion
Hand-shaped meadowsweet is an unpretentious ornamental honey plant that grows well on any fertile soil. But because of the confusion in the names when buying, it is better to focus on its Latin name "Philipendula Palmat".
