Spirea: description of growing in the garden, types and varieties. Meadowsweet: useful properties, contraindications, benefits and harms A group of spring-flowering spireas

The main trump cards of spirea are unpretentiousness and spectacular flowering. And the meadowsweet blooms generously at the very peak of the summer heat, when many plants simply droop under the scorching rays. If you take into account some of the features of this shrub, you can ensure the continuous flowering of spirea in your garden from May to September!

When is the best time to plant summer spirea? What about spring?
How and why to cut meadowsweet "on a stump"?
How to rejuvenate a bush?
What plants are considered ideal neighbors for spirea?
Do I need to cover meadowsweet for the winter?

Let's figure it out together.

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Planting and caring for spirea

Landing: in September, in rainy or cloudy weather. In spring, only summer-flowering species can be planted.
Bloom: species are divided into those that bloom in spring and those that bloom in summer.
Lighting: bright sunlight.
The soil: loose, fertile, consisting of soddy or leafy soil with the addition of peat and sand.
Watering: in the dry season - 15 liters of water for each bush 2 times a month.
Top dressing: twice per season: in early spring after pruning - with a solution of complex mineral fertilizers, in the middle of summer - with a solution of mullein with the addition of superphosphate.
Pruning: in spring-flowering species, in early spring only the tips frozen over the winter are cut, but after 15 years the plant is cut to a stump for rejuvenation. The shoots of summer-flowering species are cut every spring to strong buds, and after 4 years the bush is cut at a height of 30 cm for rejuvenation.
Reproduction: seed and vegetative (dividing the bush, cuttings and layering).
Pests: pink-colored miners, rose leaflets, spider mites, aphids.
Diseases: does not get sick.

Spirea shrub - description

Plants of the genus Spirea are both dwarf (15 cm) and very tall (up to two and a half meters). The root system is shallow, fibrous. The branches are creeping or erect, spread out or recumbent, from light brown to dark, the bark tends to exfoliate longitudinally. Leaves are petiolate, alternate, three-five-lobed, lanceolate or rounded.

Spiraea flowers are small, but numerous, forming a variety of inflorescences - paniculate, spike-shaped, pyramidal, corymbose. The color of the flowers is varied, from boiling white to crimson. In different species of spirea, the inflorescences are located in different ways: in some, along the entire shoot, in others - only on the upper part of the shoot, in some - only at the ends of the branches. Spireas propagate by dividing the bush, seeds, layering and cuttings.

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The spirea flower is used for group plantings, for hedges. Dwarf varieties of spirea are great for rockeries, rocky gardens and for creating living "carpets". The spirea bush looks great as a single plant.

Features of growing spirea

Each plant has its own requirements for planting and care.

Growing spirea also has its own characteristics:

Spiraea prefers leafy or soddy soil. Optimal composition: one part of sand and peat and two parts of the earth;
a drainage layer is required, broken bricks can be used;
planting spirea is carried out in a pit, which is a third of the volume larger than the butt of the plant;
planting depth - at least half a meter, and the root neck of the plant should be at surface level;
you need to plant spirea in cloudy weather, and even better - in the rain. The best time is September;
the best neighbors for spirea are juniper, spruce, thuja.

Planting spirea

Planting spirea in spring

In the spring, only summer flowering spireas are planted. The main condition for spring planting is to be in time before the leaves bloom. If you buy spirea seedlings, carefully consider the roots - they should not be overdried. Check the condition of the shoots from the seedling, and buy only if they are flexible and have good buds. Adjust planting material: if the roots of the seedling have grown too large, carefully shorten them; if, on the contrary, the roots are too dry or damaged, cut off the branches. If the root system is too dry during storage, spill it with water or soak it briefly in a bucket of water, and only then plant it.

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Spirea - a plant unpretentious, but for long and abundant flowering, certain conditions must still be observed: the site for spirea must be sunny, the soil must be fertile. In addition, spirea bushes give abundant root shoots, which increases the area occupied by the plant, and this must be taken into account when planning the planting of spirea.

In the photo: Spirea flowering in the garden

So, in the area where the spirea will grow, you need to make a hole with strictly sheer walls, at least a third larger than the volume of the root system of the seedling. Then you need to let the pit stand for 2-4 days. On the day of planting (preferably rainy or cloudy weather), you need to make a drainage layer of 15-20 cm from broken bricks, especially if the soil is clayey, add 2 parts of leaf or sod land and one part of peat and sand to the pit, mix this mixture, lower the roots of the spirea into the pit, straighten them, throw the earth up to the root collar and then compact. Immediately after planting, the spirea is watered with one or two buckets of water and mulched with peat.

Planting spirea in autumn

In autumn, both spring-flowering and late-flowering spireas are planted. Usually, autumn planting is combined with spirea planting by dividing the bush. You need to do this until the leaf fall is over. Divide and transplant spireas, which are 3-4 years old, older plants can also be planted, but this is already quite difficult to do because of the large earthen clod, which is difficult to remove and wash off the ground.

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The spirea bush needs to be dug up, capturing a little more than half of the crown projection around the circumference. You will probably have to cut off a few roots, but this will not cause much harm to the plant. Then the roots of the extracted bush must be washed well. If the plant is young and not very overgrown, simply put it in a container of water and let the soil sour and settle in the water, then rinse the roots under running water while straightening them. Cut the bush with a pruner into two or three parts so that each division has a good root lobe and 2-3 strong shoots. Trim cord roots.

In the photo: Young spirea bush

Dig a hole, put a mound in the middle, place the seedling on the mound and level the roots. Fill the hole with soil and press it down onto the surface. In several stages, water the planted delenki with water.

Spirea Care

How to care for spirea

We have already talked about the basic requirements of spirea: bright lighting (although many species grow well in partial shade), loose fertile soil, good drainage and mulching with a seven-centimeter layer of peat immediately after planting. What else is needed for spirea to please you with beautiful and long flowering?

Since spirea has a shallow root system, it does not tolerate dry soil and begins to dry out, so it needs moderate watering in the dry season: 15 liters of water per bush twice a month. Soil loosening required, as is regular weeding. Top dressing of spirea is carried out with complex mineral fertilizer after pruning the bush, and in the middle of summer it would be nice fertilize spirea with a solution of mullein with the addition of superphosphate at the rate of 10 g per 10 l of solution.

In the photo: Beautiful spirea leaves

Of the pests, aphids and spider mites annoy the spirea the most. The tick is destroyed by karbofos, and the aphid - by Pirimor. But for the most part, spireas are not susceptible to diseases, and pests cannot do much harm to their beauty and reduce the decorative qualities of spirea.

Spirea pruning

Bushes tend to grow, so you have to cut them from time to time. In early-flowering, since flowering runs along the entire length of the shoot, only the tips that have frozen over during the winter are cut annually, but after 7-14 years, all old shoots are removed from the bushes, that is, the plant is cut almost to the stump, so that later from the most 5-6 strong shoots of young growth to form a new bush, removing the remaining shoots during the growing season. After a year or two, weak or old shoots are again removed from the bush. At the ends of the shoots, pruning should be done in the spring, before the leaves bloom, sanitary pruning of old shoots can also be done in the spring, or even in the summer.

Summer-flowering spireas are sheared annually in early spring. It is necessary to shorten the shoot to large buds, it is better to remove weak and small shoots altogether. The stronger the pruning, the more powerful the shoots grow. It is necessary to remove aging shoots in time, otherwise they begin to dry out on their own. When the bush is four years old, you can cut the bush annually to a height of 30 cm from the ground, but if after that the spireas give weak shoots, you should consider replacing the bush, although on average, late-flowering species of spirea live 15-20 years.

In the photo: Growing spirea in the open field

Reproduction of spirea

Spireas reproduce, in addition to dividing the bush, by seeds, cuttings and layering. Multiply seeds only those spireas that are not hybrids are possible, since spirea seeds still do not retain varietal qualities. But the cutting method brings very good results - over 70% of cuttings take root even without the use of growth stimulants. Early-flowering spireas are cut in the first half of June, late-flowering - in the second half of June or July. Lignified cuttings are rooted in autumn, in September-October.

Cut off a straight one-year-old shoot, cut it into pieces so that each has 5-6 leaves. Remove the lower leaves on each cutting along with the petioles, cut the remaining leaves into half a leaf and place the cuttings for half a day in Epin's solution (1 ml per 2 liters of water). Then powder the lower node of the cutting with the Kornevin stimulant and plant it in a pot in wet sand at an angle of 30-45º. Cover the cuttings with glass or film. Place the container with the cuttings in the shade and spray them with water two to three times a day. When frosts come, dig the cuttings in the garden, cover with leaves, place an inverted box on top and leave until spring. When the next year the cuttings give new shoots, they can be planted in a permanent place.

In the photo: Drops of water on the leaves of spirea

When breeding layering the shoot is placed in a groove dug in the ground, pinned and sprinkled with earth. If you want to get several new shoots, then you need to pinch the top of the layer, then each side kidney can give a process. In autumn, the layers are carefully removed and divided into regrown shoots, which are planted.

Spirea after flowering

As has been said repeatedly, caring for spirea is simple, including in terms of preparing the plant for a dormant period. Almost all types and varieties of spirea tolerate cold well, but if the winter is very frosty, and most importantly, snowless, you can take care of the plant by covering the roots of the bush for the winter with a layer of foliage of 10-15 cm. will be.

Types and varieties of spirea

Some types and varieties of spirea are often used in culture, others - occasionally. According to the flowering time, spireas are divided into spring-flowering and summer-flowering.

Spring flowering spireas

They differ not only in early flowering, but also in the fact that they are characterized by flowers of different shades of exclusively white color, which bloom on last year's shoots. Flowering begins only in the second year of the life of the shoot. These spireas are characterized by strong tillering. In culture, the following types are popular:

Spiraea gray (Spiraea x cinerea)

It is a hybrid of St. John's and whitish-gray spirea - in fact, it is white spirea, and it is called gray because of the color of the leaves. The bush reaches a height of 180 cm, branches are drooping, lanceolate gray-green leaves are gray on the underside, corymbose inflorescences of white flowers are located along the entire length of the branch. Blooms from mid-May to mid-June. Most popular variety:

The diameter and height of the bush of this variety is 1.5-2 m, drooping branches, spreading crown, red-brown branches, flowers up to 1 cm in diameter, snow-white, double, collected in umbrellas. The plant is a honey plant, blooms up to 45 days, starting from the second year;

In the photo: Gray spirea (Spiraea x cinerea)

Spiraea Vanhouttei (Spiraea × vanhouttei)

A hybrid of the Cantonese and three-lobed spirea is a huge bush with a diameter and height of up to 2 m, drooping branches, serrated leaves, bare, three-lobed, dark green above, gray below, turning red-orange in autumn. Numerous hemispherical inflorescences consist of white flowers up to 0.6 cm in diameter and are located along the entire length of the branch. Blooms in mid-June, sometimes blooms again in August;

In the photo: Spiraea Vanhouttei (Spiraea × vanhouttei

Nippon Spiraea (Spiraea nipponica)

In nature, it grows on the island of Honshu, reaches a height of 2 m, the crown is spherical, dense, the branches are horizontal, the leaves are green until late autumn up to 4.5 cm in length, it blooms for up to three weeks from the beginning of June with corymbose inflorescences consisting of yellow-green flowers up to 1 cm in diameter, with purple flowers in the bud;

In the photo: Spiraea nipponica (Spiraea nipponica)

Spiraea arguta (Spiraea × arguta)

The earliest of the spring flowering spireas. Spreading bush 1.5-2 m high, very beautifully shaped, drooping flowering branches, like a foamy waterfall, consisting of numerous snow-white fragrant flowers, flowing along the entire length of the branches. Arguta blooms for three weeks from the end of May.

In the photo: Spiraea arguta (Spiraea × arguta)

summer blooming

These are species in which inflorescences form at the ends of young shoots and in which old, last year's shoots gradually dry out, are represented primarily by varieties of Japanese spirea. This is a pink spirea in most of its varieties, but sometimes it is a red or red-pink spirea. So:

Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica)

A very beautiful shrub with felty hairy shoots when young and bare when old. The height of the bush is 1-1.5 m, the leaves are oblong, ovate, bluish below, green above, in autumn - yellow, red, purple. Japanese spirea blooms up to 45 days with red-pink flowers collected in paniculate corymbose inflorescences located at the ends of the shoots. The most popular varieties:

- shrub only 0.6 m high, crown diameter 1.2 m, rounded crown, oval leaves, dark green, corymbose inflorescences consist of red-pink flowers 3-4 cm in diameter, blooms in June-July, grows very slowly ;

In the photo: Japanese Spiraea Little princesses (Spiraea japonica)

- a variety of the previous variety, differs from it in that it grows up to 1 m in height and its leaves are yellow;

In the photo: Japanese Spiraea Golden princesses (Spiraea japonica)

- a low shrub (0.6-0.8 m), but the crown diameter is 1.2 m, the leaves are narrow-lanceolate, dark green, small (2 cm). The flowers are white or pink in color in July or August;

In the photo: Japanese Spiraea Shirobana (Spiraea japonica)

Spiraea japonica Goldflame- height 0.8 m, yellow-orange leaves become bright yellow over time, then green-yellow, and in autumn - copper-orange. The flowers are red-pink, small;

meadowsweet or meadowsweet

I happened to hear such words from my grandmother-herbalist: "Meadowsweet cures 40 diseases." There is a belief that the meadowsweet was called the meadowsweet by hunters because it served them as a shelter - a storehouse - to track down ducks. Meadowsweet meadowsweet has been widely used in folk medicine since ancient times. It blooms for quite a long time from June to the end of July, at this time the tops-panicles with a small amount of leaves were torn off. In the villages and now in many bathhouses you will see twigs made from dry meadowsweet grass.

The meadowsweet flowers exude the most delicate aroma of honey, vanilla, almonds. From the end of June to the end of July, industrious bees buzz over the white fluffy panicles of meadowsweet flowers. The flower consists of small white or light cream five petals.

It is necessary to pay attention to how to recognize the meadowsweet, because it differs from other species - for example, the meadowsweet six-petal has spherical thickenings on the rhizomes (hence the name: meadowsweet peanuts). These are two different types of meadowsweet. And they also differ in their effect on the body. Meadowsweet meadowsweet is a perennial herbaceous plant up to 2 meters high. The stem is ribbed, the leaves are alternate pinnately compound, large, dark green above, and white-tomentose below. Slices of each leaf are ovate-lanceolate, sharp, serrated along the edge. The fruit is a composite achene, consisting of spirally twisted achenes. Creeping rhizome. In the meadowsweet, it is without thickenings.

Where can you find meadowsweet? It can be found along the banks of rivers, in swampy and water meadows, in grassy swamps in forests, in wetlands of central Russia, in Altai, in the Urals, in the Far East.

Grass meadowsweet contains essential oils, glycosides gaulterin, spirein, heliotropin, vanillin, terpein, tannins, vitamin C, wax,

fats. The flowers contain essential oil, the phenolic glycoside spirein, and the rhizome contains gaulterin glycoside, which, upon hydrolysis, is cleaved to form

irritant methyl ester of salicylic acid (methyl salicylate).

In our folk medicine, meadowsweet is used as:

astringent for diarrhea
sweatshop,
diuretic,
choleretic,
restorative,
stimulating immunity,
soothing
anti-sclerotic,
antiscorbutic,
anti-inflammatory,
painkiller,
bactericidal,
antiseptic agent.

This herb is the most natural healer!

Meadowsweet seed tincture vyazolistny in folk medicine is used for rehabilitation treatment after a stroke.

Composition and preparation: 2 teaspoons of meadowsweet seeds pour 1/2 cup of vodka, let it brew for 14 days in a dark, cool place. Shake daily. Strain. Take 1 dessert spoon in water 3 times daily with meals. The course is 21 days, then a break of at least 7 days.

In folk medicine, meadowsweet is widely used apply when:

pyelonephritis,
cystitis,
with edema,
rheumatism,
gout,
colds, flu, herpes,
shingles,
in gynecology in the treatment of infertility, endometriosis, erosion, thrush (in the form of douching)

Cooking meadowsweet water infusion ( it is suitable both inside and for douching): 4 teaspoons of meadowsweet grass are poured with 1 cup of boiling water, boiled in a water bath for 15 minutes, filtered. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day orally.

The well-known Bulgarian pharmacologist V. Petkov spoke very well about the medicinal properties of meadowsweet, he recommended an aqueous infusion of meadowsweet for gout and edema. In Russia, V. I. Dubin was engaged in meadowsweet. He recommended the use of meadowsweet for shingles, herpes, influenza, acute respiratory infections, in the complex treatment of viral hepatitis and pancreatitis.

In the folk medicine of Siberia and now, the infusion of meadowsweet grass with flowers is used for heart disease, tachycardia, dyspnea, as well as migraine and headache in in the form of tea: 1 tablespoon of meadowsweet flowers and leaves per 0.5 liter of boiling water, let it brew, drink like tea.

The optimal dose of meadowsweet per day is 3 grams of chopped dry grass with flowers.

The meadowsweet is used as antitoxic agent up to the treatment of alcohol poisoning, as well as snake bites.

Used in these cases rich infusion of flowers: 2 teaspoons of dried flowers pour 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes and take 2 tablespoons 6 times a day.

Outwardly, the same infusion of meadowsweet grass is used for the treatment of wounds, pustules, acne, boils, psoriasis, as well as for the treatment of burns, Moreover to improve hair growth, in the form of enemas for hemorrhoids, in the form of douches for gynecological diseases.

In tsarist Russia, zemstvo doctors successfully treated rheumatism of the joints meadowsweet. At the same time, an infusion of herbs with flowers was used inside and an ointment from meadowsweet flowers on interior lard or badger lard was rubbed into the affected joints.

Cooking ointments : an ointment is prepared at the rate of 1 part of well-crushed meadowsweet flowers and 5 parts of the fatty base. Pre-melt the fat, mix thoroughly with the powder from meadowsweet flowers.

In this case, meadowsweet flowers should be ground into a fine powder and ground with an equal part of fat or vaseline. Get an ointment.

Oil from grass and meadowsweet flowers, cooked at home, used in folk medicine to reduce temperature, relieve migraine and headaches, for the treatment of radiculitis, osteochondrosis, rheumatic pain, for joint and muscle pain, for the treatment of colds.

Preparation of meadowsweet oil at home: Pour 50 grams of chopped meadowsweet herb with olive or sunflower oil so as to cover all the grass, mix. Insist in a dark place for 14 days. Strain. At the beginning, you can heat it in a water bath, but do not boil.

How to use meadowsweet oil:

rub into the sore spot
massage with meadowsweet oil,
add to shower gel or bath foam,
apply to the aroma lamp for colds.

Contraindications for taking meadowsweet are:

individual intolerance,
intestinal atony, tendency to constipation,
hypotension, low blood pressure,
low platelets,
pregnancy.

For medicinal purposes, collect grass with flowers during flowering. Dry in a dark room. Shelf life 3 years.

Meadowsweet six-petal - you need to be able to distinguish

Meadowsweet in nature, there are about 15 species. In Russia, the most common are meadowsweet, six-petal meadowsweet (earthnuts), common meadowsweet, palm-shaped meadowsweet, and Kamchatka meadowsweet. In folk medicine, meadowsweet and six-petal meadowsweet are widely used.

Meadowsweet six-petal grows in meadows, forest edges, glades in central Russia, in Altai, in the Urals, in the Far East. This is a perennial herbaceous plant, 30-80 cm high, with an oblique rhizome, its roots are thin, with tuberous, fusiform or almost spherical thickenings. Hence the name - peanuts. Stem erect, ribbed, almost leafless at the top. Radical leaves are larger, interrupted-pinnately compound, with numerous up to 20 pairs of deep serrated lobules, between which are smaller leaflets, stem leaves are smaller with fewer lobules. The leaves are green on both sides, glabrous above, slightly hairy below along the veins. The flowers are regular, white-pink, small, collected at the top of the stem in a fluffy panicle. The aroma of flowers is pleasant, fragrant, honey-almond.

The fruit is a cumulus achene. Blooms in June.

Unlike meadowsweet meadowsweet six-petal grows on dry light forest edges and clearings.

The chemical composition of nodules "earthnuts" contains up to 36% tannins. They have an antioxidant, anti-cancer effect, astringent effect (for diarrhea), hemostatic effect.

The leaves contain gaulterin glycoside, which is hydrolyzed with the release of salicylic aldehyde. This causes anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous action. A small amount of ascorbic acid was found in the leaves. Found flavonoids, phenol compounds, phenylcarboxylic acids, catechins, essential oils, glycosides, fatty acids, wax. The chemical composition and explains the application.

Previously, the rhizome with roots was used in scientific medicine as part of the Zdrenko collection.

In folk medicine, the herb is used as hemostatic (unlike meadowsweet), antihemorrhoidal, astringent, as well as pain in the stomach, and nodules in the complex treatment of leukemia and blood diseases, for immunostimulation in oncology.

Grass is harvested during flowering. Shelf life 3 years.

The rhizome with roots is dug out when the snow melts (March, April) or in September-October. Rhizome and roots quickly, thoroughly rinse, cut into thin strips. Dry in a well-ventilated area or outdoors under a canopy. The finished raw material is:

rhizomes - whole or cut, uneven, tuberculate, up to 10 cm long, up to 1.5 cm thick, dark brown, pinkish in a break;

the roots are thin, cylindrical with thickenings in the middle part, longitudinally wrinkled, up to 15 cm long. The smell is characteristic, the taste is bitter-astringent.

A decoction of the roots of meadowsweet six-petal in folk medicine is used in oncology of various localization, as well as in blood diseases, leukemia.

Decoction recipe: pour 2 teaspoons of crushed roots in an enamel bowl with 1 glass of boiling water, cook in a water bath for 35 minutes, let it brew. Strain.

pharmacist-herbalist Sorokina Vera Vladimirovna

Medicine of all times and peoples used various plants. Modern medicine also cannot do without herbal medicines. Medicinal plants are used to prepare highly effective cardiac, analgesic, muscle spasm and other drugs.

Spirea willow

The word "spirea" in Greek means "curving", as the branches of this plant bend, forming a beautiful lush bush. There are many types of spirea, most of which are used as ornamental plants for landscaping summer cottages and as hedges. All spireas are good honey plants, they are often planted next to apiaries. Spirea contains a lot of phytoncides (volatile substances with a pronounced antimicrobial effect), so it helps to improve the environment. In our country, spireas have another name - meadowsweet.

Willow-leaved spirea blooms in May-July. It grows along the banks of reservoirs, on the edges, on wet lowlands, in swamps. Willow-leaved spirea is common in Siberia, the Far East, and North America. In folk medicine, roots, young shoots with flowers at the ends, bark of branches, and leaves are used as medicinal raw materials.

The flowering tops of the spirea are cut off (break off), tied up and dried in limbo under awnings.

Chemical composition

The chemical composition of the willow spirea has not been fully studied. It is known that the composition of the flowering tops of the willow spirea includes:

Application in traditional medicine

In folk medicine, decoctions and infusions from shoots with flowers, bark of branches are used. They have antimicrobial and antifungal properties, are used for diarrhea, dysbacteriosis and fungal diseases of the intestine (for example, with intestinal candidiasis).

In the East, decoctions and infusions of spirea willow were also used for diarrhea, to get rid of worms, for rheumatism, to treat scurvy. . They are used externally for various gynecological diseases in the form of baths and douching. and snake bites.

Young leaves and shoots of spirea willow in Siberia and the Far East are used to make vitamin salads.

How to prepare medicine from spirea willow

Willow leaf spirea is used in folk medicine in the form of infusions and decoctions:

a decoction of shoots with flowers: pour a teaspoon of crushed raw materials with a glass of water, bring to a boil, boil for 15 minutes, top up to the initial level, filter, then bring to a boil again, cool and take a tablespoon three times a day for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract ;
infusion of shoots with flowers: pour a teaspoon of crushed raw materials with a glass of boiling water, leave for 20-30 minutes, filter and take a tablespoon three times a day for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Teas are also prepared from dried shoots and flowers of the willow spirea, and salads from fresh shoots, seasoned with vegetable oil or sour cream.

Spirea is a very beautiful ornamental plant that can decorate any garden plot. But as medicinal plants, spireas are not well understood, in addition, not all types of this plant are used for treatment, so you should not use them for treatment on your own, it is better to rely on the experience of herbalists, after consulting with your doctor first.

Galina Romanenko

The genus Spirea has 90 species distributed in the forest-steppe and semi-desert zone, the subalpine zone of the mountains of the Northern Hemisphere.

Description of spirea

Spirea - deciduous shrubs sometimes exceeding 2 m in height. The shape of the bush is different, there are: weeping, pyramidal, erect, hemispherical, cascading, creeping forms. Types of spirea differ from each other in the shape and color of the leaves, many types of spirea change their green color to yellow, orange or purple-red in autumn.

Most of the most diverse species, with skillful selection, allows them to achieve continuous flowering from spring to autumn. Spirea are valued for their lush and long flowering.

Spirea flowers small, but numerous, collected in inflorescences of different shapes: corymbose, pyramidal, paniculate and spike-shaped. Some species of spirea have single flowers.

The color of the flowers is also varied - from white to crimson. The decorativeness of spirea is due not only to the diverse arrangement of inflorescences on the shoots, but also to the timing of flowering.

There are species whose inflorescences cover the entire shoot; in other species of spirea, inflorescences are located only on the upper part of the shoots; still some - at the ends of the shoots.

Spireas are divided into 2 groups: spring-flowering spirea and summer-blooming. In spring-flowering, flowering usually occurs on the shoots of the previous year and the flowers are white; in summer-flowering ones, the flowers are red, pink, raspberry, and they bloom on the shoots of this year.

Such a division into two groups was also reflected in the agrotechnics of caring for these shrubs; spireas blooming in spring are pruned immediately after flowering, and spireas blooming in summer - only in spring.

The spireas of the first group bloom all together, but not for long, the second group has a stretched bloom.

All spireas are undemanding to the soil, frost-resistant, photophilous, many species are gas-resistant, perfectly tolerate urban conditions. Easily propagated by cuttings, layering, dividing the bush, seeds and shoots. They grow very quickly, begin to bloom for 3 years.

Types and varieties of spirea

A group of spring flowering spireas

Spirea gray

Spiraea gray - a highly branched bush 2 m in height, with felt ribbed shoots. The leaves of gray spirea are gray-green above, they are lighter below, pointed at both ends. Snow-white flowers of gray spirea are collected in loose shields, located along the entire shoot. At the top of the shoots, the inflorescences are sessile, below they are on lengthening leafy branches. This spirea blooms in May, and fruits ripen in June.

Gray spirea seeds do not reproduce, because this species is a hybrid. The gray spirea bush is very decorative due to the compactness of the bush and drooping branches, a large number of snow-white inflorescences. This spirea is planted, both as a single bush and in groups. Blooming shoots of gray spirea can be used to make bouquets.

Very interesting Grade "Grefsheim"- a small densely branched shrub with arched drooping branches and narrow leaves. Snow-white, rather large double flowers, collected in dense bunches, are located along the shoots.

Spirea gray is considered winter-hardy.

Spirea arguta

Tall shrub (2 m) with a spreading crown, with narrow, strongly serrated, lanceolate, dark green leaves about 4 cm long. Argut spirea flowers are pure white, 0.8 cm in diameter, in numerous, umbellate inflorescences, densely covering the shoots. Spiraea arguta blooms on the shoots of last year, it must be cut off immediately after flowering. It grows slowly, 20 cm per year.

It is one of the most spectacular spring flowering spireas. Due to the abundance of flowers, the grace of arching thin branches makes an indelible impression near and at a distance. Stable in the city.

Thin spreading branches of Argut spirea with small narrow green leaves and white flowers in umbellate inflorescences, densely covering the shoots, create a feeling of purity.

Spiraea arguta is beautiful in a single planting, in compositions with shrubs, it can also be used for hedges. Blooms annually. Photophilous. This spirea is able to tolerate a slight dryness of the soil. Seeds are not similar, as it is a hybrid.

Spirea Vangutta

Spirea Vangutta impresses with its large size. The height and diameter of its crown reach up to 2 m. It differs from representatives of this genus in spreading, downward-curving branches, forming a very beautiful "cascading" crown shape. Its leaves are 3.5 cm long, toothed, 5-lobed, obovate, green above, dull gray below, glabrous.

Spirea Vangutta flowers in dense, multiple, hemispherical inflorescences, pure white, densely covering the entire shoot. Flowering lasts several weeks. Spirea Vangutta sometimes has a secondary bloom in August, however, it is no longer so abundant. Beautiful spirea Vangutta and its foliage. Its fruits ripen by October. Blooming starts at 3 years old.

Spirea Vangutta grows rapidly, shade-tolerant, unpretentious. But prefers sunny places and well-drained soils. Frost-resistant, sometimes the ends of the shoots freeze, which need to be cut in the spring.

Spirea Vangutta is spectacular in single plantings, in groups, low hedges, when creating large flower beds. It fits perfectly into the landscape with pines, spruces, firs, especially on the banks of reservoirs and streams. Well cuttings.

Spiraea hornate

Grows in the southeast of Russia and Western Europe, in the Caucasus, Altai, northern Central Asia. It grows in the zone of meadow, shrub steppes, observed on rocky mountain slopes in thickets of shrubs. Protected in nature reserves.

Spiraea gornate is a low shrub, about 1 m, with a loose crown, oblong or obovate, 3.5 cm in length, grayish-green leaves. It is very easy to identify the spirea crenate by the crenate edge of the leaf and the presence of three veins protruding from below.

The flowers of this spirea are white with a yellow tint, collected in wide corymbose inflorescences, sitting on short, leafy twigs. Flowering time is about 20 days. The spirea bears fruit in July.

It is drought- and frost-resistant, gives abundant root shoots, can tolerate insufficient soil moisture, grows in partial shade, but develops better in good light.

In horticulture, spirea crenate is not common. Used in parks, groups, edges and forest parks. It has hybrid forms.

Spirea oak-leaved

The oak-leaved spirea grows from Eastern Europe, and ends with the Far East. It grows on rocky slopes, in mountain forests.

Upright shrub 2 m tall, with long shoots, under the weight of their inflorescences, they gracefully bend to the ground, with a beautiful, dense crown, rounded.

The leaves are thin-petiolate, oblong-ovate, 5 cm long, pointed, twice coarsely serrated along the edge, green above, they are gray below. White flowers 1.5 cm in diameter in hemispherical inflorescences; oak-leaved spirea blooms in early May for about 25 days.

Gas and frost resistant. Tolerates some shade. In autumn, the foliage turns a solid yellow. Oak-leaved spirea propagates by seeds, cuttings, dividing the bush.

Excellent for cutting, it is used for hedges. This spirea is valued for its lush blooms and graceful foliage.

Spiraea nipponica

This spirea comes from Japan, where it grows on the island of Hondo.

Shrub 2 m tall, with a spherical crown, branches horizontally directed; top with crenate, sometimes entire marginal, green leaves 5 cm long, retaining a green color until late autumn.

Begins to bloom in early June, duration 15-25 days. Nipponian spirea buds are purple, flowers are yellowish-green, in corymbose inflorescences, very densely covering the shoots.

It is distinguished by abundant flowering and a compact crown structure. Effective in single plantings. Photophilous. The richness of the soil is not demanding. Nippon spirea propagates by seeds, cuttings, and also by dividing the bush.

It has 2 decorative forms: round-leaved - in addition to the form of foliage, it is distinguished by the powerful size of the bush and large inflorescences; narrow-leaved - with narrow leaves and small, numerous flowers. In the European part, 2 varieties are popular.

Spiraea Nipponskaya "Halward" s Silver "- a bush whose height is 1 m, the foliage is dark green. The flowers of the Nippon spirea "Halware Silver" are white in large convex inflorescences, bloom in June.

Spirea Nipponskaya "Snowmound" - a bush 2 m high. The crown is dense, the branches are gracefully curved. The leaves of the Nippon spirea "Snowmound" are dark green, elongated. The flowers are snow-white, collected in corymbose inflorescences, open in June.

Spirea average

In nature, it grows in Russia, in the south of Siberia, Central Asia and the Far East. Grows in thickets of bushes, on dry slopes.

Spiraea medium is a branchy shrub with a rounded crown and bright green leaves. Spirea medium shoots are round, brownish with flaky bark. The flowers are white, in corymbose inflorescences. It begins to bloom in May for about 15 days. Begins to bear fruit at 3 years of age.

It is frost-resistant, transfers shading. Spiraea medium is easy to propagate due to its abundant root offspring. Perfectly tolerates transplantation, haircut, used in single, group plantings.

Spirea Thunberg

Under natural conditions, it grows in China, Korea, Japan. Her favorite places are mountain slopes, valleys, which during the flowering period look covered with a continuous snow cover.

Spiraea Thunberg is a low bush, reaching a height of 1.5 m in nature. In a culture in the middle lane, it does not reach such sizes, but it branches densely. Its dense leaves are 4 cm long.

Thanks to these graceful leaves, Thunberg's spirea is very decorative, especially when you consider that in the autumn they turn orange.

In summer they are bright green. Spirea Thunberg inflorescences are sessile umbels at the base with a rosette of small leaves, they consist of small white flowers that appear in May. Flowering ends in June.

The fruits of this spirea ripen quickly. Spirea Thunberg begins to bloom and bear fruit at the age of 3 years.

This shrub propagates by seeds and cuttings. In cold winters, the shoots freeze a little. Spiraea Thunberg is a profusely flowering shrub, the first flowering time. Prefers sunny places.

A group of summer flowering spireas

In summer-flowering spirea, inflorescences are completed by young shoots of this year. The following year, spirea inflorescences reappear at the ends of young shoots, and the old tops dry up.

Japanese spirea

Distributed in Japan, China.

Japanese spirea - a beautiful bush with felt-pubescent shoots, then naked; oblong-ovate leaves, green above, bluish below, when blooming with a red tint, in autumn - a spectacular variety of colors. It blooms all summer with pink-red flowers collected in corymbose-paniculate inflorescences.

Flowering time 45 days. Used widely to create flowering groups, hedges. as well as borders.

In the spring season, all varieties of Japanese spirea must be cut, leaving shoots 25 cm high from the soil level. Golden-leaved forms of Japanese spirea are prone to the appearance of shoots with green leaves.

They stand out against the background of yellow spireas not only for their color, but also for their powerful growth. All of them should be removed.

The Japanese spirea has many garden forms that differ in the height of the bush, the color of the flowers and the size of the leaf blade. The most common spireas:

Japanese « Little princesses"("Little Princess") - bush 0.6 m tall, rounded, compact crown, dark green, elliptical leaves, pink flowers, collected in corymbose inflorescences.

The Japanese spirea "Little Princess" begins to bloom in June-July. Grows very slowly. Looks good in single plantings, edges, groups, hedges.

Spiraea Japanese "Shirobana"- is a low shrub 0.8 m tall. The leaves are dark green narrow-lanceolate, 2 cm long. The color of the flowers of the Japanese spirea "Shirobana" varies from white to bright pink, sometimes red.

Blooms in July - August. Japanese spirea "Shirobana" can successfully decorate a rock garden and a low border, various compositions with conifers, as well as other shrubs.

« macrophylla» ( "Macrophylla") - 1.3 m high. It is distinguished by large, 20 cm long and 10 cm wide, swollen wrinkled leaves, when blooming they are purple-red, then green, and in autumn they become golden yellow.

If, when the buds open, cut off the Macrofill spirea to 7 cm from the soil level, then the growing young shoots will have a bright color at the top all summer. Spirea "Macrofilla" is one of the best spirea. Among the variegated foliage, its pink flowers in small inflorescences are lost. Spirea "Macrophylla" blooms from the end of July to the end of August.

Spirea "Candlelight"- dwarf compact dense bush with leaves of a creamy yellow color. Their color becomes saturated and goes well with pink flowers that appear in mid-summer.

Spirea "Candlelight" does not form shoots with the usual green leaf color.

Spirea "Goldflame"- dense shrub 1 m tall, with orange-yellow leaves. Then they turn bright yellow, then yellow-green.

Spirea "Goldflame" has orange leaves in autumn. Sometimes variegated leaves appear on the shrub. The flowers of the spirea "Goldflame" are small pink-red.

Spirea "Golden Princess"- shrub 1 m in height, with yellow leaves and pink flowers.

Spiraea "Gold Mound"- dwarf, 0.25 m tall, bush with bright golden yellow foliage and small inflorescences of pink flowers, appearing in mid-July.

Spirea white

Under natural conditions, white spirea is common in North America. In Russia, it is often found in the Asian and European parts.

Bush with ribbed, pubescent red-brown shoots and pointed serrated leaves at the ends, reaching 7 cm in length, 2 cm in width. White flowers are collected in pyramidal, loose, pubescent inflorescences-panicles about 6-15 cm long with almost horizontally deviating branches, appearing at the ends of the shoots of the current year.

White spirea blooms annually, from July to August. Its fruits ripen in October.

White spirea propagates by seeds and cuttings. Due to its beautiful inflorescences, late and long flowering, white spirea is used for planting in groups, single bushes, in hedges. Quite a moisture-loving shrub.

Spirea birch leaf

Under natural conditions, birch-leaved spirea grows in the Far East, Siberia, Korea and Japan. It grows in mixed and coniferous forests, on rocky mountain slopes.

The birch-leaved spirea got its name due to the similarity of its leaves with the leaves of our beloved birch. Indeed, the leaves of the birch-leaved spirea are elliptical or broadly ovate with a wedge-shaped base, green.

Birch-leaved spirea is a low (60 cm) shrub with a dense spherical crown and ribbed, sometimes zigzag-curved shoots. In spring, the leaves appear in mid-April, and fall off at the end of October.

In autumn, the leaves of the birch-leaved spirea acquire a bright yellow color. Flowering occurs in June. Its inflorescences are dense, corymbose, sometimes convex panicles of a large number of white or slightly pinkish flowers. Blooms from 4 years. Its fruits ripen only in October.

Spiraea birch-leaved shade-tolerant, but blooms more abundantly in sunny places, on moist soils. Quite winter-hardy, shelter does not require. Pruning shoots should be carried out in early spring. Shorten the shoots to a well-developed bud. Birch-leaved spirea propagates by spring sowing of unstratified seeds.

Birch leaf spirea is planted mixed or pure with other types of spirea. It is suitable for creating edges in tall groups of trees and shrubs, for rockeries.

Spirea Billard

Billard's spirea is a hybrid between Willow's spirea and Douglas' spirea. This species is found from Arkhangelsk to Central Asia and the Caucasus in the south.

Billard's spirea grows as a shrub with spreading branches, 2 m in height. Broadly lanceolate leaves 10 cm long from the base are acute or double-serrated, they are grayish-felt below.

Bright pink flowers of Billard's spirea are collected in dense pyramidal, narrow, paniculate inflorescences, sometimes strongly branched, felt-pubescent. Billard's spirea blooms in late July until frost. The fruits are not tied.

Billard's spirea is frost-resistant. Easily propagated by cuttings. Shade tolerant, but blooms best in full sun. Billard's spirea is used for hedges of medium height, also planted in groups and single bushes.

In order to get a more powerful bush, pruning of shoots is recommended in early spring. Early pruning of Billard's spirea stimulates the appearance of young shoots that bloom in the same year.

Billard's spirea "Triumphans" ("Triumphans") is a tall bush, reaches 2.5 m. At Billard's spirea "Triumphans" purple-pink spicate inflorescences 20 cm in height crown its shoots with oblong-lanceolate leaves. Her young shoots are green at first, then reddish-brown, pubescent, and the old ones are ribbed, bare.

The shoots of this spirea are short-lived, gradually dry out. Until the age of 4, it is better not to cut off Billard's spirea. During this period, it gains strength, grows with the help of its root offspring. By the age of 6, the shrub loses its shape, and pruning is simply necessary, it allows you to restore its decorative effect.

Spiraea Bumalda

Spirea Bumalda is a hybrid between white-flowered spirea and Japanese spirea.

Low bush, 75 cm tall, with upright branches and a spherical crown. Bumald's spirea has bare, slightly ribbed shoots. Leaves 8 cm long, glabrous, ovate-lanceolate, sharply biserrate. The color of the flowers of this spirea varies from soft pink to deep pink.

It blooms almost all summer, about 50 days. Spiraea Bumalda is a very beautiful hybrid with highly variable characteristics, sometimes even difficult to distinguish from Japanese spirea, as a rule, below it and with ribbed shoots.

At the age of three, Bumald's spirea begins to bloom and bear fruit. The fruits ripen in October.

"Anthony Waterer"("Anthony Waterer") - a bush with narrow leaves and bright red flowers. Flowering, spirea Boumald "Anthony Waterer" lasts 100 days, coincides with the flowering of paniculate hydrangea, very spectacular groups are obtained when they are planted together.

"Darts Red"- 0.5 m high. Spirea "Darts Red" grows straight up. Its leaves are lanceolate, when blooming they are pinkish, then dark green, in autumn they are red.

It begins to bloom in July and ends in September with ruby-red or crimson flowers, in corymbose inflorescences. Spiraea "Darts Red" is decorative from spring to autumn.

Also known forms:

"Fröbel"(Froebelii) - a shrub with purple leaves in autumn and spring, carnation-pink flowers in large inflorescences about 12 cm in diameter, the flowering of the Froebel spirea lasts 50 days. Bright inflorescences look beautiful not only in the garden, but also in a bouquet.

Differs in the large sizes and a compact structure.

"Curly" ("Crispa") - a low shrub, 0.5 m. The shoots are brown, striped, pubescent. The leaves are wine-red when blooming, then turning green, with a wavy-curling edge. The flowers of the Crispa spirea are purple in corymbose panicles.

Begins to bloom from late July to August. Spiraea "Crispa" is suitable for a romantic garden.

Douglas spirea

Grows in North America.

This spirea is an upright shrub, with red-brown, straight, pubescent shoots. The leaves of the Douglas spirea are oblong-lanceolate, gray-felt below, to the middle they are entire, unequal-toothed above.

The flowers of this spirea are pink, in dense narrow pyramidal, paniculate, apical inflorescences. The duration of flowering of Douglas spirea is 45 days.

Blooms in July. Its fruits begin to ripen in September. Spiraea Douglas begins to bloom from 3 years. It propagates by seeds and cuttings.

Douglas spirea with bright pink flowers and silvery foliage is of particular value for green building. Very effective in groups and along park roads.

Spirea willow

In nature, it grows in Siberia, Europe, North America, Japan and China. It grows in thickets of shrubs near lakes, along river floodplains, in sedge bogs.

Willow spirea - upright shrub about 2 m tall, with reddish-yellow shoots; elongated-lanceolate, pointed leaves, sharply serrate from the base, ciliated or bare along the edge, they are dark green above, lighter below.

White or pink flowers on short yellow-pubescent peduncles are collected in pyramidal or cylindrical panicles 20 cm long.

Spirea willow is frost-resistant, develops better on fresh, moist soils. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. It starts blooming at 4 years old.

To get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, many resort to folk remedies. And there is nothing seditious here. Since ancient times, people have used the gifts of nature, in particular plants, in the fight against all kinds of diseases. The effectiveness of various herbs has been proven by biologists and herbalists from around the world. One of the herbs that have a positive effect on the human body is meadowsweet. The beneficial properties of this plant have been known since the 19th century and are glorified to this day.

More about the "Queen of the Meadows"

Meadowsweet belongs to a perennial plant of the Rosaceae family. This medicinal plant is called differently: meadowsweet, meadowsweet, meadowsweet, Ivan-flower, spirea. The meadowsweet has more than 10 species. One of its species grows on our territory - meadowsweet, which is popular both in folk and official medicine. It can be seen in swampy fields, on wet river banks, in damp forests. It grows up to 1.5 meters in height. Perennial flowers are fluffy, small, resembling foam. Medicinal raw materials of meadowsweet are harvested during the flowering period - June-August. Finding a plant is easy, as it has a specific intoxicating aroma.

The chemical composition of meadowsweet includes:

Vitamin C.
Tannins (tannins).
Phenols.
Flavonoids.
Salicylic acid.
Catechins.
Phenolic acids.
Aroma oils.
Fatty acid.
various glycosides.
Starch.
Wax.

The benefits of meadowsweet for the body

The healing properties of the meadowsweet are so extensive that this plant is called a forty-bearer, capable of overcoming 40 diseases. Decoctions of meadowsweet, as well as medicines based on it, have the following properties:

Anti-inflammatory and antiviral. Due to the huge content of acetylsalicylic acid, meadowsweet effectively copes with colds, fever, bronchitis, pneumonia, headache, and high body temperature.
Disinfectant and antibacterial. Applications, lotions with meadowsweet infusion help with poorly healing purulent skin wounds. Also, the cosmetic industry produces scrubs, creams, ointments with extracts of the meadowsweet for the treatment of skin problems. The meadowsweet is successfully used in the treatment of purulent conjunctivitis.
Anti-ulcer and enveloping. Meadowsweet-based teas strengthen the walls of the stomach, eliminate spasms, and normalize digestion. They are used for gastritis with low acidity, ulcerative colitis, as well as to combat heartburn and congestion.
Antioxidant. Catechins in meadowsweet improve the metabolism of the body, cleanse it of toxins and toxins, fight neutral radicals, which prevents the appearance of malignant cells.
Antirheumatic. Relieves stiffness of muscles and joints, eliminates pain, swelling in a short period of time.
activating. Plant extracts are able to restore the biological activity of a person, increase the tone of the body, and improve the muscle strength of athletes.
Astringents. Provides treatment for diarrhea, dysentery, and helminthic invasion.
Diuretic. For the treatment of certain kidney diseases, metabolic disorders, with ascites.
Hemostatic. It is used for heavy, painful menstruation, stops uterine bleeding. Effective douching from decoctions for the treatment of diseases of the cervix.
Soothing. Pillows stuffed with dried grass help to relax and fall asleep quickly.
Anticonvulsant. Inflorescences are used in the complex treatment of epilepsy.

Meadowsweet has a bright honey aroma, thanks to which it is used in aromatherapy and perfumery.

Recipes for use in diseases

For colds and respiratory diseases, herbalists advise preparing an infusion of meadowsweet: 20 gr. brew the dried mixture with 1.5 cups of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, filter. Drink before meals 1/3 cup warm 3 times a day.

From high pressure: pour boiling water over 1 tbsp. a spoonful of crushed meadowsweet roots, cook in a water bath after boiling for 20 minutes, insist, strain after an hour, add boiling water to the original volume. Method of application: 3 tbsp. spoons of the drink before meals three times a day.

For diseases of the urogenital area: pour chilled boiling water 1 tbsp. a spoonful of inflorescences and leaves of the plant, let it brew for 8 hours, strain. Drink before meals 50 ml. solution several times a day.

To activate the growth of hair follicles: pour 3 tbsp. spoons of inflorescences 0.5 liter of boiling water, soak for 30 minutes. For 10 days, rinse your hair with infusion, rubbing it into the roots.

With burns, ointment helps: mix 5 grams of ground flowers with 9 grams. vaseline and 6 gr. lanolin or butter. Gently rub into problem areas.

For purulent wounds, ulcers: make a strong tincture of 3 tbsp. spoons of the plant and 0.3 liters of boiling water. For the treatment of wounds, the powder from the flowers has proven itself well. This powder is used for diaper rash.

For poisoning of a different nature: combine 2 teaspoons of flowers with 250 ml. boiled water, soak for 20 minutes. Drink 2 tbsp. spoons before meals 6 times / day.

From infertility in women: flowers of meadowsweet, linden and clover in equal amounts of 1 tbsp. Spoon pour a liter of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. Apply 200 ml. decoction morning and evening before meals.

Let's try to eat it. The use of meadowsweet in cooking

Meadowsweet is edible and quite tasty. Recipes with the addition of meadowsweet:

Tea. 200 grams of meadowsweet flowers are mixed with 20 grams of coarsely chopped rose hips. Dry at room temperature. Ratio: 1 dessert spoon and 1 cup of hot water. Brew for 15 minutes. The longer the drink is left to infuse, the more bitter it will turn out.
Dried fruit compote with meadowsweet. Ingredients: any dried fruits 100 grams, meadowsweet flowers 100 grams, honey - 50 grams, water - 1 liter. Dried fruits are boiled, cooled, honey is added. The flowers of the meadowsweet are poured with boiling water, insisted for 15 minutes. Two decoctions are combined, then cooled.
Meadowsweet soups as a health food. In any soup, a few minutes before readiness, you can add chopped meadowsweet greens.
Vitamin supplement for salads.

In cooking, young dried leaves of the plant are used as aromatic additives to drinks and fruit salads.

Possible contraindications

The list of contraindications is rather modest. It has been experimentally proven that meadowsweet is hypoallergenic, and this is the reason for its widespread use. It is not recommended to use infusions from the plant:

People with low blood pressure.
Prone to constipation.
Women during lactation and gestation.
Children under 16 years old.
People taking other sedatives.

Excessive and prolonged consumption is undesirable. Consult your doctor in advance to clarify possible indications and contraindications.

The healing powers of the sacred flower cannot be overestimated. Let this plant become your faithful companion for health. Tavolga to help you.