On any summer cottage There is a shady place near the fence, next to buildings and under trees. And many gardeners don’t know what to plant in this place so that it will grow and please the eye. I know almost everything about hostas and periwinkle. But kupena, also known as polygonatum or Solomon’s seal, despite its unpretentiousness, is not so well known. Although some summer residents have this plant on their site and call it garden lily of the valley.
Kupena
– perennial herbaceous plant with arched stems up to 1.5 m. The leaves are large and wide, oval in shape with longitudinal grooves, arranged in pairs on the stem. In April-May, a straight stem with bright green leaves grows. As they grow, the stems bend into an arc under their own weight. Hanging bell flowers from 2 to 5 in an inflorescence appear along the entire length of the stem under the leaves. They open sequentially from bottom to top. Due to this, the flowering of the kupena is very long, up to 3 weeks. At the bottom of the stem the flowers have already opened, but at the top they are still in buds. Flowers, depending on the variety of kupena, can be white, cream and pink. Afterwards, inedible berries with seeds may appear in place of the flowers. After flowering, the kupena does not lose its decorative appearance and pleases with its appearance until late autumn. In autumn, the leaves and stems turn yellow and die. The rhizomes easily overwinter in the ground without additional shelter.
The most common types of kupena are many-flowered, fragrant, broad-leaved and medicinal. IN folk medicine They use fresh rhizomes of kupena officinalis for bruises and joint pain.
Planting kupena
Before planting, gardeners need to take into account the fact that kupena is an aggressive invader of territory. Having planted one small bush, in a few years you may have to deal with thickets of this plant. For a purchase, lighting is not particularly important. In shady areas of the garden, this plant develops faster, becomes taller and the foliage has a darker shade. Kupena does not tolerate constant exposure to the sun very well, it grows low, and the flowering period proceeds faster. Planting kupena seeds is very troublesome. It is easier to plant a piece of rhizome with a shoot at the end of summer in prepared soil to a depth of 10-15 cm.
Care
At the very beginning, although it was said that the kupena is unpretentious, it is still responsive to proper care. Kupena quickly depletes the soil, so annual organic fertilizing in the spring is necessary. During dry periods, especially if the plant grows in sunny areas, additional watering is necessary. But it does not tolerate stagnant water well. In all other respects, the purchase is unpretentious. Since its rhizomes lie shallow in the soil and new shoots develop horizontally underground, it is undesirable to loosen the soil under and around the kupena. The problem with weeding is solved by the plant itself; the plant takes over the land area so tightly that the weeds simply do not get along with it. It is rarely transplanted; in one place it is ornamental plant It grows quietly for 15-20 years. After the transplant she may not feel well, and during this period it is better not to disturb her. Almost no diseases or pests affect this flower.
When it comes to flowers, it is very difficult, and sometimes almost impossible, to describe them without special botanical terms so that the interlocutor understands which flower is meant. It's easier to show a photo. However, this is not the case with the purchased one. It is enough to ask your interlocutor to imagine a large lily of the valley. And in fact, kupena comes from the same family and is a typical forest flower, with all the peculiarities of planting, care, growing in open ground and propagation.
Description of the purchase: varieties and varieties
Kupena multicolor belongs to plants of the lily family. Kupena is the owner of a graceful curved stem, on which bright oval green leaves are located in two even rows, and small white flowers bloom in their axils.
There are about 50 species of kupena in nature. Most often you can find 3 of them.
Kupena medicinal
Medicinal purchase. It grows among forests and shady bushes of the northern hemisphere. Does not exceed half a meter in height, blooms in late spring - early summer. The fruits of the medicinal plant have a strong emetic effect.
Kupena fragrant
Fragrant bath. It grows up to 80 cm in height and has bluish-green leaves. The fragrant kupena blooms in mid-May and blooms for 5 weeks. This flower chooses the slopes of low mountains and hills, shady forest thickets and forest clearings as its habitat in nature.
Kupena multiflorum
Kupena multiflorum. This variety is most often planted by gardeners in pots and open ground. Multi-flowered bloom in early summer.
The rhizome of the kupena plant is interesting in its structure. It consists of links, and when last year’s shoot dies, it remains in its place small area covered with cork fabric. In its appearance, it resembles a seal, which gave the coupon its second name, “Solomon’s Seal.” According to legend, King Solomon awarded this flower with his seal for its healing properties. After all, infusions from kupena root are known for their anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects.
Attention. All parts of the product are poisonous.
Planting kupena
Kupena can be planted on any soil, as it is absolutely not demanding. But if you want the plant to look perfect, then it is best to move the cultivation of the kupena into the shade, onto fertile, dense soil. In the sun, the kupena will grow a little worse and look less impressive. When planting in open ground, it is desirable that the groundwater comes close to the surface. Regular watering is needed, but the plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture. Kupena feels best in the shade of trees, forming lush thickets in which even weeds cannot survive.
The plant prefers shady areas
Before planting kupena in open ground, the beds are first prepared. Drainage made of crushed stone or sand is poured into the prepared hole, and compost is added to the soil.
Growing kupena from seeds in garden floriculture is practically never encountered, because pollination of this flower can only occur with the help of long-proboscis bumblebees. Seeds are planted in late autumn, and sprouts appear in the spring, and sometimes even only in the 2nd year. In addition, a plant planted from seeds may lose its maternal characteristics. Such plants begin to bloom only in the 3rd year, and sometimes in the 5th.
Caring for your bath
“Solomon’s Seal” is just a godsend for a garden that you don’t have time to care for.
Kupena does not need care, it grows in the garden as well as in natural conditions
The good thing about growing kupena is that this plant requires virtually no care. Flowers need to be watered only in dry times; in other periods, rain watering and groundwater. After watering, to avoid crust formation, the plant bushes are mulched. Flower growers advise avoiding loosening, because the rhizomes of the kupena are fragile and are not located too deep, so they can be damaged. The weeds survive only the first two years, then the kupena grows so that the weeds have no chance of survival. For the winter, the kupena does not need to be covered or dug up - it overwinters well in the open ground, and in the spring it will bloom with renewed vigor.
Fertilizer and feeding
If you planted the kupena in fertile soil, then for good development it is enough to apply fertilizer once a year. For this purpose, organic matter (manure or compost) and some mineral fertilizers are added to the soil in the spring. This will be enough for the development and flowering of the kupena.
The crop can be fed with organic fertilizers
Plant propagation
The simplest and effective way reproduction kupena - division.
The flower can be planted in open ground at any time of the year, but it is best to do this in late summer or early autumn. The planting site must be cleared of weeds and dug to a depth of 25-20 cm. The root of the kupena is geniculate and very fragile, so dividing it is very easy. The cuttings with a bud or stem are planted in the soil to a depth of 8-9 cm. They are placed horizontally.
Young plant
The first couple of years, the growth of the flower will occur slowly, until the root finally takes root, then the kupena will begin to grow intensively. It is recommended to divide the kupena once every 3–4 years, planting the divisions in the same place, otherwise the kupena may crush its neighbors in the garden.
Diseases and pests
Kupena, planting and caring for which does not bring any trouble, is equally pleasing with the almost complete absence of diseases. This flower is also avoided by pests; only sometimes in dry times or in the second half of summer you can find slugs and some caterpillars on its leaves. But this problem is easily solved with the help of Intavir or any other analogues.
Kupena: combination with other plants
Kupena perfectly coexists with other plants that prefer shade and partial shade. She is friends with various types ferns, hellebores, dicentra.
Kupena in combination with dicentra
Advice. If you do not keep the kupena under control by dividing the rhizome every few years, over time it can grow too actively and will oppress and even crowd out its neighbors in the flower garden.
Purchased in landscape design
The perennial dense ornamental thickets that the kupena forms make it a welcome guest in any garden or flower garden. It will perfectly hide empty, unsightly areas of the garden, making them a secluded, cozy corner. It is also good to buy in the shade of trees, which is why it is often used for landscaping the trunks of garden trees. In a rocky garden or rock garden, a squat kupena will come in very handy. Multi-colored kupena is often used as a vertical accent among low-growing plants (for example, daisies or pansies, asters).
IN landscape design Kupena also differs from many flowers in that even after it fades, its gracefully curved leaves support the composition in a new color.
Purchased in landscape design
Kupena will serve as an excellent background for irises and daylilies, and in plantings with tulips it will hide the withering of spring bulbs.
Many gardeners advise planting kupena along a hedge of shrubs. As the bushes mature, their lower stems become bare and lose their attractiveness. Tall shoots of kupena will perfectly hide this drawback, growing well in the shade of bushes.
Bought in a flowerbed
Kupena, in addition to all its beauty, also has mass beneficial properties. A decoction of kupena is widely used in the treatment of gastritis and pneumonia, as well as a hemostatic agent. As an external remedy, kupena is often used for bruises, bruises and rheumatic pain. However, remember that you cannot use the coupon in medicinal purposes without a doctor's recommendation. Improper use can lead to poisoning or burns, because kupena is a poisonous plant.
Advice. If there are children on your site, then it is better to plant the kupena in an area where access for children is minimal. Because the poisonous berries of the kupena look very attractive.
If you want to diversify your landscape, but you don’t have time to care for capricious plants, then this purchase is just what you need. Whatever variety of these flowers you choose, it will fit harmoniously into any flower garden. In addition, propagation of kupena will not cause any trouble. And thanks to the amazing ability of kupena to combine with many plants in the garden, you will always have an excellent background for photos. It all depends only on your imagination, inspiration and desire to make yours unique and inimitable.
Properties of the purchased item: video
Kupena multiflora: photo
Kupena, a member of the lily family, has a graceful, curved stem bearing bright green leaves and white flowers. The main advantage of the perennial is its shade tolerance and ease of care. This is an excellent addition to any garden, and with 50 known varieties, you can choose exactly your cupena.
The most popular types are medicinal, fragrant, low-growing, whorled and broad-leaved. To grow a spectacular kupena flower in your personal plot, it is enough to adhere to the timing of its planting and provide it with proper care.
Selecting a location
Garden lily of the valley, also called kupena, grows calmly and develops in almost any conditions. However, it is better to plant it in shaded areas. The soil must be sufficiently fertile. If we determine perennial on depleted soil or in open sun, the kupena will grow much worse and will not be able to become a beautiful addition to the garden.
Advice
Garden lily of the valley will help get rid of weeds under trees: the lily of the valley forms dense thickets, leaving no chance for green parasites.
Planting technology and propagation
It is believed that garden lily of the valley can be planted in open ground at any time of the year. But it is preferable to do this in the last days of August, before autumn. Preparing the seat includes the following steps:
- Clearing a specific area of weeds.
- Digging the soil to a depth of 20-25 cm.
- Formation of holes.
- Laying a drainage layer of broken bricks, fine crushed stone, and coarse sand on the bottom of the pits.
- Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers at the rate of 15 g of product per plant or with wood ash. To do this, the excavated soil is mixed with nutrients, including compost.
Further actions will depend on the chosen method of reproduction. In this case, seed and vegetative methods are equally successfully used. As a rule, the first one is taken into service to plant new bushes. To multiply an existing kupena, it is divided.
Vegetative method
The easiest way to propagate kupena is to separate part of the rhizome with a bud from an adult bush. This method makes the garden lily of the valley grow and develop faster.
Procedure:
- The divisions are placed in the prepared planting holes to a depth of no more than 10 cm and positioned horizontally.
- Sprinkle with fertile soil and compact gently.
- Water generously.
This option for breeding kupena in the country can be used at any time of the year. The period during which the bush will completely take root and take root is two years. The first buds of a multi-flowered plant will appear in the third year after planting.
Seed method
A significant disadvantage of this method of reproduction is long term waiting for the first buds, it happens that they appear 5 years after the seeds are planted in the soil. In addition, it is difficult to collect material: due to the narrow inflorescences, the kupena is poorly pollinated and does not bear fruit every year. Finally, the qualities of hybrid flowers are not preserved when dispersed by seeds.
If you still choose the seed method, then planting material natural stratification will be required. The manipulation is carried out before winter. Given the long period of their development, they will be able to hatch only next year in the spring.
When growing for seedlings you need:
- Collect fully ripened fruits.
- Remove the seeds from them and rinse them under water to remove the pulp.
- Prepare containers filled with sand and peat mixture.
- Plant the seeds in the soil and cover with film.
Important
Kupena is poisonous - children need to be explained that picking these flowers is dangerous.
During the first three months, the room temperature should be within +2-5° C. For the next three months, the crops are kept at a temperature of 20-23 degrees Celsius. For the last three months, the containers should again be in a cool room at a temperature no higher than +5. Lighting should be diffused and the soil should be moderately moist. Irrigation is carried out as the soil dries out.
Secrets of perennial care
Kupena unpretentious plant, however, basic agrotechnical requirements must be observed so that the flower will delight you with its delicate flowers for a long time.
Watering and mulching
The amount and frequency of irrigation depends on the specific plant variety. Kupena needs regular but moderate watering, which will not cause rotting of the root system, the development of fungal diseases, or the invasion of snails and slugs. Broadleaf, pink and medicinal varieties of this flower grow well even in dry weather. Watering is carried out only in the absence of precipitation for a long time.
Considering the fragility of the perennial root system, it is not advisable to loosen the soil; there is a high probability of its damage. The best way retain moisture - mulch with pine sawdust and mown grass.
Weed removal and fertilizing
It is necessary to clear the flower garden of weeds when growing kupena only in the first two to three years after planting.
Even when planting a perennial in an open area, nutrients are added to the holes, and that supply is enough for 2 years. Subsequently, it is recommended to fertilize the bushes once a year - in the spring, using organic compounds.
Diseases, pests, wintering
The advantage of bought is its excellent resistance various diseases and garden pests. The main thing is to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged, and then there will be no problems with the plant.
As soon as cold weather sets in, the above-ground part of the garden lily of the valley dies. The roots of the plant are not affected. But this only applies to temperate climates. In northern regions with severe frosts, bushes without shelter will die. For protection, it is better to use sawdust, peat or spruce branches.
Kupena is rightfully considered hardy and does not require special growing conditions. By performing basic agricultural techniques, the gardener receives an elegant decoration for his garden.
Kupena is somewhat similar to lily of the valley. As soon as people don’t call it: deaf lily of the valley, kokornik, signet, Solomon's seal, wolf grass, wolf fang, core, crow berries. This unpretentious perennial is not only decorative, but also one of the medicinal plants.
Kupena is unpretentious and grows quickly
Description of the plant
(Polygonatum) is a perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plant that in nature often grows in meadows and slopes. Lignified multi-jointed (articular) rhizome located horizontally at the soil surface. In spring, a new stem grows from a bud at the end of the root. In the fall it dies, leaving a mark like a seal. By the number of small round scars with a depressed middle from last year’s stems (“ Solomon's seal") determine the age of the plant.
Ribbed stems covered with thin, smooth green skin, in some species with a reddish tint. The shoots are bent into a semi-arc; large sessile oval-shaped leaves with smooth edges, a pointed apex and embossed veins are alternately located on them.
Blooming kupena and white lilac
Bought as a medicinal plant
Kupena has long been classified as a medicinal plant that helps with many diseases. Traditional healers use it, but do not forget about contraindications:
Kupena is a poisonous plant. Roots, grass, flowers and berries have an emetic effect. Overdose can lead to more unpleasant, even hazardous phenomena. Kupena is contraindicated during pregnancy (R.B. Akhmedov “Plants - your friends and foes”).
This plant relieves pain, inflammation, stops bleeding and helps with severe cough. But often self-medication leads to bad consequences. Therefore, without consulting a specialist, you should not use decoctions and infusions purchased internally. It is better to use fresh juice applied externally. It heals wounds well and treats ulcers.
Kupena is able to quickly heal wounds, bleeding abrasions, bruises, and also relieve bruises and bruises.
The easiest way is to use a decoction: boil 2 - 3 tablespoons of chopped roots over low heat in 0.5 liters of water for 20 minutes. Use for compresses and lotions. Do not take orally, as this dosage is strong and will immediately cause vomiting. For oral administration the proportions are different. The plant is poisonous and requires careful attention (R.B. Akhmedov “Odolen-grass”).
Kupena and mysticism
Kupena is often called " seal of Solomon", or " Solomon's Seal". There are two legends associated with this plant and the biblical King Solomon. In one of them, the king, who lived for a very long time, marked the purchase with his seal to make it easier to find a healing plant that prolongs people's lives. In the second legend, the king ordered the same design to be applied to his seal as he saw on the round scars on the rhizomes of the kupena.
From a dried piece of rhizome “with a seal” they make amulet , strengthening family ties.
The peasants cut off those pieces from the root that looked like a cross and wore them as amulets from the evil eye, damage and anger heavenly powers(lightning, hail, etc.).
To this day, healers use the “seal of Solomon” to speak hernia .
A shoot of a kupena with an even number of leaves was called “ lupena " In the old days, it was infused with spring water, and then they washed their face with it so that damaged skin would come off. They also looked for a shoot with an odd number of leaves, or “ foam " They washed their faces with this infusion to remove freckles and other age spots.
Burning bush . Our beautiful Kupena has nothing in common (except similar pronunciation) with dictamnus, or ash tree (Dictamnus). This southern perennial plant of the Rutaceae family is well known in the Crimea and the Caucasus. During flowering, a characteristic pharmaceutical smell appears. The fruits smell like freshly ground cinnamon. The insidiousness of this beautifully flowering plant is that the burn on the skin is felt only after a few hours, when watery blisters appear. They leave a wound. It takes a long time to heal. The ash tree is enveloped in ethereal vapors, so the flame burns them without damaging the plant itself. It seems that the fire is scorching him, but cannot set him on fire.
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Kupena is somewhat similar to lily of the valley. People call it as many different names as: deaf lily of the valley, kokornik, signet, Solomon's seal, wolf grass, wolf fang, core, crow berries. This unpretentious perennial is not only decorative, but also one of the medicinal plants.
Kupena is unpretentious and grows quickly
Kupena(Polygonatum) is a perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plant that in nature often grows in meadows and slopes. Lignified multi-jointed (articular) rhizome located horizontally at the soil surface. In spring, a new stem grows from a bud at the end of the root. In the fall it dies, leaving a mark like a seal. The age of the plant is determined by the number of small round scars with a depressed middle from last year’s stems (“Solomon’s seal”).
Ribbed stems covered with thin, smooth green skin, in some species with a reddish tint. The shoots are bent into a semi-arc; large sessile oval-shaped leaves with smooth edges, a pointed apex and embossed veins are alternately located on them.
Bought in May - June blooms. First, snow-white bell-shaped buds hang from the axils of the leaves along the lower edge of the stem, then the flowers bloom. They smell nice. After pollination, fruits appear. These are reddish berries that turn blue-black when ripe. The fruits bought with seeds are poisonous.
Bought flowers
Types of purchased
About 50 species of kupena have been described, many of which are decorative.
Bought pharmaceutical (medicinal), or fragrant(P. odoratum). The height of the perennial with ribbed stems on which oval-shaped leaves sit is 30 - 65 cm. Flowering begins in the second half of May and lasts almost 5 weeks. The flowers are snow-white, bell-shaped.
Kupena whorled(P. verticillatum). This type of plant, 30 - 60 cm high, blooms in June-July. Its lower sessile elongated narrow leaves are attached alternately, the upper ones are collected in whorls of 4 - 8 pieces. The variety "Rubrum" is popular.
Kupena multiflorum(P. multiflorum). The height of the perennial is about 1 m. The leaves are arranged in two rows. Snow-white small flowers are collected in bunches of up to four pieces in the axils of the leaves. This is a moisture-loving species that grows well in the shade. Kupena multiflora variegatum(P. odoratum) has leaves with longitudinal white stripes. It is good even after flowering.
Kupena broadleaf(P. hirtum). The height of this species is about 50 cm. The oval leaves have pointed tips. The flowers are white, with a greenish tint. They bloom at the end of May.
Kupena is squat, or low(P. humile). A low-growing plant 15 - 35 cm high, it has sessile leaves of light green color. The flowers are white with a noticeable pinkish tint.
Kupena Hooker(P. hookeri). This is a unique dwarf species of kupena, less than 10 cm high. The oblong leaves are narrow. The flowers have a distinct purple tint.
Kupena prati(P. prattii). This is very decorative look with purple bells collected in paniculate brushes. The stems are dark purple, the elongated leaves are greenish-silver.
Reproduction of kupena
Kupena propagates by seeds and vegetatively. Let's consider first seed propagation method this plant, with which it is possible to grow a large number of seedlings. But he is quite troublesome. You can use your own collected seeds. First you need to collect the ripened fruits, remove the seeds from them and wash them to remove the pulp. After this, the seeds are stratified (in the refrigerator) for a month. Then they start sowing, filling the container with a sand-peat mixture. It is left for three months in a cool place (+ 5°C).
After three months, the container with the crops is moved for a short time to a warm place (+20 - 23°C). But in order for the seeds to germinate, they again need coolness for one to two months. After this, the container with the crops is kept in a warm room (+20 - 23°C) with diffused lighting and the soil is regularly moistened. At first, the seedlings grow slowly.
Planting in a permanent place in the flower garden is carried out in late spring. Flowering is expected only in the third or fourth year.
Dividing the bush- the easiest way to propagate kupena. It is usually held in late summer or early autumn. I divide my overgrown bushes in the spring, when shoots begin to grow. I take into account that when digging and planting it is easy to break off young shoots.
It is advisable to divide the bushes every four to five years, because... the overgrown kupena creeps into the territory of neighboring plants. The dug out bush is carefully cut into pieces. Each division should contain a section of rhizome with a growth bud, and in the fall, always with a part of the stem.
When planting, you need to carefully straighten the rhizome, deepening it by 5 - 8 cm. The divisions are planted at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other. Only after this, watering is carried out and a little dry soil is added. In the fall, you need to additionally mulch the planting site.
For the first two years, the kupena gets used to its new location, after which it blooms and begins to grow actively.
Raindrops on leaves
Caring for your bath
Place. Kupena grows best in a semi-shaded place.
Watering. This unpretentious perennial plant is surprisingly undemanding when it comes to watering. In dry summers, the soil has to be moistened more often. Mulching perfectly retains moisture and eliminates the need for loosening, which can damage the rhizome.
Feeding. Complex mineral fertilizer is applied to fertile soil in early spring. The poor thing must be flavored with organic matter. The second feeding is carried out during the flowering period.
Diseases and pests. Kupena is classified as a plant with good health. But its leaves are spoiled by slugs and some sucking pests.
Not only slugs and snails feast on the succulent leaves of the kupena, but also other pests that appear in the second half of summer
Wintering. IN middle lane Kupena winters well without complex shelters. It is enough to mulch the ground in the fall with compost, a mixture of peat and sand, or sawdust. In windy areas it is worth covering with spruce branches to retain snow. In spring it is removed before young shoots appear.
Bought when registering the plot
Kupena is good even after flowering. It has curved shoots that die off only in autumn. This perennial is often used for landscaping shady places, but it also decorates well-lit areas.
Kupena looks great next to stones and driftwood. Especially if they are covered with thick moss. It can be safely planted at the edge of decorative pools and in rock gardens, if there is a place with fertile soil.
In flower beds it looks amazing next to ground cover plants, for example, tenacious (ayuga), loosestrife, periwinkle, veronica filamentous, etc. An excellent neighborhood is with garden cuff, which emphasizes the beauty of other plants (article “Cuff: garden plant or beneficial weed?). I have a lot of bulbous primroses (crocuses, scylla, etc.) settled around this perennial. They have been living their own lives on our site for a long time and appear in the spring even in the most inappropriate places. Kupena looks amazing next to white lilac.
Blooming kupena and white lilac
Bought as a medicinal plant
Kupena has long been classified as a medicinal plant that helps with many diseases. Traditional healers use it, but do not forget about contraindications:
Kupena is a poisonous plant. Roots, grass, flowers and berries have an emetic effect. An overdose can lead to more unpleasant, even dangerous phenomena. Kupena is contraindicated during pregnancy (R.B. Akhmedov “Plants are your friends and foes”).
This plant relieves pain, inflammation, stops bleeding and helps with severe cough. But often self-medication leads to bad consequences. Therefore, without consulting a specialist, you should not use decoctions and infusions purchased internally. It is better to use fresh juice applied externally. It heals wounds well and treats ulcers.
Kupena is able to quickly heal wounds, bleeding abrasions, bruises, and also relieve bruises and bruises.
The easiest way is to use a decoction: boil 2 - 3 tablespoons of chopped roots over low heat in 0.5 liters of water for 20 minutes. Use for compresses and lotions. Do not take orally, as this dosage is strong and will immediately cause vomiting. For oral administration the proportions are different. The plant is poisonous and requires careful attention (R.B. Akhmedov “Odolen-grass”).
Kupena and mysticism
The purchase is often called the “seal of Solomon”, or “Solomon’s seal”. There are two legends associated with this plant and the biblical King Solomon. In one of them, the king, who lived for a very long time, marked the purchase with his seal to make it easier to find a healing plant that prolongs people's lives. In the second legend, the king ordered the same design to be applied to his seal as he saw on the round scars on the rhizomes of the kupena.
From a dried piece of rhizome “with a seal” they make amulet, strengthening family ties.
The peasants cut off those pieces from the root that looked like a cross and wore them as amulets from the evil eye, damage and wrath of heavenly forces (lightning, hail, etc.).
To this day, healers use the “seal of Solomon” to speak hernia.
A shoot of a kupena with an even number of leaves was called “ lupena" In the old days, it was infused with spring water, and then they washed their face with it so that damaged skin would come off. They also looked for a shoot with an odd number of leaves, or “ foam" They washed their faces with this infusion to remove freckles and other age spots.
Burning bush. Our beautiful kupena has nothing in common (except for similar pronunciation) with dictamnus, or ash tree (Dictamnus). This southern perennial plant of the Rutaceae family is well known in the Crimea and the Caucasus. During flowering, a characteristic pharmaceutical smell appears. The fruits smell like freshly ground cinnamon. The insidiousness of this beautifully flowering plant is that the burn on the skin is felt only after a few hours, when watery blisters appear. They leave a wound. It takes a long time to heal. The ash tree is enveloped in ethereal vapors, so the flame burns them without damaging the plant itself. It seems that the fire is scorching him, but cannot set him on fire.
© "Podmoskovye", 2012-2018. Copying texts and photographs from the site podmoskоvje.com is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Sometimes a gardener has to solve difficult problems. For example, choose a shade-tolerant plant that can be placed even under a dense canopy of trees.
In this case, a purchased plant is suitable; planting and caring for it are done in shaded areas. Otherwise, Solomon’s seal, as this spectacular representative of the Asparagus family is also called, will refuse to bloom.
In nature, kupena grows in shady forests. All species, and there are up to 50 of them, are perennial, usually bloom in May-June, and berries appear in the fall. Different varieties can vary strikingly in height, leaf shape and color.
The giant Chinese rosemary grows up to 120 centimeters in height; almost a hundred snow-white flowers can appear on the stem of a large bush. A hardy variety of sickle-shaped plant called Silver Lining will surprise you with its unusual leaves decorated with silver stripes. The species Polygonatum kingianum blooms in rich orange or red.
There are also dwarf, squat kupenas, their height barely reaches 35 centimeters, the leaves resemble lily of the valley, and the white flowers are very fragrant. There are very miniature bushes about 15 centimeters tall. Landscape designers also fell in love with the multi-flowered, broad-leaved, fragrant, pink, Caucasian kupena.
How to plant a kupena and provide it with care
It is important to remember that planting and caring for kupena will not be successful if you do not protect the plant from direct sunlight. The area should be shady, but partial shade is also possible. The soil will need to be fertile, moist, sandy loam or loamy soil is suitable.
Theoretically, kupena can be propagated by seeds and division of rhizomes. But practice shows that the first option is less successful; the seeds lose their viability very quickly. But thick rhizome segments rarely fail.
Before planting, you must carefully examine the rhizome. The fact is that the buds on it can be flower buds - larger, with a blunt end, and growth buds - smaller, with a pointed end. A piece of tuber with flower buds can be immediately planted in a permanent plot, the plant will bloom the next year. It is better to plant the part with growth buds in a separate bed; it will have to grow. Solomon's seal adapts remarkably well after transplantation.
It is better to plant rhizomes in early spring or early September. If this is a permanent area, it is advisable to maintain a distance between them of approximately 15 centimeters. If you plant a piece for growing, 10 centimeters is enough. A shallow hole is made in the soil, drainage is placed at the bottom, then the rhizome with at least one bud is lowered into it, covered with soil and moistened. It is necessary to provide daily watering for the next week, except on days when it rains.
Caring for the purchased one is extremely simple; regular moistening is enough for it, but mature bushes tolerate drought well. Moreover, they inhibit the appearance of weeds and it is rare to weed an area with plants. Diseases rarely affect Solomon's seal. Sawfly caterpillars can become malicious pests; sometimes in the summer they devour leaves in a matter of days, so it is important not to miss the appearance of insects.
Solomon's seal is a godsend for a garden that you don't have time to care for. It overwinters without shelter and grows remarkably in one place without transplanting.
Kupena with graceful stems and large leaves is very decorative and will help diversify the shady areas of the site. It is often placed in a group with shrubs and trees, planted near bodies of water, and decorated with mixborders and flower beds.
Low-growing varieties are useful for decorating large rockeries and rock gardens.
The plant is also suitable for cutting; you can create very beautiful tabletop compositions.
Kupena is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asparagus family. In its natural environment it lives in the subtropical and temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, preferring slopes and meadows.
Botanical description
By appearance similar to lily of the valley. The height of the plant is from 10 cm to 1.5 m. The rhizome is multi-generated, woody, and is mainly located horizontally close to the soil surface. The rhizome has rounded marks with a depressed middle - the so-called Solomon's seal. According to legend, it was left by the king due to the medicinal properties of the plant. Based on these marks, the return of the plant is determined.
Numerous growing points produce stems to the surface. They are ribbed, covered with thin, smooth skin of green or reddish tint. The arched shoots are covered with large sessile leaves arranged alternately. The shape of the leaf blade is oval, the edges are smooth, the apex is pointed. The leaves are covered with raised veins running vertically.
When it blooms
Flowering occurs in May-June. Snow-white, bell-shaped buds appear in the leaf axils. They are collected in whorls, hang along the lower edge of the stem, and exude a rich, pleasant aroma. After pollination, the fruits appear: round berries of a reddish hue, which become blue-black as they ripen. Each berry contains 1-9 seeds. Be careful - they are poisonous.
Growing kupena from seeds
Kupena seeds photo
Possibly seed and vegetative propagation purchased.
Growing kupena from seeds is a rather troublesome process, but it allows you to immediately obtain a large number of seedlings.
- Collect ripened fruits, remove seeds, and rinse to remove pulp.
- Keep the seeds in the vegetable section of the refrigerator for about 1 month.
- Sow in a container with a sand-peat mixture and keep at an air temperature of +2-5 °C for 3 months.
- The next 3 months the crops should be kept warm (about 20-23 °C).
- Then keep it cool again for about 3 months - at this stage the seeds will begin to germinate.
Bought from seeds photo seedlings
- Sprouts develop slowly. Grow at an air temperature of 20-23 °C, diffuse lighting is necessary, moisten the soil.
- Plant in open ground in the spring. Flowering will occur in the 3-4th year of growth.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
Vegetative propagation is carried out in late summer or early autumn.
Dividing the rhizome is the simplest and most effective method of propagation. The bushes should be divided every 3-4 years, otherwise the kupena will grow greatly and drown out its neighbors. Dig up the bush and carefully divide it into parts. The cuttings should be large and contain a section of rhizome with growth buds and part of the stem.
How to plant Kupena seedlings
Delenki, just like plants grown from seeds, are planted in the same way.
- Dig the area to the depth of a spade bayonet, get rid of weeds, and level the soil.
- It is recommended to add complex mineral fertilizers, compost, and ash. Add sand to dense, heavy soil.
- When planting, place the rhizome horizontally, deepen it by 8-9 cm.
- Keep a distance of about 20 cm between plantings. Compact the soil and water.
The divisions will take root for about 2 years, and then the bush will begin to grow and bloom.
Grows best in the shade. In a sunny area it develops more slowly.
How to care for a bath in the garden
Watering and loosening the soil
Water only when there is severe drought.
To maintain moisture and to avoid the formation of crust on the soil surface, the area should be mulched. It is not recommended to loosen the soil so as not to damage the roots of the plant. Carefully pull out weeds.
Feeding
If the soil is fertile, it is enough to apply complex mineral fertilizer or organic matter in early spring. Fertilize poor soil in spring and during flowering.
Diseases and pests
The plant is resistant to diseases and pests. Occasionally, slugs may appear on lush greenery. Collect them by hand, use traps, or cover the surface of the soil with a thin layer of ash or crushed eggshells.
Wintering
In the middle zone, the kupena successfully winters without shelter. If winters in your region have frosts above 20°C, mulch the soil with peat, sawdust, and cover with spruce branches. In spring, remove the cover.
Purchased in landscape design
Bought in garden design photo
In landscape design, kupena is most often planted for landscaping shady areas. It also grows well in sunny areas. It retains its decorative appearance even after flowering - the lush greenery dies off in the fall.
Looks good in rock gardens, rocky gardens, and will become a bright accent in vertical planting with low-growing plants (daisies, asters, phlox, hydrangea, corydalis, pansies, etc.).
Bought in landscape design photo mixborder
Combines with daylilies, irises, dicentra, and will advantageously cover the withered greenery of faded tulips and other spring bulbs.
Medicinal properties of kupena
Roots and shoots are rich in alkaloids, saponins, glucose and other active substances. Due to this, the plant is used as an anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, analgesic, enveloping, and expectorant agent.
Fresh juice is used externally to treat ulcers and heal wounds. The decoction is taken for bronchitis, stomach ulcers, and pneumonia.
An alcohol tincture of the roots of kupena should be taken for headaches, gout, osteochondrosis, and heart failure.
Be sure to consult your doctor before using any folk remedies. Overdose leads to negative consequences.
Types of purchased with photos and names
The genus contains about 50 species. Let's look at some of them that are grown decoratively.
Bought pharmaceutical or medicinal aka fragrant Polygonatum odoratum
Bought pharmaceutical or medicinal aka fragrant Polygonatum odoratum photo
Kupena is 30-65 cm high. Ribbed stems are covered with oval-shaped leaves. Flowering starts in mid-late May and lasts about 5 weeks. The flowers are snow-white, bell-shaped.
Kupena whorled Polygonatum verticillatum
Kupena whorled Polygonatum verticillatum variety ‘Rubrum’ photo
The height of the plant is 30-60 cm. The leaves are sessile, the lower ones are attached alternately, the upper ones are collected in whorls of 4-8 pieces. The leaf length is 10-17 cm, width - 1.5 cm. Flowering begins in June-July.
Polygonatum multiflorum
Polygonatum multiflorum photo
The height of the plant is about 1 m. The leaves are arranged in two rows. Small snow-white flowers of 1-4 are collected in the axils of the leaves. Grows best in the shade and loves moisture.
Kupena broadleaf Polygonatum hirtum
The height is about 50 cm. The leaves are oval-shaped with pointed tips. Flowers appear at the end of May white with a green tint.
Kupena squat or low Polygonatum humile
Polygonatum hirtum photo
Kupena height 15-35 cm. Leaves are sessile, light green in color. The flowers are white with a pinkish tint.
Hooker's Kupena Polygonatum hookeri
Hooker's Kupena Polygonatum hookeri photo
Original look. A dwarf only 5 cm high. The leaves are narrow, oblong. The flowers are colored purple.
Kupena variegated
Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’
Beautiful varieties with longitudinal white stripes on the leaves. Even after blooming, such a purchase remains the central accent in mixborders.
Kupena pratti Polygonatum prattii
Kupena pratti Polygonatum prattii photo
A beautiful plant with scatterings of purple bells collected in dense paniculate clusters. The leaves are lanceolate, elongated, and have a peculiar greenish-silver color. Stems are dark purple.
Kupena is a herbaceous perennial plant. A distinctive feature is thick, fleshy, erect peduncles with thin drooping petioles. The petioles on the stems are arranged alternately, from which hang white or greenish-white bell-shaped flowers. Peduncles develop in early spring from a knotty root system. The leaves on the peduncles are arranged in two rows, from top to bottom. The shape of the leaves is oval-elongated. In the article we will look at the step-by-step cultivation of Kupena in open ground, propagation and determine where and when to plant the flower.
There are more than 20-25 flowers on one erect peduncle of Kupena.
In its natural environment, you can find Kupena with pink, purple and cream flowers. Depending on the species, Kupena can be dwarf and tall, the height of the bush of the former reaches no more than 10 cm; the second - 1.5 m.
The bell-shaped flowers of Kupena bloom in May. Flowering duration is 3-4 weeks. After flowering ends, poisonous dark blue berries appear.
Bought a shade-loving plant. At favorable conditions grows quickly. Prefers to grow in moist, fertile soil. Kupena has a multi-jointed root system. The plant is propagated by seeds and division of the rhizome.
Place for planting kupena in the garden
Kupena grows well in sunny and shaded areas, which means it can become a worthy decoration for any corner of the site. Kupena responds with lush flowering on almost any soil. However, the duration of flowering and resistance to low temperatures and diseases of this plant depend on the fertility of the soil.
Kupena does not tolerate waterlogged soils, as well as soils with close groundwater. Intolerance to highly moist soils is associated with the root system of the plant, which quickly rots even with a slight accumulation of water.
Kupena is best planted under trees and shrubs, which will not only shade the plant, but also take up most of the water when the soil is abundantly moistened. Kupena can be grown in areas where weeds sprout annually. Kupena forms dense thickets, which helps in the fight against weeds. Read also the article: → “How to fight weeds in the garden: best methods and means."
Kupena looks good along the fence and walls of the house. Can serve as a shield for other plants from direct sunlight.
Preparing the soil on the site for planting kupena
The process of preparing the soil for planting Kupena begins with the end of the summer season. The main soil preparation activities include:
- removal of weeds;
- digging the soil to 25-30 cm (or a shovel bayonet);
- adding drainage material to the soil;
- application of mineral fertilizers;
Many gardeners prefer to use sand and crushed stone for drainage. Such components make it possible to improve the mechanical structure of the soil, namely, they make the soil more air- and water-permeable, and therefore fertile, since intensive growth and development of beneficial microorganisms occurs in such soil. Moreover, root system Kupena on well-aerated soil easily absorbs the required amount nutrients, produced beneficial organisms, as well as micro- and macroelements introduced into the soil as fertilizers with the help of humans.
In the table we consider the types of drainage for growing Kupena in open ground:
| Types of drainage | Drainage Features | Types of reproduction Kupena |
| Perlite | Makes the soil structure porous. Promotes good rooting of root suckers, divisions, cuttings | When propagated by dividing the rhizome |
| Vermiculite | Absorbs most of the water, and during drought, returns some of the water to the roots. | When transplanting and propagating plants in divisions |
| Charcoal | Protects the top layer from flooding with water | Used at all stages of plant development |
| Sand | Prevents water stagnation at the roots | When planting seeds and cuttings of rhizomes |
| Crushed stone | Promotes the penetration of water into deeper layers, which avoids stagnation of water at the roots | For all types of reproduction |
Reproduction of Kupena by division of rhizomes
Kupena mainly reproduces vegetative way, namely by dividing the rhizome. The procedure of dividing the rhizome of the mother plant can be carried out throughout the year. However, it is best to divide the rhizome in August. During this period, the roots have fully formed growth points. Let's consider step by step instructions for planting Kupena divisions:
- add complex mineral fertilizers at the rate of 20-30 g per m2;
- dig up the soil along with mineral fertilizers to a depth of 20-30 cm.
- add wood ash to the dug up and fertilized soil at the rate of 10-15 g per plant;
- Before planting, treat the cuttings in a solution of a growth stimulator;
- finished divisions with at least two buds are placed horizontally at a depth of 10-12 cm.
- The soil is lightly compacted with a garden spatula and watered abundantly.
For the first year and a half, divisions planted in open ground will grow slowly. Active growth begins as soon as the rhizome takes root in a new place.
Tip #1. Rhizome divisions should be large, since large divisions contain a sufficient amount of nutrients necessary for further successful rooting.
Kupena has a horizontal root with swellings, each of which has a mark reminiscent of an ancient seal. That is why Kupena is popularly known as Solomon's seal.
Reproduction of Kupena by seeds in open ground
Kupena is propagated by seeds very rarely, since the plant rarely sets seeds. Seeds are formed if the plant is pollinated by long-proboscis bumblebees. Moreover, Kupena seeds have a low germination rate and do not retain the varietal characteristics of the mother plant.
Kupena seeds must be subjected to a stratification procedure before planting in early spring. Therefore, experienced gardeners prefer to sow seeds in late autumn. Such seeds do not require stratification, since they are stratified under natural conditions in winter.
Let's look at step-by-step instructions for sowing seeds in open ground:
- raised beds 5-7 cm high are formed on the site;
- seeds are sown in a strip method at a distance of 5-10 cm, depending on the desired planting density;
- bury the seeds into the soil no more than 2-3 cm;
- sowing is sprinkled with loose soil and watered abundantly.
Seedlings appear the following year in late spring. Gardeners note cases of seedlings appearing in early summer due to the slow development of the plant. In the table we consider the advantages and disadvantages of two methods of propagating Kupena:
Purchased in landscape design
Kupena forms dense decorative thickets and covers empty and unsightly areas well. Since Kupena is a shade-loving plant, gardeners often plant trees and decorate the tree trunks.
Tall kupena looks good in the central part personal plot, for example, in rockeries with flowers such as pansies, daisies, irises and daylilies. Kupena is planted next to plants such as fern and hellebore in order to protect the plant from sunlight. Read also the article: → “We arrange country life and create landscape compositions.”
Kupena looks good in combination with compact, lush-flowering plants
Cultivated varieties Kupena for planting in the country
Wild varieties of Kupena grow in mountain and lowland forests. In regions with temperate climates. Uncultivated Kupena varieties are used as medicinal plant. The distribution area of the medicinal Kupena is Siberia, the Caucasus and Far East. Let's consider varieties suitable for growing in garden plots:
- Kupena Fragrant;
- Kupena Multiflorum;
- Kupena Variegata;
- Kupena Crescent.
The above varieties of Kupena are distinguished by their decorative leaves and lush flowering. They are characterized as the most winter-hardy. They reach a height of up to 1 m. They bloom in late May - early June. Read also the article: → “Beautiful perennial flowers for the cottage and garden.”
Mineral complex fertilizers for growing Kupena
Mineral fertilizers are necessary for Kupena not only for growth and development, but also for abundant and long flowering. When planting Kupena in fertile soil, it is enough to add individual mineral elements for positive growth and flowering. In the table we will consider what mineral elements are needed to be added when planting Kupena, taking into account the type of soil:
The lack of useful elements manifests itself in the form of yellowing leaves, weak growth and short flowering. Often, on poor soils, unopened buds fall off. With severe mineral starvation, Kupena has low resistance to pests such as slugs and sawflies.
It is advisable to apply mineral fertilizers taking into account the structure and fertility of the soil. You can compensate for the lack of nutrients in the soil using fertilizers such as:
- For nitrogen deficiency:
- Ammonium nitrate - for application to the soil;
- Urea solution - for foliar feeding.
- For phosphorus deficiency:
- Superphosphate solution - for foliar feeding;
- Monophosphate - for application to the soil.
- For potassium deficiency:
- Potassium chloride – for application to the soil;
- Potassium salt solution - for foliar feeding.
- For calcium deficiency:
- Calcium sulfate for application to the soil;
- For magnesium deficiency:
- Magnesium sulfate for foliar feeding.
The above fertilizers are applied before and after flowering. To reduce soil acidity, it is best to use organic fertilizers: manure, compost or humus. It would not hurt to apply complex mineral fertilizers for flowers, as well as biofertilizers to increase soil fertility.
Tip #2. Infertile soil for planting Kupena should not be enriched with earthworms. Since for worms the optimal soil moisture should be more than 80%, which means frequent watering is required, which can negatively affect the growth and development of the plant’s root system.
Slugs and sawflies attack plants with weak immune systems.
Common mistakes gardeners make when propagating and planting Kupena
- Grown on highly moist soils or on soils with close groundwater.
- The soil for planting Kupena is chosen to be dense and poorly drained.
- Kupena is grown in the sunniest areas.
- Sow seeds in open ground in spring without stratification.
Frequently asked questions from gardeners when propagating and planting Kupena
Question No. 1. How many years can Kupena grow in one place?
Kupena grows in one place for 10 to 15 years, depending on the care of the plant.
Question No. 2. Do I need to cover Kupena for the winter?
If Kupena was planted in fertile soil and a sufficient amount of fertilizer was applied, Kupena need not be covered for the winter. Healthy plants overwinter well in open ground.
Question No. 3. How to protect Kupena from slugs?
For protection, it is enough to treat with broad-spectrum insecticides. These drugs include the universal insecticide Intavir or Actofit.
Question No. 4. How long does Kupena bloom?
The duration of flowering depends on the care of the plant. On average, all types and varieties of Kupena bloom for 4-5 weeks. After flowering ends, dark berries appear.
Question No. 5. Is it possible to replant Kupena?
Kupena is very difficult to tolerate transplantation, since the survival of the root system in a new place is very slow.