Gift of the Sun - goldenrod
At the end of summer, in the garden plots, you can see a sunny plant of bright yellow color with small flowers collected in a pyramidal panicle. This is a goldenrod. And this is not just a plant, but a honey plant and, moreover, a medicine that saves us from many diseases. The people also call it "golden feather", "golden rod", live grass, and in Belarus "scum". The distribution area covers the forest zones of Western Siberia, Atlantic and Central Europe, the Caucasus, Scandinavia, the Far East.
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Description
Two varieties are most popular: the Canadian goldenrod (photos are presented below) and ordinary. Let's consider in more detail the appearance of each of them.
Common goldenrod
The root system is superficial, fleshy. There is a single erect stem, sometimes colored in a reddish tint. The top of the plant branches, although the stem itself is practically not covered with foliage. The latter has a regular arrangement, a serrated edge and a sharp and oblong-elliptical shape. What is noteworthy is that over its entire area, the scabbard has slight pubescence.
The plant is poisonous!
At the end of summer, from July to September, racemose or panicle inflorescences are formed on the top of the stem, including a large number of bright yellow flowers. At the end of flowering, from August to October, a fruit is formed containing ribbed cylindrical seeds with a tuft.
Canadian goldenrod
This type of plant also belongs to the perennial forms of Asteraceae. It is found mainly along roads, in clearings, swamps, forest edges, river and lake shores. As for the soil, moderately moist areas are a favorite place, but at the same time, the plant develops well in slightly moist and even swampy areas.
The root is short, pivotal. The stem is identical to the previous goldenrod variety, only it is colored in tones from light to dark green, and the plant height reaches 1.4 m. There is also a slight pubescence. On the stem, the leaves of a linear-lanceolate shape are alternately located, and at the bottom they have serrated edges and a short petiole, and closer to the apex - sessile and entire.
Flowering occurs with the blooming of bright yellow small (3-5 mm) bisexual buds and the further formation of a cone-shaped panicle up to 20 cm. In the middle of the panicle, flowers are tubular, and pseudo-lingual at the edges. At the end of flowering, narrow-cylindrical fruits are formed in the form of a ribbed achene, with a white tuft.
Goldenrod hybrid
There is also such a type of plant, but it is less popular. Differs in compact size and beautiful foliage. It was this specimen that gave life to other varieties, such as goldtanne, spatgold, fearlencron, perkeo.
Goldenrod: planting and care (with a photo of the plant)
In order for the plant to please the eye with its bright flowering, you need to properly care for the plant during the growth period.
For planting, it is best to choose places well-lit by the sun's rays.But even in light shading, the golden feather will grow beautifully. But you should know that this affects flowering in different ways: the brighter the lighting, the earlier and more abundant it. It should be added that the plant tolerates frost perfectly.
It is preferable to plant the plant on fertile loams, so the flowering will be much more magnificent. But you can also plant in heavy, poor soils. A minor drought is not a problem for a broomstick. However, it should be watered regularly for better flowering.
In summer, watering should be abundant.
The goldenrod needs to be fertilized twice a year. With the onset of spring, these are fertilizers of a complex composition with a 10-20% content nitrogen. But in the autumn, fertilizing with preparations with a nitrogen content of no more than 10% or no nitrogen content at all is needed.
In spring, as well as from the beginning of summer, weak shoots must be removed from the bushes. This will stimulate new growth as well as flowering. Before winter, the plant should be prepared. For this, the entire earthly part is completely cut off.
The goldenrod can be left in one place for no more than 10 years. After the middle of the bushes is thinning and it will need to be updated by planting new specimens.
Reproduction
There are several ways to increase the number of copies:
- Planting bushes in spring or summer.
- Cuttings. To do this, in the summer, a couple of young shoots are separated, dividing the root system. You can also trim the top off a long, annual shoot and root it later.
- Another way is to cut off the shoots from the bush during flowering. This will stimulate dormant buds and allow new growth to grow.
- Seminal. The collected planting material is sown in the ground at 18-22 ° C. After 2-3 weeks, the first shoots can be observed. It is worth noting that the seeds, thanks to their crests, fly around and give new growth, gradually turning into thickets. To avoid this, young shoots must be removed, and the panicles must be cut off after flowering in order to prevent the seeds from ripening.
Diseases and pests
In the heat, the plant, due to the strong thickening of the bushes, is quite often affected by powdery mildew. To prevent this, the bushes should be regularly thinned out, removing a third of the sprouts. You should not be zealous in adding nitrogenous fertilizers. Their excess also provokes the appearance of the disease.
Remarkably, goldenrod is not affected by pests.
Due to its brightness, the golden rod is widely used as hedge, in group and solitary plantings, for mixborders, rabatok, as decoration for border fences. Low-height varieties look great in container rock gardens on terraces or balconies.
Medicinal properties and contraindications of goldenrod
In medicine, preference is given to the Canadian or ordinary bag. Consider the medicinal effects of each.
The healing properties of common goldenrod
For treatment, aerial parts of the plant are used, in particular foliage and panicles. The root system is also used, but much less often. For the preparation of the ground part, they are taken in the summer during the flowering period, the underground - in the fall.
The plant and all medicinal infusions, decoctions and other means prepared from it have:
- Antibacterial and antioxidant action.
- Due to the presence of flavonoids, capillary permeability decreases.
- In some cases, it is included in the fees recommended for the treatment of prostate adenoma and impotence.
- Efficiency was noted for stones of oxalate and urate nature.
- It has a diuretic effect, therefore it is effectively used for problems with the bladder and kidneys.
- Anti-inflammatory and vaso-strengthening properties.
- It is successfully used in the treatment of cystitis, chronic prostatitis, urethritis.
- Antifungal properties, which makes it possible to treat thrush.
Goldenrod is contraindicated for phosphate stones, as it has the ability to increase urine pH.
Also, an ordinary bag is used in folk medicine, for example, for indigestion, gout, rheumatism, in the treatment of boils. In the latter case, the leaves of the plant are used as a remedy if they are applied to the sore spot.
The healing properties of the Canadian goldenrod
This variety also uses the aerial part, which is harvested as soon as the flowers bloom.
The collection of medicinal raw materials is carried out during the flowering period (at the initial stage). To do this, cut off the top 30-40 cm from the shoots. Further preparation differs from the usual golden feather. From the cut tops, the stems are removed and only panicles and leaves are dried. Then they are sent to dry in the shade at a temperature of no more than 35-40 ° C, placing them in a thin layer on a substrate.
Do not delay the collection of the material, otherwise the flowers will fluff strongly during drying.
Medicines are prepared from the prepared raw materials, which are used for the same diseases as an ordinary bag. This list also includes the fight against whooping cough, enuresis, bronchial asthma, and various skin problems.
Now you are familiar with the beneficial properties of goldenrod, contraindications and caring for it. If you follow all the recommendations, you can beautifully equip fence your site, making it lively and bright yellow, and will also be able to improve your health. However, do not forget to first consult your doctor.