2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Kupena (Latin Polygonatum) - flower culture; perennial plant of the Asparagus family. Another name for the plant is Solomon's seal. In nature, Kupena is found in the forests of the temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern Hemisphere. In Russia, Kupena grows wild in the European part, in the Caucasus and the Far East. Currently, there are about 50 species.
Characteristics of culture
Kupena is a herb with arched or drooping green stems up to 1 m high. The root system is powerful, the rhizome is thick, horizontal, with depressed traces of dead growth stems, otherwise "seals". Leaves are sessile, linear, ovoid or elliptical, alternate and whorled.
Flowers are bisexual, single or collected in few-flowered drooping or tubular brushes. The perianth is greenish-white or pink in color, with six teeth. Flowers are pollinated by bumblebees, self-pollination is also possible. The fruit is a blue or black berry, contains 1-9 seeds.
Kupena does not differ in bright flowering, it is appreciated for the special charm of flowers and discreet beauty. After flowering, the plant retains its decorative appearance due to its interesting stems and emerging fruits. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
Growing conditions
Kupena is considered an unpretentious plant, it develops well in sunny, shaded and damp areas, it grows without any problems under the crowns of tall trees and shrubs. Kupena is not demanding for soil conditions, however, moist, drained and fertile substrates are preferable. Plants are susceptible to stagnation of spring waters, they often rot and die. Kupins are durable and winter-hardy; they can grow in the same place for several decades. Some species, for example, pink kupena and fragrant kupena, are drought-resistant.
Reproduction and planting
The kupena is propagated by seeds and segments of rhizomes with a renewal bud. The seed method is rather laborious and ineffective. Sowing is carried out in late autumn under a shelter, the kupins emerge only after a year. Self-seeding culture practically does not give, an exception: broad-leaved kupena. The second method of reproduction is more common, the planting material is cut either in spring or in August, after which the segments are planted in the ground and mulched with a thick layer of peat or humus.
Care
Buyers do not need any special care, but they respond very positively to fertilizing and abundant watering. With prolonged drought, the volume of water during irrigation increases significantly. They feed the culture with humus or compost and complex mineral fertilizers; wood ash will not damage the store.
Fertilizers are applied twice a season: the first time - in early spring, the second - during flowering. To retain moisture in the near-stem zone for a longer period, the soil is mulched with peat or fallen leaves. Under favorable growing conditions, Kupena is resistant to diseases and pests. Rarely affected by slugs.
Application
Most often, kupena is used to create shady flower beds. Often used when creating mixborders and rustic garden corners. Squat Kupena harmoniously fits into rocky gardens - rockeries and rock gardens, as well as large rockeries. The culture is not picky about neighbors, it is combined with many annuals and perennials. Despite its nondescriptness, the kupena is very decorative, growing, it forms rather dense curtains.
Kupena was also widely used in folk medicine. The purchased fruits are useful for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Decoctions from the rhizomes of the plant are used in the treatment of peptic ulcer of the duodenum and stomach, as well as for bruises, pustular skin diseases and hernias.
