Wonderful Jasmine Scent. Breeding Achievements

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Chubushniks first appeared in garden decorations in the 12-13th centuries on the territory of East, Asia Minor, and Central America. They came to Russia in the 16-17 centuries, were grown on the sites of the rich nobility, the royal estates. Over the years, the number of varieties has increased. What forms are presented on the Russian market?

The origins of the name

There are several versions of the origin of the name of the fragrant shrub. The Greek word philadelphus consists of two parts, it is translated as "love brother" because of the close location of opposite shoots. According to the second version, the flower received its name from the king of Egypt Philadelph Ptolemy, a lover of natural sciences.

The Russian version of Chubushnik appeared thanks to the applied use of shrubs. A soft core was removed from the sturdy stems. The hollow part was used for the manufacture of shanks, mouthpieces for smoking pipes.

The flower is called jasmine for the similarity of aromas of two completely different representatives of the flora. Real jasmine is a tropical vine grown in greenhouses, indoor conditions.

Directions for creating new varieties

The large French company Lemoine was engaged in the selection of garden jasmine in the 19th century. The hereditary dynasty was headed by Victor. For many years he traveled around the country, collecting rare specimens, crossing them among themselves. The new varieties were distinguished by: increased resistance to weather conditions; decorativeness.

The selection was carried out in several directions, depending on the original species. Low-growing specimens were obtained from crossing small-leaved with common mock-orange. Terry large inflorescences appeared as a result of the improvement of the first group with large-flowered species. The change in leaf color during natural mutations has led to the creation of variegated varieties.

In Russia, in the middle of the 20th century, the Lipetsk Experimental Station, headed by Professor Vekhov Nikolai Kuzmich, was engaged in the selection of chubushnik. He achieved adaptation of Lemoine varieties to Russian growing conditions, through complex crossing, selection of the best specimens from the obtained seedlings. For 10 years of fruitful work, he has created 12 new forms with improved winter-hardy qualities.

Great hybrids

Among foreign breeding, they tolerate winter well in the Middle Lane:

Alebasrite. The height of an adult specimen is 1.8 m, the trunks are strong and directed upwards. Forms many lateral branches ending in "sultans" of inflorescences of 8-9 buds 5 cm in diameter. Semi-double or simple dazzling white flowers bloom from mid-June for 30-35 days. They have a rich aroma.

Gletcher. Plant height 1, 5-2 m. Oval succulent leaves are located on powerful erect growths. Dense, narrow inflorescences are scattered along the entire length of 60 cm shoots, consist of 6-7 snow-white, fragrant densely double buds. When unfolded, their diameter reaches 4.5 cm. The outer petals are broadly oval, the inner three-layered narrow ones. Blooms from mid-June for 30-36 days. Dried inflorescences remain on the branches for a long time. To preserve their decorative appearance, they are cut off in a timely manner.

Mont Blanc. Two-meter bushes in the flowering season are completely covered with snow-white semi-double and simple buds that form on last year's shoots from June to July for 20-25 days. It has a rich aroma with strawberry notes.

Virginal. Vigorous plants 2-3, 5 meters in height with a wide, spreading crown. The leaf is dark green, oval, with a pointed end; in the fall, they acquire a yellow tint. Inflorescences 14-15 cm long, dazzling white double, fragrant with a diameter of 5 cm. Blossom in July. On some specimens, a slight re-flowering is observed closer to autumn.

We will talk about varieties of domestic selection in the next article.