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The modest kupena grows beautifully in the most shaded corners of the garden, hiding delicate bells of snow-white flowers under its wide leaves. They look like lilies of the valley, but unlike these short flowers they can grow up to one and a half meters in height. Having planted a plant such as kupena officinalis on your site, it can be used not only as an element of landscape design, but also for medical purposes to combat inflammatory and other ailments.
Features of the plant
Kupena has a strong, tall peduncle that bends in an arc towards the ground under the weight of the buds. The leaves of the plant are large, oval-shaped with longitudinal grooves of light green color. White flowers have a green, pink, cream edging.
Kupena flowering
The flowering period begins in May and lasts about 3-4 weeks. After this, round dark blue and red berries with seeds are formed, which gives the plant a special decorative appearance.
Reference. Kupena is known for its healing properties and is widely used in folk medicine. The rhizomes of the plant are rich in starch, and together with young shoots they can be eaten. You should be extremely careful with the berries - they are poisonous.
Varieties and types of purchased
Kupena is also known as Solomon's seal. The plant belongs to the genus of plants of the Asparagus family.Their natural distribution area is temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern Hemisphere.
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They can often be found in forests, meadows, bushes and slopes.
Botanists have described several dozen species of kupena. The most famous among them are:
- kupena officinalis - does not grow higher than 0.5 m. Large leaves grow on a faceted stem, buds form on thin drooping pedicels. Flowering period - late spring - early summer. The fruit is a dark blue round berry;
- Kupena multiflorum - used as an ornamental crop and used as a medicine. An adult bush of the plant has a height of about 1 m. Oval-shaped leaves grow from the stem, in the axils of which 5-6 flowers are tied. Flowering period is June. In summer, blue berries ripen on the plant.
- fragrant kupena - distinguished by the bluish tint of green leaves. Representatives of this species are found with crimson leaf bases and veins. On average, the height of the plant reaches about 80 cm. The flowering period begins in mid-May and lasts about 5 weeks.
Preparing for landing
The key to successfully growing this unusual plant is to comply with several conditions for choosing a suitable location.In order for the kupena to grow luxuriantly on a personal plot, planting and care in open ground is carried out in a shady place. In the sun it grows poorly and loses its decorative effect.
Kupena fragrant
The plant is undemanding to soils, but develops better on humus-rich, dense soils:
- Kupena does not tolerate conditions of prolonged stagnation of moisture; soils with high groundwater levels are not suitable for it.
- Before planting, it is advisable to apply mineral fertilizer to the ridges; after this, it will be possible to do without fertilizing for several years.
- The incorporation of wood ash for digging will have a beneficial effect on the quality of the soil under the kupena.
Important. Kupena successfully performs not only a decorative, but also an important function of soil care. Planted in tree trunks, it develops beautifully in the lacy shade of leaves, and at the same time prevents the spread of weeds in the garden.
Propagation by dividing rhizomes
For those who want to plant a kupena flower on their plot, propagation is quite simple. To do this, they use two methods - dividing the rhizome and seeds.
Growing kupena in group plantings
With vegetative propagation, the plant develops and blooms faster. For this:
- The area selected for planting is dug up to a depth of about 25 cm, adding mineral fertilizer (about 10 g per plant).
- A drainage layer of crushed stone or sand is placed in the planting holes and filled with a nutrient substrate from the top fertile layer of garden soil and compost.
- A part of the rhizome with a bud is separated from an adult healthy plant.
- The cutting should be buried in the ground to a depth of no more than 10 cm. Planting material should be placed horizontally in the hole.
- Dig in and compact the soil, moisten the planting abundantly.
Any time of year is suitable for this method of propagation, but the plant takes root better if done at the end of August. Kupena takes root in a new place for about two years. In the third year, the plant begins to actively grow and form buds.
Propagation by seeds
If there is nowhere to get an adult flower, growing from seeds is the only possible propagation option. This method takes longer; often you have to wait about 5 years for the first buds to appear.
Kupena fruits
Kupena seeds require natural stratification. Therefore, they are sown before winter. They have a long development period, and the seedlings hatch from the ground only in the second year in the spring.
Further care
Few flowers can boast of being as undemanding as kupena; growing and caring for it does not take much time from gardeners.
Variegated foliage of the kupena
Basically, you need to follow simple rules:
- The soil under the flowers should not be loosened, as this can easily damage the rhizomes lying close to the surface of the earth. Soil care involves laying humus on top for the winter and mulching.
- Weeds are removed only in the first two to three years after planting. In a few years they will no longer be able to break through the thick curtains.
- Watering depends on the type of planted kupena: the multi-flowered one is moistened regularly, while the medicinal one tolerates drought and is watered only if there has been no precipitation for a long period.
- For the winter, the bushes are cut to a height of 5 cm above the ground; before the onset of stable frosts, the young plantings are wrapped in a layer of mulch.
Frequent transplants are poorly tolerated by the plant. Curts can be left to grow in one place for about 15 years.
Useful properties of bought
The healing power of the medicinal plant has long been well known and used in traditional medicine. It can be used to treat ailments such as:
- headache;
- inflammation of the respiratory tract;
- joint diseases - arthritis and gout;
- diseases of the digestive system;
- skin diseases.
It is used more often in the form of decoctions and infusions. Lotions help heal shallow wounds. Alcohol tincture fights teenage acne. Kupena root juice is a proven method for whitening freckles.
Reference. The collection of leaves, stems and flowers is carried out during the flowering period of the kupena. The root for medicinal purposes is dug up in November. For harvesting, the raw materials are dried in a well-ventilated area.
Like any other drug, Kupena has its contraindications for use. Therefore, use for medical purposes is possible only on the recommendation of a doctor.
Having planted several kupena bushes in a shady corner of your garden, within a few years it will be decorated with a rich carpet of wide, bright green leaves with glimpses of snow-white flower necklaces. And without exhausting measures to care for plants. In addition, you will have a wonderful home healer who willHelps get rid of many unpleasant ailments.
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Kupena is a perennial plant that is grown in cultivation mainly for decorative purposes. Belongs to the Asparagus family. Another name found in literature is Solomon's seal. Under natural conditions it grows in temperate and subtropical latitudes of the northern part of the hemisphere. It has a thick rhizome with traces of dead stems. Ovate or elliptical leaves, in the axils of which white flowers appear. There are more than 50 plant species in nature.
Plant care
Having planted the kupena on the site, it will need good care. If all the instructions are fulfilled, the flower grows quite tall with large leaves and numerous flowers. If the rules are not followed, the fragile plant may die or lose its attractive appearance.
Lighting
Kupena is a fairly shade-tolerant crop. She doesn't need a lot of sunlight, but rather the opposite. Favorite places to grow are in the shade of spreading trees or in flower beds on the north side of buildings, where the sun practically does not penetrate. This is a great opportunity to improve areas where most flowering plants simply will not survive.
Watering
The flower does not tolerate drought. He is cozy and comfortable only when the soil is sufficiently moist. However, you should not overuse watering. Having numerous advantages, including benefits for many insects, it can quickly become their delicacy or a breeding ground for fungal diseases. Therefore, it is recommended to water regularly, but moderately. Do not allow water to stagnate at the roots.
The soil around most plants should be loosened after watering. However, this does not apply to the purchase. Closely located large roots can be easily damaged. When growing kupena, it is better to use mulching. This will ensure moisture retention, prevent crust formation and, as a result, ensure sufficient oxygen supply.
Feeding
The plant prefers saturated fertile soils. On soils poor in nutrients it grows very poorly and reproduces with difficulty. Therefore, when the land becomes scarce, fertilizing should be done periodically.
After planting on soil rich in substances, the kupena can not be fed for 2 years. After this, mineral fertilizers should be applied twice a year: in spring and during the flowering period. It is advisable once a year, mainly in early spring, after the first shoots appear, to fertilize with organic fertilizers: manure or compost. They can be scattered dry directly around the flower and carefully between the plants, and then mulch the soil.
In addition, you can make solutions from organic matter by infusing them in warm water for a week, at a rate of 1:10.
After the expiration of the period, root watering is carried out. This feeding should be done several times a season. Do not water the plant during the day or in extreme heat. It is advisable to choose a time in the evening or early in the morning.
Preparing for winter
In autumn, the upper part of the flower dies off completely. Only the rhizome overwinters. Kupena does not need special preparatory work after its growth is complete and it goes to wintering. However, in harsh climates or the danger of severe frosts in the absence of snow cover, it is advisable to additionally cover it with spruce branches, peat or spruce branches. This will protect fragile roots from damage.
In a milder climate, the flower does not need shelter and will quietly overwinter.
Pests and diseases
Kupena is very resistant to most known diseases. But in dry weather, the plant can be favored by snails or sawfly caterpillars, which can completely destroy the flower in a few hours. To avoid such misfortunes in the heat, monitor the appearance of these insects and take measures to destroy them in a timely manner. What are specially developed insecticidal preparations suitable for?
Of the diseases, kupena is susceptible only to fungal diseases. This may be due to excessive watering. For prevention, the amount of water supplied to the plant must be normalized. If symptoms of rotting appear near the root, the flower must be treated with fungicidal preparations. If the damage is significant, some of the plants will have to be removed.
Planting and propagation
Basically, two methods are used to propagate the kupena:
- planting seeds in open ground;
- root division.
There is no other way to increase the number of flowers on the site. In addition, the second method helps to rejuvenate the plant and prolong its growth period. The flower, unlike other cultivated flowers, continues to grow underground at the end of the growing season, and its above-ground part dies. This method of growth also influences the increase in the number of representatives.
In open ground with seeds
This method is not considered the most effective, but is sometimes used by gardeners. Planting can be done at almost any time of the year. Most often in summer or early spring. To do this, the area should be prepared in advance. Organic matter is scattered onto the selected location and then dug up. The soil is prepared two weeks before sowing.
If planting is carried out in the spring, then sowing is done when the soil has completely thawed and a stable positive temperature has established. Several seeds are placed in holes up to 7 cm deep. After which the planting site is spilled with warm water and mulched.
The first two years the kupena grows underground. Its root lengthens horizontally and buds appear on it. In the third year, the first shoots will appear at the planting site, but flowering will begin only in the third year. What is the main disadvantage of this method of reproduction.
Reproduction by root division
The most popular and frequently used method of planting kupena is propagation by dividing the rhizome into several parts. To do this, in August the root is dug out of the ground and divided into parts. When determining their size, one should proceed from the presence of kidneys. The larger part of the root often contains buds, which will form a flowering stem. On the young part shoots are formed that will bloom only after a year.
The division is carried out carefully with a sharp knife. The cut site should be disinfected using special compounds or ash. After that, in a pre-prepared place, fertilized with organic matter, parts of the root are placed in holes to a depth of 8 cm. Sprinkle with earth on top and spill generously. The distance between flowers is taken to be 20-25 cm. The first year the kupena develops underground and only the next year the first shoots can be seen.
Use in landscape design
The flower goes well with or. Can be used as a cut flower to decorate bouquets of various flowers. With its help you can create unusual compositions and decorate any room.
When carrying out landscaping work, with the help of a cupena you can smooth out the imperfections of the site and hide unsightly places.
Subspecies and varieties
Only some varieties of kupena remain the most popular among flower growers. These include:
- Multiflora. The height of the plant often reaches 1 meter. Large white flowers delight the eye throughout June. After which dark blue berries appear, which are not eaten due to their toxicity. The Variegatta variety with a white stripe along the edge of the leaves is considered the most decorative.
- Fragrant. The main distinguishing feature is the bluish tint of the flowers with a crimson base and veins.
- Medicinal. It reaches a height of 50 cm. Large white flowers are formed on long stalks.
- Pink. Found naturally in China or Siberia. Not afraid of frosts and low temperatures. The stem is straight, reddish in color. Often located white flowers will delight you with their bloom for a long time.
A wide variety of species and varieties makes it possible to choose a plant for specific purposes and location.
This elegant plant is rarely seen in the ornamental garden. The beauty of the bath is refined and the most suitable setting for it is a garden in the Naturgarden style.
Long arched faceted stems, leaves like wings, and under them a row of droplet flowers, which in the fall turn into round dark-colored berries.
Very beautiful when cut.
If you ever hear the phrase “Solomon’s seal”, you should know that this is a purchase. And to get to the bottom of the history of this name, you will need to dig in the literal sense of the word.
After the annual shoots die off, round scars remain on the rhizome, similar to a seal. According to ancient legend, it was King Solomon who marked the purchase with his seal.
Kupena is considered an unpretentious plant; it does not require fertilizing or watering, and it grows in one place for up to 15 years. True, for the plant to become like this you will need to find the “right” place for it.
Kupena loves moist shade (partial shade), rich humus soils, does not tolerate stagnant moisture, blooms sparingly in the sun, and overwinters without shelter.
Thus, kupena is another beautiful plant for a shady flower garden.
POPULAR TYPES
The genus contains about 50 species. Among them there are whorled species, as well as plants with pink and orange flowers. But the most decorative are the ones listed below. Very beautiful varieties with variegated leaves have been bred from them.
- Habitat: coniferous and birch forests of Europe, the Far East, China, Japan, Korea.
- Flowering period: May.
- Color spectrum: white flowers with green tips.
- Height: 30-65 cm
- Growing conditions:
- Peculiarities: rhizomatous perennial, 1-2 flowers grow from each leaf axil, used in folk medicine.
- Habitat: forests of Europe (including Ukraine), the Caucasus, Turkey, Nepal.
- Flowering period: May June.
- Color spectrum: white flowers with green tips.
- Height: 30-60 cm.
- Growing conditions: shade, partial shade, moist humus soils.
- Peculiarities: rhizomatous perennial, 3-4-5 flowers grow from each leaf axil.
- Habitat: East Asia, forests, less often meadows.
- Flowering period: May June.
- Color spectrum: white flowers with green tips.
- Height: 12-30 cm.
- Growing conditions: partial shade, moist humus soil.
- Peculiarities: rhizomatous perennial, the shortest among its relatives, it is preferable to grow in shady rockeries.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW
All parts of the product are poisonous. At the same time, this plant is widely used in folk medicine.
PURCHASED IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN
You can plant Solomon's seal in the shade of a fence, house, gazebo - there it will fill the shaded space, and also rid it of weeds.
The drooping shape of the kupena stem will look ideal on retaining walls and along shady paths.
It is also a good choice for framing a lawn: its tall stems hang beautifully over the green carpet.
COMBINATION OF SHAPE AND COLOR
Since kupena is a forest plant, ferns will be its ideal neighbors. They have the same curved growth line.
However, from a design point of view, a contrasting planting is more suitable for it, for example,. . . low grades
- the seeds remain viable for several months while they are inside the berry,
- they germinate as a result of natural stratification,
- During the first year the plant develops underground,
- Flowering will occur in three years.
That is, if you sow seeds before winter, they will begin to grow next spring (the development of the root system in the horizontal direction), in August a vertical shoot will begin to develop, which will emerge from the ground as early as May next year.
The most rational way to propagate kupena is by dividing the rhizome. For planting in the ground, sections with a renewal bud or stem are suitable. The procedure is carried out at the end of summer. The thick rhizome is very fragile at the “knees”, so breaking it into pieces will not be difficult.
The cuttings are immersed horizontally in the ground. In the first few years, the plant will build up its root system, so its above-ground part develops very slowly.
An adult plant can be divided no more than once every 4 years.
Kupena This is a plant from the Liliaceae family. There are about 50 species of kupena in nature. This plant is very widespread in Asia and Europe. It has a very developed rhizome and inclined stems, which can reach a height of up to 1.5 m, depending on what species the plant belongs to. The leaves are lanceolate and have such an arrangement that they seem as if they are sitting on the stem. From the axils of the leaves we can observe how small graceful tubular flowers are located on very short stalks. Kupena usually blooms in cream, pinkish and white tones. After flowering, fruits in the form of berries appear on the plant. These berries should not be eaten.
Flower growers prefer medicinal or fragrant, whorled, broad-leaved or low-growing Far Eastern kupena. In the garden, due to the prevalence of the variety, you can often see the multifloral plant. Plants of this species can usually reach up to 1 meter in height. The bred forms have a double pink tint of flowers, but usually Kupena multiflorum has the usual white blooms. All these varieties grow well in even the most unfavorable conditions and do not require special plant care.
Kupena is one of the most unpretentious plants. You can use absolutely any soil for growing. They are not affected by flower diseases, are not afraid of strong moisture and can easily tolerate shaded areas. Kupenas reproduce by dividing their rhizomes and can grow in one place constantly. Growing multi-flowered rosemary does not cause any trouble.
In Latin, the name of this plant sounds like Polygonatum, which means “perennial”. Where the stems of the plant die each fall, a small mark remains, which is called the knee. Using these marks you can easily determine the age of the plant.
It is best to use this plant as a vertical accent among low-growing plants in landscape design. 
Features of growing and caring for purchased
Kupena feels best in partial shade. If you decide to plant this plant in an open sunny area, then it will look a little depressed. Kupena is not picky about soil and grows quickly. To stop the rapid growth of the kupena, it is necessary to completely dig up its rhizome once every 4 years, divide it and plant the plant in its original place in the garden.
Of the pests, only slugs and caterpillars can prevent the kupene from fully developing, especially if the flowers are located under the apple tree. So you should carefully choose a place to plant the kupena. The most interesting thing is that the kupena does not require special care. Watering in dry weather and a pre-prepared place with well-fertilized soil for planting will be sufficient for this plant. You only need to fertilize the flower once every few years. Numerous wide and tall leaves make it difficult for weeds to spread around the plant, so you don't even need to remove them.
How does kupena reproduce?
Kupena usually reproduces by seeds, which very rarely set, due to the fact that its pollination can only occur with the help of long-proboscis bumblebees. The only exception is broadleaf kupena; it produces new fruits in large quantities almost every year.
This plant can also reproduce vegetatively using segments of rhizomes, which are very easy to divide. It is advisable to divide this plant in this way at the end of August, when renewal buds form. You can also do this in the spring. 
It is advisable to carry out seed propagation before the start of winter. All species of this plant have underground germination, so the location should be marked before planting. You will only be able to see the first sprouts of kupena next year, since seed germination occurs very slowly. Kupena can grow in one place for about 15 years.
Purchased in the photo:
Fragrant kupena often called the lily of the valley's friend - both the veined leaves and bell-shaped flowers of the plant are very similar to each other at first glance. Both are from the lily family and are found throughout Europe and Asia in bright or semi-shaded corners of coniferous or mixed forest quite often in the neighborhood. But that's where the similarity ends.
Description of the plant
Kupena owes its scientific name Polygonatum, translated from Greek as “knobby” or “many-knobbed”, to the structure of the rhizome. Dead stems from the previous year of development leave a round depression on it, reminiscent of a seal. The plant is often named after the signet ring of King Solomon, a symbol of wisdom in the East - the Solomon seal. Kupena also has other popular names: Ukrainian - bells, soap, kupina, wolf rib, hellebore, dureika, Russian - kupena pharmaceutical or medicinal, foam-lupena.
The knotty rhizome, located horizontally in the soil, sends out several shoots every spring from 15 to 45 cm in height.
The stem is faceted, glabrous, curved like a rocker, on which are alternately placed elongated-elliptical, entire-edged, pointed or obtuse, leaves facing one direction, up to 8.5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, stem-enveloping, sessile or on very short petioles, veined , bluish-green below.
Drooping white flowers huddle 1-2 in the leaf axils on bare peduncles, regular, fused-petaled, with a simple wreath-shaped bloom 5-10 mm long, white, tubular with six teeth, edged with a green border.
The fruit is a bluish-black small-seeded berry 5-7 mm in diameter.
Medicinal use
The plant contains alkaloids characteristic of lily of the valley, glycosides convallarotoxin and convallamarin, as well as saponins, mucus, starch, and sugars. The leaves contain ascorbic acid. You should use the kupena with caution; all its parts, especially the fruits, tend to cause vomiting.
IN folk medicine Rhizomes are used for rheumatism, hernia, gout, for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, stomach and duodenal ulcers, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, as an anthelmintic and analgesic for neuralgic pain.
Rhizomes baked in ash were applied to burns and wounds. In veterinary medicine, the larvae of the cutaneous gadfly were removed from the affected area of the body of a domestic animal in the same way, reducing itching and pain. They treated cattle with bought and stomach problems by giving a weak alcoholic tincture of the herb or powder from dry rhizomes.
In modern medicine, extracts from the fruits of kupena are used to alleviate diseases of the cardiovascular system.
In Tibetan medicine, the rhizome of the plant is called “life prolonging”, and it is also used to treat diseases of the lymphatic system.
In home cosmetics, dry rhizomes of kupena, previously soaked in water, remove freckles and whiten age spots, and are also applied to bruises and pustular skin lesions.
Practical use
Young have long been eaten instead of boiled asparagus; there is also information about adding rhizomes boiled in salt water to the diet.
Kupena is a mediocre honey plant; thanks to its early flowering in May, bees collect its nectar for the development of families in the spring.
High-quality glue for paper was prepared from the dry rhizomes of kupena, which contain a large percentage of mucilage, although it is suitable for use only in freshly prepared form.
Young rhizomes and lower parts of stems were sprinkled with sugar and placed in the house as a poisonous bait for flies.
Kupena fragrant is a beautiful ornamental plant and is often cultivated in flower beds, in shaded places, and is easily propagated by rhizomes. Quite impressive in bouquets, because of this it needs protection - in the spring, during flowering, the kupena is plucked en masse.
Interesting facts about the plant
- The number of characteristic “seals” on the knotty rhizome of aromatic roses corresponds to the age of the plant.
- A relative, Kupena multiflora, a resident of humid forests, has completely odorless flowers located 2-5 next to each other on a round stem.
- In ancient times, it was believed that the purchase had a magical effect - it protected a person from damage.
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