How to grow elecampane. Elecampane: planting and care, types Using elecampane in landscape design

14.07.2022

First: for the unique healing properties of folk medicine appreciated in ancient times. Second: later this plant was used in the food and alcoholic beverage industries as a natural flavoring and dye. Third: with active development, elecampane was also looked at from the other side - as a spectacular perennial plant that can create a unique accent in the garden and require almost no care in return.

This solar flower, also called Elena's tears, yellow and oman, belongs to the Asteraceae family (Asteraceae) and a separate genus of elecampane. The genus consists of more than 100 species growing in the wild, and 30 of them are found in our country - in meadows, forest edges and near water bodies.

plant description

The typical and most common type is high elecampane ( Inula helenium), whose name speaks for itself: the powerful erect stems of this culture sometimes reach a height of 2.5 m. The basal oblong leaves are very large and grow up to 50 cm in length and 20 cm in width. Stem leaf plates are smaller and are arranged on the shoots in the next order. The entire ground part of the plant has a characteristic feature: both the stem and the leaves are covered with hard pubescence, which is well felt to the touch.

Such a Spartan appearance gives elecampane an advantage over other "gentle" cultures: it is almost never affected and endures weather disasters. And with the advent of delightful sunny inflorescences on the bush, reaching a diameter of 6-8 cm and resembling miniature yellow sunflowers, elecampane immediately changes and throws off its strict image.

Elecampane is high. Photo from matka03.ru

The flowering of this culture begins in July and lasts about a month: the flower baskets located on the tops of the main stems bloom first, and then the inflorescences formed on the lateral shoots pick up the baton. In contrast, they are completely painted in a bright golden color, have the same convex center, made up of many small tubular flowers, but differ in long thread-like petals, which gives elecampane a special charm.

Due to its tall elecampane, it will look spectacular in the background of the flower garden and emphasize the overall picture of the landscape with its beauty. It is excellent for solitary planting, creating a vertical accent in the garden and becoming the center of attention during its flowering period.

In addition, gardeners who decide to acquire such a bright perennial will not only be able to decorate their backyard, but also get additional benefits from the plant. 2-3 years after planting, you can begin to harvest valuable medicinal raw materials - fleshy, odorous elecampane rhizomes, which will be indispensable for the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of ailments. The decoction is used for inflammatory diseases of the intestines and stomach, in case of problems with the liver and kidneys, and also as an anthelmintic and diuretic.

And for those who grow vegetable and fruit crops in addition to ornamental plants, it is worth considering elecampane as an excellent honey plant. Its inflorescences attract a huge number of butterflies, bees and bumblebees and always turn out to be their favorites: in the general flower garden, insects sit on the “yellow” baskets.

Elecampane is a wonderful honey plant. A photo

Elecampane is an unpretentious plant and, once planted on the site, will continue to develop without any participation from the gardener. However, if you want to get lush bushes with numerous large inflorescences, this culture is still worth paying a little attention to.

Landing

Elecampane will thrive in damp places. He will like the scattered shade of trees or a place next to a fence or building that will protect him from drafts and shade him part of the day.

This plant prefers drained and highly fertile soil, therefore, when preparing a bed for it, you should take care of sufficient dressing or. On heavy soils, it is worth adding sand, rotted sawdust or other loosening materials for digging, and on acidic soils, add slaked lime, chalk or wood. When planting in the autumn, phosphorus-potassium preparations are added to the soil, and if they are planted in the spring, they are replaced with a complex fertilizer containing nitrogen in addition to phosphorus and potassium.

Elecampane is remarkably resistant to diseases and pests, so it will not require you to take any additional measures to protect it. The maximum that will still need to be done is to periodically loosen the soil under the plants and remove weeds, which often die under the pressure of powerful roots and large leaves of this crop.

To maintain decorativeness during the flowering period, it is necessary to periodically cut off drying inflorescences. They acquire a brown tint and do not look very attractive, besides, they give numerous seeds, which, when they hit the ground, greatly clog the bed with unnecessary seedlings.

If there is a need for reproduction, you can leave one of the largest inflorescences on the bush and collect seed from it in late September or early October. One such basket on an adult 3-4-year-old plant produces several hundred seeds.

With the onset of steady cooling, the ground part of this culture begins to die off, therefore, on the eve of winter, all the leaves and stems of the plant are cut off - next spring it will grow new shoots. Winter-hardy elecampane does not require any shelter for the winter, but in order to increase fertility in the fall, it makes sense to mulch the soil under it with humus or compost.

Kinds

In the temperate zone of Eurasia and in the expanses of Africa, a variety of types of elecampane grow. However, as cultivated plants, the above-described elecampane is mainly grown, which differs from its relatives in especially powerful shoots, as well as magnificent elecampane ( Inula magnifica) and elecampane swordtail ( Inula ensifolia).

The magnificent elecampane also reaches an impressive size - up to 2 m. But in comparison with the high d., this perennial forms large basal leaves of an oblong-elliptical shape, tapering to the base and attached to the stem with the help of long petioles. Elecampane magnificent also has bright yellow inflorescences single or collected in small corymbs, but they are located on longer peduncles and can reach a diameter of 14-15 cm. This species blooms from July to August.

But elecampane sword-leaved will help to create completely different compositions in the flower garden, since it differs in the compact shape of the bush and does not grow above 30-40 cm. The bush of this perennial plant consists of numerous herbaceous stems covered with sessile lanceolate leaves 4-6 cm long.

In the middle of summer, the plant forms single inflorescences with a diameter of 3-4 cm, located at the top of each shoot, which makes flowering more abundant. In addition, the flowering period of elecampane is longer - from the beginning of July to the end of August.

Elecampane mechelistny. Photo from koffkindom.ru

Unpretentious elecampane with its catchy golden flowers certainly deserves your attention. Unlike most other flower crops, it does not require special care and will develop perfectly in one place without transplanting and dividing for up to 10 years.

Elecampane is famous for its medicinal rhizome, which has antimicrobial, choleretic, bactericidal and a number of other actions. And in the flowerbed - these are beautiful, unpretentious yellow flowers. How to grow and use this plant, we will tell in this article.

Growing and caring for elecampane

This perennial plant can reach a height of up to two meters, so it is called elecampane high. The yellow flowers look like large daisies. Blooms from June to October. It is not whimsical to growing conditions. Prefers moderate moisture, sunny places, neutral, fertile soils. Stagnation of moisture and clayey, heavy soils does not tolerate. Elecampane care involves watering, weeding, and applying organic fertilizers before flowering. In autumn, you need to cut off all the stems, leaving 15-20 cm from the soil level.

Reproduction of elecampane

For propagation, either rhizomes or seeds are used. If you use rhizomes, then you need to dig out a plant that is at least 3 years old and carefully divide the underground part. These manipulations should be done in the spring, before the start of the growing season, or in the autumn. To plant an elecampane rhizome, you need to dig a hole that will be half the size of the root itself, both in depth and in width. Fill halfway with a fertile mixture of compost or humus. Place the spine and sprinkle with earth, lightly tamping.

Elecampane also reproduces well by seeds, which can spread over the site and by self-sowing. Seeds can be sown both in autumn, after their ripening, and in spring. To do this, prepare shallow holes in which to sow the seeds. Before planting, it is recommended to dig the earth, level it and fertilize it with phosphate and potash fertilizers. Important point: the germination of seeds that are planted in the autumn is much greater than in the spring. Therefore, it is better to sow seeds in the fall or use seed stratification for spring sowing.

Procurement of medicinal raw materials

For medicinal purposes, the root of elecampane is used. For harvesting, it is recommended to dig up plants that are at least two years old. In autumn, cut off the ground part of the plant, dig up the rhizomes, rinse and cut into pieces, no more than 20 cm thick. Dry in a well-ventilated area. Dryers can be used, but the temperature should not exceed 40℃. For storage, you can grind dry rhizomes. Store in a dark, dry place, in cloth bags.

Medicinal properties and use of elecampane

Elecampane is used as a remedy:

anti-inflammatory;
anthelmintic;
antifungal;
antimicrobial;
expectorant;
disinfectant.

From ancient times to the present day, in folk medicine, they are treated for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: to restore acidity in the stomach, relieve inflammation and spasms, normalize motility and secretory function. As an expectorant, elecampane is used for respiratory diseases. Non-healing purulent wounds are also treated with this remedy. And they also use elecampane for:

jaundice;
hemorrhoids;
gastritis;
diabetes mellitus;
eczema;
dermatitis;
furunculosis;
venereal diseases;
arthritis;
lack of menstruation (or scanty, irregular).

In cosmetology, decoctions are used for facial skin, which have a rejuvenating, anti-inflammatory effect. And also, hair is rinsed with a decoction of elecampane, to strengthen and with dandruff.

For treatment, alcohol tinctures of the rhizome, ointments based on it, decoctions, infusions and teas are used.

For decorative purposes, elecampane is planted in plots as hedges or to create tall compositions or medicinal beds. Yellow bright flowers always attract attention.

By planting elecampane at their summer cottage, you can not only decorate the territory, but also stock up on medicinal raw materials for many diseases. The information in this article will help you avoid annoying troubles when growing this plant.

plant type: perennial or annual.

Description: how the name of the plant came about is unknown, but since ancient times, elecampane has been used as a medicinal plant. Belongs to the aster family. In total, about 200 species have been studied in science that grow in Africa, Europe, and Asia. By type, often perennial, rhizomatous, less often - biennial and annual plants, sometimes semi-shrubs. Stems are slightly branched, smooth or pubescent, straight. The shape of the leaves is large, entire-marginal or unevenly serrated, lanceolate or oblong. Inflorescences are baskets, located singly at the ends of the stems or collected in paniculate or corymbose inflorescences. Leaves are lanceolate, green. Marginal flowers are yellow or greenish-yellow. In shape - reed, rarely filiform, twice as long as the leaves of the wrapper, and the middle ones are tubular. Achenes are ribbed, cylindrical, hairy or glabrous.

Properties: inuls (elecampane) have been grown in culture for a long time, many of them are of medical value, for example, high elecampane. Recently, these plants have often been grown in flower beds in America, Asia, and Europe. New varieties are not yet known. Of particular interest are the species described below.

Elecampane grandiflora (Inula grandiflora)

This type of elecampane has straight stems and large heart-shaped leaves. The leaves located at the roots are broadly lanceolate and elongated. During the flowering period, the height of the plant reaches 150-160 cm. The diameter of the flower baskets is 4-6 cm, they are collected at the end of the stems in paniculate long inflorescences, the shade is orange-yellow. Flowering time - July. The fruit is a seed. Seeds are large, without voles.

In the wild, it is found only in the subalpine belt of the Caucasus. This is a powerful, majestic, spreading plant, having a height of up to 2 m, with a furrowed thick stem. The type is perennial. The lower and basal stem leaves are quite large, elliptical-oblong, up to 50 cm long and 25 cm wide. At the base they are narrower and form a petiole 30-60 cm long. The upper foliage is sessile and noticeably smaller than the lower one. Flower baskets are up to 15 cm in diameter, on long peduncles up to 25 cm, 2-4 in rare corymbs or single. Yellow color. Blooms profusely in July-August. Seeds begin to ripen in August-September. After the plant fades, it loses its decorative effect due to the yellowing of the foliage, so it is better to cut it.

It mainly grows in light pine and deciduous forests, on steppe and meadow slopes, along river banks in the Caucasus, Europe, and Siberia.

The type of plant is perennial. A distinctive feature is the formation of a cylindrical bush with a height of up to 2.5 m. The powerful rhizome has a pronounced smell. The lower stem and basal leaves are oblong-elliptical, large. The width is about 15-20 cm, and the length is 40-50 cm. Starting from the middle of the stem, the foliage is sessile. The bases are heart-shaped, stalk-bearing. Baskets are up to 8 cm in diameter and golden yellow. They are located on short thick peduncles in the axils of bracts, sometimes collected in brushes. The flowering period is July-August. Flowering time - 30-35 days. Seeds ripen from August to September.

Lighting: all types of inul prefer well-lit, sunny places.

Soil type: nutritious soil is needed, which should be deeply cultivated and moistened before planting. The only exception is the sword-leaved species, which is planted on well-drained, dry, alkaline soils, and acidic soils must be limed before planting.

Care: elecampane grows very slowly, so it does not require frequent transplants and divisions. Elecampane are plants that respond well to various organic fertilizers, especially manure. To retain moisture in the soil, plantings should be mulched. Wood chips are preferred, but grass clippings and shavings can also be used. Elecampane of the magnificent must be tied up, as its heavy shoots, strewn with flowers, begin to bend down to the ground. When the shrub fades, the shoots should be cut off, as they spoil the appearance of the plant due to rapid drying. They are characterized by increased winter hardiness and drought resistance.

Reproduction: carried out by planting seeds or dividing the bush. Sowing seeds is done in autumn or spring. Transplantation and division of elecampane should be carried out during the period of foliage growth, in the spring. The part of the rhizome with a renewal bud is a delenka. Planting is possible in August, after flowering. In this case, in large species, it is necessary to cut the stems and basal leaves at a height of 10-15 cm from the soil. It is recommended to wash the rhizome before dividing.

Application: elecampane, the properties of which are described above, looks great in group or single plantings, on the banks of a pond or on a lawn. Elecampane magnificent is able to form a sprawling tall bush, which is completely covered with yellow daisies. It will go well with ground-blooded flowers. If used in group plantings, the flower will serve as an excellent background for lower plants, such as hostas, hellebore, kupena, forest geraniums, astilbes. Elecampane is distinguished by its ease of cultivation and longevity.

Tall species of elecampane look good on the banks of large reservoirs, in mixed plantings near buzulnik, Volzhanka, cornflower, large-sized ornamental grasses, as well as against the background of shrubs. Lower species look great near small streams, next to Tradescantia virginiana, daylilies, cuff.

www.flowerbank.ru

Elecampane - and the garden will decorate and give health

Each gardener in his dacha must have a corner of medicinal herbs, the plants of which are used in the treatment of folk recipes. One of these medicinal plants can be high elecampane (common elecampane, Inula helenium) or, as it is also called by the people - yellow color, meadow aman, Elena's tears, Elena's heart, oman, divosil, elecampane, etc.

One- and perennial elecampane plants are included in the Asteraceae family and constitute a separate genus "elecampane". There are more than 100 species of elecampane in the genus, of which about 30 grow in natural conditions in Russia. The typical species in the Russian Federation is tall elecampane, which has a number of medicinal properties used for treatment in folk and official medicine, as well as nutritional advantages.

Elecampane (Inula helenium). © Schloss Wildegg

Botanical description of elecampane

By decorative features, elecampane can be attributed to the group of decorative-deciduous and decorative-flowering plants. Tall, up to 1-2 m tall, with a straight furrowed stem, covered with short hard hairs, large up to 50 cm long-leaved basal leaves, rough to the touch due to hard pubescence. Stem leaves are smaller, alternately arranged, from the axils of which large baskets of single inflorescences bloom on long peduncles. Individual flowers are small yellow or golden-orange, yellow-orange, collected in inflorescences-baskets. In some species, the inflorescences are combined into corymbose panicles or brushes and are located at the ends of the stems.

Flowering is long, from July to September. The flowers resemble small asters and on cloudy days they flicker with elegant bright suns. Medicinal is the rhizome of a dark brown color. Adventitious roots depart from the rhizome and from vegetative buds - stems that form the above-ground mass. The rhizome of elecampane has a wrinkled surface, yellow-brown flesh on the cut, interspersed with miniature receptacle cells for essential oils. A peculiar aroma and bitter-spicy taste distinguish it from other roots when dug.

Elecampane in garden design

Since these are perennial plants, the location in the garden landscape is chosen in advance. It looks great in solitary plantings on mowed lawns, flower beds. It is used to decorate parks, forest parks, especially wet places near ponds, small lakes. Planted along the roads.

For decorative purposes, you can use other types of elecampane: huge or large elecampane, British elecampane, oriental elecampane, magnificent elecampane.

Elecampane magnificent (Inula mafnifica) in garden design. © Andrew Loudon

The use of elecampane in the food industry

There is a lot of special literature about the medicinal properties of elecampane. But it is also widely used in the food industry.

In the alcoholic beverage industry, it is used to flavor drinks. In wine - for coloring white wines.

In cooking, raw materials are used for the manufacture of confectionery, pastries, as well as fortified soft drinks.

The essential oil of the roots and rhizomes is used to flavor fish dishes, food concentrates.

The oil has strong fungicidal and bactericidal properties.

Read about the medicinal properties of elecampane in the material: "Elecampane, or Yellow color - description and medicinal properties"

Growing elecampane

Location selection

Under natural conditions, elecampane prefers moist shady places along the banks of ponds, forest lakes, and moist broad-leaved forests. Therefore, when breeding at home under elecampane, regardless of the type of soil (except saline and acidic), choose areas protected from direct sunlight (“partial shade of the forest edge”). In central Russia, under elecampane, it is better to allocate draft-protected, well-lit places.

Soil preparation

To form a lush ornamental bush with abundant flowering, elecampane needs loose, breathable soil with a high nutrient content. Therefore, on heavy floating soils, a large amount of humus or other loosening materials is introduced in autumn.

The soil is usually prepared in autumn. Under digging, humus, compost or other organic fertilizers are introduced. If the soils are fertile enough, you can limit yourself to applying urea, a phosphorus-potassium mixture in the fall (40-50 g / m?), And in the spring, apply ammonia or other nitrogen-containing fertilizers for planting.

Feeding is needed during the first year. It is better to carry them out with nitrophoska in the phase of formation of basal leaves, as well as after 3-4 weeks with the growth of above-ground shoots. In autumn, before they retire, feed the plants with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

When growing ornamental plants in subsequent years, you can not fertilize them, but watering is needed. If the culture is used to collect medicinal raw materials (digging up rhizomes), then top dressing is carried out annually.

Elecampane (Inula helenium). © Mike Serigrapher

Planting elecampane

Planting rhizomes

Planting rhizomes is best done in the spring, during the period of leaf blooming on fruit crops. The plant during the warm summer season will take root and form an above-ground mass. In the south, delenki can be planted in August at the end of the flowering of plants. In the first year, elecampane grows by 20-40 cm, as if gaining strength, and already for 2-3 years forms a powerful above-ground ornamental bush.

Before planting, the rhizomes are pre-cut into divisions so that each part has 1-3 vegetative buds. Holes for planting are prepared according to the size of the delenka at a distance of 30-45-60 cm. The rhizome is deepened into the soil by 5-6 cm. Fertilizer (if necessary) is first added to the hole and the soil is necessarily moistened. The places of cuts on the delenka are treated with finely crushed coal. The rhizome has vegetative buds up. The soil is slightly compacted, water is added and mulched.

Sowing seeds

Elecampane seeds do not require special preparation. In spring or autumn, they are sown in separate holes (more often after digging the rhizome, in the same hole as a protective measure) or in a row to a depth of 1-2 cm, leaving row spacings of 35-45 cm. Before sowing, the soil is moistened. Seedlings appear after 2 weeks. At a height of 5-6 cm, thinning is carried out, which is repeated as the bushes grow. With the growth of the bush, the area is increased to 60x60 cm.

Elecampane Care

Elecampane grows slowly in the first year, forming a rosette of basal leaves. In autumn, the aerial part dies off and from the second year of life begins to build up a powerful aerial part. Elecampane blooms in the second year. Flowering lasts from July to August. Dark brown seed heads ripen in September-October. One basket of a three-year-old plant provides up to 5000 seeds, so 1-2 plants are usually left for the seed fund if the crop is grown for medicinal raw materials.

Care consists in maintaining the decorativeness of a flower bed or solitary planting of elecampane. Timely remove faded baskets, weeds, loosen the soil. Despite the root penetrating deeply into the soil, elecampane responds well to watering and loves a constantly moist substrate. In autumn, after the end of flowering, the dead above-ground mass is removed into compost heaps. Elecampane plants with good care reach 2 meters in height, and abundant flowering bends the stems to the ground. To preserve the decorativeness of the bush, you need to tie it or tie it to a support. Elecampane plants tolerate drought and frost very well, so they do not need shelters. Elecampane is remarkable for its resistance to diseases and pests and does not need protective measures.

Elecampane in the flower garden. © Jess Knowles

Reproduction of elecampane

Plants are propagated by seeds, division of rhizomes and through seedlings. The first 2 methods are the most common. Seedlings are propagated in the northern regions, but this method is used much less frequently. To obtain seedlings, sowing is carried out in February. Care is normal. Seedlings are planted in the designated place in the second half of May.

Preparation of roots and rhizomes

For a home first-aid kit, the harvest of rhizomes with adventitious roots is harvested for 2-4 years. After the seeds ripen, the bush is carefully dug up (preferably with a pitchfork), placing them along the radius parallel to the stems. So there is less chance of damage to the rhizome. Before digging, the stems are cut into a stump of 5-10 cm. Shake off the ground and wash. Cleanly washed rhizomes are divided into pieces of 10-20 cm and dried in the shade for 2-3 days, then dried with good ventilation in dry, warm rooms. It is possible to carry out drying in furnaces at a temperature not higher than +35..40*С. During drying, the raw material is constantly stirred for uniform evaporation of moisture.

Elecampane: growing in the country and medicinal properties

Growing and caring for elecampane

Reproduction of elecampane

Procurement of medicinal raw materials

For medicinal purposes, the root of elecampane is used. For harvesting, it is recommended to dig up plants that are at least two years old. In autumn, cut off the ground part of the plant, dig up the rhizomes, rinse and cut into pieces, no more than 20 cm thick. Dry in a well-ventilated area. Dryers can be used, but the temperature should not exceed 40?. For storage, you can grind dry rhizomes. Store in a dark, dry place, in cloth bags.

Medicinal properties and use of elecampane

Elecampane is used as a remedy:

anti-inflammatory;

anthelmintic;

antifungal;

antimicrobial;

expectorant;

disinfectant.

jaundice;
hemorrhoids;
gastritis;
diabetes mellitus;
eczema;
dermatitis;
furunculosis;
venereal diseases;
arthritis;
lack of menstruation (or scanty, irregular).

In cosmetology, decoctions are used for facial skin, which have a rejuvenating, anti-inflammatory effect. And also, hair is rinsed with a decoction of elecampane, to strengthen and with dandruff.

For treatment, alcohol tinctures of the rhizome, ointments based on it, decoctions, infusions and teas are used.

For decorative purposes, elecampane is planted in plots as hedges or to create tall compositions or medicinal beds. Yellow bright flowers always attract attention.

www.dacha-svoimi-rukami.com

Elecampane - a nine-strong hero

Elecampane has many popular names: bear's ear, nine-strength, divosil, wild sunflower... He was credited with magical powers from nine serious ailments. This plant is surrounded by many secrets and legends. Even Avicenna in the "Canon of Medicine" recommended the use of elecampane for inflammation of the sciatic nerve and pain in the joints in the form of dressings from roots and leaves.

Elecampane - winter-hardy tall perennial with erect stems. The oblong-oval leaves are close in size to the leaves of burdock, and the golden flower baskets are very similar to miniature sunflower inflorescences.

Elecampane high (Elecampane)

This plant is already mentioned in the writings of the great physician Hippocrates. In the Middle Ages, it was successfully grown in monastic gardens for medicinal purposes. Elecampane was widely used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine.

Inula rhizomes contain essential oil, a large amount of inulin. In folk medicine, they are used to treat diseases of the respiratory tract, tuberculosis, gastrointestinal tract, influenza, rheumatism, and diabetes.

Decoction of roots and rhizomes of elecampane recommended as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent. You can also prepare it at home. To do this, one tablespoon of crushed dry raw materials is placed in an enamel bowl and poured with a glass of boiling water, closed with a lid and heated in a water bath for 30 minutes, stirring often, after which it is cooled and filtered.

Elecampane high

Drink a decoction in a warm form 3 times a day, an hour before meals.

Popular scabies ointment: a tablespoon of crushed elecampane roots is thoroughly stirred with a glass of unsalted butter.

For rubbing with sciatica: 20 g of dry roots insist in 100 g of vodka for 10-12 days.

Here is a recipe for one of the healing drinks called " nine forces": 300 g (or 50 g dry) elecampane roots are crushed and boiled in a liter of water for 20 minutes. (dry - 25 min.). The broth is filtered, 100-150 g of granulated sugar, 0.5 cups of cranberry juice are added, stirred and cooled.

www.botanichka.ru

The perennial elecampane (Inula), also called yellow, is a member of the Asteraceae family, or Asteraceae. This plant can be found in nature in Africa, Asia and Europe, while it prefers to grow in quarries, near water bodies, in meadows and ditches. Also, this culture is called wild sunflower, goldenrod, thistle, bear's ear, nine strength, divosil, forest jaundice, thistle or forest adonis. According to information taken from various sources, this genus includes 100–200 species. Since ancient times, elecampane has been widely used in alternative medicine, and gradually this plant began to be cultivated. Today, among gardeners, one of the species of this genus is beginning to use more and more popularity? elecampane (Inula helenium): This is the most popular species that has medicinal properties.

Features of elecampane

Elecampane is most often a perennial semi-shrub or herbaceous plant, but there are also annuals and biennials in the genus. Thickened roots extend from the shortened rhizome to the sides. Straight, slightly branched shoots can be smooth or pubescent. Large heart-shaped leaf blades can be oblong or lanceolate, as well as entire or unevenly serrated. Baskets-inflorescences are single or are part of paniculate or corymbose inflorescences. Baskets consist of tubular middle and marginal flowers, which can be painted in various shades of yellow. The lanceolate leaves of the wrapper have a green color. The fruit is a cylindrical ribbed achene, which is naked or pubescent.

Growing elecampane from seeds

Before you start planting elecampane, you need to choose the most suitable site for it, while keeping in mind that this heat-loving plant prefers sunny places. The soil should be moist, rich in nutrients and breathable. Suitable for planting sandy or loamy soil. It is best to sow this plant after a clean fallow, in which case you will be provided with a rich harvest.

Preparation of the site for sowing should be done in advance. It is necessary to dig it to the depth of a spade bayonet, while adding compost or humus (5–6 kilograms per 1 square meter), as well as a potassium-phosphorus mixture (from 40 to 50 grams per 1 square meter). After that, the site must be fenced. Immediately before sowing, fertilizers containing nitrogen should be scattered on the surface of the site, after which they must be sealed to a depth of 10 to 15 centimeters. Then the surface of the site should be lightly tamped.

Seeds should be sown before winter or in spring (in the second decade of May). It is not necessary to stratify the seeds, but to facilitate sowing, gardeners advise combining them with sand (1: 1). For one row, the length of which is 100 cm, you will need about 200 pieces of seeds. If the soil is heavy, then the seeds need to be deepened by only 10–20 mm, but if it is light? by 20–30 mm. The width between rows should be 0.6–0.7 m. Seedlings will appear only when the air warms up to 6–8 degrees. The optimum temperature for the growth and development of elecampane is from 20 to 25 degrees. If the weather conditions are favorable, then the seedlings will appear half a month after sowing. A few days before the seedlings appear, the plot should be harrowed across the sowing rows, while removing all large clods of earth, as well as filamentous weed seedlings.

This plant can also be propagated by dividing the rhizome. In the southern regions, this method of elecampane is propagated in the spring, and even in August. At the same time, in colder regions, rhizomes are divided only in spring, during the opening of leaf plates. Remove the rhizome from the soil and divide it into several parts, while each division should have 1 or 2 vegetative buds. When planting delenok between them, a distance of 0.3 to 0.65 m should be observed, while they should be buried in the soil by 50–60 mm, and their buds should also be directed upwards. Before planting, each hole should be shed with tepid water, and then fertilizers are applied to them, which should be combined with the soil. After planting, the surface of the site must be tamped, watered well, and covered with a layer of mulch. In the rooted delenki, sprouts will grow in the first year, while their height by the end of the summer period will reach from 0.2 to 0.4 m.

Caring for elecampane in the garden

After the seedlings of elecampane appear on the site, they will need to be thinned out. The plant must be watered in a timely manner, weeded, and it is also necessary to loosen the surface of the soil near the bushes. In the first season, elecampane is characterized by extremely slow growth, so at the end of the summer period, the height of the bushes will be no more than 0.3–0.4 m. By this time, leaf rosettes and a root system should have formed in the bushes. The first flowering can be seen only next season in July, while its duration? about 4 weeks.

Watering and weeding

This culture is moisture-loving, and especially it needs water during the formation of buds and flowering. The bushes have a penetrating root system that is able to extract moisture from relatively deep layers of soil. In this regard, watering elecampane is needed only during a period of prolonged drought.

Such plants need systematic weeding only in the first year of growth. Already in the next season, the bushes will grow and get stronger so that no weed grass can interfere with them.

When leafy basal rosettes begin to form at the bushes, they will need top dressing with Nitrofoska. Re-feeding is carried out 20-30 days after the first, when the growth of ground shoots begins. In autumn, before the plant sinks into a dormant state, it should be fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer, which is applied to the soil.

Elecampane collection and storage

Rhizomes of elecampane with adventitious roots may be removed already in the second year of growth. After the seeds become fully mature, the bush must be shortened to 50-100 mm, then they take a pitchfork and carefully dig it up. Remove the root from the soil, shake it well and rinse. Then the rhizome should be cut into pieces, the length of which should be equal to 10–20 centimeters. They are laid out in a shaded place, where they will wither for 2 or 3 days. After that, the raw material should be transferred to a room with good ventilation and spread out (the layer thickness should be less than 50 mm). To dry the rhizomes, you will need to maintain a room temperature of 35 to 40 degrees, while the raw materials should be systematically turned and turned over to ensure uniform drying. For storage, elecampane is poured into dishes made of wood or glass, and bags can also be used. It retains its medicinal properties for up to 3 years.

Types and varieties of elecampane

Elecampane Royla (Inula royleana)

The height of this perennial plant is about 0.6 m. The length of the oblong leaf plates is about 0.25 m. The inflorescences reach 40–50 mm in diameter, they include reed and tubular flowers of a rich yellow color. Flowering is observed in July-August. Cultivated since 1897

Elecampane rhizocephala (Inula rhizocephala)

This decorative species is one of the most popular in culture. Long lanceolate leaf plates are part of the basal rosette, in the center of which is a dense compact yellow inflorescence. The surface root system is highly branched.

Oriental Elecampane (Inula orientalis)

This species is native to Asia Minor and the Caucasus. This perennial plant with straight stems reaches a height of about 0.7 m. Leaf plates have an oblong-scapular shape. Inflorescences in diameter reach 9-10 centimeters, they include long and thin dark yellow reed flowers, as well as tubular? yellow color. Cultivated since 1804

Elecampane (Inula ensifolia)

In nature, it is found on the territory of Europe and the Caucasus, while this species prefers to grow on mountain chalk and calcareous slopes, in forests and steppes. The height of a compact bush is 0.15–0.3 m. Thin, very strong shoots branch in the upper part. Sedentary narrow lanceolate leaf plates in length reach about 60 mm. Yellow single baskets have a diameter of 20–40 mm. It has been cultivated since 1793. There is a low-growing variety: the height of the bush is about 0.2 m, it blooms luxuriantly and for a relatively long time.

Elecampane magnificent (Inula magnifica)

This species is not in vain received such a name. This perennial plant is a powerful sprawling and majestic shrub that can reach a height of 200 cm. The stem is furrowed and thick. Large oblong basal, as well as lower stem leaf plates are half a meter long, and their width is 0.25 m. more of them. Inflorescences of yellow color in diameter reach 15 centimeters. On peduncles, reaching a length of 0.25 m, they are arranged one by one or several pieces, forming corymbose inflorescences. Flowering is observed in July-August. A faded bush loses its decorative effect and, as a rule, is cut off.

British elecampane (Inula britannica)

In nature, this species is found in Asia and Europe, while it prefers to grow in ravines, in sedge swamps, birch forests, steppes, along roadsides, in wet saline and forest meadows, as well as in floodplain shrubs. This perennial plant is not very tall, its surface is covered with gray tomentose pubescence. The ribbed erect stem is slightly red below, and in the upper part it is branched or simple. Leaf blades are lanceolate, elliptical or linear-lanceolate (less often ovoid), they are finely dentate or entire, with spines along the edge. The front surface of the leaves is slightly pubescent or bare, but the wrong side? has a dense coating consisting of pressed glandular or woolly hairs. Inflorescences of yellow color in diameter reach 50 mm, they can be part of loose corymbose inflorescences or be single.

Elecampane (Inula helenium)

It occurs naturally in Europe, the Caucasus and Siberia, while this species prefers to grow in meadows, in light deciduous and pine forests, as well as on river banks. This perennial plant is a cylindrical bush, which reaches a height of about 250 cm. The powerful rhizome has a sharp aroma. The length of the lower stem and oblong-elliptical basal leaf blades is about 0.4–0.5 m, and their width? from 0.15 to 0.2 m. Starting from the middle of the shoot, the leaf blades are sessile and have a stem-enclosing base. In diameter, yellow-golden baskets reach 80 mm, they are located in the axils of the bracts on short peduncles and are part of rare racemose inflorescences. Cultivation of this species began in ancient times.

Properties of elecampane: harm and benefit

Medicinal properties of elecampane

The healing properties of elecampane are contained in its root system, which includes substances such as: wax, vitamin E, resins, essential oils, mucus, saponins, inulenin and inulin polysaccharides.

A decoction of the rhizome and roots of this plant is used in the treatment of inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines, for example, with peptic ulcer, gastritis, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, as well as kidney and liver diseases, fever, acute respiratory infections, influenza, bronchitis with thick discharge, tuberculosis, tracheitis and other inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Such a decoction is distinguished by expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, anthelmintic and antiseptic. This remedy has a particularly detrimental effect on ascaris.

This decoction is used for skin diseases, and if combined with lard, you get an excellent remedy for scabies. Fresh leaves are recommended to be applied to ulcers, tumors, scrofulous and erysipelas.

Even in alternative medicine, elecampane is used in the treatment of itchy dermatosis, purulent wounds, cystitis, sexually transmitted diseases, furunculosis, eczema, jaundice and arthritis. In a pharmacy, you can buy the drug Alanton, made on the basis of elecampane roots, it is used in the treatment of non-scarring gastric and duodenal ulcers. The tocopherol (vitamin E) that is part of the rhizome? It is a powerful antioxidant that helps slow down the aging process.

To prepare an infusion of elecampane, you need to combine one small spoonful of dried roots with 250 ml of cold water. Leave the mixture for 8 hours to infuse, after which it is filtered. You need to drink 50 milligrams 4 times a day for a third of an hour before a meal. It is used as an expectorant, and also for hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, and also as a blood purifier for skin diseases.

To prepare the tincture of elecampane, 120 grams of the fresh rhizome of this plant is taken. Should it be mixed with part of a glass of port or Cahors. The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes, then it is filtered. Drink 2 or 3 times a day, 50 milligrams before meals. It is used as a tonic and tonic for stomach ulcers, gastritis, or after a serious illness.

Contraindications

Means made on the basis of elecampane should not be used for serious cardiovascular diseases, pregnancy, hypotension, gastritis with low acidity and kidney pathology. During menstruation, which is accompanied by severe pain, these drugs can increase them. In the treatment of children, elecampane is used with great care.

The perennial elecampane (Inula), also called yellow, is a member of the Asteraceae family, or Asteraceae. This plant can be found in nature in Africa, Asia and Europe, while it prefers to grow in quarries, near water bodies, in meadows and ditches. Also, this culture is called wild sunflower, goldenrod, thistle, bear's ear, nine strength, divosil, forest jaundice, thistle or forest adonis. According to information taken from various sources, this genus includes 100–200 species. Since ancient times, elecampane has been widely used in alternative medicine, and gradually this plant began to be cultivated. To date, one of the species of this genus, Inula helenium, is becoming increasingly popular among gardeners: this is the most popular species that has medicinal properties.

Seeds should be sown before winter or in spring (in the second decade of May). It is not necessary to stratify the seeds, but to facilitate sowing, gardeners advise combining them with sand (1: 1). For one row, the length of which is 100 cm, you will need about 200 pieces of seeds. If the soil is heavy, then the seeds need to be deepened by only 10–20 mm, and if it is light, by 20–30 mm. The width between rows should be 0.6–0.7 m. Seedlings will appear only when the air warms up to 6–8 degrees. The optimum temperature for the growth and development of elecampane is from 20 to 25 degrees. If the weather conditions are favorable, then the seedlings will appear half a month after sowing. A few days before the seedlings appear, the plot should be harrowed across the sowing rows, while removing all large clods of earth, as well as filamentous weed seedlings.

Such plants need systematic weeding only in the first year of growth. Already in the next season, the bushes will grow and get stronger so that no weed grass can interfere with them.

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