ISHS Acta Horticulturae 769: XXVII International Horticultural Congress - IHC2006: International Symposium on Asian Plants with Unique Horticultural Potential
STUDIES ON RESOURCES OF SPIRAEA IN NORTH CHINA AND APPLICATION IN GARDENS |
| Authors: | Jing Li, Qixiang Zhang |
| Keywords: | Spiraea, resources, garden application |
| Abstract:
Spiraea is a beautiful ornamental plant with colorful flowers and strong ecological adaptability. China is rich in Spiraea species distribution. With more than 70 species, China is one of the polarizing centers of Spiraea in the world. However, there has been little research conducted on the resources of Spiraea in China, limiting the use of Spiraea in gardens. Based on this, studies were recently conducted to investigate the resources of Spiraea in north China. The authors found 22 species and 2 varieties of Spiraea in north China. Some of them can be directly introduced to cultivation in a garden because of their low altitude distribution (e.g., Spiraea pubescens, Spiraea dasyantha, Spiraea trilobata, Spiraea hirsute, Spiraea salicifolia, Spiraea fritschiana var. angulata, and Spiraea chinensis). Spiraea salicifolia and Spiraea chinensis can be used as cut flowers or potted flowers because of their long flowering period and abundant flowers. Spiraea dasyantha and Spiraea chamaedryfolia are fit for bonsai due to their zigzag branchlets. Many Spiraea can be used in rock gardens (e.g., Spiraea fritschiana, Spiraea pubescens, Spiraea trilobata, Spiraea mongolica, and Spiraea hirsute). Some Spiraea, such as Spiraea aquilegifolia and Spiraea hailarensis, can be used to flower-hedges due to their strong sprouting habit. Spiraea can also be used as pioneer species in soil and water conservation and bare-mountain greening because most Spiraea have strong root systems and are tolerant of drought and poor soil. This paper not only describes the resources of Spiraea in China and summarizes their application in gardens, but it also analyzes the existing problems and proposes possible solutions, providing a theoretical basis for choosing and utilizing of Spiraea. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
