Ecological characteristics of ornamental plants and their use in landscape architecture

Abstract

The paper deals with abiotic environmental factors affecting the decorative effect created by plants belonging to various biomorphs in the conditions of the continental climate. The authors have identified some problems of Siberian landscaping. They are 1) insufficient knowledge by landscape architects of the ecological and biological features of trees and shrubs and their belonging to certain zones of frost resistance; 2) the use of ornamental plants with a short period of ontogenesis in landscape compositions; 3) insufficient involvement of late summer and autumn flowering perennial plants in landscaping. It is shown that the degree of winter damage of the aboveground shoot system of trees and shrubs is influenced not only by the absolute values of minimum temperatures, but also by the duration of their exposure. Methods of rejuvenation of ornamental plants from the family Ranunculaceae used in landscape architecture are proposed. As a result of long-term studies of the Chrysanthemum L. generic complex, including species, forms and varieties, conducted in the CSBG, a garden group of Korean chrysanthemums has been identified. Its representatives, characterized by average flowering periods and blooming at a day longitude of 13-14 hours, can significantly fill the period including September and even the first half of October with their ornamental effect. The characteristics of resistance and ornamental qualities of some species and varieties of plants included in the biological resource collection USU 44053 are given.