Spicy plants in the landscape compositions of the Syrets Arboretum

Purpose. To analyze the taxonomic and varietal diversity of the collection of spicy plants of the Syrets Arboretum, evaluate their decorative qualities and determine the directions of use in landscape design. Methods. The subject of the study is spicy plants grown on the territory of the Syrets Arboretum, which are a part of the collection of open ground plants. The species and varieties of this group of plants were introduced in the arboretum from 1949 to 2021. In the process of research, methods of analysis and synthesis, comparison and generalization of information were used. Results. It has been established that the collection of spicy plants of the Syrets Arboretum includes 69 taxa belonging to 33 gene­ra, 12 families.  There are 52 species and 25 cultivars among them. The largest number of representatives are in the families Lamiaˆceae – 32 taxa, Amaryllidaceae – 11 taxa and Aste­raceae – 9 taxa. The life forms of spicy plants are represented by woody (19 taxa) and herbal plants (50 taxa, of which 10 annual, 2 biennial, and 38 perennial forms). The traditional fields of application of spicy plants are food, medicine (pharmacology) and perfumery. In addition, their decorative varieties and cultivars are used to create landscape compositions. In particular, on the territory of the Syrets Arboretum, spicy plants are the compositional basis of the thematic “garden of spicy aromatic plants”, they are used as elements of classic flower beds and summer compositions, thematic compositions (national and pharmacy gardens, vegetable flower beds), alpine slides and rocky gardens, etc. Conclusions. Many years of experience in landscape design and creation of floral arrangements in the Syrets Arboretum showes that spicy plants are an important element in all types of tested decorative compositions. It is revealed that out of 69 spicy plants that grow on collectible plantings of the Sirets Arboretum, 51 have decorative qualities and are used as decorative-floral and decorative-deciduous species. The taxonomic and varietal variety of spicy plants has considerable potential for breeding work and creation of highly decorative landscape compositions of various purposes. Due to the availability of different life forms and biomorphological features, it is advi­sable to use spicy plants in different types of plantations for decorative gardening and landscape design.