BIOECOLOGICAL FEATURES OF GROWING THE SPECIES AND CULTIVARS OF THE GENUS HYDRANGEA L. IN VINNYTSIA AREA CONDITIONS

Abstract

We found that in the botanical garden of VNAU two species and four cultivars of the genus Hydrangea L. are growing, in the City Central park – two species and three cultivars, in the Druzhby Narodiv park – three species and one cultivar, in the biostationary of VNAU – two species and one cultivar. Thus, it can be stated that in the studied Vinnytsia area grow four species and four cultivars of the genus Hydrangea L. Studies have shown that duration of flowering depends primarily on the biological characteristics of the species and cultivars of the genus, plant age, air temperature, and ranges from 27 days in H. serrata «Imperatrise Eugenie» to 145 days in H. macrophylla «Normalis». Observations during 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 revealed damage of shoots of H. aspera «Macrophylla», H. macrophylla, H. macrophylla «Alba», H. macrophylla «Normalis», H. serrata «Bluebird» and H. serrata «Imperatrise» Eugenie. In hydrangeas H. macrophylla and H. macrophylla «Normalis» in 2018-2019 the damage for the entire length of annual shoots was recorded. Signs of subfreezing of annual shoots of the crown in adult shrubs of other species and cultivars of the genus in winter period were not found. The result of visual observations showed high drought resistance of hydrangeas in conditions of Vinnytsia. It should be noted that short periods of drought are tolerated by the plants without noticeable morphological damage or with wilting of leaves during daytime. In conditions of dry season extension, the hydrangeas under study behave differently. Thus, in 2020, due to a longtime summer drought, H. bretsсhneideri shrubs dropped some of their leaves in late August. However, most species and cultivars of the genus were quite resistant to drought. Based on the obtained results, such hydrangeas as H. arborescens, H. arborescens «Grandiflora», H. arborescens «Sterilis», H. aspera «Macrophylla», H. bretschneideri, H. paniculata, H. paniculata «Grandiflora», H. paniculata «Limelight», H. petiolaris, H. serrata «Bluebird» and H. serrata «Imperatrise Eugenie», can be recommended for widespread use in ornamental plantations of the city. The rest of the plants are sensitive to fluctuations in winter air temperature.