Anise lofant: useful properties, planting and care in the open field with a photo

The anise lofant species was bred by breeders. It cannot be found in the natural environment. All folk healers know about its beneficial properties. The leaves and shoots of the shrub are widely used for culinary and he alth purposes. Many gardeners grow it in their own garden. The plant is unpretentious in care, takes root well and gives lush inflorescences.

General description of the plant

Perennial plant in the form of a shrub. Anise lofant reaches a height of 1-1.5 meters. The stems are tetrahedral, the leaves are elongated, lanceolate, with notches along the edges. On one bush grows 4-6 shoots. Flowering begins in June, bud development in May.

Anise dark purple lofant flowers, spike-shaped. One inflorescence is 14-16 cm long. Small flowers are collected in it. After flowering, it forms dark brown fruits with seeds inside. In one place, the anise lofant has been growing for 6 years without loss of flowering quality. The number of shoots doubles every year. The plant has a bright anise scent.

Chemical composition of anise lofant

The composition of anise lofant includes the following trace elements and substances:

• calcium;
• iron;
• boron;
• potassium;
• iodine;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• tannins;
• vitamins C and PP;
• essential oils;
• gallic acid;
• caffeic acid;
• chlorogenic acid;
• flavonoids;
• choline;
• alkaloids;
• antibiotics.

Healing properties of the plant

Lofant grass has medicinal properties. It is actively used in traditional medicine and industry. Its oils and decoctions are used in cosmetics, medicines and seasonings. Lofant has the following useful properties:

• strengthens the body's immune system;
• improves metabolic processes;
• reduces high blood pressure;
• strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
• improves skin condition;
• normalizes the liver, stimulates the outflow of bile;
• reduces blood cholesterol levels;
• improves male potency;
• has a regenerating effect, helps heal wounds;
• has a decongestant property, removes excess fluid from the body;
• cleanses the body of toxins;
• prevents the development of malignant and benign tumors;
• promotes sputum discharge during prolonged dry cough;
• eliminates the development of blackheads and acne;
• helps fight symptoms of allergic reactions;
• calms the nervous system, relieves stress and depression;
• helps fight intoxication.

Ways to apply culture

The upper part of the plant is used in the form of decoctions, infusions, alcohol tinctures, spices, baths and face masks. Lofant essential oil is widely used in industry. It is added to cosmetics, sold in its pure form. The main use of the shrub is in folk medicine.

Decoctions

To prepare a decoction of lofant, take 100 grams of dried grass and pour boiling water over it. Cover with a lid for 30 minutes. The resulting liquid is filtered and taken orally 2-3 glasses a day.

Infusions

Infusion from the plant is prepared according to the following recipe. 300 grams of fresh or dry herbs are placed in a thermos. Pour in 1 liter of boiling water. Screw on the lid tightly and leave overnight. The next morning, the resulting liquid is filtered, poured into a bowl and stored in the refrigerator. Take an infusion of 3 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day.

Alcohol tincture

Alcohol infusion is prepared from a concentrated decoction of lofant. One hundred grams of grass is poured into 200 ml of water. They insist for several hours. The infusion is poured with vodka and infused for 30-40 days in a dark place. Take 2 tbsp. l. per day.

Baths

Before taking a bath, prepare 2-3 liters of a decoction of the leaves and flowers of the shrub. 300 grams of herbs are poured with boiling water, insisted for 30 minutes and poured into the bath. The procedure lasts 20-30 minutes. Such baths have a calming effect on the nervous system and promote sound sleep.

Important! Lofant baths can be taken by a newborn with restless sleep, but strictly according to the indications of a pediatrician.

Face masks

In cosmetics stores you can buy a ready-made face mask containing Lofant essential oils. They can also be prepared at home. Fresh grass is crushed, 1 tsp is added. honey, 3 tbsp. l. fresh milk. The mixture is well mixed and applied to the face. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and wash off. Such masks strengthen skin tone and prevent its aging.

Cooking

In cooking, crushed dried plants are used in combination with other herbs or as an independent component.It is added to meat and fish dishes. Fruit and vegetable salads are seasoned with lofant. For decoration, fresh leaves of the plant are used in confectionery dishes. Jam is made from lofant and used in winemaking.

Contraindications and possible harm

Excessive and frequent use of lofant can cause he alth problems:

• low blood pressure;
• leaching of beneficial trace elements from the body;
• sleep disorder;
• metabolic problems.

Also, taking lofant as a remedy has its own contraindications:

• allergic reaction to plant;
• intolerance of its components;
• epilepsy;
• thrombophlebitis;
• chronic hypotension;
• oncological diseases;
• pregnancy;
• breastfeeding period;
• newborns;
• constant muscle cramps.

Features of cultivation

For the successful cultivation of anise lofant, it is necessary to observe the terms of planting seeds, choose the right place, plant the seeds correctly.

Date of planting

In March, seedling preparation begins. Seeds are sown in pots. After 2 months, the germinated plants are transferred to open ground. In May, the active growth of shoots and the beginning of budding begins. In early June, the shrub blooms.

Also, seeds are sown immediately in open ground in mid-March, after the snow has melted. After 2-2.5 months, sprouts begin to erupt.

Important! When sowing by seedling method, flowering begins earlier by 30-40 days.

Site preparation

Choose a place for the lofant that is well lit by sunlight, with dry and fertile soil. The shrub does not tolerate acidic soils, so you must first add dolomite flour. In clayey and often flooded soils, the plant will die.

The site is prepared in the fall, it is dug up, all stones and weeds are removed. Dolomite flour, humus or mineral fertilizers are introduced.

Lofant can not be planted in the ground after growing the following crops:

• cucumber;
• turnip;
• beets;
• turnip.

Sowing seeds into the ground

Sowing shrub seeds into the ground is carried out according to the algorithm:

• On the site prepared in advance, grooves are made with a depth of 0.5-1 cm.
• The distance between the rows is 50 cm.
• Pour warm water into the recesses.
• The seeds are laid out in the grooves.
• The seeds are covered with soil.

After the appearance of the first sprouts, they are thinned out, leaving a distance of 25-30 cm between plants. Thinning is carried out after the presence of 2-3 leaves.

Seedling period

For seedlings choose a plastic pot with a drainage hole and a tray. Landing is carried out according to the algorithm:

• The pot is filled with soil.
• A 0.5 cm deepening is made in the soil.
• Pour warm water into it.
• Place the seeds in the hole.
• Buried with soil.
• Cover with transparent film.
• Place in a warm place.

Irrigate and ventilate daily. Mineral fertilizers are applied every 2 weeks. After the appearance of 5-6 pairs of leaves, young shrubs are transferred to the ground. They are planted at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other, and a gap of 50-60 cm is left between the rows.

Care Tips

In order for the shrub to please with abundant flowering, it is necessary to provide it with proper care. To do this, follow several rules:

• Each bush is watered with warm water once a week. Water should be prepared in advance, warm.
• After pruning the shoots, anise lofant is fed with mullein infusion.
• Carry out regular weeding in the presence of weeds.
• Dividing the bush for propagation is carried out in spring or autumn.
• The more flower stalks are cut, the more often new ones form.
• The plant is drought-resistant and does not tolerate excess moisture.
• Drainage is recommended when planting seeds.
• The lofant is covered for the winter, as it does not have winter-hardy properties.
• Processing for diseases and pests is carried out if necessary.

Protection from diseases and pests

Anise lofant has strong immunity. Under all conditions of cultivation, he does not get sick. However, when high humidity appears at the roots, the immunity of the shrub decreases and infection with infectious diseases occurs. It is affected by fungal infections:

• powdery mildew;
• fusarium;
• rhizoctoniosis;
• rust.

To fight infections, they are treated with fungicides and copper sulfate. Harmful insects rarely attack the bush. It has a specific smell that attracts bees and repels pests.In rare cases, black aphids and thrips attack. To combat them, they are treated with insecticides.

Preparing for winter

Lofant does not tolerate frost well. In warm regions, shrub shoots are cut off, leaving 10-12 cm above the soil. Cover the root area with dry leaves, moss or a special cloth. In the northern regions, it is recommended to transfer the shrub to a greenhouse or transplant it into a pot for wintering.

You can also grow lofant as an annual plant. At the end of the season, the bushes are uprooted and then destroyed. And for the next season, new seedlings are being prepared.

Harvest and storage of crops

To use the leaves in cooking, they are cut from the bush at any time. When grown in order to obtain medicinal raw materials, the shoots are cut before flowering. Cut no longer than half, so that the shrub can quickly recover.During this period, the leaves and shoots of the plant contain the greatest amount of useful substances.

Cut leaves and shoots are transferred to a cool room with good ventilation. Lay out the material in a thin layer and wait for drying. Every day they check the condition of the raw materials, remove damaged or rotten leaves. After drying, the grass is collected in glass or ceramic dishes. You can store the lofant for 1.5 years, then the grass loses its beneficial properties.

Best varieties

Anise lofant has many varieties. Many of them are very popular with gardeners. The most popular varieties are:

• Summer resident;
• Honey B Blue;
• Blue Spike;
• Frant;
• Premier;
• Snowball;
• Healer.

Each variety has its own characteristic smell and flower color. Lofant is planted next to linden and acacia, as the plant is an excellent honey plant.

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