A collection of the decorative plants of the Polar Experimental Station Branch VIR
The article presents a taxonomic analysis for the decorative plants collection in the Polar Experimental Station of the VIR branch. The collection fund of floral and ornamental plants of the VIR Polar Experimental Station currently contains 208 species, 90 cultural forms and varieties from 53 families. The collection of annual crops is represented by 21 genera, 22 species, 69 varieties from 14 families. Perennial herbaceous decorative plants on the Polar OS VIR have 101 genera, 140 species from 40 families. The collection of decorative shrubs at the Polar Experimental Station consists of 20 genera, 47 species from 11 families. From the collection of herbaceous floral and decorative crops, the plants from the Asteraceae family are most represented. The Asteraceae occupies a dominant position in the collection of annuals in terms of the number of species and varieties (8 genera, 9 species, 24 varieties). The families Solanaceae and Violaceae each have one species, but the number of cultivars cultivated at the station (9 and 18, respectively) makes it possible to distinguish them from the general composition of the collection of annuals. Among the decorative herbaceous perennials, the largest number of species (≥10) are the families: aster (18 genera, 24 species), buttercup (7 genera, 12 species), carnation (5 genera, 10 species), rosaceae (7 genera, 10 species). The family Rosaceae in the collection of decorative shrub plants is predominant in number and has 10 genera and 29 species. All decorative plants of the VIR Polar Experimental Station nursery of different life forms are introduced. The main work is aimed at attracting modern varieties, new species, and intraspecific forms to the collection. The analysis of the taxonomic structure of plant species, varieties and forms allows us to identify and recommend the most resistant to extreme growing conditions plants that have high decorative qualities, taking into account modern trends in urban floristics.