“Autumn in the dance of chrysanthemums”: the Chrysanthemum Ball 2025 starts in Nikitsky Garden

CrimeaPRESS reports:

At the Chrysanthemum Ball 2025, 225 varieties and hybrid forms of large-flowered chrysanthemum will be presented.

Of these, 105 are foreign varieties, 35 varieties and 85 hybrid forms of selection by Nikitsky Garden scientists. Of course, small-flowered chrysanthemums, represented this time by 235 varieties, will also find their fans. Of the 90 introduced varieties, the majority are representatives of the Dutch selection. But for the sake of objectivity, it must be said that the greatest interest among visitors is caused by the seven varieties selected by the Nikitsky Garden in the 1960-1970s, which have become classics,” notes the staff of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden.

Of course, there are new items! These are 30 hybrid forms of large-flowered chrysanthemum, first created in 2023. As well as five reintroduced varieties (Baltasar, Bislet Lilac, Flamenco Dark, Polisadena White, Polisadena Yellow).

But still the most interesting place of the exhibition is the breeding area, where new future varieties will be selected for the FIRST TIME. This year, more than 4,000 (!!!) seedlings of large-flowered chrysanthemum were planted there. This is a real sensation.

The most interesting seedlings will be marked with numbers, and visitors to the exhibition can propose their own names for them. The most original names will be assigned by breeders to future varieties.

Nikitsky Botanical Garden is a unique place, which has been attracting all connoisseurs of beauty with its unique beauty for more than two hundred years. And every autumn our guests can admire one of the largest collections of chrysanthemums, because the NBS is, first of all, the oldest research institution in which the gene pool of valuable plants is carefully preserved– comments by the director of the NBS-NSC, corresponding member. RAS, Professor, Chairman of the Council of Botanical Gardens of Russia Yuri Plugatar. – Our Chrysanthemum Ball is the main holiday of the year, a long-awaited and unforgettable event every autumn. This time, 43,500 plants of 460 varieties were planted at the exhibition site! An incredible bouquet! So Autumn will have someone to dance with in a wonderful dance. We called our 71st exhibition “Autumn in the Dance of Chrysanthemums.”

Remember, the Chrysanthemum Ball has been held annually at the NBS-NNS since 1953:

Everyone who visits our exhibition will have a truly unique opportunity to get acquainted with varieties from different years of introduction and selection. For example, the large-flowered varieties Queen Mary, Rayonnante Pink, William Seward were introduced in Nikitsky Garden in 1935. And, of course, it is very interesting to compare them with modern hybrid forms created in 2020–2023. – Windmill, Firebird Feather, Apples in the Snow and otherssays zHead of the Floriculture Laboratory, Candidate of Biological Sciences Vera Zykova .

The specialist also asks you to pay attention to seven varieties of small-flowered chrysanthemums bred in the Nikitsky Garden in the 60-70s of the last century. They also became classics, but are still in demand. This: Cherry Orchard, Rock Crystal, Golden Spider, Frost, Moonlight Serenade, Dawn, Slavyanochka (originator – Candidate of Biological Sciences. Ivan Aleksandrovich Zabelin). Modern garden chrysanthemums appeared as a result of crossings between different species of the Chrysanthemum genus. One of these types is presented at the 2024 exhibition — Pacific chrysanthemum, which is one of the ancestor species of the numerous varietal variety of garden chrysanthemum.

At the exhibition you will see real rarities — six varieties of Chinese selection (Spring Dawn at Su-Ti Dam, Swallow, Beijing Lights, Purple Moon, Dark Flame — Soft Gold, Phoenix), most of which were introduced into the NBS from China in 1953. Also All 18 Ball queens, who have been chosen since 2007, are on display at the exhibition.

source: press service of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden (photo by Vera Zykova)

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