OREANDA-NEWS. May 31, 2010. At the MSU Botanical Garden’s request, EuroChem supplied fertilizers that supported proper care for the saplings. EuroChem fertilizers were used for micro-cloned propagation of the best lilac breeds, which were provided to the city.

“Application of fertilizers is the most important factor for proper plant maintenance from the point of view of agricultural technology. We are working to expand the use of decorative plants in Moscow and the regions of Russia’s Central non-“Black Earth” zone. Our partnership with EuroChem allows us propagate a unique local planting stock, as well as provide appropriate nutrition to the plants” – noted Alexander Rappoport, Candidate of Biological Sciences and Deputy Director MSU Botanical Garden.

The lilac collection at the MSU Botanical Garden is one of the biggest in Russia. The collection includes 130 varieties – 65 varieties each of domestic and foreign sorts, including the only yellow “Primrose” lilac variety in the world. The pride of the collection is the largest lilac collection of the distinguished Soviet plant breeder L.A. Kolesnikov. The unique exhibits of the collection include unique varieties like “Alexey Maresiev” and “Captain Gastello” (L.A. Kolesnikov), “Sensation” and “Flora" (Dirk Maarse, Netherlands). These are varieties that helped create the profile of classic Moscow and made its streets beautiful.

The Botanical Garden of the Lomonosov Moscow State University is the oldest botanical scientific institution of Russia, established from the Moscow Pharmaceutical Herbarium, founded in 1706 by the decree of Peter I. The first Director of the Garden was Traugot Gerber, Doctor of Science and Botany, Leipzig University. The popular Gerbera flowers are named in his honour. The garden unites scientific institutions and horticulturists in Moscow. The garden’s collection includes more than 7,000 types of plants collected from all the continents.