Against the background of man-made impact on the environment, the role of landscape architecture increases. Green plantings reduce the impact of adverse factors. A special role is given to coniferous plants that perform environmental-improving functions all year round. The collection of the VNIISPK arboretum includes more than 310 species, forms and varieties of woody plants representing 31 families. The most numerous family of Pinaceae includes 5 genera, one of which is the genus Abies Mill. The purpose of the study is a comprehensive assessment of ecological and biological features of the genus Abies of different origin to justify the success of the introduction in conditions of the Central Chernozem region of Russia. All the studied species have high winter hardiness in the conditions of the central part of Russia.A. balsamea, A. concolor, A. fraseri, A. lasiocarpa, and A. sibirica were resistant to infectious diseases. A. alba, A. concolor, A. fraseri, A. nephrolepis, A. sachalinensis and A. veitchii showed resistance to pests. According to the results of comprehensive assessment of the ecological and biological features of 9 introduced species of the genus Abies, three highly decorative genotypes of North American origin, resistant to a complex of adverse environmental factors, were identified: A. balsamea, A. concolor, and A. fraseri.

Plantings’ ornamentality is an important aspect of the aesthetic appearance formation of urbanized landscapes. In urban ecosystems, trees and shrubs are often exposed to high stress levels that shortens their lifespan and reduces ornamentality. Plant introduction is one of the methods of enriching the assortment with resistant species. The aim of the research was to comprehensively assess the ornamentality degree of North American introduction tree groups from the genetic collection of the All-Russian scientific research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK) arboretum and to give recommendations on improving their composition. Research was carried out in 2013-2019, taking into account the dynamics of changes in decorative qualities during the year. Throughout the year, landscape compositions showed peaks of ornamentality in the same seasons of the year (May, September). To give dynamism to groups in the summer period, it is recommended to plant Spiraea douglasii in the 1st group; in composition 2 — Hydrangea arborescens and two varieties of Physocarpus opulifolius: ‘Darts Gold’ and ‘Summer Wine’. Graphics of ornamentality degree changes of landscape groups are recommended to be used when drawing up landscape groups for various purposes to ensure their ornamentality during either an entire year or a certain period.

В статье представлены результаты многолетнего комплексного исследования эколого-биологических особенностей урбанофлоры различных биотопов городов Орловской области: Орла, Мценска, Ливен, Болхова, Малоархангельска, Новосиля и Дмитровска. Флора города Орла насчитывает 913 видов, Ливен – 786, Мценска – 777, Болхова – 780, Новосиля – 775, Малоархангельска – 776, Дмитровска – 777. В ходе исследований охарактеризована таксономическая структура урбанофлор как один из показателей зональной и эколого-топологической приуроченности флоры. Сопоставление полных флористических списков городов Орловской области показало высокую степень флористического сходства, что свидетельствует о высокой степени единства урбанофлор и сглаживании зональных черт. Отмечается высокая степень сходства аборигенной и адвентивной фракции флор различных городов. Высокая корреляция между систематической структурой ведущих семейств различных типов биотопов связана с единством состава флоры региона и свидетельствует о тесном взаимодействии естественной и урбанизированной флор.

More than 280 species, genotypes and varieties of wood plants representing 31 families are grown in the arboretum at the Russian Research Institute for Fruit Crop Breeding. At present, the task of study and introduction of qualitatively new range of plants capable to grow in new constantly changing conditions is urgent. The analysis of ecological and biological features of 23 species of introduced plants of Rosaceae family of different ecological and geographical origin from the VNIISPK collection has been done. 10 highly ornamental genotypes resistant to a complex of unfavorable factors of the environment have been allocated for use in the greenbelt setting of the settlements in the Central Chernozem region of Russia including the Orel region. According to our data the Far East zone is the most perspective one for the introduction of wood plants of Rosaceae family. It includes 6 promising species (50% of the studied species of this zone): Cotoneaster lucidus, Cotoneaster divaricatus, Potentilla fruticose, Padus Maackii, Spirea gemmate and Spirea japonica.

One of the ways to solve the problem of food security is to increase the proportion of non-traditional crops' fruits in the diet with valuable consumer characteristics and a wide range of application in fruit growing, selection, and greening. The seasonal development rhythm - especially the flowering phase - is important in the study of rare fruit plants introduced into culture as it determines the plants' resistance to adverse environmental factors and the ability to produce full-fledged fruits and seeds. The purpose of this research was to study the flowering characteristics of non-traditional fruit crops of the Rosaceae Juss. family to determine the prospects of their use in selection and greening. From 2012 to 2021, 16 species were studied in the arboretum of the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK, Orel, Russian Federation). The flowering calendar compiled on the basis of the conducted phenological observations shows various dates of the objects' flowering onset, which makes it possible to use them as ornamental plants when creating parks and gardens of continuous flowering. Chaenomeles Maulei, Malus niedzwetzkyana, Crataegus submollis and Padus virginiana have the most ornamental blossoming. Of these, Chaenomeles Maule has the longest flowering period (more than 20 days). A consistently high flowering degree (4.5-5.0 points) was observed in twelve objects, which determines the prospects of their application in the selection process as sources of certain economically valuable traits: early flowering (Malus prunifolia and Sorbus aria), long-term flowering (Chaenomeles Maulei, Malus prunifolia and Rosa canina), a high ornamental flowering degree (Chaenomeles Maulei, Malus niedzwetzkyana, Crataegus submollis and Padus virginiana).