ALUPKA

Alupka is a perennial plant reaching a height of up to 55–60 cm and a bush diameter of about 70–75 cm, though some sources describe it as an annual herb reaching 110 cm. Seeds are usually sown in March–April; seedlings appear within 6–10 days, and the leaf rosette forms within 25–30 days after sowing. The vegetative period lasts approximately 250–260 days, with active growth beginning in mid-June and continuing until the end of July.

Cultivation of alupka is characterized by high drought resistance and hardiness: the plant requires little specific soil care and is rarely affected by pests and diseases. Mass flowering occurs in mid-October, after which seeds mature by the end of November–early December. The above-ground biomass is harvested during the mass flowering phase as raw material for essential oil production.

Alupka yields about 90.60 c/ha, and when harvesting essential oil, approximately 59.80 kg/ha is obtained per hectare. Thanks to its properties, the plant is widely used in traditional medicine and aromatherapy, where its healing effect and aromatic properties are highly valued.