Even though peonies are highly valued as ornamental, medicinal, and edible species and are also considered to be long-lived and relatively disease and pest resistant, they are becoming rare or endangered in their natural habitats. This could be primarily associated with climate change and unsustainable wild collecting practices. So far, in situ conservation efforts have received little attention. In addition, very little is known about the cultivation of herbaceous peonies, particularly their propagation from seeds. What is known is that their seeds possess double dormancy, often accompanied by a low germination rate, which, together, make the cultivation of herbaceous peonies more difficult. Based on a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature, this paper summarizes, analyzes, and discusses all available studies on the seed traits of herbaceous peonies associated with the effect of seed harvest time on dormancy and seed germination, with a strong focus on dormancy breaking procedures. Improving our understanding of dormancy release modalities (impacts of temperature, moisture, light, hormones, various pre-treatments, etc.) will aid the establishment and management of in situ and ex situ collections of valuable species of herbaceous peonies and enable further studies for their successful propagation, breeding, and cultivation.

Field trial with yellow gentian was established (11.1 plants per m2) at 1004 m.a.s.l., in order to assess the effect of black PE (bPE), silver PE (sPE), and black permeable biodegradable (bPB) mulching films on the root yield and development during six years. The highest crop density measured prior to the root harvest (sixth year), was obtained in the plot with bPB film (84%), while in the plot with bPE and in control (without mulch) number of plants was reduced by 34.2% and 45%, respectively. In addition, application of the bPB film proved to be the most effective treatment; in the fifth and sixth year root yields per m2 increased by 92.3% and 106.0%, respectively, in comparison to bPE, and by 78.9% and 69.2%, respectively, in comparison to sPE, and by 184.4% and 169.6%, respectively, in comparison to control. Application of bPE had a lower positive effect on YG root yield than control (-18.6%-54.95%), whereas the effect of sPE was higher than the bPE and control; the achieved root yields were higher, 29.7% and 70.6%, respectively.

During a five-year field trial established with Satureja montana L. under polypropylene woven fabric (PPWF) on clay-textured soil in dry farming conditions in South Banat, Serbia, the influence of a single basal application of compost and mineral fertilizers at different planting densities (3.6 and 5 plants m⁻²) on the yield was investigated. Single-dose fertilization positively influenced the yields of S. montana in both applied fertilization models. In the third production year, the dry herb yield achieved by applying organic fertilizers in dense cultivation (1016 g m⁻¹) was comparable with that obtained in the mineral plot (961 g m⁻¹). Furthermore, the plants were optimally supplied with N, P, and K macronutrients, with equal amounts removed by yield, in both tested fertilization plots. The use of PPWF proved beneficial to cultivated plants in terms of water-use efficiency and weed suppression. However, severe yield loss was observed in the fourth and fifth production years as a result of the extreme rainfall conditions; the excess moisture retained by PPWF applied to heavy clay soil favored the development of soil-borne pathogens. Other mulch materials should be further investigated for the production of S. montana on heavy clay soil.

The aim of study was to investigate development of perennial medicinal plant, Satureja montana L., cultivated in dry farming conditions of South Banat, Serbia, with use of black permeable mulch film. In the first two vegetations, the influence of fertilization and crop density on yields of the aboveground plant part (per plant and per m2) and on the content of total essential oil and its major constituents was observed. Overwintering survival, after late performed first harvest, and surviving ratio by the end of the second year of vegetation were 90.1% and 86.9%, respectively. Ratio between fresh and dry biomass (2.4:1) was not affected by tested treatments. The yield per plant was affected by the treatments only in the second year; in lower compared to higher crop density it was 25% higher, and in organic compared to mineral fertilization it was 19 % higher. In both years, crop density did not show significant effect on yield per unit area, while in case of fertilization, this yield was higher in organic fertilization compared to mineral in the first and the second year, 7% and 19%, respectively. The essential oil yields ranged from 0.8% to 0.9%, with the major constituent thymol (48.3-69.4%), followed by carvacrol, p -cymene and β -bisabolene. The essential oil yield did not depend on treatments, while the content of major constituents was significantly affected only by applied crop density.

Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) is a perennial plant species widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries, particularly valued for its sedative properties. This study investigates the impact of synthetic mulch film and planting density as two experimental factors on agronomic performance, raw material quality, and economic efficiency in lemon balm production. The experiment was conducted at three locations in Serbia (L1: Bačko Novo Selo, L2: Bavanište, L3: Vilandrica) from 2022 to 2024, using two planting densities on synthetic mulch film (F1: 8.3 plants m⁻²; F2: 11.4 plants m⁻²) and a control treatment without mulch (C). The synthetic mulch film used was a synthetic black polypropylene film (Agritela Black, 90 g/m²), uniformly applied in strips across the cultivation area, covering approximately 78% of the soil surface. The results showed consistent increases in morphological parameters and yield across the years. Plant height in F1 and F2 treatments ranged from 65 to 75 cm, while in the control it reached up to 50 cm (2022–2024). Fresh biomass yield varied from 13.4 g per plant (C) to 378.08 g per plant (F2), and dry biomass yield from 60.3 g (C) to 125.4 g (F2). The highest essential oil content was observed in F2 (1.2% in 2022), while the control remained at 0.8%. The F2 treatment achieved complete weed suppression throughout the experiment without the use of herbicides, demonstrating both agronomic and ecological advantages. Economic evaluation revealed that F2 generated the highest cumulative profit (€142,164.5) compared to the control (€65,555.3). Despite higher initial investment, F2 had the most favorable cost–benefit ratio in the long term. This study highlights the crucial influence of mulching and planting density on optimizing lemon balm production across diverse climatic and soil conditions, while also underscoring the importance of sustainable, non-chemical weed management strategies in lemon balm cultivation.

Steppe peony (Paeonia tenuifolia L.) is a strictly protected herbaceous species in Serbia, yet its growing conditions, nutrient needs, and heavy metal status are under-researched. This research is vital for conservation, as it supports sustainable cultivation, genetic diversity, and habitat restoration. This study addresses the gap in understanding how climate and soil characteristics affect P. tenuifolia, particularly regarding nutrient availability and heavy metal accumulation. Despite its recognized medicinal value, insufficient data on environmental impacts limit effective conservation and cultivation strategies. Addressing this gap will help determine optimal growth conditions and ensure the species’ survival and medicinal use. Data on P. tenuifolia natural habitats in Serbia were collected following the Descriptor List for medicinal plants. Field and laboratory analyses assessed climatic and soil characteristics, as well as macro- and microelement contents and heavy metals in soil and plant organs. In Serbia, P. tenuifolia thrives in a semi-arid steppe climate on light, sandy loam soils with a pH of 6.9–7.4. The soils are rich in humus (4.36–5.76%) and nitrogen (0.34–0.37%), but low in phosphorus (1.16–3.50 mg/100 g) and variable in potassium (12.5–52.4 mg/100 g). Soil microelements are abundant, and harmful heavy metals are below critical levels. Plant organs, including flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems, show high phosphorus and magnesium levels, while potassium, manganese, and copper are generally low. The levels of potentially harmful elements like cadmium and chromium are near the maximum-allowed limits, suggesting avoidance of highly acidic soils for the cultivation of P. tenuifolia. Among the examined soils, Arenic chernozem is recommended for preserving the species’ natural resources.