Modern production of immortelle (Helichrysum italicum /Roth/ G. Don)

Smilje (Helichrysum italicum /Roth/ G. Don) se koristi u medicinske svrhe kroz dugi niz godina no danas sve više raste njegova upotreba i potražnja za njime, a posebice u mediteranskom području. Temeljem tradicionalnog korištenja i znanstvenih spoznaja, smilje se počinje značajno upotrebljavati ne samo u ljekovite nego i u kozmetičke svrhe pa je potražnja za smiljem svake godine sve veća. S porastom potražnje došlo je do pojave i razvoja intenzivnog uzgoja smilja na našem području. Smilje raste kao polugrm, svijetlo zelenih listova sa zlatno žutim cvjetnim glavicama, a uzgoj je moguć na različitim nadmorskim visinama kao i na siromašnim tlima, posebno onima izloženima insolaciji uz malu prosječnu količinu padalina. Prema tome, smilje je vrlo prilagodljiva biljna vrsta te predstavlja odličnu alternativu na površinama gdje većina drugog poljoprivrednog bilja ne može dati prihvatljive prinose. Također, smilje i proizvodi od smilja imaju vrlo dobru cijenu te je financijski rezultat takve proizvodnje pozitivan, a u pojedinim godinama se može računati i na vrlo dobar profit pogotovo ukoliko se gospodarstvo bavi proizvodnjom finalnih proizvoda od smilja kao što je eterično ulje.Immortelle (Helichrysum italicum / Roth / G. Don) has been used for medical purposes long time ago but today its use is growing rapidly, especially in the Mediterranean area. Based on its traditional use and thanks to many scientific investigations, immortelle is now used as a medicinal plant as well as a compound of different cosmetic products which resulted in higher demands for this plant species. With increased demand for immortelle, there was a need for intensive production and at the same time for development of production technology on our territory. Immortelle grows as a subshrub and has green leaves with golden yellow flower heads which are the main reason for its production. Production of immortelle is possible at different altitudes as well as on poor soils especially that exposed to insolation with a small average amount of rainfall during active vegetation. Accordingly, immortelle is a highly adaptive plant species and thus represents an excellent alternative in regions where other cultures can’t obtain optimal yield. Also, immortelle and products based on it has a very good price which insures positive outcome of production and in some years it provides very good profit especially when it comes to production of final products such as immortelle essential oil