Give examples of coniferous and deciduous trees. Is larch a deciduous or coniferous tree? Features and distribution of the plant. Coniferous plants: what is unusual about them

Deciduous plants play a very important role. They are able to purify the air, protect us from the wind, play the role of a hedge, and also beautifully and effectively decorate any area. Many species look spectacular in the spring during flowering, and in the summer they delight you with their fruits. All trees can be divided into deciduous and coniferous. All of them are beautiful and unusual in their own way. If you want to complement your garden with beautiful plants, then you can buy deciduous trees at greensad.ua/category/listvjannye-derevja/.

Deciduous and coniferous trees: what is the difference

Deciduous and coniferous differ from each other not only externally. The main feature of conifers is that they do not shed their leaves. And deciduous plants usually prepare for a dormant state in the fall and shed their leaves. There are also exceptions to the rule. Evergreen deciduous trees that grow in consistently warm climates always stay green. In latitudes where heat-loving deciduous plants grow, all plants remain evergreen. Consider tropical forests. Tall plants, creepers have lush green foliage all year round. The question arises why deciduous trees shed their leaves for the winter.

In latitudes with climate change, plants have their own cycle. In spring, the seedling wakes up, grows, leaves appear on the shoots, which turn yellow and fall off in autumn. And the tree itself seems to go to sleep. The main task of a tree in winter is to slow down life processes. The circulation of juice stops, the plant stores moisture. In order for the resource to last until winter, the leaves must be shed. Their area is large and they will not be able to retain moisture, unlike conifers. The leaves of coniferous plants are needles that are covered with a waxy coating, have a compact size, a solid structure and a narrow shape. Such needles ideally retain moisture, which is enough until the start of the new season. This is why deciduous trees shed their leaves while conifers do not.

Deciduous trees:

How are deciduous trees different from conifers? Firstly, conifers are considered unpretentious, and secondly, deciduous plants usually bloom, while conifers do not. In coniferous plants, the fruits ripen in cones. Thirdly, conifers never shed their needles (the only exception is larch). Most deciduous plants produce edible fruits, and coniferous cones are not suitable for consumption.

Coniferous trees:

Beautiful trees for your garden

Now you know what deciduous trees look like and how they differ from conifers. What trees to plant in your garden - you decide! For the garden, you can use fruit and decorative foliage. Coniferous plants are indispensable on an alpine hill, in a rocky garden.

Decorative leafy plants for the garden can be divided into shrubs and trees. Popular deciduous shrubs for the garden: lilac, spirea, rhododendron, jasmine, barberry, chaenomeles, hydrangea, weigela, mock orange, tree peony, magnolia, viburnum, azalea and many other beautiful shrubs.

The most demanded and popular deciduous trees in Ukraine: linden, birch, chestnut, maple, catalpa, sakura, decorative cherry and plum, elm, ash. Oaks and other large plants are often planted in large parks.

Popular coniferous trees and shrubs are spruce, pine, thuja, hemlock, larch, junipers, yew berry and other plants.

Spruce and pine

All gymnosperms are trees or shrubs. Coniferous trees, which are very widespread, belong to this group. Examples of gymnosperms are ordinary trees, often found in middle latitudes - pines and spruces.

Pine is practically not demanding on soil and moisture. Its powerful roots go deep into the earth. Therefore, pine can get water and nutrients from deep soil layers. It often grows in dry, almost barren, sandy soil. Pines often inhabit sands where the top fertile soil layer has been removed, for example, in cuts along the railway. Pine plantations are used for fixing and afforestation of sands in the steppe regions.

Pine is a photophilous plant. She can't stand even a little shade. In places with a dense grassy cover, pine seedlings are drowned out by herbs; nor can it grow in the shade of a forest.

Pine reaches a significant size.

Often you can find a pine tree 40 m high. Pine trees live up to 400 years of age, and sometimes more, and form continuous forests - pine forests.

In the forest, pine grows straight and slender. Its lower branches are shaded by the upper ones; due to lack of light, they soon lose their green needles, dry up and fall off. So the trunk is cleared of side branches. Branches are saved only at the very top of the tree. The wood of pines grown in the forest is much more valuable than the wood of sprawling pines grown in the open.

The young ends of the pine branches are covered with bluish-green needles, or needles. They are located two in a bundle. From the word needles comes the name "coniferous" trees. The needles are pine leaves. They are very narrow and therefore have little evaporating surface; in addition, they are covered with a skin of thick-walled cells with a small number of stomata. Therefore, pine evaporates water very slowly. Pine is a typical drought-resistant plant.

Pine needles are located only at the very ends of the branches, that is, in the youngest areas (one-year-old, two-year-old and sometimes three-year-old). In areas of branches older than three years of age, the needles fall off. Thus, the needles stay on the branches for only two to three years.

In the spring, at the end of May, the pine is dusty. Then, with gusts of wind, whole clouds of yellow pollen rise from the pines. Pine pollen sometimes covers the ground, puddles, ponds, lakes with a continuous coating. People who do not know the reason for this phenomenon call it "sulphurous rain".

At this time, it is easy to find light green and reddish cones on pine trees. Cones of light green color sit on young shoots. Each cone consists of scales. Each scale develops two anthers. After maturation, they burst. Pollen spills out and is carried by the wind. Pine pollen has two air bubbles. Thanks to this, it can stay in the air for a long time and be carried far by air currents. Pine, like other gymnosperms, is a wind-pollinated plant.

Reddish cones are found on the tops of other young shoots of the same tree. Each cone consists of scales. Two ovules are placed on the upper side of the scale. Gymnosperms do not have a pistil. Their ovules are located not in the ovary of the pistil, but openly (naked), and the pollen directly falls on them. After pollination of the scales, the cones close tightly and stick together with resin.

Pine seeds ripen one and a half years after pollination. They emerge in early spring. On sunny days, the cones open, their scales move apart, and seeds fall out of the cones. Since the seeds are equipped with wings, they are carried by the wind over a long distance.

Pine is used in the economy. Pine wood provides a valuable material for buildings and carpentry crafts. It is used for fuel. Tar, resin, turpentine are extracted from it.

Spruce also belongs to coniferous trees. It also has needle-shaped, but shorter needles. Needles on spruce branches last 6-7 years. Spruce roots do not go deep, but are located in the surface layers of the soil. Therefore, spruce needs fertile and moist soil. The difference between spruce and pine is that spruce is shade-tolerant, and pine is photophilous. Cross-pollination occurs with the help of wind, as in pine. The ovules are located openly on the seed scales of the cone. The seeds are carried far by the wind. Spruce wood is used to make paper.

Thus, gymnosperms do not have pistils. Their ovules are located openly (naked) on the scales of the cones. Pollination occurs with the help of wind. In this case, the pollen directly falls on the ovules. Since gymnosperms do not have pistils, they do not form a fruit. Seeds are also located openly (naked) on stiffened cone scales. Hence the name gymnosperms.

More information on the topic: http://beaplanet.ru

The concept of lumber is a general term that refers to a whole group of different types of wood products. Moreover, they must differ in a certain quality and size. This product is cut in a longitudinal piece from a tree trunk and has a section in the form of a square or rectangle, in contrast to piles or pillars that have a round section.

Lumber can be softwood or hardwood. These varieties, of course, have their own characteristics, which you will learn about below.

The basis for softwood lumber is fir, spruce, cedar, larch and pine. Among their advantages are:

• trunk straightness;
• high quality wood;
• ease of processing.

On a special account among such materials is pine, the wood of which is characterized by amazing strength combined with ease of processing. In addition, the advantage of this coniferous species is its lower ability to absorb moisture compared to deciduous trees. No less valuable is larch, which has a special property - under the influence of moisture, it seems to turn to stone.

Linden, poplar, birch, aspen, etc. serve as material for hardwood lumber. On the building materials market, unedged, polished and edged boards, edged and unedged beams are distinguished. Edged sawn timber is more sold, which, however, also applies to products made from coniferous trees.
The main advantages of materials from deciduous trees are:

• increased density of wood;
• beautiful texture and pattern;
• product durability.

Disadvantages of hardwood and softwood timber

Among the disadvantages of sawn softwood, the main disadvantage is the possibility of spontaneous combustion due to the resinous substances present in the rock, which come to the surface of the bark when the air temperature rises.

To prevent this problem, wood is impregnated with flame retardants - compounds that prevent combustion.

Hardwood lumber is also characterized by certain disadvantages, namely, they are prone to rapid decay of the tree and the reproduction of fungus at high humidity. Therefore, wood needs to be thoroughly dried and further treated with antiseptic compounds.

Scope of application of coniferous and hardwood materials

Hardwood lumber is used for sheathing ceilings, internal architectural elements and doors, sheathing partitions, panels and walls, they are used as floor coverings. And true connoisseurs of beauty will not be able to pass by the magnificent and durable furniture made of oak and other precious woods!

Coniferous wood is more often used to produce wall studs, floor beams, boards, roof truss systems, make the base of the floor and sheathing. For interior work, softwood lining is used, which has a more aesthetic appearance due to the grooves present on it.

Coniferous plants, pros and cons

15-01-2018, 15:47

If you decide to green up your suburban area, and your choice fell on coniferous plants, but you doubt whether they are right for you, then read this article.

In it, we will try to consider all the pros and cons of conifers.

Advantages of coniferous plants:

Year-round ornamental plants: 95% of conifers retain their decorative properties throughout the year, which deciduous ones cannot boast of.

Crown formation: Conifers without any damage tolerate a crown-forming haircut, thanks to this, a decorative figure can be created from almost any plant, unlike conifers, deciduous trees are less susceptible to shearing, it takes much more time to form a certain shape, and some varieties do not tolerate at all her.

The diversity of appearance, most deciduous trees and shrubs, have almost the same shape, which cannot be said about coniferous plants, their diversity is so great that you can find specimens reaching only 20 centimeters in height, but on the other hand, a crown diameter of up to 5 meters, for example, they have this property some varieties of juniper. And you can also find columnar plants that, with a crown diameter of not more than half a meter, reach a height of 8 meters or more, some varieties of yew have such properties.

The color of the needles at different times of the year: In most conifers, the young growth is very different from the main color of the needles, for example, some varieties of spruce have a dark green color of the needles, and the young shoots are painted golden. Also, most conifers change their color throughout the year, most often conifers change their color only twice a year, but some varieties do this three times a year. For example, some varieties of arborvitae are painted green in spring and summer, and with the onset of autumn and throughout the winter they have a pronounced golden color of needles.

The frost resistance of conifers is much higher than that of deciduous ones, coniferous plants can easily withstand temperatures up to -40 ° C, while in deciduous trees, frost resistance rarely exceeds -30 ° C. This means that you do not have to worry about the safety of plants in the winter.

Now consider some of the disadvantages of conifers:

Some planting requirements: 95% of conifers do not tolerate stagnant moisture in the roots, so when planting it is required to lay out a drainage layer, this creates some difficulties when planting, for example, having to dig a deeper planting hole.

Sunburn: Conifers at a young age of up to 5 years often get sunburn in the spring, so in the spring it is recommended to create artificial penumbra next to young plants, as well as carry out evening sprinkling of the crown.

To make the garden harmonious and comfortable, plantings and their ratio are planned in advance. Equilibrium and balance can be achieved by proportionally seating deciduous and coniferous for the garden. However, in an attempt to make the garden decorative all year round, owners often make the mistake of planting a lot of conifers. Let's try to find the golden mean.

Deciduous and coniferous plants for the garden: what is the difference

It is difficult to imagine a garden or park without trees, because they are the main decoration of any area, and in addition they perform a number of other functions. Under a large crown of trees you can hide from the rain or the scorching sun. large trees they plant along roads and alleys, plant trees in big cities. Trees purify the air, remove noise and dust. Some species of deciduous trees look spectacular during flowering, and some varieties are grown exclusively for landscaping.

Fruit trees perform several functions at once : they decorate the garden, delight with delicious fruits, impress with flowers in springtime. You can browse and choose.

All trees on the planet can be divided into two huge species - these are deciduous and conifers. What is the difference coniferous plants for the garden from deciduous? The answer is obvious: leaves grow on hardwoods, coniferous plants grow coniferous needles or scales. Roughly speaking, the needles are the same leaves, only slightly modified. There is another huge difference between coniferous and deciduous trees. Needles keeps on branches all year round, but the leaves fall off by winter. The exception is evergreen deciduous trees, but they grow in the south, such as large-flowered magnolia. Evergreen trees are usually found in the subtropics and tropics. Known species: false camphor laurel, Loureiro cinnamon, myrzinoleaf oak, eucalyptus, Ceylon cinnamon.

So why do deciduous plants shed their leaves while conifers do not? In fact, not all conifers remain evergreen, just as not all deciduous trees shed their leaves. The main exception is the larch coniferous plant, it hibernates without needles. Deciduous trees shed their leaves due to their life cycle, so they can more easily endure the winter period. Heavy snow remaining on the leaves could damage the branches. Also, the leaf area is much larger than the needles, the leaves evaporate moisture, and the tree nourishes it from the ground. In winter, it is problematic to get the right amount of water for a tree; it’s easier to just throw off the leaves. The needles are smaller, so moisture evaporates in a small amount. Usually the needles are updated every four years.

What trees are best to plant on your own site

The choice of plants depends on the preferences of the owner, as well as the function and place of planting. Deciduous trees can be divided into ornamental and fruit trees. If there is a desire to create a garden in the country, then it is better to plant fruit trees. They perform many functions at once. Fruit trees bloom very beautifully, the fragrance of flowers is felt in the air, everything becomes incredibly beautiful. In summer, in the shade of a fruit tree, you can hide from the sun and relax, and pick fruits in the fall.

Fruit trees

Ornamental trees can look very impressive, have an unusual shape of leaves or a unique color, but produce inedible fruits. For example, red maple impresses with the color of the leaves in autumn, but it can only perform a decorative function. Here you need to decide what you want to get: decorative or practical use. Fruit trees would be more correctly called fruit-decorative, because they all bloom incredibly beautifully. Cherry, plum, sweet cherry, apple tree, apricot and other species effectively decorate the site in spring.

coniferous plants

Coniferous trees look great in every park, in the country they can rarely be found. Spruce can be used instead of a Christmas tree, while others conifer breeds, an integral part of rocky gardens and rocky hills.

Can coniferous trees be planted next to deciduous trees? Coniferous trees can be planted next to decorative deciduous trees, they will effectively complement each other in compositions. Even in nature, conifers often grow alongside oak, birch, and other hardwoods. Problems may arise only when planting a coniferous tree next to a fruit tree. The roots of conifers grow rapidly, and these trees can also acidify the earth. The yield of fruit trees due to such a neighbor may fall over time. The optimal distance between a coniferous tree and a fruit tree is at least five meters.

Popular Hardwood Trees

Deciduous trees look perfect in every garden, it is impossible to do without them. The most popular species that effectively decorate the garden are birch, especially weeping forms, willow, sakura, horse chestnut. Catalpa has become a particularly popular tree in small gardens, because it has large and unusual leaves, and also grows well on a trunk. Red-leaved maples are also incredibly beautiful, the sumac tree grows unusually.

It is worth noting the beauty and aroma of linden during flowering, and Robinia and acacia will fill the air with aroma and delight with delicate flowers. You should also pay attention to a very unique and unusual tree called cercis or crimson. When the tree blooms, the sight is incredible, as pink flowers bloom literally all over the tree.

Magnolia, Japanese maple, paulownia will not be superfluous in the garden. The decorativeness of such plants will help create an unforgettable and fragrant garden.

Dendrologists divide all woody plant species into two large groups: deciduous and coniferous trees. And, as a rule, it is very simple to attribute one or another species to one of these groups. The only exception to this rule is larch. This is deciduous or Let's try to understand this issue.

Larch: coniferous or

Lárix - this is the name of this wonderful tree in Latin. Why do many people have a question: "Is larch a deciduous or coniferous tree?" And what is the right way to answer it?

The thing is that although this tree has needles, it sheds its needles for the winter, just as hardwoods do. This is the moment that drives many people into a dead end. And not everyone can confidently answer the question "larch is a deciduous or coniferous tree."

In fact, this beauty of botany belongs to the pine family, and thus it is a coniferous species. And one of the most common on the planet.

Larch: botanical description of the plant

So, we found out that larch is a coniferous tree. The features of this plant, as well as its distribution throughout the Earth, we will consider below.

The average height of this tree is no more than 50 meters (with a trunk diameter of no more than 1 meter). Larches live on average up to 300 years, although individual specimens have been recorded that have lived up to 800 years.

The peculiarity of this plant is a conical (like many conifers), but a very loose (translucent) crown. In those places where the wind rose is unidirectional, the crown may have a flag-like shape.

The main feature of this coniferous breed is its needles. It is annual and very soft, as for a coniferous tree. Touching larch needles is quite pleasant. Every autumn, the tree sheds its needles, and in spring new, fresh, green needles grow on its branches.

Larches are quite developed and powerful, which allows them to settle on steep mountain slopes, where strong winds blow throughout the year. In some cases, for greater stability, even its lower branches take root in the ground.

Larch is a very light-loving tree, therefore, it chooses appropriate areas for itself: open and unshaded. If the growing conditions are favorable, then the plant is able to reach for the sun at an amazing speed: up to one meter per year!

Larch is very resistant to low air temperatures. She is not afraid of sharp frosts. Undemanding to soils. So, larch can grow both on the dry soil of a mountain slope, and on the waterlogged land of a swampy lowland. However, if the soil conditions are too unfavorable, then the tree will grow very stunted and low.

Geographic distribution of the plant

Larch is one of the most common tree species on the planet, with up to 15 different species. Very often these trees form vast and light forests. Huge territories are occupied by larch forests in Siberia, as well as in the Far East.

European larch is often called a long-lived tree. She easily lives to the age of several hundred years. On the territory of Russia, three types of larch are most often found: Russian, Siberian and Dahurian. The latter can be easily distinguished by their shiny silvery buds. Whole forests grow in Transbaikalia

In North America, western and American larch has become widespread. In the United States, the wood of these species is actively used in construction and industry.

The use of larch by man

The wood of this tree has long been used by man. It differs in durability, elasticity, resinousness. Plus, it is very resistant to decay. In the hardness of larch fabrics, they are second only to oak.

The wood of this plant is actively used in the construction business, in industry, in the construction of surface or underwater structures. Turpentine is also produced from it.

The plant is also used in folk medicine. So, larch needles are a huge source of ascorbic acid. Therefore, fresh needles (or an infusion of them) are an excellent prophylactic against scurvy. In addition, baths from the needles of this tree are recommended for people suffering from joint diseases. Turpentine is also made from larch resin - a very effective remedy for rheumatism and gout.

Finally...

Is larch a deciduous or coniferous tree? After reading our article, you will forever remember the answer to this question.

Larch is a tree not only beautiful, but also very useful. The wood of this unique plant is very durable and resistant to decay, so it is widely used in the construction industry. And several centuries earlier, the strongest and most reliable ships were made from it.

The strict outlines of conifers are always appropriate in any landscape design. In summer, they are perfectly combined with the lawn and other flowering crops, shading them favorably, and in winter they save the backyard with their bright branching from dullness and lifelessness. In addition, they endlessly give clean air enriched with healing essential oils. The unjustified superstitions about the prohibitions of growing such crops in private courtyards have sunk into oblivion. Modern gardeners can no longer imagine their garden without evergreen decorations. And there is plenty to choose from. Take a look at which of the coniferous trees is right for you.

Did you know? Coniferous trees lead the list of long-lived plants. The oldest spruce found in Sweden today is considered to be Old Tikko, which, according to various estimates, is more than 9.5 thousand years old. Another "old-timer" - the Methuselah intermountain pine, has been growing in the USA for 4846 years. In general, for conifers, the normal age is measured in millennia. Only 20 ancient trees are known on the globe, of which only one is deciduous - this is a sacred ficus from Sri Lanka, which is 2217 years old.

Tall slender coniferous fir trees in the garden very effective both in single and in composite plantings. Some craftsmen build unique hedges from them. Today's spruce is not only a tall large culture familiar to us since childhood with a cone-shaped narrow crown and dry lower branches. The assortment of prickly beauties is regularly renewed with decorative varieties. For planting in personal plots in demand:

• "Acrocona" (when mature reaches a height of 3 m and a width of 4 m);
• "Inversa" (spruce trees of this variety up to 7 m high and up to 2 m wide);
• "Maxwellii" (is a compact tree up to 2 m high and wide);
• "Nidiformis" (such a spruce no more than a meter high and about 1.5 m wide);
• "Ohlendorfii" (the trunk of an adult tree stretches up to 6 m, the crown is up to 3 m in diameter);
• "Glauca" (spruce with blue needles, this beautiful garden decoration is often used in compositions with deciduous trees).

Fir is a magnificent tree from the Pine family (Pinaceae). Among other conifers, it stands out with purple cones growing upwards and flat needles. The needles are shiny and soft, they are dark green above, and each is marked with a white stripe below. Young seedlings grow for a very long time, and from the age of 10, development accelerates and lasts until the roots die. Despite the prevalence of fir, many find it difficult to answer whether it is a coniferous or deciduous tree. Among gardeners, varieties of decorative balsam fir are in demand:

• "Columnaris" (columnar);
• "Prostrate" (branches grow horizontally, their length is up to 2.5 m);
• "Nana" (tree up to 50 cm high and 1 m wide, rounded flattened crown);
• "Argenta" (silver needles, each needle has a white tip);
• "Glauca" (blue needles with a wax coating);
• "Variegata" (distinguished by yellow spotting on needles).

Juniper is the leader in the list of coniferous trees in terms of bactericidal properties. The plant appeared more than 50 million years ago. Today, scientists classify it to the Cypress family and distinguish about 70 species, of which only nine are cultivated in Ukraine.

Among the juniper variety there are 30-meter giants and 15-centimeter elfins. Each of them has its own characteristics, not only in the form of a crown and hairpins, but also in the requirements for conditions and care. In the garden, such a culture will look in rockeries, rock gardens, and as a hedge. Most often on personal plots there are varieties of ordinary juniper:

• "Gold Cone" (the height reaches 4 m, and the width is 1 m, the branches form a dense narrow-conical shape);
• "Hibernika" (trunk of a mature tree up to 3.5 m high, crown narrow, columnar, 1 m in diameter);
• "Green Carpet" (dwarf variety up to 50 cm tall and 1.5 m in volume, ground cover crown);
• "Suecica" (the shrub stretches up to 4 m and grows in breadth up to 1 m, the crown is columnar).

Important! In the garden, junipers are recommended to be planted away from fruit trees, as they are conductors of a disease such as rust. From a preventive point of view, fruit crops are separated by a protective strip of tall plants, regularly inspected for damage to the branch, pruned as necessary. The affected areas are treated with fungicides.

Do you know which conifers are more common in aristocratic English gardens? Of course, cedars. They kind of frame the entire garden landscape. Such trees have become an integral part of the decoration of the front door or the vast lawn in front of the house. Cedars simultaneously create an atmosphere of home comfort and solemnity. In addition, dwarf forms are widely used for bonsai.

In their natural form, these trees rise majestically in mountain ranges at an altitude of up to 3 thousand meters above sea level and seem like real giants. Wild breeds grow up to 50 m in height. And although mankind has known about this plant for more than 250 years, scientists still cannot come to a single number of cedar species.

Some argue that all mature trees are identical and suggest the existence of only the Lebanese species, while others additionally distinguish the Himalayan, Atlas and short coniferous species. The database of the international project "Catalogue of Life", which is engaged in the inventory of all species of flora and fauna known on the planet, contains information about the above species, with the exception of the short coniferous.

Taking into account the experience of the experts - participants of the project, who managed to collect information about 85% of all life on the globe, we will adhere to their classification of all conifers.

Did you know? Purchased pine nuts, which are loved by many, actually have nothing to do with cedar. The grains of genuine cedars are inedible, unlike the seed of the cedar pine. It is she who in narrow circles is called the Siberian cedar.

Cedar has many decorative forms, differing in the length of the needles, the color of the needles, and in size:

• "Glauca" (with blue needles);
• "Breviramulosa" (with sparse long skeletal branches);
• "Stricta" (columnar crown is formed due to dense, short branches, slightly raised upwards);
• "Pendula" (branches fall down easily);
• "Tortuosa" (distinguished by sinuous main branches);
• "Nana" (dwarf variety);
• "Nana Pyramidata" (short tree with upward branches).

These evergreens from the genus Cypress in their native environment grow up to 70 meters in height and are very reminiscent of cypresses. Through the efforts of breeders, the culture of such coniferous trees is actively replenished with the names of new varieties that will satisfy every taste.

In landscape design, undersized varieties are often used to create hedges, medium trees are planted singly or in compositions, dwarfs are settled in rock gardens and mixborders. The plant easily fits into all design ensembles of garden design, it is distinguished by fluffy and soft needles. When you hit the needles, you will feel a pleasant touch, not a bristly tingle.

Dwarf varieties that do not exceed 360 cm in height are very popular with gardeners. Such popularity is due to the versatility and decorativeness of coniferous bushes. Today the most popular varieties are:

• "Ericoides" (thuja-shaped cypress up to 1.5 m high, shock-shaped);
• "Nana Gracilis" (by the age of 10 it grows up to half a meter, the crown is round or conical);
• "Ellwoodii" (a tree with a columnar crown, transforms into a pyramidal crown with age, grows up to 1.5 m by the age of ten);
• "Minima Aurea" (the plant is dwarf, its crown resembles a rounded pyramid);
• "Compacta" (distinguished by dense branches, neat crown up to 1 m high);

Important! Dwarf varieties "Gnom", "Minima", "Minima glauca", "Minima aurea" winter very badly. Under the snow cover, they will not freeze, but they can sweat. It is recommended to monitor the density of snow.

In the natural environment, these plants are evergreen trees or shrubs with a crown in the shape of a cone or pyramid, a slender trunk covered with thick bark, foliage pressed to the branches and cones ripening in the second year. Scientists know about 25 species of cypress, of which about ten are used in horticulture. Moreover, each of them has its own requirements and whims for growing conditions and care. Common varieties of cypress:

• "Benthamii" (graceful crown, bluish-green needles);
• "Lindleyi" (distinguished by bright green needles and large cones);
• "Tristis" (columnar crown, branches grow down);
• "Aschersoniana" (undersized form);
• "Сompacta" (cypress develops in the form of a shrub, has a rounded crown and bluish needles);
• "Сonica" (pin-shaped crown and blue needles with a smoky shade, does not tolerate frost);
• "Fastigiata" (stocky form with smoky blue needles);
• "Glauca" (crown tends to be more columnar, silver needles, not hardy).

Based on the name, many do not consider this tree to be coniferous and are deeply mistaken. In fact, larch belongs to the Pine family and is the most common species of coniferous crops. Outwardly, this tall, slender tree looks like a Christmas tree, but every autumn it sheds its needles.

The larch trunk in favorable conditions can reach a diameter of 1 m and 50 m in height. The bark is thick, covered with deep brown furrows. The branches grow chaotically upwards at an angle, forming an aura cone-shaped crown. Needles 4 cm long, soft, flattened, bright green. Botanists distinguish 14 types of larch. The following varieties are popular in horticulture:

• "Viminalis" (weeping);
• "Corley" (cushion);
• "Repens" (with creeping branches);
• "Cervicornis" (twisted branches);
• "Kornik" (spherical, used as a scion on a stem);
• "Blue Dwarf" (characterized by short stature and bluish needles);
• "Diana" (slowly stretches up to 2 m, the crown resembles a ball, the branches are slightly spiral, the needles are smoky green);
• "Stiff Weeper" (distinguished by long sprouts creeping along the soil, needles with a bluish tint, often grafted onto a trunk);
• "Wolterdinger" (the crown is dense, similar to a dome, it develops slowly).

About 115 species of pines (Pinus) are known in the world, but seventeen species are common in Ukraine, and only eleven of them are cultivated. From other conifers, pines differ in fragrant needles located on branches in bunches of 2 to 5 pieces. Depending on their number, the breed of pine is determined.

Important! In the open air, pine roots dry out after 15 minutes. Pine planting is best planned for April-May or mid-September.

For garden collections, breeders have bred many miniature forms with slow growth. In large-scale forest park areas, giant natural species of pines are more common. In small adjoining areas and in the backyard, low-growing varieties of pines will look spectacular. Such evergreen bushes can be identified in a rock garden, on a lawn or in a mixborder. Mountain pine varieties are popular, which in the wild is found on Western European slopes and reaches a height of 1.5 to 12 m:

• "Gnom" (characterized by a crown height and diameter of 2 m, needles up to 4 cm long);
• "Columnaris" (shrub up to 2.5 m high and up to 3 m wide, long and dense needles);
• "Mops" (trunk up to 1.5 m high, branches form a spherical shape);
• "Mini Mops" (shrub reaches up to 60 cm, grows up to 1 m in diameter, cushion-shaped crown);
• "Globosa Viridis" (pine shrub height and width about 1 m, ovoid shape, needles up to 10 cm long).

Compact columnar arborvitae of ornamental varieties are found in almost every botanical garden and park. R Asthenia from the Cypress family is cultivated in Ukraine exclusively as an evergreen decoration. Gardeners in the reviews note the culture's resistance to decay, severe frosts and drought.

Thuja has a powerful superficial rhizome, branches growing upwards, forming the shape of a column or pyramid, scaly dark leaves, small cones that ripen in the first year. Weeping, creeping and dwarf varieties are also bred. Of these, varieties of the western thuja (occidentalis) are in the lead, which is distinguished by a fast-growing powerful trunk, reaching a height of 7 m, and branching up to 2 m in diameter. The needles of such a shrub are always green, regardless of the season. The variety "Cloth of Gold" is distinguished by a rich orange tint of needles, in winter the branches acquire a copper tint. Such specimens are best cultivated in shady areas with neutral soil.

Did you know? Thuja spread in Europe thanks to the king of France, Francis the first, who was a fan of the unique cultures that appeared in his garden in Fontainebleau. He called the plant the "tree of life" and ordered that large areas around the palace be planted with it. After 200 years, thuja was already cultivated in the east of Europe. At the same time, inexperienced gardeners were often disappointed, because they grew a marvelous tree from seeds, and instead of the expected "Columna" they got a giant 30-meter monster with rare branches. It is this thuja that grows in its natural environment.

A dense crown in the form of a narrow 7-meter column is created by branches of the medium-sized variety "Columna". It can be seen from afar by dark green needles with a brilliant sheen, which does not change either in winter or in summer. Such a tree is frost-resistant, not demanding in care. For small gardens, compact arborvitae of the "Holmstrup" variety are suitable, which grow up to 3 meters in height and branch out in a volume of up to 1 m, forming a lush conical shape of rich green color.

The variety is characterized by increased frost resistance, tolerates pruning well, is used mainly for creating hedges. Gardeners consider "Smaragd" to be one of the best varieties of thuja with a conical crown. An adult tree reaches 4 m in height and 1.5 m in width. In young specimens, the branches form a narrow cone, and as they age, it expands. The needles are juicy, green with a glossy sheen. In care requires moist soil.

It is a very decorative evergreen columnar tree, reaching a height of 20 meters in adulthood. The shoots grow intensively, annually adding up to 1 m. The branches are covered with scaly leaves, develop in the same plane. The fruits are small. For many, such a wonderful name is a discovery, so in Ukraine you can only meet cupressocyparis in the areas of advanced collectors and ardent landscapers. In its native UK, where the hybrid is cultivated, it is used to create a hedge, especially since the culture is easily adapted after pruning. In Ukraine, the most common varieties of cupressocypress Leyland:

• Castlewellan Gold. It is characterized by resistance to winds and frosts, not demanding in care. It has a bright golden crown. Young branches purple.
• Robinson's Gold. Dense green branches form a pin-shaped wide crown of a bronze-yellow color.
• Leithon Green. It is a tree with an openwork crown of yellowish-green color. The branches are arranged asymmetrically, the trunk is clearly visible.
• Green Spire. A hybrid with bright yellowish leaves and a slightly columnar form.
• "Haggerston Grey". Differs in loose gray-green branches.

Important! Cupressocyparis grows best on fresh, sufficiently moist and mineral-rich substrates, regardless of pH. It is not recommended to plant a plant on waterlogged or dry carbonate lands.

In Japan, this majestic coniferous giant is considered the national tree. It can be found not only in wild forests and on mountain slopes, but also in the design of park alleys. Evergreen cryptomeria grows by the age of 150 to a height of 60 m, in favorable conditions its trunk cannot be hugged - in girth it can reach 2 m.

Branches with a light or dark shade of needles create a narrow dense crown. In some trees, the needles are filled with a reddish or yellowish tone for the winter. To the touch they are not prickly, in appearance they are short, subulate. Cones are round, small, brown, ripen throughout the year. Botanists classify cryptomeria to the Cypress family and distinguish it into a single species. The eastern origin of the culture explains its parallel names.

The people often call the tree "Japanese cedar", which causes indignation among scientists, since cryptomeria has nothing to do with cedar. The adverbs "shan" (Chinese) and "sugi" (Japanese) are also used. Contemplating a majestic tree in the wild, it is hard to even imagine that it can be grown in a home garden or in an apartment. But breeders took care of this by creating many decorative dwarf forms, reaching a height of no more than 2 m. spherical "Compressa", "Globosa".

These are evergreen trees or shrubs belonging to the Yew family, with purple-smoky bark of a smooth or lamellar structure and soft long needles. Scientists distinguish 8 species of the genus, which are common in Europe, North America, Africa and East Asia. In Ukraine, only berry yew (European) grows in its natural environment.

The species is a large tree up to 20 m tall with reddish-brown bark, lanceolate leaves with a narrowed base on short legs. The needles are glossy dark green above and light matte below. In care, these representatives of coniferous trees replenish the list of undemanding crops. Yew needles are dangerous for animals, can provoke severe poisoning and even death. Garden varieties of yew amaze with a wide range. Due to the good adaptation of the plant to pruning, it is used to create borders and various green figures. Each species has its own characteristics. The most common varieties:

• "Aurea". Dwarf yew up to 1 m high, with dense small yellow needles.
• "Pyramidalis". Low pyramidal shape, becomes loose with age. The needles are longer at the base of the branches and shorter at the top. Bush height 1 m, width 1.5 m.
• "Capitata". The crown is in the form of a skittle, grows rapidly, has one or more trunks.
• "Columnaris". The crown is wide columnar. With age, the apex becomes wider than the base.
• Densa. Slow growing, female plant, crown wide, flattened.
• "expansa". Vase-shaped crown, stemless, with an open center.
• Farmen. Low-growing yew with a wide crown and dark needles.

Did you know? Pharmaceutical companies have been using yew raw materials for the manufacture of drugs for malignant tumors for more than 20 years. Berry yew, common in our country, is known for its healing properties for cancers of the mammary glands, ovaries, intestines, stomach, and hormonal imbalance. In Europe, after trimming hedges, gardeners take yew branches to specialized points for further processing.

When choosing an evergreen decoration for your garden or house adjoining area, you need to know not only what coniferous trees and shrubs are, the names of their species and varieties, but it is also important to understand the characteristics of growth, final size, crown shape, development rate, care. Otherwise, instead of a luxurious decoration in the garden, you can get a highly branched monster that will create a shadow for all living things around.

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