A plant from the genus of conifers. Coniferous trees

When choosing species and varieties of conifers, one must take into account how they will look, what sizes they will reach at maturity, not forgetting, of course, about the growth rate, color, and requirements for the habitat. It is important to match all these characteristics with specific conditions, including size garden area... Only in this way will we be able to compose compositions that are interesting in color, contour and spatial relation from conifers.

Most of the conifers and shrubs are light-loving plants. This means that for healthy growth and development, they need enough light, space and a place where they will not suffer from lack of air.

Yews are distinguished by their great adaptability, which develop well in partial shade and even full shade. Shading is transferred by young fir, pseudo-slug, spruce, hemlock, cryptomeria, yessol or Douglas fir, and from pine - Pinus flexilis, P. koraiensis and P. reyse. For cypress trees, the optimal conditions are partial shade or a place not on the sunny side. Thuja adapt relatively well. The rest of the breeds of conifers grown in our country prefer a place in the sun, and junipers do not tolerate shading very well.

As for soil conditions, the requirements for them in conifers are very different. The most unpretentious in this respect are larch, juniper, pine (with the exception of species with five needles in a bunch) and cypress. These rocks grow well on sandy-clay soils, and pines - even on stony soils. Cypress, juniper, larch, spruce and yew trees love lime. Juniper also tolerates drying out soils well. But cypress trees, on the contrary, require an abundance of soil moisture. Spruce grows best on moist clay-sandy soils. Fir, compared to spruce, are more demanding in the quality of the soil. They thrive on deep clay-sandy, moderately moist, nutrient-rich soils and, as a rule, cannot tolerate high level underground waters. For the rest of the conifers and shrubs, more powerful soils are needed, in which there is enough nutrients and moderate soil moisture content. In marshy areas, even in shallow stagnant water, only marsh cypresses grow well.

If we talk about hardening, then most conifers are resistant to cold. Fir, cedar, cryptomeria, spruce and the more delicate species of certain species should not, however, be planted in cold basins where they can freeze.

Of the firs, the most hardy and not afraid of frost are Abies balsamea, A. concolor, A. grandis and A. homolepis; from cypress trees - Chamaecyparis nootkatensis and Ch. lawsoniana; from spruces - Picea abies, P. alba, P. asperata, P. omorika and P. pungens; from the pines Pinus banksiana, P. cembra, and R. voyse.

Fir trees need a place more protected from the winds, and cedars thrive only in such places. Due to the fact that variegated conifers, and from thujas - Thuja orientalis, can suffer from solar radiation in winter, a place for them must be chosen with this in mind.

Coniferous trees also carry contaminated air differently. Some species generally grow quite well in industrial areas. However, the smoky, polluted air cannot stand most of the fir trees at all. Among them, Abies concolor, A. grandis, A. koreana, A. nordmanniana, A. procera, A. veitchii are relatively hardened in this respect. Most spruces, pines and cryptomeria do not tolerate such pollution. Although in the same conditions, some types of cedars and cypress trees, yews, thuja, and from pines - dwarf pine, black pine, Scotch pine, etc., take root quite well.

Those species with soft needles, as well as cypress trees, mainly young ones, some junipers (also at a young age), for example, Chinese juniper, Virginia juniper, and in the spring, when the needles open, and ordinary juniper, suffer from the damage of forest animals. Animals also bite the bark of young larch, and from the pines they choose those with soft needles. Neither the berry yew nor the western thuja... The rest of the conifers do not suffer from animals.

Nursery workers are often faced with the fact that many gardeners seek to acquire for their small plots and front gardens high-growth coniferous trees, not attaching, however, due importance to this point. Moreover, in most cases they are simply attracted by the beauty of young plants and seduced by the size of the specimens sold. Such buyers naively hope that as soon as they plant such plants in the garden, they will immediately become a decoration of the site. They forget that over time, thujas, cypress trees, spruces, firs, pines and other large species will create an almost impenetrable wall, interfere with admiring the surrounding landscape, or even plunge the garden into permanent shade.

Tall coniferous trees

Fir Vetkhov ( Abies veitchii) is a slender tree, reaching 15-20, or even 25 m in height and 4 m in diameter of the crown. It has dense, shiny needles of a dark green color with a silvery sheen on the underside. Every year this tree grows about 70 cm in height and 20 cm in width. It is planted mainly singly in large gardens.

European spruce, or ordinary ( Picea abies) - a well-known tree with a height of 20-25 m (it can reach 30-35 m), with a narrow pyramidal crown and symmetrical branches located in a horizontal plane. It grows violently, annually increasing by about 80 cm in height and 30 cm in width. It is used more often in large gardens and parks alone or in group plantings as trimmed hedges.

Serbian spruce, or Balkan ( Picea omorika) is a beautiful, surprisingly slender tree, the crown of which begins to branch strongly from the bottom. It is one of the most hardy conifers, is not afraid of frost at all and withstands city air well. This spruce reaches 25-35 m in height, but at the ground its width is only 2-3 m. Its annual growth is approximately 50 cm in height and 15-20 cm in crown diameter. Serbian or Balkan spruce is a singularly planted plant of exceptional value, suitable for large and medium-sized gardens.

Black pine, Austrian ( Pinus nigra austriaca - P.n. ssp. nigra) first has a conical, and later - an ovoid crown, reaching 4-8 m in diameter. This tree can reach a height of 20 m, and in exceptional cases even 25 m. The annual growth averages 70 cm in height and 35 cm in crown diameter. Black pine is a wonderful tree for large gardens; she loves dry, water-permeable soil, which also contains lime.

Falling larch, or Western European ( Larix decidua), also a very tall tree, rising upwards and 35 m. Its crown is wide, 4-6 m in diameter, the needles are light green, sometimes even gray-green. This larch grows faster than all other conifers, adding about 80 cm in height and 50 cm in crown diameter per year. Such a tree needs a place in the sun, a lot of free space around and deep, but not too light soil with sufficient permeability.

One of Lawson's cypress varieties ( Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Alumii") of bluish-steel color is a very slender coniferous tree with a dense cone-shaped crown. It reaches about 10 m in height and 2-3 m in diameter. Its annual growth is about 30 cm in height and 10 cm in width. This variety is unassuming, loves a sunny place and is believed to tolerate frost well. It is planted mainly one at a time or is used to create hedges of an unusual shape.

Yew berry, or ordinary, European ( Taxus baccata) is able to withstand deep shadow, although it develops well in full sunlight. This tree is 10-20 m in height with a rounded crown of 10-15 m in diameter. It is often bush-shaped and reaches a very respectable age. He also loves calcareous soil, which allows water to pass through well; it is planted singly or in group compositions, like undergrowth next to taller trees. Berry yew is also suitable for creating hedges, and free growing, and trimmed. Its annual growth in height is, like in diameter, about 30 cm.

Thuja western ( Thuja occidentalis) is a cone-shaped growing coniferous tree with short horizontally located branches, reaching 10-15 m in height and 3-4 m in diameter. Its annual growth is about 20-30 cm in height and the same in width. The tree loves a sunny location, is extremely frost-resistant and is especially well suited for planting as natural free-growing or trimmed hedges.

White fir ( Abies concolor) is a tree 20-30 m in height with a straight trunk and a beautiful cone-shaped crown beginning at the very ground with a diameter of up to 3-4 m. This fir has peculiar, sickle-shaped bent gray-green needles. The annual growth of the plant is 50 cm in height and about 15 cm in crown diameter. It loves the sun, is very frost-resistant and tolerates a smoky, polluted atmosphere. Monochromatic fir needs a nutritious soil with sufficient water permeability and a place with good solar lighting... It is considered an excellent single tree in a large city.

Medium conifers

In the decoration of gardens and parks, conifers of medium size and even very squat trees play a significant role. Shorter species are usually planted near access roads or walking paths, near houses and summer cottages, as well as in rock gardens and in those places where, for whatever reason, it is not possible to plant trees that reach large sizes.

V last years Korean fir (Abies koreana) is especially popular with gardeners. This slow-growing tree has a dense pyramidal crown, and in adulthood it is, as a rule, not so high as wide, reaching 2-4 m in height and 2-3 m in diameter, although it can be larger - up to 8 m height and 4 m in diameter. Every year the tree rises up by about 30 cm and spreads out 15-20 cm in width. Korean fir is very prolific. AND young tree produces beautiful, purple-violet buds up to 7 cm long.

Attractive in appearance is the gently pubescent variety of Lawson's cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Ellwoodiif), which has gray-blue scaly needles and a narrow, pyramidal crown. Mature tree reaches 2-3 m in height and about 1 m in crown diameter. This cypress variety grows slowly (annual growth is about 20 cm in height and 5-10 cm in diameter), is very unpretentious and is considered by gardeners to be an excellent single plant that can be planted in small gardens.

The slender pea cypress of the Chamaecyparis pisifera "Plumosa Aurea" variety is distinguished by its striking yellowish-golden needles and a wide conical shape. It reaches 6-8 and even 10 m in height and 2-3, or even 4 m in crown diameter. The annual growth of the tree averages 25 cm in height and 15 cm in width. This is a very modest, undemanding plant, but loves, however, humid places and sandy, well-permeable soil. It should be borne in mind that the needles acquire a juicy color only when the tree grows in the sun. This type of tree can be placed singly and in group plantings, in the form of hedges.

In recent years, another interesting pea cypress cultivar, Ch.p. "Boulevard". It grows slowly and forms a conical, densely branched crown, reaching 2 m in height and 1 m in crown diameter. This is also an undemanding plant that loves water-permeable soil and a sunny place. In horticultural practice, the tree is placed singly. With its luscious steel-blue color and soft needles, this cypress tree looks especially good in the middle of the lawn.

An attractive common juniper of the Juniperus communis "Hibernica" variety, which is distinguished by a slender pillar-like shape and belongs to the number of conifers, suitable both for planting in large gardens and parks, and in small areas. As a rule, it reaches 3-4 m in height and about 1 m in crown diameter. Its not too prickly and dense needles have a silvery bluish-green color. This variety of common juniper loves the sun, sandy, water-permeable soil and looks great in untouched corners of the garden, in large rock gardens and near them, as well as in heather thickets. It is planted both individually and in small groups.

Picea glauca "Conica" is a slow growing white spruce crop. In adulthood, the plant can reach 3-4 m in height. It is planted both individually and in a group and, of course, is also placed in rock gardens

Juniperus chinensis "Pfitzeriana" is an unpretentious, well-growing and decorative juniper with sprawling, slightly curved branches. It is placed mostly singly. Juniper reaches 2 m in height and about 4 m in crown diameter. One of its varieties J.oh. "Pfitzeriana Aurea" is distinguished by widely spreading branches and gray-green, when blooming - golden-yellow, and in winter - bronze needles. It reaches about 2-2.5 m in height and has 6-8, and sometimes even 10 m in diameter of the crown. During the year, the plant gains a height of only about 20 cm, while in width its growth is up to 40 cm. frost-resistant variety belongs to the most beautiful junipers with a spreading crown, loves soils that allow water to pass through well, and sunny, in extreme cases, slightly shaded places. It is planted as a single plant, as well as in groups with other conifers.

The well-known variety of white spruce Picea glauca "Conica" is characterized by a symmetrical conical shape and reaches a height of 3 m with a diameter of 1 m by the age of thirty. The plant grows very slowly (annual increments are 15 cm in height and 5 cm in crown diameter). It is characterized by a dense compact crown and delicate needles of a grassy green color. The plant is great for small gardens, where the best place for it is in the middle of a grassy area or in a rock garden. However, the tree needs light partial shade. It suffers from burns in the sun.

In a quiet corner formed by trees, grasses and perennials, dominated by the three pyramidal junipers Juniperus communis "Hibernica"

Mountain dwarf pine ( Pinus mugo var. pumilio) belongs to the most beloved small-sized pines by gardeners. It has a wide rather than high semicircular crown (the plant reaches 1-1.5 m in height and 3 m in width). Annual growth is within 5 cm in height and up to 10 cm in crown diameter. This undersized pine tree prefers a place well lit by the sun; it can be planted singly, as well as in group plantings.

Conifers with colored needles

The silver-blue variety of prickly spruce (Picea pungens "Glauca") is commonly called silver spruce in everyday life. The shops sell young plants grown from seedlings, which over the years in our conditions reach 10-20 m in height. Along with them, several varieties are bred, propagated by grafting, for example, Picea pungens "Koster", which has juicy silver-blue needles, P.p. "Moerheimi", distinguished by a slender cone-shaped shape and the same silvery-blue needles. The annual growth of these varieties is 15-25 cm in height and 10-15 cm in crown diameter.

To decorate the entrance to the house, two pyramidal junipers Juniperus communis "Hibernica" are planted, immediately attracting attention

Gardeners, especially beginners, should not be overwhelmed by the asymmetrical shape of young grafts. Such a plant, as it develops, evens out, becomes slender over the course of three or more years. But it is often the unusual, quirky form that is characteristic of creeping varieties that is highly valued. P.p. "Glauca Pendula" is an example of this.

Among the firs, distinguished by the juicy blue color of their needles, gardeners choose mainly silver fir, or the noble Abies procera "Glauca"; it is a powerful plant reaching 20-30 m in height. In adult scions, long, up to 25 cm cones appear annually. The annual growth of this tree is usually 30 cm in height and 15 cm in crown diameter.

Chamaecyparis obtusa "Nana Gracilis" in adulthood reaches 2 m in height. It grows slowly. Often used in rock gardens and for planting in large growing vessels

The color of the bluish needles in the genus of junipers is rich and varied. Large, spreading, but not too tall bushes form, for example, juniper varieties of the middle Juniperus chinensis "Pfitzeriana", J.ch. "Hetzii", J. squamata "Meyeri" with a compact shape and clear blue-gray corners grows much more slowly and needs regular hairs: only then does it look beautiful.

An interesting tree with needles of a bluish steel color is the "Glauca" variety of horizontal juniper (J. horizontalis). Due to its short stature, it is well suited for green covering of the soil surface. This plant also successfully develops in semi-shaded areas, rising above ground level by only 20-30 cm; an adult plant is capable of covering an area of 2-3 m 2 with its branches. With fleshy round cones, beautiful pillar-like shape and delicate needles from bluish-green to silvery-gray color, the Virginian juniper variety J. virginiana "Glauca" attracts attention.

Among the conifers of a yellowish color, you can choose extremely picturesque species and varieties for the garden. These include, for example, an interesting cypress tree with hanging branches and golden yellow needles, known as Chamaecyparis lawso-niana "Golden King". In winter, its needles acquire a brownish-yellow tone.

On a hill among alpine plants undersized conifers were planted - Pinus mugo var. mughus and Juniperus communis "Depressa"

The most beautiful cypress trees, painted in yellow tones, include Ch. lawsoniana "Lane", which reaches a height of 5 meters or more, as well as varieties of Chinese juniper, for example J. chinensis Tfitzeriana Aurea ", J. ch." Old Gold ", J. ch." Plumosa Aurea ", whose needles have many shades - from yellowish to juicy golden yellow.

Among the yews and thujas, there are also several representatives with interesting yellow-variegated needles, for example, varieties of berry yew and western thuja (Taxus baccata "Fastigiata Aurea". Thuja occidentalis "Rheingold").

Conifers for rock gardens and garden vases

Rock gardens and the space around them cannot be imagined without conifers. For small rocky gardens and mini-alpinaries, which are broken up in tubs and garden vases, for dry walls or ground cover, primarily dwarf, undersized and creeping varieties of the most different types... They are distinguished by bizarre shapes and outlines, variegated needles. Dwarf plants are characterized by slow growth. Many similar cultures have been bred. Larger species and varieties should be placed in large, monumental rock gardens.

Of the rich assortment of conifers suitable for such plantings, we will name a few that are most familiar to gardeners.

Abies balsamea "Nana", or "Hudsonia" - a dwarf variety of Canadian balsam fir, characterized by a squat nest-like shape. This fir grows slowly, reaching a height of 50-100 cm. Its needles are dark green, short, glossy and dense.

A. concolor "Glauca Compacta" is a very rare dwarf cultivar with a dense asymmetrical crown shape and striking blue-gray needles. (This crop is suitable for larger rock gardens, it can be planted in their neighborhood, as well as placed in the middle of the lawn and in small gardens.

A. koreana - Korean fir in adulthood seems too bulky for a small garden, but nevertheless it is quite suitable for such use. It will take many years before this plant reaches 2-4 m in height. It grows slowly; It often happens that the old Korean fir has a crown diameter that is larger than the height of the entire plant. This tree has beautiful, dense, juicy green needles on top and white underneath, and, most importantly, attractive purple cones that appear even on young fir.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Fletcheri" is a columnar or cone-shaped cypress variety. The needles of young trees are of a lighter gray-green color. This culture is recommended for rock gardens. It reaches a height of 5 meters or more, which should be taken into account in a timely manner.

Ch. I. "Minima Glauca" - a beautiful dwarf form of a cypress tree with branches resembling a shell in their outlines. This variety reaches a height of about one meter and is distinguished by short dull, bluish-green needles with a waxy coating. At first "Minima Glauca" has a spherical shape, but over the years, changing, acquires the contours of a cone.

Ch. obtusa "Crippsii" is a catchy-looking cypress tree with a slowly growing wide cone-shaped crown and light yellow needles with a shade of gray, which sometimes acquire a golden yellow color. It takes many years before the plant reaches three meters in height. This is one of the most beautiful crops among the undersized, the so-called. golden conifers.

Ch. O. "Filicoides" is a slow growing cypress variety with a straight and even shape; sometimes there are also asymmetrical specimens, like bushes. The branches of this plant resemble fern leaves, its needles are dark green. Already a young tree looks spectacular, catchy. For a quarter of a century, it reaches 2 m in height.

Ch. O. "Lycopodioides" is a compact plant with lush green needles, dense, very decorative branches, reminiscent of a lycopodioides. It often looks like a pyramid. In height, this cypress tree reaches 1.5-2 m, in diameter - 2 m.

Picea glauca "Alberta Globe" reaches three meters in height. This tree is placed in rock gardens, in groups of shorter conifers, or in the foreground of the forested part of the site

Ch. O. "Nana Gracilis" grows only 80-100 cm in height many years after planting; the plant is remarkable for its needles of fresh green color and branches like small shells.

Ch. O. "Pygmaea" is a sprawling spherical and dwarf-sized plant with small branches arranged in a ladder and almost horizontally. Its needles are reddish brown at first, and later brownish green and glossy. V winter time the needles take on a reddish-bronze tint. The plant slowly grows in size, reaching 1-2 m in height.

Ch. pisifera "Aurea Nana" - also a dwarf and very slowly growing cypress tree with a cone-shaped crown and needles of succulent yellow color... It is suitable for small rock gardens and garden vases. Ch. p. "Boulevard" is one of the new varieties; It is notable for its dense, straight upward pyramidal crown and the juicy color of the needles, shimmering in the color of blue steel. This tree grows slowly. The oldest specimens barely reach 2.5 m in height. The plant is very hardy, it develops well in the unfavorable atmospheric conditions of industrial cities. Its needles, soft to the touch, acquire a beautiful purple hue in winter. In 1934, the Squarrosa variety was bred. However, only in recent years has it become popular among gardeners. "Boulevard" is also suitable for small gardens. Ch. p. "Nana Aureovariegata" is barely one meter high. This variety has short and delicate branches arranged in a ladder and bent downwards, the ends of which seem to be curled. The needles are very small, dull yellow. The plant is also suitable for small rock gardens. Ch.p. Tilifera Nana "features filamentous branches that hang down on all sides, and fresh green needles. It reaches a maximum of one meter. Ch.p." Plumosa Compressa "is one of the smallest conifers intended for rock gardens. it rises only about 30 cm and is beautifully shaped with light green needles, sometimes bluish.

Yews are very valuable conifers. it single tree that withstands full shade and can act as a dust barrier. It is easier to cut than other conifers, forming a crown. Pictured - Taxus baccata "Repandens"

Cotoneaster multiflorus is sown both as a single plant and in a group: it is undemanding, grows well in direct sunlight and in partial shade.

Thoughtfully using decorative tree species, you can also small garden to create an impressive composition where architecture and greenery will form a single whole.

Cryptomeria japonica is a representative of the hardy Japanese Cryptomeria, growing slowly, with an asymmetric shrub shape and fleshy, bluish-green needles that turn reddish-brown in winter. The plant reaches a height of about one meter and is of interest mainly to those who like to collect various curious cultures. Cryptomeria japonica requires a sheltered site or at least light shelter for the winter.

Juniperus chinensis "Old Gold" is similar to J.ch. "Pfitzeriana Aurea", from which it differs in a more compact crown and a permanent bronze-golden color of the needles, which does not change even in winter. Over the years, the diameter and height of this plant become approximately the same - within one meter.

J. communis "Compressa" is a slow-growing, dwarf-sized variety of common juniper, which grows only 2-5 cm in height per year. It has dense, as if compacted branches and delicate, light bluish-greenish needles. It is remarkable and rare plant, suitable for small rock gardens, the care of which requires special experience. In harsher conditions and in unprotected places, it needs winter shelter spruce branches. J.c. var. depressa has a flat, creeping shape and reaches a height of 50-60 cm. This plant has short and wide needles of green color with a yellowish or brownish tint; in winter they turn bronze. It is a natural, uncultivated juniper native to the highlands of North America. It is one of the finest softwood carpets suitable for large areas in sunlit areas. J.c. "Depressa Aurea" is similar to the previous plant, but until the beginning of summer it retains needles of a juicy golden yellow color and only later acquires a light yellow hue. J.c. "Depressa Aureospicata" is especially suitable for planting in rock gardens. Its young needles are light yellow in color. J.c. "Hibernica" is famous and popular with gardeners. It is an evenly growing juniper with bluish-green needles, reaching 4 m in height. J.c. "Hornibrookii" creeping trunk. Over time, this juniper reaches 2 m in width, but its height, even in an adult specimen, is usually no more than 30-50 cm. Dark brown, glossy branches of different lengths usually lie on the ground, only their tips slightly rise up. Needles, light green, with silvery-white stripes, thick, in winter they acquire a brownish tint. The plant has the ability to cover large rocks of rock gardens or hillsides with a thick carpet.

J. horizontalis "Douglasii" is a beautiful creeping juniper, only 30 cm high, prized for its slow growth. Only a very old plant reaches 2-3 m in crown diameter. His needles are of the color of blue steel, which in the fall takes on a purple hue and a bluish-green waxy coating. This plant is planted in cemeteries.

J. sabina "Cupressifolia" is a low-growing, slow-growing, mainly wide-spread crop with a creeping trunk. In height, it rises by about 60 cm. The needles are dark green. It is mainly used for decorating lawns and slopes. Beautiful and tamarisk-leaved variety of creeping juniper with bluish-green needles - J.s. Tamariscifolia ". It is also short (up to 60 cm) and has widely spread branches.

J. squamata "Meyeri" is a slowly growing creeping juniper with upward-curved branch ends and very spectacular bright bluish-white needles. It reaches a height of 2 m.

J. virginiana "Globosa", or "Nana Compacta", is a low shrub, reaching a meter in height. The plant is distinguished by its spherical shape and dense branching of the crown. Its needles, greenish-gray above and green below, turn pale purple-green in winter. J.v. "Skyrocket", although not one of the undersized (up to 5 m in height), nevertheless deserves attention due to its extremely slender appearance and pillar-like shape. With a height of 2 m, it has a diameter of only 30 cm. Its branches are closely adjacent to each other. The needles are bluish gray. This juniper is especially good among heather thickets and where we would like to break the monotonous monotony of growing conifers and other plants.

Picea abies "Echiniformis" - dwarf spruce with delicate dense branches, light yellow-green needles; it resembles a pillow lying on the ground. Highly beautiful variety for a rock garden, for planting near it and among the lawn. It reaches a height of about 60 cm. "Maxwellii" is distinguished by its density, spherical appearance and light green needles. Its height is about a meter. R. a. "Nidiformis" is a cushion-shaped form of a dwarf spruce, with a nest-like depression in the middle. Well suited for a rock garden. Its height is up to 60-100 cm. R. a. "Pumila Glauca" - growing mainly in width dwarf plant with a dark green crown. Height within 80 cm.

P. glauca "Conica" is a dwarf spruce with a beautiful conical shape and soft light green needles. It grows slowly, reaches 2 m in height, attractive for its spectacular decorative appearance.

P. omorika "Nana" is a dwarf form of the very famous Serbian spruce, characterized by a conical shape with a wide base, dense branches and a compact general view... This plant often has a crown diameter greater than its height. Over the years, it reaches 1.5-3 m in height. The needles on its branches are arranged in a ray-like manner, due to which their bluish coloration from below is also clearly visible.

P. pungens "Glauca Compacta" is a spectacular dwarf form of "silver spruce" 1-1.5 m high with dense branches and beautiful blue needles. Individuals raised from cuttings grow very slowly and are extremely compact in appearance.

P.p. "Glauca Globosa" is a beautiful dwarf spruce form with juicy blue needles and a spherical crown contour. An adult plant is usually no more than one meter in height.

Pinus cembra is a European cedar, one of the most beautiful European pines with a picturesque narrow cone-shaped crown and very dense dark green needles on the front and bluish-white on the back of the needles. Spruce adapts best when planted in good, moderately moist soil. Suitable for use in more severe natural conditions... Loves to have enough free space around her. The tree reaches a height of 10-20 m, but despite this it is quite often planted in large rock gardens.

P. densiflora "Umbraculifera" grows very slowly, it is a low tree, most often with a wide, asymmetrical, umbrella-shaped crown and horizontally arranged branches. Its needles are soft, catchy light bluish-green hue. It is a very hardy variety that reaches about 2 m in height in 30 years.

R. chido is a dwarf tree of almost shrub forms with branches, often creeping along the ground. This plant looks best in natural groups in the garden or in large rock gardens. Height - up to 3-4 m. P.m. van pumilio grows in width rather than height, and is one of the favorite conifers used by gardeners in rock gardens. Reaches one meter in height.

P. pumila "Glauca" is a low-growing shrub pine, similar to elfin wood, but a relative of the European cedar. It reaches a height of 1-1.5 m, it is distinguished by bluish-green needles. The tree grows slowly, unassuming in terms of habitat, but loves moist soils. The plant is suitable for rock gardens and for planting on slopes.

P. sfrobus "Nana" is a dwarf form of the famous Weymouth pine, characterized by a dense and wide crown. The plant is up to 1.5-2 m high, with bluish-green, relatively short needles. It is an undemanding and frost-resistant variety that can be planted singly and in small gardens.

Taxus baccata "Compacts" is a slow growing yew culture of compact oval or conical shape with raised branches and dark green needles. Suitable for small rock gardens.

T. cuspidata "Nana" is a dwarf yew tree with a beautiful dense crown shape and juicy dark green needles. Reaches 1 m in height and 3 m in crown diameter.

T. x media "Hicksii" has a narrow, even crown and light green needles. Grows to a height of 1.5-3 m; suitable for planting both in sunny places and in the shade.

Thuja occidentalis "Rheingold" is a slow growing thuja with a spherical crown and golden-orange needles. It reaches a height of about 1.5 m. Tittle Gem "is a dwarf variety with a dense, rather wide, rather than high crown and juicy green needles. Thus," Recurva Nana "is distinguished by a dense spherical or conical, with a wide crown and green, and in winter - brown needles. the branches are slightly bent in. The adult plant reaches 2 m in height.

T. orientalis "Aurea Nana" is a slow growing thuja with a spherical crown and yellow-green needles. Suitable for small rock gardens.

If you want to plant in the country, then there will be no problems with the assortment: today there are more than 700 species of the subclass of conifers and a huge number of their garden forms. But many of us do not visit the dacha so often, or maybe they want to devote more time to rest, rather than caring for the plants. In this case, your choice is the most unpretentious conifers that require minimal maintenance.

Most resistant to growing natural (natural) species, which, due to their considerable size, are suitable only for large summer cottages. Therefore, we offer 13 of the most unpretentious conifers among decorative forms that will perfectly fit into the design. small summer cottages... We found the presented forms among, and.

Basic requirements for unpretentious conifers

They must hibernate without shelter;
They should not freeze over in winter;
They should not burn in the spring sun;
They shouldn't get wet;
They shouldn't dry out;
They should grow well on all soils (except for waterlogged ones).

Unpretentious junipers

The greatest number of non-capricious forms, tested by time and by more than one summer resident, is among junipers. Junipers grow well on fairly loose, moisture-absorbing, but not heavy soils, both in the sun and in partial shade, some endure strong shading. With an excess of moisture, low-creeping forms first of all suffer, so it is better to plant them on and on the slopes.

Particularly effective compositions on the site are obtained in combination with.

They are harmonious in high quality flower beds.

1. Chinese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis) ‘Old Gold’

Luxurious golden juniper, which fully justifies its name - " antique gold "... It is almost like a cube: up to 2 m in height and width. The yellow-bronze color of the needles is preserved in winter. Very stable.

2. Juniper horizontal (Juniperus horizontalis) ‘Andorra Compact’

Juniperus horizontalis Andorra Compact. Photo from the site rohelineaed.ee

Especially rich in unpretentious decorative forms juniper horizontal (Juniperus horizontalis) ... Let's take a horizontal juniper "Andorra Compact". This is a shrub with a cushion-shaped crown 0.3-0.4 m high and up to 1 m in diameter. The needles are small, scaly, gray-gray-green, in winter they acquire a slightly purple hue. Photophilous, but tolerates slight shading. Grows well on moist, sandy loam soils.

3. Juniper horizontal (Juniperus horizontalis) ‘Blue Chip’

Slow growing ground cover shrub for small rocky garden 0.2-0.3 cm high and up to 1.5 m in diameter. The needles are silvery-blue, slightly purple in winter.

4. Juniper horizontal (Juniperus horizontalis) ‘Wilton’

Ground cover shrub, spreading in a dense low carpet. At the age of 10, it reaches a height of 0.1-0.15 m.With such a small height, it spreads in breadth by 2-3 m or more. The needles are silver-blue. Suitable for growing in containers, harmonious in rocky gardens.

5. Juniper horizontal (Juniperus horizontalis) ‘Prince of Wales’

Dense low shrub 0.2 m high and about 2 m wide. Scaly needles, dense, bluish-green, in winter with a grayish-pink tint. Grows best in open, sunny places, tolerates slight shading.

6. Juniper scaly (Juniperus squamata) 'Blue Spider'

A very low juniper with a height of only 0.3 m, but growing in breadth up to 1 m, with amazingly beautiful emerald needles.

Endurance record holder! Powerful, rapidly growing species, 0.3-1.5 m high, 1.0-2.5 m wide. Its needles are very beautiful.

You can pick up various types of juniper in our catalog, where the products of many garden online stores are presented.

This is another winter golden beauty (green needles in summer) from mountain pines. Surprisingly correct, rounded shape of the crown with age becomes somewhat spreading and uneven. At the age of 10, it reaches a height of 0.5 m and a diameter of 1 m.

A wide assortment of pine trees is presented in our catalog, which combines the offers of various online stores.

Mountain pine Mugus (Н100-125, room) 22 680 rub WATCH
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Unpretentious spruce

They ate shade-tolerant, grow well in damp, but not wetlands, do not tolerate drought! Among spruces, the following forms have shown themselves to be very stable in culture.

10. Norway spruce (Picea abies) 'Barryi'

Strong, slow growing dwarf form. At the age of 10, it reaches a height of 2 m. Young plants have a rounded crown, which is lost with age. The needles are shiny, dark green, young shoots are orange-brown.

11. Norway spruce (Picea abies) 'Inversa'

Inverted weeping form with a very narrow, uneven crown due to the shoots falling almost vertically downward. The lower branches lie beautifully on the ground. The height of an adult plant is 6-8 m, width is about 2-2.5 m. The needles are thick, dark green, shiny. It is appreciated by lovers of conifers due to its pronounced individuality.

Among the huge variety of vegetation in the temperate climatic zone, coniferous trees occupy a special place. They appeared on the planet many millions of years ago and are one of the main sources of oxygen. Their role in human economic activity is invaluable. Coniferous plants are used in medicine, chemical and cosmetic industries.

Characteristics of conifers

Conifers include arboreal and shrub forms. Found in almost every corner the globe in mixed forests or taiga zone. By the degree of illumination of the areas they occupy, one can judge what kind of conifers there are. The names determine their photophilousness. These are dark coniferous and light coniferous species.

They belong to the most ancient class, which, in turn, includes the following types of families:

Araucariaceae inhabit the forests of the Southern Hemisphere. Plants of this species are very demanding on moisture and heat. They have wide leaves, large cones and seeds. Bark and wood give off a large amount of resin. They are considered rare and have only about forty varieties.
Podocarpaceae grow on moist, swampy soils of the Australian continent and Asia. The family includes over one hundred and forty species. Leaves can be different sizes and forms.
Pine trees are a large family that occupies vast territories. In Siberia, they form natural biomes called taiga. These include more than two hundred and fifty evergreen and deciduous species.
Cypress grows in northern and southern latitudes. The trees grow up to seventy meters in height and have a very wide trunk. Shrubs are slow growing, can be tall and creeping.

Modern conifers are vascular plants, their seeds develop inside the cones. They are long-livers, the oldest tree is nine thousand years old. And also trees of this species are the record holders in height.

Dark coniferous trees

The most popular varieties are:

The juniper has different shades of needles - from green to golden. It belongs to the lower tier of coniferous and mixed forests. Dwells in temperate climates the Eurasian continent, North Africa and the United States of America. Does not require at home special care due to its unpretentiousness.
Berry yew is a rare species evergreens... The habitat includes the southern regions of Europe and Russian Federation... Yew attracts attention with small needles of light green color and reddish berries, ripening in autumn. Grows in light, alkaline soils with high humidity.
Thuja has a conical crown with emerald-colored needles. Very unpretentious and resistant to winter cold. It harmonizes well with flowering plants, therefore it is often planted in personal plots and city squares.

A beautiful appearance and a wide variety of species allows the use of coniferous shrubs for landscape design in any region.

Conifers include trees, small plants, and evergreen shrubs. The life expectancy of coniferous representatives is quite impressive, so they have the ability to develop defense mechanisms against external factors. Thus, they help many plants to overcome some diseases and get rid of pests. A characteristic feature of conifers is that they do not shed their foliage or needles during the year. They change it gradually, completely imperceptible to the prying eye. That is why they got the name evergreen.

Characteristic features of conifers

Conifers are especially popular in the design of gardens and landscape designs. Every gardener certainly grows at least one coniferous tree or shrub on his land plot. Without coniferous garden just transforms. And it seems that the design of the garden will be unfinished if there is not a single representative of this genus in it.

They become popular decorations in the garden due to their characteristic merits. When growing, ephedra have some advantages.

Pros of evergreen trees and shrubs:

There are many coniferous forest plants, but before planting a coniferous tree on your site for a beginner, you need to carefully study its characteristics.

How to find the right plant

Before you start choosing a suitable coniferous tree or shrub, you need to ask how many species of conifers there are in the region. And which ones are more suitable for the area where they will be grown. In addition, you need to decide for yourself what result should be achieved when planting an ephedra.

What you need to decide on:

what exactly you need to plant a shrub or tree;
the plant will grow alone or a composition with an ephedra is planned;
are the climatic conditions and soil composition suitable for planting ephedra;
what color the tree should be.

When everything has been decided with these questions, you can start choosing a coniferous representative. Next, you need to think carefully about what kind of ephedra will be grown. Based on the variety, the type and shape of the ephedra is selected.

Genus and species of conifers

The number of coniferous plant species in the world is about 560. They grow in different parts of the earth. Therefore, first you need to find out which species can feel comfortable in certain climatic conditions. To find out, you need to get acquainted with the various conifers, examples, names and species.

Most popular spruce

An elegant coniferous monoecious tree, one of the most beloved of all gardeners and decorators. Tall and slender, she can decorate absolutely any design. In total, there are about 50 species of beautiful spruce. Only 8 grow in Russia.

Spruce prefers light, but still remains a shade-tolerant plant. Its root system is located shallow, in upper layers soil. Therefore, in order not to harm the root system, it is impossible to dig up the earth around the spruce. Feels comfortable in sandy and loamy soils. The following are the most popular spruces in gardens and design projects.

Serbian spruce... A fast-growing tree, it can grow over 40 m. It has a specific color. At the top, the crown of the tree has dark green needles, at the bottom of the crown there are white stripes on the needles. Due to the specific color of the needles, the spruce appears bluish-green.

A special grace and charm to the fabulous plant is given by brown cones with a purple tint. Spruce can often be seen in parks along the alley; it also looks good in a single composition. There are dwarf analogues of the Serbian spruce. They grow only up to 2 meters, but in beauty and grace they are not at all inferior to their stately sister.

Siberian spruce... This representative of the species can be found in the Urals, in Eastern and Western Siberia, in the Far East. It grows up to 30 meters in height. Has a wide-conical dense crown. Sharpens towards the top. Its cones are brown, ovoid, cylindrical in shape. There are several subtypes of Siberian spruce. They differ among themselves in a varied color of needles, which can be either ordinary green or silver and even golden hue.

European, or ordinary spruce... The plant can live 300 years, and by this age its height will reach about 50 meters. The crown of the tree is characterized by a pyramidal density. The trunk diameter in some cases reaches up to 1 meter. For 1 year, a spruce can grow by 50 cm, so it is rightfully called a fast-growing coniferous plant. The cones have the usual oblong cylindrical shape. They ripen in October.

Experienced breeders have bred decorative hybrids of this species of spruce. In landscape design, design of parks and gardens, decorative weeping, small-sized and compact spruces are now very popular.

Pine and its types

There are more than 100 representatives of the pine trees. Pine grows well in forests, worse within the city. It tolerates well both drought and severe frosts. Therefore, the plant can often be seen in northern regions... The pine tree looks great in group plantings and in single, thanks to its dense spreading crown. Prefers stony, sandy, and calcareous soils.

It is striking that with the onset of frost, the needles of the tree are covered with wax, while their stomata are closed. This means that in cold weather the pine simply stops breathing. In this form, she will sleep all winter. You can read about the most popular types of pine in decoration below.

Common pine... In height, it is considered the first tree in the forest. It can reach a height of up to 40 m. The trunk diameter can be equal to 1 meter. Has a gray-green dense needles. On a branch, needles can be located in different ways. It can grow in bunches of 2 needles, can stick out in different sides, concave needles are found. The needles live for 3 years, after which they turn yellow and fall off. Instead of the fallen ones, new, young needles grow. Cones are brown, 2-3 pieces are located on a branch. Often the bump reaches 6 cm or more in length.

Root system may be different, it depends on the places of its growth. Sometimes a tree can remain a dwarf altogether if it grows in unfavorable conditions for it. On average, a tree lives for 200 years, but there have been cases in history when a tree could live for 400 years. Pine can grow 50-70 cm in height annually. It is considered a fast growing tree. Fruiting begins at the age of 40.

Mountain pine... Multi-stemmed plant 10-20 meters tall. There are dwarf varieties, only 40-50 cm tall. The diameter of an adult tree can be 3 meters. Ornamental plant with long curved dark green needles. Already at the age of 3, the ripening of the cones begins. Dwarf pine is very good in the design of park areas and on the rocky shores of the reservoir.

Yellow pine... Height up to 10 meters. It grows well in regions with a warm climate. This type of pine almost completely endures the conditions of the city. Juveniles cold winter may freeze a little. Does not tolerate winds, it is necessary to plant it only in groups.

Weymouth Pine... Spectacular pine with blue-green needles. The bumps give it sophistication. curved... Grows up to 30 meters. She can be called a long-liver. A tree can live for 400 years. Although it can withstand frosts, it does not tolerate winds at all.

The pine genus can look great in any design project. And it doesn't matter if it will be landed alone or in small groups.

Cephalotis trees

Very interesting conifers. Their needles are located on branches opposite each other or in pairs in 2 lines. Plants grow mostly in China, Japan, Korea, on the island of Taiwan. Capitate yews are monoecious, they are capable of self-pollination. They can be dioecious, that is, they can bloom with female and male flowers. So far, the genus Cephalotis has not been fully understood.

Cypress trees and shrubs

Representatives of cypress can be in the form of trees and shrubs. Plants grow in warm climatic conditions. In all types of cypress, the leaf of a coniferous plant adheres tightly to the branch. The plant is monoecious. It is capable of self-pollination. The male bumps have an oval shape with an attractive sheen. Womens are like a rod with scales. The crown shape is mostly pyramidal. The plant looks very nice in decoration.

All conifers in landscape design are simply irreplaceable. They are able to revive any design at any time of the year.

Many gardeners are hobbyists to decorate their garden or suburban area choose coniferous vegetation. After all, these are not only magnificent evergreen alleys for walking, but also healing air. In addition, conifers are unpretentious and perfectly complement the landscape both in composition and separately.

Thanks to almost all conifers and shrubs retain their outfit all year round your green garden will delight the eye at any time of the year, to the envy of your neighbors. With the help of conifers, be they giants or dwarfs, you can create a noble and original landscape even in your small summer cottage.

Coniferous plant names

In the conditions of the Russian climate, the most popular and widespread conifers are:

fir;
juniper;
Pine;
cypress;

Ways to decorate the site

Coniferous "decoration" open space can be done in several ways:

To create an original unique composition, you should first familiarize yourself with the characteristics of various conifers and determine in advance their place on your site.

Conifers for the garden: types and descriptions

Combination of plants different varieties and species will create a unique landscape on your site, but at the same time it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of each group, its advantages and disadvantages. But not all types of conifers are suitable for decorating a garden.

Landscape designers have long identified the types of conifers that go well with other trees and shrubs and take root well.

Basic a representative of this species of conifers is yew... This plant has needle-like leaves arranged in two rows or asymmetrically. Yew can be both dioecious and monoecious. There are about twelve species in the yew family. They grow mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, since representatives of this genus of conifers are very demanding on the composition of the soil and air humidity.

Drained soil provides plants with active growth, and thanks to a powerful root system, they receive a sufficient amount of the necessary substances.

Yew trees are recommended to be planted in areas well protected from the wind and preferably in partial shade. With this arrangement, the plant will have a brighter saturated color. Yew does not grow on acidic soils, as well as on wetlands.

Cypress

Among the twelve members of this family there are both trees (for the most part) and shrubs... They are also subdivided into frost-hardy and heat-loving plants. This type of conifers requires special attention, which consists in the observance of certain conditions.

All types of cypress trees are easy to grow from seed. Due to their spectacular appearance, representatives of the cypress family have gained immense popularity among landscape designers.

When landing in a sunny area, the plant will have an unpresentable yellow color, therefore, in order to protect the dark green crowns from burning out, it is better to place the cypress in a shaded place.

Pine

Largely representatives of the pine family are quite large(up to 50 m in height) and therefore not always suitable for garden decoration. They will look especially ridiculous on small area... Therefore, before giving preference to one or another species of the pine family, it is necessary to clarify its future dimensions. These plants are mainly found in the wild and are generally found in Europe and Asia.

The main the advantage of pine is that they tolerate well as heat and frost. The root system of this ephedra is quite well developed and tends to grow actively. Therefore, it is necessary to pre-allocate a large place on the site where the ephedra will not interfere with the growth and development of other plants.

Representatives of the pine family all year round delight the eye with the rich green color of the needles and do not need special care.

Tall species of conifers

The following types are quite high:

If you do not want to have a too tall coniferous plant on your site, you can regulate its growth by pinching the shoots. But this must be done every year in order to avoid the appearance of a freak plant in the garden.

Medium-sized conifers

Conifers medium-sized plants will serve as an excellent landscape decoration your garden. They perfectly complement small flower beds, keeping their presentable appearance in winter period... Usually these conifers are planted about entrance doors and along the paths, which gives symmetry in the design of the site.

Especially popular among conifers of medium height are:

golden yew;
spherical thuja Globosa.

Dwarf conifers for the garden

First of all, it should be clarified that it is far not all so-called dwarf conifers are... So, a dwarf spruce can grow up to 2 meters high. But this is a rarity - usually dwarf species of conifers reach a height of no more than a meter. They look great in combination ornamental grasses and stones.

The most common varieties are:

Korean fir Piccolo;
mountain pine Hampi;
spruce Lombers.

Features of caring for conifers

In order for conifers to please the eye both in winter and in summer, they need constant care... An important role is played by the location of the plant. The ideal planting spot is a semi-shaded spot in the corner of the garden. The soil must be sufficiently moistened, and the level of its fertility can be medium, since you can always add the missing elements yourself by applying the appropriate fertilizers. However, any rule has its exceptions - pines grow better in the sun, and yews and spruces feel quite comfortable in the shade.

If you only planning to plant conifers and shrubs, then you should not worry about the lack of black soil on your site - they will need only 20-25 cm of fertile land. As a last resort, add a small layer of black soil and some fertilizers. It is also recommended to mulch the soil - this will save it from sharp freezing during frost and protect it from weeds.

Useful with the properties of conifers were known to people five centuries ago... This is confirmed by the found tablets of the most ancient civilization - the Sumerians. By planting only a few units of yew or juniper in your garden. You will arrange a "health resort" right next to your home, and coniferous plants will "thank" you for the care and attention for many years to come.