Canadian (gray) spruces have long been loved by gardeners and are widely used in landscape design. Canadian spruce, the species of which are represented by more than 20 names, can be used both in single plantings and in rock gardens, groups of conifers and heather gardens. Despite the fact that all varieties of Canadian spruce have the same origin, each of them is especially beautiful and unique.

Canadian spruce Daisy's White

In its shape, this variety resembles the well-known Konica. The needles of this tree are soft and bright green. Special decorative properties The Christmas tree gains strength when new growth appears, which occurs in late May - early June. At first they are yellowish-white in color, later they turn green. In the spring, when the first growth appears in sunny weather, white needles tend to burn. Typically, the color of the second summer growth is green.

Canadian spruce Daisy White grows relatively slowly and reaches 0.8 m only by the age of 10. The recommended place for planting is sun or partial shade. The tree requires well-drained soil with optimal levels of moisture and fertility. In March, protection from bright sunlight is necessary. To ensure moist and loose soil in the tree trunk circle, mulching is carried out. To do this, you can use peat, mowed grass and other natural ingredients.

Daisy White is a beautiful evergreen tree. Due to its miniature size and summer decoration, a small unpretentious Christmas tree becomes a decoration of a heather garden, and also harmoniously combines with other types of dwarf conifers and herbaceous plants.

Canadian spruce Alberta Globe

This variety represents coniferous evergreen shrub spherical in shape, which is a mutation of the popular Konica. The tree grows very slowly. The height of an adult plant is 1 m with 1 m in diameter. The soft radial needles are green-yellow at an early age and bright green when old. Such needles form very dense, rounded needles.

Alberta Globe prefers to grow in a sunny area, but can also develop in partial shade. This variety has a shallow root system, so it is very important not to let the soil dry out. The Christmas tree responds well to watering in the evening. Like other conifers, it is recommended to mulch natural materials, which allows you to maintain soil moisture and looseness at optimal level. Globular variety Canadian spruce will be an excellent addition to compositions in oriental style, looks great in rocky and heather gardens. In addition, it can be used as a potted plant.

Canadian spruce Sanders Blue

Sanders Blue - decorative variety conical shape, compared to Konica, a little narrower. It has bright blue needles. This is a real dwarf. Its growth is so slow that by the age of 10 it barely reaches 70 cm. Young shoots are quite numerous, have thin and short needles, which provide the Christmas tree with a silvery appearance. blue tint. Young needles always look brighter than old ones.

Canadian blue spruce grows well in a sunny location. Prefers moist, slightly acidic soil with good drainage. Differs in frost resistance.

However, during the first years after planting it needs protection from ultraviolet sunlight. Does not tolerate waterlogging well. During dry periods, it requires artificial irrigation. Like other spruce trees, mulching is recommended.

It is worth considering and remembering that the tree is susceptible to infection by pine spider mites. In this regard, it is very important to have an insecticide on hand in order to treat the tree in a timely manner.

Unfortunately, the tree is not yet very popular in middle lane Russia. But it is worth saying that if you follow the simplest agricultural techniques, you can get a wonderful small specimen of decorative Canadian spruce, which is perfect for a rocky hill, a small garden or winter garden, where its bizarre shape and color can amaze even experienced gardeners.

Canadian spruce Echiniformis

A dwarf variety that appeared in France in the middle of the last century. It is one of the dwarf and slowest growing forms of Canadian spruce with a spherical crown. Growth is no more than 2 cm per year. The needle is small with a greenish-blue tint, the shoots are short. The diameter of the tree at 10 years is only 30 cm, and at 30 years – 1 m. The spherical shape is obtained thanks to the young shoots sticking out in all directions. Over time, the crown resembles a pillow. Therefore, this Christmas tree is often called pillow spruce, although it is still the same Canadian white (gray) spruce. The needles of Echinoformis are arranged radially. It is narrow, short and thin.

This variety tolerates winter well in central Russia, but winter period The crown needs protection from damage by snow load.

It prefers slightly acidic soils and tolerates pruning well. Echinoformis is excellent decorative element for landscape compositions. Can be used in low borders.

Canadian spruce Rainbow's End

Rainbow End is a dwarf cone-shaped plant. Like all blue spruces, it grows slowly. By the age of 10, its height is 1 m. During the year, the tree gives 2 increments. In spring it is green, in summer it is bright yellow.

When growing in partial shade, the yellow tint of the growth may fade, and in the shade it may turn green. In order for the entire Christmas tree to be dressed in “gold”, it is necessary to plant it in a sunny place. However, in March and April it is recommended to protect the tree from scorching sun rays. This needs to be done not only when young, but also mature age. When grown in conditions more than mild winters, spring burns can only be found on unkempt spruce trees.

Spruce needles are short (does not exceed 10 mm), soft. The shoots are also short, needle-shaped, thin, and light green in color.

Like all spruces, Rainbow End prefers fertile soil with drainage.

It is better to purchase seedlings in plastic pots with slow-release fertilizer. In this case, when transplanting (transferring), the root system of the plant is not damaged and it is guaranteed to take root. In addition, buying in pots is advantageous because spruce can be planted from March to November, including on hot days, without purchasing additional fertilizers.

Caring for Rainbow End is no different from caring for representatives of other varieties. It is important to timely apply complex fertilizers, mulching, regular watering, cultivation, weeding, and avoid sodding. This variety is resistant to frost, but sensitive to air pollution and smoke.

The variety was bred in Poland. Today it is not widely used in landscape design. Rainbow End is in demand mainly only among professional gardeners who seek to control the size of their gardens from the very beginning of design. Can be grown as a container crop or used for contrasting plantings.

Canadian spruce Blue Planet

Blue Planet is a little-known variety of Canadian gray (white) spruce. Rarely found on the domestic market. This is a truly ornamental plant. A low Christmas tree with a bush-like shape in adulthood has a height of only 50-60 cm. And the diameter of the crown is 80-100 cm.

It grows slowly, but faster than other varieties of Canadian spruce. The average annual growth is about 5-6 cm. The variety is reminiscent of Glauca Globosa in its characteristics. At an early age, spruce shoots grow unevenly. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the shape of the crown.

Over time, the silhouette transforms and the crown acquires a round or spherical shape. The needles of Blue Planet are short (does not exceed 2 cm). The needles are hard, prickly, dark bluish-green in color. In the sun they can acquire a unique steely blue color. This dwarf tree feels good both in an open, well-lit place and in partial shade.

However, in low light conditions, the needles do not show a bluish tint. It does not have any special soil requirements, so it can grow well in any soil. garden soil. But important optimal watering and timely feeding. The variety is winter hardy. Easily affected by pine spider mites.

Canadian spruce Zuckerhut

Decorative form of gray Canadian spruce. The crown of the plant is dense, bright green. It grows slowly. Annual growth is about 5 cm. The height of the tree at maturity is 1.5 m. The crown in diameter is about 0.8 m. The needles are radially located, soft. No different from other spruce trees, it prefers a sunny place, but at the same time tolerates shading well. To prevent the needles from suffering from spring sunburn, it is recommended to cover them from the sun. It grows best on sandy loams and loams. Root system Spruce is shallow, so sprinkling and watering during the hot period is simply necessary. Mulching is also necessary to keep the soil loose and moist. Plant materials are used for this.

Due to small sizes and bright green color, the Christmas tree is planted as a tapeworm in small gardens, in contrasting groups of conifers. It is appropriate next to deciduous and herbaceous plants on rocky hills and in rock gardens. Can be used as a container culture, where it also looks good.

Rhubarb can not be found on everyone garden plot. It's a pity. This plant is a storehouse of vitamins and can be widely used in cooking. What is not prepared from rhubarb: soups and cabbage soup, salads, delicious jam, kvass, compotes and juices, candied fruits and marmalade, and even wine. But that's not all! A large green or red rosette of plant leaves, reminiscent of burdock, protrudes beautiful background for annuals. It is not surprising that rhubarb can also be seen in flower beds.

3 delicious sandwiches - a cucumber sandwich, a chicken sandwich, a cabbage and meat sandwich - a great idea for a quick snack or for an outdoor picnic. Only fresh vegetables, juicy chicken and cream cheese and some seasonings. There are no onions in these sandwiches; if you wish, you can add onions marinated in balsamic vinegar to any of the sandwiches; this will not spoil the taste. Having quickly prepared snacks, all that remains is to pack a picnic basket and head to the nearest green lawn.

Depending on the varietal group, the age of seedlings suitable for planting in open ground, is: for early tomatoes - 45-50 days, average ripening periods - 55-60 and late ones - at least 70 days. When planting tomato seedlings at a younger age, the period of its adaptation to new conditions is significantly extended. But success in obtaining a high-quality tomato harvest also depends on carefully following the basic rules for planting seedlings in open ground.

Unpretentious “background” plants of sansevieria do not seem boring to those who value minimalism. They are better suited than other indoor decorative foliage stars for collections that require minimal care. Stable decorativeness and extreme hardiness in only one species of sansevieria are also combined with compactness and very rapid growth - rosette sansevieria Hana. The squat rosettes of their tough leaves create striking clusters and patterns.

One of the brightest months of the garden calendar pleasantly surprises with the balanced distribution of favorable and unfavorable days for working with plants according to the lunar calendar. In June, you can garden and garden throughout the entire month, while the unfavorable periods are very short and still allow you to do useful work. There will be optimal days for sowing and planting, for pruning, for a pond, and even for construction work.

Meat with mushrooms in a frying pan is an inexpensive hot dish that is suitable for a regular lunch and for a holiday menu. Pork will cook quickly, veal and chicken too, so this is the preferred meat for the recipe. Mushrooms - fresh champignons, in my opinion, are the most good choice for homemade stew. Forest gold - boletus, boletus and other delicacies are best prepared for the winter. Boiled rice or mashed potatoes are ideal as a side dish.

I love ornamental shrubs, especially unpretentious and with interesting, non-trivial coloring of foliage. I have various Japanese spirea, Thunberg barberries, black elderberry... And there is one special shrub, which I will tell you about in this article - viburnum leaf. To realize my dream of a garden that does not require great care, he probably fits perfectly. At the same time, it is capable of greatly diversifying the picture in the garden, from spring to autumn.

It is no coincidence that June remains one of the favorite months of gardeners. The first harvest, new crops in the vacant places, rapid growth plants - all this cannot but rejoice. But the main enemies of gardeners and garden bed dwellers are pests and weeds- also this month they use every opportunity to spread themselves. Sowing work is waning this month, and seedling planting is reaching its peak. The lunar calendar in June is balanced for vegetables.

Many dacha owners, when developing their territory, think about creating a lawn. The imagination, as a rule, draws magical pictures - a smooth carpet of green grass, a hammock, a deck chair, a barbecue and beautiful trees and shrubs around the perimeter... But when faced with laying out a lawn in practice, many are surprised to learn that creating a beautiful, even lawn is not so easy. And, it would seem, everything was done correctly, but here and there strange bumps appear or weeds sprout.

June chart gardening work capable of surprising anyone with its richness. In June, even lawns and ponds require attention. Some ornamental plants have already finished flowering and need pruning, others are just getting ready for the upcoming show. And sacrifice decorative garden in order to take better care of the ripening harvest is not the best idea. IN lunar calendar There will be time in June to plant new perennials and potted arrangements.

Cold pork leg terrine is a meat snack from the category of budget recipes, because pork legs are one of the cheapest parts of the carcass. Despite the modest ingredients, appearance The dishes and their taste are top notch! Translated from French, this “game dish” is something between a pate and a casserole. Since in times of technical progress there have been fewer game hunters, terrine is often prepared from livestock meat, fish, vegetables, and cold terrines are also made.

In cute pots or fashionable florariums, on walls, tables and window sills - succulents can withstand weeks without watering. They do not change their character and do not accept conditions that are comfortable for most capricious people. indoor plants. And their diversity will allow everyone to find their favorite. Sometimes looking like stones, sometimes like fancy flowers, sometimes like extravagant sticks or lace, fashionable succulents have long been not limited only to cacti and fat plants.

Trifle with strawberries - light dessert, common in England, USA and Scotland. I think this dish is prepared everywhere, just called differently. Trifle consists of 3 - 4 layers: fresh fruit or fruit jelly, biscuit cookies or sponge cake, whipped cream. Usually, custard is prepared as a layer, but for a light dessert they prefer to do without it; whipped cream is enough. This dessert is prepared in a deep transparent salad bowl so that the layers are visible.

Weeds are bad. They prevent you from growing cultivated plants. Some wild herbs and shrubs are poisonous or can cause allergies. At the same time, many weeds can bring great benefits. They are used and how medicinal herbs, and as an excellent mulch or component of green fertilizer, and as a means of repelling harmful insects and rodents. But in order to properly fight or use this or that plant for good, it needs to be identified.

Spruce belongs to the genus Picea (resinous plants) of the pine family. It is distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arctic Circle to the south. About 50 species of spruce are known, their photos and descriptions can be found on this page.

In the European part, up to 10 species of spruce grow, and there are a great variety of them. But mainly five types of decorative spruce trees are used in landscaping.

This culture is a monoecious evergreen tree with a cone-shaped crown, gray bark and dense needles. The root system is superficial. The advantage of all decorative forms of fir trees is that they form a crown naturally and do not require pruning.

Common spruce is a tree up to 40 m tall with a trunk up to 1-1.5 m in diameter. The crown is cone-shaped, with distant or drooping branches, rising at the end, and remains sharp until the end of life.

bark common spruce reddish brown
The bark of the Norway spruce is gray

The bark of the common form of spruce is reddish-brown or gray, smooth or fissured, of varying degrees and nature of fissuring, and relatively thin.

spruce shoots
spruce shoots

The shoots are light brown or rusty yellow, glabrous. Buds are 4-5 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, ovoid-cone-shaped, pointed at the apex, light brown; their scales are bluntly triangular, light or reddish brown.

Spruce needles
Spruce needles

The needles are 8-20 mm long, 1-1.8 mm wide, tetrahedral in shape, have a sharp apex, with 2-4 stomatal lines on each side, dark green, shiny; the needles last 6-7 (up to 10-12) years.

Spruce cones
Spruce cones

The cones are 10-16 cm long and 3-4 cm thick, oblong-ovate, initially light green or dark purple, brown when mature. The seed scales are obovate, slightly longitudinally folded, convex, notched along the upper edge, sometimes truncated.

Spruce seeds
Spruce seeds

The seeds are 2-5 mm long, brown or dark brown, with a light brown wing that is about 3 times larger than the seed. The seeds open and disperse in the second half of winter.

Spruce
Spruce

Lives in nature for 250-300 years. The annual growth is 50 cm in height and 15 cm in width. Up to 10-15 years it grows slowly, then quickly.

Grows wildly in Europe and Asia. Very demanding on soil moisture and composition. Does not tolerate sandy loam. It grows satisfactorily only in low areas. Very sensitive to air pollution.

All varieties of common spruce are not plants for the garden. It is attractive only at a young age, and over the years it loses its decorative effect, stretches out, and thins out. They represent value various shapes common spruce, which has bushy, spherical, weeping crowns.

It is better to use decorative forms of this spruce in the garden: below are the names and descriptions of the most popular of them.

Spruce "Echiniformis" in the photo

"Echiniformis" (spinate). Dwarf, slow-growing form, reaching 20 cm in height and 40 cm in width. This variety of common spruce has a cushion-shaped crown, unevenly developed in different directions. The shoots are light brown, glabrous, slightly shiny, hard, and relatively thick. Annual growth is 15-20 mm. The buds are light brown, large, cylindrical, rounded.

As you can see in the photo, this variety of common spruce has yellow-green to gray-green needles, the lower needles are flat with a short sharp tip, the upper ones are star-shaped, located under the terminal cone:

Varieties of common spruce
Varieties of common spruce

Spruce "Compacta" in the photo

"Compact". Dwarf form, usually about 1.5-2 m tall. Old plants sometimes reach 6 m in height with the same crown width. The shoots are numerous, short, raised and brown in the upper part of the crown. The needles are about 9 mm long, shorter towards the top of the shoot, shiny, green.

"Nidiformis" (nest-shaped). Dwarf form, slightly higher than 1 m, wide, dense. The crown is cushion-shaped, flattened, which is obtained in the form of a nest due to the shoots growing obliquely from the middle of the plant and the absence of main branches. The branches grow evenly, fan-shaped and trumpet-shaped. There are numerous shoots. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. The needles are light green, flat, with 1-2 stomatal lines, which are hallmark, 7-10 mm long. Very effective for low borders, in small groups created on parterres and rock gardens. Currently one of the most common dwarf forms.

Here you can see photos of common spruce varieties, the names of which are given above:

Varieties of Norway spruce
Varieties of Norway spruce

Canadian spruce in the photo

Canadian spruce– a tree 20-35 m tall, with a trunk 60-120 cm in diameter, with a dense regular cone-shaped dense crown. The branches of young plants are directed upward, while those of old ones are mostly downward and flat.

The bark is smooth or scaly, ash-brown. Young shoots are yellowish or whitish-light brown, glabrous. Buds up to 6 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, almost spherical, non-resinous; their scales are blunt-ovoid, light brown, shiny.

The needles are 8-18 mm long, about 1.5 mm wide, tetrahedral, bluish-green, densely spaced and rather hard, slightly curved, smell quite sharp when rubbed, the needles last up to 11 years.

Look at the photo - this type of decorative spruce has ovoid-cylindrical cones, up to 7 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm thick, light green until ripe, mature - light brown:

Decorative spruce cones
Decorative spruce cones

The seed scales are thin and elastic, solid along the upper edge.

The seeds are 2-3 mm long, light brown, with an orange-brown wing 3 times the length of the seed. The cones ripen in September.

Winter-hardy and quite drought-resistant. Lives up to 300-500 years.

All varieties of Canadian spruce are recommended for single and group plantings; dwarf forms are promising for rocky hills. It grows successfully in both maritime and continental climates. Quite drought-resistant. Not picky about soils, tolerates poor and sandy soils. It resists winds well and is used as a windproof. Less sensitive to gases and smoke than European spruce.

Currently, about 20 decorative forms of this type of spruce have been described; you can find a description of the most popular of them below.

Spruce "Konika" in the photo

The most amazing variety - "Konica". If everyone knows the blue spruce, then the other Christmas tree, which dendrologists briefly call “konica”, i.e. conical, still rare.

"Konica" is a mutation of Canada spruce, native to the east North America. It differs from its ancestor not only in its miniature size, its height rarely exceeds 2 m, but also in its surprisingly dense crown cone and soft light green needles.

By the middle of the last century, the Canadian spruce variety “Konica” conquered the whole world, settling in the gardens of countries with a temperate climate and developed ornamental gardening.

Its real discovery in Russia occurred only relatively recently, along with the rapid development of ornamental gardening, when Konika seedlings began to come to us in large quantities from Holland, Poland, the Czech Republic and other countries Western Europe, where its reproduction has long been established. "Konika" propagates exclusively by cuttings, as it does not bear fruit.

In central Russia it is quite winter-hardy. But in urban conditions it is less stable than prickly spruce. With strong gas pollution, the decorativeness of the Christmas tree is reduced.

It grows slowly, which garden design is a virtue. At five years old, the Christmas tree reaches a height of 20 cm and already at this age its decorative properties are strikingly superior to even-aged seedlings of common spruce. By the age of ten, “Konika” reaches an average height of 80 cm and is completely decorative. And by the age of 20, its height is usually 150 cm, the diameter at the base is about a meter.

“Konica” should be planted in open places, protected from cold winds, with cultivated, light loamy soil. Caring for it may be limited to watering during dry periods.

The development of the Christmas tree, and therefore its decorativeness, is facilitated by periodic surface loosening and mulching of the tree trunk circle with rotted organic matter. Mulching is best done in early autumn, and in spring the mulch should be incorporated shallowly into the soil.

IN favorable conditions"Konika" retains its high decorative value until old age. It does not need pruning or shaping. Like the blue spruce, it is designed to play the role of tapeworm in decorative design and just a godsend for a small garden.

This Christmas tree fits well into large rock gardens, it is desirable in the background flower arrangements, harmoniously combines with other low conifers. Looks especially elegant on the lawn. At the same time, it is advisable to plant it in an even row of three or more plants or in a group of several Christmas trees.

Among other decorative forms, “Aurea” is known, characterized by strong growth. The needles on the upper side are golden in color.

Spruce "Aureaspicata"
Spruce "Aureaspicata"

"Aureaspicata". The form is distinguished by the yellow color of the needles and young shoots, which persists only in summer, but later they become green.

"Elegance Compacta". The crown is conical, but the growth is stronger than that of "Konika", young shoots and buds are yellow-brown, the needles are fresh green, 8-10 mm long, annual growth is 5-4 cm.

"Nana" (low). Dwarf form up to 1-2 m high. The crown is wide, rounded. The branches are dense, numerous, unevenly spaced, gray, very flexible. Annual growth is 2.5-4.5 cm.

Pay attention to the photo - this variety of Canadian spruce has radial needles, 5-7 mm long, thin, hard, gray-blue:

Canadian spruce needles
Canadian spruce needles

The culture is winter-hardy. Propagated by cuttings.

"Pendula"- weeping form, has strongly drooping branches, branches abundantly, needles are densely located on the branches, bluish-green.

Among the forms with blue needles worthy of attention:

Spruce "Alberta Blue"
Spruce "Arenson Blue"

"Alberta Blue", "Arenson Blue",

Spruce "Cerulea"
Spruce "Sunder Blue"

"Cerulea", "Sunder Blue".

All of them have dwarf growth and retain the color of their needles well in open sunny places: alpine roller coaster, heather gardens. They are suitable for growing in containers.

Speaking about what rare types of spruce there are, it is worth mentioning the Engelmann and Schrenk forms.

Engelman spruce in the photo

Engelman spruce- native to North America. In terms of the slenderness of the crown, this is the most decorative spruce. The tree amazes with its grace and healthy appearance. Even the very lower branches are never bare. It is very resistant to unfavorable urban conditions and soil and climatic influences. When describing Engelmann spruce, it is definitely worth mentioning its qualities such as winter hardiness, shade tolerance and drought resistance.

It has many decorative forms that are widely used in landscaping.

Spruce "Glauka" in the photo

Most Popular "Glauka" (gray). Tree 20-40 m tall, with a dense cone-shaped crown, without a clear horizontal layering of branches. The needles are less prickly, more flexible and less spaced than those of prickly spruce, bluish-blue; the color is especially clear in early spring.

As you can see in the photo, the Engelmann spruce needles in winter are not so attractive, but still decorative:

Engelman spruce
Engelman spruce

Grows quickly. Winter-hardy. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, grafting. Recommended for single, group and alley plantings in large gardens.

Schrenk's spruce, or Tien Shan, - powerful tree with a narrow cone-shaped crown, a sharp top and branches hanging to the ground. The needles are light green or bluish. Light-loving, not demanding on soils, but moisture-loving and low frost-resistant.

Look at the photo - this type of spruce has high decorative qualities, which makes it desirable in garden compositions, and its slow growth in the first years of life allows it to be formed into dense hedges:

Spruce in the form of a hedge
Spruce in the form of a hedge

It has a spherical shape - a tree up to 1.8 m tall with a rounded crown.

Prickly spruce in the photo

Prickly spruce. Among the numerous representatives of the genus, it stands out for its slenderness and beauty, undemandingness to growing conditions, frost resistance and resistance to air pollution, surpassing many of its brethren in this indicator.

Decorative at any time of the year. The most valuable evergreen tree up to 25 m, lives up to 100 years.

The crown is pyramidal. The branches form regular dense tiers, horizontal or hanging under different angles. Particularly beautiful are specimens in which the branches are evenly spaced in regular tiers around the trunk from the very ground to the top.

The needles are prickly, their color varies from green to light blue, silver, up to 2.5 cm long. good conditions growing needles live 5-7 years, more often 3-4 years.

The breed is considered resistant to dust and smoke, but in urban conditions it must be washed with water at least 5 times a month. Photophilous. Demanding on soil fertility and moisture, but does not tolerate too much fertile soil and waterlogging.

Tolerates pruning well. Propagated by seeds and grafting.

It is recommended to plant some distance from roads and industrial enterprises, against the backdrop of a lawn, preferably in illuminated areas. Usually single specimens or small groups are planted in the front places of the garden. It is especially good in combination with Serbian spruce, pseudo-hemlock, plain fir, etc.

Popular forms of prickly spruce are described below:

Spruce "Argentea"
Spruce "Argentea"

"Argentea" (silver). A straight-trunked tree 30-40 m tall with a cone-shaped crown and clearly spaced horizontal branches. The needles are silvery-white, a light waxy coating remains on old plants, young needles have a soft green color with a whitish tint. Widely used in landscaping, in single and group plantings;

Spruce "Glauka"
Spruce "Glauka"

"Glauka" (gray). It differs from the main species in its bluish-green needles, which retain their color throughout the year. The lifespan of needles of this variety of prickly spruce is 3-10 years, depending on conditions. Plant height is 20 m. Annual growth is more than 30 cm. The crown is symmetrical, cone-shaped. The shoots reach the ground and are arranged in tiers almost horizontally. Branches do not break under the weight of wet snow. Suitable for creating large arrays, small clumps, for single plantings;

Spruce "Glauka Globoza" in the photo

"Glauca Globosa" (blue spherical). Dwarf form up to 1 m tall and up to 1.5 m in diameter. Young shoots are yellowish-brownish and thin. The crown is rounded, dense only in old age.

Pay attention to the photo - this variety of prickly spruce has thick, slightly crescent-shaped, blue-white needles, about 1 cm long and 1 mm thick:

Prickly needles
Prickly needles

"Hoopsie." The height of the tree is 12-15 m, the diameter of the crown is 3-4.5 m. The crown is evenly branched, very dense. The annual growth is 12-20 cm, the branches are horizontally spaced from the trunk. The shoots are light red-brown, the apical buds are ovoid, 1 cm long. Scales are short, bent. The needles are needle-shaped, hard, sharp, bluish-white, 2-3 cm long, directed forward, thick, last 4-6 years.

"Bonfire". Tree 10-15 m tall, with drooping weeping branches. The crown diameter is 4-5 m. The needles are slightly crescent-shaped, bluish-green with a light waxy coating, thin, crescent-shaped, short, 20-25 mm long. The silver-blue color of the needles persists in winter. Young shoots are orange-brown. The trunks are bent. One of the most famous blue shapes ate prickly. The crown is evenly developed, conical. Recommended for solitary and group plantings near houses, for decorating ceremonial places.

"Moerhaimi." Strongly and unevenly growing, narrow-conical shape. The needles are 20-30 mm long, adjacent. In the second year it becomes an intense silvery blue.

As you can see in the photo, the color of the needles of this variety of prickly spruce does not change in winter:

Spruce in winter
Spruce in winter

The branches are short and horizontal. The apical bud is 10-15 mm long, blunt, yellow-brown. The lateral buds are very different and are located spirally below the apical bud. The scales at the apex are strongly deflected.

"Moll". Dwarf form, grows slowly. At 20 years of age, the height is about 1 m. The annual growth is 3-5 cm, the crown is broadly conical and very densely branched. The shoots are yellow-brown. The needles are beautiful, bluish-white, 10-15 mm long and 1 mm thick.

"Montgomery." Dwarf form, slow-growing, very squat, at 35 years of age the height and diameter of the crown are 1.8 m, annual growth is about 6 cm, shoots are yellow-brown, buds are ovoid, yellow-brown, scales are bent. The needles are 18-20 mm long, gray-blue, sharp.

"Oldenburg". Tree 10-15 (20) m high, with a crown diameter of 5-7 m. The crown is conical. The bark is brownish-gray, flaky, the shoots are orange-brown.

The photo shows that this variety of prickly spruce has needle-shaped, dense, hard, prickly, steel-blue needles:

Prickly spruce
Prickly spruce

It stays very firmly on the branches. Grows quickly. Annual growth is 30-35 cm in height, 15 cm in width. Photophilous. It is undemanding to soils, but grows better on chernozems and loams and tolerates temporary excess moisture. Frost-resistant, tolerates frost well. Application: single plantings, groups.

In this section of the article you can see photos and descriptions of the blue spruce species from the Pine family.

Blue spruce in the photo

The blue spruce tree is an evergreen conifer, 25-30 m high, rarely up to 46 meters. The trunk diameter is up to 1.5 meters. The bark is thin and scaly. The crown is narrow-conical in young trees, and becomes cylindrical in old ones. The needles are 15-30 mm long, rhombic in cross-section. The needles of blue spruce deserve a special description - the color of the needles of this plant species ranges from grayish-green to bright blue.

The crown is conical, compact, the needles are tetrahedral, dense, very prickly. The bark of the trunks and branches is grayish-brown, initially smooth, later fissured.

In the photo

Decorative blue spruce cones are slightly cylindrical, 6-11 cm long and 2 cm wide when closed, up to 4 cm when open. The color of the cones is from reddish to purple, the mature cone is light brown. The seeds are black, 3-4 mm long with a light brown wing 10-13 mm long.

Look at the photo - blue spruce has cylindrical cones, up to 9 cm long, light brown, ripen in the first year:

Decorative blue spruce cones
Decorative blue spruce cones

Blue spruce is one of the hardiest spruce trees in all respects. It is inferior to common spruce only in shade tolerance. But it is extremely resistant to atmospheric pollution, frost-resistant, drought-resistant, and very unpretentious to soil conditions.

However, the blue spruce species achieves its best development and greater decorative effect on fertile structural loams, in full light.

This tree has a pronounced root core, which makes it drought-resistant. And yet, in the first 6-8 years, seedlings should be watered 2-3 times during the summer, and in case of drought, be sure to water them at least once a week. This will allow the trees to grow stronger. The greatest increases in height in blue spruce plants are observed after 8-10 years. And by 20-25 years the trees are already fully formed. The first cones can sometimes be seen on 15-year-old trees.

Up to the age of 8-10 years trunk circle It is better to keep it under black fallow, mulching with humus. In the future, the land should not be cultivated, and care consists only of periodic mulching and watering during prolonged drought.

Blue spruce
Blue spruce

As can be seen from the photo and description of the blue spruce, this beauty will decorate your garden for many years. She is an excellent tapeworm who does not need anyone's company. Looks good alone or in a group on a flat lawn. When creating groups, spruce trees should not be planted closer than 3 m from each other, so that there is no shading and the trees have low, dense crowns.

These photos show blue spruce varieties that are most popular among gardeners:

Blue spruce
Blue spruce

Healing properties of spruce

Spruce is not only decorative, but also useful plant in the garden and on personal plots.

The healing properties of spruce are well known. Moreover, the common spruce is recognized as the leader in this regard among all species. The needles, young shoots and young cones are medicinal. They are rich in essential and tannin substances, resins, vitamins, microelements, phytoncides and fatty oils.

Various inflammatory diseases of the respiratory and urinary tract, as well as sinusitis and other diseases in the nasopharynx area are treated with spruce preparations and decoctions. Baths made from spruce branches and buds are used for skin diseases, gout, arthritis and arthrosis.

Brewing from fresh spruce buds can be consumed as a vitamin tea, which is contraindicated for stomach ulcers. The simplest infusion is prepared by roughly grinding 40 g of pine needles, pouring a glass of boiling water over it, boiling for 20 minutes, then infusing it. The resulting infusion is drunk during the day if there is a lack of vitamin C.

Spruce needles contain significant quantities of phosphorus, potassium, iron, and vitamins. It is especially rich in ascorbic acid and carotene, which makes pine needles an excellent raw material for the production of special preventive pastes against scurvy and periodontal disease, pine extracts for baths and medicinal chlorophyll-carotene preparations.

From essential oil Spruce trees receive camphor, which is indispensable for heart ailments. Inhalations of essential oil of pine needles cure catarrhal conditions of the throat and bronchi.

The ecological significance of spruce is also important. Air pollution, especially urban air pollution, currently exceeds all existing standards. The needles take on a filtering role in gas exchange atmospheric air. Dust particles along with harmful microorganisms settle and become fixed in the waxy coating of needles.

Air saturated with secretions coniferous species, has a beneficial effect on the body, improving breathing and blood circulation, and even treats a sick human psyche.

Phytoncides released by pine needles help clean the air even in polluted places. At the same time, the spruce itself feels good. It has straight trunks, dense foliage, and low-hanging crowns.

Northern part of North America. In the forest zone, often along the banks of rivers and lakes, it forms pure and mixed stands.

Russian gardeners liked Canadian spruce. Few people probably know that this plant's synonyms are white spruce and gray spruce. In terms of decorativeness, it is somewhat inferior to the prickly spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.), which received widespread in Russia.

Tree 20-35 m high, with a trunk 60-120 cm in diameter, with a dense regular cone-shaped dense crown. The branches of young plants are directed upward, while those of old ones are mostly downward and flat. The bark is smooth or scaly, ash-brown. Young shoots are yellowish or whitish-light brown, glabrous. Buds up to 6 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, almost spherical, non-resinous; their scales are blunt-ovoid, light brown, shiny. The needles are 8-18 mm long, about 1.5 mm wide, tetrahedral, bluish-green, densely spaced and quite hard, slightly curved, when rubbed they smell quite strongly (for some people the smell is reminiscent of black currant), the needles last 5- 7 (up to 11) years.

Picea glauca
Photo by Konstantin Korzhavin

The cones are ovoid-cylindrical, 3-6 (-7) cm long. and 1.5-2.5 cm thick, light green before ripening, light brown when ripe. The seed scales are thin and elastic, obovate-wedge-shaped, entire along the upper edge. The seeds are 2-3 mm long, light brown, with an orange-brown wing, 3 times the length of the seed. The cones ripen in September.

Naturally grows in the forest zone of North America, mainly along the banks of rivers and lakes, where it forms pure and mixed stands. It rises in the mountains to a height of 1500 m. It is winter-hardy and quite drought-resistant. Lives up to 300 - 500 years. Since 1700, it has been cultivated in Western Europe, where it was brought from Canada.

Recommended for single and group plantings; dwarf forms are promising for rocky hills. It grows successfully in both maritime and continental climates. Quite drought-resistant. Not picky about soils, tolerates poor and sandy soils. It resists winds well and is used as a windproof. Less sensitive to gases and smoke than European spruce.

In the Botanical Garden, BIN has been noted in the Catalogs since 1816, and is grown here to this day. Also available in the collections of the Forestry Academy and the Otradnoye Scientific Experimental Station.

In GBS since 1973, 14 samples (266 copies) were grown from seeds obtained from Goszelenkhoz (Moscow), Copenhagen (Denmark), Lipetsk LSOS, Kyiv, Kazan, Ontario, Montreal (Canada), Potsdam (Germany), USA ( from nature). Tree, at 33 years old, height 14.7 m, trunk diameter 24/33 cm. Vegetation from 26.IV ± 8. Annual growth 15-28 cm. Dusts from 8 years, annually, abundantly, from 14.V ± 6 to 23 .V ± 8. Seeds ripen by mid-September. Winter hardiness is high. Seed viability 71%. Winter cuttings do not take root without treatment. It is rare in the landscaping of Moscow.

Canadian spruce has a form "Aurea" ("Aurea") characterized by strong growth. The needles on the upper side are golden in color. Known in culture since 1866.

"Aureaspicata" ("Aureospicata"). The form is distinguished by the yellow color of the needles and young shoots, which persists only in summer, but later they become green. The cultivar originated in 1890 in a nursery in Karlsruhe (Germany).

"Konika" ("Conica"). The most popular conical shape. At 60 years of age, the height of the plants reaches 4 m, their crown is strictly pyramidal, dense, its diameter is 2 m. It grows slowly. It was first found in Canada by famous North American dendrologists Reder and Jack on Lake. Lagan in 1904, from where it spread throughout the gardens and parks of the world. Plants of this form are propagated by cuttings (70 -) 5%). In nurseries it is often damaged by the red spider. Effective in a wide variety of compositions: on the ground, in group plantings. Recommended for growing in containers on roofs, terraces, for group plantings near houses, and for decorating rocky gardens. Shade-tolerant. Mutants of the gray spruce "Konica" are: "Alberta Globe", "Laurin", "Elegans Compacta", "Gnome", "Gracilis Compacta", often sold under the same name "Konika". In fact, they are different, despite great similarity.

In the Botanical Garden BIN since 1984, winter-hardy, but in a vegetative state. If planted closely, part of the crown may dry out and the plant loses its decorative effect.

In GBS since 1947, 5 samples (33 copies) were obtained from seedlings from Potsdam (Germany), later propagated by cuttings, there are plants of GBS reproduction. Tree, at 50 years old, height 1.8 m, crown diameter 140 cm. Vegetation from 25.IV ± 6. Annual growth 1.5 cm. Does not generate dust. Winter hardiness is high. 75% of summer cuttings take root without treatment. It is rare in the landscaping of Moscow.

"Echiniformis" ("Echintformis")- mini form, very slow growing. At 30 years old, the plant height is 0.5 m and the crown diameter is about 1 m. The shoots are short, up to 2 cm long, like the buds, brown. The needles are 5 - 7 mm long, very narrow, bluish-green, located radially. The roots are strong, branch abundantly, there are many adventitious roots. In cultivation, it grows better on slightly acidic, moist soils. Photophilous. The cultivar originated in France in 1955 and is now widespread; it is often confused with a similar form of black spruce. Recommended for single and group plantings on rocky hills.

"Elegance Compacta" ("ElegansCompacta"). The crown is conical, but the growth is stronger than that of "Konika", young shoots and buds are yellow-brown, the needles are fresh green, 8-10 mm long, annual growth is 5-4 cm. The cultivar was obtained in 1950 in Czechoslovakia.

"Dwarf" ("Gnom"). The crown is strictly conical, annual growth is 3-5 cm, the needles are distinctly gray-green, 8-10 mm long. The origin of the cultivar dates back to 1969, at the Jezice nursery (Czechoslovakia).

"Gracilis compacta" ("Gracilis Compacta"). Dwarf shape, conical crown, annual growth - 4 - 7 cm. The needles are very thick and hard, gray-green, 7-10 mm long. The appearance of the mutant dates back to 1960 in a state nursery coniferous plants in Ježice (Czechoslovakia).

"Laurin" ("Laurin")- dwarf form with extremely weak growth, annual growth is only 1.5 - 2.5 cm, shoots are densely located, needles are 5-10 mm long, dark green, radial. Selected in 1970 in the nursery of R. Arnold in Germany (Holstein). This form is widely represented in the collection of the Main Botanical Garden; its height is no more than 1.5 m.

"Nana", Low ("Nana"). Dwarf form, up to 1 - 2 m high. The crown is wide, rounded. The branches are dense, numerous, unevenly spaced, gray, very flexible. Annual growth is 2.5 - 4.5 cm. The needles are radial, 5-7 mm long, thin, hard, gray-blue. Winter-hardy. Propagated by cuttings. Known in culture since 1828. Currently found infrequently. Recommended for group plantings, as well as for growing in containers for landscaping inside blocks, balconies, roofs, for planting in parks and squares on parterres, on alpine hills.

"Pendula" ("Pendula")- a weeping form, found by A. Quarry in the park of Versailles (France), has strongly drooping branches, branches abundantly, the needles are densely located on the branches, bluish-green.

"Zuckerhut" ("Zuckerhut"). Dwarf form. Launched in 1955. Height 1.5 m, crown diameter 0.5 ~ 0.8 m. The crown is dense, conical with a pointed apex. The bark is grey-brown, smooth or scaly. The needles are needle-shaped, arranged radially, bright green, very soft. It grows very slowly. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Relatively shade-tolerant. At a young age, he may suffer from spring sunburn. It is undemanding to soil, but grows better on fresh loam or sandy loam. Frost-resistant. Application: single plantings, groups on rocky hills.

Among the forms with blue needles, the following deserve attention: " Alberta Blue"("Alberta Blue"), " Arenson Blue"("Arensons Blue"), " Cerulea"("Coerulea"), " Sander Blue"("Sander's Blue"), " Nana"("Nana") All of them have dwarf growth and retain the color of their needles well in open sunny places: alpine hills, heather gardens. They are suitable for growing in containers. Decorative forms of Canadian spruce undoubtedly deserve wider testing in the temperate zone of Russia. Considering the high winter hardiness of the species itself, one can hope that most of its cultivars will normally survive our harsh winters, especially since the height of some of them does not exceed the height of the snow cover.

Soil: It is undemanding to soils, but achieves best development on well-drained loams.

Care: Most varieties of this spruce require preventive shade shelter from the spring sun.