Himalayan cedar - tree features. Basic care and suitable terrain for cedar. plants for landscape design. Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara): description Himalayan cedar karl fuchs in winter

Lebanese cedar

Cedar (Cedrus) - large evergreen, monoecious trees of this family. Pine, resembling in appearance, the nature of branching, shortened shoots with bunches of larch needles. Cones are large, solitary, erect, elongated-ovoid or barrel-shaped, ripen in 2-3 years, after which they crumble.

European Cedar Pine, or European Cedar - Pinus cembra Siberian Cedar Pine, or Siberian Cedar - Pinus sibirica Siberian Cedar Pine, or Siberian Cedar - Pinus pumila The genus includes 4 species, of which one grows in the Western Himalayas, others in the Mediterranean. Species vary greatly and old trees are difficult to classify, and differences in branches disappear with age. In the extreme south of Russia, three species of the genus Cedrus are used in landscaping: Atlas cedar, Himalayan cedar and Lebanese cedar.

Lebanese cedar - C. libani Loud. It occurs naturally in the mountains of Asia Minor. Tree up to 40 m tall. The crown is cone-shaped in youth, broadly spreading in adulthood, and umbrella-shaped in old age. Shoots glabrous or slightly pubescent. The needles are dark green, up to 4 cm, hard, tetrahedral, in bunches of 30-40 pieces. Cones solitary, light brown, up to 10 cm long and 4 cm in diameter, barrel-shaped. It grows slowly, the most photophilous and frost-resistant among the representatives of the genus. It is drought-resistant, undemanding to soils, tolerates even calcareous ones. Durable.

A beautiful, majestic tree, characterized by mighty growth, a large trunk and dense, storey branching. Valuable object of landscape gardening construction. Good in single plantings and small groups. In culture since 1683.

Decorative forms:

blue (f. glauca); rare-branched (f. breviramulosa) - with a rare crown, long main branches and very short side branches; columnar (f. stricta) - with very dense, short main branches raised up, shiny gray-green needles; weeping (f. pendula); winding (f.tortuosa) - with shortened, winding main branches; low (f. nana); low conical (f. nana pyramidata) - dense dwarf, with branches raised upwards.

Himalayan cedar (Cedrus) - large evergreen, monoecious trees of this family. Pine, resembling in appearance, the nature of branching, shortened shoots with bunches of larch needles. Cones are large, solitary, erect, elongated-ovoid or barrel-shaped, ripen in 2-3 years, after which they crumble.

It should be noted that a number of species that are popularly called cedars do not belong to the genus Cedrus, but to the genus Pinus (Pines):

* European cedar pine, or European cedar - Pinus cembra * Siberian cedar pine, or Siberian cedar - Pinus sibirica * Siberian cedar pine, or Elfin cedar - Pinus pumila

The genus includes 4 species, of which one grows in the Western Himalayas, others in the Mediterranean. Species vary greatly and old trees are difficult to classify, and differences in branches disappear with age. In the extreme south of Russia, three species of the genus Cedrus are used in landscaping: Atlas cedar, Himalayan cedar and Lebanese cedar. However, in the catalog of the German company Kordes, a number of varieties of Himalayan cedar are recommended for areas “with especially extreme winter conditions” and are assigned to zone 4.

Himalayan cedar - C. deodara (Roxb.) Loud. It occurs naturally in the northwestern Himalayas, Afghanistan. Tree up to 50 m tall, with a wide conical crown. In adult specimens, the crown is flat at the top, with hanging ramifications on horizontally spread branches. Young shoots are pubescent. The needles are light green, with a bluish tinge, longer than those of other species (up to 5 cm), in bunches. Cones up to 10 cm, ovoid, bluish in youth, later red-brown, less convex in the middle than that of the Lebanese cedar. Himalayan care cedar:

Long-lived, fast growing breed. It tolerates shading better than other types of cedar, prefers high humidity of air and soil. It is undemanding to soils, puts up with the presence of lime in it. Tolerates temperatures as low as -25°C without damage. Suffering from windfall. Susceptible to such a disease as chlorosis due to a large number lime in the soil. With it, the needles turn yellow, and the plant lags behind in growth.

Likes diffused sunlight and safe areas. There are no special requirements for the composition of the soil, the main thing is that the land is fertile and well-drained. For the root system, you can make a cover of porous materials.

Himalayan cedar photo

The Himalayan cedar is extremely sensitive to high temperatures, tolerates frosty winters, develops effectively in cold wet places, resistant to strong gusts of wind. In the first years of life requires stable watering.

As a very beautiful tree, Himalayan cedar and its forms deserve wide use in park construction in southern Russia. It looks good in groups, contrastingly standing out among other plantations with characteristic crown contours and dark green needles. Even more effective in single plantings, as well as when creating alley plantings in parks. It tolerates shearing well, forming original molded hedges. In culture since 1822.

Himalayan weeping cedar

Himalayan cedar cultivation (weeping) is an evergreen graceful tree, characterized by a sticking top and falling branches. In height reaches 15-25m. Growth is slow. Likes diffused sunlight and safe areas. There are no special requirements for the composition of the soil, the main thing is that the land is fertile and well-drained. For the root system, you can make a cover of porous materials.

There are some features of the feeding conditions of this species. With insufficient space, the tree may begin to shed its needles. Therefore, you should take care in advance that there are no extra plants at a sufficient distance.

The Himalayan cuedr is extremely sensitive to high temperatures, tolerates frosty winters well, develops effectively in cold wet places, and is resistant to strong gusts of wind. In the first years of life requires stable watering.

Short notes about the Himalayan weeping cedar:

Plant Cedar Cedar is a coniferous evergreen long-lived tree with decorative and healing properties. It tolerates winter well. When planting Siberian cedar, you should be aware that it does not develop on sandy dry soils, but takes root on loamy or subsandy damp fertile areas. Reproduction occurs by seeds, preferably in autumn, or vegetatively (the cutting is grafted onto a pine tree).

Cedar / Cedrus Trew

Cedar (lat. Cedrus) is an oligotypic genus of trees of the Pine family (Pinaceae). In nature, the range of the genus covers the southern and eastern mountainous regions of the Mediterranean and the western regions of the Himalayas. On the southern coast of Crimea, cedars have completely naturalized in the area from Sevastopol to Kara-Dag, in areas where the absolute minimum temperature does not reach -25°C and self-seeding.

European cedar pine / R. cembra L.

Pine family. grows wild with middle lane Europe. Tree 10-25 m tall. According to morphological characteristics, it is close to the Siberian stone pine, from which it differs in smaller growth and a wider, ovoid crown, longer and thinner needles, and smaller cones and seeds. It grows more slowly, shade-tolerant, very frost-resistant, demanding on air and soil moisture.

Coniferous plant Korean cedar pine

Korean cedar pine is also known as Korean cedar. A tree, often multi-topped, reaching 40 meters in height. The crown is loose, wide cone-shaped, the trunk is covered with a smooth dark gray bark. In the USA and European countries, it is cultivated as decorative tree, is applied to gardening of squares, parks.

Altai cedar

The unique nature of Altai with its purest mountain air, mineral springs, subsoil, rich in minerals, makes the noble royal tree cedar especially beneficial for human health. Altai cedar is a mighty tree with a dark green spreading crown and long prickly needles. In favorable conditions, its height reaches more than forty meters, and the diameter of the trunk is one and a half to two meters. Unlike other species of cedar, which live 300-400 years, the Altai cedar is distinguished by its longevity - the age of some trees exceeds 600 years. A huge life force is contained in this tree. Biologists call it a reservoir of energy. After all, during the growth of the cedar, it accumulates huge reserves of solar energy, which it then gives to humans. Altai cedar is resistant to low temperatures, hardy, has the ability to self-heal.

Cedar forests cover a third of the territory of Altai. The clean ionized air of Altai is the merit of the Altai cedar. The phytoncides that it emits disinfect the surrounding space. Researchers claim that the air in the cedar forests is so sterile that operations can be carried out there. The bactericidal properties of cedar have been known for a long time. Altai hunters prefer to spend the night under the cedar - so as not to get colds. No wonder the cedar is a sacred tree northern peoples. According to ancient belief, a house trimmed with cedar preserves the health of its owners and prolongs their life. Why is the Altai cedar the most valuable tree species? Altai cedar has high-quality wood - light, durable, with a beautiful texture. The wood of the Altai cedar is reasonably considered one of the best building materials. This type of wood is not subject to decay due to the high concentration of antiseptic substances in it and has unique thermal insulation qualities. Houses cut down from the Altai cedar can withstand any weather conditions. The wood of the Altai cedar is distinguished by a red-pink tint, which over time acquires a richer and deeper golden-red color. In addition to beauty, Altai cedar retains its useful disinfectant properties and a special delicate aroma for many decades.

So the Altai cedar united unique healing properties and optimum construction qualities. In Europe, the wood of the Altai cedar has long been considered an almost inaccessible luxury.

Himalayan cedar, Himalayan cedar cultivation, Himalayan cedar photo

Since ancient times, cedar has fascinated people with its natural power, beauty and healing power. He was called the breadwinner tree, a mystery, a gift from the gods. From ancient times, thickets of cedar trees were considered sources of miraculous energy that calms and enlightens thoughts, awakens the soul and directs feelings to everything beautiful that is on Earth. Over the course of several thousand years, during which people watched him, he not only did not lose his significance, but increased it, which was confirmed by many scientific discoveries.

Cedar is one of those rare trees, all parts of which are used for food or medicinal purposes.

Cedar forests have such intense phytoncidal power that one hectare of such forest would be enough to purify the air in the whole city.

The ancient Sumerians revered the cedar as a sacred tree and gave names to the most majestic specimens. Cedar wood served as a measure of exchange and was often valued more than gold. The Sumerian god Ea was considered the patron of the cedar, and no one could cut down this tree without the highest permission. These facts are confirmed by clay tablets found during excavations, which date back to the 5th-4th centuries. BC. A description of what a cedar looks like was inscribed on them.

The decoration of the tomb of the Egyptian king Tutankhamen is made of cedar wood. For 3 thousand years, it not only did not deteriorate, but even retained its delicate delicate smell. Due to its qualities, cedar resin was one of the components of mummifying mixtures, and cedar oil helped preserve priceless ancient Egyptian papyri to this day.

The ancients built their ships from cedar wood, and the wonderful gopher tree from which Noah built his ark is a cedar growing in the valleys of Mesopotamia.

Tree Description

The majestic cedar belongs to the genus of the Pine family. These are monoecious, evergreen trees up to 45 meters high, with a wide-pyramidal spreading crown. They are long-lived and grow up to 400-500 years. The dark gray bark on young trees is smooth, on old trees - with cracks and scales.

The needles are needle-shaped, resinous, hard and prickly. Her color is different types varies from dark green to blue-green and silver-gray. The needles are collected in bundles. Cedar flowers, if you can call spikelets that way, up to 5 cm long with numerous small stamens and anthers. Cedar blossoms in autumn.

Cones grow on branches one at a time, arranged vertically, like candles. They ripen in the second or third year and disperse during the winter, scattering seeds in the wind. Once in favorable conditions, they germinate in 20 days.

Cedar seeds are not at all like nuts. They are small, with wings for better wind dispersal and are inedible.

Cedar needs light, not compacted from above and breathable soils. They are very sensitive to standing water. Prefer soils poor in lime. On mountain slopes made of limestone, they suffer from chlorosis and often die.

Feel better in open sunny places, but on richer soils grow well in partial shade.

Growth area

The places where cedar grows everywhere are the southern and eastern regions of the Mediterranean coast. Trees prefer mountainous areas with cool summers and mild winters. They are also found in the foothills of the Himalayas, in Northwest Africa, in Lebanon, where the cedar is one of the national symbols and is depicted on the state flag and coat of arms.

In Russia, cedar grows only on the southern coast of the Crimea, where it has successfully acclimatized and gives abundant self-sowing. In other regions, it is found only in botanical gardens and nurseries. And that tree, which is called the Siberian cedar, is actually a representative of the Pine genus and is correctly called Siberian, European or Korean pine. With cedars, these varieties are united by one family. But it is the Siberian pine that gives everyone's favorite and extremely useful "pine nuts".

Types of cedar

The genus of cedar has 4 species:

• Atlas - Cedrus atlantica;
• short coniferous - Cedrus brevifolia. In some sources, this species is classified as a subspecies of the Lebanese;
• Himalayan - Cedrus deodara;
• Lebanese - Cedrus libani.

The structure of the cones of cedars and pines is in many ways similar, so for a long time the listed species were considered identical. But recent scientific studies have refuted these data, and now both species are separated in the classification.

Atlas

The Atlas cedar grows on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains in Algeria and Morocco. In its natural environment, it is found at an altitude of up to 2000 m above sea level. The tree is majestic, spreading. The largest specimens reach 50 m in height, and their trunk diameter is 1.5–2 m. The needles are collected in bunches and have a bluish-green tint. The wood is resinous and fragrant, smelling like sandalwood. The Atlas species tolerates frosts down to -20 ° C and copes well with drought.

In African countries, cedar wood is used as fuel. The oil has good antiseptic properties and is widely used for cosmetic purposes.

Atlas cedar as a cultivated plant is grown in the south of Europe, in the mountainous regions of the Caucasus and in Asian countries.

Which is widely grown as a garden or indoor plant, is an Atlas cedar.

Himalayan

The Himalayan cedar grows in the eastern and south East Asia, in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, in Afghanistan, India, Nepal and Pakistan. In the mountains it occurs at an altitude of up to 3500 m. In terms of height and girth of the trunk, the Himalayan species is not inferior to the Atlas, in contrast to it, it has a more wide-conical crown. The branches of an adult tree are parallel to the ground. The wood is durable and has a strong aroma, it is light yellow with a red-brown heartwood. The needles are quite soft, light, with a gray-gray tint.

Cones ripen for more than a year, then crumble. Seeds are small, inedible, resinous. The Himalayan species tolerates shading better than others, although under natural conditions it occupies the upper tier of the forest. Some specimens live up to 1000 years.

The Himalayan cedar grows rapidly and is widely used in landscaping parks in southeastern Europe and the Crimea.

Lebanese

The Lebanese cedar is not inferior to others in terms of height and trunk power. The crown of young trees is conical, becoming more flattened over the years. The needles are blue-gray-green, live 2 years, collected in bunches.

At the age of 25–28 years, the tree begins to bear fruit. Cones are formed every two years.

This variety is characterized by slow growth, tolerates short-term frosts down to -30 ° C. Prefers well-lit areas, light drought, can grow on poor soils, but does not tolerate excessive moisture.

Lebanese cedar is valued for its light, soft, but at the same time durable red wood.

Types of cedar pine

Despite the fact that, according to the latest scientific data, the Canadian, Korean and Siberian species are only close relatives of the real cedar, the common names have remained among the people. Canadian cedar belongs to the genus Thuya of the Cypress family.

Korean cedar pine

Korean, or Manchurian cedar - conifer tree from the genus Pine, distributed in East Asia, China, Korea, Japan and the Russian Far East. A tall powerful tree has a dense cone-shaped crown and shallow roots. The needles are bluish-green, long, grow in bunches of 5 pieces.

Cones ripen within a year and a half and fall off in autumn or early winter. Each cone contains many nuts. The Korean species bears fruit every few years.

Siberian cedar pine

Siberian cedar, or Siberian pine, is an evergreen tree, only slightly inferior in size to its famous relative. It lives up to 500-700 years, it is distinguished by a dense, often multi-topped crown with thick branches. The needles are soft, long, with a bluish bloom. The tree builds up a powerful root system, and on light sandy soils it develops anchor roots that penetrate to great depths. Compared to shade-tolerant cedars, with a short growing season.

The plant has male and female cones. They ripen within a year and a half and fall off in early autumn. Each cone contains up to 150 nuts. Up to 12 kg of pine nuts are obtained from one tree. Siberian cedar begins to bear fruit late, on average at 50–60 years of age.

Nutrient squirrels and chipmunks take part in the dispersal of the tree, which spread the seeds over long distances.

The subtleties of growing cedar from nuts

Russian gardeners grow Siberian cedar pine, habitually calling it cedar. Nobody would refuse to have a fluffy Siberian beauty with fragrant needles and healing nuts on their site, and for modest possessions there are undersized varieties that do not take up much space. Learn how to grow cedar by purchasing a seedling from a nursery.

When choosing a place, it should be borne in mind that with age, the tree's need for sunlight only increases, so you should choose places without shading. If possible, cedar seedlings with a closed root system are purchased. It is best to take root specimens whose root system has not had time to dry out, so it is advisable to choose a seedling that has just been dug up. An earthen ball should be at least half a meter in diameter and packed in wet burlap and a plastic bag.

How to plant a cedar pine seedling

Before planting, it is necessary to dig up the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe garden on which it is planned to plant seedlings. Landing pits prepare a little more than an earthen ball. The distance between the pits should be at least 8 m. Young cedars are planted immediately in light soils, and sand and peat are added to heavier soils.

A little soil is poured at the bottom of the pit and a seedling is placed, straightening the roots. The root neck should not be below ground level. If this still happened, the seedling is taken out and a little more earth is added. Then, next to the tree, a peg is dug in and the hole is covered with earth, slightly compacting it. The planting hole is watered abundantly, the ground in the trunk circle is mulched with coniferous litter, sawdust or crushed bark.

Within two weeks, while the seedling takes root, it is watered after 2-3 days, if there is no rain.

We grow cedar from a nut

If you could not find a seedling in the nursery, and ripe pine nuts in a vase suggest a certain thought, feel free to choose the largest ones with a whole shell - we will try to grow cedar from seeds at home. The process of sprouting nuts is not quite simple, but very exciting:

• seeds are placed in water and kept for 3 days, periodically changing it;
• floating nuts are removed, and the rest are kept for several hours in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• disinfected seeds are placed in a moist substrate and subjected to stratification for at least 3 months;
• then the nuts are once again soaked in potassium permanganate for a day and dried;
• sown in closed ground (greenhouse or film shelter) in prepared soil, which contains 20 parts of peat, 2 parts of ash and 1 part of superphosphate to a depth of 2–3 cm;
• before the emergence of shoots, the grooves are watered.

Seedlings are grown indoors for 2 years. After that, the cover is removed. 6-8 year old trees are ready for transplanting to a permanent place.

Caring for a young Siberian cedar consists in mulching the near-trunk circle, surface loosening in the absence of mulch, and applying potash fertilizer three times a season. To do this, 20 g of potassium sulfate is diluted in a bucket of water and watered each tree.

Two varieties of cedar pine are popular with gardeners - "Recordist" and "Icarus". Both are highly decorative, compact in size, relatively unpretentious and bear fruit abundantly.

The cedar, which was grown from a nut, will soon become one of the most beloved trees on the site. And when it grows up, and it will be possible to relax in its shade, it will give you many pleasant moments, bringing coolness and refreshing the air with a delicate resinous aroma.

The formation of a cedar at their summer cottage - video

Among all conifers, there is no tree equal to cedar in terms of the harmony of framing landscape gardening landscapes. This is exactly what the majority of the British think, which fully explains the popularity of this type of evergreen crops in the gardens of aristocrats. Two or three cedars at the entrance of the house are enough to frame the architectural composition, giving it a touch of home and at the same time a festive atmosphere. We will tell you which cedars are suitable for cultivation in home gardens, analyze their types and popular varieties.

Did you know? Cedar wood is highly valued in the world market, as it is famous for its strength, pleasant smell and antimicrobial properties. Hindus extol these trees to the rank of divine, the Phoenicians used them for shipbuilding, the Egyptians used them for mummification. Contemporaries note that moths do not start in cedar cabinets.

Cedar: general characteristics

What is a cedar, in our latitudes, not everyone knows. Most associate it with the delicious pine nuts that are on sale. In fact, this delicacy is completely unrelated to cedars, since it is the fruit of the Siberian pine.

Others represent cedars as majestic giants with prickly elongated multi-faceted blue-green needles, sprawling branches and scaly grayish bark.

This is how they are in wild nature, are often found on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, in forests and on the slopes of the Himalayas. In their natural environment, these representatives of the pine family can reach a height of 50 meters.

Botanists classify cedars as monoecious trees of an oligotypic genus. They are distinguished by needles gathered in bundles and placed in a spiral, elongated barrel-shaped cones. Bloom in autumn. Ripe triangular-shaped grains are covered with a thin skin, have large wings. The fruits of real cedar are not edible; many resins were found in their composition.

Cultivated cedars can satisfy even the most demanding aesthetes, as they have many forms that differ in size, crown structure, color and length of needles.

In care, cedars, regardless of breed, fill up the list of an undemanding group of plants. For a full-fledged vegetation, they need systematic complex feeding every month, spring mulching of tree trunks and regular moistening of air and soil. Spraying is very important for young seedlings. By the way, they need careful preparation for winter: shelter of branches and tree trunks. It is characteristic that it is impossible to transplant cedars, so you need to seriously approach the choice of a landing site. Planting material is productive only at the age of 6-8 years.
In the early stages of its development, preventive measures are required to prevent fungal diseases. Cedars are very sensitive to rust, which is manifested by red, unaesthetic spots on the needles. Treatment is with fungicides. Trees are also threatened by chlorosis, especially high risk of infection in limestone soils. The disease manifests itself with sudden yellowness and lifelessness of the needles, curvature of the branches. Bark beetles and Siberian hermes love to settle in cedar bark. The specimens affected by these pests are no longer subject to rescue. With small foci, insecticide treatment helps.

Did you know? Minerals and vitamins were found in a kilogram of dry coniferous needles. In particular, K (20 mg), P (3810 mg), B1 (19 mg), B2 (7 mg), B3 (28 mg), PP (142 mg), B6 ​​(2 mg), H (0.15 mg), C (600 mg). By the way, if the collected needles are stored in a cool room with a temperature of no higher than 5 degrees, its composition will not become poorer at all.

Types of cedars

These majestic representatives of coniferous cultures have been known to people for over 250 years. But, oddly enough, botanists still cannot come up with a single number of cedar species. According to some, only Lebanese cedars exist in nature, which is explained by the similarity of all mature plants. Others insist on clear differences, highlighting the additional Atlas, Himalayan and short coniferous species. And still others, on the contrary, do not recognize the short coniferous breed. Using the experience of reputable international experts who participate in the international project "Catalogue of Life" and have collected about 85% of information about all life on the planet, we follow their classification.

Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) was cultivated in the 17th century. It is characterized by slow development, longevity and adaptability to severe frosts (up to -30 degrees). It grows well even in limestone soil in sunny lawns. A young tree forms a cone-shaped crown, and as it grows, it transforms into a sprawling one with clear tiers of branches. In older specimens, the branches are folded into an umbrella. Sprouts with light fluff. Dark green needles with a smoky shade, needles up to 3 cm long. Cones are light brown, up to 12 cm long. Decorative forms differ in the length and color of the needles:

• "Glauca" (with blue needles);
• "Vreviramulosa" (with long openwork skeletal branches);
• "Stricta" (columnar crown is formed due to dense, short branches, slightly raised upwards);
• "Pendula" (branches easily fall down);
• "Tortuosa" (distinguished by winding main branches);
• "Nana" (dwarf variety);
• "Nana pyramidata" (a low-growing tree with branches tending upwards).

Important! Ornamental varieties of coniferous crops, as a rule, are not prone to flowering and seed formation. Such specimens are propagated exclusively by cuttings, and if it is ineffective, they are grafted onto the mother sprout.

Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) characterized by accelerated growth of young trees, can survive drought and short-term frosts (up to -20 degrees). Photophilous. Does not tolerate limestone soils and excess moisture. In garden and park design, columnar, pyramidal, weeping forms with silver, gold and blue needles are successful. In particular, these varieties:

• "Glauca horizontalis" It is highly decorative, the needles are blue, the branches are arched. By the way, Atlas glauca cedars belong to the elite varieties.
• "Aurea". A tree with a pin-shaped crown and yellow-golden needles. Every year the needles are getting greener.
• Fastigiata. A tall, columnar variety with light green needles.
• "Rendula". A characteristic feature of the variety is an even columnar shape and a hanging top. The needles are green.

Himalayan cedar trees are represented by many names of ornamental varieties. In nature, this species has a conical crown with a clear number of storeys of branches. As they age, they form a flat top. The culture is developing rapidly, loves wet air, tolerates shade and adapts to limestones. Although observant gardeners warn of the consequences of chlorosis, which is manifested by yellow spots on the branches. It is also recommended to plant all varieties of Himalayan cedar in a place protected from the wind.

Characteristic features of the Himalayan cedar are its soft needles and cones sticking up. In garden and park design, the plant is sheared to create original figures. In addition to the usual varieties, lovers of green decor prefer to plant thick-coniferous or long-needle varieties at home. In nurseries are in demand:

• Alboccica. Cedar of medium size, with a pyramidal crown. The highlight of the breed lies in the color of young sprouts. At first they are whitish, then with a slight yellowness, at the final stage of development they become bright green.
• "Aurea". It is distinguished by yellow shoots that turn green by autumn. The cones of this breed of Himalayan cedar change color from bluish to red-brown with age.
• Golden horizon. Mature tree builds up a powerful flat crown. The uniqueness of the variety is in the color of coniferous needles, the length of which reaches 28 mm. On the sunny side they are yellow, and in the shade they are smoky green.
• "Prostrata". It is a slow-growing tree with a wide branched crown, flattened at the top. By the age of 20, the plant reaches only 30 cm in height and 75 cm in width.
• "Kashmir". The variety is popular in cold zones, as it easily tolerates large frosts.
• "Rygmy". This cedar is famous for its rounded dwarf shape and blue-green needles. At the age of 15, the tree grows to barely 30 cm in height and 40 cm in width.

Important! Winter hardiness is characteristic of all types of cedars. The Himalayan and Lebanese varieties are more enduring in this aspect. The Atlas breed often suffers from heavy snow, which, accumulating, breaks branches.

Pines that are called cedars

The people call cedars a number of trees that belong to the genus of pines. These are the so-called European, Siberian, Korean and dwarf cedars. Due to poor adaptation to severe winters, species of European and Korean origin are less commonly cultivated in our latitudes. There is an opinion that such pines are very troublesome to care for. In fact, like all coniferous crops, young seedlings require careful supervision.

The first five years they need to be watered every summer at least six times. For the winter, cover the crown and the near-trunk circle with spruce branches. Twice a year (in spring and mid-summer) fertilize with biohumus. And also pinch young shoots in time, forming a crown. Pruning of branches is possible with severe infections with seryanka. To prevent pests from spoiling the plant, you need to regularly remove crumbled needles and treat with preparations containing copper.

In the scientific literature, it is referred to as European cedar pine (pinus cembra). The tree belongs to the pine family, it got its name from the analogue of the Siberian cedar. Both coniferous crops are closer in characteristics to pines than to cedars. The range of this species is concentrated in the south-east of France and in the High Tatras region in the Carpathians. The culture adapts well to shady areas, frost-resistant (it can survive 40-degree frosts), moisture-loving, prefers fresh clay soils. Outwardly, it has many similarities with the Siberian cedar, it is distinguished by a lower trunk height, a more spreading ovoid crown and small cones. In their natural form, young plants have an elegant, slightly elongated crown, and as they age, they acquire bizarre shapes.
The European cedar has more than 100 species, among which there are many decorative ones, distinguished by the shape and size of the crown, color and length of the needles.

Did you know? Cedars were included in the list of long-lived trees of the planet. The oldest tree of this species is about three thousand years old.

Cedar Siberian pine (Rínus sibírica) is distinguished by a decorative dense cone-shaped storey crown, brown-gray scaly bark and brown young shoots densely covered with red pile. The sprouts are shortened, the needles are soft triangular dark green with a bluish wax coating. The length of the needles is about 14 cm. A typical feature of the variety are large fruits with tasty nuts. They appear at the age of 30. On average, each cone contains 50-150 seeds. The species is considered one of the most winter-hardy and shade-tolerant. Ornamental forms are mainly planted on light, well-drained soils. Siberian cedar is considered a slow growing crop, as it develops only 40 days a year.

Do not confuse cedar with cedar pine - they are different trees. They differ in habitat and appearance, And useful properties. Most often, Siberian cedar pine, which grows in the taiga, is called cedar in everyday life. Everyone knows its seeds - the same pine nuts that many have tried. In addition to food raw materials, this type of cedar pine is a source of valuable timber. But today we will not talk about him.

Cedar- a native of warm countries, and gardeners only recently began to grow it in the cold climate of the middle zone, where it is used exclusively as ornamental plant.

Since ancient times, the cedar symbolizes well-being and prosperity. His homeland is the Mediterranean, but he perfectly took root on the Black Sea coast of Russia. However, with proper care, following the recommendations of professionals, this unique tree can be grown not only in a subtropical climate, but also in the middle lane. Here you should treat it with special attention, especially in the first years after planting: feed and shelter for the winter. This tree takes root well in sandy or loamy fertile soils with drainage.

Cedar perfect for cottages, parks and surrounding areas. It cleans the air remarkably, and this is one of the reasons why many gardeners and landscape designers strive to grow a unique plant even far from its original habitat.

Types and varieties of cedar

Atlas cedar (Atlantic or Atlantic)

Evergreen monoecious plant; in most cases - trees up to 40 m high with a loose pyramidal crown. The needles are hard, bluish-green, collected in bunches on shortened shoots. Cones are cylindrical or ovoid, dense, shiny, light brown; mature in the third year.

The peak growth of the Atlas cedar occurs in late spring. It is a light-loving, dust-, gas- and smoke-resistant plant. Its main properties are drought resistance and frost resistance. Just like cypress, it does not tolerate calcareous soils and excessive moisture. It is important to note that the cedar can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -20 C ', therefore, in the first years it must be covered.

Trees are planted in the ground in spring and are widely used in single and loose group plantings. The variety "Glauka Pendula", presented in the OBI, has a vertical trunk and weeping branches.

himalayan cedar

A tree of outstanding beauty, which stands out in contrast against the background of other plants. It is used more often in park construction, as well as in alley plantings. It tolerates shearing well, forming original molded hedges.

This species reaches a height of up to 50 m and has a cone-shaped crown. In mature trees, the crown is flat at the top, with ramifications on outstretched branches. Young shoots are pubescent. The needles are light green with a bluish tint.

Himalayan cedar best tolerates shading, air humidity; it is not picky about the soil (it takes root well even on calcareous soils), however, due to too high a lime content in the soil, it can undergo chlorosis - the needles begin to turn yellow, the tree lags behind in growth. Tolerates temperatures down to -25C.

Cedar is a rather capricious plant that requires careful care. Let's look at 2 key aspects.

Shelter for the winter

The main difficulty is to protect the cedar from hypothermia in winter, for which it is necessary to provide the plant comfortable conditions wintering.

The onset of autumn is often changeable, so exact time you can’t name a cedar for shelter. We advise you to follow the weather forecast: if the temperature is below zero for a week outside, the plant must be urgently covered. If the positive temperature remains - from 0 to +10 - you should not cover the cedar, as the tree may suffocate.

The choice of material for shelter depends on your habits and preferences. We recommend purchasing a special material that is sold in OBI - this is the most practical and convenient option. Coniferous spruce branches and burlap are also suitable. If a particularly frosty winter is expected, then roofing material can be used by building a small "house" for cedar
With the gradual onset of cold weather, the cedar can be covered in stages: first with special material and spruce branches, and then with roofing material.

Fertilizer

Cedar needs to be fed - fertilizers of the German brand Greenworld and the domestic brand Green Needle are well suited.

We recommend fertilizing the tree 3 times a season: in spring (April) and twice in summer (June and July). The composition of complex fertilizers includes nitrogen, which stimulates the growth of new shoots, so such fertilizers must be given until mid-August: active growth in the second half of August will complicate the wintering of the plant, and new shoots are likely to freeze. Starting from July, phosphorus and potassium can be used as fertilizer.