Decoration personal plots Recently it has become more and more popular. In order to decorate the territory, plot owners purchase various exotic plants. Ornamental plant The dwarf birch, native to the tundra, perfectly decorates the garden and complements the landscape of any complexity. The birch tree is miniature but attractive and can tolerate low air temperatures.
Description of the plant
Dwarf birch is a shrub with a height of 20 to 70 centimeters. The leaves of the plant have serrated edges and can reach 15 centimeters in length. In autumn, the green color changes to bright red, which perfectly decorates nature. The plant bears fruit from May to June with small nuts with a very small diameter.
The tree resembles a creeping shrub that clings to the soil with its roots. Thus, one bush can occupy a significant area.
The wild birch bush grows in the mountainous tundra at an altitude of more than 500 meters. The plant does not resemble a birch tree neither in appearance, nor in height, nor in the color of its bark. The miniature tree got its name from the word “yora”, which means “bush”. The thickets that the birch forms are impenetrable. Often they are intertwined with dwarf willow, which makes the path through their growth almost impossible.
It is correct to consider a dwarf birch as a shrub. Betula nаna grows no higher than 80 cm. The bush is covered with snow in winter, which protects it from blizzards and severe frosts. The leaves have a serrated edge. The foliage itself is smooth on top and shiny in color. The bottom of the leaf is matte, with a small fluff. In May, the plant blooms and produces earrings that look a little like the earrings of Russian birch . autumn plant incredibly beautiful, as it turns bright red or bright Orange color, thereby decorating the fields and mountains.
Yornik tolerates northern climate well . You can meet the wild version:
Growing conditions
The low-growing bush loves a sunny place, despite the ability to grow at low temperatures. The maximum that a tree can withstand is partial shade. The best place for planting - this is the one in which melt water collects in the spring. At the same time, birch can tolerate short-term droughts.
When planting in the ground, it is important to use drainage. The soil should conduct moisture well, and the substrate should be acidic or semi-acidic. The crop can be planted using seeds. They can be planted immediately after collection, or in autumn period. The seeds are frost-resistant. The most the best seeds for planting are those that were collected in the year of planting. Every year, seed germination may deteriorate.
You can also plant a tree as a seedling. When purchasing, it is important to check that the roots are not damaged or overdried. A few days before planting, mineral fertilizers, humus and humus should be mixed into a hole 1-1.5 meters deep. When planting, the lump that is present on the roots is not removed.
The drainage that must be present in the ground should be represented by pebbles, crushed stone or expanded clay. After planting, the seedling should be watered with water and, if desired, mulched.
Rules for caring for birch
To prevent the tree from getting sick and drying out, the soil should be constantly moistened. If the birch tree is planted in a place where water accumulates, then it is important to carry out regular watering only in summer time. You can feed the crop not only with humus, but also mineral fertilizers. It is best to apply nitrogen fertilizers to the soil in the spring, and nitroammophoska in the fall. The plant needs soil nutrition every year.
Pruning of branches begins in the second year of the crop's life. Dry and diseased branches should be removed in early spring. You can form a crown not only in spring, but also at the end of August.
Caterpillars can infect dwarf birch, Chafer, cutworm and aphid. The plant should be treated with appropriate medications or it is best to take preventive measures.
Garden addition and design
Yora is used in decoration land plot. Use it when creating:
- alpine slides,
- exotic landscapes;
- miniature mountain elephants;
The birch tree will complement the area decorated in Japanese style, and the tree should be planted near bodies of water. You can supplement the birch with bergenia, gentians, ferns, and moss.
This crop makes an excellent hedge that will gradually grow and weave. The bushes can be trimmed, so you can decorate them culturally. If you plant a shrub in a pot, you can get a bansai.
The dwarf birch is a decoration for any home garden. Growing shrubs does not require special knowledge or expense, and your imagination will help you design the landscape in a stylish and modern way.
Birch is perhaps the most “Russian” of all types of trees. It is difficult to imagine a plant so praised by the classics of all generations. This is not surprising: the rare grace and power combined in her image inspire people to create. But, in addition, it is also a very valuable representative of forests, providing not only wood. Today we will talk in more detail about these beauties, find out what types of common and rare birch trees exist.
Birch is one of the most common plants in our country. There are about a hundred species of birch trees, growing not only in Russia, but also in the forests of North America and throughout Europe. All varieties of birch trees can be divided into two large groups:
- trees (their height varies between 30-50 meters, and the trunk width can reach 1.5 meters);
- shrubs (large, small and creeping species).
- Wood. Wood birch flesh is different high degree strength, which allows it to be used for the production of plywood products.
- Burls are growths that can form on birch roots, trunks or branches. In cross-section, the burl has a very interesting pattern, which, after processing, allows it to be used for making various crafts.
- Tar is a special substance extracted from this tree by dry distillation. It is used in medicine, as a rule, as part of various ointments or tar soap.
- Dye . With certain processing, a yellow dye can be obtained from the leaves of the plant.
- Pollen bearer. Birch is also important for honey production, as it is an important pollen bearer.
- Birch bark is upper layer bark, characterized by strength and durability (thanks to the resins contained in the composition). It is used as a flammable substance or material for various crafts.
- Birch sap, which is extracted in the spring, is very useful. It is used both raw and as a component of various decoctions and syrups. In addition, birch sap can be used to feed apiary bees.
- Medicine . Decoctions and infusions from various parts of birch are used in medicine as diuretics, bactericidal or antipyretic agents. Next we will try to find out what types of birch trees exist.
Popular types
As mentioned earlier, there is a large number of varieties of birch trees. Today we will talk about some of the most popular of them.
Hanging
The most common variety of birch in Russia is silver birch. It looks like a tree, up to 3 meters high with smooth white bark. In young trees, it is noticeable that the top layer of bark peels off easily. In “retired birches,” deep gray furrows are visible, penetrating the entire upper layer of bark. The trunk of this variety is quite flexible, straight with drooping branches, wedge-shaped leaves and earring flowers.
The average lifespan of this tree can be from 100 to 120 years. The tree becomes an “adult” by the age of 8, at which time the color of the bark also changes: from brown it becomes white. It is also worth noting that silver birch becomes drooping in old age; young representatives of the species have ordinary straight branches.
This plant is distributed throughout the country, but most often it can be found in the central regions and Western Siberia. Due to its unpretentiousness, it can grow in various climatic regions: it is found both in the tundra and in the steppe. Birch grows quite quickly, occupying any free plot of land, displacing other tree species.
This plant is widely used in economic activity person. So, resinous birch trees are almost collected in early spring, and young leaves are collected immediately after that. Birch bark is usually collected from the middle part of a growing tree or dead wood. In early spring Birch sap is also extracted, which due to its composition (water, chemical elements special order and organic compounds) has mass beneficial properties. It is known that up to 10 tons of sap can be obtained from one hectare of silver birch. All year round Chaga is also collected ( medicinal mushroom, who chose the trunks of this type of tree as his place of residence).
Dwarf
Dwarf birch his appearance much more reminiscent of a low-growing branchy shrub than a tree familiar to everyone. Its other name “Ernik” seems to emphasize the predilection of this shrub for the formation of thickets. It grows in northern Russia, as well as in Europe, Canada and China. It can be found in the Alps or mountainous areas of Scotland. In our country, it can most often be found in Yakutia, Chukotka, Kamchatka or the Amur region. This is understandable, because this plant prefers mountainous or marshy areas and damp soils.
Dwarf birch is a shrub whose growth usually does not exceed 2-2.5 meters. Trunk dwarf species the same is smooth, but the foliage is small (up to 2 centimeters), with a darker top part. The branches are usually straight. The bark is not the usual white, but brownish-brown. It is important to note that this shrub grows very slowly, but is one of the most frost-resistant in the world. It is rarely used in economic activities: only among the northern tribes it is used as fuel or reindeer feed. 
Karelian
Karelian birch is a variety of low-growing trees, distinguished by the presence of a strange growth on the trunk (burl) and very patterned beautiful cut wood It grows, as the name implies, in Karelia, but not only. This type birch is also found in other territories of Russia, as well as in Lithuania. This species is divided into three more varieties: low-growing, medium height, tall.
When processed, the wood gives dark brown and yellowish shades. The unusual pattern of wood allows the Karelian tree to be used for making dishes, boxes, vases, watches and any other souvenirs.
Paper
Paper birch is a fairly powerful tree, the growth of which easily reaches 30 meters. It got its name because of the wide, dense bark, which, being pink in young animals, becomes white over time. The leaves of this tree are quite large, reaching a length of 10 centimeters. This plant is very unpretentious and can grow in any soil, with any lighting.
Cherry
North American species of birch. It is a tree up to 25 meters high. Young plants have a pyramidal wide crown, which with age begins to droop, forming a ball. The bark is of an unusual dark color (mostly cherry or red). It has fairly large leaves, up to 12 centimeters long, with pubescent veins along the perimeter. In spring, the tree blooms profusely, producing a large number of long catkins. The tree grows quite quickly and lives a long time. Prefers deep, moist bud.
Yellow
This is a large tree, reaching 30 meters in height. The homeland is considered North America(hence the other name - American birch). It has a very interesting bark color, which can be light orange or gray, or reddish-brown. The leaves are also large: up to 12 centimeters. The plant is very tenacious and grows quickly. Prefers moist but drained soils. It can live calmly for up to 300 years.
Small-leaved
A relatively short tree (up to 15 meters), it can often grow as a gnarled shrub. Distributed in desert valleys, rivers and swamps of Western Siberia, Altai or Mongolia. The bark is yellowish-gray or even pink. The leaves are quite small.
Fluffy
A low tree, distinguished by a 15-meter white trunk and a wide crown, which is formed by branches directed strictly upward. The leaves are shiny, small (up to 6 centimeters). Immediately after formation, the foliage is sticky and very fragrant. The plant tolerates shade and marshy soils well.
Far Eastern
Perhaps the hardiest plant in this group. It is a slender, straight tree with a 30-meter trunk and a spreading crown. Very shade tolerant. Young plants, for example, are not able to develop at all unless they are in the shade. Prefers foothills. Far Eastern birch can be found in Primorye, Khabarovsk Territory, as well as in the vast expanses of China and North Korea.
It is distinguished by the presence of a shaggy wide trunk covered with light yellowish bark. The leaves are oval, large and dense. This type of birch can live up to 80-100 years.
Woolly
This is a representative of the flora of mountains and mountain clearings, dark coniferous forests Eastern Siberia, Far East Russia and Korea. It is a 15-meter tree with a large number of fluffy buds. The leaves are wide, up to 9 centimeters, covered with soft pubescence along the lower veins.
Rare species
There are also rare species of birch trees. These are, first of all, squat birch, Daurian birch, Schmidt tree, red birch, Dalecarlian birch and Erman birch. We will talk about them in more detail.
From the video “Varieties of Birch Trees” you will learn a lot of interesting things about this plant.
Squat
Another deciduous fluffy plant from the large birch family. Most often it can be found in wetlands Western Europe, Mongolia and in the European part of Russia. The plant is a shrub with a height of 1 to 1.5 meters. The branches are straight, the leaves are quite small (up to 3.5 centimeters). The bark of this type of birch is smooth, often dark or brown. The squat birch is included in the Red Book of several regions and republics of Russia. This plant is used medicinally as a component of certain types of medicines.
Daurskaya
A tall plant (up to 25 meters tall), which requires a lot of light and moisture to grow. Daurian or Korean birch grows in the Far East, Mongolia, China, Korea and Japan. It is noted that the places where it grows can be considered very successful for agriculture.
It has an original openwork crown: in young plants it is pinkish or red, in adult plants it is dark gray or brown. The peeled layers of birch bark do not fall off, but remain hanging on the trunk. The leaves are oval and dark green. Coal is usually produced from Daurian birch, and its wood is also used to make all kinds of crafts.
Birch Schmidt
It is also called iron birch. The plant can reach 20 meters in height. It is distinguished by a wide, low-set crown, which can start at a level of 8 meters. The bark of the tree is usually dark, gray or brown. It grows in the rocky regions of Primorye, China and Japan. This type of birch tree loves light. At good conditions The life of this type of birch can reach up to 400 years.
Red
Red birch, as its name suggests, is different unusual color bark varying from red to yellow and gray. This is a low tree, about 5 meters tall. It grows only in Kazakhstan and is on the verge of complete extinction.
Dalecarlian
Very beautiful plant, having small thin foliage and long weeping branches. A fairly frost-resistant plant that grows in the European part of Russia and the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Birch Erman
Tree 15-20 meters high with a spreading crown. The bark of this type of birch is dark gray, brown, and sometimes yellowish in color. The leaves are quite large (up to 14 centimeters). The upper half of the leaf is usually dark green, and the lower half is light. This tree is very undemanding to soil and can grow on rocky surfaces. Distributed on the territory of Kamchatka, the coast Sea of Okhotsk, Kuril Islands, in eastern Russia and Japan. Used in the production of coal or decorative crafts.
Photo 3. Silver birch Photo 4. Squat variety of birch
Video “Common birch”
In this video you will learn a lot of interesting things about this tree.
In size and shape, appearance, bark color and leaf shape, the dwarf birch (Betula papa L.) does not even remotely resemble the Central Russian silver birch (Betula pendula Roth). She also does not have weeping earrings hanging down - the dense short inflorescences of the dwarf birch are directed upward. True, the flowers, like those of all birches, are pollinated by the wind, and the fruits are exactly the same small nuts with small membranous wings. The branches of the dwarf birch are dark cherry, smooth, early stages growth - densely velvety. The leaves are small, round and coin-shaped. The size of a plant directly depends on the amount of heat it receives. The species amazes botanists with its abundance of forms. South of the Arctic Circle (the southern border of the species is the Nizhny Novgorod region), the birch tree turns into a full-fledged shrub, reaching 60 cm in height. In northern latitudes, it spreads and crawls, clinging to the moss floor of the tundra. This strategy can be explained quite simply: in winter, when severe frosts strike, you can hide under the snow, where it is not so cold. Branches not covered with snow will freeze and die. Because of this growth habit, dwarf birch is often called dwarf birch, or dwarf birch. The word “ernik” comes either from the Nenets “era” - “bush”, or from the colloquial Old Russian “ernik” - “reveler”, “rake”, “joker”. And indeed, although the dwarf birch is not tall, it is very difficult to get through its continuous carpet thickets, since the legs get entangled in the branches spread on the ground, and the gait becomes unsteady. The branches of the birch tree are not just spread out on the ground, they intertwine and take down adventitious roots, rooting quite firmly in the soil. This living carpet is spreading across the tundra slowly, but surely - at a speed of one meter Lg per ten years. By about the age of one hundred years, the central part of the mother bush dies off, and the rooted shoots B begin new life as independent plants.
Seed propagation plays a much less noticeable role in the life of the dwarf birch than in the life of its majestic Central Russian relative. The dwarf birch produces seeds in abundance, but, unlike other species, not every year. They ripen not in August, like its closest tree relatives, but in the spring, and they are carried away from the mother bush, where they will germinate and give rise to new plants, not by the wind, but by melt water. But the main thing is that this shrub grows and matures very slowly. branch young plant begins at the 7-8th year of life, and before this time a single stem “gains height.” The dwarf birch blooms and produces fruits for the first time also late, only at the age of 30-35 years. The range of the dwarf birch is quite wide - the polar-Arctic tundra of Siberia, Europe and North America. To the south the view extends into both the forest-tundra and forest zones. In the alpine region of Altai and Sayan, dwarf birch gives way to a very similar species, round-leaved birch. These species differ very slightly: the dwarf birch has smooth branches, while the round-leaved birch has rough, warty branches. Sometimes round-leaved birch is considered a subspecies of dwarf birch. Some botanists combine all types of small birches into one species - this group also includes Middendorf birch and skinny birch.
Those who have been to the tundra know that mushrooms grow here to enormous sizes, and trees, on the contrary, become smaller. The common boletus, which, true to its name, should grow under a birch tree, looks like a real giant in comparison with the dwarf birch tree, which clings tightly to the ground and creeps along the mosses. Perhaps in these parts it is more correct to call it a nadberezovik. But have you ever wondered why this mushroom is so drawn to birch, regardless of its size? It turns out that in order to better absorb nutrients coming from the soil, birch needs helper mushrooms. The underground, usually invisible part of the fungus, called the mycelium, produces enzymes that facilitate the absorption of nutrients, in particular phosphorus. The fungus also benefits from such cooperation: in return it receives carbohydrates and phytohormones from the plant. And the plant enters into symbiosis with fungi, forming mycorrhiza (literally: mushroom root). Among the birch symbionts - White mushroom, black milk mushroom and even russula.
Dwarf birch (lat. Betula nana)- a species of low-growing shrubs of the Birch genus of the Birch family. Other names are low-growing birch, dwarf birch, dwarf birch, dwarf birch. In nature, the plant is found in many European countries, Canada and Russia. Grows in small quantities in the Alps and Scotland. Typical places are hypnotic swamps, arctic tundra, moss forests.
Characteristics of culture
Dwarf birch is a deciduous shrub up to 120 cm high with spreading or erect shoots. Young shoots are densely pubescent or velvety, with age they are almost bare, with reddish-brown or dark brown bark, often with a bluish bloom. The leaves are round-oval or rounded, small, short-petioled, up to 15 mm long, up to 20 cm wide, bluntly toothed along the edge. The upper part of the leaves is dark green, smooth, shiny, the lower part is light green, with scattered pubescence. In autumn, the foliage turns dark yellow or yellow. During flowering, anther earrings form on plants; they can be of two types - male and female; after pollination they fall off. Female specimens produce small elliptical nuts with three lobes and an attached scale.
Growing conditions
Dwarf birch is also successfully cultivated in acidic areas. garden soils, and on peat bogs, and fertile chernozems, and sandy loam soils, and loams. However, the culture develops best on light, slightly acidic, humus-rich soils. It is undesirable to grow dwarf birch on waterlogged, heavy clay and saline soils. The location is sunny, light shade is also possible.Reproduction and planting
Dwarf birch is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Seeds are collected when the earrings turn brown. Sow seeds immediately after collection or late autumn under cover in the form of peat or sawdust. This procedure is quite labor-intensive and not every gardener can do it, so experienced agronomists advise growing a crop by planting a seedling. Saplings in a huge number are presented in specialized nurseries; they should not be purchased from unverified places.It is not recommended to buy seedlings with an open root system; even if planted correctly, they may not take root. It is better to purchase seedlings in containers or with a ball of earth. Seedlings are planted in spring or autumn. The planting hole is prepared in a couple of weeks; a mixture consisting of garden soil, peat, humus and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. It is important not to forget about applying complex fertilizer (150-200 g per hole). Immediately after planting, the tree trunk area is mulched with a thick layer of humus or other available covering material. Watering is required.
Care
Dwarf birch is a moisture-loving plant, it’s hard to imagine, but in the summer it extracts about 250 liters of water from the soil. Therefore, watering for the crop is vital; during drought, the volume of water and the frequency of watering are doubled.Fertilizing is also necessary; in the spring the plants are fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, in the fall - with nitroammophos or Kemira universal. Preventive pruning is carried out annually in the spring, before sap flow begins. Formative as necessary, but within the same time frame.
Application
Dwarf birch has been actively used in landscape design. It looks great in group plantings, rock gardens and rock gardens. Shrubs look especially impressive in autumn, so they are often used to create autonalia ( autumn gardens). Dwarf birch goes well with evergreen low-growing conifers, as well as closely related species of birch - ferruginous birch, Finnish birch and Middendordfa birch.It is a close relative of the common birch and is a shrub with a large number of branches. The height of the bush does not exceed one meter, and the width of its crown can reach one and a half meters. It has small and round leaves that are dark green above and light green below.
Sometimes dwarf birch is so small that only leaves can be seen on the surface of the lichen. The leaves are attached to the stems using short petioles. The earrings of this type of birch, in turn, are small and have a round-oval design. During ripening, they crumble into their component parts: scales and fruits.
The fruits are small, about 2 millimeters long, oval nuts with wings on the sides. Dwarf birch blooms in May, before the leaves bloom, with small, unisexual and unattractive flowers. Fruiting occurs starting in June.
Dwarf birch grows quite slowly. Its winter hardiness is very high, it is not for nothing that it grows in northern regions earth's hemispheres: North America, Northern Russia, Yakutia and Western Siberia. It is very often found in the highlands of the Alps. Her favorite places are rocky slopes and swampy areas of the Tundra.
The decorative type of dwarf birch is used for landscaping personal plots, areas around buildings, for landscaping park facilities and creating a landscape view in landscape design. Thanks to the compact, rounded shape of the crown, this shrub does not require constant trimming.
Planting and care. Before planting, a hole is dug into which a mixture of garden soil, peat, humus and sand is added. Subsequently, the plants are fed with complex fertilizers, starting from spring until autumn. For feeding, you can use nitrogen-containing fertilizers such as mullein, nitrogen fertilizer and ammonium nitrate. In the fall, you can use nitroammophoska or Kemira-universal fertilizer for fertilizing.
After planting in the first 3-4 days, it is necessary to water the plant abundantly, and on hot days it is advisable to increase the volume of liquid.
To control weeds, loosen the soil in the area of the root system. In addition, the soil will be saturated with oxygen.
After the earrings have ripened, you can sow the seeds. This can be done immediately or wait until late autumn after collecting the seeds.
Reproduction. Dwarf birch reproduces by seedlings or seeds. Seedlings are planted in the ground in spring or autumn. They choose loose, well-fertilized soils, but as practice shows, they take root well on any type of soil. At the same time, the dwarf birch loves moisture very much, so it needs to be provided regular watering. When planting large plants with an open root system, their death is possible, since stronger plants do not like replanting and do not take root well.
Pests. The dwarf birch has its own significant set of pests. These include mole crickets, bladderworts (thrips), beetleworms, goldfish, silkworms, and leaf sawflies. When fighting them, the shrub should be treated with fungicides and insecticides.
Tundra is one of the most suitable places for its growth. In this regard, it is the most common plant of the tundra. In this place there are entire thickets of this type of birch, especially in the southern part of the tundra. Moreover, it is distributed over almost the entire area of the tundra zone. Its neighbors in these harsh areas are lichens, moss and dwarf willows. Basically, dwarf birch serves as food for animals, but larger specimens are used by the local population as fuel.
Dwarf birch Ernik
In the tundra, this type of birch is called “ernik”, which translated means “shrub”. IN harsh conditions It is very difficult to survive in the north, and therefore this type of bush has developed its own survival technology. It grows and moves further under layers of snow cover, spreading thick branches widely. Thus it is protected from severe frosts and freezing. That's why it grows not as a straight tree, but as a spreading shrub. Ernik is woven into the moss with its many branches to such an extent that on the surface you can only notice the leaves and catkins of the dwarf birch. With its thickets it occupies a very large areas and through the same thickets it moves deeper into the tundra.
In such conditions, propagation by seeds occurs very rarely due to the fact that the seeds do not have time to ripen, and they rarely develop. The birchberry has another one ready, more effective method– vegetative. The bush literally crawls along the ground, clinging to it with its branches. As a result of such contact, auxiliary roots are formed on the branches and at the points of their formation, young shoots of dwarf birch emerge in the coming year. Seeds of dwarf birch develop at the beginning of great cold weather and remain in winter period in earrings.
Young dwarf birch shoots appear only in areas where nothing is growing at that moment. Such areas appear after animals visit these places, for example, caribou are reindeer. They very actively clear the territory of everything edible, especially since there is not so much of it in the tundra. This space is then irrigated with melted spring waters. The combination of all these conditions allows the dwarf birch to occupy this territory. In the future, having populated this area, it will become one of the links in a huge, and so necessary, root chain.
Despite its small size, the dwarf birch can live for about 100 years. After reaching this age, the process of rejuvenation of the bush begins to occur. Old branches begin to dry out and finally die. In their place, new young branches are formed, which begin a new life. But not all shrubs thus continue their movement across the tundra. Many of them dry up on the root, and bearberry settles in its place. As soon as young dwarf birch shoots appear in this place, the bearberry gradually begins to retreat. Based on this, we can say that dwarf birch is resistant not only to the harsh conditions of the tundra, but also has great “survivability.”