Siberian fir: photo and cultivation

Siberian fir is an evergreen pine tree that is perfect for landscaping a garden or summer cottage. The plant has many advantages in keeping, one of which is the ability to grow and develop in both lighted and shaded areas. In addition to the obvious decorative value, Siberian fir also has a high practical value. The tree sap is used to obtain a valuable extract with a rich chemical composition.

Description of Siberian fir

According to the description and photo, Siberian fir is an evergreen coniferous tree with a narrow cone-shaped crown, which noticeably distinguishes it from spruce. The bark of the plant is thin, light gray, ribbed at the bottom of the trunk and smooth at the crown. The needles of Siberian fir are rather dense, which is why the tree does not tolerate low levels of air humidity, especially during early spring. That is why the best place for plant growth will be an area with an increased level of moisture (in natural conditions, the plant can most often be found in the upper part of the western slopes of the mountains).

The root system of Siberian fir has a rather low level of cold resistance, which significantly limits the movement of the tree to the northern parts. Due to the thin short roots, the plant is demanding on the level of fertility and soil moisture. It is almost impossible to find it in the area of ​​dry and wetlands.

The culture does not tolerate strong winds, this is due to two reasons:

• the natural habitat of Siberian fir is closed forests, where windfalls are rare;
• the narrow crown of the tree in the upper part creates practically no wind resistance.

Siberian fir has a rather low, but uniform - almost until the end of life - growth rate. The tree is characterized by a narrow conical crown shape with a pointed top, although sometimes plants with two tops are found.

What does Siberian fir look like?

Siberian fir is an evergreen large-sized tree with impressive size: in adulthood, the tree can reach up to 25 - 30 m in height. In the upper part, the trunk of the plant has a cylindrical shape, and closer to the bottom of the trunk, its ribbing can be observed. The trunk diameter is about 45 - 55 cm. Siberian fir has rather thin branches, which, when grown in free, single plantings, can lean almost to the surface of the earth.

The trunk of the tree is covered with a smooth and thin bark of a dark gray color with thickenings and nodules filled with fir balsam or fragrant transparent resin. The surface of the buds of this ephedra is completely covered with scales, tightly adjacent to each other, as well as a protective layer of resin. The needles of the plant are flat, dark green in color with a distinctive aroma. Normally, the length of the needles is no more than 3 cm.On the lower part of them, you can see whitish stripes with a waxy coating. After the needles die off, flat scars remain on the branches.

Where does Siberian fir grow

Under natural conditions, Siberian fir grows from northern Europe to Siberia (where it is considered one of the main forest-forming crops). The tree can also be found in the Scandinavian Peninsula, Northern Mongolia and Manchuria (China). Most often, the ephedra is found in areas of mixed forests, slightly less often it acts as a forest-forming species. On the territory of Russia, Siberian fir grows practically throughout the entire Irkutsk region, however, the plant spreads very unevenly: the reason for this is its high demands on growing conditions.

How Siberian fir grows

The flowering time of Siberian fir falls on May.

The tree belongs to monoecious species that have both male (yellow spikelets with pollen) and female (dark purple cones) generative organs. In the male organs of Siberian fir, two flying air sacs are located on pollen grains, thanks to which pollen is transported over long distances. The generative female organs are located on last year's shoots, the cones are directed vertically upward. In the axils of the scales, which are arranged in a spiral order, there are ovules in pairs. When the seeds ripen, the cones acquire a light brown tone and increase in volume, reaching a length of 7 - 9 cm.In the period from September to October, the cones of Siberian fir begin to crumble, at the same time their scales fall off with the seeds, and only protruding cone rods remain on the branches. This is a distinctive feature of fir in relation to other conifers.

How long does Siberian fir live

Under natural conditions, the average lifespan of Siberian fir is up to 300 years, and in the conditions of keeping a tree in a garden plot - 150 - 170 years. Saplings of the tree have a low growth rate, reaching no more than 10-15 cm in height in the first 5 years of life. The rate then increases slightly, although the annual growth remains similarly small. In this regard, the tree is classified as a slow-growing species.

The value of Siberian fir in nature

Siberian fir plays a rather significant role in the wild: young trees serve as a cover for many mammals, as well as a nesting place for birds. The needles of the plant are also food for deer and elk in winter, and some species of birds and mammals use it for food throughout the year.

Siberian fir varieties

Among the decorative forms of Siberian fir, reaching no more than 8 m in height, there are representatives with blue, variegated and silvery needles:

• Fir Glauca (Glauca) - an evergreen coniferous plant with a conical crown. In adulthood, the culture reaches about 5 m in height and is used to create single plantings in designer landscape compositions;
  
• Fir Variegata - an evergreen tree, reaching 6 m in adulthood. It is characterized by variegated needles with yellow spots;
  
• Fir elegans (Elegans) - are distinguished as the most graceful form of the ephedra due to the unique silvery color of the needles. The tree is also characterized by a high level of shade and frost tolerance.
  

The medicinal properties of Siberian fir

In addition to its decorative properties, Siberian fir is known for its health benefits, which is why it is often used for medicinal purposes. Buds, needles, young branches and tree bark are used as medicinal raw materials. The needles of the plant contain ascorbic acid, alcohol and essential oil.

1. Aqueous coniferous infusion has an antiscorbutic, diuretic, blood-purifying and analgesic effect. It is used as a remedy for rheumatism, aches and colds.
2. The bark of the tree has an astringent property, it is used externally against burns and tumors.
3. Fresh and steamed kidneys are applied to a sore tooth with severe toothache.
4. Ephedra is used to produce turpentine, which is used as an external irritant.
5. Means made from fir needles have a therapeutic effect in getting rid of burns, as well as in rickets and anemia. They tend to enhance the process of hematopoiesis, increase blood clotting without destroying the proteins contained in it, and also activate carbohydrate metabolism.
6. Fresh branches of the plant have a very high phytoncidity. Being indoors, they are able to completely purify the air, making it almost sterile.
   Important! Professor Vishnevsky introduced into medicine a medicinal balm obtained from the sap of Siberian fir.

   

7. A decoction based on the bark of a tree is taken internally with noise and headaches, and an infusion of branches is used as a general tonic for colds.
8. Fir oil, which is a product of dry distillation of Siberian fir legs, is used in the treatment of myositis and radiculitis. Camphor, as a product of Siberian fir essential oil, is taken as a stimulant for the central nervous system, which also improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Decoctions and tinctures from ephedra branches are also used for disorders of the functioning of the centers of the medulla oblongata and heart, as well as in case of poisoning with narcotic substances, hypnotics or anesthetic substances. Coniferous powder and decoctions from the needles and bark of the plant stimulate the activity of the heart, and also tend to constrict blood vessels.

The use of Siberian fir

The practical use of Siberian fir is diverse and is due to the qualities of the resins and ether present in the plant.

• Application in optics. Siberian fir is used to collect fir balsam. It is obtained from "nodules" (places where gum and essential oils are stored). The balm is distinguished by its transparency, colorlessness and close to the properties of optical glass in refraction. It is used for gluing elements in optical systems;
  
• In medicine. From the fluffy branches, or "legs" of the Siberian fir, an essential oil is obtained, which is used in medicine for the manufacture of camphor;
• The use of Siberian fir in cosmetology. The effect of essential oil of fir for the treatment of skin diseases has been proven. Cosmetologists recommend using fir oil for people with skin prone to oily and the appearance of various acne and rashes. The product contains ascorbic acid, which is of great benefit to aging skin. In addition, the product helps to activate skin metabolic processes, contributing to the appearance of new cells and increased collagen production. After using products with the addition of fir, the skin becomes smooth, radiant and well-groomed;
• The use of Siberian fir in aromatherapy. Fir oil has a cool, fresh pine scent that pairs well with bergamot, pine, cloves, lemon, cypress and juniper. Experts recommend inhaling the scent of fir to achieve complete relaxation, getting rid of nervousness and stress. The pine scent helps to level the emotional background and achieve harmony with your body.
• Industrial applications. From ephedra wood, which has long fibers without resin channels, cellulose, paper, building materials, etc. are obtained.

Planting and caring for Siberian fir

Siberian fir has many unique decorative qualities. However, when choosing a tree for planting in a garden area, it is important to pay attention to several nuances of plant maintenance: the area, watering and feeding, pruning the tree and preparing it for the winter period.

Seedling and planting plot preparation

Experts recommend planting Siberian fir far from the city and highways: the tree is quite sensitive to the level of air pollution, and planting on a gas-polluted and dusty area can lead to a loss of the decorative properties of the plant. When choosing a place for planting a coniferous tree, you should be guided by the following recommendations:

1. The site for the growth of Siberian fir is determined, depending on the purpose of using the tree: to create a hedge or a single planting.
2. Siberian fir is classified as a universal plant that can develop equally well both in shaded and illuminated areas (however, young seedlings feel best in partial shade).
3. When choosing a place for planting ephedra, the composition of the soil is also taken into account, since the future type of root system of the tree depends on this factor. On dry soil with a low level of fertility, fir tends to form a powerful rhizome. On loose and moist soil, the root system of the plant forms more superficially: such an area needs protection from strong winds.

The best soil option for planting a tree will be the soil:

• moderately moist and loamy;
• rich in humus, as well as with a lime composition - contributes to the good development of Siberian fir.

To determine the planting time, it is important to pay attention to the age of Siberian fir seedlings: purchased in containers, it is allowed to plant throughout the entire spring-autumn period. If the age of the tree is from 5 to 10 years, it is better to plant it in early spring, when the snow begins to thaw completely (March-April), or in September, when the ground has not yet had time to become cold. It is best to plant ephedra on a cloudy rainy day. It is not difficult to acquire a sapling of Siberian fir - it is a fairly common ornamental plant in Europe and Russia. The best place to buy is a nursery or specialty store.

Landing rules

The main decorative features of fir are its elongated, columnar type crown. That is why, when planting, it is very important to draw up a composition plan in advance in order to emphasize the main decorative quality of the tree. The most popular planting options are:

1. Alley. Such a fir composition looks spectacular on any site, it is only important to take into account the area of ​​the territory. Plants are planted at a distance of 4 - 5 meters from each other.
2. Disembarkation in a checkerboard pattern. Trees are arranged in squares every 3 meters.
3. Group boarding: in this case, it is necessary to maintain a distance of 2 - 3 meters between the conifers.
4. Single landings. In such a composition, the ephedra will go well with birch, spruce, juniper and maple.

The preparation of the planting pit should be started 7 to 14 days before the tree is planted. Its size directly depends on the size of the root system.

It is necessary to pour water over the pit (2 - 3 buckets). If surface water is located close to the soil, such a planting site needs to be protected with a drainage layer of rubble or broken brick, which is laid out at the bottom of the pit.

After this, the recess must be half filled with a nutritious earthen mixture. To prepare it, you need to mix humus, clay, peat and sand in a ratio of 3: 2: 1: 1 and add 10 kg of sawdust and 250 - 300 g of nitrophosphate. Siberian fir prefers calcareous soils, so some gardeners recommend adding 200 - 250 g of lime to the soil mixture.After filling the pit with the mixture, it must be allowed to brew for 14 days, and then planting:

1. It is necessary to build a small mound in the center of the pit and install the seedling, carefully spreading its roots.
2. Cover the seedling with earth, being careful not to deepen its root collar.
3. After planting, a young fir plant needs abundant watering and protection from direct sunlight.
4. After watering, the tree trunk circle is recommended to be mulched. In this case, it is important to ensure that the mulch does not fit snugly against the root collar.

Watering and feeding

Siberian fir is a drought-resistant species, therefore it does not need frequent artificial watering: the plant will have enough natural precipitation for normal growth and development. This is a huge advantage of the ephedra for planting in garden plots along with other conifers. The plant also does not tolerate excessive moisture. To maintain the proper appearance of Siberian fir, it is extremely important to periodically remove weeds and periodically loosen the soil near the tree.

If the planting pit was prepared according to all the recommendations, Siberian fir will not need feeding for another 2 - 3 years. The tree will have enough of those nutritious fertilizers that were used when planting it. Any complex of fertilizers is suitable for an adult plant.

Mulching and loosening

Siberian fir reacts poorly to any waterlogging. For young seedlings, loosening with getting rid of weeds and mulching the soil 25 - 30 cm deep is mandatory. For mulch, sawdust, wood chips and peat are used with a layer of 5 - 8 cm near the trunks of the seedlings. In springtime, it is necessary to remove dry branches and, if necessary, carry out the shaping of the crown of the tree

Pruning

Siberian fir practically does not need pruning, since even in the natural environment the crown of the plant looks quite impressive. In the spring, you can remove dry or damaged shoots or adjust the shape of the crown, if necessary. Pruning the tree should be done with sharp garden shears. The shoots of the plant can be shortened by more than a third.

Preparing for winter

Siberian fir, grown in Europe and Russia, has a fairly high level of frost resistance. However, young seedlings in the first year of growth need shelter for the winter with the help of spruce branches, in order to avoid damage due to heavy snow and late spring frosts. As the plant grows older, the level of frost resistance of the plant increases, and the need to cover the trunks disappears.

You can find out more information about Siberian fir, the beneficial properties of the tree and the rules for caring for it from the video:

Features of growing Siberian fir in a pot

Siberian fir, grown in a pot or container, looks quite impressive, but the maintenance of the plant requires compliance with some rules. For tree care, it is best to purchase a special stand on wheels to make it easier to move from place to place within the room.

If the seedling was purchased in the winter, then before transplanting it into a pot, it is important to give it the opportunity to get used to new conditions. At the initial stage of getting used to, the conditions in the room should not differ from those in the store, so the temperature in the room must be lowered. After adaptation, the Siberian fir should be rearranged to a permanent place.

In the future, the ephedra will no longer need to change the air temperature.

Reproduction of Siberian fir

Reproduction of Siberian fir can be carried out in two ways: by cuttings method, and also by seed method.

Reproduction of Siberian fir by cuttings

The tree can multiply independently: the branches of the plant bend to the very surface of the earth and are able to take root in it. Cuttings can also be prepared in advance:

1. It is best to prepare them in the spring, before the process of sap flow begins.
2. The optimal length of one cutting should be from 5 to 7 cm. It is desirable to choose young shoots. The stalk should have a "heel" and one bud at the top.
3. For harvesting Siberian fir cuttings, it is best to tear off with a sharp jerk so that a little bark and wood remain: experts do not recommend using a knife or scissors.
4. Cuttings for disinfection should be placed in a manganese solution.
5. Then you should prepare a suitable container for their rooting and fill it with a mixture of humus, sand and leafy soil.
6. After planting, cover the cuttings with foil to create comfortable conditions for their rooting.
7. It is important to monitor the room temperature: it should be higher than the room temperature. The cuttings can be placed on the windowsill next to the battery. It is also necessary to provide the plants with a sufficient amount of light, while avoiding direct sunlight.
8. It should be noted that the process of growing Siberian fir indoors requires a lot of time and effort. Cuttings begin to take root in the second year. During this period, the plants must be constantly ventilated, watered and taken out into the street.

Reproduction of Siberian fir using seeds

The seed method for breeding Siberian fir is extremely rarely used, since future trees will not transfer the characteristics of the mother plant to themselves.

You can buy Siberian fir seeds in a specialized store or collect it yourself. It is important to remember these nuances:

1. Fir cones are located quite high.
2. You cannot miss the moment of ripening, since the seeds tend to fly apart instantly. Cones should be picked not fully ripe, dried a little and then removed the seeds.
3. Ephedra seeds need stratification. To do this, they are placed in a refrigerator or other place with a low temperature and high level of humidity: they are left there until sowing.
4. Planting seeds outdoors is best in April. To do this, you need to prepare the planting area: clear it of weeds, loosen it and add a small amount of sand. Then sow the seeds to a depth of about 2 cm and cover with soil.
5. The planted seeds do not need watering, but they must be covered from above with a film so that a crust does not appear on the soil surface, which will interfere with the further germination of seeds.
6. The first shoots of Siberian fir begin to appear after 21 - 28 days. Throughout this period, the plant must be watered often and make sure that weeds do not appear on the site. Loosening the soil must be done carefully to avoid damage to the still weak root system of the tree.
7. Siberian fir grows rather slowly: at the 4th year of life, the height of the tree will not exceed 30 cm. Over time, the growth rate will increase.

Diseases and pests of Siberian fir

One of the most common diseases of Siberian fir, hermes fir, is a species of aphid. It manifests itself as snow-white pubescence on the underside of the needles. The tree is treated in April using the working solution of the Antio or Rogor preparation (in the ratio of 20 g of the product to 10 l of water).

Often, decorative forms of Siberian fir are affected by rust: the disease is characterized by reddish spots on the needles and swelling in the area of ​​the shoots. To quickly get rid of the disease, the affected branches and needles must be cut and burned, and the pruning areas should be lubricated with garden varnish. The crown of the fir must also be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid (200 g of the drug per 10 l of water).

Interesting facts about Siberian fir

1. A distinctive feature of the Siberian fir is that its needles do not fall off even after drying.That is why tree branches are used to create Christmas wreaths.
2. Siberian fir can be easily distinguished from spruce by its needles: they are flat and soft to the touch, blunt-pointed, and also resemble outwardly elongated flat leaves that do not prick or scratch the skin.
3. The needles of the plant are located on the branches on both sides, which is why they have a flat shape.
4. Siberian fir has a strong, but pleasant aroma, not like the smell of spruce.
5. Due to the fact that the fir branches do not crumble, they are used to create bath brooms.
6. The ripening of tree cones lasts all summer, and only closer to winter they fall, freeing the seeds.
7. Siberian fir cones, unlike other conifers, grow vertically.
8. On the territory of Russia, Siberian fir is listed in the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk Region.

Conclusion

Siberian fir is an evergreen coniferous plant that is gaining popularity among landscape designers. The tree has unique decorative qualities and many useful properties, which is why it can be used for domestic and medicinal purposes. Before buying a tree, it is important to familiarize yourself with the rules for keeping a plant and take into account all the nuances of caring for it: fir requirements for planting soil, lighting and air pollution.

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