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Red-leaved bird cherry is increasingly used by landscape designers when creating contrasting compositions. A vibrant purple accent in the form of a fast-growing pyramidal tree is ideal for many home gardens.
Description of red-leaved bird cherry
Bird cherry with red leaves is an ornamental culture that is loved by many gardeners both in Russia and abroad. The tree is distinguished by high growth rates, on average, the annual growth in height is about 1 m. Adult specimens reach 5-7 m. The crown of the red-leaved bird cherry has a pyramidal shape, but easily lends itself to decorative pruning.
The red-leaved bird cherry is often called the “chameleon tree” due to the unique characteristic of its leaves that change color during the summer season. In the spring, green leaves bloom on the branches, which do not differ in color from the rest of the trees in the garden. But at the end of June, the picture changes - the crown of the red-leaved bird cherry acquires a maroon or wine tint. The metamorphosis does not end there - new growths form green foliage. Thus, the tree takes on an even more decorative look.
During the flowering period, the red-leaved bird cherry is the dominant feature in the garden composition. Large (up to 15 cm), numerous inflorescences of snow-white or pinkish color with a tart heady aroma involuntarily attract attention.
The berries of the red-leaved bird cherry are almost 2 times larger than the common one, they have a sweet taste, they practically do not knit. The berries are easily separated from the branches, without emitting juice, hands do not get dirty.
Bird cherry is the most winter hardy of all stone fruit trees. Its wood can easily withstand temperatures as low as -50 ° C. The overwhelming number of varieties of red-leaved bird cherry can be grown in the conditions of central Russia, as well as in Siberia and the Urals. The most vulnerable time for red-leaved bird cherry is the period of loose buds and flowering. Frost damage can damage the ovary, which will significantly reduce the yield.
The red-leaved bird cherry is a cross-pollinated crop; for fruit setting, it requires the participation of insects and favorable weather conditions. When choosing a variety of red-leaved bird cherry, it is necessary to pay attention to the flowering time: the further north the region of cultivation, the later the bird cherry should bloom.
Red-leaved bird cherry begins to bear fruit at the age of 3, an adult tree (7-8 years) can yield 20-40 kg per season, if spring and summer are rainy and cool - up to 12 kg.
Red-leaved bird cherry is unpretentious and can grow even on depleted dry soils. Its root system is resistant to the close occurrence of groundwater. The culture tolerates frost well, foliage is not susceptible to sunburn.
Description bird cherry Siberian beauty
The red-leaved bird cherry variety Siberian Beauty was obtained by Russian breeders from the National Research University Central Siberian Botanical Garden by crossing the common bird cherry and the Virginian variety Schubert.Included in the State Register in 2009, it is recommended for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation.
The plant has a dense pyramidal crown, grows up to 4-5 m in height. The color of young leaves is pale green, but with age, the upper part of the leaf plate acquires a dark purple hue, while the lower part acquires a light purple hue.
During the flowering period, which occurs in May, the tree is strewn with white cluster inflorescences, exuding a strong and sweet aroma. During maturation, green drupes change color to red, and subsequently to black. The taste of the berries is pleasant, low-tart, sweet. The average weight of the berry is 0.7 g, the yield indicators are average.
The bird cherry variety Siberian beauty prefers sunny areas, is distinguished by undemanding soil composition and very high winter hardiness. The variety is used both in single and in group compositions.
Description of bird cherry Tent
Red-leaved bird cherry variety Red tent is one of the decorative varieties. The tree does not exceed 4 m in height and width, the crown is formed in the form of a wide ellipse or egg, the density is average. The branches are bare, brown in color with numerous white lenticels, located at 90 ° to the main trunk, their tips are directed upwards. The bark is gray with a brownish tinge; slight peeling can be seen on the trunk. The leaf plates are oval with a pointed end; at the beginning of the growing season they are green, but by July they acquire a reddish-purple hue.
Red-leaved bird cherry of the Red Tent variety blooms in May with large white fragrant tassels. Ripe berries are black, with a characteristic glossy sheen, quite tasty. In terms of ripening, the variety belongs to medium-late, with sufficient pollination, it can be planted as food.
Bird cherry Red tent, according to the description of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "State Sort Commission", perfectly tolerates frosts and prolonged heat, but needs regular watering during a drought. The endurance gene grafted by breeders allows the variety to withstand attacks from harmful insects and not be exposed to the main diseases of stone fruit trees.
The Red Tent variety was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2009 and is recommended for cultivation in all regions of the country. The authors of the variety were Russian scientists Ustyuzhanina T.B. and Simagin V.S., the originator is the Central Siberian Botanical Garden of the SB RAS.
Bird cherry
The variety of red-leaved bird cherry Neubiennaya is a tall shrub or tree up to 7 m high. The branches are dark brown, the foliage is dense. The crown has the shape of an oval, formed by erect large shoots. Blossoms in May with white, fragrant inflorescences in the form of brushes. By mid-July, the leaves begin to turn red and after 2 weeks they acquire a deep inky-plum shade. Even numerous photos of the bird cherry Neubiennaya cannot convey this rich noble color. This variety of red-leaved bird cherry is distinguished by good frost resistance, diseases and pests are rarely affected.
Bird cherry Chemal beauty
The variety was bred in the mountainous regions of Altai, in NIISS (Chemal village). The tree is vigorous (4-10 m), characterized by a crimson shade of leaves. Blooms in May with pale pink inflorescences, abundantly, but not for long. Fruits in a mature form are black, weighing up to 0.8 g. According to gardeners, bird cherry Chemal beauty has a rich dessert taste. The plant grows well on fertile soil with excessive or flowing moisture. In early spring, before bud break, it needs treatment from pests and possible diseases.
Varietal characteristics
The characteristics of the varieties of red-leaved bird cherry are in many respects similar. The most important parameters to look out for when choosing a variety are:
- frost resistance;
- yield and terms of fruiting;
- early maturity;
- self-fertility;
- resistance to pests and diseases.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Red-leaved bird cherry is characterized by increased winter hardiness. It can be successfully grown even in regions where the temperature drops below 45-50 ° C during the winter months. Only immature seedlings need shelter. During a prolonged drought, bird cherry requires additional watering every 7-10 days. Normally, watering 3-4 times per season in the first year is sufficient.
Productivity and fruiting
The berries of the red-leaved bird cherry ripen in July and can be kept on the clusters until autumn. One tree, depending on the variety, can produce an average of 10-20 kg of berries. Fruits bake little in the sun, this happens only in a very hot dry summer. Unlike ordinary bird cherry, the berries of red-leaved varieties are larger and sweeter, without viscosity and sourness. They are used in cooking when preparing compotes, preserves, and various tinctures.
Disease and pest resistance
Red-leaved bird cherry can suffer from diseases such as:
- moniliosis;
- clasterosporium disease;
- cytosporosis;
- red spot.
Among the pests on the red-leaved bird cherry, aphids, bedbugs, hawthorn, and weevils can often be found.
The degree of susceptibility to a particular disease depends on the specific variety and agricultural technology. Weak and emaciated plants are affected by pests many times more often than strong and healthy ones.
Advantages and disadvantages of varieties
Each variety has its own pros and cons. One variety was bred with an emphasis on frost resistance, another on yield, and the third on high decorative qualities.
Variety | Dignity | disadvantages |
Siberian beauty | High frost resistance, undemanding to the soil, high decorative effect, delicious sweet berries | The variety requires regular pruning, the yield is average, with the seed method of reproduction, varietal characteristics appear only in half of the seedlings |
Red tent | Excellent taste of berries, high decorative effect, high immunity to most diseases and pests | Low flowering intensity, moderate resistance to heat and drought |
Unkilled | Good frost resistance, high immunity to diseases, decorative effect | The variety requires regular pruning. |
Chemal beauty | High decorativeness, large berries of dessert taste | The need to regularly treat pests |
Planting and caring for red-leaved bird cherry
Red-leaved bird cherry is a picky culture and can grow on any soil, however, the peak of decorativeness and a high yield can be achieved only on fertile soils. The tree grows well on loams with a neutral or slightly acidic pH reaction.
The landing site should be sunny, well lit from all sides. If the crop grows in the shade, flowering and fruiting will be scarce. The northern and western sides of the suburban area are preferred.
Red-leaved bird cherry is planted in spring or autumn. Before planting, the roots of the seedlings are examined, the weak and damaged are removed. Among all the stems, the 3 most powerful are left, they are cut to a height of 70 cm.
The landing algorithm is quite simple:
- Dig a hole 50 cm deep and 70 cm wide.
- A small amount of mineral and organic fertilizers is placed on the bottom.
- The seedling is placed in a hole, the roots are spread and covered with earth.
- After planting, the red-leaved bird cherry is abundantly watered and mulched with peat or sawdust.
Follow-up care
Red-leaved bird cherry in the dry season must be watered weekly, especially for young plants. The near-bore circle is periodically loosened, removing weeds... Saplings with a thin main trunk are best tied to a support, which will prevent them from breaking off from strong gusts of wind. In the fall, wood ash and manure are introduced into the soil; in the spring, before bud break, bird cherry is fed with liquid mineral fertilizer.
Due to the fast growth rate, all varieties of red-leaved bird cherry need formative pruning. Once a year (in early spring before the start of sap flow or in late autumn), the main shoot is shortened by 50 cm, branches growing inside the crown, as well as dry and damaged fragments, are removed. Places of cuts are treated with garden varnish.
To protect against rodents, sawdust, peat or ash dipped in creolin are scattered under the tree. For the same purposes, in late autumn, after the end of leaf fall, the trunk is tied with spruce branches, wormwood or reeds. It is no less effective to wrap the base of the tree with tar paper, matting or metal mesh.
Red-leaved bird cherry is a frost-resistant culture that does not require shelter for the winter. Only in the first year after planting, it is advisable to cover the peri-stem circle with a layer of humus or cow dung, it will not allow the roots to freeze.
Application in landscape design
Red-leaved bird cherry is suitable for both single and group plantings. It can be placed anywhere in the garden. In places for a quiet secluded pastime, where you can sit under a spreading crown, sheltered from the scorching sun. Bird cherry bushes and trees perfectly disguise an unsightly building or a rickety hedge.
Red-leaved bird cherry is often used to decorate forest islands, planted in the undergrowth or near the water. Many varieties of bird cherry are an integral part of a Russian-style garden, where culture is combined with plants such as:
- Birch tree;
- Rowan;
- irga;
- viburnum;
- rosehip;
- chubushnik;
- lilac;
- fruit trees and shrubs.
The red-leaved bird cherry is suitable for decorating alleys and as a hedge; its trunks that are bare with age are covered with a layer of decorative deciduous shrubs.
Diseases and pests
Many gardeners refer to the red-leaved bird cherry as a magnet for caterpillars, aphids and other common pests. However, preventive control measures, manual collection of unwanted insects and the use of modern pesticides can easily solve this problem.
The red-leaved bird cherry is affected by a special species of aphid that does not migrate to other plants. The spring generation of bird cherry aphid appears during the budding period and is located on the tops of the shoots, in the lower part of the leaves and on flower clusters. In May, the tree is attacked by winged females; throughout the summer season, massive colonies of 7-8 generations are formed. With a generalized nature of the lesion, trees should be treated immediately with folk remedies for aphids or insecticides (Iskra, Fitoverm, Aktara, Intavir).
Bed bugs often live on food varieties of red-leaved bird cherry. They feed on plant juices and primarily affect young ovaries, which subsequently do not reach the required size, do not have a good taste and often simply fall off. If the plantings are not thickened and are located in a sunny area, you can not be afraid of bedbugs.
The bird cherry weevil is a frequent visitor to the tree. An adult female lays an egg in each berry, a larva begins to develop inside the fruit and eat the seed. As a result, the fruits do not ripen, they often crumble, and the remaining berries on the cluster will be small and sour. As a preventive measure, the periosteal circle is dug up in spring and autumn to a depth of 10-15 cm, contact pesticides are used to fight.
More often than others, the red-leaved bird cherry is struck by the hawthorn butterfly.In mid-June, adults lay numerous eggs on the leaves, from which gluttonous caterpillars hatch quickly. For the purpose of prevention, 2 weeks before flowering bird cherry is sprayed with insecticides.
The most common fungal disease affecting red-leaved bird cherry is fruit rot (moniliosis). Young shoots, flower clusters and ovaries quickly droop and dry out. To fight, use a solution of Bordeaux liquid, preparations "Horus" and "Mikosan-V" or other fungicides containing copper.
Conclusion
The red-leaved bird cherry will become not only a bright accent on the garden plot, but also a source of tasty and healthy berries. Due to its unpretentiousness, decorativeness and high frost resistance, this culture is becoming more popular from year to year.
