What coniferous plants. Coniferous trees: names and varieties. Pine coniferous plants

Strict forms of coniferous trees will always be appropriate in almost any landscape design. In summer, coniferous trees are ideally combined with a green lawn in the yard and other flowering plants, and in winter period conifers are able to save a summer cottage with their bright green color and branching from gray days and lifelessness. In addition, coniferous shrubs and trees can give clean air enriched with healing essential oils.

Modern gardeners can no longer imagine their garden without evergreen trees and shrubs. And there are plenty to choose from. Below you can find some coniferous trees that will be an excellent decoration of the garden and fit perfectly into landscape design.

Spruce: description with photo

Spruces are tall, slender conifers that will look very effective both singly and in compositions. Professionals are able to build whole plants from these plants. coniferous hedges. At present, spruce is for everyone not only a tall large crop that has delighted us since childhood. In winter, a spruce planted in the yard, where can be dressed up with Christmas toys. Such a living beauty will certainly please not only a child, but even any adult. Periodically, the assortment of these coniferous trees is renewed with new ones. decorative species. Most often, the following varieties are used for planting in a summer cottage or personal plot:

Fir: description with photo

Fir is a magnificent plant belonging to the pine family. In Latin it is called Pinaceae. If we compare fir with other conifers, then it has some differences - purple cones growing upwards and flat needles. The needles of the plant are soft and shiny. From above, the needles are dark green, and from below, each needle is marked with a white stripe.

It should be noted right away that young seedlings grow for a very long time. Growth begins to accelerate only after 10 years and continues until the death of the root system. Despite the fact that fir is a very common tree, many still cannot answer the question of whether it is a coniferous or deciduous plant.

The names of the most popular types of fir among gardeners:

Juniper: description with photo

Juniper occupies a leading position in the list coniferous trees with bactericidal properties. The plant is very ancient. Juniper first appeared on the planet about 50 million years ago. Currently, it is customary to refer to the cypress family. Juniper has about 70 species, among which you can find 30-meter trees, there are also 15-centimeter dwarfs. Each species has its own characteristics regarding not only the appearance, but also regarding the requirements for care and maintenance.

Most often in summer cottages or in the garden you can find the following types of juniper:

Before planting a juniper in your garden, it is important to remember that the plant should not be planted near fruit trees, as it is a conductor of a disease such as rust.

Cedar: description with photo

Cedar is a coniferous tree that can most often be found in the aristocratic gardens of England. These conifers able to decorate the garden landscape in a peculiar way. Often varieties of cedar are used to decorate the main entrances. Dwarf cedars can be used for bonsai.

Pine nuts, which are loved by many, have nothing to do with the cones that grow on the cedar. The grains from real cedar cones are not edible. Edible nuts can be found in the cones of the cedar pine, which grows in Siberian forests.

The main decorative species of cedar:

Glauka - a tree with blue needles;
Strict - the plant has a columnar crown with thick and short branches that are slightly raised up;
Pendula - cedar branches fall down;
Nana - refers to a dwarf variety.

Cypress: description and photo

AT wild nature These evergreens are capable of growing up to 70 meters in height. Externally, cypress is very similar to cypress. In landscape design, low-growing coniferous shrubs are often used to create a hedge. Among gardeners, dwarf cypress species are in great demand, which do not exceed 3.5 meters in growth.

The names of the most popular types of cypress:

Before planting a conifer, you should pay attention to the fact that dwarf cypress species do not tolerate winter well. Under a layer of snow, they will not freeze, but they can sweat. That is why it is very important to monitor the density of snow.

Cypress: description with photo

In their natural habitat, these evergreens are trees or shrubs that have a conical or pyramidal crown. The entire trunk of the plant is slender and covered with thick bark. The foliage is tightly pressed to the branches. Already in the second year, there may be cones on the cypress. Each type of cypress has their requirements for care and cultivation.

The names of the most common types of cypress:

Larch: description with photo

Based on the name, it can be assumed that this plant should not be coniferous. However, this is a completely erroneous opinion. Larch belongs to the pine family and belongs to the most common conifers. Externally, the plant is a slender tall tree that looks a bit like a spruce. Larch sheds all its needles every autumn.

AT favorable conditions habitats, the diameter of a tree trunk can reach 1 meter, and the height of a larch can reach up to 50 meters.

Currently, about 50 plant species are isolated. The most popular of these are the following examples:

Vinalis - weeping;
Corley - pillow-shaped;
Repens - a tree with creeping branches;
Kornik - a tree with a spherical crown;
Diana - a spherical crown, green needles with a smoky tint.

Thuja: description with photo

These columnar evergreen shrubs can now be found in almost all botanical gardens. Thuja belongs to the cypress family. shrubs very resistant to decay, severe frost and drought.

At thuja powerful surface root system , growing upward branches that form the shape of a column or pyramid. Also on the shrub there are small cones that ripen in the first year of life.

All the most popular types of thuja shrubs:

In conclusion, it is worth noting that when choosing an evergreen tree or shrub for your summer cottage, you need to know not only popular species and varieties, but also understand all the features of growth, development rates, and also know the rules for the care and maintenance of conifers.

Coniferous trees and shrubs: photos and pictures

When choosing species and varieties of conifers, one must take into account how they will look, what sizes they will reach at the time of maturity, not forgetting, of course, about growth rates, color, and habitat requirements. It is important to compare all these characteristics with specific conditions, including the size of the garden area. Only in this way will we be able to compose compositions that are interesting in color, contour and spatial terms from coniferous plants.

Most of the coniferous trees and shrubs are photophilous plants. This means that for healthy growth and development, they need enough light, space and a place where they will not suffer from lack of air.

Yew trees are highly adaptable and develop well in partial shade and even full shade. Shading is tolerated by young fir, pseudo-hemlock, spruce, hemlock, cryptomeria, tissolist or Douglas fir, and from pine - Pinus flexilis, P. koraiensis and R. flight. For cypress trees, the optimal conditions are partial shade or a place not on the sunny side. Tui adapt relatively well. The rest of the species of conifers bred in our country prefer a place in the sun, and junipers do not tolerate shading at all.

As for soil conditions, the requirements for them in conifers are very different. The most unpretentious in this regard are larch, juniper, pine (with the exception of species with five needles in a bundle) and cypress. These species grow well on sandy-clay soils, and pines - even on stony ones. Cypress, juniper, larch, spruce and yew trees love lime. Juniper also tolerates drying soils well. But cypress trees, on the contrary, require an abundance of soil moisture. Spruces grow best on moist clay-sandy lands. Fir trees are more demanding on soil quality than spruce trees. They thrive in deep clay-sandy, moderately moist, nutrient-rich soils and generally cannot tolerate high level groundwater. The remaining coniferous trees and shrubs need more powerful soils, in which there are enough nutrients and a moderate soil moisture content. In swampy areas, even in shallow stagnant water, only swamp cypresses grow well.

If we talk about hardening, then most conifers are resistant to cold. Fir, cedar, cryptomeria, spruce and more delicate species of certain species should not, however, be planted in cold hollows where they can freeze.

Of the firs, the most hardy and not afraid of frost are Abies balsamea, A. concolor, A. grandis and A. homolepis; from cypress trees - Chamaecyparis nootkatensis and Ch. lawsoniana; from spruces - Picea abies, P. alba, P. asperata, P. omorika and P. pungens; from Pinus banksiana, P. cembra and P. reyse pines.

Fir trees need a place more protected from the winds, and cedars develop well only in such places. Due to the fact that variegated conifers, and from thuja - Thuja orientalis, can suffer from solar radiation in winter, a place for them must be chosen taking this moment into account.

Coniferous trees also tolerate polluted air in different ways. Some species generally grow quite well in industrial areas. However, smoky, polluted air does not tolerate most firs at all. Among them, Abies concolor, A. grandis, A. koreana, A. nordmanniana, A. procera, A. veitchii are relatively hardened in this respect. Nor can most spruces, pines, and cryptomerias tolerate such pollution. Although in the same conditions some types of cedars and cypresses, yews, thujas take root quite well, and from pines - pine dwarf, black pine, common pine, etc.

Those species that have soft needles, as well as cypress trees, mainly young ones, some junipers (also at a young age), for example, Chinese juniper, virginian juniper, and in spring, when the needles are blooming, common juniper. Animals also bite the bark of young larch, and from pines they choose those with soft needles. Neither the berry yew, nor western thuja. The remaining conifers do not suffer from animals.

Forest nursery workers are often faced with the fact that many gardeners seek to acquire high-growth species of coniferous trees for their small plots and front gardens, without, however, attaching due importance to this moment. At the same time, in most cases they are simply attracted by the beauty of young plants and tempted by the size of the specimens sold. Such buyers naively hope that if they plant such plants in the garden, they will immediately become a decoration of the site. They forget that over time, arborvitae, cypresses, spruces, firs, pines and other large breeds will create an almost impenetrable wall, interfere with admiring the surrounding landscape, or even completely immerse the garden in constant shade.

Tall coniferous tree species

Vetkhova fir ( Abies veitchii) is a slender tree, reaching 15-20 or even 25 m in height and 4 m in crown diameter. She has thick shiny dark green needles with a silvery sheen on the underside. Every year this tree grows about 70 cm high and 20 cm wide. It is planted mainly singly in large gardens.

European spruce, or common ( Picea abies) - a well-known tree 20-25 m high (it can reach 30-35 m), with a narrow pyramidal crown and symmetrical branches located in a horizontal plane. It grows violently, annually increasing by about 80 cm in height and 30 cm in width. It is used more often in large gardens and parks singly or in group plantings as trimmed hedges.

Spruce Serbian, or Balkan ( Picea omorika) is a beautiful, surprisingly slender tree, the crown of which begins to branch strongly from below. It is one of the most hardy conifers, it is not at all afraid of frost and withstands city air well. This spruce reaches 25-35 m in height, but at the ground its width is only 2-3 m. Its annual growth is approximately 50 cm in height and 15-20 cm in crown diameter. Serbian or Balkan spruce is a plant of exceptional merit, suitable for both large and medium-sized gardens.

Pine black, Austrian ( Pinus nigra austriaca - P.n. ssp. Nigra) first has a cone-shaped, and later - an ovoid crown shape, reaching 4-8 m in diameter. In height, this tree can reach 20 m, and in exceptional cases 25 m. The annual growth averages 70 cm in height and 35 cm in crown diameter. Black pine - beautiful tree for large gardens; she loves dry, well-permeable soil, which also contains lime.

Falling larch, or Western European ( Larix decidua), also a very tall tree, rising up to 35 m. Its crown is wide, 4-6 m in diameter, the needles are light green, sometimes even gray-green. This larch grows faster than all other coniferous trees, adding about 80 cm in height and 50 cm in crown diameter per year. Such a tree needs a place in the sun, a lot of free space around and deep, but not too light soil with sufficient water permeability.

One of the varieties of Lawson's cypress ( Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Alumii") of a bluish-steel color is a very slender coniferous tree with a cone-shaped dense crown. It reaches a height of about 10 m and a diameter of 2-3 m. Its annual growth is approximately 30 cm in height and 10 cm in width. This variety is unassuming, loves a sunny location and is said to tolerate frost well. It is planted mainly singly or used to create hedges of an unusual shape.

Yew berry, or ordinary, European ( taxus baccata) can tolerate deep shade, although it thrives well in full sun. This tree is 10-20 m tall with a rounded crown 10-15 m in diameter. It is often bushy and reaches a very respectable age. He also likes calcareous soil, which passes water well; it is planted singly or in group compositions, as an undergrowth next to taller trees. Berry yew is suitable for creating hedges, both free-growing and trimmed. Its annual growth in height, as well as in diameter, is approximately 30 cm.

Thuja western ( Thuja occidentalis) - a cone-shaped coniferous tree with short horizontally arranged branches, reaches 10-15 m in height and 3-4 m in diameter. Its annual growth is about 20-30 cm in height and the same in width. The tree loves a sunny location, is remarkably hardy and is particularly well suited for planting as natural free-growing or clipped hedges.

Fir single color ( Abies concolor) - a tree 20-30 m in height with a straight trunk and a beautiful cone-shaped crown with a diameter of up to 3-4 m starting near the ground. This fir has peculiar, crescent-shaped, gray-green needles. The annual growth of the plant is 50 cm in height and about 15 cm in crown diameter. It loves the sun, is very frost-resistant and tolerates a smoky polluted atmosphere. Single-colored fir needs nutritious soil with sufficient water permeability and a place with good sunlight. It is considered an excellent single tree in a big city.

Coniferous trees of medium size

Coniferous trees of medium size and even very squat ones play a significant role in decorating gardens and parks. Smaller species are usually planted near access roads or footpaths, near houses and summer cottages, as well as in rock gardens and in those places where for some reason it is not possible to plant trees that reach large sizes.

In recent years, Korean fir (Abies koreana) has been especially popular with gardeners. This slowly growing tree is distinguished by a dense pyramidal crown, and in adulthood it is usually not so much tall as wide, reaching 2-4 m in height and 2-3 m in diameter, although it can be larger - up to 8 m height and 4 m in diameter. Every year the tree rises up by about 30cm and spreads 15-20cm wide. Korean fir is very prolific. And young tree produces beautiful, purple-violet buds up to 7 cm long.

Attractive in appearance is the gently pubescent variety of Lawson's cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Ellwoodiif"), which has gray-blue scaly needles and a narrow, pyramidal crown. An adult tree reaches 2-3 m in height and about 1 m in crown diameter. This cypress variety grows slowly (annual growth is about 20 cm in height and 5-10 cm in diameter), is very unpretentious and is considered by gardeners to be an excellent single plant that can be planted in small gardens.

The slender pea cypress variety Chamaecyparis pisifera "Plumosa Aurea" is distinguished by catchy yellowish-golden needles and a wide conical shape. It reaches 6-8 and even 10 m in height and 2-3 or even 4 m in crown diameter. The annual growth of the tree averages 25 cm in height and 15 cm in width. This is a very modest, undemanding plant, loving, however, wet places and sandy, well-permeable soil. It should be borne in mind that the needles acquire a juicy color only when the tree grows in the sun. This variety of tree can be placed singly and in group plantings, in the form of hedges.

In recent years, another interesting variety of pea cypress, Ch.p., has gained great popularity. Boulevard. It grows slowly and forms a cone-shaped, densely branched crown, reaching 2 m in height and 1 m in crown diameter. This is also an undemanding plant that loves well-permeable soil and a sunny place. In horticultural practice, the tree is placed singly. With a luscious steel blue color and soft needles, this cypress tree looks especially good in the middle of a lawn.

Attractive juniper common varieties Juniperus communis "Hibernica", which has a slender columnar shape and is one of the conifers suitable for planting in large gardens and parks, as well as in small areas. As a rule, it reaches 3-4 m in height and about 1 m in crown diameter. Its not too sharp and dense needles have a silvery bluish-green color. This variety of common juniper loves the sun, sandy, well-permeable soil and looks great in untouched corners of the garden, in large rock gardens and near them, as well as in heather thickets. It is planted both individually and in small groups.

Picea glauca 'Conica' is a slow growing crop of white spruce. In adulthood, the plant can reach 3-4 m in height. It is planted both singly and in a group, and, of course, also placed in rock gardens

Juniperus chinensis "Pfitzeriana" - unpretentious, well growing and decorative juniper with spreading, slightly curved branches. It is placed mostly alone. Juniper reaches 2 m in height and about 4 m in crown diameter. One of his J.oh. 'Pfitzeriana Aurea' has broadly spreading branches and grey-green, golden yellow when blooming, and bronze needles in winter. It reaches about 2-2.5 m in height and has a crown diameter of 6-8 and sometimes 10 m. During the year, the plant gains a height of only about 20 cm, while its width is up to 40 cm. This frost-resistant variety belongs to the most beautiful junipers with a spreading crown, loves soils that pass water well and are sunny, in extreme cases. , slightly shaded places. It is planted as a single plant, as well as in groups with other conifers.

The well-known variety of white spruce Picea glauca "Conica" is distinguished by a symmetrical cone-shaped shape and reaches a height of 3 m with a diameter of 1 m by the age of thirty. The plant grows very slowly (annual growths are 15 cm in height and 5 cm in crown diameter). It is characterized by a dense compact crown and delicate grassy green needles. The plant is great for small gardens, where the best place for it is in the middle of a grassy area or in rock gardens. However, the tree needs light partial shade. In the sun, it suffers from burns.

A quiet corner formed by trees, herbs and perennials is dominated by three pyramidal junipers Juniperus communis "Hibernica"

Pine dwarf mountain ( Pinus mugo var. pumilio) is one of the most beloved small-sized pines by gardeners. It has a rather wide than high semicircular crown (the plant reaches a height of 1-1.5 m and 3 m in width). Annual growth within 5 cm in height and up to 10 cm in crown diameter. This undersized pine prefers a place well lit by the sun; it can be planted singly, as well as in group plantings.

Coniferous trees with colored needles

The blue-silver cultivar of prickly spruce (Picea pungens "Glauca") is commonly referred to as silver spruce. The stores sell young plants grown from seedlings, which over the years in our conditions reach 10-20 m in height. Along with them, several varieties propagated by grafting are bred, for example, Picea pungens "Koster", which has juicy silver-blue needles, P.p. "Moerheimi", characterized by a slender conical shape and the same silver-blue needles. The annual growth of these varieties is 15-25 cm in height and 10-15 cm in crown diameter.

To decorate the entrance to the house, two pyramidal junipers Juniperus communis "Hibernica" are planted, immediately attracting attention

Growers, especially beginners, should not be distressed by the asymmetrical shape of young grafts. Such a plant, as it develops, itself levels out for three or more years, becomes slender. But often it is the singularity, quirkiness of form, which is typical for creeping varieties, that is highly valued. p.p. "Glauca Pendula" is an example of this.

Among the firs, distinguished by the juicy blue color of their needles, gardeners choose mainly silver fir, or the noble Abies procera "Glauca"; This is a powerful plant, reaching 20-30 m in height. In adult scions, long, up to 25 cm cones appear annually. The annual growth of this tree is usually 30 cm in height and 15 cm in crown diameter.

Chamaecyparis obtusa "Nana Gracilis" in adulthood reaches 2 m in height. Grows slowly. Often used in rock gardens and for planting in large vegetative vessels.

The color of the bluish needles of the juniper genus is rich and varied. Large, spreading, but not too tall bushes form, for example, juniper varieties of the middle Juniperus chinensis "Pfitzeriana", J.ch. 'Hetzii', J. squamata 'Meyeri', with its compact shape and clear gray-blue corners, grows much more slowly and needs to be clipped regularly: only then does it look beautiful.

An interesting tree with needles of a bluish-steel color is the "Glauca" variety of horizontal juniper (J. horizontalis). Due to its short stature, it is well suited for green cover of the soil surface. This plant also successfully develops in semi-shaded areas, rising above ground level by only 20-30 cm; an adult plant is able to cover an area of 2-3 m 2 with its branches. With fleshy round cones, a beautiful columnar shape and delicate needles from bluish-green to silver-gray, the J. virginiana "Glauca" juniper variety attracts attention.

Among conifers of yellowish color, you can choose extremely picturesque species and varieties for the garden. Among them, for example, is an interesting cypress with hanging branches and golden yellow needles, known as Chamaecyparis lawso-niana "Golden King". In winter, its needles acquire a brownish-yellow tone.

On a hill among alpine plants planted undersized conifers - Pinus mugo var. mughus and Juniperus communis "Depressa"

The most beautiful cypress trees, painted in yellow tones, include Ch. lawsoniana "Lane", which reaches a height of 5 meters or more, as well as varieties of Chinese juniper, for example J. chinensis Tfitzeriana Aurea", J. ch. "Old Gold", J. ch. "Plumosa Aurea", whose needles have many shades - from yellowish to juicy golden yellow.

Among the yew and thuja there are also several representatives with interesting yellow-colored needles, for example, varieties of yew berry and western arborvitae (Taxus baccata "Fastigiata Aurea". Thuja occidentalis "Rheingold").

Conifers for rock gardens and garden vases

Rock gardens and the space around them cannot be imagined without coniferous plants. For small rocky gardens and mini rock gardens, which are planted in tubs and garden vases, for dry walls or covering the ground, dwarf, undersized and creeping varieties of various types are used primarily. They are distinguished by bizarre shapes and outlines, variegation of needles. Dwarf plants are characterized by slow growth. There are many such cultures. In large, monumental rock gardens, taller species and varieties should be placed.

From the rich assortment of conifers suitable for such plantings, we will name a few that are most familiar to gardeners.

Abies balsamea "Nana", or "Hudsonia" is a dwarf variety of Canadian balsam fir, characterized by a squat nest-like shape. This fir grows slowly, reaching a height of 50-100 cm. Its needles are dark green, short, glossy and thick.

A. concolor "Glauca Compacta" is a very rare dwarf variety, which is characterized by a dense asymmetrical crown shape and catchy blue-gray needles. (This culture is suitable for larger rock gardens, it can be planted in the neighborhood, as well as placed in the middle of the lawn and in small gardens.

A. koreana - Korean fir in adulthood seems too bulky for a small garden, but nevertheless it is quite suitable for such use. It will take many years before this plant reaches 2-4 m in height. It grows slowly; it often happens that the old Korean fir crown diameter is greater than the height of the whole plant. This tree has beautiful, dense, juicy green needles above and white below, and, most importantly, attractive purple cones that appear even on young fir.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Fletcheri" is a cypress variety with a columnar or conical shape. The needles of young trees are lighter gray-green in color. This culture is recommended for rock gardens. It reaches a height of 5 meters or more, which should be taken into account in a timely manner.

Ch. I. "Minima Glauca" - a beautiful dwarf form of cypress with branches that resemble shells in their outlines. This variety reaches a height of about one meter and is distinguished by short matte, bluish-green needles with a waxy coating. At first, "Minima Glauca" has a spherical shape, but over the years, changing, it acquires the contours of a cone.

Ch. obtusa "Crippsii" - a catchy-looking cypress tree with a slowly growing wide cone-shaped crown and light yellow, with a hint of sulfur needles, which sometimes acquire a golden yellow color. It takes many years before the plant reaches a three-meter height. This is one of the most beautiful crops among the undersized, the so-called. golden conifers.

Ch. about. "Filicoides" - a slow-growing variety of cypress, characterized by a straight and even shape; sometimes there are also asymmetric individuals, similar to bushes. The branches of this plant resemble fern leaves, its needles are dark green. Already a young tree looks spectacular, catchy. For a quarter of a century, it reaches 2 m in height.

Ch. about. "Lycopodioides" - a plant of compact size with juicy green needles, thick, resembling club moss, very decorative branches. It often looks like a pyramid. In height, this cypress tree reaches 1.5-2 m, in diameter - 2 m.

Picea glauca "Alberta Globe" reaches a height of three meters. This tree is placed in rock gardens, in groups of smaller conifers, or in the foreground of the forested part of the site.

Ch. about. "Nana Gracilis" grows many years after planting to only 80-100 cm in height; the plant is notable for its fresh green needles and branches like small shells.

Ch. about. "Pygmaea" is a sprawling spherical and dwarf-sized plant with small branches arranged in a ladder and almost horizontally. Its needles are reddish brown at first and later brownish green and glossy. In winter, the needles acquire a reddish-bronze hue. The plant slowly increases in size, reaching 1-2 m in height.

Ch. pisifera "Aurea Nana" - also a dwarf and very slow growing cypress tree with a cone-shaped crown and juicy needles yellow color. It is suitable for small rock gardens and garden vases. Ch. p. "Boulevard" is one of the new varieties; notable for its dense, straight upward pyramidal crown and juicy color of needles, cast in the color of blue steel. This tree grows slowly. The oldest specimens barely reach 2.5 m in height. The plant is very hardy, it develops well in adverse atmospheric conditions of industrial cities. Its soft-touch needles take on a beautiful purple hue in winter. In 1934, the variety Squarrosa was bred. However, only in recent years it has become popular among gardeners. "Boulevard" is also suitable for small gardens. Ch. p. "Nana Aureovariegata" reaches a height of barely one meter. This variety has short and delicate, placed by a ladder and bent down branches, the ends of which seem to be curled. The needles are very small, dull yellow. The plant is also suitable for small rock gardens. Ch.p. Tilifera Nana "is distinguished by its thread-like branches that hang from all sides, and the fresh green color of the needles. It reaches a maximum height of one meter. Ch.p. "Plumosa Compressa" is one of the smallest conifers intended for rock gardens. In height it rises only about 30 cm and is beautifully shaped, its needles are light green, sometimes blue.

Yews are very valuable conifers. It is the only tree that can withstand full shade and can act as a dust barrier. It is easier than other conifers to cut, forming a crown. In the picture - Taxus baccata "Repandens"

Cotoneaster multiflorus is planted both as a single plant and in a group: it is undemanding, grows well in direct sunlight and in partial shade.

Thoughtfully using decorative tree species, you can create an impressive composition in a small garden, where architecture and greenery will form a single whole.

Cryptomeria japonica, a hardy Japanese cryptomeria, is a slow growing, asymmetrical shrubby form with fleshy, bluish-green needles that turn reddish-brown in winter. The plant reaches a height of about one meter and is of interest mainly to those who like to collect various interesting cultures. Cryptomeria japonica requires a sheltered location or at least light cover for the winter.

Juniperus chinensis "Old Gold" is similar to J.ch. "Pfitzeriana Aurea", from which it differs in a more compact crown and a constant bronze-golden color of the needles, which does not change even in winter. Over the years, the diameter and height of this plant become approximately the same - within one meter.

J. communis "Compressa" is a slow-growing, dwarf-sized variety of common juniper, which adds only 2-5 cm in height per year. It has thick, as if compacted branches and delicate, light bluish-greenish needles. This is a remarkable and rare plant, suitable for small rock gardens, the care of which requires special experience. In more harsh conditions and in unprotected places it needs winter shelter with spruce branches. J.c. var. depressa has a flat creeping form and reaches a height of 50-60 cm. This plant has short and wide needles of green color with a yellowish or brownish tint; in winter they become bronze. This is a natural, uncultivated juniper native to the mountainous regions of North America. It is one of the best carpet conifers suitable for landscaping large areas in sunlit areas. J.c. "Depressa Aurea" is similar to the previous plant, but it retains juicy golden yellow needles until the beginning of summer and only later acquires a light yellow tint. J.c. "Depressa Aureospicata" is especially suitable for planting in rock gardens. Its young needles are distinguished by a light yellow color. J.c. "Hibernica" is famous and popular with gardeners. This is an evenly growing juniper with bluish-green needles, reaching 4 m in height. At J.c. "Hornibrookii" creeping trunk. Over time, this juniper reaches 2 m in width, but its height, even in an adult specimen, is usually no more than 30-50 cm. Dark brown, glossy branches of different lengths usually lie on the ground, only their tips slightly rise up. Needles, light green, with silvery-white stripes, dense, acquire a brownish tint in winter. The plant has the ability to cover large stones of rock gardens or hillsides with a thick carpet.

J. horizontalis "Douglasii" is a beautiful creeping juniper, only 30 cm high, valued for its slow growth. Only a very old plant reaches 2-3 m in crown diameter. Its needles are the color of blue steel, which in autumn acquires a purple hue and a bluish-green wax coating. This plant is planted in cemeteries.

J. sabina "Cupressifolia" is a short, slow growing, mostly spreading crop with a trailing trunk. In height, it rises by about 60 cm. The needles are dark green. It is mainly used to decorate lawns and slopes. Beautiful and tamarisk-leaved variety of creeping juniper with bluish-green needles - J.s. Tamariscifolia". It is also short (up to 60 cm) and is distinguished by widely spaced branches.

J. squamata "Meyeri" is a slow-growing creeping juniper with upcurved branch ends and very showy bright bluish-white needles. It reaches 2 m in height.

J. virginiana 'Globosa', or 'Nana Compacta', is a low shrub growing to a meter high. The plant is distinguished by its spherical shape and dense branching of the crown. Its needles, greenish-gray above and green below, turn a pale purplish green in winter. Variety J.v. "Skyrocket" although not among the undersized (up to 5 m in height), nevertheless deserves attention due to its extremely slender appearance and columnar shape. With a height of 2 m, it has a diameter of only 30 cm. Its branches are closely adjacent to each other. Needles - bluish-gray. This juniper is especially good among heather thickets and where we would like to break the monotonous uniformity of growing conifers and other plants.

Picea abies "Echiniformis" - dwarf spruce with delicate dense branches, light yellow-green needles; it resembles a pillow lying on the ground. A very beautiful variety for rock garden, for planting near it and among the lawn. It reaches a height of approximately 60 cm. R.a. "Maxwellii" is distinguished by its density, spherical appearance and light green needles. Its height is about a meter. R.a. "Nidiformis" is a cushion-shaped dwarf spruce, with a nest-like depression in the middle. Good for rock climbing. Its height is up to 60-100 cm. R.a. "Pumila Glauca" is a dwarf growing mainly in width with a dark green crown. Height within 80 cm.

P. glauca "Conica" is a dwarf spruce with a lovely cone shape and soft, light green needles. It grows slowly, reaches 2 m in height, is attractive for its spectacular decorative appearance.

P. omorika "Nana" is a dwarf form of the well-known Serbian spruce, characterized by a cone shape with a wide base, dense branches and a compact overall appearance. This plant often has a crown diameter greater than its height. Over the years, it reaches 1.5-3 m in height. The needles on its branches are arranged in a ray-like manner, due to which their bluish color from below is also clearly visible.

P. pungens "Glauca Compacta" - a spectacular dwarf form of "silver spruce" 1-1.5 m high with dense branches and beautiful blue needles. Individuals grown from cuttings grow very slowly and are extremely compact in appearance.

p.p. "Glauca Globosa" - a beautiful dwarf spruce form with luscious blue needles and a spherical crown outline. mature plant usually no more than one meter in height.

Pinus cembra - European cedar, one of the most beautiful European pines with a picturesque narrow cone-shaped crown and very dense dark green needles on the front and bluish-white on the back of the needles. Spruce does best when planted in good, moderately moist soil. Suitable for use in harsher environments. She likes to have enough free space around her. The tree reaches a height of 10-20 m, but despite this it is quite often planted in large rock gardens.

P. densiflora "Umbraculifera" is a very slow growing, low tree, most often with a wide, asymmetrical, umbrella-shaped crown and horizontal branches. Its needles are soft, catchy light bluish-green hue. This is a very hardy variety, which in 30 years reaches about 2 m in height.

R. tido is an elfin almost shrubby form with branches often creeping along the ground. This plant looks best in natural groups in the garden or in large rock gardens. Height - up to 3-4 m. P.m. van pumilio grows in width rather than in height and is one of the gardeners' favorite conifers used in rock gardens. Reaches one meter in height.

P. pumila "Glauca" is a low-growing shrub pine similar to dwarf but related to European cedar. It reaches a height of 1-1.5 m, it is distinguished by bluish-green needles. The tree grows slowly, unpretentious in terms of living conditions, but loves moist soils. The plant is suitable for rock gardens and for planting on slopes.

P. sfrobus "Nana" is a dwarf form of the well-known Weymouth pine, characterized by a dense and wide crown. Plant up to 1.5-2 m high, with bluish-green, relatively short needles. It is an undemanding and frost-resistant variety that can be planted alone and in small gardens.

Taxus baccata 'Compacts' is a slow growing yew of compact oval to cone shape with raised branches and dark green needles. Suitable for small rock gardens.

T. cuspidata "Nana" - a dwarf yew with a beautiful dense crown shape and juicy dark green needles. Reaches 1 m in height and 3 m in crown diameter.

T. x media "Hicksii" has a narrow, even crown and light green needles. Grows to a height of 1.5-3 m; suitable for planting both in sunny places and in the shade.

Thuja occidentalis "Rheingold" is a slow growing thuja with a spherical crown and golden orange needles. It reaches a height of approximately 1.5 m. Title Gem "- a dwarf variety with a dense, rather wide than high crown and juicy green needles. Thus, "Recurva Nana" is distinguished by a dense spherical or cone-shaped crown with a wide base and green, and brown needles in winter. Ends the branches are slightly curved.Adult plant reaches 2 m in height.

T. orientalis "Aurea Nana" is a slow growing thuja with a spherical crown and yellow-green needles. Suitable for small rock gardens.

Deciduous and coniferous trees are always appropriate in decorating your summer cottage. In summer, they go well with flowers and lawns, leaving them in the shade, and in winter they save the garden from dullness with their bright color. They give clean air and aroma due to the content of essential oils. Modern gardeners no longer see their garden without green plants. There is huge assortment species of coniferous plants, so there are plenty to choose from.

Evergreen spruce

Coniferous trees with the name "spruce" look very effective in the garden, both singly and in frequent plantings. Some gardeners build living fences from them. Spruce is now not only a huge crop with dry branches at the bottom and a narrow crown at the top, as we are used to seeing it. The number of thorny trees is regularly replenished with various varieties. In suburban areas spruce trees are most in demand, for example:

acrocona. Reaches maturity 3 m in height and 4 in width;
inversa. Barely this variety up to 2 meters wide and up to 7 meters high;
Maxwellii. small tree with a width and height not exceeding 2 meters;
Nidiformus. Compact tree in width and height about 1.5 m;
Glauca. Blue spruce.

Fir from the Pine family

Dark green fir needles are very soft. Young animals grow for a long time, but at the age of 10 years, development is much faster. Fir is a very popular tree, but many cannot answer whether it belongs to conifers or deciduous. Among gardeners varieties of fir are in special demand:

Columnar fir;
prostrale;
Nana. Fir reaches a height of half a meter, and a meter wide, a flattened crown;
Argenta. Silvery needles with a white tip;
Glauca. Blue fir, wax coating on the needles;
Veriegata. There are yellow spots on the needles.

Juniper from the Cypress family

Juniper in the list of conifers is famous for its bactericidal and medicinal properties, some varieties have fruits in the form of berries. The plant appeared in the world about 50 million years ago. There are about 80 varieties.

Among the variety of junipers there are both dwarfs of 20 cm and 40-meter giants. Each such plant has its own characteristics, not only with regards to the shape of the crown, but also in the rules for care. In summer cottages, the most common varieties are:

Gold Horse. About 4 m high, a meter wide, the branches form a narrow conical shape;
Hibernika. It reaches a height of about 4 m, the crown is a meter in diameter, columnar and very narrow, has blue inedible berries;
Green carpet. Dwarf tree up to 50 cm high, one and a half meters in volume;
Suecica. It reaches a height of up to 3.5 m, a width of up to a meter, a columnar crown.

Junipers are better plant away from fruit trees , because they are carriers of rust. Other cultures for the sake of prevention are separated by tall plants. The areas of branches affected by the disease are either cut off or treated with various fungicides.

cedar trees

Cedars are most often found in the parks of English manors, this is a great southern tree. Imi decorate the front door or a large lawn in front of the estate. These trees create an atmosphere of home comfort.

Cedars in their natural form are bulky, towering on the mountains. In height, such species grow up to 60 m. No one can say exactly how many species of cedar exist.

Some scientists are convinced that all individuals are the same and recognize only the Livonian breed, while others also distinguish Atlas, Himalayan and short-coniferous varieties. In the Catalog of Life, which includes all types of plants and animals, a description is given of all varieties, except for the short conifer.

Cedar has many varieties for design, which differ in color and size:

Glauca. Tree with blue needles;
Brevaramulosa. The cedar has long and sparse branches;
Stricta. The tree has dense short branches;
Pendula. Falling branches;
Tortuosa. The difference is the winding branches;
Nana and Nana Pyramidata. dwarf trees, last variety characterized by ascending branches.

undersized cypress

An evergreen plant in appearance resembles a cypress, grows up to 80 meters in height. Scientists are trying to breed new varieties to please summer residents.

In landscape design, low varieties are often used to create fences, medium trees are planted singly, and dwarf trees are planted in mixborders or rock gardens. Cypress has very soft and fluffy needles. The needles are not prickly at all, it is pleasant to touch them.

The most popular are dwarf trees with a height below 4 meters. Among them stand out:

Ericoides. A spear-shaped form of cypress up to 2 m high;
Nana Gracilis. Round crown, tree grows up to half a meter;
Ellwoodii. Pyramidal crown, trunk grows up to 2 meters;
Minima Aurea. Dwarf plant, with a pyramidal rounded crown;
compacta. Small compact tree with dense branches.

Dwarf varieties of cypress do not winter well. They do not freeze under the snow, but they can sweat. Be sure to keep an eye on the density of the snow cover.

Cypress varieties

Cypress in the wild appears to be an evergreen culture with a crown in the shape of a pyramid or cone, the trunk has a very thick bark, the foliage is pressed against the branches. About 30 varieties of cypress are known, of which about eight are highly popular in landscape design. Each species has its own conditions for care and cultivation rules. The most common varieties:

Benthamii. Graceful hat and bluish needles;
Lindleyi. It has large buds and bright green needles;
ristis. Branches growing down, crown in the form of a column;
Aschersoniana. Undersized look;
compacta. Shrub with bluish needles;
Сonica. The crown is like a pin, bluish needles with a haze that cannot stand frost;
fastigiata. Bluish needles on a stocky tree;
Glauca. Hat like a column, silver color of needles.

Slender tree - larch

Larch, judging by the name, like linden, is often attributed to deciduous. But it belongs to conifers, namely to the pine family. This is a fairly tall tree, it drops its needles.

In good conditions for growth, the tree can grow to a height of about 55 m, and a diameter of up to a meter.

The bark is very thick, covered with brownish grooves. The branches grow chaotically upwards, forming a cap in the form of a cone. The needles are very soft, green in color, as long as spruce. There are 15 types of wood. Some of the most popular among them are:

weeping;
corley. cushion tree;
Kornik. Globular larch;
Blue Dwar. A short tree with blue needles;
Diana. It grows up to two meters, a spherical crown, branches in the form of spirals, green needles with a haze;
Stiff Weepers. Elongated sprouts creep along the soil, needles with a bluish tint;
Wolterdinger. Thick cap, dome-shaped, the development of the tree is very slow.

mountain pine

About 120 species of pines are known in the world. Pines differ from other conifers in their fragrant needles, which are located on the branches in bunches. Types of pines are determined depending on the number of needles.

The roots of the tree in the air dry out in about 20 minutes. They are best planted in early autumn or spring.

Scientists have bred many miniature trees for the garden. Huge varieties can be found in forest and park areas. And in summer cottages, low-growing species of pines look spectacular. Green bushes can be planted in rock gardens and mixborders. The most popular varieties of mountain pine are:

Pine Dwarf, which grows up to 2 meters in height and crown diameter;
columnaris. The bush grows to a height and width of three meters, it has thick and rather long needles;
Mops. Due to the branches, the crown forms a ball shape;
Mini Mops. Cushion-shaped bush;
Globosa viridis. The bush is egg-shaped, needles up to 10 cm long.

decorative thuja

A small conifer found in many public gardens and parks. Plants are cultivated for decoration. Gardeners note the resistance of trees to dry weather, frosty periods and decay.

The thuja has thick roots, upward-growing branches that form pyramidal or columnar forms, dark leaves and small cones that ripen very quickly. Breeders brought creeping, dwarf and weeping species. Of these, the leader is the western arborvitae (occidentalis), which grow very quickly, reach a height of about 8 m, and a diameter of about 2 meters. The shrub is evergreen, only the Cloth of Gold variety with orange needles has differences, in winter with copper branches. Such specimens are best grown in the shade with neutral soil.

In Europe, thuja appeared and became popular thanks to French king Francis the First. He loved unique plants and constantly planted them in his garden. He called thuja the tree of life and planted it large plots around his estate. Two hundred years later, the plant was cultivated in the east of Europe. In the wild, thuja can grow up to 40 m, so gardeners were sad when growing a tree from seeds and getting huge individuals.

Medium-sized variety Columna creates a dense narrow crown. It can be seen from afar by the dark green shiny needles, which do not change all seasons. The tree is resistant to frost and does not require maintenance.

The Holmstrup variety is ideal for small gardens: it is small, with a lush conical crown and rich green color. The grade is steady against frosts, well transfers pruning of branches. In young specimens, they form into a narrow cone, but straighten out with age. Green needles, glossy. When leaving, you will need constantly moist soil.

Cryptomeria - the national tree of Japan

It is found on the slopes of mountains, in wild forest areas and in park alleys. Cryptomeria belongs to conifers, can grow up to 60 m, and the trunk in girth reaches 2 meters.

The needles have a dark or light shade, the branches create a lush, thick hat. The needles are sometimes stained red or yellow. In appearance, they are in the form of an awl, but they do not prick when touched. They have small brownish bumps. Cryptomeria belongs to the cypress family, it does not have varieties. The connection with the east at the tree is explained by its different name.

People among themselves call the tree "Japanese cedar", although they do not have any common properties among themselves. The tree is royal in nature, very majestic, so it is difficult to imagine it as a shrub grown in a summer cottage or in an apartment space. But scientists who are engaged in the creation of new varieties have taken care of this. Now there are many dwarf forms of cryptomeria that do not grow above two meters.

When choosing evergreen decorations for your summer cottage, you need to know the types of existing trees, understand their pace of development and the required care. After all, instead of decorating in your backyard, you can get an unnecessary huge tree that will shade all the plants in the circle.

Sometimes, looking at evergreen coniferous trees, people think: why does a person have such a short age on earth? Intelligent creatures that can think, feel and create live on average 70-80 years, and ordinary trees live more than a thousand. Perhaps someday the dream of eternal life will come true, and then people will be able to enjoy the environment to the fullest. Before that time comes, it's worth getting to know different types coniferous trees to decorate their summer cottage with them.

It is these evergreens that harmoniously fit into any landscape design. Their strict and refined forms stand out clearly on the green lawn in summer. And in cold weather, refresh Vacation home rich greenery and pleasant resinous aroma. Many gardeners grow evergreen beauties on their plots, because their diversity is truly impressive. They are tall and dwarfs. Found in the form of a pyramid or cone. Therefore, the unforgettable landscape of coniferous trees remains in the hearts of grateful people forever. Let's take a closer look at the most popular types.

Among the huge number of coniferous centenarians, unique specimens are especially impressive: the Old Tikko spruce in Sweden (more than 9 thousand years), the Methuselah pine in the USA (about 5 thousand). In general, there are up to 20 such trees on the planet.

National favorite - spruce

Probably, there is no person on earth who has not heard about this tree. Many poems and songs have been written about him, pictures and fairy tales have been written. The plant is associated with various holidays, customs, and sometimes with bad omens. Because of this, the plant suffers from excessive felling, which brings a lot of grief to nature lovers.

Spruce is an evergreen coniferous tree that belongs to the Pine family and can grow to a height of 35 meters. It has a pyramidal or triangular crown shape, ending with a sharp top. The branches are located along the entire trunk, so it is almost invisible from the side. They grow needles of a dark green color with a glossy shiny coating, which are much shorter than those of pine.

The tree is found almost everywhere in the vastness of the Northern Hemisphere. It is the main component of the Russian taiga, where it grows next to oak, pine, and hazel. In nature, there are about 50 species of spruce. Some of them successfully take root on lawns country houses. The following types are especially widely used.

Spruce roots are close to the soil surface, so a strong hurricane wind can knock it down. Therefore, the tree should not be planted near residential premises.

Acrocon

Spruce of this type is characterized by a wide conical crown with hanging branches. Considered slow growing. For 30 years it grows to a height of up to 4 meters. Plant diameter is about 3 m. Prefers shady places. Spruce tolerates cold temperatures very well. In the summer heat, it needs watering.

inverse

The tree has a columnar crown and falling weeping branches that, like a train, touch the ground. It grows up to a maximum of 8 meters. The diameter of an adult plant is about 2.5 m.

European Maxwelly

Dwarf shrub in the form of a wide cone. It tolerates winter frosts and shady places without problems. Grows up to a meter high. The diameter of an adult shrub is 2 m.

Glauca Globoza

The famous spruce stands out with blue needles. Grows in height up to 2 meters. It is used in many countries to decorate urban and suburban landscapes. Due to the fact that the tree lends itself to shearing, original blue balls are made from it, which delight their fans all year round.

Fir - a tree with purple cones

An evergreen representative of the genus Pine. It differs from its close relatives in the features of needles:

softness;
shine;
flat shape.

On the underside of each needle, white stripes are visible, which gives the plant holiday look. The fir tree is decorated with purple cones, which is its main highlight. It grows slowly over 10 years, after which growth accelerates. Lives for about 400 years. Breeders bred decorative varieties, which are used to decorate urban and suburban areas.

Since the needles of the tree have healing properties, growing fir in a summer cottage is a great idea. It helps in the fight against colds, sciatica and wound healing.

Columnaris

The tree has a straight trunk and a narrow crown resembling a column. Grows up to 10 meters. The dense branches are directed upwards, which gives the tree a majestic character.

prostrata

Such a fir is famous for its long branches stretched above the ground, which can reach 2.5 meters in length.

Argenta

The variety is characterized by original silvery needles, the tips of which are painted whitish. Every spring, luminescent yellow shoots come out of her buds. This unusual combination creates a stunning view of the site. country house. And it lasts almost a whole month.

Nana

A dwarf tree that grows only up to 50 cm. The diameter of an adult plant is 1 m. The crown is rounded, slightly flattened. Works great in small areas.

majestic cedar

Since time immemorial, these trees have been considered a symbol of greatness. In their natural environment, they grow at an altitude of 3 km above sea level and resemble real giants. Grow up to 50 meters. They live for more than two centuries.

Despite its greatness, it unique tree, because it can decorate any garden landscape. If you plant it at the main entrance, an atmosphere of some kind of celebration is created. On spacious lawns - home comfort.

Some dwarf varieties used for growing bonsai plants. To create original landscapes, species that differ are widely used:

needle color;
needle length;
tree sizes.

When choosing a suitable species, it is advisable to first get acquainted with the plant. For home cultivation, the following varieties are used:

Mysterious larch

Many people think that if a tree is called a larch, then it does not belong to coniferous species. Actually it is not. The plant is a representative of the Pine family, but unlike its relatives, it loses its needles in autumn.

Larch grows up to 50 m in height. In this case, the trunk reaches 1 m in diameter. The branches grow in a chaotic manner, with a barely noticeable slope. As a result, a crown is formed in the form of a cone. The needles are noticeably flattened, soft to the touch, bright green in color. In the natural environment, there are 14 different varieties. For garden design the following types are used:

This diversity allows you to create magnificent landscapes in the territory. summer cottages.

majestic pine

Biologists have more than a hundred different varieties of such an evergreen plant. Moreover, the distinguishing feature is the number of needles on one bundle. A pine tree often grows up to a height of 50 meters. The straight trunk is covered with reddish-brown cracking bark. Long needles are located on the spreading branches of the tree and are distinguished by a rich aroma. Pine lives for about 600 years and perfectly tolerates cold and summer heat.

Pine planting should be done quickly, as its roots can dry out in a quarter of an hour. Such a plant does not take root in the new territory.

For garden decoration breeders have created original miniature species:

Without a doubt, such evergreen living decorations are suitable for creating landscape rock gardens or mixborders. In any case, pine can become the hallmark of a summer cottage.

Her Majesty - thuja

An evergreen tree of this kind is almost always used to decorate city parks and green areas. AT recent times This plant is widely used to decorate home gardens. It is valued by gardeners for its ability to endure severe winter frosts, drought and high humidity.

The thuja tree is distinguished by lush branches on which scaly dark green leaves are located. Every year, the plant is covered with miniature cones that resemble scattered beads on green fabric. In addition to traditional forms, thujas are:

dwarf;
weeping;
creeping.

Most often, seedlings called "Occidentalis" are used for the design of a personal plot. The tree can grow up to 7 m in height, and create a crown of about 2 m. Another species - "Cloth of Gold" - has a golden hue of needles. It grows well in shady areas of the garden.

Medium-sized variety - "Columna" impresses with its needles of dark green coloring with a glossy sheen. It does not disappear even in winter, for which it is very much appreciated by lovers of green spaces. "Columna"

The compact type of thuja tree - "Holmstrup" has a conical shape, despite its height - 3 m. It tolerates cold winters wonderfully, lends itself to pruning and is used as a hedge. Another giant - "Smaragd" - grows up to approximately 4 m. The diameter of an adult tree is up to 1.5 m. The needles are juicy, dark green in color with a brilliant sheen. Such a beauty will surely decorate the country landscape of connoisseurs of greenery.

Having become better acquainted with the majestic coniferous trees, it is easy to choose the right option. And let the suburban area turn into a green oasis of joy, where resistant coniferous trees grow.