Nordman fir, or Caucasian fir, (lat Abies nordmanniana) was first described by the Finnish-Russian botanist Alexander von Nordman. Belongs to the Pine family of the Fir family.
Danish spruce used in Christmas wreaths - cultivated species Abies nordmanniana.
Description
Caucasian fir is an evergreen tree growing in natural conditions up to 60–80 m.
The crown is neat, cone-shaped, several meters in diameter in adults.
The plant is used in gardening. In European countries he is dressed up for Christmas, New Year instead of a Christmas tree.
The trunk of centuries-old specimens reaches two meters in diameter. The bark of a young tree is smooth, gray-brown. Over time, it cracks into segments, acquires a pronounced haze. On it there are traces of dried overflown branches.
Shoots are frequent, raised. This feature distinguishes the Caucasian look. The young branches are light green, yellowish in color, the needles are short, densely arranged, with light sleeping buds of a greenish or brownish hue. On the main shoots, the needles are dark green, shiny above, matte below, have grooves on both sides. The length of the needles is up to 4 cm. If you grind them, you can feel the saturated coniferous aroma.
Dry needles remain on the branches until they are disturbed by any mechanical load. Therefore, a tree can remain green year-round for several years.
Flowering occurs in late April or early May. Male flowers resemble reddish spikelets. Female earrings are green, formed at the top of the crown.
Fruits are bumps. Large, up to 20 cm, sit upright on a short leg. At a young age, green, with closed scales, when ripening, acquire a brown color, coarsen. The blades in which the seeds are located are small in size with a solid edge. Empty covering flakes are large, lobed, narrowing at the base.
Nordman fir seeds ripen in the fall.
Life expectancy is the largest of all members of the family - about 700 years under favorable conditions. The increase in height and width remains until the last day.
The root system is in-depth, with a central stem or surface. Depends on the type of soil.
Spread
In vivo Nordman fir grows in the Caucasus, distributed in Turkey, the countries of the Middle East. Forms coniferous forests. Often adjacent to beech.
Fir requires a soil rich in minerals and fertilizers. Prefers loam. In such conditions, the tree develops rapidly and gives growth. It grows on alkaline soils.
Fir tolerates frosts well to -30 ° C. With age, frost resistance increases.
The optimal belt for breeding is 1200–2000 meters above sea level. The plant can be planted in the shade and in the open area, not afraid of the wind.
Popular varieties
Abies nordmanniana planted in personal plots, in city parks. Used varieties:
- Jadwiga
- Pendula
- "Bright green"
- Golden Spreader,
- Borjomi
The latter is similar to the Caucasian. Features of other varieties:
- Pendula. It grows slowly, the crown is already ordinary. Used to decorate plots.
- "Jadwiga." It grows faster than other representatives. The crown is narrowed, rapidly increasing in diameter. The tree is suitable for landscaping.
- Golden Spreader. The eternal dwarf. Slowly growing, height - up to 1 m at the age of 10. Bred in pots, planted on an alpine slide. No special care is required.
Danish spruce is spread all over the world. New varieties are constantly being bred.
Breeding
Propagated by ripened seeds. The autonomic system is poorly developed - cuttings are grafted with great difficulty or this function is completely absent. Seeds ripen in October-November. They need to be collected during this period, until the material flew out of the opened cone.
Collect seeds from adult trees.
Landing: preparation
Seeds are sown in the ground, leave holes for the respiration of the embryo, placed in a refrigerator or cellar for stratification. Withstand 1-1.5 months.
Germinate seeds in a pot or wait for early seedlings in the forest strip. Shoots grow slowly, the process will not accelerate even good care. If a spring planting is planned, it makes sense to purchase a ready-made 5-10 year old seedling. Younger individuals will die in a new place, old ones will not take root: firs do not like transplanting.
The place is chosen open, not cluttered with other trees. The soil must be fertile. When designing malls or planting several individuals, the distance between the trees is calculated. For prospectuses - 3-4.5 m, for groups - 2.5 m.
Description of the landing process
General plan of action:
- Dig a hole 50 x 50 or 60 x 60 cm, depth up to 80 cm. Dimensions depend on the power of the seedling, its root system.
- A drainage layer is poured to the bottom - 20 cm of broken brick or gravel.
- Mineral fertilizers are added for conifers, about 10 kg of medium-sized sawdust.
- The pit is kept for 2 weeks.
- The roots of the seedling are moistened with water, placed in the prepared recess so that the root neck remains above ground level.
- Abundantly watered.
In the first winter, during frosty days, Nordman fir needs to be covered with insulating materials. In the future, such care will not be needed.
How to care for a tree
The plant is unpretentious, but requires certain conditions:
- a sufficient level of humidity and light;
- replenishment of nutrients.
Care for young plants:
- Regular watering in the first year.
- Cleansing the adjacent area from weeds.
- Mulching with sawdust or wood chips to prevent the development of weed grass.
To get the crown of the desired shape, in the spring, when the period of sap flow has not yet begun, the branches are cut.
As the trunk grows and strengthens, care comes down to fertilizing in the spring.