Thuja - a tree, what it looks like, varieties and varieties
Content:
What is thuja? Thuja is a gymnosperm type of plant in the Cypress family. This tree has a number of interesting features. The plant is of the evergreen type. It can grow for fifty years, or even hundreds of years. The color palette is simply amazing: evergreen thuja can turn yellowish or blue. Many are interested in whether thuja is a tree or shrub. It already depends on herself.
Description of culture
This is a tree with high frost resistance. It is very unpretentious and tolerates well not only to frost, but also takes root on any soil. It grows as a shrub, although it can reach up to 3 m in height. But it may also be different: it grows quite close to the ground, therefore it looks like a small bush. And although this bush is quite small, but it is very beautiful. The foliage looks like lush balls. In addition, the thuja itself is an excellent decorative element. Such an exotic plant will decorate any place.
Loves both dry and wet soil. The plant is unpretentious in this matter. But it must always be protected from the wind, because at the initial stages of development, the young tree has not yet fully matured. At this stage, in addition to shelter from the wind, you need to protect it from winter frost. This tree is able to withstand low temperatures, but only after its full development.
Western thuja
Western does not have any fundamental differences from the above classical description. Her crown is divided into three types:
- column;
- pyramidal;
- spherical.
Western thuja usually reaches no more than 15 m. On average, the range jumps from 1.5 to 15 m. The bark of this American plant is red, and changes to gray with age. Shoots are rather short. The foliage, as mentioned, is very lush and beautiful. Shiny needles with a green, yellow or blue tint are pleasing to the eye.
Where does thuja grow
Homeland of thuja smaragd North America. There it can reach only 12 m. Therefore, it is called western. It is found not only in the USA, but also in Europe and Russia. Siberia or the Far East is also included.
Thuja: types and varieties
Any kind of thuja should be grown only in well-lit places, otherwise the foliage will quickly fade without light.
There are such varieties of thuja:
- folded (Thuja Plicata);
- western (Thuja Occidentails);
- Korean (Thuja Koraiensis);
- Japanese (Thuja Standishii);
- eastern (Thuja Orientails) or flattened (Platycladus).
Folded (Thuja Plicata)
The homeland of folded thuja is East Asia. Quite often, this thuja is used in landscape design, because this plant is incredibly charming. In addition, hedges are made from it. The folded thuja stands out for its fruits. They are oval in shape, like big bumps. In length they can reach 12 cm. They are flat and have two wings.
This thuja, like the others, loves almost any soil, but if the grower wants a fast growing thuja, it is better to moisturize the soil well. Dry will give the opportunity to grow, but noticeably slower. Watering should be done often, but not overdo it.
Western (Thuja Occidentails)
This thuja has already been discussed in this article. You can read more about it above.
Korean (Thuja Koraiensis)
Also decorative, but unlike other varieties, it reaches a small height, the maximum is 9 m. The needles are painted in the usual green shade, but from below it has a silvery color. The crown is wide.
The Korean thuja has one more feature. If other thuja tolerate frosts well, then this thuja shrub is not able to withstand a drop even at 0 ° C. It is worth growing in warm places, but it does not have to be overseas islands. For example, the south of Russia is perfect because the winters are mild and relatively warm there. Korean thuja loves high humidity and room temperature.
Japanese (Thuja Standishii)
This tree is also called stenchida. Homeland is, as you might guess, Japan, or rather its high-mountain forests. Hence the name. It can be used not only in decor, this thuja is often used to make special wood that is suitable for construction.
It can reach a height of 30 m. The crown is like a pyramid. The color palette, like the rest, is not only green, but also silver-white. Adapted to withstand low temperatures, but does not tolerate drought. Likes only ecologically clean places. Any infection is capable of destroying this thuya at the moment.
Eastern (Thuja Prientails), or Platycladus
This tree is whimsical to the conditions of development. It will grow only in favorable climatic conditions. This thuja likes only warm places with the same winters. Taking care of her is not easy.
China is the homeland of this thuja. Usually it grows alone, but it also feels good in the company next to other plants. And although this plant needs a warm climate, it can grow even in rocky rocks. The height of this thuja is 18 m. The bark is brown, the needles are green.
Fast growing varieties of thuja
Thuja is divided into several varieties that determine its growth. Here is the list:
- Brabant. Grows up to 20 m in height. Annual growth can reach 40 m in height and 15 m in width. Loves sunny places and loamy soil. It tolerates frost well.
- Golden Brabant is a species of Brabant. The needles turn yellow-green.
- Columna. Narrow crown. It usually grows 40 cm high and 5 cm wide annually. Height reaches 10 m. Loves absolutely any soil. Transfers frost.
- Fastigiata. A well-growing variety of thuja. Narrow crown. The total height is 30 m. Every year it adds 30 cm in height and 5 cm in width. Also frost-resistant, and can grow up to 200 years or more.
- Giant. Reaches 15 m in height. It can add up to 30 cm annually. Very frost-resistant, but hardly tolerates the heat.
Tui in nature
In nature, there are only five varieties of thuja, which were indicated in the species section. In nature, it grows singly or in small clusters of shrubs. develop for a very long time.
Conifers for the garden
Thuja is not the only tree that can be planted in your garden. Many people plant other types of trees as well. Some conifers are worth talking about, as they are popular with gardeners.
Ate
This type of tree is well suited for any garden or park. This is due to the fact that they ate very unpretentious plants. They are shade-tolerant, can grow in damp places, but not in swamps. Perhaps the only thing they really dislike is drought. It is recommended to grow ate, like almost all plants, in moist soil.The spruce stalk is very sensitive to this. Quite frost-hardy, but, like all plants, they love warmth.
Spruce is very often used for decorative purposes. Up to 20 different types of this tree can be used to decorate parks. They can differ not only in the shade of the color palette, but also in the crown itself.
Fir
Fir has recently become popular among ornamental plant lovers. Previously, people preferred only spruce and pine trees. If we talk about the present, then the fir overtakes them in terms of the frequency of selling seedlings. She is loved for her refined trunk, beautiful needles and non-standard appearance. Another feature of fir is considered to be beautiful cones. They always grow only upward, which distinguishes the species from other plants. Fir seeds are winged, so they scatter, forming whole forests. Reproduction itself is very fast.
Juniper
Juniper is also popular with gardeners. The height of this bush can only reach a couple of meters, but it is also loved for its diminutiveness and beauty. Sometimes there are tall specimens that look like a tree. Homemade juniper will be a great addition to the interior. And to multiply it will not be a big effort.
Loves moist soil and a warm place for full growth.
Pine
Pine is an ornamental and deciduous plant. An evergreen tree with the most beautiful view. Pine can be in the form of a shrub, and in the form of a creeping bush, which makes it possible to use it as practical as possible when decorating a garden or park. Height can reach 50 m, and maybe only 2 m. It has a developed root system. The needles have a beautiful green color palette, and the needles themselves are beautifully arranged on the pine tree. They are all directed upward, which is what makes the pine trunk seem so tall.
Although it grows in rocky places, it loves moisture, warm places.
Yew
They also like to use yews as a decoration. It combines several types of conifers. It grows slowly. A distinctive feature is its small spherical red fruits, which makes it stand out from other plants. This is not a simple flower. In addition, it is quite famous due to the fact that it can live up to 3000 years.
Diseases and pests of conifers
Conifers can be affected by:
- fungal infections;
- pests.
The former infect conifers from the inside, gradually destroying their entire immune system (shute, rust, various types of cancer, bacteriosis, etc.). The latter appear on the conifers themselves, gradually eating them (aphids, moths, spider mites, etc.).
To avoid all this, it is worth taking some preventive measures:
- The area with the plant must be suitable for all requirements. The place should be warm, well lit, with moist soil. Timely feeding should be carried out.
- Place conifers away from each other (if there is more than one plant). Otherwise, if an infection appears on one, it can jump over to other plants.
- All dry and damaged branches should be pruned. In some cases, they can cause illness.
- Treat with various insecticidal agents (for example, zircon).
Thus, thuja is not only a beautiful plant, but also a good decor for a garden, park, area near the house, dacha. And this is not casual. The above description is a confirmation of this. When growing, it is worth adhering to the rules and protecting the ephedra from diseases and pests.