Where does dwarf birch grow in what zone? How to protect yourself from nitrates in early vegetables and fruits? Ecological niche and dispersal

Dwarf birch belongs to the birch family and is a small and branched shrub with a height of 30 to 80 cm. The Tundra is considered the homeland of this plant; in the wild it can grow in the harsh climatic conditions of the Northern Hemisphere of our planet. The low-growing tree can be found in Yakutia, Siberia, Japan, North Korea, in Kamchatka, in North America and Canada. The dwarf birch also prefers the mountain slopes of Scotland and also grows in the Alps, at an altitude of up to 2 thousand meters above sea level. Because of cold weather, in the Tundra there are many miniature trees that are distinguished by their vitality. The lifespan can be 100–120 years.

What kind of plant is dwarf birch?

Externally, the tree bears almost no resemblance to its slender and tall relative. Residents of the North call this birch “ernik”, which means “bush”. Favorite places The habitat of such a plant is mountain slopes, swampy areas of the Tundra and other northern regions of the globe.

In cold climates, plant branches are able to grow above the surface of the ground, where, with the onset of a long winter, they can remain for a long time under a thick layer of snow, which protects them from freezing. As a result, the birch does not look like an ordinary tree, but a shrub, creeping along the ground, having gray-brown bark and flexible shoots that grow rather slowly. The tree often grows into thickets of lichen, only green leaves and catkins remain visible on the surface. Thus, the plant can spread over considerable distances and occupy quite large areas on the ground.

leaves miniature tree oval shape, light green color with jagged edges, about 2 cm long. With the onset of autumn, they change their color to orange and bright red and look very picturesque. The tree blooms from May to June with small earrings of a green-yellow hue. After pollination, the catkins dry out and fruits appear on the branches - small nuts, Brown, with a size of several millimeters.

IN Northern latitudes such birches are preferred vegetative method reproduction, because seeds cannot always fully ripen due to the onset of cold weather. Since all parts of the plant literally creep along the ground, appear on them additional roots, and then young shoots are formed in these places, from which new branches are subsequently formed. This shrub grows slowly and has very high frost resistance.

Dwarf birch serves as food for domestic animals and is also successfully used as fuel. Local residents use the leaves and buds of the plant to prepare medicinal decoctions that can treat diseases such as rheumatism, gout, arthritis, and remove stones from the bladder.

This unusual tree looks very decorative and requires minimal care, so it is very suitable for landscaping parks, personal plots, greenhouses, areas near municipal buildings. In addition, the crown always looks very compact, neat and does not require constant trimming.

Popular varieties

To date, breeding scientists have developed several varieties of low-growing birch, which are ideal for growing in private homes and decorating courtyards and parks. Such trees can grow no higher than 1–5 meters, and varieties based on dwarf birch have an even smaller size. They are very unpretentious in maintenance and look great in almost all areas. all year round.

Well-known varieties include:

Growing

Before you plant this unpretentious and pretty tree on your site, you should not forget that this plant feels great in the cold season and tolerates any frost well. Therefore, it will not be very comfortable for him to exist in a warm, heated room or on a sunlit piece of land.

If you want the plant to be as comfortable as possible in the area where you decide to plant it, it is recommended to comply with the following conditions:

Planting shrubs with seeds

Seeds can be sown in open ground immediately after their collection or in the fall. Since they are not afraid of frost, they will not freeze in cold soil. Before sowing, the seeds need to be sorted and dried well. Then you need to choose a place suitable for planting and make 2-3 grooves there, 10 cm wide and 5 cm deep. Then pour the grains there and carefully cover them with soil. The required distance between furrows should be about 25 cm. It is advisable to sow seeds in the first year after collection, as they may subsequently lose freshness.

Propagation by seedlings

Seedlings should be planted in the ground in autumn or spring. To do this, a few days before planting, you need to dig a hole with a diameter of about 1.5 meters. The bottom layer of soil must be removed, and humus, peat, sand, mineral fertilizers must be added to the top layer and mixed well.

Then you can start planting, taking into account that it is impossible to separate the earthen lump from the roots of the purchased plant, and if it is missing, you need to hold it bottom part seedlings in water for 3–4 hours. To the bottom of the pit you need to put drainage in the form of small pebbles or crushed stone. Its layer should be 20–25 cm. Then place a small birch tree in the hole, cover it with soil and compact it a little.

Shrub care

The main thing is regular watering; under no circumstances should the soil be allowed to dry out, otherwise the plant will dry out and get sick. It is necessary to water very abundantly, constantly maintaining the presence of moisture in the soil.

In spring, the bush can be fed with complex or nitrogen fertilizers, organic ones are also suitable, for example, humus. Pruning can be done one year after planting. It is best to form a crown of a tree in spring or summer time, having first removed all dry and damaged branches.

Pests of dwarf birch

Birch trees that grow in the gardens of private houses can be affected by the following pests:

• May beetles.
• Medvedki.
• Silkworm.
• Thrips.
• Powdery mildew.
• Zlatki.

Dwarf birch, slate, birch, birch birch, yora - this is the name of the low-growing birch from the Birch family (Betulaceae). Dwarf birch grows in the northern regions of Europe, in Canada, in the north of Russia - in Yakutia, Western Siberia, in Kamchatka and Chukotka. In addition, the plant can be found in the mountains of Scotland and the Alps at altitudes from 300 to 2200 meters above sea level.

General data and description

In the alpine belt, in sphang and moss swamps, and in the Arctic tundra, dwarf birch trees grow in continuous thickets, which are called birch trees. From the Nenets language the word “era” is translated as “shrub”.

Low-growing birch is a deciduous, branched shrub with a height of 20 to 70 centimeters. Some specimens grow up to 120 cm. Young branches are fluffy and velvety, over time they become bare, the color of their bark is brown, brown, red-brown.

The leaves are round or oval, 5-15 mm long, 10-20 mm wide, with jagged edges, arranged alternately, growing on short petioles 4-5 mm long. The upper side of the leaf is dark green, shiny, the lower side is light green, fluffy. In autumn, the leaves turn bright red, so the thickets of the plant look very beautiful. Young leaves are sticky, but this feature is lost with age.

Staminate catkins of dwarf birch are sessile, straight, 5-15 mm long, about 2 mm in diameter, with yellow pollen. Pistillate catkins are supported on pubescent stalks, oblong, elongated-ovate, 5-8 mm long, 3-5 mm in diameter, light brown in color. The fruit is formed in the form of nuts 2 mm long and 1 mm wide, with wings on the sides. Dwarf birch blooms before the leaves bloom and bears fruit from May to June.

In the tundra, dwarf birches grow and survive thanks to special tactics. Their branches grow low above the ground, in constant readiness to lie under a layer of snow, which will protect them from freezing. As a result, not the usual tree with white bark is formed, but a creeping shrub with dark bark and twisting, slowly growing shoots. During the process of growth and development, additional roots appear on the shoots, which grow tightly into the soil and moss, so often only birch leaves and catkins can be seen on the surface.

This tactic allows the birch tree to occupy fairly large areas and move deep into the tundra over considerable distances.

In the North, dwarf birch trees do not reproduce by seeds; here they do not always have time to ripen to the required condition. Birch trees reproduce vegetatively - this method is more reliable and effective.

Residents of the North use birch leaves and buds to treat diseases of the genitourinary system. Decoctions and infusions of them help with male infertility, increase potency, remove salts and stones from the bladder and kidneys. Dwarf birch sap produces positive results in the treatment of rheumatism, gout and arthritis.

In addition, dwarf birch trees serve as food for deer and other domestic animals, and they are also used as fuel.

Variety of varieties

Modern breeders have developed several varieties of dwarf birch suitable for growing in small summer cottages or garden plots. If an ordinary white-trunked birch can grow up to 30 meters or more in height, fill all the space, pump out all the moisture from the soil, and thus crowd out other plants, then dwarf birches behave more modestly.

They do not grow higher than 1-3-5 meters, and varieties bred on the basis of northern dwarf birch are even smaller. They do not create much shade, and consume moisture to the extent of their size and capabilities. At the same time, they decorate the site no worse, and sometimes even better, than ordinary tall trees.

One such variety is Young's weeping birch (Youngii). Her maximum height– 5 meters, which it reaches within ten years, the crown width is only 2-3 meters. The branches hang beautifully to the ground, like willow or Sophora japonica. Thanks to these features, the plant looks decorative all year round - in spring with small leaves and catkins, and in summer and winter, covered with frost and snow.

Yung's Birch

Young specimens have brown bark; with age it becomes white, with black cracks typical of birch.

The Golden Treasure variety is a miniature birch tree up to 80 centimeters high and a crown diameter of about one and a half meters.

Birch Golden Treasure is perfect for creating hedges, landscaping rocky gardens, rock gardens, and flower arrangements.

The shoots of this birch are dark brown and the crown is dense. The tree tolerates pruning well; it is easy to give its lush crown the required form. The leaves are round, from 5 to 15 mm long, bright yellow in color. In autumn they turn purple-red or fiery red.

The variety is characterized by increased frost resistance and the ability to grow in flooded areas, but at the same time easily tolerates short-term drought.

In 2014, at the “Green is Life” exhibition in Poland, the variety received a silver medal for decorativeness.

Use and agricultural technology

Decorative dwarf birch trees can be used to create Japanese stone gardens, alpine slides, landscaping areas near low buildings, gazebos and artificial ponds.

It is better to plant plants in well-lit places, or in partial shade. Under natural conditions, dwarf birch trees can grow in swamps, and therefore in country or personal plot they can be planted on a flooded, low-lying area with stagnant melt or rainwater. The plant pumps out and evaporates moisture well, and this ability can be used to your advantage.

The roots of the dwarf birch do not lie deep, this must be taken into account when weeding and loosening the soil. To summer root system was not harmed by high temperature, and the moisture does not evaporate too quickly, the root zone is covered with sawdust, pine needles, tree bark, peat, and moss.

These measures are especially necessary if birch trees grow in a dry place. The first time after planting, water the dwarf birch in the garden abundantly and often, and then as the soil dries out.

Before planting seedlings, the soil is dug up, humus, peat and sand are added; the holes are not made deep, since the roots of the plant do not grow in depth, but in breadth under a small layer of soil.

The first year after planting, the plant does not need to be fertilized, but starting in the spring of the next year, fertilizing is carried out every month until the fall. In summer, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used - ammonium nitrate and mullein. In the fall - Kemira-universal composition or nitroammofoska.

There is no need to cover a low-growing birch tree for the winter; it will successfully overwinter in any frost, especially if its roots are covered with a layer of snow.

Reproduction

In the conditions of central Russia, dwarf birch trees can be propagated by seeds - here they will have time to ripen. Seeds can be sown in open ground immediately after they ripen, or in the fall, without fear that they will die from frost.

Another way to propagate dwarf birch is by cuttings. The cuttings are placed in clean water, and after the roots appear, they are planted in a permanent place.

Reproduction by layering is a method established by nature itself. In the tundra, dwarf birch trees spread in this way, clinging with their roots on the branches to every piece of land suitable for nutrition and growth.

Pests

Insect pests, such as mole crickets, aphids, thrips, beetles, leaf sawflies, and borers, also attack dwarf birch trees growing in the garden. To protect the plant, spray it chemicals, or folk remedies– infusions of tobacco dust, garlic, hot pepper.

The word “birch” most often means a tree with white bark, from which the sap is collected in the spring, and in the winter the trees are used for firewood. Dwarf birch is familiar to people from geography lessons, since it is typical representative flora of the tundra zone. At the same time, few people saw it, and if they did, they would hardly guess what kind of plant it was. When talking about dwarfism, for some reason they always mean something like bansai or other small trees in pots. But in fact, the species described is a low-growing shrub.

Botanical description

Birch yernik is what Russian peasants living in the forest called this shrub. From this we can conclude: it grows not only in the tundra. Moreover, swamps overgrown with dwarf birch were also called dwarf birch.

Usually this bush is not tall: It rarely grows higher than 1.2 m. In the tundra and wetlands, its branches may not be visible, and the plant spreads along the ground. Hence, by the way, its second name is slate.

You can identify shrubs in a swamp by the following signs:

This species reproduces both by seeds and vegetatively. It all depends on the growing conditions and summer weather. The root system of dwarf birch is fibrous, growing in breadth and not in depth.

Ecological niche and dispersal

The plant is perfectly adapted to life in harsh northern conditions. The permafrost practically does not touch it, since it does not have deep roots. But the abundance of branches - great alternative seed propagation. In cold weather, the shrub spreads along the ground, sending out secondary roots. It quickly occupies the pasture eaten by a deer; it replaces other vegetation more slowly, but this still happens.

Planting mock orange and proper care behind him

It is characteristic that the growth of dwarf birch shoots in the tundra occurs even under snow, although in the north this process is slow. In conditions where seeds do not ripen every year, this is a big plus. One plant, reproducing exclusively vegetatively, can live up to 100 years, and only then does the original root dry out; what remains is the growth that the shoots once produced.

In the forest zone, birch slate grows in swamps, where it can afford to be a full-fledged bush, fluffy and voluminous. Sometimes there are entire thickets of dwarf birch, which overgrow clearings and swamps. It is difficult to move around such areas: in any case, it is impossible to simply walk in such places. There are also bushes in the mountains; the maximum altitude where it can grow is 2200 meters above sea level.

This type of birch is found throughout the northern hemisphere. These are the tundra and forest zones of Russia, Canada, the Scandinavian Peninsula, Iceland, as well as mountainous areas. During the leaf fall season, it is covered with all shades of yellow and red, creating a unique color of the autumn tundra.

Garden decoration

In places where dwarf birch grows, it is often used for fuel. But to people far from the northern way of life, this shrub may seem excellent option for decoration of gardens and rock gardens. A cultivated variety of dwarf birch, the Golden Treasure variety, has even been bred for this purpose.

Yernik looks very good in various combinations. In this case, you can use all its forms - both wild slate and a cultivated variety, which is a round bush up to 80 cm high. Among the compositions into which this plant fits perfectly are the following:

Planting, caring for and growing hazelnuts in the garden

The last option is very practical. The branches of the bush intertwine among themselves, forming a dense wall. If it is supplemented with taller bushes, then you don’t have to put up a fence. A huge advantage of using dwarf birch will be its appearance in the fall: when all the flowers have already faded, autumn foliage will be pleasing to the eye. No other shrub looks like the dwarf birch in autumn.

Planting and care

When choosing a place to plant slate or a varietal bush, you need to take into account two mandatory conditions - the place must be well lit and accessible to water. Ernik has a special relationship with water: in the spring it needs it more, so the accumulation of melt water is a big plus. But in summer, excessive moisture can lead to rot, so clay soils should be avoided. In rock gardens, this issue is solved by planting a bush on top, and in lowlands it is necessary to provide good drainage.

The undeniable advantage of the yernik is his love for acidic soils. Usually horticultural crops, and especially food ones, very poorly tolerate acidity, which increases with each harvest. Liming is a very common procedure in agriculture. But the dwarf birch does not need this; it is accustomed to growing in such places.

You can grow a seedling from a seed or branch, both options are good. It is necessary to put peat in the pot, as well as in the hole where the seedling will be transplanted. The hole for the seedling should be deep, about a meter, because there will be drainage at the bottom. The soil for the plant is a mixture of the top fertile layer, peat, sand and mineral fertilizers. In this case, you need to ensure that the roots come into contact with the peat, and not with the azofoska or fertile layer.

Enlarge text

Despite such traditional name- dwarf birch - this tree is not a bit like its slender sisters that inhabit deciduous forests and groves. Dwarf birch is a shrub that grows in the tundra. It climbs quite high and feels comfortable only in swamps or on mountain slopes, at an altitude of about half a kilometer above sea level. The dwarf birch spreads along the ground, like periwinkle, but at the same time it is a full-fledged bush that looks rather pretentious and clumsy. However, this does not interfere landscape designers have a special love for the representative of the northern flora and use it in design country houses and personal plots.

In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the dwarf birch is called “ernik,” which means shrub in Nenets.

Getting to know the dwarf birch

In the mountains, where dwarf birch is accustomed to growing, it spreads along the ground, thereby creating impenetrable thickets. And this is not an exaggeration: the birch tree is intertwined with its friend - the dwarf willow, the same creeping shrub as itself. As a result, entire thickets appear on the ground surface. Low, but completely irresistible. It is not possible for a person to step over or walk on them.

Habitats of dwarf birch

• Plains. Yornik grows in the Arctic zone, which means it is a completely traditional representative of the flora of Canada and Siberia. Often found in Chukotka and Kamchatka.
• Hills. Alps, Scottish mountains, Altai - in these regions dwarf shrub climbs to a height of about 2000 m above sea level and thrives in the harsh mountain climate.

Yornik-shale (another name for dwarf birch), despite the eccentric appearance, is part of the Birch family. The bush rarely grows tall. The maximum recorded height is 1.2 m, but such an indicator is very rare. Most often, the yernik is removed from the ground by 20 cm, maximum - by 60 cm. The main characteristics of the tundra baby are listed below.

1. Trunk. Low, tilted to the side.
2. Escape. Numerous, branched. They spread to the sides, making the crown not convex, but “spreading”. There is a logical justification for this arrangement of numerous branches: in winter, when frosts are strong and severe, the shoots protect the root system from cold and winds, allowing the plant to survive where others cannot.
3. Branch covering. When the branches just appear, their surface is covered with small, soft, short hairs. But over time, the surface of the branches becomes coarser, the pubescence is replaced by gray-brown bark, and the hairs disappear. The birch tree does not have the characteristic color of birch, so it is impossible to guess the relationship.
4. Foliage. The leaves are alternate and very small. The leaf diameter does not exceed 1.5 cm. The shape of the leaves is almost perfectly round. They “sit” alternately on the branch, and there are denticles along the edge of each leaf. WITH front side the leaf is shiny, like gloss. And the back is matte. On back side There is barely noticeable pubescence on the leaf. With the arrival of autumn, the foliage of the dwarf birch turns bright red and orange, and then completely falls off the bush.
5. Earrings. Like ordinary birch, birch-slate also has catkins. They appear on the bush even before the leaves emerge from the buds. The earrings are brightly colored, visible from afar. green color, have oval shape. You can see them for the first time in the month of May, and by mid-June they turn into ripened seeds.
6. Roots. Unlike most other plants, birch roots do not go deep into the ground. They seem to crawl to the sides in order to gradually, millimeter by millimeter, make their way among the stones and tightly frozen ground.

Yornik, due to the climatic conditions in which it lives, grows extremely slowly. Scientists have developed the Golden Treasure variety, which not only is not afraid of frost - it easily grows in soil that is excessively waterlogged. True, the plant is afraid of drought and can easily tolerate only short-term heat.

Growing dwarf birch

You can bring a dwarf birch home from a trip. It cannot be said that this plant is very common in our latitudes; it can be found in garden center It won't be entirely easy. Therefore, if there is an opportunity to bring a living souvenir home, take advantage of it. Another option is to buy birchberry seeds and propagate it yourself. However, perhaps, in a specialized garden center in your city, a representative of the tundra flora will still be found, thereby simplifying the implementation of your planned landscape project.

Landing algorithm

1. We dig a shallow hole. There is no need for a deep one, since the root system of the plant does not go deep into the ground, but spreads out to the sides.
2. Add some crushed stone, sand and peat to the soil removed from the hole. Some experts recommend adding humus to stimulate the growth of birch trees.
3. We place the seedling in the hole, carefully straighten the roots in the directions in which they are directed.
4. Sprinkle the seedling with soil previously prepared for this purpose.
5. Water the plant thoroughly using a watering can.

The first few months after planting, the birch tree must be watered abundantly, doing this often and regularly and in no case allowing the soil to dry out. If on next year summer will be too dry; regular spraying of shoots and leaves will need to be added to watering. If possible and willing, the soil around the birch tree should be mulched. In this case, mulch can be at least sawdust, even crushed stone, even bark.

The main thing is that on dry summer days such a coating will protect dwarf plant from too rapid evaporation of water.

Fertilize the birch tree twice a year. The first time was in the spring. For this purpose, use the fertilizer “Nitroammofoska”. The second time the birch tree is fed is in the summer. Repeated application of fertilizing is carried out using a complex preparation.

Reproduction of dwarf birch

IN middle lane The dwarf birch tree lives well. Climatic conditions ideal, thanks to which the seeds have time to fully ripen. According to experts, it is necessary to sow the seed collected from the tundra baby either immediately after collection, or at the end of autumn, after the first frost. Ernik can also be propagated in a simpler and effective way- vegetative. To implement it you will need several branches cut from the bush.

Algorithm for cutting dwarf birch

1. We put the cut branches in a container with water and wait until planting material will send out roots.
2. After the roots appear, we plant small seedlings in open ground.

As you can see, everything is as simple as two and two. A representative of the tundra flora easily takes root in our latitudes and develops faster than in its frozen homeland.

Dwarf birch in garden design

Yornik in landscape design occurs infrequently. The reason is simple: not everyone knows how to work with it and what plants it should be combined with. Below we list just a few options for using tundra babies, each of which is beautiful in its own way.

Alpine slide. If you are a fan of alpine hills (or rockeries), if you strive to recreate not only the landscape, but also the vegetation of a mountain slope, be sure to include the “Dwarf Birch” item in your shopping list. Designers often make it one of the centers of such compositions. The foliage of the plant turns into an amazing background, which is colored green in summer and glows with the colors of withering in autumn.

Japanese kindergarten. A rocky garden, replete with large pebbles and cobblestones, will look even more beautiful if you plant one or more birch trees in it. In compositions of this kind, experts recommend combining it with heather.

Near a pond. If there is a small artificial reservoir on the site, for example, a pond or stream, a dwarf birch tree can imitate the miraculous nature of this landscape. It is worth supplementing the birch tree near an artificial pond with the following plants:

• bergenia;
• gentian;
• saxifrage.

Tundra corner. If there is a place on your personal plot that in the spring turns into a swamp due to flooding and on which you do not risk planting garden crops, use it with decorative purpose. For example, recreate a small tundra by decorating a flooded location with mosses, cranberries, birch and ferns dwarf varieties. Among such neighbors, a baby birch with its intricately curved shoots will look more than organic.

Another option for using birch tree in landscape design is creating a hedge. True, in this case the bush will need to be trimmed regularly so that it branches and thereby forms, albeit a low, but very dense living fence.