Content
Willow pear (lat. Pyrussalicifolia) belongs to plants of the genus Pear, family Rosaceae. It was first described in 1776 by the German naturalist Peter Semyon Pallas. The tree gives an average growth of up to 20 cm per year. It is used in furniture production, for decorating gardening areas, and also as a rootstock for cultivated varieties of pear.
Description
The willow pear is a deciduous, light-loving tree. The crown is splayed, spreading, broadly ovoid in shape. The diameter reaches 4 m. The branches tending downward and the sides are prickly. New shoots with white-tomentose drooping. The trunk is usually somewhat curved. The height of the tree is 10-12 m. The bark of young plants has a reddish tint, but over time it darkens and cracks appear on it. The root system is deep. Usually produces lateral shoots.
The leaf blade is dark green, light gray underneath and slightly drooping. Leaf length 6-8 cm, width 1 cm, narrow-lanceolate shape. The petiole is short. The foliage is collected in bunches along the edges of the shoots.
The flowers are small in size, 2-3 cm in diameter. Each has 5 white petals measuring 1x0.5 cm. Shield-shaped umbrella inflorescences consist of 7-8 flowers. The period of abundant flowering occurs in April-May.
The fruits are small, 2-3 cm in size.The shape is round and pear-shaped; during the period of technical maturity they are distinguished by a yellow-brown tint. The fruits ripen in September. The fruits of the willow pear are inedible.
The willow pear has a weeping shape called pendula. The branches of this variety are thin and drooping. The tree is attracted by its openwork foliage and early mass flowering. With the onset of autumn and until the first frost, it is strewn with small fruits. It looks unusual: pears grow on the willow. The plant retains its decorative properties for 35-40 years.
Spreading
In the wild, the tree grows in eastern Transcaucasia, the Caucasus, and Western Asia. Willow pear is also grown in Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, and Armenia. This species prefers rocky plains, mountain slopes and hills. Often the willow pear can be found in arid woodlands, juniper forests and shiblyaks. Protected in protected areas. Grows quietly in salty, dense, waterlogged soils. The only requirements of the tree are plenty of lighting and the absence of cold gusts of wind.
Use in landscape design
The willow pear is used for beautifying urban areas, parks, and public gardens. Suitable for adding decorative touches to home gardens. It looks impressive thanks to its voluminous, spherical shape. The photo above shows the white flowers of the willow pear along with long leaves - an original combination. In gardening art, a tree is used as a solitary tree or as an element of a landscape composition. Ornamental willow pear can be used for hedges or edge plantings. Looks great in tandem with coniferous crops.
Features of growing willow pear
The willow pear is a drought-resistant, frost-resistant tree that can grow in urban environments. Undemanding to the landing site. However, it prefers moderately moist soils; the composition does not matter. Acidity level – neutral or alkaline.
Planting is carried out in autumn or spring. Seedlings are taken one or two years old. The recess is made with dimensions of 0.8x1 m. A fertile mixture of compost, sand and mineral fertilizers is poured onto the bottom. After the procedure is completed, the seedling is watered abundantly and the tree trunk circle is mulched.
In the future, the willow pear needs regular care.
- Watering is carried out 4-5 times per season. The volume of water for an adult tree is 30-40 liters.
- Feed the willow pear once every 3 years. However, if the soil is severely depleted, annual replenishment will be required. Fertilizer rate per 1 sq. m.: 20 g superphosphate, 20 g urea, 6-8 kg compost, 25 g potassium sulfate.
- The crown of an ornamental plant is formed naturally. In spring and autumn, mandatory sanitary pruning is carried out. Remove dry, broken, damaged branches.
- Obtaining unusual and interesting tree shapes is achieved by crown formation. To do this, you need trellises with wooden gratings stretched in several rows. If you direct the central branches along an arched support, you will get an arch of trees.
- The willow pear can tolerate frosts down to -23 °C. Belongs to climate zone 5. Gardeners recommend covering trunks and skeletal branches with paper or other heat-retaining material for the winter. To protect the roots from freezing, the circle around the trunk is mulched with peat or hay. A layer 15-20 cm thick is required.
- The willow pear propagates by seeds and layering. The cuttings take root poorly.
Diseases and pests
The willow pear is, in its advantage, a wild-growing plant, therefore it practically does not suffer from ailments and pests. For preventive purposes, the tree is regularly treated with solutions of insecticides and fungicides. Common diseases of ornamental trees include:
- Bacterial burn. Manifests itself in blackening of branches, flowers, and fruits. The first signs can be seen in spring, when the flowers turn brown. This disease is activated by the bacterium Erwiniaamylovora. Treat bacterial burns with copper-containing preparations with mandatory removal of the affected areas.
- Brown spot. Appears as red spots on the surface of young leaves. Afterwards, the lesions darken, occupying the entire leaf area. The disease is caused by the fungus Entomosporium. The disease can be treated with fungicides. Fundazol and Topaz cope well with it.
- Leaf curl It is rare in the willow pear, but it does happen. Young foliage thickens, becomes deformed, turns red-yellow in color and falls off. The fight against the disease consists of treating the loosestrife pear with copper and iron sulfate until the leaves appear.
Conclusion
The willow pear is ideal for giving the garden a decorative look. Landscape designers use wood to create arched compositions. The plant blooms profusely and looks beautiful from spring to late autumn.
