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Red-leaved bird cherry is increasingly used by landscape designers when creating contrasting compositions. A bright purple accent in the form of a fast-growing pyramidal tree is ideal for many garden plots.
Description of red-leaved bird cherry
Bird cherry with red leaves is an ornamental crop that is loved by many gardeners both in Russia and abroad. The tree is characterized by high growth rates; on average, the annual growth in height is about 1 m. Adult specimens reach 5-7 m. The crown of the red-leaved bird cherry has a pyramidal shape, but is easily amenable to decorative pruning.
Redleaf cherry is often called the "chameleon tree" due to the unique feature of its leaves changing color throughout the summer season. In spring, green leaves bloom on the branches, no different in color from the rest of the trees in the garden.But at the end of June the picture changes - the crown of the red-leaved bird cherry takes on a dark burgundy or wine hue. The metamorphosis does not end there - new growths form green foliage. Thus, the tree takes on an even more decorative appearance.
During the flowering period, red-leaved bird cherry dominates the garden composition. Large (up to 15 cm), numerous inflorescences of snow-white or pinkish color with a tart, intoxicating aroma involuntarily attract attention.
The berries of red-leaved bird cherry are almost 2 times larger than ordinary ones, they have a sweet taste, and are practically not astringent. The berries are easily separated from the branches without releasing juice and do not get your hands dirty.
Bird cherry is the most winter-hardy of all stone fruit trees. Its wood can easily withstand temperatures down to -50°C. The overwhelming number of varieties of red-leaved bird cherry can be grown in the conditions of central Russia, as well as in Siberia and the Urals. The most vulnerable time for red-leaved bird cherry is the period of loose buds and flowering. Frosts can damage the ovaries, which will significantly reduce the yield.
Red-leaved bird cherry is a cross-pollinated crop; it requires the participation of insects and favorable weather conditions to set fruit. When choosing a variety of red-leaved bird cherry, you need to pay attention to the flowering time: the further north the growing region is, the later the bird cherry should bloom.
Red-leaved bird cherry begins to bear fruit at the age of 3; an adult tree (7-8 years old) can produce a harvest of 20-40 kg per season, if spring and summer were rainy and cool - up to 12 kg.
Red-leaved bird cherry is unpretentious and can grow even on depleted dry soils.Its root system is resistant to close groundwater. The crop tolerates frost well, the foliage is not susceptible to sunburn.
Description of bird cherry Siberian beauty
The red-leaved bird cherry variety Siberian Beauty was obtained by Russian breeders from the National Research University Central Siberian Botanical Garden by crossing the common bird cherry and the Virginia variety Schubert. Included in the State Register in 2009, recommended for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation.
The plant has a dense pyramidal crown and grows up to 4-5 m in height. The color of young leaves is soft green, but with age the upper part of the leaf blade acquires a dark purple hue, while the lower part acquires a light purple hue.
During the flowering period, which occurs in May, the tree is strewn with white inflorescences-tassels, emitting a strong and sweet aroma. During ripening, green drupes change color to red, and subsequently to black. The taste of the berries is pleasant, low-tart, sweet. The average berry weight is 0.7 g, yield indicators are average.
The Siberian Beauty bird cherry variety prefers sunny areas, is undemanding to soil composition and has very high winter hardiness. The variety is used both in single and group compositions.
Description of Bird Cherry Tent
Red-leaved bird cherry variety Red tent is one of the decorative varieties. The tree does not exceed 4 m in height and width, the crown is formed in the shape of a wide ellipse or egg, the density is average.The branches are bare, brown in color with numerous white lenticels, located at 90° to the main trunk, their tips point upward. The bark is gray with a brownish tint; slight peeling can be seen on the trunk. The leaf blades are oval-shaped with a pointed end; at the beginning of the growing season they are green, but by July they acquire a reddish-purple hue.
Red-leaved bird cherry variety Red Tent blooms in May with large white fragrant clusters. Ripe berries are black, with a characteristic glossy shine, and quite tasty. In terms of ripening time, the variety is classified as medium-late; with sufficient pollination, it can be planted as a food variety.
Bird cherry Red Tent, according to the description of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "State Varietal Commission", tolerates frost and prolonged heat well, but needs regular watering during periods of drought. The hardiness gene implanted by breeders allows the variety to resist attacks from harmful insects and not be susceptible to the main diseases of stone fruit trees.
The Red Tent variety was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2009 and is recommended for cultivation in all regions of the country. The authors of the variety were Russian scientists T. B. Ustyuzhanina and V. S. Simagin, the originator is the Central Siberian Botanical Garden of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Bird cherry unkilled
The variety of red-leaved bird cherry Neukibennaya is a tall shrub or tree up to 7 m high. The branches are dark brown, the foliage is dense. The crown has an oval shape, formed by erect large shoots. It blooms in May with white fragrant inflorescences in the shape of brushes. By mid-July, the leaves begin to turn red and after 2 weeks acquire a deep inky-plum hue. Even numerous photos of the Unkilled bird cherry cannot convey this rich, noble color.This variety of red-leaved bird cherry is characterized by good frost resistance and is rarely affected by diseases and pests.
Bird cherry Chemal beauty
The variety was bred in the mountainous regions of Altai, in the NIISS (village of Chemal). The tree is vigorous (4-10 m), characterized by a purplish tint of leaves. It blooms in May with soft pink inflorescences, abundantly, but not for long. The ripe fruits are black, weighing up to 0.8 g. According to gardeners, the Chemal beauty bird cherry has a rich dessert taste. The variety plant grows well on fertile soil with excess or flowing moisture. In early spring, before buds open, it needs to be treated against pests and possible diseases.
Varietal characteristics
The characteristics of red-leaved bird cherry varieties are largely similar. The most important parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing a variety are:
- frost resistance;
- yield and fruiting time;
- precociousness;
- self-fertility;
- resistance to pests and diseases.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Red-leaved bird cherry is characterized by increased winter hardiness. It can be successfully grown even in regions where the temperature in the winter months drops below 45-50°C. Only fragile seedlings need shelter. During periods of prolonged drought, bird cherry requires additional watering every 7-10 days. In normal times, it is enough to water 3-4 times per season in the first year.
Productivity and fruiting
Red-leaved bird cherry berries ripen in July and can remain on the clusters until autumn. One tree, depending on the variety, can produce an average of 10-20 kg of berries. The fruits bake little in the sun; this only happens in very hot, dry summers. Unlike ordinary bird cherry, the berries of red-leaved varieties are larger and sweeter, without viscosity or sourness. They are used in cooking in the preparation of compotes, jams, and various tinctures.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Red leaf bird cherry can suffer from diseases such as:
- moniliosis;
- Clusterosporiosis;
- cytosporosis;
- red spot.
Among the pests on red-leaved bird cherry you can most often find aphids, bugs, hawthorn, and weevils.
The degree of susceptibility to a particular disease depends on the specific variety and agricultural technology. Weak and depleted plants are affected by pests many times more often than strong and healthy ones.
Advantages and disadvantages of varieties
Each variety has its own pros and cons. One variety was bred with an emphasis on frost resistance, another on productivity, and a third on high decorative qualities.
Variety | Advantages | Flaws |
Siberian beauty | High frost resistance, undemanding to soil, highly decorative, delicious sweet berries | The variety requires regular pruning, the yield is average; with the seed propagation method, varietal characteristics appear in only half of the seedlings |
Red tent | Excellent taste of berries, high decorative value, high immunity to most diseases and pests | Low flowering intensity, average resistance to heat and drought |
Unkilled | Good frost resistance, high immunity to disease, decorative | The variety requires regular pruning |
Chemal beauty | Highly decorative, large berries with dessert taste | The need to regularly treat pests |
Planting and caring for red-leaved bird cherry
Red-leaved bird cherry is a picky crop and can grow on any soil, however, peak decorativeness and high yield can only be achieved on fertile soils. The tree grows well on loam with a neutral or slightly acidic pH.
The planting site should be sunny, well lit from all sides. If the crop grows in the shade, flowering and fruiting will be poor. The northern and western sides of the summer cottage are preferable.
Red-leaved bird cherry is planted in spring or autumn. Before planting, the roots of the seedlings are inspected and weak and damaged ones are removed. Among all the stems, the 3 most powerful ones are left, they are cut to a height of 70 cm.
The landing algorithm is quite simple:
- Dig a hole 50 cm deep and 70 cm wide.
- A small amount of mineral and organic fertilizers is placed at the bottom.
- The seedling is placed in the hole, the roots are straightened and covered with soil.
- After planting, red-leaved bird cherry is watered abundantly and mulched with peat or sawdust.
Aftercare
During the dry season, red-leaved bird cherry needs to be watered weekly, especially for young plants. The surrounding circle is periodically loosened, removing weeds. It is better to tie seedlings with a thin main trunk to a support, which will prevent them from breaking off due to strong gusts of wind.In the fall, wood ash and manure are added to the soil; in the spring, before the buds open, the bird cherry is fed with liquid mineral fertilizer.
Due to the rapid growth rate, all varieties of red-leaved bird cherry require formative pruning. Once a year (in early spring before the start of sap flow or late autumn), the main shoot is shortened by 50 cm, branches growing inside the crown, as well as dry and damaged fragments are removed. The cut areas are treated with garden varnish.
To protect against rodents, sawdust, peat or ash soaked in creolin are scattered under the tree. For the same purpose, in late autumn, after the end of leaf fall, the trunk is tied with spruce branches, wormwood or reeds. It is equally effective to wrap the base of the tree with roofing felt, matting or metal mesh.
Red-leaved bird cherry is a frost-resistant crop that does not require shelter for the winter. Only in the first year after planting is it advisable to cover the circle around the trunk with a layer of humus or cow manure; it will prevent the roots from freezing.
Application in landscape design
Red-leaved bird cherry is suitable for both single and group plantings. It can be placed in any corner of the garden. In places for a quiet, secluded pastime, where you can sit under a spreading crown, sheltered from the scorching sun. Bird cherry bushes and trees will perfectly camouflage an unsightly building or a sagging fence.
Red-leaved bird cherry is often used to decorate forest islands, planted in the undergrowth or near water. Many varieties of bird cherry are an integral part of the Russian-style garden, where the culture is combined with plants such as:
- birch;
- Rowan;
- irga;
- viburnum;
- rose hip;
- mock orange;
- lilac;
- fruit trees and shrubs.
Red-leaved bird cherry is suitable for decorating alleys and as a hedge; its trunks, exposed with age, are covered with a layer of decorative deciduous shrubs.
Diseases and pests
Many gardeners describe redleaf cherry as a magnet for caterpillars, aphids and other common pests. However, preventive control measures, manual collection of unwanted insects and the use of modern pesticides can easily solve this problem.
Red-leaved bird cherry is affected by a special type of aphid that does not migrate to other plants. The spring generation of bird cherry aphids appears during bud break and is located on the tops of shoots, in the lower parts of leaves and on flower clusters. In May, the tree is attacked by winged females; throughout the entire summer season, massive colonies of 7-8 generations are formed. If the damage is generalized, trees should be immediately treated with folk remedies against aphids or insecticides (Iskra, Fitoverm, Aktara, Intavir).
Edible varieties of red-leaved bird cherry are often inhabited by bugs. They feed on plant juices and primarily infect young ovaries, which subsequently do not reach the required size, do not have a good taste, and often simply fall off. If the plantings are not thickened and are located in a sunny area, there is no need to worry about bedbugs.
The bird cherry weevil is a frequent visitor to the tree. An adult female lays an egg in each berry, and a larva begins to develop inside the fruit and eat the seed.As a result, the fruits do not ripen, often crumble, and the remaining berries on the bunch will be small and sour. As a preventive measure, the circle around the trunk is dug up in spring and autumn to a depth of 10-15 cm; contact pesticides are used for control.
More often than others, the red-leaved bird cherry is attacked by the hawthorn butterfly. In mid-June, adults lay numerous eggs on the leaves, from which voracious caterpillars quickly hatch. For preventive purposes, 2 weeks before flowering, bird cherry is sprayed with insecticides.
The most common fungal disease that affects red-leaved bird cherry is fruit rot (moniliosis). Young shoots, flower clusters and ovaries quickly wilt and dry out. For control, use a solution of Bordeaux mixture, the preparations “Horus” and “Mikosan-B” or other fungicides containing copper.
Conclusion
Red-leaved bird cherry will not only be a bright accent in the garden, but also a source of tasty and healthy berries. Thanks to its unpretentiousness, decorativeness and high frost resistance, this crop is becoming more popular year after year.
