Content
Bird cherry is a wild plant that is widespread in North America and western Europe. In Russia it grows in forest and park areas in almost all climate zones. Currently, several decorative subspecies have been developed that have found application in landscape design.
History of variety selection
Bird cherry (carpal), Latin name - Padusavium, Prunuspadus, grows in its natural habitat almost throughout the entire territory of Eurasia. In Russia, this crop is often found in the form of wild seedlings. Bird cherry easily crosses with other species. As a result, decorative varieties are obtained.
Scientists have been breeding decorative varieties in the USSR since 1972. They were obtained by crossing wild bird cherry with other species growing in nature. Nowadays, more than 20 decorative varieties have been obtained.9 new species were bred at the Lisavenko Research Institute of Horticulture in Siberia: Olgina joy, Early round, Black shine and others. The authors of the varieties were botanists M. N. Salamatov and V. S. Simagin. A variety of bird cherry, vatereri - Sakhalin black, was included in the State Register in 1995.
Description of the variety
Bird cherry is a tall tree (shrub). Its height reaches 10-15 m. The diameter of the crown of the common bird cherry can be 10 meters or more. The crop grows in forest and forest-steppe zones with a temperate climate.
The leaves of bird cherry are simple, narrow, oblong, toothed, dense and smooth. Their length does not exceed 10 cm, rarely - 15 cm, width - 1.5-2 cm. They are attached to wide, dense petioles 1.5 cm long.
The flowers are small, collected in numerous inflorescences up to 18 cm long. The petals are round, white or pink. During the flowering period, bird cherry emits a strong aroma.
The fruits are black, small, spherical, smooth, glossy. Their diameter does not exceed 10 mm. The taste is sweet, tart, astringent. The bone is small, oblong. The green flesh oxidizes and turns black.
In Russia, the crop is recommended to be grown in the European part of the country, in Siberia, and the Far East.
Varieties of bird cherry
Among the variety of varieties of bird cherry, several of the most popular, decorative, frost-resistant varieties can be distinguished:
- Siberian beauty – a red-leaved, decorative variety obtained by crossing the common bird cherry and the Virginia (Schubert) bird cherry. This is a tall, erect shrub, growing up to 5 m in length. The crown is wide, dense, shaped like a pyramid.In early spring the foliage is green, by mid-June the surface of the leaf becomes purple, the lower part is dark purple. The leaves do not fall until late autumn. The fruits of the tree of this variety are burgundy, quite large, with high taste.
- Variety Captivity was known in Russia even before the 19th century. Belongs to the bird cherry family. It is distinguished by beautiful large velvet flowers reminiscent of roses. Their flowering period is longer than that of other species, but the inflorescences are not as lush.
- Variety Sakhalin black obtained from pollination of bird cherry prunuspadus with wild representatives of the species. It is a tall shrub (tree) growing up to 7 m in height. This is a crop with thick, velvety, large dark green foliage. The flowers are small, white, collected in brushes of 30-35 pieces. The fruits are juicy, tart, sweet and sour.
Characteristics of bird cherry
This is one of the first crops that pleases with its flowering in the spring. This tree is not afraid of May night frosts and sudden temperature changes.
The photo shows how luxuriantly the bird cherry blossoms in early spring in the southern regions of the country.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Bird cherry is not demanding on soil moisture and easily tolerates periodic drought and spring flooding. First year seedlings need watering. Adult plants are watered only if the summer is very dry.
The winter hardiness of common bird cherry is high; it easily tolerates temperature changes. Thanks to this, it is recommended for cultivation in Siberia and the Far East. Calmly tolerates frosts down to -30 ᵒС.
Productivity and fruiting
Bird cherry (carpal, bird cherry), subfamily Spiraea, begins to bear fruit in mid-summer - in July. The first berries appear 5 years after planting. The fruits have a sweet and sour, at the same time tart taste. Their size does not exceed 0.5 mm, the surface is smooth, glossy, the skin is black. For abundant fruiting, good illumination of the area is necessary. Depending on the size of the tree, you can collect from 20 to 30 kg of fruit over the summer.
Bird cherry grows well in sunny, well-lit areas, is not afraid of direct sunlight, and is not prone to baking and shedding of fruits in the sun.
Area of application of fruits
The fruits can be eaten raw, or you can make jams, preserves, compotes, and jelly from them. The fruits and flowers of the plant are used to prepare alcoholic beverages. The juice of bird cherry berries is used as a food coloring for drinks and confectionery. In Siberia, dried bird cherry berries are ground and used as an additive to flour. Bread with the addition of dried fruits has an almond flavor.
The fruits of the bird cherry are quite fragile and juicy; it is not possible to transport them. Berries can only be stored dry or candied.
Resistance to pests and diseases
Bird cherry is a plant resistant to pests and diseases, but requires preventive treatment 2 times a year. In the shade, in areas with waterlogged soils, fungal infections can develop.
Under unfavorable growing conditions, the crop can be affected by diseases:
- powdery mildew;
- red spot;
- cercospora;
- cytosporosis;
- rust;
- wood rot.
If affected by fungi, yellowed leaves with spots are removed, and the crown is sprayed with fungicides.
Bird cherry leaves can be eaten by caterpillars, beetles, bird cherry moths, and sawflies. Pests are controlled by spraying the tree three times with karbofos.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
With all its advantages, bird cherry has virtually no disadvantages. If you provide the plant with access to light and sunlight, there will be no problems with its cultivation.
Advantages of culture:
- high decorative qualities;
- pleasant aroma of flowers;
- unpretentiousness;
- resistance to frost and drought;
- good fruit taste.
Disadvantages include instability to fungal diseases. Bird cherry can get sick if the tree is planted in the shade and not regularly pruned.
Planting and caring for bird cherry
The crop grows well on moist soils with close groundwater, and the plant must be provided with good drainage. The tree grows well on sandy, clay, alkaline soils. Bird cherry has become widespread in almost all climatic zones of Russia.
Most bird cherry varieties are cross-pollinators, so it is recommended to plant several plants side by side at a distance of 5-6 m from each other. Planting is carried out in early spring, before the buds hatch, or in the fall, after the leaves have fallen.
Choose a place for planting that is well lit by the sun, but the young plant can grow in partial shade.
Before planting, it is necessary to add organic fertilizers to the soil: humus, compost, manure (at least 10 kg per 1 planting hole). A hole for planting is dug 40 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter.
The seedling can be purchased at the nursery.It should be a low tree, at least 1.5 m in length, with a well-developed root system. The bark should be even and smooth without damage.
The seedling is placed in the prepared hole, the roots are straightened and covered with soil, and trampled down. After rooting, the tree is watered abundantly, and the tree trunk is mulched with sawdust or peat.
Aftercare
After planting, the soil under the seedling is regularly moistened for a month. It’s bad if the water is near the trunk; the ground should be evenly and moderately moist. After a month, it is recommended to water the bird cherry only during drought. After watering, the soil must be mulched.
Several times a year it is necessary to loosen and dig up the soil under the tree. It is important to apply organic and mineral fertilizers at the root of the plant twice a year, before flowering and after the leaves fall.
Pruning is a mandatory procedure for caring for a bird cherry tree. Pruning is carried out in autumn and early spring. Remove old, dried, damaged shoots. In addition to hygienic pruning, they also carry out shaping. The crown of the bird cherry is formed in the form of a pyramid or ball.
In late autumn, the tree trunk should be protected from rodents. It is wrapped in roofing felt, cellophane, or any other covering material, and tied with a rope. Bird cherry does not need protection from frost; it should not be covered for the winter. If the temperature is lower - 20 ᵒC, you can throw more snow around the trunk and rhizome.
Diseases and pests
Bird cherry is susceptible to fungal diseases of garden crops if it grows in the shade. To prevent cercospora blight, cytospora blight, and rust, it is necessary to regularly trim the crown and prevent stagnation of water in the tree trunk circle.If bird cherry leaves are affected by spotting or powdery mildew, spray with copper oxychloride or Bordeaux mixture (1%). Affected leaves are removed and burned.
The crown of the bird cherry tree can harbor moths, silkworms, aphids, and weevils. For preventive purposes, spraying with insecticides is carried out in early spring, in the summer before the ovaries appear, and in the fall after harvesting the fruits.
Conclusion
Bird cherry is a wild plant that has become a regular in home gardens, alleys, and park areas. Its heady aroma during the flowering period fills the warm spring air with sweetness. Culture performs not only decorative functions. Its fruits have long been used in cooking and folk medicine.
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