Coniferous trees of the Sochi arboretum. Sochi Arboretum: history, plants, photographs, observation deck. How the plans of geniuses become reality

The Arboretum is one of the main attractions of Sochi and its business card. It is home to about 2,000 exotic and rare plants brought from different parts of the world, and contains a unique collection of subtropical flora and fauna. In addition to diverse vegetation, rare animals and birds can be seen on the territory of the arboretum.

The first time I came to this arboretum was 10 years ago, but then it seemed too crowded and somehow faded and faded. It is not surprising, it was the peak season of August, the heat was terrible. And he made a completely different impression in October, my last.

Unfortunately, I did not calculate the time and arrived a couple of hours before dark. Still, if you want to go around as much as possible, or take a quiet walk, then it makes sense to budget 3 hours, after all, the arboretum is large. So I ran straight from the ticket office to the cable car (the ticket office is at the entrance to the park, and the cable car stop is a 5-minute walk away), trying to catch the last departure of the cable car.

By the way, the option of visiting the arboretum, starting with the cable car, is very convenient, since the park is located on the slope of a mountain. You go up the cable car, admire the views of Sochi from the observation deck, and then walk down through the arboretum to the starting point. In general, I recommend doing just that.

The cable car does not take you to the observation deck itself, but several floors below. Considering that there are no signs, and almost everyone, having left the trailer, rushed straight down, it seems that not everyone knows that you can go up a couple of floors, from where you will have views of Sochi and, in fact, the arboretum itself.

Impressions from the arboretum in Sochi

As you already understand, I liked it. In general, I love such corners of nature in cities - public gardens, forest parks, arboretums. Especially when it’s not just a park, but one that’s landscaped, with stairs, strange plants, fountains, and so on. Of course, sometimes you want to go for a walk in the forest to be away from civilization, but the Sochi Arboretum represents a certain balance; you forget about the city here, especially if you wander into the far part of the park.

I would especially like to mention the “Japanese Garden”. The metasequoias with their orange needles on the lush green grass amazed me, very beautiful. It happens that I see some small corners of nature, albeit man-made, that I would like to implement in my own home. They look so organic... I want to stop here, relax, sit and think about life, or just relax. If you are prone to such sentiments, then budget more time for your visit, otherwise you will have to run around, like me.

Ticket price to the arboretum: 250 rubles per adult, 120 rubles per child 7-12 years old, under 7 years old free.
Cost of the cable car one way: 200 rubles per adult, 100 rubles per child 7-12 years old, under 7 years old free.
Cable car one way + arboretum: 450 rubles per adult and 220 per child 7-12 years old, under 7 years old free.
Excursion to the arboretum: 100 rubles per person.
Monthly subscription: 2500 rub.
The arboretum ticket is valid for both parts of the park.

Arboretum opening hours: from 8 to 21 in summer, from 9 to 17 in winter. They vary depending on the time of year, open all year round without breaks or weekends.
The cable car operates from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How to get there

By car you need to get to the intersection of Jan Fabricius Street and Kurortny Prospekt; it’s more convenient if you’re coming from the Adler side. You can leave your car in the parking lot before reaching Jan Fabricius. Go to Fabricius and there you can choose for yourself where to enter: the upper or lower garden.

There are three types of public transport here. Buses to the “Circus” stop: 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 22,23, 50, 86, 88, 103, 105, 105c, 120, 121, 125p, 125c. Minibuses to the same stop: 19, 37, 38, 41, 43, 45, 48, 83, 87, 94, 95, 98 and 113. There are also two landing points for the funicular “Arboretum Bottom” and “Dendrarium Top” for a panoramic flying over the Arboretum.

Arboretum map (clickable)

Description of plants

Main route

The main entrance of the arboretum is designed in the form of a semicircular rotunda. We climb the stairs, on both sides of which large oleander bushes (1) - Nerium oleander L.Kutrov family - Apocynaceae.

Its homeland is the Mediterranean region of Southern Europe and North Africa.

Oleander is a beautiful ornamental shrub up to 7 meters in height, with evergreen foliage, widely cultivated in Sochi and its environs to decorate parks, streets, and highways. Oleander is especially decorative during flowering, which lasts from June to September and even in October. The station in the park and in its nurseries has a rich collection of oleander. Here are collected forms with different colors, with simple and double flowers, with flowers that have no aroma and have a delicate, pleasant smell. The best forms recommended for decorating resort parks.

In addition to its decorative value, oleander also has medicinal value: the glucoside neriolin is obtained from the leaves and bark of oleander, which is used to treat certain heart diseases. However, the leaves and flowers of plants contain a number of toxic glucosides that can cause poisoning.

Oleander can withstand short-term frosts down to -9, -10°, but during unexpected cold snaps in November and December it sometimes receives severe damage at -7°, but after frost it easily and quickly recovers.

Having climbed the stairs to the first landing with a round flowerbed, in the center of which there is a beautiful marble column with a vase, we see a slender coniferous tree on the right side in front of us - Italian pine (2) - Pinus pinea L.Pine family - Pinaceae.

This tree with a beautiful umbrella crown comes from Southern Europe and Asia Minor, where it grows up to 25 meters in height.

Italian pine wood is used as construction material. Large pine cones contain a large number of seeds, the core of which is eaten. In terms of taste and nutritional value, the kernel of Italian pine seeds is superior to the kernel of Siberian cedar pine, the so-called Siberian cedar - Pinus sibirica Mayr.

In Sochi, Italian pine has completely acclimatized, and it can be grown on the coast all the way to Gelendzhik.

Climbing higher along the path, let’s pay attention to 31 small trees with bluish-grayish leaves growing in the central part of the curtain. This Ash eucalyptus (3) - Eucalyptus cinerea F. Muell.Myrtle family - Myrtaceae.

Eucalyptus ash belongs to the extensive genus of eucalyptus, which has more than 500 species. His homeland is Australia. Eucalyptus is one of the fastest growing species.

In the conditions of the Soviet subtropics, certain types of eucalyptus reach a height of 25-27 meters in 12-13 years with a trunk diameter of more than half a meter. Seedlings of these types of eucalyptus grow to 7-8 meters in height in three years.

Eucalyptus wood is strong, resistant to decay and has a wide variety of uses. The leaves give it essential oil, which is used in technology, perfumery and medicine. In humid air, leaves release a large amount of aromatic substances and improve its health. Eucalyptus is decorative and is used for landscaping cities and highways.

Unfortunately, eucalyptus trees are not frost-resistant, and temperature drops to -8, -10° cause severe damage to the branches and even the entire above-ground part of the tree. However, after frost they quickly regenerate with shoots.

Soviet scientists are working to increase the frost resistance of this valuable tree. The station has developed agricultural instructions for growing eucalyptus trees in open ground from the moment of sowing. The proposed agricultural practices not only significantly reduce the cost of planting material and planting work, but also, more importantly, increase the viability of eucalyptus trees.

Continuing the tour, we rise higher towards the gazebo with columns, in front of which the group is disembarked rhododendron indica, or Indian azalea (4) - Rhododendron indicum Sweet.Ericaceae family - Ericaceae.

Indian rhododendron is an evergreen or semi-evergreen low shrub, which is valued for its early spring long and very abundant flowering. The main species has red flowers, while garden hybrids have a wide variety of colors and shades. Requires acidic soil and light shade for successful growth. In parks Black Sea coast widely used for landscaping. Grows well in pots. The homeland of Indian rhododendron is Japan, where it grows in the undergrowth of mixed forests.

After examining the rhododendrons, we go out to the area in front of the gazebo. Let's walk past the lion sculpture and pay attention to a small tree with a spherical crown growing on the left side. This laurel (5) - Laurus nobilis L. Laurel family - Lauraceae.

The homeland of the noble laurel is the Mediterranean. In Transcaucasia, wild laurel grows in the foothills up to 300 meters above sea level. This evergreen tree, up to 10-12 meters in height, provides valuable raw materials for the culinary and canning industries ( Bay leaf). It blooms in April with whitish-yellow fragrant flowers. The fruit is a blue-black drupe. Fatty oil is extracted from the fruits and is used in medicine and perfumery. The wood is hard, elastic, with a pleasant smell, used for various turning products.

IN pre-revolutionary Russia almost all natural laurel thickets were destroyed, and bay leaves were brought to us from abroad. During the years of Soviet power, extensive work was carried out to restore natural laurel thickets and create industrial plantations. Large industrial plantations are being created in last years. If until recently there were only a few tens of hectares of laurel in the vicinity of Sochi, then already in 1961 the area of ​​plantations increased to 450 hectares. By 1965 in Krasnodar region It is planned to create more than 1000 hectares of laurel plantations.

Laurel laurel is widely used in green building as a border plant, as well as for groups and edges. In the north it is successfully used as a good tub crop.

Sochi NILOS has developed techniques vegetative propagation laurel that have great importance for creating mother seed plantations.

Let's go into the gazebo and examine the beautiful vine climbing through the gazebo - wisteria, or Chinese wisteria (6) - Wisteria sinensis Sweet.Legume family - Leguminosae.

Wisteria is one of the most beautiful vines in China. Its powerful stems, wrapping around supports, grow up to 20 meters or more in length, forming dense weaves resembling a ball giant snakes. Wisteria is especially beautiful during flowering - in April and May, when its large inflorescences up to 30-40 centimeters long hang in a continuous carpet.

Wisteria is not picky about soil and tolerates the climate of southern Ukraine well, which makes it valuable plant for landscaping the southern cities of the Soviet Union.

In Japan, young leaves, flowers and grains of wisteria are eaten. Fabrics are made from the fiber of the stems, and young shoots are used to weave baskets.

A little higher than the wisteria on clump 35 grow small trees of valuable coniferous trees - yew berry (7) - Taxus baccata L.Yew family - Taxaceae.

It is one of the valuable local tree species that is famous for its wood having a reddish color, which is why the tree is sometimes called Caucasian mahogany. Yew branches and needles are poisonous. However, the seeds covered with a fleshy appendix are harmless. Yew trees are very durable and live up to 4000 years, reaching 20 meters in height and 1 meter in diameter. The wood has high qualities and is currently used for cladding expensive furniture and other valuable crafts.

After resting in the gazebo, we go out to the area with a drinking fountain. From here we continue our path along the path between curtains 37 and 34. Let's walk a few steps along the path and get acquainted with a beautiful palm tree on curtain 37 - Date Canary (8) - Phoenix canariensis Hort.Palm family - Palmae.

The birthplace of the palm tree, as the name itself says, is Canary Islands, where it reaches 15 meters in height. The fruits of the Canarian date have no nutritional value, although they are similar to the fruits of another type of date palm - date palmate - Phoenix dactyfera L., which produces a well-known market product - dates.

IN southern cities In our Motherland, palm trees are widely used for decorative decoration of streets, parks, squares and other places. In the north, palm trees are grown in tubs.

In terms of decorative value, the Canary date is one of the first places among palm trees grown on the Black Sea coast.

Most palm species are plants of tropical and warm subtropical regions globe. Palm trees are highly decorative plants, giving their slender trunks and powerful crown of fan-shaped or feathery leaves a specific landscape to the southern countries.

In their homeland, many of the palm trees are of great economic importance as fruit and industrial plants. An example is the coconut tree. Its trunks are used for buildings, its leaves serve as roofing material and are used to make ropes, and its fruits are a valuable nutritious product.

On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, 23 species of palm trees grow in open ground. Despite the fact that our park is the northernmost dendrological park on the Caucasus coast, 11 species of palm trees are grown here. To protect from winter frosts, palm trees are carefully covered in December.

We will get acquainted with other most interesting types of palm trees along the route.

Behind the Canary date, a slanted growing coniferous tree attracts attention - Cryptomeria japonica eleganta (9) - Cryptomeria japonica f. elegans Mast.Family Taxodiaceae - Taxodiaceae.

Her homeland is Japan. Cryptomeria japonica eleganta is one of the decoratively interesting forms of the main species of this tree. The plant is especially impressive in the fall, when its delicate needles acquire a reddish-brick color. All plants of this form are inclined in most cases towards the sea.

Cryptomeria japonica has a number of other forms.

On curtain 34 there grows a small tree with serpentine shoots - this is Cryptomeria japonica araucariaides.

The main species, although less beautiful, is a valuable species that produces a large amount of wood. Large trees of the main species grow in the lower part of the park on curtains 11 and 16.

Let's walk a little along the path and pay attention to two small trees growing on curtain 34 goveniya sweet, or candy tree (10),- Hovenia dulcis Thunb. Buckthorn family - Rham naceae.

Govenia is a beautiful deciduous tree, up to 15 meters in height, native to China. Its small fragrant flowers give a good bribe to the bees. In October - November, fruits ripen, resembling balls about 0.5 centimeters in size, which are located on fleshy stalks. The stalks contain more than 20 percent sugar and are quite pleasant to the taste.

Govenium wood is used in furniture production.

Climbing higher along the path, on curtain 34 we will examine hybrid catalpa (11) - Catalpa hybrida Spaeth.Bignoaceae family - Bignoniaceae.

Catalpas are beautiful parks and forest trees, characterized by very rapid growth at a young age.

The homeland of catalpas is North America and East Asia. A number of hybrids are known in culture, which includes this specimen with large, beautiful purple falling leaves. Catalpa is most spectacular during flowering, when the entire tree is covered with large inflorescences of whitish flowers.

Catalpa wood is very light, with beautiful design grayish-brown in color. Catalpas are quite widely used in coastal parks and forests as decorative species for creating groups and alleys. They are easily propagated by seeds, require fertile soil for successful development, are quite frost-resistant and are successfully grown in the south of Ukraine, Kuban, and in a number of other southern regions of the USSR.

After examining the catalpa, we turn left along the path. Here on the right side on curtain 46 we will get acquainted with European scarlet (12) - Cercis siliquastrum L.Legume family - Leguminosae.

Its homeland is Southern Europe and Western Asia. Purple blossoms bloom in early spring and very profusely. During the flowering period, its branches are covered with clusters of small pink, red or lilac flowers. An interesting feature of the scarlet plant is its ability to form flowers and then fruits on branches and even trunks. Crimson is drought-resistant and can grow on dry, rocky and calcareous soils. Widely distributed in Crimea, where at the time of flowering it creates bright colorful spots. The scarlet plant grows up to 8-10 meters in height and 30 centimeters or more in diameter.

Continuing the tour, we approach several Standish honeysuckle bushes (13) - Lonicera Standishii Carr. Honeysuckle family - Caprifoliaceae.

The homeland of Standish's honeysuckle is Western China, where it forms spreading bushes up to 3 meters in height. As an ornamental shrub, honeysuckle is valued for its winter flowering. In Sochi it blooms from December to March. The flowers have a strong, pleasant aroma.

Several evergreen trees grow next to the honeysuckle eriobothrya, or Japanese medlar (14) - Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.Rosaceae family - Rosaceae.

This is an excellent frost-resistant ornamental and fruit tree of the subtropics, native to Central China. The sour-sweet juicy fruits of Eriobothria ripen in May or early June, that is, at a time of year when there is still very little fruit. The fruits are rich in vitamins and iron salts.

Large seeds are used to prepare a coffee surrogate and to make liqueur with the taste of bitter almonds. Unfortunately, the fruits do not tolerate long-term storage and transportation. They are used fresh and in the canning industry to prepare refreshing sweet and sour compotes.

On the other side of the path, on curtain 37, we will examine a low bush with small leaves. This Erica Pink (15) - Erica carnea L.Ericaceae family - Ericaceae.

Its homeland is Central and Southern Europe. A low shrub with evergreen needle-shaped leaves resembling pine needles. It blooms in winter, producing a mass of small pink flowers collected at the tops of the shoots.

Continuing the excursion, we approach curtain 45, along the edge of which original trees with dense leathery leaves are planted. The trees were named by botanists as footcarp trees. Let's get acquainted with large-leaved footcarp (16) - Podocarpus macrophyllum Don. And Naga's foot (71) - Podocarpus Nageia. R.Br.Family Nocarpaceae - Podocapraceae.

The homeland of legworms is China. These rather frost-resistant original trees are used as ornamental plants in coastal parks.

We walk up the path between curtains 45 and 46 and examine another interesting coniferous tree on curtain 45 - metasequoia dissecans cone (18) - Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et Cheng.Family Taxodiaceae - Taxodiaceae.

In 1944, the Chinese forester Wang-Chen discovered unknown powerful trees with a pyramidal crown and needles that fall off in the winter in the mountain forests of Sichuan province.

After studying, it was found that these trees are living representatives of the metasequoia breed that was considered extinct. Since that time, botanists began to spread metasequoia throughout all countries.

Metasequoia forms powerful trees up to 100 meters in height. She adapts well to different climatic conditions. Now it can be seen in Sochi and in the botanical gardens of Leningrad and Moscow.

Having examined the metasequoia, we will get acquainted with two groups of ornamental plants on curtain 46. First let's look at the group mahonium(Mahonia). Barberry family - Berberidaceae.

Mahonias are evergreen shrubs close to barberries. The flowers are yellow, in racemes, the leaves are feathery, often spiny at the edges.

In the forests of the West North America grow in the undergrowth mahonia holly (19) - Mahonia aquifolium Nutt., dense shrub up to 1 meter in height with dark green leaves; Japanese mahonia (20) - M. japonica DC and close to her Mahonia Biel (21) - M. Bealii Carr. from China - upright growing shrubs up to 2 meters in height with hard prickly ornamental leaves and winter flowering; Mahonia Fortune (22) - Mahonia Fortunei Fedde- low shrub with narrow lobes of dark green leaves. Mahonia is used to decorate public gardens, parks and lawns.

Above the group of mahonias, let's examine the group Kalin - Viburnum. Honeysuckle family - Caprifoliaceae.

Various viburnums collected in a group represent interesting ornamental shrubs, widely used in landscaping on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. Among them evergreen viburnum japonica (23) - Viburnum japonicum Spreng. with large upward-pointing inflorescences and shiny light green heart-shaped leaves; viburnum hanging flower (24) - Viburnum suspensum Lindl with cream flowers in small drooping inflorescences; both from Japan; fragrant viburnum (25) - Viburnum adoratissimum Ker. with large dark green elliptical leaves from southern China; Viburnum reticulum (26) - Viburnum rhytidophyllum Hemsl, with narrow dark green above and white felt below strongly wrinkled leaves from Central and Western China; viburnum laurel (27) - Viburnum tinus L. from the Mediterranean, blooming in winter, and deciduous viburnum ordinary sterile, or snowball (28),- Viburnum opulus f. rosea L. with sterile flowers collected in the form of a white ball.

Having become familiar with the viburnums, we turn left along the path. Here on curtain 48 we will examine camphor cinnamon, or camphor tree (29) - Cinnamomum camphora Nees et Eberm.Laurel family - Lauraceae.

Camphor cinnamon is a beautiful evergreen tree. It contains a large amount of essential oil, from which camphor is obtained, used in medicine. Wild camphor cinnamon grows in China and Japan. Leaves and young shoots are used for industrial use. Camphor is also used in technology in the production of celluloid, disinfectants, explosives, etc. In the Soviet Union, synthetic camphor, obtained from fir oil and turpentine, is widely used.

The wood of the camphor tree is very durable and is almost not damaged by pests.

On the coast, camphor cinnamon is widely grown as an ornamental tree.

This is a beautiful plant in the form of a bush or small tree up to 10 meters in height. It comes from southern China and Indochina.

Young, specially prepared leaves of the tea bush are a product that is used to make the well-known drink “tea”. Collected branches of a tea bush with 3-4 leaves, the so-called flushes, are first slightly withered, then they are twisted and placed in a humid chamber, where the fermentation process takes place at a certain temperature, and then, after drying, the finished product is obtained. The best factory grades of tea are subjected to a number of other operations that give it aroma and other qualities that increase its value. The collection of flushes is repeated several times during the growing season. The more harvests, the higher the yield.

The value of the tea drink lies in the fact that it contains caffeine, which has a stimulating effect on the body. Tannides contained in tea promote the accumulation of vitamins in the body. In addition, tea contains a number of vitamins, including vitamin P.

In Russia, tea began to be consumed at the end of the 17th century. Having gotten used to it, Russia began to import it in large quantities from China and India. In the middle of the 19th century, tea plants were first brought to Crimea and the Caucasus, but tea received industrial development only during the years of Soviet power.

Our scientists have achieved great success in promoting tea. Foreign science determines the possibility of its growth in those areas where frosts do not reach 12°. Soviet scientists, using Michurin's method of gradual acclimatization of plants, promoted tea to the foothills of Ukraine.

Caffeine is prepared from coarse leaves and tea dust, which is obtained when sorting it. The seeds contain up to 45 percent fatty oil, which is used in soap making, and when purifying it from certain substances and how food product. In addition, tea is a good ornamental evergreen plant with beautiful white flowers that bloom in late autumn.

Thanks to the work of Soviet scientists, the industrial culture of tea in the Krasnodar region became possible. The area of ​​tea plantations is continuously increasing, and the country receives more and more products every year. If in 1953 the tea factories of the region produced 119 tons of long tea, then in 1958 - already 346 tons. By 1965, tea output will increase to several thousand tons.

Continuing the tour, we go out to the alley Washingtonia filamentae (31)- Washingtonia filifera H. Wendl.Palm family - Palmae.

The palm comes from the desert regions of North America - from Southern California to Colorado and Arizona. She is the most beautiful representative of the group of fan-leaved palms. In the arboretum, Washingtonia is represented by specimens reaching 18-20 meters in height at the age of about 70 years.

On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, Washingtonia blooms and bears fruit. Now the station is growing seedlings from seeds collected in Sochi. These plants will be even more frost-resistant.

Being one of the most beautiful and frost-resistant palm trees, Washingtonia should become widespread on the coast.

Before going into the palm alley, we go up a little along the path to curtain 61. Here we will examine blue fan palm (32) - Erythea armata S. Watts.Palm family - Palmae.

The birthplace of the palm tree is California. In the conditions of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, the blue palm tree feels good and even in the harsh winters of 1949/50 and 1963/64 it suffered almost no damage. Its seeds ripen only in the second year after flowering, and in our conditions, unripe seeds usually die in winter.

Thanks to its large light blue foliage and beautiful hanging inflorescences, it is valued as a highly ornamental plant and deserves to be widely grown in coastal parks.

Several original plants grow next to the blue palm drooping cycad (33) - Cycas revoluta Thunb.- Cycad family - Cycadaceae.

Externally, cycads resemble palm trees. In fact, they are related to the ferns from which they originated. In turn, cycads gave rise to modern gymnosperms. The homeland of the drooping cycad is Southern Japan, the island of Taiwan, Southeast China. Cycads are evergreen plants; in their homeland they reach 3 meters in height. The trunk is covered with scales, under which sometimes “babies” are formed, used for propagation of the cycad.

Cycad drooping on the coast is used in landscaping as an ornamental plant. Can also be used as an indoor culture.

In harsh winters, the leaves of cycads freeze, so they are covered for the winter. At home, a sago surrogate is extracted from the core of the trunk.

Having examined these two rocks, we return to the palm alley. Here on the left side on curtain 50 we will look Japanese banana (34) - Musa basjoo Sieb. et Zucc.Banana family - Musaceae.

Bananas come from the humid subtropical regions of East Asia and are perennial herbaceous plants with a powerful rhizome, from which a very short trunk barely protrudes above the ground. Large leaves are attached very closely to the trunk, rising up to 15 meters in height in some species. The lower part of the leaves (tube) forms a false trunk. During flowering, the banana develops a powerful inflorescence. It grows very quickly and, passing through a tube of leaves, bends downwards under the leaves in the form of a huge brush, on which a large number of fruits are located. After fruiting, the entire aboveground part dies off.

There are edible and inedible species banana. The type of banana that grows here is inedible. In Japan, fiber is extracted from its leaves and used to make light fabrics. The leaves of this banana are good feed for livestock.

The large yield of green mass makes it a promising plant - a source of succulent food. Edible banana species grow in countries with tropical climates.

On the opposite side there are several trees of a valuable subtropical species - seedless mandarin (35) - Citrus unshiu Sw. Rutaceae family - Rutaceae.

Seedless mandarin is a representative of the genus of citrus fruits, which also includes lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc. Citrus fruits produce fruits that are excellent in taste and dietary quality. They are rich in sugars, citric acid, vitamins A, B, C and P.

Seedless mandarin is more frost-resistant than lemon and orange. In winter, it can withstand up to 9° frost and is therefore much more widespread on the coast. Currently, Soviet breeders are working to increase the frost resistance of tangerines and other citrus fruits.

Seedless mandarin, like lemon, is an excellent plant for indoor crops, and you can grow it indoors in both Sochi and Murmansk.

Continuing the tour, we approach the central staircase, which overlooks the main fountain. The stairs are decorated at the beginning and end pyramidal cypress trees (36) - Cupressus sempervirens f. stricta Ait.Cypress family - Cupressaceae.

There are two forms of evergreen cypress: pyramidal - f. stricta Ait And horizontal - f. horizontalis Mill. The first form is the most beautiful. In the minds of any person, the southern landscape is unthinkable without slender cypress trees. Wild cypress does not grow now, as it was widely cultivated already in ancient times in Asia Minor, North Africa and Southern Europe.

Cypress trees are of great economic importance. This is a fast-growing and long-lived breed. The age limit of cypress is 2000 years. The tree grows most quickly in the first 30-40 years and by the age of 100 it finishes its growth, reaching 40 meters in height. The cypress trees you see in front of you are almost 30 meters high (about 70 years old).

Cypress wood is yellow-brown in color, aromatic, hard, durable in soil and water, and finds various uses in carpentry.

Having examined the cypresses, we go up the stairs and, turning left, approach curtain 59.

The site is mainly planted with plant species native to the semi-desert regions of Mexico and South America. Therefore, the site was called "Mexican Corner". Using the example of the external and internal structure of these plants, one can see how close the connection between plants and their environment is. This relationship, the expediency of the structure and lifestyle of the organism was first scientifically substantiated by C. Darwin in the doctrine of natural and artificial selection.

Plants of the "Mexican Corner" in the process of evolutionary development have adapted to arid growing conditions. This adaptation is expressed differently in different plants. However, in all cases it ensures normal growth and development of the body in a dry climate.

The most interesting plant of the group is agave americana (37) - Agave americana L.Amaryllis family - Amaryllidaceae.

In Mexico, where it grows naturally, agave has more than 100 species. Agaves are characterized by massive, fleshy leaves covered with thick skin and a bluish, waxy coating. It seems strange that such a large, succulent plant can grow well in almost waterless areas of Mexico. Where does it get moisture from? If you carefully examine the agave, it itself will answer this question. Its fleshy leaves have large water-bearing cells in which moisture accumulates during the winter rainy period, and the thick leaf skin and waxy coating protect the plant from excessive evaporation. In addition, the massive leaves of agave in the summer become very cold at night, atmospheric moisture condenses on them and, flowing down the surface of the leaves, it is intercepted by the roots. Thus, the plant regularly replenishes its moisture reserves from the atmosphere.

In their homeland, many types of agaves find a variety of uses. Young leaves of some species are eaten and used as medicine. From the leaves of a number of agave species, strong fiber is obtained that is used for ropes and coarse fabrics.

In the Sochi region, during flowering, in the 10-15th year of life, agave throws out a huge peduncle up to 7 meters in height. It uses up the nutrients accumulated during its life to feed the mass of fruits, and then dies. If you cut off the peduncle at the beginning of flowering, the plant still supplies juice to it. Mexicans prepare an alcoholic drink called pulque from it. Common on the coast, Agave americana is one of the frost-resistant species of agave and is widely used as an ornamental plant.

Palm-like plants grow here in large numbers. These are yuccas. We will consider only one type - yucca glorious (38) - Yucca gloriosa L.Lily family - Liliaceae.

These beautiful plants with a tuft of dagger-shaped leaves at the top of the stem are native to the arid regions of the southern Atlantic coast of North America.

Thin, fleshy leaves of yucca are covered with a dense waxy coating. In its homeland, yucca grows only during the rainy season - in early spring. During the dry season, growth stops and the plant seems to freeze. All this gives it the ability to withstand extreme heat and drought.

Yuccas are very decorative during flowering, when they form huge inflorescences (sultanas) covered with milky-white bell-shaped large flowers. In their homeland, yuccas are used as plants that produce coarse textile fiber. Young leaves and finely chopped stems are used as roughage for livestock. The fruits of some species of yucca in its homeland are consumed by the population.

11 species of yucca are grown on the Black Sea coast. More than half of this amount has been collected in our park. All species are quite frost-resistant in the conditions of Sochi, and filamentous yucca can be grown in more northern regions. It can withstand short-term frosts down to 25°.

Several bushes grow near the platform with the balustrade cross-shaped collection (39) - Colletia cruciata Hook.Buckthorn family - Rhamnaceae.

This plant from the arid subtropical regions of South America, adapting to semi-desert growing conditions, acquired an original appearance in the process of evolution. It has leaves only during the first period of shoot growth, then they fall off, and their function (assimilation) is taken over by green stems and shoots, forming large, strong spines. The flowers of the collection are small and numerous, and have a pleasant almond aroma.

Another species grows next to the cruciform collection - prickly collection (40) - Colletia spinosa Lindl., with round spines.

Both of these species breed in coastal parks! as original ornamental plants.

Using the examples of the plants considered, it is only possible to see to a small extent how different ways plants adapt to the same environmental conditions. Discovering the patterns of connection between an organism and its environment allows our scientists to quickly find the necessary ways to transform the nature of plants.

Continuing our exploration of the park, we go around the “Mexican Corner” along the upper side of Curtain 59 and go down a small staircase to the platform with the “Dancer” sculpture. Here on the right side we see valuable fruit deciduous shrub - pomegranate (41) - Punica granatum L.Pomegranate family - Punicaceae.

The homeland of pomegranate is Eastern Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Its garden forms produce fairly large fruits weighing up to 700 grams each. Wild pomegranate fruits are 2-3 times smaller, but they also produce sweet and sour juice. Juice is prepared from cold drinks and syrups for lemonade, as well as citric acid.

As an ornamental plant, pomegranate is very effective during flowering and during the period of fruit ripening. Its large flowers and fruits are painted red and stand out beautifully against the background of light greenery. There are garden forms that differ in size, shape and color of flowers (from white to bright red).

From the site with the sculpture "Dancer" an additional route begins to explore the floristic area of ​​the Caucasus and some other geographical areas. Description of the additional route begins on page 82.

Continuing along the main route, we come to the hedge of curtain 59, which is grown from poncirus trifolia (42) - Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.Rutaceae family - Rutaceae.

His homeland is China. Dense, thorny poncirus bushes are an excellent material for creating hedges. Poncirus is closely related to such valuable plants as lemon, orange, tangerine and other citrus fruits. It is widely used as a rootstock for these valuable plants. However, the fruits of the poncirus itself have a bitter taste and a strong unpleasant odor. Poncirus is a deciduous, frost-resistant plant that can withstand frosts down to 20°. Soviet breeders widely use it for hybridization when breeding frost-resistant citrus plants.

Let's walk along the fence to the palm alley and turn right. Let's go a little forward, on the left side, on curtain 52, and examine a small evergreen bush - daphne fragrant (43) - Daphne odora Thunb.Wolf family - Thymelaeaceae.

The homeland of fragrant daphne is China and Japan. It is highly valued as an ornamental shrub with winter-spring flowering. Daphne flowers have a strong, pleasant aroma. In the south it is grown in open ground, and in the north - as a tub plant.

In its homeland - Brazil, it forms trees up to 30 meters in height with a spreading crown and an original tiered arrangement of branches. The leaves tightly surround the shoots and give them an original appearance. On the coast, araucaria is used as an ornamental tree.

Here at the edge of the curtain we will examine gardenia jasmine (45) - Gardenia jasminoides Ellis.Rubiaceae family - Rubiaceae.

A small evergreen shrub, up to 1 meter high, with hard, shiny evergreen leaves, native to China. The flowers are white, large and very fragrant. Blooms from May to October. For best growth and fastest flowering, it requires drained, nutritious, acidic soils. The most interesting are the large-flowered double varieties, which are widely used in landscaping on the Black Sea coast. Suitable for indoor culture. Propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Feijoa is a beautiful ornamental shrub up to 3 meters high, grows in South America (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay). The underside of its leaves is covered with silvery hairs, which gives the bushes an original appearance. Feijoa fruits are oval-shaped, the fruit pulp is creamy in color with a pleasant, refreshing taste and strawberry aroma. The fruits ripen in November - December. They are consumed fresh and processed.

The shrub is especially decorative during flowering, when the bush is covered with a mass of bright flowers. The flower petals are white on the upper side and pink on the lower side. In addition, in the center they are decorated with a large bunch of long red stamens. An excellent jam is made from the fleshy, sweet flower petals. Feijoa is a frost-resistant shrub that can withstand short-term frosts up to 16°.

After getting acquainted with the feijoa, we will approach the “shell” fountain, located in the open area. Its pool grows a number of aquatic plants in the summer. The most beautiful of them is Victoria Krutschana (47) - Victoria cruziana Orbign.Pitcher family - Nymphaceae.

Rice. 6. “Sink” fountain with aquatic plants. Victoria cruciana blooms

Victoria cruciana is native to South America, where it grows along the Parana River. Victoria blooms from July to October with beautiful white flowers about 20 centimeters across. The bud, emerging from the water to the surface, opens in one evening. The next day after blooming, the petals acquire a purple color and the flower begins to close. By the next morning, it closes completely and goes under water, where the seeds ripen. In cool weather, this whole process is somewhat lengthened. At a temperature of 12-15°C the plant dies.

Victoria cruciana seeds are collected in the fall, after the onset of cold weather. IN January-February They are sown in greenhouses in jars of water at a temperature of 25-30°C. Young plants are planted in open pools when the water temperature reaches 20-22°C in the morning.

In addition to Victoria, the following are cultivated in the pool: blue lily of the nile (48) - Nymphaea coerulea Sav. native to North Africa. Its soft blue flowers open at 7 am and close by 4 pm; leaves are oval, shiny, smooth; Far Eastern giant water lily (49) - Euryale ferox Salisb. with large brownish-red wrinkled leaves covered with spines, the underside of which is purple; small flowers - purple; in our conditions it reproduces by self-sowing; water hyacinth (50) - Eichornia crassipes Solms., the leaves of which are turned into air sacs, which allows the plant to easily float on water. Its roots are long and well branched. When rooted in the soil of a reservoir, hyacinth develops and blooms especially luxuriantly. The flowers are pale lilac, outwardly resembling the plume of an ordinary hyacinth. In its homeland, in Central America, water hyacinth reproduces in huge quantities and sometimes makes navigation difficult.

Aquatic plants are widely used to decorate ponds, swimming pools, etc. Many of these plants are used to decorate the water features of our arboretum.

Continuing the tour, we will walk from the fountain along the path between curtains 52 and 42 to a small area where a powerful specimen grows Georgian oak (51) - Quercus iberica Stev.Beech family - Fagaceae.

There are about 600 deciduous and evergreen species of oak trees, distributed mainly in the temperate and subtropical zones of the northern hemisphere. There are 19 species of wild oak growing in the USSR and 43 species were imported from other countries. There are 12 species of oak in the arboretum and another 11 species of oak in the station’s nurseries, that is, almost half of the total species diversity of oaks growing in the USSR.

Georgian oak is one of the main forest-forming species of the Caucasus. In terms of its economic, biological and other qualities, it differs only slightly from summer and winter oaks, widespread in Central Russia. Oak wood has a number of valuable properties and finds a wide variety of applications in national economy. Oak is also of interest as a source of tannins for processing leather goods: its bark contains 10-11 percent tannides. The acorns are used to make coffee, which is especially useful for children, and the leaves are used to make marinades.

Georgian oak grows on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus south of the city of Tuapse. Research by Sochi NILOS has established its high value as a rootstock for grafting cork oak.

Continuing further, we go around curtain 52 from the lower side along a shady path that leads us to a small flower bed. Here on the right side, on curtain 43, we will get acquainted with the valuable nut-bearing species - pecans (52) - Carya pecan Engl et Graebn.Nut family - Juglandaceae.

Its homeland is the southern regions of North America. Pecan is a valuable nut-bearing tree, reaching 50-60 meters in height in its homeland in the best growing conditions (Arkansas). In coastal conditions it develops well, bears fruit abundantly and self-sows. It has high productivity.

Pecan nuts have high taste and nutritional value: 400 grams of the nut kernel contain 3445 calories, which is almost equal to a person's daily needs. They are used in fresh and processed forms. Pecan oil, which is contained in the nut kernel up to 70 percent, also has high taste. The nut peel is thin and can be easily broken with your fingers.

It is propagated by seeds, and varietal pecans by grafting. Thanks to its powerful, well-developed root system, pecan is an excellent species for strengthening river banks against erosion. Wood of good quality, light brown, heavy ( specific gravity 0.72), strong and elastic, well processed and polished.

Sochi NILOS conducted a survey of all pecan trees growing on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory and identified mother trees with valuable properties. Pecan is recommended for wide use as a nut-bearing forest and ornamental species in forests and forest parks of the coast, for lining roads, creating alleys and planting special nut-bearing plantings.

Let's pass the area with the flowerbed, go down the small stairs and come to a beautiful pinnate palm tree - yubee wonderful, or honey palm (53),- Jubaea spectabilis HBK.Palm family - Palmae.

The homeland of the palm tree is South America (Chile). Jubea is one of the most beautiful palm trees brought to the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. Powerful trunks and a huge cap of feathery leaves make it very decorative. Delicious palm nuts contain up to 30 percent oil. In its homeland, in former times, jubea was used to obtain palm honey. From one well-developed palm tree you can get 400 liters of juice, which, when evaporated, produces 50-60 kilograms of molasses (palm honey). Jubea is relatively frost-resistant. If the jubea is carefully covered, it can withstand short-term frosts of up to 10-12°.

This is the only palm species native to the western Mediterranean of Europe and Africa. It overwinters well during normal Sochi winters without shelter, but in severe winters it freezes, although it then quickly recovers, forming a mass of new leaves and trunks.

Fiber is extracted from the leaves and hair wrappings of palm tree trunks, which is used for upholstery of upholstered furniture and the production of coarse fabrics, as well as for the production of felt.

In autumn it produces a large number of fruits, which are shaped like dates. However, the fruits have a lot of coarse fibers and have no nutritional value.

Let's walk between the palm trees; We go out onto the central staircase and go down it to the main fountain. The staircase on both sides is decorated with slender Chinese fan palms (55) - Trachycarpus fortunei N. Wendl.Palm family - Palmae.

The homeland of palm trees is Central and Southern China. The Chinese fan palm on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus is the most widespread of all palm trees. It grows on a wide variety of soils, bears fruit abundantly, produces a large amount of self-seeding and can withstand short-term frosts of up to 14° without damage. All this allows it to be widely used in landscaping parks, streets, squares, etc.

In their homeland, palm trunks are used for poles, piles, etc. The trunk does not rot in soil and water for a long time. The fibers covering the trunk are used for upholstery of upholstered furniture and the production of coarse fabrics.

Some of the Chinese fan palms are entwined with vines - common ivy (56) - Hedera helix L.Araliaceae family - Araliaceae.

Continuing the tour, we approach the fountain. The fountain's basin is surrounded by a border of boxwood evergreen (57) - Buxus sernpervirens L.Boxwood family - Buxaceae.

This type of boxwood is native to the Caucasus, Southern Europe and North Africa. Boxwood in forests reaches 18 meters in height, with a trunk up to 50 centimeters at the base. Its wood is heavy (specific gravity more than 1.0), very durable, beautiful light yellow color; it is used for the manufacture of various turning products.

Boxwood bushes lend themselves well to shaping and tolerate shading, so boxwood is considered a valuable plant in park construction for creating green hedges, borders, for molding balls, vases, etc.; It is also of great value as an indoor plant.

One of the most spectacular domestic aquatic plants grows in the fountain basin - Caspian lotus (58) - Nelumbo caspica Schp.Nymphaeaceae family - Nymphaceae.

Its homeland is the Volga delta and the backwaters of the Kura. Large, more than 40 centimeters in diameter, lotus leaves are covered with a waxy coating, and drops of water falling on them roll down like balls of mercury. The lotus is especially spectacular during flowering, from June to September, when its pale pink flowers, up to 10 centimeters in diameter, on long, strong stems rise above the water.

In Sochi, lotus winters well and does not freeze even in shallow pools.

The rhizomes of the lotus are edible, and its seeds contain up to 35 percent fat and are used in Eastern Transcaucasia as a delicacy, reminiscent of hazelnuts in taste.

Continuing further, we will go around the fountain and go down the stairs to a path separated from the living lawn Japanese euonymus hedge (59) - Evonymus japonica L., originating from Southern Japan. Euonymus family - Celastraceae.

This evergreen ornamental shrub up to 5-6 meters in height can withstand 15° frost.

Japanese euonymus tolerates clipping well, so on the Black Sea coast it is widely used to create evergreen clipped borders, molded balls, for single and group plantings in parks and squares. It contains a valuable substance - gutta in the bark of the stems - 6-7, and in the roots - 13-19 percent).

After getting acquainted with the euonymus and examining the newly opened perspective of the park, we go along the path to the right. On the right side, somewhat deep into curtain 43, grows original bush of beautiful stamen lanceolate (60) - Callistemon lanceolatum DC. Myrtle family - Myrtaceae.

The homeland of the beautiful anthrowers is South-Eastern Australia, where they grow in forests as undergrowth. It is an evergreen shrub with narrow lanceolate leaves and bright inflorescences. The beauty of the inflorescences lies in the brightly colored stamen filaments and pistils emerging from the flowers, which are located around the young shoots. After flowering, woody boxes remain on the shoot, which persist for a number of years. By the location of the boxes, you can determine the growth of the plant over the year.

Beautiful officials withstands frosts down to 7-8°, at more low temperatures freeze to the ground and are renewed in the spring by stump growth.

Continuing the path, we come to a round flowerbed, in the center of which grows a beautiful pinnate palm tree - Butia capitata (61) - Butia capitata Becc.Palm family - Palmae.

On the Black Sea coast it is often found under the name capitate coconut. A fairly frost-resistant Brazilian palm tree that can withstand 15° below zero in Sochi conditions. The leaves are glaucous, pinnate, up to 2.5 meters long.

Butia capitata bears fruit abundantly almost every year and produces drupes surrounded by sweet and sour edible pulp. The seeds have good germination and contain up to 64 percent edible oil.

Butia capitata is often used as an indoor plant.

After examining the butia, we turn right and, going up to the gazebo, look at the right side of the stairs Phillyra angustifolia bush (62) - Phillyrea angustifolia L.Olive family - Oleaceae.

This is a beautiful evergreen shrub with small glossy leaves, native to southern Europe and northern Africa. Its small flowers with a pleasant aroma contain a lot of nectar, and bees collect abundant bribes during its flowering in April - May.

Having climbed into the gazebo, we will get acquainted with the vine entwining it - Pueraria Thunberg (63) - Pueraria Thunbergiana Benth.Legume family - Leguminosae.

Its homeland is China and Japan. In the conditions of Sochi, pueraria forms lashes of up to 20 meters over the summer. It is unpretentious and can grow even on rocky screes.

Pueraria has various uses. Leaves and young shoots are readily eaten by livestock, and its hay has high feeding qualities and is comparable to alfalfa and clover. In China and Japan, the roots are eaten. They contain up to 40 percent starch. Pueraria stems are used to obtain fiber used in the paper and textile industries. Fabrics made from it are called “ko-nu” and are used for summer clothes, as they are very smooth and have a refreshing effect on the skin. Pueraria is widely used to secure mountain slopes and ravines.

Ancient Chinese medicine uses a decoction of pueraria roots to treat colds, dysentery, snake bites and poisonous insects.

Continuing further, we come out onto a large, bright area. On the left side of the gazebo we will examine a valuable coniferous tree - swamp pine (64) - Pinus palustris Mill.Pine family - Pinaceae.

Pine is one of the main forest-forming tree species in North America, north of the Gulf of Mexico, in Florida, Louisiana, and Southeast Texas. At home it reaches 30 meters in height. It has valuable wood. It grows relatively slowly on the coast. The needles are long, light green, hanging. The cones are large, 20 centimeters or more long. Grows well in fertile soils.

Let's approach another gazebo, near which there are several bushes hydrangea grandiflora (65) - Hydrangea macrophylla DC.Saxifraga family - Saxifragaceae.

A number of hydrangea species occupy a large place in the green design of our park and city, especially the grandiflora hydrangea, or garden hydrangea, usually simply called hydrangea. The name Hydrangea hortensis, or large-leaved hydrangea, it received from the words “gidor” - water and “angelos” - vessel, that is, a vessel with water.

Hydrangea flowers come in two colors - white and pink or red with all transitions from white to red.

Obtaining hydrangeas with other colors - blue, blue, violet, lilac - does not depend on its varietal and species characteristics. The color of hydrangeas, their brightness and intensity depend solely on soil conditions. Neutral and alkaline soils promote the formation of pink flowers, acidic soils - blue ones. Hydrangeas with white flowers do not change their color depending on soil conditions. Simply planting hydrangeas in acidic soil does not always produce blue colors. Blue colors can be obtained if aluminum salts - aluminum sulfate or aluminum-ammonium alum - are added to the plants.

A new method of coloring flowers is to spray the foliage and inflorescences with a solution of aluminum alum. They are assimilated by leaf cells, and the inflorescences turn blue.

Hydrangeas are very demanding of soil moisture. The best places for their growth are semi-shaded places with good nutritious garden soil. Hydrangeas do not tolerate fertilization with fresh manure - after this they suffer from chlorosis.

The park contains a collection of various types and varieties of hydrangea.

Having become familiar with the hydrangeas, we go down the steps and turn left to the one leaning over the path cork oak (66) - Quercus suber L.Beech family - Fagaceae.

This evergreen tree is native to southern Europe and northern Africa. It reaches a height of about 30 meters; its trunk is more than 1 meter in diameter. In the conditions of the Caucasus, at the age of 60 years, well-developed trees have a height of 22 meters and a trunk of about 1 meter in diameter. The arboretum has an experimental cork oak plantation, where best trees at the age of 25 they reach a height of 20 meters with a trunk 40-50 centimeters in diameter and a plug thickness of 4 centimeters.

The trunk of the cork oak tree is covered with thick bark, most of which is cork. The plug does not enter chemical reaction with many reagents, wines and chemicals, which makes it a classic closure material. It is a poor conductor of heat, sound and electricity and is used as an insulating material. The waste remaining from solid cork products is used to prepare insulating boards, linoleum, lifebelts, etc.

Cork removal begins when the tree reaches 15-20 years of age. The removal operation is carried out in May - June. In this case, a circular cut is made along the plug in the upper and lower parts of the trunk and then they are connected with a longitudinal cut. By lifting the cork with a wooden spatula, it is easily removed in the form of a layer, separating it from other bark tissues that remain on the tree. By autumn, the cork cambium forms a new layer of cork up to 5 millimeters thick. The second and subsequent removals are carried out every 8-10 years. In our conditions, about 10 kilograms of cork are harvested from one tree at the age of 20 years.

Sochi NILOS, based on many years of work, has compiled agrotechnical instructions for the cultivation and operation of this valuable breed. A new method of cork oak propagation by grafting onto local deciduous oaks has been developed and is being implemented. Of the evergreen plants, cork oak can be considered a fairly frost-resistant species.

Continuing our journey, we descend to the intersection of the road. Here on the left side on curtain 30 we see a slender coniferous tree - Atlas cedar columnar (67) - Cedrus atlantica f. fastigiata Carr.Pine family - Pinaceae.

The homeland of Atlas cedar is the mountainous regions of Algeria and Morocco. Cedar is a fast-growing slender tree with green or more often bluish needles, reaches 46 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 3 meters; frost-resistant and can withstand 25° frost.

Atlas cedar wood is highly valued as a building material in carpentry. As a beautiful tree, cedar is used in decorative plantings, especially its garden forms - silvery and columnar-gray.

Having examined the cedar, we turn right and on the left side on curtain 30 we get acquainted with the valuable technical species - Eucommia vinifera (68) - Eucommia ulmoides OlivFamily Eucommiaceae - Eucommiaceae.

Its homeland is Central China. Eucommia is a deciduous, fairly frost-resistant tree that can withstand 30° below zero. It belongs to dioecious plants. Some specimens produce only female flowers, while others produce male flowers. However, under our conditions, it produces viable seeds even without fertilization.

Eucommia contains up to 5 percent in the leaves and up to 10 percent in the bark - a valuable raw material for many industries.

Gutta is similar in chemical composition to rubber, but differs from it in physical properties. It is more resistant to acids and salts, which allows it to be used for insulating underwater (especially marine) telegraph cables, for the manufacture of chemical glassware and other purposes. High-quality rubber adhesives necessarily require the presence of gutta-percha.

In Chinese medicine, decoctions and alcohol tinctures of eucommia bark are used to treat diseases of the kidneys, liver, rheumatism, and to improve the overall tone of the body. In recent years, Soviet pharmacologists have successfully used tincture of eucommia bark in the treatment of hypertension.

The station carried out work on the study of eucommia for several years. As a result, agricultural rules for the cultivation of this valuable species were drawn up and seed plots were created in the mid-mountain zone.

On the other side of the path there are two types of evergreen oaks - gray oak (69) - Quercus glauca Thunb And oak myrzinophyllum (70) - Quercus myrsinaefolia Blume.Beech family - Fagaceae.

Oak trees come from Japan and China. Their height is 7-10 meters. On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, they are used as ornamental plants for landscaping parks and streets. In Japan, roasted gray oak acorns are eaten. Both species are quite frost-resistant and can withstand short-term frosts down to 16-17° without damage.

Almost opposite the myrzinophyllum oak, on the left side of the path, we will examine holm oak (71) - Quercus ilex L.Beech family - Fagaceae.

Oak comes from Southern Europe and North Africa, where it grows up to 25 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 60 centimeters, lends itself well to pruning, so it is used for green hedges, forming balls, pyramids, etc. Oak wood is very durable and heavy with a specific gravity of about 1 ,14. It is used in underwater structures and for various durable products.

Holm oak is one of the most frost-resistant evergreens - can withstand temperatures of more than 20°C.

After examining the oak trees, we go out along the path between curtains 30 and 26 onto an open lawn and, crossing it, we approach tall trees radiata pine (72) - Pinus radiata Don.Pine family - Pinaceae.

The pine grows in California on a narrow coastal strip near Pacific Ocean. This fast-growing tree in Sochi at the age of 60 years reaches 30 meters in height with a trunk up to 80 centimeters in diameter. From a hectare of radiata pine plantations aged 40 years, you can get up to 1.5 thousand cubic meters of valuable wood.

Continuing the tour, we take the stairs from the upper part of the arboretum. Let's cross Kurortny Avenue. The lower part of the park begins here. We will walk a little forward along the alley of young cypress trees and, before reaching the bridge, we will go down the steps to a shady area.

On the right side, near the road, there grows a large coniferous tree with a spreading crown. swamp cypress (73) - Taxodium distichum Rich.Family Taxodiaceae - Taxodiaceae.

Its homeland is the southeastern states of the USA, where it reaches 50 meters in height and 4-5 meters in diameter. An interesting feature of the swamp cypress is that it sheds its needles in winter. It received its name for its ability to grow in conditions of excess moisture, when for several months, during floods or rains, the entire root system is under water. Such growing conditions caused the swamp cypress to form special respiratory roots (pneumatophores) that rise above the surface of the water.

Cypress can withstand frosts down to 25°, so it can be recommended for testing when afforesting floodplains and other excessively moist places in the Kuban and southern Ukraine. It grows quickly and has durable, rot-resistant wood. It is used on the coast as a forest species and, thanks to its beautiful openwork needles, as a highly decorative park tree.

Here, on the left side, we will examine the original tree with a large number of trunks, which grows on curtain 20, opposite the swamp cypress. This large-fruited cypress (74) - Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw.Cypress family - Cupressaceae.

Cypress is native to California. It has a wide crown with large branches directed obliquely upward. In some specimens, small shoots form dense branches reminiscent of fox tails, which is why in America it is sometimes called foxtail cypress. In some cases, trees begin to branch near the ground and form several powerful trunks, spreading out in the form of a huge bush up to 25 meters in height. This is exactly the tree-bush in front of you. The specimen, growing with one trunk, is located slightly to the right, in the depths of the clump.

Large-fruited cypress grows well on clay, alluvial and rocky soils, but always on sufficiently moist and drained soils. Its original appearance and dark green, lemon-scented needles make it a valuable tree for landscaping cities and parks.

In the same area, on the right side of the path, a large tree grows Lusitanian cypress (75) - Cupressus lusitanica Mill. Cypress family - Cupressaceae.

The homeland of cypress is Mexico and Guatemala. Lusitanian cypress is one of the fast-growing and unpretentious tree species, widely used on the coast for landscaping, creating garden and shelterbelts and forest plantings. It grows up to 25 meters in height and 80 centimeters in diameter, has valuable wood, bears fruit abundantly and self-sows everywhere. It has a number of garden forms, differing in the color of the needles, the nature of branching and the form of growth. The station recommends cypress for growing in forests and forest parks along the coast.

The oak is native to eastern North America. This is a deciduous tree, characterized by rapid growth in its youth.

Willow oak is moisture-loving, frost-resistant and grows well in river floodplains, as well as on mountain slopes with fertile soil. In the USSR it grows in the North Caucasus (Pyatigorsk).

The leaves of the oak tree are completely different from the leaves of the oak trees that grow here; they are more reminiscent of the leaves of the willow tree, which is why it got its name, willow tree. The wood is heavy, durable, light brown and is valuable as commercial timber. Can be used on fresh soils in the south of the USSR as a forest and park species.

After getting acquainted with the willow oak, let's pay attention to the trees growing along the banks of the stream leafy bamboos (77) - Phyllostachys S. et Z.Cereal family - Graminea.

Bamboos are common in humid regions of the tropics of the Old and New Worlds. Small reed-like bamboos also grow on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. Bamboo, which is a tree-like grass, grows very quickly: in 1.5-2 months, young stems reach their maximum height, in some species - 40 meters.

On the Black Sea coast, bamboos from the genus Leaf-gross are of industrial importance ( Phyllostachys S. et Zucc), the wood of which has high technical qualities and is used for the manufacture of furniture, equipment, sports equipment, etc.

It grows on curtains 5, 15, 17, 18, 21 and 56 bamboo-shaped psyllid (77) - Phyllostachys bambusoides S. et Z. This is the largest (up to 10 meters in height) psyllium in the park. Its stems are used to make ladders, water pipes, poles, etc.

Green-blue leaf-grass (78) - Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens A. et C. Riv. Its stems at a young age are distinguished by a bright green color with a blue bloom; it grows on clumps 1, 4, 5, 18, 19 of the lower part of the park and on clumps 47, 56 and 68 of the upper part.

The leaf-grass plants are also of great interest: edible (79) - Phyllostachys edulis A. et C. Riv. Its young shoots are used for food; black (80) - Ph. nigra Munro with shiny black stems (this is the smallest of the psyllids growing on the coast) and soft psyllid, Castellon form, with a bright green stripe on the yellow stem, a very decorative and technically valuable species.

Leaf plants are light-loving plants, so they develop best in places where there is a lot of sun. On the coast they grow well in fertile, moist, but well-drained soils.

Leafweeds, like most bamboos, reproduce by cuttings of rhizomes. They develop powerful, highly branched rhizomes that protect the soil well from erosion and drift. Widely used in landscaping and industry.

Continuing the tour, we go along the path to the alley from liquidambra styrax (81) - Liquidambar styraciflua L.Hamamelid family - Hamamelidaceae.

This is a deciduous tree with a pyramidal crown, native to the southeastern part of North America, where it reaches 25-30 meters in height and 60-70 centimeters in thickness. As a species that turns into bright multi-colored colors in the fall before the leaves fall, Styrax liquidambrus is widely used in landscaping parks and forested areas. There is a very beautiful alley made of liquidambra in Sochi on the section from New to Old Matsesta. In terms of the brightness of the autumn color of the foliage, liquidambr is superior to all other species. In addition, young spring foliage emits a peculiar balsamic scent that remains in the leaves until autumn. By tapping liquidambra trees, juice is obtained, which is used in perfumery and medicine.

The wood is valuable, yellow in color, aromatic, and is used for all kinds of crafts. It is also used as scaffolding.

Liquidambr is a fairly frost-resistant tree and can withstand frosts down to 22°.

After examining the liquidambra, we continue along the path along the stream and go out to plane tree alley (82) - Platanus orientalis L.Sycamore family - Platanaceae.

Sycamore- a large deciduous tree, native to South-Eastern Europe, Western and Central Asia, Transcaucasia. Reaches huge size- up to 30 or more meters in height and 2-3 meters in trunk thickness. When growing freely, it forms a wide shady crown.

Ancient authors (Herodotus) have descriptions of huge plane trees, under the shadow of which up to a hundred horsemen could hide. Sycamore has smooth, mosaic-spotted bark. Its upper layers peel off and fall off as they die.

Sycamore grows very quickly especially in early age, loves deep fertile soil, but can grow in poor soil. It has valuable wood used for making plywood, furniture, etc. It is propagated by seeds and cuttings. It is of great interest as a forest species. Can be used for planting in parks along alleys, roads, etc.

Other types of plane trees also grow here in the alley.

Let's cross the plane tree alley and go out into the rose garden.

Created in 1960, a new section of the park is a collection of various roses (83) - a rose garden. Low-growing polyanthus roses are planted along the edges of the ridges. Most of the rose garden is planted with bush and standard hybrid tea roses. The collection includes more than 260 varieties of roses of various groups.

Among the varieties grown in the rose garden, those that are most decorative and resistant are: Gloria Day, Mirandi, Jules Boucher, Puncia, Luna, Katerina, Ophelia, Talisman, President, etc.

Continuing the tour from the center of the rose garden and moving towards the gazebo by the pond, we will examine the climbing plants growing here.

Clematis Jacquemand (84) - Clematis Jackmanii Moore.Ranunculaceae family - Rananculaceae.

Jacquemin's large-flowered clematis is a hybrid between woolly clematis and violet clematis. The liana is attached to the supports by leaf petioles. The flowers are large, dark blue. Flowering is abundant and long lasting in May - June and often repeated in August - September.

It is an excellent plant for covering low arbors, trellises, fences, etc. It is propagated by cuttings and grafting on the roots of other clematis.

Passiflora blue (85) - Passiflora coerulea L.Passion flower family - Passifloraceae.

Evergreen ornamental liana of the subtropical regions of Brazil. It is distinguished by its original shape and color of flowers. Blooms in summer from June to September. On the Black Sea coast and in other subtropical countries it is widely used for vertical gardening of gazebos, fences, and walls. Propagated by seeds, root and stem cuttings.

Kampsis, or thecoma rooting (86),- Campsis radicans Seem.Bignoniaceae family - Bignoniaceae.

A deciduous vine native to the southeastern states of North America. Easily attaches to various supports with aerial roots emerging from the nodes of young shoots. Blooms profusely and continuously from late June to early September. The flowers are tubular* orange-red, numerous, located at the ends of young shoots. It is characterized by good frost resistance, a powerful root system, unpretentiousness to soil conditions and rapid growth. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. Widely used on the coast for vertical gardening.

Akebia pentafolia (87) - Akebia quinata Decne.Family Lardisabaliidae - Lardizabaliaceae.

Its homeland is China and Japan, where it is used as a food plant. The fruits ripen late in autumn and have a pleasant taste. In China, akebia leaves are used as a tea substitute, and dried fruits are used in folk medicine. At the same time, akebia is also a good ornamental plant with small fragrant purple flowers. It tolerates Sochi winters well.

After visiting the akebia, you can relax in the gazebo on the shore of the pond in which black and white swans swim. In winter, many seagulls come here.

After relaxing in the gazebo, we will walk along the shore of the pond to the plane tree alley. From here we go out onto the bridge and on the right side along the shore of a small pond we see several weeping willows (88) - Salix babilonica L. Willow family - Salicaceae.

Weeping Babylonian willow is one of the most decorative willows. Widely cultivated for landscaping in many countries around the world. In the USSR it can be grown up to Moscow. In colder areas it suffers greatly from frost.

Weeping willow, like other types of willows, is easily propagated by cuttings.

Let's cross the bridge. On the left side of the path on curtain 23 we will examine Himalayan spruce (89) - Picea morinda Link. Pine family - Pinaceae.

The homeland of spruce is the Himalayas, where it grows at an altitude of up to 3000 meters above sea level. Long dark green needles and weeping branches give it a decorative appearance. However, this species can only grow in warm climates.

After examining the spruce, we will walk along the path to the fence and turn right. Large bushes grow along the fence biota (thuja) eastern (90) - Biota orientalis I Endl. Cypress family - Cupressaceae.

The homeland of the biota is mountainous areas Northern China. Biota is a highly decorative breed, widely used for landscaping in the Caucasus, Ukraine, Krasnodar Territory and Central Asia.

Continuing the tour, we walk along the fence to the third path. Coming out onto the path between curtains 5 and 13, on the right side we see a small dense coniferous tree thuja gigantea (91) - Thuja plicata D. Don.Cypress family - Cupressaceae.

In its homeland, North America, thuja forms trees up to 70 meters in height with a trunk more than 2 meters in diameter. An excellent coniferous tree that produces valuable wood. Widely used as an ornamental breed. Essential oil for perfumery is obtained from aromatic pine needles.

On curtain 5 we will examine two original pine trees.

hedgehog pine (92) - Pinus echinata Mill. Pine family - Pinaceae.

Homeland of pine - East End North America, where it grows along the seashore, in lowlands, and occasionally on mountain slopes.

The hedgehog pine has a number of interesting biological features. On its trunk and branches a large number of small shoots are formed, growing from numerous dormant buds, due to which the branches and trunk of the tree are covered with needles sticking out in all directions like the spines of a hedgehog, which is why the name pine comes from. At a young age, when felled, the pine tree sprouts and regenerates itself from the stump. A very small number of other pines and conifers in general have this ability. The wood is relatively durable and can be used in construction.

Bush pine (93) - Pinus densiflora Sieb.Pine family - Pinaceae.

In its homeland, Japan, pine is widely grown for landscaping purposes. Its original spreading crown and light-colored trunks give the surrounding area a specific landscape. Japanese artists often depict this pine tree on their canvases.

Let's get to the intersection of the paths, on the left side, on curtain 13 we'll look jasmine primrose (94) - Jasminum primulinum Hemsl. Olive family - Oleaceae.

An evergreen shrub with trifoliate leaves, yellow flowers and long, arching, drooping branches, native to Western China. Primrose jasmine blooms in early spring and ends in summer. Unpretentious, easily propagated by cuttings. Widely used in landscaping on the Black Sea coast.

Homeland - China and Japan. Canton meadowsweet, like other meadowsweets, is an ornamental plant. In May, during flowering, its entire bush is covered with white flowers. Flowering twigs of meadowsweet are used for bouquets: they give them an elegant look.

Opposite meadowsweet, on curtain 7, grows sequoia evergreen (96) - Sequoia sempervirens Endl.Family Taxodiaceae - Taxodiaceae.

The area of ​​natural distribution of sequoia is the Pacific coast of North America (California, Oregon). This is one of the fastest growing and durable breeds. At 30-40 years of age, its trunks are suitable for sawing; at 60 years, a hectare of plantings produces about 1.5 thousand cubic meters of wood.

At the age limit in their homeland, more than 3000 years, the best specimens reach more than 100 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 8-9 meters.

In the conditions of the Black Sea coast, at 40 years old, the best trees are 30 meters high and have a trunk diameter of about 90 centimeters. Sequoia wood has a beautiful reddish color, is light, strong, and resistant to rotting, and is widely used in carriage building, making railway sleepers, tanks, barrels, etc.

In recent years, the area under sequoia in the Caucasus has been expanding, and experimental work is being carried out to promote it to mountainous areas. Hybrids selected by the academician are important for moving it north A. S. Yablokova, obtained by crossing sequoia with swamp cypress, cryptomeria and other conifers.

To the right of the sequoia, on the same curtain, there is a large specimen tulip tree (97) - Liriodendron tulipifera L.Magnoliaceae family - Magnoliaceae.

The tulip tree comes from North America. It got its name from its beautiful flowers that resemble tulips. It is also called the “lyre” tree because of the shape of its leaves, which are similar to this musical instrument.

The tulip tree is not only a beautiful park and forest plant. This is a valuable fast-growing forest tree species. It produces valuable, light, strong and soft wood, which is used to make plywood, furniture, musical instruments, etc.

In the conditions of the Black Sea coast, in 30 years a tulip tree reaches 20 meters in height and about 40 centimeters in diameter. It also grows well in the mountainous zone of the Caucasus.

Until recently, the widespread breeding of this breed was hampered by poor seed germination. Sochi NILOS has developed measures aimed at improving the quality of tree seeds. The tulip tree is recommended by the station as a valuable forest species for the mountain forests of the coast.

WITH opposite side paths, on curtain 13, we will examine the thickets Japanese pseudosase (93) - Pseudosasa japonica Mak. Cereal family - Graminea.

Pseudosasa, like psyllids, belongs to the tree-like grasses. These medium and small reed-like bamboos, up to 2-5 meters in height, form difficult dense thickets, and sometimes undergrowth in sparse forests (Southern Sakhalin). They grow relatively quickly and reproduce by cuttings of rhizomes and, in rare cases, by seeds. Pseudosas, like many other bamboos, have powerful rhizomes that grow in the surrounding area, especially in fertile soil, and prevent erosion.

Crossing the oncoming path, we move further between curtains 11 and 16 and, a little before reaching the new intersection of paths, on the right side we pay attention to a beautiful coniferous tree. This falsesuga yew-leaved (99) - Pseudotsuga taxifolia Britt.Pine family - Pinaceae.

Her homeland is West Side North America. A large, fast-growing tree with valuable light wood, of great interest for forestry on the Black Sea coast. Grows well in deep loams and sandy loam mountain soils.

False suga is durable, frost-resistant and suffers little from snow.

In the parks of the Black Sea coast, at the age of 70 it reaches 35 meters in height and 80 centimeters in diameter. In addition to its high value as a forest species, false yew-leaved suga is also a valuable park tree. It is most decorative at a young age when planted singly or in small groups in clearings. In these cases, the false suga forms a dark green cone, covered with branches right down to the ground. It reproduces well by seeds and occasionally self-sows.

In the high mountainous regions of the Caucasus, the station, together with the Krasnopolyansky forestry, is establishing mother plantations of this valuable tree species.

Let's pass the intersection of paths, on the right side we see a powerful specimen Himalayan cedar (100) - Cedrus deodara Loud.Pine family - Pinaceae.

At home, in the Himalayas, it grows in high mountain areas up to 3600 meters above sea level, forming large tracts with huge trees up to 50 meters in height and trunks up to 3 meters in diameter. Himalayan cedar has perfectly acclimatized in the mountainous regions of the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory, where at the age of 30 years its individual trees reach 30 meters in height and have a trunk up to 80 centimeters in diameter.

Himalayan cedar wood is very resistant to rotting. It is used in underwater structures and as a building material. Its beautiful appearance makes cedar wood valuable for making furniture and interior decoration.

After examining the cedar, we come to the fork in the path. Here, on the left side of the path, there is a group of trees eastern spruce (101) - Picea orientalis Link.Pine family - Pinaceae.

The homeland of spruce is the mountains of Western Transcaucasia, where it, together with Caucasian fir, forms vast forests at an altitude of 1200 to 2000 meters above sea level. It grows slowly, is durable, grows up to 30 meters or more in height, and requires fertile soil. Produces light wood with good resonant qualities. Thanks to the dark needles, it stands out well in beautiful groups and individual trees. It is an excellent tree for growing in parks, forest parks and forests of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.

After inspecting the fir trees, take the left branch of the path to the alley from magnolia grandiflora (102) - Magnolia grandiflora L.Magnoliaceae family - Magnoliaceae.

This beautiful tree with large, shiny, evergreen leaves is one of the most common ornamental species in the parks of the Black Sea coast from Nebug (north of Tuapse) to Batumi.

In the forests of the southeastern states of North America, magnolia grandiflora is a wild tree. In the best conditions, the magnolia height is 30 meters and the diameter is 1.5 meters. Its large matte white flowers reach more than 20 centimeters in diameter and have a strong aroma. It blooms from late May to October. Magnolia grandiflora is one of the most frost-resistant subtropical plants and can withstand frosts up to 17°.

Turning right, we go out onto the bridge, over which the branches spread sophora japonica (103) - Sophora japonica L. Legume family - Leguminosae.

The homeland of this deciduous tree is China. Sophora is very decorative and is widely used in landscaping streets and squares in southern cities. Weeping forms are especially decorative. They decorated the park near the Odessa Opera House very beautifully.

Solid flexible sophora wood is used in furniture production. Yellow dye is obtained from the leaves and fruits. A decoction of the fruit is a good remedy for treating wounds, burns and a number of diseases.

Sophora is frost- and drought-resistant and grows well in the North Caucasus, Ukraine, Moldova and the Central Asian republics.

Passing the bridge, on the right side of the path, on curtain 18 we will examine small trees maple (104) - Acer palmatum Thunb.Maple family - Aceraceae.

Among Japanese maples, in terms of its decorative qualities, maple ranks first. Light openwork light green foliage, which in spring and autumn is often painted in different tones, gives the maple a special charm. Through the efforts of many generations of Japanese gardeners, a huge number of different garden forms of maple leaf have been developed, differing in the height and shape of the trees, the size and shape of the leaf blade and the amazing variety of spring, summer and autumn leaf colors.

Common maple grows slowly and can withstand temperatures down to -15°; for good growth requires fertile, well-moistened, but sufficiently drained soils and high air humidity. On the coast it grows as a tree 5-7 meters in height.

In the arboretum, in addition to the main species, there are garden forms of maple with dark purple and bright red leaves.

The maple is used in resort landscaping, and its various garden forms, in addition to planting in parks and squares, are cultivated in pots and tubs. Propagated by seeds, and garden forms by grafting.

The excursion through the park ends with an introduction to the maple tree.

During the excursion, we briefly examined only a small part of the large collection of plants collected in the Sochi NILOS arboretum. But even this shows how diverse the plant world is and how extensive its use by humans is. Thousands of scientific institutions and Michurin practitioners are fruitfully working to resolve the maximum use of plants for human needs in our country.

In the summer, Sochi buzzes like a beehive: tens of thousands of vacationers want to get their share of sun, sea and entertainment. In the resort crowd, you can forget about the main treasure of the Caucasus - its nature. We recommend leaving the busy beach for a day and visiting the Sochi Arboretum, fragrant and surprising with exotic plants. This shady park will especially appeal to those who come to Sochi with children, as it is calm and very cozy here.

The park-arboretum in Sochi appeared in 1892, and it was planned not by a landscape architect, but by art critic and playwright Sergei Khudekov. Thanks to his work, the deserted slope of Bald Mountain was transformed: a beautifully planned park appeared here, in which hundreds of species of plants grew. Today, the park’s collection includes more than 1,800 species of trees, shrubs and flowers, and the arboretum is recognized as a monument of landscape art.

The best way to stroll through the garden without tiring your children by climbing up the mountain is to take a cable car to the top of the arboretum and then go down, exploring all its beauties. Plants are grouped by geography, so you will move from North America to China, from Australia and New Zealand to the Mediterranean, from Japan to the Caucasus. The flora of different parts of the Earth may seem truly amazing to children. For example, how often do you get the chance to walk among giant trees? There is such an opportunity in the Sochi Arboretum.

Slender sequoias grow near the upper cable car station. Even if you come to Sochi in winter, these giants will delight you with green leaves. True, it is not easy to see the crown of a sequoia - trees as tall as a 25-story building raise their leaves to the sky.

On the contrary, the stone rose is a low-growing plant that sticks to the ground. What is commonly mistaken for a rock rose flower is actually a rosette of leaves. This plant has adapted to survive in the mountains, so it is often used in the design of alpine slides. There are many in the arboretum and flowering plants. In the Japanese garden you will see delicate magnolias and sakura, in the Himalayas exhibition you will see bright lagerstroemia, and in the rose garden you will enjoy the aroma of many varieties of roses.

If you visit the Sochi Arboretum in winter, you should look for a riot of colors in the greenhouse. This is where sissy plants hide, to whom the warm Sochi winters seem bitterly cold. All year round Orchids, callas and hibiscus bloom in the greenhouse, cacti bristle with thorns and exotic fruits ripen. Some of the fruits ripening here will be familiar to a child - but has he ever seen bananas or oranges grow? Take photos of other exotic plants at the Sochi Arboretum to learn how to distinguish lychee from rambutan.

But coniferous trees are not afraid of either cold or heat. On a warm summer day, the intoxicating aroma of pine trees hovers in the arboretum - here you will see 80 species of this plant. They are accompanied by cedars, cypresses, thujas, firs, and yews. It is believed that it is especially useful to take a walk in the thickets of juniper: its phytoncides cleanse the air of pathogenic microorganisms.

The atmosphere in the park created by Khudekov is so peaceful that even animals feel calm in it. Swans swim and nutria live in the ponds, and in separate enclosures you can see parrots, ostriches and peacocks. In addition, the arboretum houses a small aquarium and a butterfly garden.

Note that the arboretum has a fruit nursery where plants are grown for sale. The Sochi Arboretum website has information about trees and shrubs that can be purchased.

Sometimes on the territory of former villages, among the Colchis forest, you can find the remains of old Circassian orchards, in which walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts, figs, different varieties of wild pears, apple trees, cherries and grapes still grow.

Eucalyptus trees in Russia survive only in the vicinity of Sochi. They were first planted here in the 1930s as part of a long-term fight against malaria. Then scientists miscalculated one thing: they thought that eucalyptus itself killed mosquitoes. In fact, eucalyptus does not emit substances that are lethal to mosquitoes. But by drinking three hundred liters of water a day, it dries out the soil and does not allow the larvae to develop. Then, by order of the USSR Academy of Sciences signed by Academician S.I. Vavilov, in 1950 the Sochi Arboretum established an experimental site for the world collection of eucalyptus. More than 700 seedlings of 70 species of eucalyptus were planted in the grove. After the harsh winters of 1963 and subsequent years, only about 20 trees remained in the grove. Several more trees grow in the Southern Cultures Park, and there are only a few specimens in the city.

At the end of last year, volunteers planted 300 eucalyptus seedlings in the southernmost and warmest corners of the city so that these beautiful and useful trees would not completely disappear from Sochi.