Where does the pine cone grow? How to grow a majestic, handsome cedar on your site. Useful properties of Siberian cedar

WHERE DO CEDAR GROW?

Many of us know that cedars grow in the Siberian taiga, that pine nuts are very tasty and that there are also such birds - nutcrackers.

Yes, indeed, these nuts are very tasty and such birds exist, but cedars do not grow in Siberia. In Russia, cedar colloquial speech called Siberian pine.

And real cedar is Lebanese cedar. It grows in the mountains of Turkey, Lebanon and Syria.

It often exceeds forty meters in height, with a diameter of about three meters at the base of the trunk. It has needle-shaped leaves and reproduces by seeds contained in cones. There are four types of true cedar: atlas cedar or African cedar, Cypriot cedar, Lebanese cedar and Himalaya cedar.

As their names indicate, they are trees originating from the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean region and Tibet, which have spread throughout the world, usually with ornamental intentions, thanks to human action. All provide light, reddish woods of great strength, used in construction and carpentry, and from which cedar oil is distilled.

This tree is mentioned in the holy Christian book - the Old Testament. King Solomon sent expeditions after it to build a temple from its durable and fragrant wood.

The Russian people who explored Siberia read the Old Testament, but never saw cedar. Seeing huge trees with “fluffy” needles, they decided that these were cedars.

It was one of the most important forests in the country; Stable wood and easy to operate, even the light hangs well in time and attacks insects. Commercial names: cedar, red cedar, cedar, akaju cedar, cedar, cedar rose, cedar, white cedar, bitter cedar, cedar.

Wood material for technological research was obtained in the state of São Paulo, Alta Sorocabana, in the municipality of Castido Mota, as well as in the north of the state of Paraná and the Itajaí Valley in the state of Santa Catarina. Cedar wood is considered to be moderately resistant to xylophagous attacks based on practical observations of its use.

Botanists know 4 types of cedar: Lebanese, Atlas (grows in North Africa), Cyprus (grows in the mountains on the island of Cyprus) and Himalayan (in the Himalayas, Northern India, in the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan).

Cedars are powerful trees 25-50 m high with a spreading crown. Leaves are needles with 3-4 edges. On elongated shoots, the needles sit one at a time, on shortened shoots they are collected in bunches of 30-40 pieces. The cones are large, 5-11 cm long.

Cedar wood, under pressure, in laboratory tests proved to be of low tolerance for preservative solutions. Cedar wood, due to its low linear and volumetric retractability and mechanical properties between low and medium, is especially suitable for interior parts of fine furniture, decorative flasks, plywood, decorative packaging, frame frames, castings, stationery, musical instruments, in civil engineering, such as blinds, baseboards, laces, cords, grommets, ship coverings such as interior decorative trim, light ship hulls, broom, etc.

Cedars are one of the most ancient trees on Earth. Cedar pollen grains were found in rock formed about 250 million years ago. And specimens of Lebanese cedars are among the oldest on Earth, both in age and in the antiquity of the species. They are guarded and are depicted on the Lebanese coat of arms.

Cedar wood has a pleasant bright yellow or yellowish-red tone. Many wooden antiquities found during excavations on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea are made of cedar. These are, for example, wooden parts of the sarcophagus (coffin) of the Egyptian king Tutankhamun. The coffin was perfectly preserved for more than 3,200 years. The Palace of Versailles in Paris has a carved gate made from cedar grown on the island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean Sea.

Cedar wood belongs to light forests as the greatest diversification and is only superior to pine forest. It occurs in all forest conditions in Brazil and virtually all of Latin America. It is a species that occurs both in environments that have already been modified by human action, but also in the main forest.

This tree can reach up to 40 meters in height and 200 cm in diameter. Its chest is cylindrical, long, straight or slightly sinuous, and when branched, a high, leafy dome. It has a bark with deep and wide longitudinal fissures, very typical. The inner bark is reddish with pleasant smell.

Cedars love warmth and cannot tolerate cold winters (especially Siberian ones). Therefore, they were able to take root only in the warm climate in the south of France, Italy, Crimea, the Caucasus, Central Asia.

Among all the conifers, there is no tree equal to cedar in the harmonious framing of garden landscapes. This is exactly what most English people think, which fully explains the popularity of this type of evergreen crop in the gardens of aristocrats. Two or three cedars at the entrance of the house are enough to frame architectural composition, giving it a touch of homely and at the same time festive atmosphere. We will tell you which cedars are suitable for cultivation in home gardens, analyze their types and popular varieties.

Leaves fall during the cold seasons of the year. Its yellow to cream flowers form a dense cluster. The fruit is a woody capsule with a rough texture and dark brown color. Inside are winged seeds. Pollination is possibly done by moths and bees, and seed dispersal is carried out by the action of wind.

Cedar stands out among the most valuable forests in Brazilian trade and export. Its wood is similar to mahogany wood, but it is softer and has a thicker grain. This allows for a very diverse use, surpassed only by the parana pine tree.

Did you know? Cedar wood is highly valued in the world market because it is famous for its durability, pleasant odor and antimicrobial properties. Hindus exalt these trees to the rank of divine, the Phoenicians used them for shipbuilding, and the Egyptians used them for mummification. Contemporaries note that cedar cabinets do not harbor moths.

Its wood is widely used in construction, tube box production and energy production. In folk medicine it is used as a tonic, astringent, in the fight against fever, against wounds and ulcers. The species is recommended for afforestation of public squares, parks and large gardens. Also, to restore degraded ecosystems and to replace riparian forests in areas without flooding.

Cedar is a very old tree. There are many types of cedars, but the Cedar of Lebanon is the oldest, strongest and most beautiful, and can live for hundreds and hundreds of years. It can reach up to 40 meters in height and 14 meters in trunk diameter. Although he was overwhelmed, he never won.

Cedar: general characteristics

Not everyone in our latitudes knows what cedar is. Most people associate it with the delicious pine nuts that are available for sale. In fact, this delicacy has absolutely nothing to do with cedars, since it is the fruit of a Siberian pine.

Others imagine cedars as majestic giants with spiny, elongated, multi-faceted needles of blue-green tones, spreading branches and scaly grayish bark.

And the union may face all sorts of attacks. In the first three years of a cedar's life, the roots grow up to one and a half meters deep, and the plant grows only 4-5 centimeters. In some local cultures, cedar is considered the "tree of life" because burning it unites the four elements: earth, fire, water and air. The smoke of cedar reminds us that people, animals and plants are all relatives, all the same creatures, interconnected, communicate in a language that can be remembered by the memory of our cells.

The most commonly used types are red cedar and white cedar. They serve to clear and divert intrusive energies and to attract good influences. Many carry cedars in their bags and treat them to ward off evil spirits. In the sweat tent, it is used to clean it and is also used for smoking.

This is how they are in wildlife, often found on the coasts Mediterranean Sea, in the forests and on the slopes of the Himalayas. IN natural environment these members of the pine family can reach a height of 50 meters.

Botanists classify cedars as monoecious trees of the oligotypic genus. They are distinguished by needles collected in bunches and arranged in a spiral, and elongated barrel-shaped cones. They bloom in autumn. Ripe triangular-shaped grains are covered with thin skin and have large wings. The fruits of real cedar are not edible; they contain a lot of resins.

The height is from twenty to thirty-five meters, with a chest of sixty to ninety centimeters in diameter, the leaves are sixty to one hundred centimeters long, with leaflets ranging from eight to fourteen centimeters long. Light to moderately heavy, soft and very durable in dry conditions. When buried or plunged into decay.

Flowers in August-September. Its fruits ripen with a completely lifeless tree during the months of June-August. It produces large numbers of viable seeds each year. Wood is widely used in plywood, plywood, carvings and carvings, models and frames, frames, furniture in general, carpentry, civil engineering, naval and aeronautics, small boxes, pencils and musical instruments etc. The tree is widely used in landscaping parks and large gardens.

Cultivated cedars can satisfy even the most demanding aesthetes, since they have many forms, differing in size, crown structure, color and length of needles.

When it comes to care, cedars, regardless of their species, join the list of undemanding plants. For a full growing season, they need systematic comprehensive fertilizing every month, spring mulching of tree trunk circles and regular humidification of the air and soil. Spraying is very important for young seedlings. By the way, they need careful preparation for winter: covering branches and trunk circles. It is typical that cedars cannot be replanted, so you need to take a serious approach to choosing a planting site. Planting material is productive only at 6-8 years of age.

In the early stages of its development it is required preventive measures for the prevention of fungal diseases. Cedars are very sensitive to rust, which is manifested by red, unaesthetic spots on the needles. Treatment occurs with fungicidal drugs. Trees are also threatened by chlorosis, with a particularly high risk of infection in limestone soils. The disease manifests itself as sudden yellowness and lifelessness of the needles, and bending of the branches. Bark beetles and Siberian hermes like to live in cedar bark. Specimens affected by these pests can no longer be saved. For small lesions, treatment with insecticides helps.

Reforestation is often not well seen due to the delayed return on the money invested, so many producers do not see the benefits of this type of venture. However, progress in forestry through the discovery of new technologies could change this scenario for reforestation in Brazil. Increased productivity can make this activity more profitable and lucrative, especially through forestry of fast-growing native species.

Silvicultural characteristics

It is one of the trees with the fastest cutting cycle, about five to seven years, being one of the known with the largest annual increase in the world. Maturity reaches approximately 7 years. In homogeneous reforestation it has a high survival rate, with straight and branchless branches, not reaching 96%.

Did you know? Per kilogram of dry pine needles minerals and vitamins were found. In particular, K (20 mg), P (3810 mg), B1 (19 mg), B2 (7 mg), B3 (28 mg), PP (142 mg), B6 ​​(2 mg), H (0.15 mg), C (600 mg). By the way, if the collected pine needles are stored in a cool room with a temperature no higher than 5 degrees, its composition will not become depleted at all.

Types of cedars

These majestic representatives of coniferous cultures have been known to people for more than 250 years. But, oddly enough, botanists still cannot come to a single number of cedar species. According to some, only Lebanese cedars exist in nature, which is explained by the similarity of all mature plants. Others insist on clear differences, further distinguishing Atlas, Himalayan and short-coniferous species. And others, on the contrary, do not recognize the short-coniferous breed. Using the experience of authoritative international experts who participate in the international project “Catalogue of Life” and have collected about 85% of information about all life on the planet, we follow their classification.

Reforestation of this species is still underway early stage, but the attractiveness of its rapid growth may provoke the interest of growers in cultivating this wonderful tree. Due to the silvicultural characteristics of this species, Brazil could become an export shed for this timber because the profitability is excellent and outweighs the attraction of the exotic timber forests currently logged.

Ficus is a very popular tree, used mainly in interior decoration. With a grayish stem, aerial roots and pendulum branches, it grows quickly and reaches 30 meters in height in natural conditions. Its leaves are small, bright and perennial, green or variegated in white or yellow color. They are elliptical in shape with a pointed tip and have small ripples around the edges. Discreet and white flowers have no decorative value. The small and red fruits are ornamental and attract small birds.

Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) was cultivated in the 17th century. It is characterized by slow development, longevity and adaptability to severe frosts (down to -30 degrees). Grows well even in chalky soil in sunny lawns. A young tree forms a cone-shaped crown, and as it grows it turns into a spreading crown with clear tiers of branches. In older specimens, the branches fold into an umbrella. Sprouts with light fluffiness. Dark green needles with a smoky tint, needles up to 3 cm long. Light brown cones, up to 12 cm long. Decorative forms differ in the length and color of the needles:

Its aggressive and shallow roots attract attention, and they rarely cut into pots and logs. Ficus - beautiful tree, widely used in landscaping. Isolated planting of this fig tree is recommended in extensive gardens and farms where the sculptural aspect of the stem has special meaning. Planted in pots, can also be grown as a tree or shrub. Its flexible shaft allows it to be braided when it is young, which gives it a special charm. In addition, it is very targeted at topographical work, taking on beautiful rounded and compact shapes.

Its characteristics make it quite suitable for the art of bonsai. When it comes to accelerated growth, bamboo is the champion. The secret is that bamboo, unlike most vegetables, doesn't just grow at the ends. It also stretches between one homo and another. There is a special reason for this: every plant has at the tip of its stem the tissue responsible for its growth, called the apical meristem.

• "Glauca" (with blue needles);
• "Breviramulosa" (with long openwork skeletal branches);
• “Stricta” (columnar crown is formed by dense short branches slightly raised upward);
• "Pendula" (branches easily fall down);
• "Tortuosa" (distinguished by sinuous main branches);
• "Nana" (dwarf variety);
• "Nana pyramidata" (short tree with upward-sloping branches).

Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) characterized by accelerated growth of young trees, can survive drought and short-term frosts (up to -20 degrees). Photophilous. Does not tolerate limestone soils and excess moisture. In gardening design, columnar, pyramidal, and weeping forms with silver, gold and blue needles are popular. In particular, these varieties:

Vegetables that do not have a mestatic intercalar also extend between the buds - only this is much slower because only the old cells grow. For thousands of years, this material has shaped traditional homes in countries such as Japan and China. IN last years research civil engineering confirmed its strength and durability. Architects around the world have rediscovered bamboo and begun to use it in modern community service. The need to rethink material consumption in construction to make it more environmentally sustainable is drawing attention to exploring new alternatives.

• "Glauca horizontalis" It is highly decorative, blue needles, arched branches. By the way, Atlas Glauca cedars belong to elite varieties.
• "Aurea". A tree with a pin-shaped crown and yellow-golden needles. Every year the needles become more and more green.
• "Fastigiata". A tall, columnar-shaped variety with light green needles.
• "Pendula". A characteristic feature variety is a smooth columnar shape and a hanging top. The needles are green.

Himalayan cedar trees are represented by many names of decorative varieties. In nature, this species has a conical crown with a clear number of branches. As they age, they develop a flat top. The culture develops quickly, loves moist air, tolerates shade and adapts to limestone. Although observant gardeners warn about the consequences of chlorosis, which is manifested by yellow spots on the branches. It is also recommended to plant all varieties of Himalayan cedar in a place protected from the wind.

And the case of bamboo is seen as a promise for this century. Cedar is a species that behaves as an early secondary or late secondary. This occurs both in the main forest, especially at the edges of the forest, and in clearings, as in secondary forest, but never in pure formations, perhaps due to strong attacks of the pine petrel and the need for light development, depending on the clearing.

The main phytoecological regions are dense ombrophilous forest, mixed ombrophilous forest, half-second seasonal forest and deciduous seasonal forest. The habit of this species is very variable due to the attacks of the cedar petrel, but when not attacked it is a small branched and straight shaft. Because natural debris is ineffective, it requires frequent and periodic pruning and driving, and when it comes to individuals affected by cedar borer, annual corrective pruning should be done within the first three months.

The characteristic features of the Himalayan cedar are its soft needles and cones sticking up. In gardening design, plants are pruned to create original shapes. In addition to the usual varieties, lovers of green decor prefer to plant thick-coniferous or long-needle varieties at home. The following are in demand in nurseries:

Pure planting in full sun, as previously shown, is impractical due to cedar attacks. To this we add that the highest performance is tested in more shaded conditions. Thus, mixed stands are more profitable, but avoid exceeding a density of 100 individuals per hectare.

In inter-tree cultivation, planting can be done in rows, and in vegetation with a woody matrix, planting can be done in open strips in capoiras. Cedar is a relatively fast-growing species, capable of behaving as early or late secondary species and preferentially regenerate, in clearings or forest boundaries, as mentioned earlier.

• "Albopica". Medium sized cedar with a pyramidal crown. The highlight of the breed is the color of the young shoots. At first they are whitish, then with a slight yellowish tint, and at the final stage of development they become bright green.
• "Aurea". It is distinguished by yellow shoots that turn green by autumn. The cones of this breed of Himalayan cedar change color with age from bluish to red-brown.
• "Golden horizon" A mature tree develops a powerful flat crown. The uniqueness of the variety is in the color of the coniferous needles, the length of which reaches 28 mm. WITH sunny side they are yellow, and in the shade they are smoky green.
• "Prostrata". It is a slow-growing tree with a wide branched crown, flattened at the top. By the age of 20, the plant reaches only 30 cm in height and 75 cm in width.
• "Kashmir". The variety is popular in cold zones because it easily tolerates severe frosts.
• "Rygmy." This cedar is famous for its rounded dwarf shape and green-blue needles. At the age of 15, the tree grows to barely 30 centimeters in height and 40 centimeters in width.

Pines called cedars

A number of trees that belong to the pine genus are popularly called cedars. These are the so-called European, Siberian, Korean and dwarf cedars. Due to poor adaptation to harsh winters, species of European and Korean origin are less commonly cultivated in our latitudes. There is an opinion that such pines are very troublesome to care for. In fact, like all coniferous crops, young seedlings require careful supervision.

For the first five years, they need to be watered at least six times every summer. For the winter, cover the crown and trunk circle with spruce branches. Fertilize with vermicompost twice a year (in spring and mid-summer). And also pinch young shoots in time, forming a crown. Pruning of branches is possible in case of severe infestations of seryanka. To prevent pests from spoiling the plant, you need to regularly remove fallen needles and treat them with preparations containing copper.

In the scientific literature it is designated as European pine (pinus cembra). The tree belongs to the pine family and got its name from an analogue of Siberian cedar. Both coniferous crops are closer in characteristics to pines than to cedars. The range of this species is concentrated in the southeast of France and in the High Tatras region of the Carpathians. The culture adapts well to shady areas, is frost-resistant (can survive 40-degree frosts), is moisture-loving, and prefers fresh clay soils. Outwardly, it has many similarities with Siberian cedar; it is distinguished by a smaller trunk height, a more flattened, ovoid-shaped crown and small cones. In their natural form, young plants have an elegant, slightly elongated crown, and as they age, they acquire bizarre shapes.

European cedar has more than 100 species, including many decorative ones, distinguished by the shape and size of the crown, the color and length of the needles.

Did you know? Cedars are included in the list of longest-living trees on the planet. The oldest tree of this species is about three thousand years old.

Siberian cedar pine (pínus sibírica) is distinguished by a decorative dense cone-shaped crown, brown-gray scaly bark and brown young shoots densely covered with red hair. The sprouts are shortened, the needles are soft, triangular, dark green with a bluish waxy coating. The length of the needles is about 14 cm. A typical feature of the variety is large fruits with tasty nuts. They appear at the 30th year of life. On average, each cone contains 50-150 seeds. The species is considered one of the most winter-hardy and shade-tolerant. Decorative forms are mainly planted on light, well-drained soils. Siberian cedar is considered a slow-growing crop, since it develops only 40 days a year.

Korean cedar (pínus koraiénsis) is close in description to Siberian and European look. In the wild, it is a tall tree with brown, rough, flaky bark and a dense, highly developed crown. Young specimens are shaped like a cone or oval, while mature specimens become a cylinder or an inverted cone. New shoots are covered with red hairiness. The needles reach a length of 20 cm, are triangular, smoky green in color, grow in bunches of 4-5 pieces and stay on the branch for about four years. Korean cedar cones also produce edible seeds, each growing up to 150 pieces. In the wild, trees begin to bear fruit after 100 years, and in cultivation - after 30. The breed is characterized by wind resistance.

Did you know? A decoction of 30 g of washed pine needles and 150 ml of boiling water helps prevent vitamin deficiency and colds. All ingredients are boiled for 40 minutes in summer, and 20 in winter, after which they are filtered and taken daily in 2 to 3 doses. If desired, you can sweeten the drink with honey. ethnoscience recommends the product even for prophylactic purposes.

On small local areas and in the backyard, low-growing varieties of pine trees, popularly called dwarf cedar trees (pinus pumila), will look spectacular. Such evergreen bushes can be used in a rock garden, on a lawn or in a mixborder. These are small plants with spreading branches. Breeders have developed many decorative forms, characterized by a variety of crowns: tree-like, creeping, cup-shaped. In the garden, the breed takes root well in areas protected from the wind. The height of the plant depends on the variety - it ranges from 30 cm to 7 meters with a crown diameter of 25 cm to 12 meters.

The peculiarity of dwarf cedar trees lies in very small cones that ripen in the second year, and young shoots directed upward, which are distinguished by a rich green color.

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Cedar is a tree with evergreen needles from the Pine family. Botanical name - Siberian cedar pine. To cultivate a tree, you need grains - pine nuts. The plant lives in the Urals, Eastern and Western Siberia.

Thanks to its nuts, the Cedar tree and its brethren have gained particular interest among biologists and breeders.

Description

The root system is powerful, which allows the plant to unbendably withstand all natural disasters. Mature cedar does not require agricultural care. Its antimicrobial properties are invaluable. The atmosphere around the tree is almost sterile. It does not grow in dry sandy areas, but selects moist and fertile soil from sandy loam or loam.

All types of pine trees in forests bear fruit by 30-60 years, and in gardens where constant care and feeding take place - by 15-20 years and up to 250-300 years. There is a good harvest of pine trees in those areas where two or three trees live, since they are cross-pollinated. The cedar seed ripening cycle lasts one and a half years.

• Shoots and needles. The shoots are coffee-colored and covered with reddish hairs. The needles are dark green in color with a bluish bloom, 6–14 cm in length. When cut, it is triangular and jagged. It feels plastic. It grows in bunches of five needles.
• Root system. It is represented by one central rhizome 40–50 cm long, from which small side rhizomes with root hairs with mycorrhizae on the edges extend. If the soil is airy and sufficiently drained, then massive anchor roots are formed at the main root, going 3 meters deep, designed with basal branches to ensure the stability of the crown and trunk.
• Cones. The tree is monoecious and heterosexual: female and male cones grow on the same plant. Cedar is an anemophilous plant - pollination is carried out by the wind.

In total, the genus of cedars has 4 species:

Canadian thujas

Canadian red cedar has no connection with real cedar; it is a thuja from the cypress genus. The plant is known for its wood with strong properties. This ornamental plant they arrange alleys, plant dwarf trees on siliceous lands. White Canadian cedar is called western thuja. It is 12-20 m in height, has a compact pyramidal crown and is similar to other plants of the cypress genus. The wood is reddish, with a characteristic strength and fragrance.

Cones and seeds

. Men's and female cones coexist on the same tree. Male ones are concentrated at the base of the processes, female ones at the edges of the growth processes, near the apical bud. The shoots are pollinated by the wind. The buds are conical in appearance. Mature cones are 15 cm in size and 8 cm wide. Young cones are purple, over the years they acquire a coffee color, resemble an egg, then become diamond-shaped.

The scales of the cone are compressed and take 15 months to fully ripen. Cedar grains are ovoid, 1.5 cm long and 1 cm wide, dark, closer to brown. Giants bear fruit at 60 years of age.

Planting and care

Maybe. It needs intensive potassium replenishment. Nitrogen is not added to the soil; it has a bad effect on the roots. Young cedars are weeded from weeds in a timely manner. Cedars are planted in open spaces, away from spruce trees, which love the shade from the spreading crown of the cedar. Cedars look great with birches, but birches have a detrimental effect on their growth. Therefore, they maintain the distance when landing. Before planting cedar, the area is marked in advance to give the trees the necessary space, maintaining a distance of 9 m.

Siberian cedar is mulched for direct ventilation and oxygen saturation of the soil. Mulch protects against freezing in winter and retains moisture. Mulch is added every year to increase adventitious roots.

Growing from seeds

To give the garden presentability and power, firmness and love of life, cedar is planted. This tree does not require regular care, pruning, creating a crown, or removing fallen crowns. Cedar heals the atmosphere around itself with the aroma of pine needles. The seedlings are planted in a permanent, well-lit area at a distance of 5-6 m from each other. Low fruit trees and berry bushes are planted between young cedars.

They create a crown on a low trunk, spreading, with many peaks. Cutting or breaking out the lateral buds is done early in the spring. Rooted cedars grow 5-10 cm in the first seasons.

The germination period of nuts is 2 years. After collecting it is 85%. Grains are sown in autumn. Sprouts appear in early spring. But you can speed up the germination of nuts in damp sand, soak them for a day and sow them in the spring. Sprouts appear after 14-21 days. They are dark malachite, with 10-12 cotyledons, 30 mm in length. The next year, pairs of needles emerge from them, and in the 4th-5th season - whorls. Plants emerging from seedlings provide shade throughout the hot months for a couple of years.

Cedar grows well in sphagnum bogs, forming powerful adventitious roots. The roots increase simultaneously with the increase in shoots. After 5-6 years, the wood's intelligibility to the ground decreases. Cedar is undemanding to atmospheric temperatures. Withstands continental climate, cold and dry land. But the death of the buds is likely due to late spring frosts, which coincide in time with flowering. This threatens 30-year-old trees that have begun to bear fruit. You have to wait a long time for the nuts to appear, but the tree lives for 500 years and brings generous harvests after 4-5 years.

Cedar kernels are a storehouse of vitamins and fats; they are used in medicine and the food industry. Microelements contained in grains improve memory and are a source of vegetable proteins and fats. Moderate use of grains increases immunity to diseases, revives nervous system, strengthens the heart and blood vessels.

Cedar wood kills bacteria. Cedar milk from ground grains is used for tuberculosis diseases.

Cedar resin heals wounds and is used for colds and lung diseases. The needles are used as a cure for asthma and scurvy. Needles are the basis for healing tinctures.

Diseases and pests

The main danger for cedars is bark beetles, especially ordinary engraver. In the first ten days of May, engraver's years begin; beetles identify a weak plant by its aroma and gnaw passages under the bark. Females lay eggs in them, from which larvae are formed. As a result, the trunk tissues die, and by the end of summer the tree dies.

If you overlook the beginning of damage to the bark by pests and do not protect the tree, then the battle against pests will be useless. The appearance of small holes on the bark with droplets of resin indicates that the tree is inhabited by bark beetles. Fighting beetles is very difficult and only experts can do it.

Another pest Hermes Siberian. Hermes pierces the trunk with a pointed proboscis and sucks the juice. Due to the hair-like growths on the body, Hermes looks like white fluff on the bark and needles. When treating trees with drugs, the droplets are retained by the “fluff” and do not reach the insect, as a result the hermes does not die. The growths contain both beetles and eggs. Therefore, only those insecticides that act through tree sap are used for control.

Just like pests, diseases destroy cedar. The most popular of them is rusty pine needles, appearing in warm and damp seasons. Rust looks like the formation of orange and yellow bubbles on the needles. These droplets become a yellow powder; these are fungal spores that infect the tissues of the needles. As a result of the rye disease, the needles are covered with yellow and brown marks, and then fall off. To combat the disease, weeds are weeded: sow thistle, coltsfoot, on which the rust goes through part of its formation cycle.

Usage

People have long seen the beneficial properties of cedar and use them in various areas of life: housing, furnishings, wooden crafts are made from wood, they are used in medicine and cooking: food and cedar oil are made from grains, medicinal decoctions are prepared from pine needles, oleoresin, bark, essential oil.

Oil

Cedar oil is produced by pressing from Siberian pine grains; it simultaneously contains the beneficial properties of olive, coconut, sea buckthorn and burdock oils. Cedar oil contains five times more vitamin E than olive oil. Essential oil is made from cedar, Siberian pine, Canadian thuja and others coniferous plants. In terms of properties, they differ at least from each other, differing only in the ratio of components. Essential oil is made from crushed bark, wood, and young shoots. Essential oil has antiseptic, soothing, antiviral properties and is used in cosmetology. Essential oil is not used internally; it is inhaled, applied to the skin, and healing baths are prepared.

Sap

They also use resin (cedar resin), which is pre-treated, because it is not used in its present form, it quickly turns to stone. Resin is used in solutions; you make them yourself or buy them in a store. It is not difficult to make a solution of oleoresin: oleoresin dissolves in vegetable oil at a temperature of 50 degrees, it does not lose its healing properties and, when used correctly, heals.

Seeds

Pine nuts have nothing to do with real nuts, the fruits of shrubs and trees of the nut family. The grains of real cedar are tasteless, but the nuts that are familiar to us are the grains of cedar pine. They are also used to make oil and tincture and are used in medicine, dietetics, cosmetology, and in aromatherapy sessions. Pine nuts are used to increase immunity to diseases, improve vision, prevent cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and anemia. Nuts are rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, P, and have minerals: manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, iodine.

The nut kernel contains fats, proteins and amino acids: tryptophan, methionine, lysine. Nut kernels are used for weight loss: they stimulate the hormone cholecystokinin, which sends a signal to the brain about satiety. Walnut tincture is used to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Tinctures and balms are prepared from the kernels and shells. The resulting drug is anti-inflammatory.

Pine nuts also cause harm. You cannot eat more than 50 g per day, it is forbidden to eat it with meat and dairy products, the protein in nuts interferes with the absorption of food. Nuts are not given to small children to avoid blockage of the respiratory tract.

Buy only unpeeled kernels; when they come into contact with light and oxygen, they go rancid and absorb harmful substances. If the nuts and food made from them are bitter, the food is thrown away. Rancid oil is a strong poison and it will take a couple of days to a couple of weeks for the body to recover.

Cedar as a unique building material

Cedar wood is excellent heat and waterproofing, a natural antiseptic, and it does not smolder. Housing made of cedar is durable, the premises are enriched with phytoncides, and the resin and essential oil have a good effect on the health of the owner of the house.

Cedar is a strong and beautiful tree, but it requires care. At proper care a tree can live for centuries. Siberian cedars are powerful giants, amazing with the beauty and beneficial properties of the atmosphere around them and their fruits.

Few people know that Canadian or Siberian cedar, which we have long been accustomed to consider cedars, are not this type of tree and belong to the genera of thuja and pine. And this name was assigned to them because they belong to the same Pine family.

True cedar is a coniferous tree of the Pine family, the genus of which contains only four species. The height of the trees ranges from 25 to 50 meters, they have a spreading, pyramidal or umbrella-shaped and shallow root system. The needles are collected in bunches, each of which consists of thirty to forty needles, having a three or tetrahedral shape.

The bark is dark gray, the wood is aromatic, and therefore the essential oil of cedar is of extremely high quality, yellowish or reddish in color, resistant to rotting, and due to its strong resin content, insects avoid it.

The cones are single, erect, ovoid or barrel-shaped, have a length of 5 to 10 cm, and a width of about six. They ripen in the second or third year after their appearance, and it is interesting that they do not crumble immediately, but throughout the autumn-winter period. Cedar seeds are triangular in shape, thin-skinned, resinous, 12 to 18 mm long and inedible.

All cedars are heat-loving plants, common in subtropical latitudes, and in temperate zones do not take root (therefore, the cedars of Russia are actually pine trees). They prefer to grow in loamy soils, in a mountainous area, at an altitude of 1.3 to 4 km from sea level next to spruce, fir, pine and other coniferous plants. But it does not tolerate strong sea winds well and almost does not take root on dry calcareous slopes.

In total, the genus of cedars has four species:

• Atlas - has a pyramidal crown, needles of bluish-green or gray color, grows in northwestern Africa, in the Atlas Mountains;
• Lebanese - is a symbol of Libya, depicted on the national flag; currently, in the country, which was previously considered the main exporter of wood, only a few trees remain;
• Himalayan - has a pyramidal shape and thin bluish-green needles, grows in the territory south asia, from it, like from other trees of the genus, aromatic cedar essential oil is obtained;
• Short-coniferous - has pubescent or bare shoots and shorter dark green needles than other species, can be seen in Cyprus.

Representatives of the pine family

On the territory of Russia, real cedars can only be seen in botanical gardens Caucasus. But cedar pine grows here: the trees known as cedars of Russia are actually pine trees and are represented in the country by three species: Siberian cedar, Korean cedar and cedar.

It is no coincidence that pines are called cedars. According to one legend, Peter I, having returned to Russia from Holland, ordered to find a tree that would not be inferior in properties to cedar, from which the highest quality and strongest ships were built. A similar plant was found in Siberia. It turned out to be pine, which from that moment received a new name - Siberian cedar.

Under natural conditions, cedar pine grows in Siberia, the Urals and Altai; in addition, the plant is artificially bred in all corners of Russia: it is very hardy and takes root well in temperate latitudes.

Cedar pine is a coniferous tree with a height of about 40 m and a trunk diameter of about 2 m. Young plants have a pyramidal crown, while in older ones it is wide-spreading and even often has several peaks. The bark is grayish in color and changes color with age: at first young pines are ash-silver in color, then gradually become gray-brown.

The length of the needles is from 5 to 12 cm, they are triangular in pine, dark green in color with a bluish tint, collected in small bunches - from 2 to 5 needles. Ripe cones, from 6 to 13 cm long and about 8 cm wide, are ovoid, light brown in color and contain from 80 to 140 seeds, known to us as pine nuts. The seeds of these cones are edible, very tasty and nutritious.

How different real cedars and Siberian pine are from each other is also evidenced by the fact that it is almost impossible to cross them with each other. And even if a tree sprouts, it does not live long and is quickly broken by the wind. This happens primarily at different growth rates: in the first few years, Russian cedars grow in height, while real species grow in thickness. Therefore, at the age of thirty years, the diameter of cedar is 20 cm, pine - 14, which cannot but affect the hybrid tree.

Canadian thujas

Also trees that have nothing to do with real cedars are thujas growing in Canada (many sellers of building materials often deceive buyers in this matter):

Canadian red cedar is actually a arborvitae from the cypress family. The tree has become popular thanks to its wood, which is characterized by durable properties in use. Canadian red cedar is also an ornamental plant: from more tall plants alleys are arranged, dwarf plants are planted in rocky areas.

White Canadian cedar - it is more correct to call the plant thuja occidentalis. The height ranges from 12 to 20 meters, has a compact ovoid or pyramidal shape and is similar in appearance to other members of the cypress family. The wood of the tree is reddish in color, it is characterized by such properties as strength, pleasant aroma, and since it is not subject to rotting, people have found use for it in various fields of activity.

Usage

People have long noticed the beneficial properties of cedar wood and found it used in all spheres of human activity: houses, furniture and other wooden crafts are made from wood. Russian cedars are also used in medicine and cooking: food is prepared from the seeds, cedar vegetable oil is used, medicinal decoctions and cedar essential oil are prepared from pine bark and oleoresin.

Oil

Cedar oil is so unique that there is no oil equal to it in terms of its properties. Pine nut oil is made by pressing the seeds of Siberian pine, and it contains all the beneficial properties inherent in olive, coconut, sea buckthorn and burdock oils. For example, pine nut oil contains five times more vitamin E than olive oil.

Cedar essential oil is obtained both from real wood and from Siberian pine, thuja and other coniferous plants (the properties differ little from each other and the main difference is in the ratio of components).

Unlike vegetable oil, cedar essential oil is made from crushed bark, wood, and young shoots. Cedar essential oil has excellent antiseptic, soothing, and antiviral properties; it is successfully used in cosmetology. The only thing is that cedar essential oil is not taken internally: it is inhaled, applied to the skin, and used for healing baths and other procedures.

Sap

Also successfully used in treatment is cedar resin (tree resin), which undergoes pre-treatment: it cannot be used in its pure form, since it hardens quickly.

Basically, cedar resin is also successfully used in solutions that you can either prepare yourself or purchase in a store. It is simple to make: cedar resin dissolves well in any vegetable oil at a temperature of 50 degrees and since the components do not overheat, it does not lose its healing properties and, when used correctly, cures.

Cedar resin is also sold in stores, but the person purchasing the solution should take into account that, most likely, they will buy a fake. For example, a solution called “Turpentine oil” is made from corn and nut oils, and “Turpentine oil” is turpentine turpentine, since it is obtained when cedar oleoresin is distilled with water or steam (in its beneficial properties, such a solution is very different from dissolved in oleoresin oil).

Seeds

If you figure out what a pine nut is, it turns out that cedar seeds have nothing to do with real nuts, which are the fruits of shrubs and trees of the nut family. The seeds of true cedar are inedible, but the nuts known to us are the seeds of the cedar pine.

However, this does not at all reduce the beneficial properties of the seeds: they, as well as pine nut oil and tincture made from them, are used in medicine, dietetics, cosmetology, and aromatherapy sessions. For example, pine nuts are often used to improve immunity, vision, and to prevent cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and anemia.

Pine nuts are rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, P, and contain a huge amount of minerals, including manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, iodine. Despite the fact that the pine nut kernel contains a lot of fat, protein and amino acids such as tryptophan, methionine, lysine, it is actively used for weight loss: pine nuts are not only nutritious, but stimulate the activity of the hormone cholecystokinin, which signals the brain about satiety. Pine nut oil made from seeds brings particular benefits to the body.

Pine nut tincture is used not only as an alcoholic drink, but also as a treatment for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Interestingly, in addition to the kernel, pine nut shells are often used to prepare tinctures and balms: the resulting product is an excellent anti-inflammatory medicine.

We must not forget that when talking about pine nuts: benefits and harm go hand in hand. Firstly, if you eat more than 50 g per day, it can harm the body. Also, they should not be consumed together with meat and dairy products, the protein of which interferes with the absorption of food. Pine nuts are not recommended for young children, as they can clog the respiratory tract.

It is necessary to purchase only unpeeled kernels, since when they come into contact with light and oxygen, they go rancid and absorb harmful substances. This means that if the nuts and the dishes that were made from them are bitter, such food should be thrown away, since rancid oil is a strong poison and can take from two days to two weeks to restore the body.

This type of cedar has several distinctive features:

• flat top;
• barrel-shaped lump;
• dark triangular projection on the upper edge of the seed scale.

The plant lives at an altitude of 1000-2000 m above sea level in the Turkish Taurus and Antitaurus mountains, in Lebanon and Syria. In Russia, this tree grows on the coast of Crimea.
The lifespan of the Lebanese is 2000-3000 years. Crimean representatives of the species live less - 150-200 years. This is due to the calcareous soil, which is unsuitable for the plant.

Himalayan

The crown of the plant looks like a wide cone. The branches are located horizontally, bending down at the ends. In its natural environment it lives in East Asia: in the north-west of the Himalayas, in the mountains of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, India. It grows at altitudes up to 3500 m above sea level.

The lifespan is 1000 years. In favorable conditions it lives up to 3000 years.

Cyprus (short-coniferous)

This species differs from its relatives in short needles up to 1 cm, short height up to 12 m and smaller cones. The shape of the crown changes with age. At first it looks like a cone, then it takes on a wide-spreading shape, and in old age it becomes like an umbrella.

The Cyprus cedar lives in the lower zone of dry coniferous forests islands of Cyprus. Some biologists classify it as a variety of Lebanese cedar. The plant lives up to 500 years.

Atlas

It has a pyramidal crown. With age, the top becomes flat. The leaves and cones are smaller than those of the Lebanese variety, but larger than those of the Cyprus cedar. Some botanists classify the tree as a Lebanese species.

Lifespan – 800 years. In the wild it grows at an altitude of 1300-2000 m above sea level on Mount Atlas in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

Thanks to artificial propagation, all plant species, except short-coniferous ones, now grow in Russia on Black Sea coast and the south of Central Asia.

Where do cedar pines grow?

Siberian pine is a much more common species. IN wild environment lives in the taiga, mountains and swamps. Found in Mongolia and Northern China.

In our country it grows mainly in Western Siberia. In Eastern Siberia it grows closer to southern border. Grows in Central and Southern Altai. To the west of the Ural Mountains, the tree is distributed as far as the Timan Ridge.

Cedar pine is also found in the European north of Russia. In these areas it predominates in Arkhangelsk and Vologda region. Several trees remain in the Kostroma region.

Pine nuts

What we used to call pine nuts has nothing to do with cedar. The seeds of true cedar are inedible. Siberian nuts are eaten as food.
Pine nut shells are widely used. Their oil has found application in cosmetology.

Cedar pine seeds are rich in vitamins and microelements.

They have many useful properties:

• increase physical and psychological tone;
• improve brain function;
• slow down the aging process;
• reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases;
• strengthens skin, hair, and nails;
• have a beneficial effect on the nervous and reproductive systems;
• increase potency;
• normalize blood clotting;
• stimulate independent production of vitamins;
• maintain normal hemoglobin;
• promote the production of collagen necessary for joints and skin;
• normalize water-salt balance;
• strengthen bones;
• increase attention;
• improve memory.

Infusions and decoctions are made on the shells of cedar seeds. Due to their anti-inflammatory effect, they are used to treat wounds, ulcers and other manifestations. skin diseases. When consumed internally, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract improves.

The oil is used in medicine as part of ointments and inhalations. How cosmetic product helps in the restoration of hair, eyelashes and skin. It is added to creams and masks.

Is it possible to grow real cedar in the middle zone?

It is believed that true cedar can withstand frosts down to -30 C. But this is only true for a short-term drop in temperature. The tree will not survive winter.
In our country, real cedar is found only on the Black Sea coast.

In colder regions, dwarf breeds are grown at home. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to enjoy this mighty beauty in your garden.

Features of growing cedar pine

But Siberian in Russia is successfully grown in any climate. The main thing is to take a responsible approach to choosing a site for planting and properly care for the plant.
For the first 5 years, the tree is grown at home in a pot. Only after reaching a height of 1 meter is the plant transplanted into open ground.

The sprout or seed is planted in a spacious container so that the root system is comfortable. The pot must have drainage holes and a tray to drain excess liquid.

The soil should be loose and fertile, without peat. To protect against pests, oxidizing agents are added to the soil.

A root growth biostimulator is used as a top dressing. Preference is given to special fertilizers for coniferous plants. Excessive use of additives will harm the pine tree.

Siberian pines love abundant water in the hot season. In summer, the soil around the tree is moistened as it dries. In autumn, watering is reduced, and in winter it is stopped altogether.
To bring the conditions as close as possible to their natural habitat, the tree is placed on a balcony or outside for the winter. There is no need to cover the plant.

When planting in open ground, the choice of site is important. It should be taken into account that the pine tree has a spreading crown. A mature tree will need enough space.

When planting in groups, maintain a distance of at least 7 m between plants. It is necessary to retreat at least 3 m from the walls of buildings.

Cedar pine loves sunlight. At the same time, it is resistant to cold and winds. A well-lit hill will be optimal for planting. It is worth giving preference to loamy, loose soil without an excess of groundwater.

Siberian pine is frost-resistant. In winter it is not covered or mulched. It does not need fertilizing or watering.

Tree pruning is done in the spring. It is enough to remove dried branches. Decorative shaping is usually not required. For the procedure, use sharp pruning shears disinfected with alcohol. The cut areas must be treated with varnish.

Cedar is a beautiful and powerful plant. Unfortunately, only residents of the southern regions can become its owner in our country.

The rest of the gardeners can only enjoy Siberian in their garden plots. She has little in common with a true cedar, but she is also very beautiful.

More more information about Siberian pine you will receive by watching the video: