Black birch is a powerful beauty guarding the coast
Among the white-trunked graceful birches, there are varieties that absolutely do not fit into these parameters, for example, black birch. Rapidly increasing its growth rate, this tree is several times ahead of its relatives. With its size and its impressive, so unlike them, beauty, the wonderful tree attracts the attention of a person. What is remarkable about the variety and what it loves - let's find out in more detail today.
Features of the view
You can distinguish black birch among other types of culture by the following features:
- Crown shape. It resembles an egg, especially in young trees. Over the years, the side branches of the birch change the angle of inclination and begin to hang in an arched manner, like in most of these crops, forming a loose, openwork crown. The central shoots extend from the trunk at an acute angle.
- Bark coloration. The trunk has a beautiful and uncharacteristic silvery-gray color, which changes to red-brown with age, and the bark itself exfoliates in whole layers.
- Dimensions. The height of an adult tree reaches 30 m, while the diameter of the crown is equal to half of its "growth".
- Root system. The roots of the tree go deep into the ground, unlike most varieties, in which, although they are developed, they are superficial, because of which the birch can be pulled out of the soil by a strong wind. This will never happen with black birch.
But the shape of the leaves resembles birch ordinary: they are round, with small denticles along the edge, large (up to 12 cm in length). In spring, the foliage is dark green, and by autumn it becomes a beautiful red-orange color or even fiery. There is a slight pubescence along the veins.
Black birch blooms very interestingly and early: its catkins are quite long, soft yellow-green in color. Moreover, catkins appear before the leaves bloom, in April. After the end of flowering, in place of the earrings, oblong brownish nuts are formed, similar to open small pine cones.
What does black birch prefer?
Like most varieties, black birch seedlings are best planted in the spring, although they take root well with autumn planting. When planting in spring, pruning is not recommended. The beauty and power of the variety is manifested as much as possible on wet peat lands or sandy loam substrates. Heavy clay and alkaline soil is not for him.
It is necessary to determine the place for the tree immediately and forever, since it may not be able to transfer a second transplant.
Although birch loves the sun, it is better to plant it in light partial shade. The variety survives the winter well, but drought can cause irreparable harm to it. Birch loves moisture and even without problems tolerates a rise in the water level in the reservoir near which it grows.
Black birch is planted near reservoirs to strengthen the banks and for this it is even called river.