Himalayan cedar at home. Siberian cedar - a description of the species features of the tree, planting and care in the garden

Cedar ( Cedrus) - large evergreen, monoecious trees of this family. Pine, resembling in appearance, the nature of branching, shortened shoots with bunches of larch needles. Cones are large, solitary, erect, elongated-ovoid or barrel-shaped, ripen in 2-3 years, after which they crumble.

It should be noted that a number of species that are popularly called cedars do not belong to the genus Cedrus, but to the genus Pinus (Pines):

European cedar pine, or European cedar - Pinus cembra
Siberian cedar pine, or Siberian cedar - Pinus sibirica
Pine cedar dwarf, or Cedar dwarf - Pinus pumila

The genus includes 4 species, of which one grows in the Western Himalayas, others in the Mediterranean. Species vary greatly and old trees are difficult to classify, and differences in branches disappear with age. In the extreme south of Russia, three species from the genus Cedrus are used in landscaping: atlas cedar, himalayan cedar And Lebanese cedar. However, in the catalog of the German company Kordes, a number of varieties of Himalayan cedar are recommended for areas “with especially extreme winter conditions” and are assigned to zone 4.

himalayan cedar- C. deodara (Roxb.) Loud. It occurs naturally in the northwestern Himalayas, Afghanistan. Tree up to 50 m tall, with a wide conical crown. In adult specimens, the crown is flat at the top, with hanging branches on horizontally spread branches. Young shoots are pubescent. The needles are light green, with a bluish tinge, longer than those of other species (up to 5 cm), in bunches. Cones up to 10 cm, ovoid, bluish in youth, later red-brown, less convex in the middle than that of the Lebanese cedar.

Long-lived, fast growing breed. It tolerates shading better than other types of cedar, prefers high humidity of air and soil. It is undemanding to soils, puts up with the presence of lime in it. Tolerates temperatures as low as -25°C without damage. Suffering from windfall. It is susceptible to such a disease as chlorosis due to the large amount of lime in the soil. With it, the needles turn yellow, and the plant lags behind in growth.

It has a number of decorative forms:

A) by the nature of growth:

thick coniferous (f. crassiflora) - with short thick needles, a crown with a few short, widely spaced branches, grows slowly;
powerful (f. robusta) - powerful growth, with longer needles;
compact (f. compacta) - with a squat, rounded dense, pyramidal crown;
columnar (f. fastigiata); weeping (f. pendula).

B) according to the color of the needles:

golden (f. aurea);
silver (f. argentea).

FORM	DESCRIPTION
"Alboccica"	The shape is pyramidal, medium size. The ends of young shoots are whitish, later yellowish and finally completely green.
"Aurea"	Shape like the species, but much lower. Shoots are yellow, gradually turn green in autumn. Yellow-gold needles.
Glauca	Needles bluish-green to silver-blue. In nurseries, this name is accepted for trees with especially blue needles, but not for clones.
golden horizon	The shape is wide, flat, but powerful. Needles on the sunny side are predominantly yellow or green-yellow, but more often gray-green 15-28 mm long, in young shoots up to 4 cm long. Derived from seedlings, 1975 Gebr. van Vliet, Boskop.
"Carl Fuchs"	Clone from seedlings of Afghanistan, where a special blue form was bred. In Sweden, it tolerates frosts down to -30.
"Kashmir"	The form is ordinary, with silver-gray needles; famous for enduring particularly harsh winters.
"Raktia"	Temporary designation for trees from Paktia Province, Afghanistan. Fast growing, thin. Blue-green needles. The best clone from Schneverdingen is "Karl Fuchs". Named after a German botanist who brought seeds from Afghanistan. More valuable than Kashmir.
"Prostrata"	The form is wide and flat, slow-growing, branched. Hillier describes a 20-year-old tree that is only 30 cm high and 75 cm wide.
"Rygmy"	Dwarf form, rounded. The needles are blue-green. Around 1934, V. T. Gotelli, an American conifer lover, was discovered in one of the nurseries. At 17 years old, the plant reached a height of 30 cm and a width of 40 cm.
"Robusta"	The shape is pyramidal, powerful. The branches are strong, thick, overhanging, very densely covered with needles. Needles 5-8 cm long, thick, straight, greenish-blue. Cultivated in France around 1850. Heavy branches break off.
"Verticillata glauca"	The form is straight, thin, height 3-5 m. The branches are horizontally spaced, branching little. The branches are evenly spaced. Needles on young elongated shoots, whorled, greenish-blue. Opened until 1891 in France.
Viridis	The needles are most often fresh green, shiny, much thinner than those of the species. Found in French nurseries; much more sensitive than the species.
Viesemannii	The shape is straight, but more elongated than that of the species. The branches are more densely compressed, standing-overhanging, very densely covered with greenish-blue needles.

In 1905, the German botanist Karl Fuchs in the Afghan province of Paktia, at an altitude of about 3500 m, collected the seeds of the high-mountain race of the Himalayan cedar. It is worth noting that in those places winter lasts from November to April, and the temperature often drops to -30 degrees. and below.

When sowing these seeds, a number of forms that were especially resistant to low temperatures were identified, 2 of which received the status of a variety:

FORM	DESCRIPTION
“Eisregen” (C.deodara “Eisregen”)	It has a more spreading crown than the typical form. The needles have a light bluish-gray color, due to the presence of a whitish wax coating, which, in turn, is a protection from the withering effect of cold. He survived the winter of 78-79 without damage, when for a long time the temperature in Germany fell below -26 degrees. Considered one of the most resistant cultivars of the Himalayan cedar
"Karl Fuchs"(C.deodara "Karl Fuchs")	A particularly valuable cultivar with bluish needles, which survived a number of winters in Sweden with temperatures down to -30 and below without damage. The most winter-hardy variety of Himalayan cedar, suitable for cultivation in almost all of Europe.

In the catalog of the German company Kordes, these two Himalayan cedar cultivars are recommended for areas “with particularly extreme winter conditions” and are assigned to zone 4, which is quite acceptable even for the Moscow region. Moreover, seedlings are sold grafted on European larch, which further increases the winter hardiness of these plants, bringing the seasonal rhythm of development of these varieties as close as possible to the rhythm of temperate latitudes.

These varieties of Himalayan cedar should be tested in various zones of the European part of Russia. But the fact that the culture of this magnificent coniferous tree can be promoted far beyond the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus is certain.

Himalayan cedar, deodar, cedrus deodara (lat), cedar (eng), devdar (ind)

Himalayan cedar -a storehouse of vitamins and nutrients, a powerful antioxidant, has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, astringent, soothing and tonic properties.himalayan cedarrelieves stress and strengthens the immune system, restores the body and treats a wide range of diseases, rheumatism, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, ulcers, skin diseases.himalayan cedarmoisturizes and nourishes the skin, effective against baldness and dandruff.

Deodar is a coniferous tree, one of the types of cedars. The birthplace of the deodar is Pakistan. It grows in East Asia, in the northwest of the Himalayas in the mountains of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal and reaches up to 50 m in height. Cedar wood is durable, at the same time soft and fragrant, the needles are soft and thin. Each needle lives from 3 to 6 years, the cone matures within 1.5 years. Cedar lives up to 1000 years, but under ideal conditions it can reach the age of 3000 years. Such old and powerful trees are no longer found in the Himalayas. IN 250 year old aged deodar forms huge reserves of timber. In the Himalayas, it rises in the mountains to a height of 3500 m. The Himalayan cedar usually grows in a mixture with spruce, fir and evergreen oaks. It is distinguished by a bluish-gray shade of needles.

In India, cedar is a sacred tree. The word deodar comes from the Sanskrit devaradu - "forest of the gods" (deva - god, daru - forest). In Hinduism, it is worshiped as a sacred tree, especially in the states of Kashmir and Punjab. In ancient times, Indian sages and their families liked to settle in the deodar forests, who worshiped the god Shiva and performed austerities in the forest in order to receive his mercy. The Deodar forest is mentioned in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana and other ancient sources.

Cedar was used in the construction of historical monuments in India, for example, in Kashmir, in the mosque of Shah Hamadan in Srinagar, where the cedar columns installed back in 1426 are perfectly preserved. The famous Kashmir houses on the water (houseboats) were built from the deodar, the British widely used it to build bridges , railways, various buildings. Like other types of cedar, Himalayan cedar is highly drought tolerant and shade tolerant.
It is successfully cultivated in different countries for landscaping streets and parks.

Because of the valuable wood, cedars were mercilessly destroyed, which greatly reduced the cedar forests, in some places they were completely cut down. The Kashmir Valley (Western Himalayas), which lies at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level, suffered greatly. Back in the 2nd century BC, the soldiers of Alexander the Great cut cedars already in the mountains, and not in the valley - it was necessary to build strong rafts to go down the Indus to the sea, and since then the process of cutting down cedars has continued. But the cedar was called the "pearl of Kashmir."

Fragrant cedar wood has long been used in India to make smoking sticks. The smell of the deodar drives away insects, so people fumigated living quarters with sticks, smeared the legs of horses, camels and cattle with oil distilled from wood so that insects would not bite them. In addition, the wood has antifungal properties and was used to store spices.

Two types of oil are obtained from cedar - essential and vegetable.

Cedar essential oil is obtained from wood, bark and needles of a tree and is used in aromatherapy, cosmetology, perfumery, as well as for medicinal purposes.

Essential oil of cedar

Deodar essential oil has a characteristic woody scent. In perfumery and cosmetology, it is used as a fragrance and fixative. Widely used in aromatherapy.

It has the following effect:

- psycho-emotional: calms, removes doubts, clarifies difficult situations, improves mood

– healing: relieves fatigue and headache, stimulates and supports the body, helps with colds, cleans the room

- magical: "spiritual" smell, cleanses and promotes spirituality

Cedar vegetable oil

Pine nut vegetable oil has unique healing and nutritional properties, it has no analogues in nature, its synthesis is impossible. The oil is extremely rich in vitamins and minerals and is widely used in the food industry, in medicine, in cosmetology and in everyday life.

One cedar cone contains from 30 to 150 nuts. 100 g of pine nuts provide the body's daily need for amino acids and important trace elements such as copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc.

Pine nut kernels contain 63.9% oil, proteins, which include 19 amino acids, most of which are essential (tryptophan, lysine, valine, lycine, serine, proline, methionine, isolecine, histidine, cystine, cysteine, arginine, tyrosine, phenylalaline, glycine, threonine, alanine, aspartic and glutamic acids), vitamins (A, E, B1, B2, B3), carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch, fiber, pentosans, dextrins, sugar), fats, micro- and macronutrients (barium, titanium, silver, aluminum, iodides, cobalt, sodium, copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon, vanadium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, molybdenum, nickel, iodine, tin, boron, zinc, iron). The shell of pine nuts is also very rich in content.

Cedar oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids - oleic, linoleic, linolenic, amino acids, vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (PP, or niapin), D, E, F, such deficient macro- and microelements as iron, iodine, magnesium, manganese, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, copper, silicon, boron, nickel, sodium, titanium, silver, aluminum, molybdenum.

Pine nut oil is distinguished by a high content of substances that are antioxidants, that is, they prevent the aging of the body.
In terms of vitamin E content, it is 5 times higher than olive oil and 3 times coconut oil. Vitamin E, or tocopherol, is an antioxidant that gives the oil its antioxidant properties. Tocopherol in Greek means "bearing offspring." With a lack of vitamin E in the body, the fat balance is disturbed, atherosclerosis develops, lactation stops in nursing mothers. The higher its content in the oil, the more resistant it is to rancidity.

Vitamin F was named essential and necessary for the body fatty acids - palmitic, stearic, oleic, gadoleic, linoleic and linolenic. There are 3 times more of them in cedar oil than in preparations based on fish oil. Linoleic and lenolenic acids, the percentage of which is especially high in cedar oil, are not synthesized in our body. They help lower blood cholesterol and prevent the occurrence of various colds, as well as dermatitis in infants.

Vitamin B complex is responsible for the favorable growth and development of the human body, prevents beriberi, normalizes the activity of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, digestive organs, metabolism, improves blood composition, skin and mucous membranes, liver function, vision, transforms proteins, fats and carbohydrates for energy.

In terms of phosphorus content, pine nuts are superior to all other nuts and oil crops, only soy can be compared with them.

Cedar oil can replace any other oil (almond, coconut, olive, burdock, Provence) in all cases of its medical use, but nothing can replace cedar oil itself. It is perfectly absorbed by the body, and surpasses beef and pork fats in calories.

The demand for quality pine nut oil has always been high, as has its price. Real cedar oil cannot be cheap, but its wonderful qualities more than justify its cost.

Unfortunately, there was also the problem of counterfeiting healing cedar oil or issuing oil for it, intended only for culinary purposes. The peculiarity is that there are two main methods for obtaining cedar oil: cold and thermal. In both cases, the oil turns out to be practically indistinguishable from the outside: amber-yellow in color, with a slight specific cedar smell and taste. But its healing properties are different: during cold pressing, the shelled nucleoli are placed in a wooden press. The extracted oil is settled or filtered. During processing, contact with oil of metal parts is not allowed. The resulting cedar oil is extremely useful, widely used in folk medicine and cosmetology. The method is the most expensive, but the result is the highest quality.

There are several thermal methods for obtaining cedar oil. The most common are the extraction of oil from heated crushed nucleoli by washing with hot water (boiling water) and hot pressing. The method is less expensive, but the result is simply high-quality cooking cedar oil, the healing properties of which are an order of magnitude lower, since many useful substances in it are destroyed by high temperature.

If you put pine nut oil in a freezer, the oil obtained by cold pressing will not change, while the oil obtained by hot pressing may become slightly cloudy and thicken.

There is another method for checking the oil: you need to drop it into a clean glass dish. Real oil can be easily washed off with ordinary water without the use of detergents. The fake one will behave just like any other fat.

Being natural food products, pine nuts and cedar oil have no contraindications for consumption and use, both for food and for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, and are a safe product.

As a medicinal raw material, deodar was known for several thousand years BC. All parts of the cedar tree - wood, sawdust, bark, needles, resin, cones, buds, kernels and shells of nuts, cedar oil - are widely used for medical purposes - both in folk and traditional medicine. Deodar has long occupied an important place in the system of Ayurveda.

Everything in the cedar has healing power: the needles are rich in vitamins C, A, beta-carotene, tannins, terpenes, alkaloids. Coniferous broth contains more vitamin C than lemon juice. 100-200 ml coniferous broth contain the daily norm of vitamin C. In vessels made of cedar wood, milk does not sour for a long time, and water does not deteriorate for weeks. All parts of the cedar have a high phytoncidity - they have bactericidal power and neutralize pathogenic microbes.

Compresses, poultices, baths, decoctions, infusions, extracts, oils are made from different parts of the cedar - all this is used to treat a wide range of diseases.

The healing properties of cedar are used as follows:

- as a means of increasing physical and mental performance, eliminates chronic fatigue, strengthens the immune system, relieves the effects of stress

- as a means of increasing the body's resistance to the effects of unfavorable ecology and preventing the occurrence of many diseases that arise in connection with this, prolongs a person's vitally active period

The use of cedar oil is especially useful for people living in adverse climatic and environmental conditions, employed in jobs with increased psycho-emotional stress and increased energy consumption. Pine nut oil helps to remove salts of heavy metals from the body.

– to rejuvenate the body and slow down the aging process, due to the high content of antioxidants

- to lower blood cholesterol levels

- with high blood pressure

- with varicose veins

- with gout, rheumatism, sciatica, arthritis, rickets, polyarthritis

- with diseases of the blood and lymph, with anemia

- as a means of promoting the development of a growing organism: due to the presence of amino acids, pine nuts are simply irreplaceable in the diet of children, adolescents, pregnant women

- with laryngitis, colds, flu, bronchitis, tuberculosis, relieves inflammation and redness of the throat with sore throat

- in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - gastritis, bulbitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers

- for various skin diseases - eczema, dermatosis, neurodermatitis, urticaria, psoriasis, diathesis, dry skin, as well as for the treatment of bedsores, trophic ulcers, burns and frostbite

- with allergic disorders

- with atherosclerosis

- in diseases of the kidneys, urolithiasis

- for migraines and headaches

- with bleeding gums, toothache, scurvy

Extracts of bark, needles and wood of a cedar and cedar oil are used in all basic products of cosmetology and perfumery of the leading world firms. These are products for hair, face and body skin care - shampoos, balms, oils, conditioners, soaps, lotions, masks, scrubs, shower gels, bath salts, oils, healing ointments and balms, massage oils, as well as perfumes, colognes, toilet water, aromatic sprays for the home.

Cedar is used in cosmetology due to

- antioxidant properties

Cedar has a very high content of antioxidants. Protects the skin from the effects of free radicals and slows down the aging process of cells, providing a rejuvenating effect. Vitamin E, contained in the bark, wood and oil in high concentrations, is called the "vitamin of youth." Restores the protective properties of the skin. Creams containing deodar are good to use in bad weather to protect the skin from environmental influences.

- nourishing and moisturizing properties

Deeply nourishes the skin and supplies it with the amount of priceless elements and vitamins it needs, eliminates dryness, fatigue, moisturizes and tones the skin, gives it a healthy and well-groomed appearance. Heals cracks on the heels, elbows, in the corners of the mouth, softens rough skin. Pine nut oil compresses perfectly care for flaky, chapped skin of the hands.

Suitable for all skin types. Ideal for dry, thinned, aging skin.

For people with oily skin, cedar oil is not contraindicated. It nourishes oily skin well and helps to reduce oiliness.

- antibacterial and antifungal properties

Cedar is a powerful antiseptic and is used in the fight against various skin infections, up to psoriasis.Himalayan cedarremoves rashes, acne, kills infections, fungi and microbes.himalayan cedaroften found in antifungal foot creams and acne creams.

- astringent and healing properties

Heals and tightens wounds, ulcers, cuts, burns, frostbite.

Cedarwood oil is often included in sunscreens and protects the skin from harmful UV rays.

Cedar oil is used for general and specialized body massage. Usually, for these purposes, cedar oil (both vegetable and essential) is added to the base vegetable oil. Massage with cedar oil relieves fatigue, improves peripheral blood circulation, relieves venous congestion of the extremities, improves skin elasticity. Used in massage oils to relieve rheumatic pains.

Enhances lymphatic drainage, releases fat, used in massages for weight loss, against cellulite. This composition also uses a wood core.

The use of deodar in a bath, sauna, while taking baths promotes skin rejuvenation, wound healing, relaxes, tones, prevents colds, strengthens the immune system.

Cedar oil is used to strengthen nails, eliminate brittleness, give them shine and strength.

Extracts and oil of cedar are one of the main components for hair care. Effectively fight dandruff, improve blood circulation, nourish bulbs and hair, promote hair growth. Included in the composition of therapeutic agents against hair loss and baldness. Especially recommended for the care of brittle, dry, lifeless, dull hair that has lost its vitality. Gives hair strength, shine and elasticity.

Lebanese cedar

Cedar (Cedrus) - large evergreen, monoecious trees of this family. Pine, resembling in appearance, the nature of branching, shortened shoots with bunches of larch needles. Cones are large, solitary, erect, elongated-ovoid or barrel-shaped, ripen in 2-3 years, after which they crumble.

European Cedar Pine, or European Cedar - Pinus cembra Siberian Cedar Pine, or Siberian Cedar - Pinus sibirica Siberian Cedar Pine, or Siberian Cedar - Pinus pumila The genus includes 4 species, of which one grows in the Western Himalayas, others in the Mediterranean. Species vary greatly and old trees are difficult to classify, and differences in branches disappear with age. In the extreme south of Russia, three species of the genus Cedrus are used in landscaping: Atlas cedar, Himalayan cedar and Lebanese cedar.

Lebanese cedar - C. libani Loud. It occurs naturally in the mountains of Asia Minor. Tree up to 40 m tall. The crown is cone-shaped in youth, broadly spreading in adulthood, and umbrella-shaped in old age. Shoots glabrous or slightly pubescent. The needles are dark green, up to 4 cm, hard, tetrahedral, in bunches of 30-40 pieces. Cones solitary, light brown, up to 10 cm long and 4 cm in diameter, barrel-shaped. It grows slowly, the most photophilous and frost-resistant among the representatives of the genus. It is drought-resistant, undemanding to soils, tolerates even calcareous ones. Durable.

A beautiful, majestic tree, characterized by mighty growth, a large trunk and dense, storey branching. Valuable object of landscape gardening construction. Good in single plantings and small groups. In culture since 1683.

Decorative forms:

blue (f. glauca); rare-branched (f. breviramulosa) - with a rare crown, long main branches and very short side branches; columnar (f. stricta) - with very dense, short main branches raised up, shiny gray-green needles; weeping (f. pendula); winding (f.tortuosa) - with shortened, winding main branches; low (f. nana); low conical (f. nana pyramidata) - dense dwarf, with branches raised upwards.

Himalayan cedar (Cedrus) - large evergreen, monoecious trees of this family. Pine, resembling in appearance, the nature of branching, shortened shoots with bunches of larch needles. Cones are large, solitary, erect, elongated-ovoid or barrel-shaped, ripen in 2-3 years, after which they crumble.

It should be noted that a number of species that are popularly called cedars do not belong to the genus Cedrus, but to the genus Pinus (Pines):

* European cedar pine, or European cedar - Pinus cembra * Siberian cedar pine, or Siberian cedar - Pinus sibirica * Siberian cedar pine, or Elfin cedar - Pinus pumila

The genus includes 4 species, of which one grows in the Western Himalayas, others in the Mediterranean. Species vary greatly and old trees are difficult to classify, and differences in branches disappear with age. In the extreme south of Russia, three species of the genus Cedrus are used in landscaping: Atlas cedar, Himalayan cedar and Lebanese cedar. However, in the catalog of the German company Kordes, a number of varieties of Himalayan cedar are recommended for areas “with especially extreme winter conditions” and are assigned to zone 4.

Himalayan cedar - C. deodara (Roxb.) Loud. It occurs naturally in the northwestern Himalayas, Afghanistan. Tree up to 50 m tall, with a wide conical crown. In adult specimens, the crown is flat at the top, with hanging branches on horizontally spread branches. Young shoots are pubescent. The needles are light green, with a bluish tinge, longer than those of other species (up to 5 cm), in bunches. Cones up to 10 cm, ovoid, bluish in youth, later red-brown, less convex in the middle than that of the Lebanese cedar. Himalayan care cedar:

Likes diffused sunlight and safe areas. There are no special requirements for the composition of the soil, the main thing is that the land is fertile and well-drained. For the root system, you can make a cover of porous materials.

Himalayan cedar photo

Himalayan cedar is extremely sensitive to high temperatures, tolerates frosty winters well, develops effectively in cold wet places, and is resistant to strong gusts of wind. In the first years of life requires stable watering.

As a very beautiful tree, Himalayan cedar and its forms deserve wide use in park construction in southern Russia. It looks good in groups, contrastingly standing out among other plantations with characteristic crown contours and dark green needles. Even more effective in single plantings, as well as when creating alley plantings in parks. It tolerates shearing well, forming original molded hedges. In culture since 1822.

Himalayan weeping cedar

Himalayan cedar cultivation (weeping) is an evergreen graceful tree, characterized by a sticking top and falling branches. In height reaches 15-25m. Growth is slow. Likes diffused sunlight and safe areas. There are no special requirements for the composition of the soil, the main thing is that the land is fertile and well-drained. For the root system, you can make a cover of porous materials.

There are some features of the feeding conditions of this species. With insufficient space, the tree may begin to shed its needles. Therefore, you should take care in advance that there are no extra plants at a sufficient distance.

The Himalayan cuedr is extremely sensitive to high temperatures, tolerates frosty winters well, develops effectively in cold wet places, and is resistant to strong gusts of wind. In the first years of life requires stable watering.

Short notes about the Himalayan weeping cedar:

Plant Cedar Cedar is a coniferous evergreen long-lived tree with decorative and healing properties. It tolerates winter well. When planting Siberian cedar, you should know that it does not develop on sandy dry soils, but takes root on loamy or subsandy damp fertile areas. Reproduction occurs by seeds, preferably in autumn, or vegetatively (the cutting is grafted onto a pine tree).

Cedar / Cedrus Trew

Cedar (lat. Cedrus) is an oligotypic genus of trees of the Pine family (Pinaceae). In nature, the range of the genus covers the southern and eastern mountainous regions of the Mediterranean and the western regions of the Himalayas. On the southern coast of Crimea, cedars have completely naturalized in the area from Sevastopol to Kara-Dag, in areas where the absolute minimum temperature does not reach -25°C and self-seeding.

European cedar pine / R. cembra L.

Pine family. Grows wildly in central Europe. Tree 10-25 m tall. According to morphological characteristics, it is close to the Siberian stone pine, from which it differs in smaller growth and a wider, ovoid crown, longer and thinner needles, and smaller cones and seeds. It grows more slowly, shade-tolerant, very frost-resistant, demanding on air and soil moisture.

Coniferous plant Korean cedar pine

Korean cedar pine is also known as Korean cedar. A tree, often multi-topped, reaching 40 meters in height. The crown is loose, wide cone-shaped, the trunk is covered with a smooth dark gray bark. In the USA and European countries, it is cultivated as an ornamental tree, used for landscaping squares and parks.

Altai cedar

The unique nature of Altai with its purest mountain air, mineral springs, subsoil, rich in minerals, makes the noble royal tree cedar especially beneficial for human health. Altai cedar is a mighty tree with a dark green spreading crown and long prickly needles. In favorable conditions, its height reaches more than forty meters, and the diameter of the trunk is one and a half to two meters. Unlike other species of cedar, which live 300-400 years, Altai cedar is distinguished by longevity - the age of some trees exceeds 600 years. A huge life force is contained in this tree. Biologists call it a reservoir of energy. After all, during the growth of the cedar, it accumulates huge reserves of solar energy, which it then gives to humans. Altai cedar is resistant to low temperatures, hardy, has the ability to self-heal.

Cedar forests cover a third of the territory of Altai. The clean ionized air of Altai is the merit of the Altai cedar. The phytoncides that it emits disinfect the surrounding space. Researchers claim that the air in the cedar forests is so sterile that operations can be carried out there. The bactericidal properties of cedar have been known for a long time. Altai hunters prefer to spend the night under the cedar - so as not to get colds. No wonder the cedar is a sacred tree of the northern peoples. According to ancient belief, a house trimmed with cedar preserves the health of its owners and prolongs their life. Why is the Altai cedar the most valuable tree species? Altai cedar has high-quality wood - light, durable, with a beautiful texture. Altai cedar wood is reasonably considered one of the best building materials. This type of wood is not subject to decay due to the high concentration of antiseptic substances in it and has unique thermal insulation qualities. Houses cut down from the Altai cedar can withstand any weather conditions. The wood of the Altai cedar is distinguished by a red-pink tint, which over time acquires a richer and deeper golden-red color. In addition to beauty, Altai cedar retains its useful disinfectant properties and a special delicate aroma for many decades.

So the Altai cedar combined unique healing properties and optimal building qualities. In Europe, the wood of the Altai cedar has long been considered an almost inaccessible luxury.

Himalayan cedar, Himalayan cedar cultivation, Himalayan cedar photo

One of the largest representatives of coniferous species is cedar. Photos of the tree can be found on the Internet. This majestic tree can reach 60m in height. The needles cover wide branches arranged horizontally. Tough, prickly needles grow up to 6 cm in length and remain green all year round.

Large cones are barrel-shaped, reaching a maximum size of 12 * 8 cm. They are arranged vertically. After ripening, the cone breaks up into scales, thereby releasing the seeds. It takes one year for the cedar to fully mature. The seeds must not be eaten.

Cedar nuts, which are considered edible in our country, are the seeds of the cedar pine (Siberian cedar). Do not confuse these trees with real cedar.

Species and varieties

At the moment, there are many decorative varieties of cedar. Their differences are in the shape of the crown, size, length and color of the needles. Here are the most popular types:

Lebanese cedar

The mountains of Asia Minor are considered the natural habitat of the Lebanese cedar. The height of the tree is no more than 40 m, and the diameter of the lower part of the trunk reaches 250 cm. In a young tree, the crown has the shape of a cone, eventually acquiring the shape of an umbrella. The color of the needles varies from dark green to blue. The maximum size of light brown cones is 12*6 cm.

A distinctive feature of this breed is slow growth, longevity and frost resistance (tolerates frosts down to -30). He loves light, is not picky about moisture and soil.

atlas cedar

Habitat - North Africa. The average height is 33 m, the trunk is up to 2 m in diameter. The crown in the form of a pyramid is distinguished by friability and bluish-green needles no more than 3 cm. The size of the cones is a maximum of 10 * 5 cm.

A young tree grows quite quickly and is able to tolerate short frosts down to -20. Does not require frequent watering, tolerates polluted air, loves light. Atlas cedar does not like calcareous soil.

Deodar

The tree can be found in the vastness of Afghanistan and the Himalayas. A tall representative of the species, capable of growing up to 60 m and having a trunk up to 3 m in diameter. The cone-shaped crown consists of branches arranged in tiers. A mature tree has a flat top. The color of the needles may be greenish or bluish. The length of the needle is not more than 7 cm, and the cones are 13 * 9 cm.

Cedar grows rapidly and for a long time. Sometimes its age can exceed a millennium. It calmly tolerates the lack of sunlight, frosts down to -25 degrees, a haircut, but does not tolerate dry soil and air, strong winds at all.

Growing from seed

Growing cedar from seeds is feasible even for inexperienced gardeners. The seeds are nuts, which many love so much. To get seeds, you can purchase a cone and stratify it yourself. The growing process consists of several stages:

Purchase of seeds

The purchase of seeds must be postponed until winter, when the cones have reached maximum maturity. This can be determined by biting a couple of nuts - the middle should have a pronounced taste and be juicy.

It is important to know: nuts must be raw. This can be determined by the presence of resin residues and greater mass compared to calcined buds.

Seed stratification

To stratify the nuts, they are soaked in water with a temperature of +28 for 5 days. Water must be changed every two days. Then river sand or crushed peat is mixed with seeds. This substance must be left in the room, stirring occasionally and spraying with water. After two months, you will see sprouted sprouts. From this moment until the time of planting, the seeds must be stored in the cold, at a temperature of +1 to +3C.

Moving into the soil

Planting seeds is carried out in early spring with the onset of warmth. Seeds are distributed at the rate of 300 pieces per 1 sq.m. To protect young shoots from birds and pests, they must be covered with a film until the seedlings get rid of the shells.

As the seedlings grow, they will need to be transplanted, after cutting the roots. It is worth planting at a similar depth, highlighting a minimum area of 20 * 10 cm for each growth.

note: growing cedar from seeds will be successful with well-executed stratification and care for young sprouts.

Another transplant is carried out in a year, and after a couple of years you will have strong seedlings with good roots. A further place should be chosen taking into account the fact that the tree will grow on it for the rest of the time.

Necessary care

In order for a tree to please you with its beauty, you need to decide on the place of its planting so as not to injure the tree with transplants. Sand should be present in the soil, and the place should be well lit by the sun.

Cedars feel great in a group planting of up to 6 pcs, 6-7 m away from each other. As a natural fertilizer, you can plant a lupine plant under the cedar.

It is worth watering the tree along the perimeter of its crown, sometimes adding minerals and organic substances to the water for feeding. These are, perhaps, all the basic conditions, the observance of which is necessary for growing a mighty and healthy tree.

The benefits of cedar

Since ancient times, cedar has been distinguished by its healing qualities. It contains many biologically active substances that help cure many diseases. All its parts have healing properties: resin (resin), needles, nutshells and pulp and kidneys.

All these parts of the tree contain a huge amount of vitamins, essential oils and trace elements. Due to this, preparations prepared on the basis of cedar have multiple healing properties:

Fresh bark, collected in the spring, has a diuretic, laxative and antihelminthic effect;
The essential oils released by the cedar help in protecting against germs, and the air in the planting sites has a positive effect on breathing, the heart and the nervous system;
In the fight against bronchial asthma, cedar needles will perfectly help;
Resin helps heal wounds and abscesses, thanks to its antiseptic properties and much more.

By planting a Siberian pine cedar in your area, you will receive not only a majestic, beautiful tree and delicious nuts, but also an excellent medicine that helps in the fight against many ailments.

How Siberian cedar seedlings look like, see the following video:

- No no! The mosque is not allowed.

We've been bickering for a long time; our persevering meekness is inexhaustible.

- Foreigners are not allowed in the mosque. A few rupees are invested in the swarthy palm of the young man who blocked the door (oh, just to repair the mosque!).

“Especially madam…

The resistance, however, is weakening and, finally, it was completely broken by another three rupees addressed to the cripples.

After the blinding sun, the inside of the mosque seemed just dark. From the farthest corner, through the bars (madame was stealthily hidden behind them), a spacious hall without windows, a long line of backs of schoolboys (kneeling, crouching face to the floor, they prayed), a large round clock on the wall and several very straight and thin the columns that supported the vault - their upper third was lost in thick twilight.

For the sake of these columns, we stuck out for half an hour at the doors of the cathedral mosque. Wooden, of a peculiar contour, it undoubtedly serves as an adornment of Srinagar - this cut through the river and canals, the noisy and colorful capital of Kashmir.

The columns have been standing in the mosque for more than half a thousand years. (Have you ever seen wood of this age? Just keep in mind that in old buildings, wooden parts are usually refurbished, replaced.) How could we not see them? Not convinced of the truth? Not to run a palm along their glossy dark side, polished by thousands and thousands of the same palms? After all, each column is a whole trunk of a cedar. Real, Himalayan cedar, which is also called deodar. The mosque is not heated in winter, and in the Kashmir Valley it snows, or even lies for weeks. So the temperature and humidity fluctuations on the share of deodar columns were considerable. And they are standing.

These columns were placed in 1426 when the mosque was being built. What if a thousand years ago? And two? They would have stood for so long - cedar wood is only afraid of fire. Strong yet soft, it is beautiful (light yellowish sapwood and reddish brown dark heartwood) and fragrant.

Probably, we will not be mistaken in considering cedar wood as the best building material. So, probably, they thought before us, and this did a bad service to the tree - it was exterminated from time immemorial. Close attention to the cedar has greatly reduced the cedar forests, in some places they were completely cut down. It is not far to go for an example: that same Kashmir valley (Western Himalayas), lying at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level, was undoubtedly dressed in forests, apparently, cedar or cedar-broad-leaved. But we can only guess about it, because all this all-green land, the pearl of Kashmir, as it is called, is planted with alien, alien tree species, such as white locust, American maple or plane trees, and has not retained a single tree from its natural cover. . Everything was destroyed by human hands, and even the cedar - in the first place. It is known that the soldiers of Alexander the Great, who raided the Kashmir Valley with an army, cut down cedars already in the mountains, and not in the valley - it was necessary to build strong rafts in order to go down the Indus to the sea. But it was the II century BC!

Meanwhile, cedar is the oldest relict plant on earth. Even without human help, it is actively reducing its numbers and distribution area. Cedars have been known since the end of the Cretaceous period, so their age is more than 100 million years. Previously, they were widespread, but now the four species that have come down to us occupy a relatively small area within the Mediterranean (mountain slopes along the seashore in Algeria and Morocco, in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, on the island of Cyprus) and in the Himalayas.

Of the four types of cedar deodar (deodar), apparently in a better position, as it has been preserved over a larger area than other species. But the Lebanese cedar is protected by law and is not subject to felling at all, and the deodar is actively cut down. And how can you resist temptation? Indeed, from one hectare of a 250-year-old forest, 3,500 cubic meters of industrial wood come out!

The ecological plasticity of the deodar is remarkable. It can be found in a very wide range of altitudes from 1000 to 4000 meters above sea level. And in different neighborhoods - with fir, tree-like rhododendron, pines, especially often with oaks. Or in pure stands.

On a hot, windless day, the old deodar forest greets you with coolness and the smell of resin strongly infused in the sun. The ground under the trees is covered with a loose layer of scales from mature cones. They rustle loudly and crunch under your feet. The branches are closed above the head in a green dense sieve; in places it is pierced by the rays of the sun, as thin as knitting needles. There are very few herbs, as it should be in such a gloomy forest. The deodar itself is photophilous, but it also puts up with shading.

An old cedar in the forest has a perfectly straight trunk. Below it is covered with a thick bark, plowed with deep longitudinal and transverse cracks, most of all it resembles oak. And look above - the tree looks like a pine flower with a trunk and whorled branches planted. But in order to see a tree in full growth, you need to get out of the thicket to an open place - to a stream or to a felling. Young cedars with narrow, fir-like crowns lined up along the bank of the stream in a high palisade, their lower shaggy branches-paws stretched out above the water and tremble from the spray flying from below. The dense shaggy branches are perfectly horizontal, one whorl is moved away from the other, and it seems that these green floors are strung on the trunk.

When the hand rests on the branches, they spring back and then sway for a long time; hard fluffy needles do not prick. By the nature of the branches and needles, the cedar is closest to the larch, it is also its closest relative. But in autumn, the cedar does not lose its foliage, as it does. There are many shortened shoots on the branches. On each - a fluffy tassel of needles, 30 ... 40 needles in each. They are 3 ... 4-sided, not long (up to 5 centimeters). Some are green, others are bluish; sometimes young cedars stand completely ashy, like blue spruces common in our culture. The needle lives from three to six years.

A branch of a cedar with a mature cone (1) and a scale of a cone with seeds (2)

Female cones are shaped like an egg, only larger (up to 10 centimeters). The scales in them sit in a dense tile and deeply cover each other. They are firmly glued together with resin, and it is impossible to unstick them on an immature cone, and all of it is compact and heavy, as if cast iron. On the branches, the cones sit on top and face upwards, like pot-bellied thick candles on a Christmas tree.

Cones ripen in the second or third year and immediately crumble on the tree, which is why under the trees there is always a layer of this rustling husk. Rummaging in it, you can find a seed - it is very small, resinous, almost inedible. The very wide wing makes it agile in the air.

Cedars are giant plants. They can reach a height of 50 meters (with a three-meter thick trunk) and an age of 3000 years. But this is in ideal conditions (that is, without an ax). You will not find such old and powerful trees in the Himalayas (have they survived at all?). A middle-aged stand is common - 100 ... 300 years old. And only in parks or sacred groves of Buddhists you can see elders who are over half a thousand years old - they are honored and protected. And this is no longer a narrow “fir” cone, but a powerful ridge with a thick stocky trunk and a wide spreading crown.

Cedar ... There is a special charm, a special charm in this powerful tree. He cannot be treated like others; each, seeing, distinguishes it from other trees. He immediately stops the eye with some general superiority - it attracts and fascinates. Peace-loving power and fabulous longevity have made the cedar a tree-symbol: the Lebanese cedar adorns the coat of arms of Lebanon, the Himalayan cedar is planted in the Moscow Kremlin as a pledge of the eternal brotherhood of Russia and India...

However, what do we care about these same cedars? The tree is beautiful, no doubt, but someone else's! Are there not enough of them, beautiful strangers?

But it turned out that we have to deal with them. Exceptionally plastic ecologically, they perfectly take root in our southern regions. Our most beautiful cities - Tbilisi, Baku would lose a lot if they lost the cedars. And Kutaisi, Tsinandali, Sochi? And the entire Black Sea coast from the Crimea to Batumi? Especially drought-resistant Lebanese cedar is widely used in park construction in Central Asia (Samarkand, Tashkent, etc.), Atlas cedar - in the Crimea, in the regions of the inner Transcaucasia.

Undemanding to the soil, adapted to the winter cold (withstands short frosts up to 20 ... 25 ° C), the Himalayan cedar has become one of the most valuable and leading species in the Southern Crimea. The experience of growing it here began in the middle of the last century, and now cedars have become a familiar tree on the streets of cities and in parks. And how marvelously good old trees stand one by one on the lawn - dressed with lush branches to the very ground, with a wide, as if open crown. They are individual - no two are the same, and this is their special charm. Truly, there is no better decoration in South Park than a cedar!

Now in the Crimea and the Caucasus, cedars are also used in forest plantations.

Cedar's career in our country is just beginning, but even today it can be predicted a great success!

G. PROSKURIAKOVA
candidate of biological sciences

: Science and life. 1988. No. 6.