The birch can be safely called a symbol of our country – it is capable of inspiring and truly bewitching. The most common type of this Russian tree, which is found in the wild, as well as in many garden plots and summer cottages, is fluffy birch. Moreover, earlier this tree, beloved by many, had the name “white birch”, but this is how they gradually began to call another type of birch, hanging, and in order to avoid unnecessary confusion, they gave it a new name.
Description
Downy birch is a fairly large and branched tree. It has a rather bright and noticeable appearance, which cannot be confused with any other plant. On average, this favorite of the Russian people reaches a height of up to 30 meters, has a very impressive and voluminous trunk, which allows it to amaze with its width (up to 12 meters).
Although, according to its classification, fluffy birch can be called a deciduous shrub – this tree loses its leaves in autumn. The foliage itself has a rhombic shape and is quite large – it reaches up to six centimeters in diameter. The foliage does not have a special color – it changes depending on the season from pale green to yellow-orange.
Appearance
White birch, already by its name, emphasizes its external characteristics: the tree has an impressive trunk, which at a young age has a brownish-brown color, and already with age (after ten years) it rapidly turns white.
Moreover, young shoots and birch trees can be easily confused with some species of another plant – alder. But with age, birch acquires its own personal features – white smooth bark. Unlike drooping birch, the bark of fluffy birch is smooth to the very base – without any cracks or other nuances.
Young shoots do not have wart glands, which distinguishes drooping birch, therefore they are densely pubescent. With age, the tree acquires a spreading crown.
The root system of this tree is quite developed, but it is not able to penetrate deeply into the soil – and it is for this reason that birch is often subjected to windfall.
The tree as a whole does not differ in significant durability – on average, the age of a birch rarely exceeds a hundred years.
Growing environment
The homeland of fluffy birch, oddly enough, is not Russia at all, but Europe. But the tree got its widespread distribution precisely on the territory of our country – and in the European part, and in the Asian, regions of Siberia (here it is even more common than drooping birch), and the mountains of the Caucasus. The tree prefers forest habitats and steppes, up to the tundra.
Outside the country, birch is found almost throughout Europe – the only exception is the Iberian Peninsula.
Downy birch is one of the most cold-resistant species of this tree. And together with drooping birch, it often forms a large number of transitional forms.
This type of vegetation is often found as an admixture to other forest-forming species in forests of various types – from coniferous to deciduous – and sometimes it itself forms whole forest complexes.
Fluffy birch is able to easily endure waterlogging of the soil – and therefore grows without problems in damp, wetlands, on the edges and outskirts of water bodies and lakes. Able to suffer from drought, but calmly endures the lack of light.
Planting and leaving
For planting birch, experts recommend the summer period – from August to early autumn, and it is ideal to do this with the help of a cold greenhouse. The very process of planting and growing near a birch takes place due to the dispersion of seeds. The soil for this procedure must be specially prepared and loosened.
It is ideal for planting birch to locate the greenhouse on the sunny side – this will increase the germination of seeds and their germination.
After the seedlings enter, the sprouts are transplanted into separate containers – and already directly in the place of constant growth, like all other trees and plants, it is customary to plant birch in the spring months.
For future seedlings, it is very important to observe the distance – it should be at least four meters. A small amount of complex fertilizers can be added directly to the planting hole – this will help the tree to settle down and strengthen the root system. This process will last at least a year – during this time the birch should grow up to one meter in size.
Diseases
Like any plants, fluffy birches suffer from a variety of misfortunes – from diseases to pests.
The most common diseases encountered by this tree are several:
- witch’s broom – fungal pathogen;
- bacterial dropsy – a dangerous disease that can kill a tree;
- Powdery mildew is a common, non-contagious infection that is common among many species of birch.
Interesting Facts
Fluffy birch is extremely popular in our country. This tree has several uses – birch is planted both as an ornamental plant (just for beauty and decoration), and as a remedy with medicinal properties.
The thing is that this beauty has long been known for its medicinal properties as an excellent remedy for many ailments: for example, its leaves and buds are dried for various decoctions, and wood is used as activated carbon. And probably everyone knows about the properties of birch sap, which is not only tasty, but also rich in vitamins.
Large birch buds (they reach 10 mm) are famous for their beneficial properties and essential oils – a solution from them has a bright anti-inflammatory and diuretic effect.
Fluffy birch also gained its popularity in Russia due to its resistance to frost – this tree requires neutral or highly acidic soil, sandy or clayey, for active growth and existence. The tree will not refuse from the excess amount of moisture and increased sunlight – birch loves it.
