Everyone knows the poplar (plant) well. The description of poplar is also known to everyone, but there are some features of this tree, which not everyone knows for sure. These are traditional ornamental plants that "live" in each village. They grow very quickly, creating beautiful green fences. In ancient Greece, they planted squares and called "folk" - "populus", from which the name of these plants came from. All its views are ideal for both single and group plantings.
Poplar alleys are a classic of park landscapes. One of the varieties of these plants is aromatic poplar. Description, care, propagation of fragrant tree - all this is discussed in this article.
What types of poplar exist in nature?
The genus of these plants has 110 species. Very beautiful poplar tree! The types of poplars are all somewhat different from each other, they have become simply indispensable for landscaping parks and streets. Breeders crossed them among themselves, as a result of which now there are so many fast-growing hybrids.
Species of poplar are divided into five sections:
1. Left-handed.
2. Mexican.
3. Turangi.
4. Deltoid.
5. Balsamic.
The balsamic are fragrant poplars, which got their name because of their fragrant buds. These fragrant trees will be discussed further in the article.
Fragrant poplar: description
The height of fragrant poplar is about 20 m, the crown is thick, ovoid. The bark of the trunk is brown-gray, the branches are olive-gray. The root system is highly developed, powerful roots are located close to the surface and take up a lot of space.
The kidneys are resinous and, as already mentioned, fragrant. Young shoots are round, greenish-brown in color, resinous and very fragrant. The leaves are leathery, oval, pointed at the top. The color of the leaves is dark green, shiny above, and whitish below with pubescent petioles. With blossoming leaves, color immediately blooms.
Allspice is a dioecious plant. Monoecious species are very rare. Poplar begins to bloom even a little earlier than all the leaves have fully blossomed. Male and female specimens form spike-shaped inflorescences that differ in appearance. As they mature, they turn from erect to drooping. People call such inflorescences earrings (male earrings - 10 cm, female earrings - 5 cm). At the beginning of summer, boxes ripen poplar fruits. Very small seeds are supplied with a huge amount of the finest villi, this is the well-known poplar fluff.
Places of distribution
In nature, fragrant poplar is common in northern China, eastern Siberia, and Mongolia. This tree is also found in the reserves of the Far East and Siberia. It grows in floodplains and on islands, less often it can be seen in mountainous areas along small rivers and streams.
Breeding
In the natural environment, fragrant poplar propagates by seed. The same method can be used in nurseries, but there is one difficulty: the seeds must be sown immediately after they have been harvested, and they must be ripened. To achieve this, you need at a time when poplar fluff is scattered, pick up a suitable place, fence it and periodically water it. The site should be placed so that it collected a large amount of fluff. Because of such difficulties, the seed method is used little.
Propagation of poplar by cuttings is a method that is much simpler and more convenient. For this, only male specimens of poplar are used for cuttings, and this must be done before the buds begin to bloom. Last year's shoots up to 12 cm long with two buds are taken for rooting. It is recommended to plant them at a distance of at least 10 cm from each other, the kidneys should remain on the surface. Immediately after planting, it is necessary to water the cuttings well, then they need to be watered daily until they grow to 15 cm, after which it should be watered as the earth dries. After a year, the seedlings will be ready to "move" to their permanent place of residence.
There are types of poplar that breed root processes. But this method has big disadvantages. Plants grown from shoots have underdeveloped roots and are often affected by pests and diseases.
Aromatic poplar: care, cultivation
In youth, the tree grows very quickly, for which it is appreciated when creating live fences. Fragrant poplar loves sunny places, tolerates too moist soil, is able to withstand severe frosts. The tree is quite unpretentious, but prefers fertile, well aerated, mineral-rich soils. In cities, poplar does not live long, although it gives a lot of shoots.
As mentioned earlier, this fragrant plant is unpretentious and does not require special care, but some rules still need to be observed so that the poplar pleases with its beauty. The earth around the tree should be aerated, for this it is necessary to loosen it periodically and weed out. Sodding of the soil surface must not be allowed; this can lead to the death of the plant. To avoid such trouble, shrubs are planted next to the poplar.
Poplar does not need a haircut. To maintain the beautiful appearance of the plant, you need to remove dry branches and lower branches in time.
Diseases and Pests
Like every other plant, fragrant poplar sometimes gets sick and is attacked by pests from time to time. The most common diseases of these beautiful trees are some types of necrosis and cancer. The diseased tree must be immediately cut down, and the stump treated with fuel oil.
Young plants often undergo fungal diseases. In this case, it is urgent to apply forestry and agrotechnical measures. In addition, waterlogging of the soil should not be allowed.
The list of poplar pests is quite large. There are a lot of insects that like to lay larvae on the leaves of trees. Insecticides are used to combat them. Each pest has its own drug, so first you need to find out which enemies attacked the tree, and then look for “weapons” against them.
Curious Facts About Poplar
Even the children know what poplar looks like and what poplar fluff is, but there are many interesting facts about this beautiful tree:
1. Poplar leaves emit aromatic substances, thanks to which a breathtaking aroma is floating around, in addition, they disinfect the air.
2. Inflorescences and poplar leaves are used to make natural dyes.
3. Black poplar buds are used in the manufacture of Riga Balsam and are used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases.
4. Poplars are valued for the beautiful shape of the crowns. In addition, they have very beautiful foliage. In some species, in autumn, it becomes yellow or gold.
5. The leaves of the poplar are located very close to each other, with the slightest breath of breeze they touch and emit a very unusual and pleasant "whisper".