Geldreich pine (white or Bosnian) is an evergreen plant growing in South-East Europe. This very beautiful tree is often used to create unique compositions of landscape design, we offer to get acquainted with such an attractive representative of the flora.
Characteristic
This plant came to us from the mountainous regions of the Balkan Peninsula, the species is named after Theodor Heldreich, a botanist with Greek and German roots. Consider the description of Geldreich pine, you can recognize this plant by the following signs:
- The root system is strong, the roots lie deep in the soil.
- The trunk is straight. The height can reach 15 meters, and under native conditions - up to 20 m, however, in Russia such sizes are rare. Most often in gardens and parks you can find pine trees no higher than 1.2 meters.
- The bark of young trees is light, smooth and shiny. When the needles fall, the trunk is covered with scales and becomes like the skin of a snake.
- Crohn - cone-shaped, persists with age.
- Branches can grow to the ground, drooping slightly.
- The needles are very thick, stiff. Pointed, dark green.
- Golden yellow male inflorescences are arranged in bunches.
- The fruit is an oblong cone, shaped like an egg, up to 8 cm long. First blue, gradually acquire a dark brown or black color.
Refers to representatives of the flora with a very long life span; the oldest of the living plants crossed the threshold of 1300 years. Another centenarian is also known - in southern Italy, researchers established the age of pine - 960 years.
This is such an amazing coniferous plant, however, the appearance may vary slightly depending on the variety, this will be further discussed below.
Growth
Geldreich pine prefers alkaline dry soils, however, in general, it is not picky about the quality of the soil, quietly tolerates dry and poor lands, but does not tolerate bogging. It grows at an altitude of 2 km above sea level. Refers to photophilous plants, has a good indicator of frost resistance, gets along well in the city.
It grows, including in the south of Italy, as a symbol of the Pollino National Park. Also found in Bosnia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, Albania.
The growth rate is very low, which determines the dwarf size; for a year, growth is no more than 25 cm in length and up to 10 cm in width.
Using
Geldreich pine can be used in single plantings, as well as in rock gardens. It also looks beautiful in group compositions, heather gardens. The plant tolerates transplantation well, therefore, it can grow in a modern metropolis or on the territory of an industrial zone. Another possibility of application is covering beautiful calcareous mountains with beautiful forests.
The method of reproduction is only one - by seed. Despite this, the plant is in high demand, as resistant to most coniferous diseases and pests.
Varieties
We will get acquainted with the main varieties of Bosnian pine, which can grow in conditions of central Russia. There are several of them:
- Nana. The height of the 10-year-old plant does not exceed 1.3 meters, the needles are shiny, dark green. The crown of a young tree is spherical, adult - in the form of a cone.
- Compact gem. The variety is characterized by a wide crown and a height of 0.5-0.7 meters.
- Geldreich Malinka pine. A miniature tree, more reminiscent of a shrub, the growth of which is no more than 15 cm per year. The height of the 5-year-old plant is not more than 75 cm, the maximum possible under favorable conditions is up to 5 meters. Shoots stretch up, there are quite a lot of them. The crust of young raspberries is shiny and smooth, with age, cracks appear on it. The needles 7-10 cm long are pointed, arranged in bunches (2 pieces each), dark green in color.
- Dolce Dorme. Height up to 1.8 meters.
Each of the plants is good in its own way, all of them are widely used in landscape design.
This is the Geldreich pine plant, a beautiful coniferous dwarf tree that is actively used in landscape compositions around the world and is gradually gaining popularity in Russia.