Shrubs firmly won their niche in the plant world. Meeting them at every step (in forests, gardens, gardens, parks and just outside), we sometimes do not attach any importance to them. And it’s completely in vain: knowing what shrubs are, you can create stunning garden compositions that will delight the eye not only in spring and summer, but also in late autumn.
Shrubs: one of the life forms of plants
The life form, in other words, the biological is a phenotype, the appearance of a plant, which reflects the degree of adaptability to the environment. The most complete is the classification of life forms under the authorship of I. G. Serebryakov, according to which they distinguish:
- woody plants (trees, shrubs, shrubs);
- semi-woody plants (shrubs and shrubs);
- ground grasses;
- water grasses.
This separation of all existing plants is based on the degree of lignification of the terrestrial part. The growth of branches in shrubs starts from the base, and the main trunk already differs with age with difficulty. In trees, the outlines of the crown are very clear, and you can see the whole structure of the plant, a pronounced main shoot. Thus, the structure of the aboveground part is what fundamentally differs trees and shrubs from each other. There are also shrubs and shrubs. The reason for their separation into a separate group is a small height (up to 0.5 m) and a weak degree of lignification of shoots, respectively.
Classification is a direct answer to the question of what shrubs are. The division into groups can be carried out according to various principles, consider the most common:
Shrub classification by height
This division can sometimes be relative. Fertilizing, soil composition, climatic conditions and the use of biostimulants affect growth. Depending on the size of the shrubs in nature, they are usually divided into three groups:
- low shrubs, the maximum height of which does not exceed one meter, these include, for example, Japanese spirea, Cossack juniper (pictured);
- medium shrubs, 1-2-5 meters high, for example, currants, common barberry;
- high shrubs (more than 2.5 meters in height): red elderberry, lilac, Siberian hawthorn.
What are the shrubs, depending on the intensity of growth
Considering how quickly these or other types of shrubs grow, they are usually divided into five large groups:
- very fast-growing species (for example, yellow acacia, which grows up to 3 meters in 2-3 years, forming dense thickets, mockwort, tamarix);
- fast-growing shrubs, for example, common viburnum, hazel, Tatar honeysuckle, silver goof;
- shrubs of moderate growth (lilac, cherry, Japanese quince);
- slow-growing shrubs, they include juniper Cossack, privet, sea buckthorn;
- very slowly growing, as a rule, these are dwarf forms of deciduous and coniferous plants.
Classification according to plant life expectancy
The life expectancy of the whole plant as a whole should be distinguished from that with respect to individual shoots. So, for example, raspberries can grow on a site up to 50 years. But her shoots live only two years. There are four groups of shrubs:
- short-lived (maximum age - 25 years): elderberry, mock orange, meadowsweet, etc .;
- medium durability (from 25 years to 30), for example, broom and currant;
- long-term species can be from 50 to 100 years old, for example, Japanese quince, common viburnum, lilac (pictured);
- very durable ones have a life expectancy of more than 100 years, these include: thuja, juniper (the age of individual specimens reaches four hundred years).
Frost resistance classification
This information is often of interest to gardeners, especially in those regions where, as a rule, quite harsh winters, but I really want to please myself with unusual plants. This is where the question arises of what shrubs and grasses are suitable for harsh climatic conditions. The factor of resistance to cold should be taken into account, as this will protect you from incorrect purchases, unnecessary expenses and disappointment. All shrubs are divided into 5 groups:
- very frost-resistant - these are plants that can withstand winter temperatures drop to -40 degrees, and sometimes more, it does not harm them; the group consists mainly of coniferous shrubs (mountain pine, cedar elfin), but there are also representatives of deciduous shrubs, for example, hawthorn and Siberian derain;
- frost-resistant, they tolerate cold winters, but if the frosts are too severe, shoots not covered by snow freeze out (hawthorn, viburnum, honeysuckle);
- relatively heat-loving - these are plants that have a long vegetative period, young shoots often do not have time to lignify and therefore are easily damaged by spring frosts and prolonged strong winter cooling, for example, shrubs of the genus Beresklet, spirea, privet;
- thermophilic, in such plants with prolonged cooling, the aerial part can die completely, so they require additional shelter;
- very thermophilic shrubs, they absolutely do not tolerate cooling below -10 degrees.
What are the types of shrubs, depending on the demands on lighting?
Illumination is another factor in the successful development of the plant. An improperly chosen place can ruin it. Therefore, it is so important to consider the factor of illumination when landscaping your site. Although it must be remembered that in many cases, photophilia is an unstable characteristic. As a rule, young plants require shade because of the danger of burns, and when growing, they grow perfectly even under the brightest rays.
Let's look at what shrubs are depending on the exactingness of sunlight:
- photophilous, they absolutely cannot stand prolonged shading and prefer to grow in open spaces, for example, rose hips, spirea, mountain ash;
- relatively shade-tolerant shrubs: Tatar honeysuckle, panicled hydrangea (pictured), yellow acacia;
- shade-tolerant shrubs tolerate shade well, but in a lighted place they grow anyway better, they include a warty spindle tree, privet, hazel.
Decorative and deciduous shrubs
In their work, landscape designers actively use not only flowers and trees, but also shrubs. Because with their help, you can create light compositions, bulky hedges, green shapes, or simply form color contrasts, since many species differ precisely in their beautiful color. Many amateur gardeners are aware of what shrubs (names, varieties) with decorative leaves are, and they perfectly apply this in practice. When choosing them for yourself, keep in mind that there are deciduous and evergreen species. The latter are mainly miniature, dwarf forms of conifers. Deciduous species include a huge number of shrubs. It is important to remember that they are all quite thermophilic, photophilous and demanding on the fertility of the soil, therefore, in the territory beyond the middle zone of Russia they require careful care and shelter for the winter. The most prominent representatives:
- Japanese maple - under this name a whole genus of perennial woody plants is combined. In late autumn, dense foliage is painted in all shades of red and burgundy. A great example of what shrubs are (photo below) beautiful and how the autumn garden gains brightness and attractiveness with their help.
- Barberries. Many varieties are not only decorative, but also bear fruit, berries are used for stewed fruit and pickles, as well as seasoning. The forms and species are quite numerous, each one will suit its own taste: Ottawa barberry with purple leaves or Tunberg barberry, which is painted in shades of orange in autumn, etc.
- Aralia. Sufficiently thermophilic shrub with straight, very large, cirrus leaves.
- In addition, the undeservedly forgotten mountain ash, magonia holly, elderberry.
Flowering shrubs
At the mention of such plants, the first thing that comes to mind is magnificent bush roses, an ornamental shrub, the species of which are very popular. Another frequent and well-known guest of Russian gardens is the mockworm, for some reason firmly securing the name of jasmine, which is completely wrong, since these plants even belong to different genera (Gortenziev and Maslinovy, respectively). There are about 60 species of Chubushnikov, the most popular representatives are the Caucasian and Schrenka. Those who want to have a fragrant and unusual garden should also pay attention to Forsythia, viburnum, spirea, lilac, cinquefoil, rhododendrons, buddley, action, tree peonies (pictured).
Berry bushes
Berry bushes are of great economic importance. Rarely what garden in our country does without currants or raspberries and its closest relative - blackberries. In this regard, selection has advanced far, many varieties and varieties have been developed that differ in bush size, berry color, and ripening speed. Fragrant currant gives not only berries, but also leaves that are brewed as tea or used in cooking. It is worth trying to plant also Japanese quince, chokeberry, hawthorn, irga, viburnum, black elderberry (pictured), honeysuckle and sea buckthorn.
Of course, the nature of care depends on the destination. So, berry bushes require more attention, they are often exposed to various pests and diseases. But the time spent is worth it, because in the end you get the most valuable vitamins and minerals in a natural “package”, grown personally.
When choosing plants for your garden, it is important to know what shrubs are (names, varieties, species). This will definitely help to make the right choice, correctly determine the place of planting and achieve a positive result when growing.