The homeland of this culture is the northern part of America. Thuja grows well in shady areas, in clay-sandy soil, with sufficient moisture for the root system. Thuja reaches a maximum of 20 meters in height. On average, a tree can live up to 1000 years. The tree propagates by rooting cuttings.
Thuja is the most widespread and most modern tree in Russian gardens. This is a coniferous tree, it was brought from America to Europe in the 16th century, from where this culture later appeared in our countries.
Many years ago, the Indians began to use this culture to build boats (canoes). They took this particular tree, because its wood does not rot. Tui bark was used to make medicinal tea.
The plant has become popular and has a high content of essential oils in the leaves. These oils are now used to make perfume. Oils are also used in medicine. It was found that they are very useful for human cardiac activity, improve the functioning of the central nervous system.
The thuja tree is perfect for decorative haircuts. Any shape can be made from it, which will make the garden of a private house quite original and interesting. And the alley of trees cut by a bizarre shape in the park will not make a single person pass by.
Thuja is a rather undemanding tree; it used to grow exclusively in the vicinity of a river, or swamps.
Characteristics of western thuja
Thuja grows in height a maximum of 20 meters. The diameter of the upper part of the plant reaches 5 meters. In young trees, the crown has the shape of a pyramid; in older trees, the crown is ovoid, red, sometimes brownish in color. More mature trees can be easily identified, as they have pronounced stripes along the entire length of the wood. The needles of the tree are in the form of scales, dark green in color, takes on a brown hue in winter, falls off after about 3 years. The shoots of the thuja are dark at the top, and light at the bottom.
Thuja fruits are cones. They grow small, maximum 12 mm, resembling the shape of an egg. Inside the cone there are 2 seeds, flattened, yellow in color. Every year thuja can grow up to 30 cm in height and up to 10 cm in width.
Thuja wood has a red color, it is strong enough, but at the same time soft. There are no resin channels, it has a pleasant aroma. The roots are compact, do not grow.
Thuja is a sun-loving culture. But the tree also transfers the shadow quite easily. Clay soil is very suitable for thuja, but also in loose soil, where the sand content is large enough, it grows well, only regular feeding is needed. It can also grow in soil with a lot of moisture. The tree is not considered picky at all. More mature specimens tolerate both frost and drought calmly. In urban conditions, the tree also grows well.
Thuja can become a beautiful decor in the courtyard of a private house. Can be planted in a group or singly.
Another advantage of such a beautiful tree is its phytoncidity. This is a phenomenon in which thuja produces certain substances.Thanks to this process, the plant brings not only beauty in the garden, but also useful properties for humans, strengthens the immune system, improves overall well-being. In some European countries, thuja is planted in tuberculosis dispensaries, and this is done at the legislative level.
Thuja western: planting and care
It is better to plant thuja in a place where there is no wind. First you need to dig a planting hole. The soil is prepared from leafy earth (2 parts), from peat (1 part) and from sand (1 part). The neck of the roots does not need to be deepened; it is recommended to leave it flush with the ground. After planting, the tree should be well watered. If the summer is hot, then the tree is watered twice as often as usual. The most favorable time for watering is evening, or early morning. In the absence of watering on hot days, the tree can begin to actively bear fruit, which in the future can affect the deformation of the crown.
After the snow melts, you can start feeding the thuja. Still very young seedlings need to be wrapped with special material or special paper, which will help reject sunburn.
There are many different types of thuja. For those who like to decorate their garden with this tree, there are many varieties and types of this tree. The most interesting and popular type is the ball-shaped thuja. The tree looks very original due to its rounded shape.
If the owners of a private house decided to build a hedge in the form of a tall slender thuja, then this tree will look the most interesting and harmonious. And if you need to decorate the road along the curbs, then the stunted thuja is better than any other type. This tree is also great for an original decorated haircut.
The most common types of western thuja
Thuja western columnar
Degroot Spire - This is a variety of thuja with a thinner crown than other subspecies. This variety of this culture is quite popular in the West. As for Europe, this type of tree has not yet been appreciated there.
Thanks to such an ornamental plant as thuja of this particular species, you can safely equip a fence of a large house, 5 meters in length. This “tuy” fence will be appreciated only by a true connoisseur of culture. The fence can reach a maximum of 30 centimeters in thickness.
Smaragd - this is the next type of such a tree. The most important advantage of this species is the constantly green needles. A rich, bright green color remains throughout the year. This thuja can grow up to 5 meters in height and is one of the tallest specimens. Over the year, the increase will be about 10 centimeters.
Columna - this thuja resembles a column in its shape. It perceives both hot sun and rather severe frosts best of all. Thuja grows 8 meters, the crown in diameter can reach one and a half meters. For a year in growth, the tree adds about 15 centimeters. The color of the needles is green, it differs from other types in bright shine. It is very unpretentious, grows both in drought and in high moisture. Can be planted in alleys, or single trees.
Thuja western pyramidal
The most common type of this culture is called the pyramidal thuja. Crown in the form of a pyramid. The difference from other species is that the shoots of the tree are quite densely located to each other, strong and thick enough.
There are also several types of pyramidal thuja. Basically, all trees of this variety grow up to 15 meters in height; in all species, the needles themselves stick out very interestingly. Trees differ only in the color of the needles, and in its shade at certain times of the year.
Salland - this species was recently identified. The tree differs from all other species in its color - needles of a lemon shade, has a low growth.
Reingold - this is another rare species of thuja, a beautiful and decorative tree. The shade of the needles is orange, which looks quite rare and interesting. This species is growing very slowly. The maximum tree can grow up to 1 meter, less often up to 1.2 meters.
Yellow ribbon - the needles of this type of tree are yellow, close to golden color. On average, the growth of such a thuja is 2 meters.
Thuja western spherical
Danica - the crown of this tree is in the form of a ball. The height of the tree does not even reach a meter. This thuja has short shoots located close to one another. In summer, the needles of this type of thuja are bright green, in winter the color becomes brownish. Due to its low growth, this tree is called dwarf. This variety tolerates frost very well.
Golden globe - another type of spherical thuja. Yellow needles, variegated golden hue. The tree grows very slowly in height. At the age of 10, the tree grows to a maximum of 1 meter. Grows best in sunny locations with optimal soil moisture.
Globosa Is another type of spherical tree. This is a kind of shrub, its shoots are quite dense, they grow in a vertical way. This tree is one of those that change its color depending on the season. Green, with a golden tint, color changes to brown. A mature tree grows up to a maximum of 1 meter, in very rare cases 1, 2 meters.
Mr. Bowling ball - this species also belongs to the spherical tree. The originality of this plant lies in its very low growth. A mature tree reaches a maximum of 40 centimeters. In summer, the color of the needles of this tree is bright green, and in winter, the color changes, becoming a bronze-gray color, like a fringe. Such a tree will look very beautiful in private gardens, memorial places. It perceives the sun's rays well, and at the same time hibernates quite well.
Woodwardii - this type of thuja is a bit like an egg shape, it is also considered a spherical variety. At the age of 10, the tree can grow as little as 40 centimeters. The shoots of this variety grow quite densely, have a green color, and are very bright. The soil under this tree must be sufficiently moist, then the plant will show itself in all its glory. It will be great to live in gardens where there are stones, it tolerates winter well.
Little gem - another variety of thuja. Its difference from the rest is that the diameter of the crown is much larger than the growth of the tree itself. In winter, the color of the needles is dull, brownish in color, and in summer it becomes bright green. The tree can be planted in a group with other species, and separately, in a single way. You can use the plant as a fence, which looks quite original and beautiful. This thuja will tolerate frost well, it perceives heat much worse.
Stolwijk - this variety of thuja grows rather slowly. This bonsai is a little asymmetrical. With age, this thuja grows not in height, but in breadth. A 10-year-old tree grows to a maximum of 1 meter. The needles are bright green. Shoots are light, yellow. The soil for this type needs wet. It will look very harmonious in a Japanese garden. Stolwijk tolerates frost well and tolerates heat well.
