Trees with red berries in pennsylvania
Trees with red berries: our favorite red berry trees
(Image credit: Phil Bird / Getty Images)
Trees with red berries will provide interest in fall and winter, adding joyful color when the rest of nature is winding down. However, some varieties will add an accent in the summer, and many have beautiful flowers in the spring, too.
There are trees with red berries to suit every garden setting, and the right choice will add seasonal impact to your backyard ideas.
‘Trees with red berries are decorative and offer visual interest, especially during the winter months,’ says Pete Smith, urban forestry program manager at Arbor Day Foundation . ‘Many of the berries can also be collected for consumption and provide valuable food for wildlife.’
Trees with red berries
These are our favorite trees with red berries. Several varieties can be grown as evergreen hedges, which makes them some of the best trees for privacy and screening in a backyard.
When choosing trees with red berries to suit your garden, you must only plant species that will thrive in your area. Knowing your USDA plant hardiness zone is essential, and happily there are options for almost every climate.
You also need to ensure your chosen tree is compatible with your soil type, the level of sunlight it will receive, and how much maintenance you are able to provide.
Check its maximum size and growth rate to ensure it won't outgrow your yard, and learn how to plant a tree correctly.
Finally, consider whether you want a tree with edible red berries, or are only concerned with its ornamental value.
‘As a longtime forager and permaculture gardener, my favorite trees with red berries all have edible or medicinal fruit,’ says Susannah Shmurak, founder of the HealthyGreenSavvy.com blog.
Many berries are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and can be made into everything from jellies to alcoholic beverages. Before eating any berries, however, you must be certain of the variety, as some are poisonous or require cooking before consuming.
1.
Hawthorn(Image credit: Perytskyy/Getty Images)
A familiar sight in hedgerows, the hawthorn tree – Crataegus monogyna – also makes a valuable addition to gardens, as its appealing red berries, or ‘haws’, endure through fall and into the winter.
‘The hawthorn tree is a beautiful landscape tree that provides bright colored berries enjoyed by birds, squirrels, rabbits and deer,’ says Smith.
You can consume the haws, as long as you cook them first. ‘Hawthorn berries are prized for their medicinal value, especially for promoting heart health,’ says Shmurak.
To eat hawthorn berries, they are at their best when used to make a sauce, but can also be added to an apple jelly, used to make ‘fruit leather’, or even wine.
In terms of variety, Emilly Barbosa Fernandes, small space gardening consultant at Housegrail , favors the green hawthorn ‘Winter King’. ‘This is one of the trees that display red berries on their branches while the rest of the trees are bare,’ she says.
‘They bloom in the mid to late spring and make a great addition to your yard.’
You should be able to grow hawthorn trees in zones 5 to 9, in most soil types. Ideally they need full sun. Most hawthorns will reach between 15-30ft.
2. Holly
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Not just a symbol of Christmas, holly is one of the best trees with red berries to include in your winter garden ideas. ‘A good option is American holly – Ilex opaca – which has glossy, green leaves all winter long and great red berries used regularly in holiday wreaths,’ says Smith.
Holly trees grow well in zones 5-9, and will tolerate partial shade and most soil types. They can eventually reach as tall as 50ft, but you will need more than one tree to get berries, as they don't self-pollinate.
Arborist Mark Russell believes English holly – Ilex aquifolium – is one of the best trees for privacy. ‘While many people use arborvitae or Leyland cypress as privacy screens, they have their drawbacks due to fungus weaknesses,' he says.
'Instead, I recommend homeowners go with an English holly, as they are hearty cultivars, produce fantastic red berries, and make great privacy screens.’
3. Mountain ash – rowanberry
(Image credit: Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Gerry Images)
Yielding bright red rowanberries in late summer to early winter, and frothy white blossom in the spring, the mountain ash – Sorbus aucuparia – is an attractive garden tree. The leaves turn a stunning shade of orange in the fall, making it one of the best trees for autumn color.
‘The stunning mountain ash tree produces masses of attractive fruit that birds eat in the winter – and the determined forager can use them if they're willing to make an effort,’ says Shmurak.
While not one of the tastiest berries, rowanberries are rich in vitamin C and have anti-inflammatory properties. However, you do need to freeze them for a couple of weeks before cooking them, and they take a lot of sugar to counteract their bitterness.
Shmurak recommends turning rowanberries into jelly, vinegar, wine, or even Turkish delight.
In the right setting, mountain ash trees are hardy, but they don’t like extreme heat and humidity. You should be able to grow them in zones 3-6, where they can reach around 30ft. Rowanberries will tolerate partial shade and like well-drained soil.
4. Cherry tree
(Image credit: Steve Smith / Getty Images)
‘Cherry trees are one of my all-time favorite trees with red ‘berries’. Not only do they produce delicious fruit, but the flowers are beautiful too,’ says Barbosa Fernandes.
Unlike many of the other trees featured in this list, cherries ripen during the summer. However, the trees’ stunning blossom often heralds the end of winter, and is one of the first signs that spring is on the way.
There are numerous types of cherry tree you can grow, with options for zones 3-9. Sweet varieties need full sun, but more acidic cooking cherries will grow in partial shade.
'Sweetheart' is a lovely late season variety that has bright red cherries, and is self-fertile.
Cherry trees come in a range of sizes, and dwarf varieties are some of the best trees to grow in pots, so you can position them on the patio.
However, even if you don’t have room for a potted cherry you can still enjoy these wonderful trees: ‘There are many festivals around the United States where you can see cherry trees in full bloom, and then later in the year go try some of the cherries yourself,’ adds Barbosa Fernandes.
5. Chokecherry
(Image credit: Akchamczuk / Getty Images)
The chokecherry tree – Prunus virginiana – is native to North America. ‘It’s a smaller tree with a dark red fleshy fruit that can be used to make jams, jellies, syrups and wines,’ says Smith.
Packed with antioxidants, chokecherries can be astringent when not fully ripe, although cultivated varieties are sweeter with a cherry-like flavor.
In spring and summer, the tree bursts with clusters of white flowers, making it attractive in the garden for much of the year.
Reaching up to 30ft, the chokecherry is a versatile tree that grows in zones 2-8.
6. Red chokeberry
(Image credit: R Ann Kautzky / Alamy Stock Photo)
Not to be confused with the similarly named chokecherry, the chokeberry is a very different plant, though both are named for the effect the fruit can have on the palate.
Technically it’s an upright treelike shrub, and while common varieties are dark blue/purple, the red chokeberry – Aronia arbutifolia – is a stunning shiny ruby hue.
‘In the spring, they have gorgeous white flowers that eventually give way to the bright red berries in the summer months until late fall,’ says Jen Stark, gardening and home writer, and founder of Happy DIY Home .
‘Additionally, the leaves turn brilliant colors in the fall to give you multi-season interest. The berries are too bitter to eat raw, but you can use them in desserts or savory dishes to help balance out the flavor profile.’
This deciduous shrub gets between 6.
5-13ft tall and has large leaves, making it one of the best trees for small gardens.
7. Mulberry tree
(Image credit: YONCA60/Getty Images)
‘Red mulberry trees – Morus rubra – are wonderful because they produce an immense amount of fruit when in season,’ says Russell.
‘The fruit that they produce is really similar to raspberries, or blackberries. It's super sweet and more than anything super plentiful.’
Mulberry trees can reach up to 80ft, and can be grown in zones 4-9, tolerating part shade.
However, Russell warns not to plant one over your driveway or a walkway – ‘because all of those berries can stain.’ For this reason, mulberries may not be the best trees for front yards.
8. Juneberries
(Image credit: Akchamczuk / Getty Images)
‘Though the ripest berries are a bit on the purply side, my favorite trees with red berries are hands-down juneberries – Amelanchier alnifolia – also known as serviceberry or saskatoon,’ says Shmurak.
‘These delicious blueberry-like fruits grow prolifically in all sorts of conditions, have lovely spring flowers, as well as attractive fall color.’
Juneberries are hardy trees that grow well in zones 2-7, tolerating light shade and damp sites. They typically reach between 15-35ft.
Another benefit of these wonderful trees is that in the spring they produce elegant star-shaped flowers, while in the fall, their foliage turns brilliant red orange.
9. Peruvian pepper
(Image credit: Weisschr / Getty Images)
Peruvian pepper – Schinus molle – is also known as the California pepper tree, false pepper, or the American pepper.
'This is an evergreen tree that produces small red berries with a peppery taste,’ says Stark. 'You can eat the berries safely.'
The Peruvian pepper tree does best in arid and hot climates, thriving in zones 8-11, and reaches 25-50ft in height.
‘It has pretty pinnate fern-like leaves with small white flowers in the spring.
Its berry-like drupes of pink or red woody seeds grow in large clusters all year long,' adds Stark.
10. Yew
(Image credit: Zelg / Getty Images)
A large coniferous tree, the yew – Taxus baccata – makes a beautiful addition to the garden with its bright scarlet berries in the fall and lush green needles.
It's also an ancient tree with a fascinating history steeped in myth and superstition. While they are difficult to date, there are yew trees believed to be over 3,000 years old.
As an evergreen tree, the yew provides color and screening in the garden year round, and grows in zones 5-7. Though it can reach great heights, it can be pruned to keep it in shape or to serve as a hedge.
However, while it offers lots of landscaping potential, the yew tree is poisonous to humans, so it’s not one to plant if you prefer trees with red berries that you can sample. Happily, the birds can enjoy the berries in safety.
How do I identify a tree with red berries?
To identify a tree with red berries, it helps to find out the common trees that grow in your area, as this will narrow down the options.
Invest in a tree identification book with clear photographs and descriptions to help you examine the tree.
While the presence of red berries provides the first clue, you should also look at the leaf type and shape, as this is slightly different for every tree.
Which trees have red berries in summer?
Popular trees that have red berries in summer include cherry trees, mulberries and juneberries, while hawthorns tend to start developing berries in the summer.
As editor of Period Living, Britain's best-selling period homes magazine, Melanie loves the charm of older properties. I live in a rural village just outside the Cotswolds in England, so am lucky to be surrounded by beautiful homes and countryside, where I enjoy exploring. Having worked in the industry for almost two decades, Melanie is interested in all aspects of homes and gardens. Her previous roles include working on Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating, and she has also contributed to Gardening Etc.
She has an English degree and has also studied interior design. Melanie frequently writes for Homes & Gardens about property restoration and gardening.
CAST Lighting | 5 Plants that grow in Pennsylvania winter landscape | Outdoor, Landscape & Security Solutions
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5 Native Plants that will Brighten Your Pennsylvania Winter Landscape
January 3, 2019 • CAST News
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Winter Landscaping for Birders in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania and the Northeast can be a cold and dreary place come winter, but with a little landscaping magic, it doesn’t have to be. We are lucky enough to live in a region with several lovely native plants that can offer a pop of color and bit of cheer during these gray months.
Another major bonus is that these plants offer food and shelter to colorful bird species that winter in the area—another way to add life, energy, and movement to these bleak months. A thriving native garden and bright colored birds might just be the remedy you need for any northeastern wintertime blues. Below is an introductory list of native plants found in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland—specifically within the Brandywine-Christina watershed, a major tributary of the Delaware River. The Brandywine-Christina watershed runs through these three states and provides drinking water to approximately 60 percent of Delaware’s residents, according to the Nature Conservancy. This list of native plants was sourced from the Brandywine Conservancy.
American Holly is known for producing bright red berries in the fall and its waxy evergreen leaves and their sharp edges. Because it is an evergreen, the American Holly provides shelter for wildlife throughout the harsh Northeastern winters.
Its berries are also a valuable commodity for many regional bird species including the American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, and Cedar Waxwing, according to The University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources. When it reaches maturity, the American Holly is a tree that can grow as large as 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide. It is a tolerant, low-maintenance plant that does well in full sun to partial shade and can thrive in different types of soil. However, exposure to lots of wind can dry out the leaves.
The Jolly Red Winterberry is another type of holly, but unlike the American Holly, the Winterberry’s leaves turn a warm burgundy in the fall, then produce colorful red berries amongst its bare branches during the winter, hence its name. Winterberry will fruit more berries in full sun and prefers wet area, but still does well in dryer conditions, according to The University of Connecticut. It can grew between 6 to 15 feet tall.
Winter avian regulars include the American Robin, Hermit Thrush, and Eastern Bluebird.
Blackhaw is a medium-sized deciduous shrub that can grow upwards of 15 feet. It’s a looker all seasons of the year, blooming lovely white clusters of flowers in spring, and pink flowers that mature to black oval-like fruit in autumn and winter, which offers a gorgeous purplish color during fall foliage. Blackhaw is perfect for someone with—dare we say—a black thumb. It’s easy to grow and is adaptable to many conditions, according to The University of Connecticut. What we love about Blackhaw is its fruit’s ability to attract striking red cardinals against a snowy white backdrop as well as the Cedar Waxwing, Hermit Thrush, American Bluebird and White-throated sparrows.
4: Virginia Rose The Virginia Rose is a native rose shrub that grows between 4 to 6 feet tall. It yields pretty pink flowers in the spring. At the close of summer, the Virginia Rose’s flowers turn to red rose hips that feed many species of birds and other wildlife throughout the winter.
According to The University of Connecticut, its nutritious rose hips provide food to birds including wild turkeys, Brown Thrashers, the Northern Cardinal, and the American Goldfinch.
American Witchhazel is a large deciduous tree that can grows 10 to 30 feet tall. Deciduous means that it sheds its leaves seasonally—during cold months. In the American Witchhazel’s case, it flowers in late October to early November after its autumn foliage has fallen. The flowers are yellow with witchy, spidery petals. We love this tree because of its unique color—unordinary for the time of year and very different than the bright greens and reds seen with evergreens and hollies. Its branches are also an attractive site for birds to nest.
Enjoy Your Winter Landscape More with Outdoor LightingElecting to plant flora native to Pennsylvania and the Brandywine-Christina watershed is a great choice for a year-round landscape. It’s a simple and wonderfully natural cure for the wintertime blues as these native plants, shrubs, and trees come to life during the coldest, bleakest months.
They also attract wildlife and bright-colored birds for quiet onlooking and birding. Further, because this flora is naturally occurring in the area, it requires less attention and promotes a better likelihood that it will thrive. Additionally, it is often naturally resistant to the region’s pests and require less maintenance. Once your native plants are blossoming and thriving come winter, we recommend adding outdoor lighting so that you can enjoy your gorgeous winter landscaping day and night. We can’t think of anything prettier than little bursts of color from plantlife after a freshly fallen snow! We hope this quick list of some of our our favorites was helpful and inspiring, and become your top picks, too. Happy winter, everyone!
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what is it: photos, benefits and harms, calories, recipes, planting and care
Shepherdia - this beautiful word is called the American variety of sea buckthorn.
This shrub looks so aesthetically pleasing that it is used to decorate the landscape. Beautiful ruby berries are not only pleasing to the eye, but also bring many benefits. Drinks from the fruits of shepherdia give vivacity, heal the body. The plant is unpretentious in care, so anyone can plant it in their summer cottage.
Where it grows
The shrub grows wild in North America, Canada. Indigenous peoples used the berry for food and to treat various diseases. In the world it became known in 1818. It was discovered by Philadelphia botanist Thomas Nuttall. He shipped the seedlings of the plant to the European Botanical Society. The shrub was named after John Shepherd, an English explorer who made a great contribution to the development of the botanical garden in Liverpool.
In our country, this amazing plant was spread by Ivan Vladimirovich Michurin, a famous Russian biologist and breeder. The fruits conquered him with their unusual taste and appearance. The scientist even planted a shrub in his own garden.
Now it is growing not only in the USA, Canada and Europe, but in our country. nine0003
Names
Perhaps no other plant has as many names as Shepherdia. In America, it is called "buffalo", or "buffalo berry", as well as "rabbit berry". It is believed that these nicknames came from the fact that the locals traditionally prepare berry sauce, serving it with bison (and rabbit) meat. According to another version, wild artiodactyls eat Shepherdia fruits with pleasure, just as our bears do.
Another interesting name is "soapberry". The fruits acquired it because of the slippery feeling that appears on the skin when rolled in the palms. Hands become as if slightly soapy. The fruits are also called "currant from Nebraska", "American sea buckthorn", "silver leaf". A rather unusual name - "crucified berry" - Shepherdia received for the structure of the leaves, which are located crosswise. nine0003
What it looks like
The Shepherdia shrub belongs to the Loch family.
This is a low perennial plant with a thin trunk. It stretches up to 3-5 meters, sometimes up to 7. In our country, a tree related to shepherdia is more common - sea buckthorn. It has the same leaves, but the fruits differ in shape and color. The taste of the berries also varies.
The trunk of the shrub is rough, gray-yellow. The branches move to the sides, so the crown is spreading. A feature of the structure of the tree is the presence of thorns. They are planted with all the branches diverging to the sides. Just starting to grow, thin trunks branch, cross, often at the very bottom. Plantings create a real hedge that cannot be overcome. nine0003
The leaves have an elongated oval shape. They are small - 4-6 cm long, with a dense structure. Small leaves have a bright green tint. The upper and lower parts are equipped with villi, from which the rays of the sun are reflected. They seem to be sprinkled with fine dust. From a distance, the branches appear silvery, which justifies the name "silver leaf".
This color creates a contrast with bright red fruits. It looks very impressive. In the USA, they like to decorate buildings with shepherdia bushes. It is widely used in landscape design. nine0003
Fruits
Flowering begins at the end of March. I must say that during this period the plant is not the most spectacular view. The buds are very small and inexpressive, dirty yellow. They densely sprinkle the branches, spreading a honey aroma. This smell attracts pollinating insects. Leaves appear after a short flowering period.
American sea buckthorn is a dioecious plant. That is, the flowers on it are either only female, or only male. Therefore, for the ripening of fruits, trees of different sexes are needed. This aspect must be taken into account when growing shrubs in a summer cottage. The sex of a tree can be determined by the structure of the calyx. The male flowers are larger than the female ones, they lack a pistil, and there are many stamens. nine0003
Later, instead of flowers, fruits are formed.
They stick around the branches just as tightly as the inflorescences. Shepherdia berries are colored red or red-orange. The rind is sprinkled with small white dots. This is another feature of the plant. Inside the fruit is a small bone. Picking berries is easy - just shake the branch. With this property, it compares favorably with sea buckthorn, the collection of which takes a long time. At one time fruiting bushes give up to 15 kg of crop.
Buffalo berry has a tender jelly-like pulp. Fresh fruits taste sour and slightly tart. Due to the astringent sensation in the mouth, not everyone likes to consume it straight from the bush. Mostly American sea buckthorn is used to make drinks and jams. The berry, which is on the bushes until the first frost, acquires a sweeter taste.
Varieties
There are three types of plants in this class. Their names:
- Silver - Argentea
- Canadian - Canadensis
- Round-leaved - Rotundifolia
They differ in leaf shape, fruit size and color.
In order to obtain a crop, the first type of shrub is cultivated. The last two are more considered decorative.
Argentea
This variety is more similar to our sea buckthorn. It has the same narrow and long leaves, densely sprinkling the branches of a tree. The surface of the leaf is covered with many villi on both sides, which makes them appear silvery. Berries up to 6 mm in diameter. The ripe fruit is painted in scarlet colors, orange-red shades predominate. The Golden Eye variety, bred by breeders, belongs to this species, the berries on it are of a juicy yellow color, which appear golden in the sun. nine0003
Canadensis
The Canadian species of shepherdia is mainly used for decorating the surrounding areas. Its berries are small, with unexpressed taste qualities. Fruit size - from 4 mm, oblong shape. The leaves are dark green, with a gray tint, oval. The edge is present mainly on the underside. This variety does not form thorns.
The height of the trunk is small - the trees are stretched only up to 2-2.5 m.
Rotundifolia
Round-leaved shepherdia is a tall shrub with a spreading crown. The branches diverging to the sides are strongly twisted and woven. The peculiarity of this variety is rounded thick leaves with edging, dotted with growths. The trees give abundant color and many fruits. Under the weight of foliage and berries, the crown often bends to the very bottom, which is a beautiful sight. Silver-olive foliage, with clusters of scarlet berries, cascades from the top of the crown to the ground.
Benefit
Nebraska currant fruit is a valuable product used in folk medicine. A huge amount of vitamin C is concentrated in their pulp, much more than in the usual sea buckthorn. Other beneficial substances in the berry:
- Carotin
- Pectin
- Sakhakroza
- Catechins
- Buns
- Organic acids
- Vitamins A, P, E
due to the presence of acorm acidic, bores.
Its use helps to resist colds and infectious diseases, eliminates depressive states. Vitamin E contributes to the rejuvenation of skin cells, makes it smooth and elastic. Carotene is needed for good vision, a healthy vascular system. It cleanses the body of harmful substances, protects against harmful bacteria. nine0093 Shepherdia fruits have the following effect on human health:
- improve the functioning of the stomach and intestines;
- treat diseases of the urinary tract;
- work as a choleretic agent;
- cleanse blood vessels from cholesterol deposits;
- increase the elasticity of capillaries, arteries;
- prevent the appearance of cancerous tumors.
Berries have bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties. It is useful to take decoctions from berries and leaves of shepherdia in the autumn-winter period, when influenza epidemics and acute respiratory infections begin. nine0003
Culinary uses
Buffalo berries are especially tasty when caught in the first frost.
The pulp becomes sweet and tender. Fresh fruits are eaten separately or by adding other autumn berries to them: lingonberries, currants, cranberries. It is ground with sugar and stored in jars throughout the winter. Also, fresh fruits are frozen in the freezer, so that if necessary, make a drink from them or add them to pastries. American sea buckthorn is prepared from:
- fruit drinks, compotes
- jam, jams
- jelly
- pastille, marmalade
- jelly
- flooding, tinctures
- cheesecakes, pies
- Smuses
Compote
The combination of raspberries and buffalo berries will fill the drink with the sweet aroma and taste of wild berries. For 1.5 liters of water and a glass of sugar, take 250 g of raspberries and shepherdia berries. The fruits are washed, pour two glasses of water. Add sugar, cook until boiling, stirring.
Then add the remaining water and keep on medium heat for another 10-15 minutes. The compote is cooled to a warm state. nine0003
Mousse
Whip 350 g of shepherdia berries in a blender with half a glass of granulated sugar. The mixture is filtered, the pulp is discarded. The juice is poured into a saucepan and put on the stove. Agar-agar is dissolved in water according to the instructions. When the juice boils, remove from heat, pour agar-agar into it. When it cools down a bit, add a tablespoon of liquid honey and lemon juice to the mixture. Everything is mixed, poured into a mold, put in the refrigerator.
Growing
The plant is quite unpretentious, which is a big plus for growing in the middle zone of our country. Trees can be planted in almost all types of soil. For Shepherdia, soil with a small admixture of clay and sand is perfect. It will grow even on rocky soil. It is planted in silty areas, adding gravel. The shrub is not afraid of frost and dry periods.
For good fertility, the tree should be planted in an open area with access to sunlight.
Plant roots close to the ground. Since they are well developed, sheferdia grows well on slopes, crumbling soils. It can be planted along the edges of the site to protect against erosion. For American sea buckthorn, you should not choose a low place in which water stagnates. In this case, you need to drain the soil to provide air to the roots. It is best to plant plants in the Siberian regions in the spring, as frosts can suddenly hit in the fall. Over the summer, the tree will get stronger and take root. nine0093 The plant is planted in one of the following ways:
- Seeds
- Cuttings
- Root cuttings
Seeds are sown in open soil before winter, in late October - early November. Deepen to a distance of 2-3 cm. After the snow falls, it is raked to the sowing site to create a shelter. Sprouts appear in April, by September they grow to 12-17 cm. When planted in this way, sheferdia begins to bear fruit in 5-6 years.
For propagation by cuttings, the tops of annual shoots with several buds are cut off. After one-day soaking in a root-forming solution, they are planted in the ground to a depth of 4 cm. For the first month, it is necessary to cover the cuttings with a film or plastic container to ensure a greenhouse effect. They need to be moistened and aired every day. When the roots grow and become stronger, the cuttings are transplanted to the site chosen for this. nine0003
It is best to propagate the plant by root cuttings, in which case it will begin to bear fruit after 2-3 years. Every year shoots appear on the roots of an adult tree. The soil in this place needs to be excavated, the shoot is carefully cut off from the root. Layers are immediately planted in a permanent place. To protect from cold and heat, you need to cover them with a material intended for this. After the appearance of the leaves, the coating is removed.
An unpretentious plant will decorate a summer cottage with bright scarlet clusters.
In winter, drinks from its fruits will cheer you up and improve your health. nine0003
Christmas tree with red berries | The Day newspaper
This species of yew is listed in the Red Data Book of UkraineFeb 20, 5:39 pm
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Only one kind of yew grows in Ukraine - yew berry. The tree really resembles a Christmas tree, and even with berries! In the nature of our country, it is quite rare, most often found on the slopes of the mountains of the Carpathians, the Carpathians and the Crimea, but as an ornamental planting - throughout the territory.
In general, the genus of yews includes eight species that are distributed in Europe, East Asia, North America and North Africa. In Europe, yew is often found in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, occasionally along the Baltic coast. nine0003
Compared to the Slovak and Romanian Carpathians in the Ukrainian Carpathians, yew is much less common.
They are protected in the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Crimean and Yalta Nature Reserves, a number of reserves, in particular, Knyazhvir in Ivano-Frankivsk region, in the tracts of Bolshaya Ugolka and Malaya Ugolka in Transcarpathia.
By the way, Knyazhvir is considered one of the largest yew berry reserves in Europe, it is here that its natural renewal takes place. The first mention of a large number of yew trees growing in Knyazhdvor was recorded in Vladislav Spausta's study "Yew", which was published in Lviv as early as 1883. Then scientists attributed this tract to the natural-reserved objects. During the First World War, many trees were cut down for the needs of the army. Under 1932 years the array was gradually restored.
Individual yew trees, given their rarity, often also have the status of natural landmarks and are protected.
THE YEW WAS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF STRENGTH AND BACTERICIDAL PROPERTIES
In ancient times, the berry yew occupied large territories, and man mercilessly exploited the tree because of its strong wood, until it was destroyed, - says biologist Maria SAVCHUK.
- The tree has strong bactericidal properties - it even kills microorganisms that are in the air. The local people believed that a house in which at least the beams were made of yew was reliably protected from pathogenic infections and would protect its inhabitants during epidemics. Ritual objects were also made of wood - crosses, monstrances, boxes for relics. nine0003
In addition, yew wood has a beautiful texture, polishes well, and is resistant to decay. It was considered the best material for the construction of ships, high-quality bows and arrows, because yew wood, in addition to strength, has high elasticity.
The wood, bark and leaves of the yew tree contain the substance taxine and are therefore poisonous to humans and many animals, horses and livestock. Although foresters have noticed that hares and deer eat yew without harm to their own health.
An old belief claimed that a person could be poisoned by serving him wine in a goblet made of yew. In particular, the historian Pliny the Elder writes about such cases in his Natural History.
Modern pharmacologists consider this absolutely probable.
Ancient Romans called yew the royal tree. They decorated the palaces of kings and emperors, made boxes for jewelry and perfumes, royal thrones and a bed for the princes of Kievan Rus, - recalled in historical sources.
In the Carpathians, yew was worth its weight in gold. In princely times, local peasants paid tribute to the boyars with valuable timber, and later, in the 18th - 18th centuries, to the Austrian Caesar. nine0003
Memories of ancient yew forests, common in the Carpathians and the Carpathians, are also reflected in toponymy. Probably everyone has heard about the Tisza River and the city of Tysmenitsa, if they have not seen it with their own eyes.
Birds also contribute to the spread of this already rare tree. The fruit of the yew is called the cone berry, its flesh is non-poisonous and sweet. When the birds swallow the berry, the poisonous seed comes out and enters the soil.
IN OLD TIMES THE YES WAS CONSIDERED A SYMBOL OF LONGING AND SORRY
Among the Slavs, the yew was considered a tree of death, a symbol of longing and sadness, says the Encyclopedia of Slavic Culture, Literature and Mythology.
In particular, in the Tale of Igor's Campaign, the yew is recalled in a dream by the Grand Duke Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich: on the night of the death of Igor's army, he sees that he is dressed in a black outfit on a yew bed and blue wine is poured, mixed with grief.
The ancient Romans dedicated yew to the gods of the underworld, and tree branches were attributes of funeral rites, yew trees were also planted in cemeteries. nine0003
Egyptian pharaohs were also buried in yew sarcophagi. The yew received such symbolism, obviously, due to its bactericidal properties, which people have known about since ancient times. And during excavations of ancient Egyptian pyramids, archaeologists found sculptural portraits of pharaohs and their wives made of yew.
The word "yew" in many Slavic languages sounds the same or similar. On the one hand, it is close to the Latin "taxus" - a spear, the ancient Romans made spears, arrows and bows from yew wood. From the other - close to the Greek "toxicos" - poisonous, because the needles, bark, wood of the tree are still poisonous.
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Yew is also called “zelenitsa” - for its thick emerald crown, “negniy-tree” - for strong wood that does not rot easily both in air and in water, “mahogany” - for the peculiar color of wood both before and and after processing, the "royal tree" - for a luxurious crown and pale red wood.
THE TREE DECORATES PARKS AND IS USED IN MEDICINE
Due to its distinctive decorative effect, especially during fruiting, the yew has long been used as a park plant. According to landscape designers, these trees lend themselves remarkably to cutting, shaping and sanitary pruning, and keep their shape for a long time. nine0003
That is why they were often used to build labyrinths in French gardens (large yew lattices and bosquets are still preserved in Versailles). The ancient Romans used the berry yew to create buildings and figures of fantastic animals and people from clipped greenery. Since the Renaissance, yew has remained a beautiful topiary material, especially when you need to create whimsical garden compositions, high walls, figures or unique living fences from green plants.
