The type of soil, its structure as well as the abundance of nutrients and water are the basic factors determining the vegetation of the country. In Poland, the majority of soils are white-leaved, brown and less-aquatic soils, classified as medium or low-quality soils.Creating a garden green oasis on them is not an easy task, but it is as possible as possible with the appropriate selection of species.
An example of a tree with extreme drought resistance and minimal soil requirements is Banks pine.This North American tree grows in dunes, creates a loose, irregular crown, usually set on a crooked trunk, and numerous cones remaining on the branches for many years. The most interesting, however, is that the Banks pine cones open only under the influence of high temperature caused by the fire.Similar adaptation is shown by the common heather. The fire does not completely destroy the plants, but it does rejuvenate them.
Trees and shrubs with xeromorphic features will be the matrix and frame of an ornamental garden on a sandy base, and therefore, evolutionarily adapted to water shortage and a small amount of nutrients.Black pine, mountain pine, blue spruce and numerous species and varieties of junipers are useful. For example, the standard western thuja 'Smaragd' hedge (not suitable for sandy and dry soils!) Can be replaced with columnar junipers, e.g. Chinese juniper 'Monarch', 'Obelisk' or 'Spartan', common juniper 'Gold Cone' (yellow ), 'Hibernica' (green) or 'Suecica' (blue-green). Among conifers, we can also find those that can cope with the shade.
Such an exceptional shrub with negligible soil and light requirements is the Siberian microbiota, an excellent ground cover plant. The garden composition is complemented by perennials and low shrubs, e.g.An interesting coastal xerophytic species is the sea bream - a heliophyte that grows wild on Atlantic beaches. The perennial forms a tap root and a rosette of blue leaves resembling cabbage leaves.
A species worth recommending is the black crowberry, an evergreen pillow shrub with its habit resembling low heather varieties. Carolingian yucca grows well on well-drained soils. Apart from flowers, it is decorated with evergreen saber leaves, cream edged in 'Bright Edge'.A valuable group of perennials adapted to a dry environment are grasses, including fescue.Kostrzewa glaucoma 'Blauglut' forms blue clumps of needle-shaped leaves. Species with yellow flowers perfectly contrast with the cool blue colors of the perennials mentioned: St. John's wort and Olympic, Yarrow 'Coronation' or Cypress santolina.
Shrubs resistant to drought
Lovers of deciduous trees and shrubs can choose between varieties of the Podolian perukowca.The most interesting of them is the dwarf 'Young Lady' with light green leaves and cream-pink wigs, the yellow-leaved 'Golden Spirit' with pink wigs or the purple 'Royal Purple'. Xerophytes are also the acetic sumac, early thistle, broom and less known southern scrub, shrub amorphous and indigo.The southern mosquitoes are fascinating with their exotic fruits.These are bloated, red, blister-like pods with translucent walls.
Bushes form a very deep root system. Shrub amorphous attracts attention with abundant flowering. The purple flowers only have one petal but are gathered in numerous and profuse clusters. Both shrubs grow well in the driest sandy soils. Unfortunately, they can freeze in harsh winters.The shrubs that are equally drought tolerant, and at the same time fully frost-resistant, are French tamarisk, sprinkled with pink flowers from June to August, and wrinkled rose.
