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Pine trees that stay small


15 Exceptional Choices for the Yard and Garden

If you’re looking for evergreen trees that stay naturally short-statured, have no maintenance requirements beyond watering, and stay green all winter long, you’ve come to the right place! While finding all of these traits in a single tree might seem too good to be true, it isn’t. In fact, there are lots of dwarf evergreen trees that offer all of these benefits and more to small-space gardeners. They’re also great choices for anyone who doesn’t want to spend their weekends pruning overgrown plants. Before I introduce you to 15 of my favorite small evergreen trees, let’s take a look at some of the perks these plants provide.

Why plant small evergreen trees?

There are many benefits of planting small evergreen trees in your yard and garden.

Dwarf evergreen trees, like this compact blue spruce, offer so much to the landscape.

Top 15 dwarf evergreen trees for small gardens

While there are hundreds of compact evergreens for small gardens, these 15 are exceptional varieties I’ve personally worked with. As a horticulturist, I see lots of evergreen trees and shrubs worth growing. But, those on this list are among the finest small-statured varieties available to home gardeners.

1. The Blues Weeping Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens ‘The Blues’): This amazing and extremely hardy variety of weeping blue spruce is a total show-stopper. Though it’s fast growing, it tops out at just 10 feet in height with a width between 5 and 10 feet. The blue-green needles are thickly packed on downward hanging branches. Hardy down to -50 degrees F, ‘The Blues’ is among the most deer resistant of the dwarf evergreen trees. It thrives in full sun conditions but will also tolerate some shade.

The weeping habit of ‘The Blues’ adds an extra layer of interest to the garden.

2. Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa):  A compact, extremely slow-growing, soft-needled evergreen with a somewhat pyramidal form, Hinoki cypress have fan-shaped foliage that’s lush and dark green. It gives the plant an almost feathery texture. Winter hardy down to -30 degrees F, Hinoki cypress are 10 to 12  feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide when twenty years old. This evergreen requires full to partial sun and well-drained soils. If you’d like an even smaller version of this plant that tops out at just 5 feet tall, look for the cultivar ‘Nana Gracilis’

This Hinoki cypress has been pruned into a three-balled topiary, but its natural form is gorgeous, too.

3. Blue Wonder Blue Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Blue Wonder’):  This sweet little spruce is winter hardy down to -40 degrees F. It has beautiful blue-gray foliage and a lovely compact form. This dwarf evergreen is an excellent alternative to dwarf Alberta spruce and it looks great in winter container plantings, too. Slowly reaching 6 feet in height, ‘Blue Wonder’ is only 3 feet wide at maturity and has a naturally dense conical form.

4. Dwarf Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea ‘Nana’):  A squat, rounded fir with lush needles, this compact plant deserves a place on every list of dwarf evergreen trees. Hardy to -40 degrees F, the slow growth rate of this variety makes it great for folks who don’t have the time or inclination to regularly prune their shrubs. Like other balsam firs, this compact selection has dark green needles and densely packed branches. It reaches 5 to 6 feet wide after many years of growth.

5. Chalet Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra ‘Chalet’):  Swiss Stone pines have long been a favorite of mine, and this dwarf variety is no different. When it comes to dwarf evergreen trees, ‘Chalet’ has so much to offer! Slow growing with a beautiful form, this small evergreen tree is columnar in shape and densely branched. The needles are long and blue-green, lending a soft look to this compact evergreen. With a hardiness down to -40 degrees F, ‘Chalet’ is an exceptional choice that reaches just 8 feet in height with a width of 4 feet.

No matter what their variety, Swiss Stone pines are among the finest dwarf evergreen trees on the market.

6. Tip Top Dwarf Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra ‘Tip Top’):  So, just to prove I wasn’t kidding about loving Swiss Stone pines, here’s another variety of these dwarf evergreen trees worth planting in small gardens. ‘Tip Top’ is extremely hardy (-40 degrees F) and downright adorable. In 10 years it reaches just 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. The white undersides of the needles, combined with their long form and soft feel, make this evergreen look like a shaggy green Muppet. Its growth habit is narrow and conical, and like all of the other dwarf evergreen trees on this list, ‘Tip Top’ requires zero pruning to maintain its small stature.

7. Dwarf Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika ‘Nana’):  The dense growth of this compact evergreen tree makes it a super choice for small garden beds and foundation plantings. Like other Serbian spruces, this dwarf form has green needles with white striping on the undersides, giving the tree a soft appearance. Slow-growing and reaching a maximum height of just 3 to 5 feet with an equal width, dwarf Serbian spruce thrives in garden zones with winter temperatures down to -30 degrees F. Loosely pyramidal in form with no pruning required.

Dwarf Serbian spruce does not grow large, and it’s a great small evergreen for a small yard.

8. Green Spire Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Spire’):  Winter hardy down to -10 degrees, ‘Green Spire’ euonymus is well behaved, giving it a more formal appearance than some other options. The glossy, green foliage is perfect for creating a narrow hedge or screen. Maxing out at 6 to 8 feet in height with a spread of just 1 to 2 feet, this naturally narrow shrub is a fast grower, too.

9. Green Arrow Weeping Alaska Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootakatensis ‘Green Arrow’):  Tall and narrow, ‘Green Arrow’ is one of the finest narrow evergreen trees for small yards and gardens. Of all the weeping Alaska cedars, ‘Green Arrow’ offers the most slender girth. Topping out at 20 feet in height and 1 foot wide, you might not consider it dwarf, but it’s super small footprint makes it great for even the tiniest of backyards. The weeping branches have soft foliage with a fan-like appearance. Winter hardy down to -20 degrees F, ‘Green Arrow’ makes a phenomenal addition to the garden.

The tall but narrow appearance of ‘Green Arrow’ weeping Alaska cedar is a show stopper, and it’s suited to even the smallest garden.

10. Green Penguin Dwarf Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris ‘Green Penguin‘):  A chunky, yet tidy dwarf evergreen, once you see ‘Green Penguin’ you’ll realize how it got its name. With new growth that’s feathery and older growth that’s long-needled, this dwarf scotch pine is very unique. It has a thick, pyramidal form that never has you reaching for your pruning shears, and ‘Green Penguin’ is hardy to -40 degrees F. Maximum height is 6 feet with a width equal to half its height.

11. Dwarf Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii ‘Kotobuki’):  Fully winter hardy to -20 degrees F, this needled evergreen reaches just 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. The upright candles of new growth in the spring, coupled with its narrow growth habit, make ‘Kotobuki’ an excellent choice for containers and small gardens. Slow growing, with a dense structure, this deer-resistant evergreen has needles that are about half the length of regular Japanese black pines.

Japanese black pines are lovely trees, and the compact variety ‘Kotobuki’ is a prime choice for smaller landscapes.

12. Dwarf Pencil Point Juniper (Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’):  Evergreen and columnar in form, dwarf pencil point juniper is both unique and slow growing. With an average height of 5 feet and a width of just 1 foot, this sun-loving evergreen has blue-green needles. Female plants may produce blue “berries” in the fall as well. Its tapered form means it’s a great “exclamation point” accent plant for smaller landscapes. Winter hardy to -40 degrees F.

13. North Star Dwarf White Spruce (Picea glauca ‘North Star’):  Extremely hardy, this compact evergreen tree is pyramidal in shape and covered with green needles. Deer-resistant and hardy to -50 degrees F, ‘North Star’ tops out at 5 to 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It prefers full to partial sun and requires little to no pruning to maintain a neat-and-tidy shape. Easy to grow and tolerant of all but the wettest soils, ‘North Star’ is among the finest dwarf evergreen trees available.

‘North Star’ white spruce is a densely branched, beautiful compact evergreen.

14. Upright Japanese Plum Yew (Cephaloxatus harringtoniia ‘Fastigiata’):  This broad-needled evergreen is hardy to -10 degrees F. Its upright, slender growth habit maxes out at 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Though it’s non-flowering, Japanese plum yews have dark green needles that are densely spaced on bottlebrush-like, upright branches. Each needle is about 2 inches long. It thrives in full to partial sun, but prefers afternoon shade in hot southern regions during the summer months.

The upright branches of the Japanese plum yew mean it doesn’t take up much room in the garden.

15. Little Gem Dwarf Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’):  Like its full-sized kin, this compact southern magnolia is lush and attractive. The leaves are just as dark green and glossy as traditional southern magnolias, but they’re smaller in size. Large, white, perfumed flowers cover this columnar dwarf evergreen tree in late spring through summer. A second bloom may occur again in the fall in cooler climates. While at a mature height of 20 feet tall, ‘Little Gem’ certainly isn’t as petite as some of the other trees featured here. But, it is significantly smaller than a standard southern magnolia and is one of the finest dwarf evergreen trees available. Winter hardy down to 0 degrees F.

The ease of maintenance, beauty, and diversity of these dwarf evergreen trees is hard to deny. There’s no doubt making a home for one or more of them in your garden pays big dividends all year long.

For more on using compact plant varieties in your garden, check out the following articles:

What are your favorite compact evergreen trees? We’d love to hear about them in the comment section below.

18 Small or Dwarf Evergreen Trees For Your Garden (With Pictures)

Dwarf evergreen trees are small, compact trees that are perfect for small gardens or growing in containers. The beauty of planting small trees is that they require little maintenance, are green all year round and don’t take up much space in your yard. Even in large gardens, planting small dwarf evergreen trees can make beautiful garden landscape features.

Dwarf Evergreen Trees For Landscaping

There are plenty of types of dwarf evergreen trees to choose from and use in the landscape. There are dwarf spruce trees, small pine evergreen trees, miniature cypress trees, dwarf ornamental fir trees, or dwarf weeping trees to pick from.

By planting one or more compact dwarf evergreen trees you don’t have to worry about clearing leaves in the fall or trees that grow too tall for your garden.

In this article, you will find out about 15 beautiful ornamental dwarf evergreen trees for landscaping. First, let’s look at a few reasons to grow small evergreen trees in your garden or in containers.

Why Plant Dwarf Evergreen Trees in Your Garden?

Apart from their ornamental beauty, small compact evergreen trees require very little maintenance throughout the year.

For example, their short stature and compact nature mean they are easy to plant and don’t need extensive pruning. You also don’t have to worry about large root systems affecting your property. This makes small trees ideal for planting in small or narrow spaces.

Due to being evergreen trees, the dwarf varieties of these trees can give year-round privacy in your garden. While deciduous types of trees lose their foliage, dwarf evergreens will beautify your garden with green, silver, and even yellow colors in the middle of winter.

Also if you have a small garden and not much space to plant large trees, planting compact trees will not take too much space and will better fit your small-yard landscape design.

Small (Dwarf) Evergreen Trees for Your Garden With Pictures and Common Names

Let’s look in more detail at some popular varieties of ornamental dwarf varieties of firs, spruces, pines, cypress, and other evergreen trees.

Mugo Pine Tree

Pinus mugo ‘Mops’ (mugo pine) is an evergreen dwarf tree and it’s suited to even the smallest garden

Mugo pine is a great dwarf evergreen tree for small spaces. The mugo pine (scientific name: Pinus mugo) is a small type of conifer tree that is green all year. The Mugo Pine ‘Mops’ is one of the dwarf cultivars of this evergreen conifer variety. These small evergreen cultivars are also named “dwarf mountain pines.”

Dwarf Mugo pine is a compact tree that grows between 3 and 5 ft. (1 to 1.5 m) tall and has short compact branches. Mugo pines can also be planted to provide good ground cover and will grow in most types of soil. Mugo pine is an ideal compact evergreen for landscaping a garden. These small evergreen trees are good for rock gardens, foundation planting, front yard, or as a small evergreen shrub.

This type of small evergreen ornamental plant grows best in USDA planting zones 3-7 and enjoys partial shade. They can also survive harsh winters very well.

Read more: Types of Pine Trees

Green Spire Euonymus

Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus’ is a great small evergreen for a small yard

The Green Spire Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus) is a small evergreen tree originating in the Far East. The dwarf cultivar is from the small tree called the Japanese Spindle or Evergreen Spindle.

Unlike the other dwarf evergreen trees on this list, the Green Spire isn’t a pine tree, conifer, or spruce. The small bushy tree has rich leafy foliage that stays green all year. The tree/shrub has many cultivars that produce dark green glossy leaves and also variegated cultivars which grow in vertical columns. You can use this small tree to form privacy hedges in your garden or use it as a small ornamental tree for flower beds.

This evergreen leafy tree can grow between 6 and 8 ft. (1.8 and 2.4 m). However with some pruning, you can train the tree to grow to the height you desire. The small compact tree grows well in USDA zones 6-9.

Dwarf Hinoki Cypress Tree

Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) ‘Nana_Gracilis’ is a beautiful compact evergreen that makes an excellent addition to the landscape

Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is a slow-growing dwarf ornamental evergreen tree. This type of small cypress tree is native to Japan and it has a number of beautiful dwarf cultivars. In many countries, Hinoki cypress are evergreen trees that are planted in small gardens for their ornamental look and rich foliage.

Some of the smallest types of Hinoki cypress trees are as short as 12″ (30 cm)! However, not all of these “mini” trees are so small. Other cultivars of the dwarf variety grow between 3 ft. and 6 ft. (1-2 m). So, you just have to choose the right type of Hinoki dwarf evergreen to achieve your landscaping goals.

This evergreen miniature cypress tree has soft feathery needles and dark green foliage. The small hardy trees grow well in well-drained soil where they get full to partial sun.

Some of the most popular dwarf Hinoki cypress evergreen trees include ‘Kosteri,’ ‘Nana,’ ‘’Nana Gracilis,’ and ‘Spiralis.’

The Blues Weeping Colorado Spruce Tree

Picea pungens (blue weeping Colorado spruce tree) is a dwarf narrow tree which makes it an excellent choice for smaller landscapes or narrow spaces

The Blues Weeping Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens ‘The Blues’) is a stunning type of “silvery” small evergreen tree for a small garden. You can also grow this small spruce tree in a container to grace any entrance.

The dwarf “Blues Weeping” is a small evergreen spruce that grows very fast and it will quickly reach its maximum height of 10 ft. (3 m). You can grow it in a container to restrict its growth. This dwarf weeping evergreen tree has silver-blue foliage that drops down to give the tree a compact look.

One of the reasons why gardeners choose this type of dwarf evergreen for landscaping is that every tree grows in a unique way. The crisp blue needles on the foliage also give an oriental feel to any garden. You can, of course, train the tree to grow in a way you want.

The Blues Weeping Colorado Spruce grows well in full sun and moist soil. It’s also a hardy tree that grows in USDA zones 2-8.

Dwarf Balsam Fir Tree

Dwarf Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea ‘Nana’) is a great small evergreen for small spaces

The Dwarf Balsam Fir (scientific name: Abies balsamea ‘Nana’) is one of the most popular compact dwarf fir trees. This small tree has the classic fir tree conical shape and it’s an excellent choice for small yards.

The Dwarf Balsam Fir is one of the low-maintenance varieties of compact evergreens as it is slow growing. This evergreen fir produces flat needle-like leaves that stay green throughout the year. As the tree grows and reaches maturity, it develops the distinct cone-like shape of many evergreen firs.

If you have a balcony, porch, or deck area, you can also plant this compact dwarf tree in containers. Due to the fact that the leaves give off a wonderful pine aroma, you benefit from the tree’s beauty and fragrance.

The compact evergreen grows well in USDA zones 3-6 and enjoys a lot of sun and well-drained soil.

Dwarf Serbian Spruce Tree

Dwarf Serbian Spruce is a beautiful compact evergreen

The dwarf cultivar of the Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika ‘Nana’) is an excellent evergreen tree to plant when landscaping any large or small garden.

This slow-growing compact tree only grows between 3 and 4 inches (7-10 cm) every year.

Like many large and small spruce evergreens, the dwarf Serbian spruce has leaves with green and silver needles that form dense foliage. You can expect the small tree to grow no more than 5 ft. (1.5 m) and it will spread about the same distance at its base. This evergreen dwarf variety doesn’t require any pruning to shape it.

Another type of Serbian spruce that belongs to the class of weeping evergreens is the ‘Pendula. ’ This type of spruce tree can withstand temperatures as low as -40°F (-40 °C)

Dwarf Scotch Pine Tree

Called the “Green Penguin,” this small fat Scotch pine tree (Pinus sylvestris ‘Green Penguin’) has a distinctly conical shape.

The dwarf Scotch pine is an evergreen hardy tree that produces bright green needles that keep their green color all year. One of the reasons to add this type of evergreen to your landscaping is that you never need to prune it. You can expect a mature dwarf Scotch pine to reach 6 ft. (1.8 m) over a period of many years.

The dwarf Scotch pine is one of the hardiest evergreen compact trees as it still grows in temperatures as low as -40°F (-40 °C). This dwarf pine tree thrives in USDA zones 3-7.

Miniature Moss False Cypress

The Miniature Moss False Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Squarrosa Minima’) is more of a dwarf shrub than a true tree. However, the silvery foliage and limited growth make it a good landscaping choice.

This miniature Cypress tree/shrub is perfect as a bedding plant or border plant. The dwarf tree grows into a round globe shape that reaches a height of about 1 ft. (30 cm). You can plant this miniature tree alongside perennials to give some color to gardens in the wintertime.

The little cypress is a tree-like shrub that also grows well in containers and is an excellent choice if you are creating an urban garden.

You should plant the miniature evergreen shrub in soil that doesn’t get too dry. This dwarf cypress variety grows well in USDA zones down to zone 4.

Dwarf Japanese Black Pine Tree

Dwarf Japanese Black Pine tree is suited to even the smallest garden and makes an excellent choice for the landscape

The Dwarf Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii ‘Kotobuki’) is a delightful miniature tree for any small garden due to its elegant look.

The miniature cultivar of the Black Pine grows to about 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall after about 10 years. This compact tree has small branches that grow vertically to give the tree a dwarf, narrow pyramid look. You can also prune the tree to turn it into a stunning ornamental tree to give your garden an oriental look.

This Japanese Black Pine tree is a dwarf pine variety that grows well in full sun and can withstand harsh winters.

Dwarf Pencil Point Juniper

Dwarf Pencil Point Juniper is a narrow columnar tree that doesn’t take up much room in the garden. It is a great tree for narrow spaces in your garden

The Dwarf Pencil Point Juniper (Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’) is a type of narrow evergreen tree that grows to less than the height of an average person.

Planting the Dwarf Pencil Point Juniper is a good choice for your yard, garden, or container if you need a tall, yet compact tree. The mature upright tree is only about 1 ft. (30 cm) wide and grows no more than 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall. Many gardeners love this miniature accent tree as it grows well in most types of soil. In addition, it’s a very hardy tree that withstands temperatures as low as -50°F (-45°C).

For landscaping a garden, plant the dwarf upright Pencil Point juniper where you need some height. This type of dwarf compact tree is a great foundation plant that helps to accent small spaces and provides attractive greenery all year round.

Upright Japanese Plum Yew

Upright Japanese Plum Yew is a beautiful compact fastigiate evergreen for a small yard

Another compact evergreen tree variety is the Upright Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’). This small bushy coniferous tree has delightful vertical branches with needles.

This dwarf yew tree variety grows into a V-shape with thick dense green foliage. Not all varieties of the small Japanese plum yew flower. However, they are a good dwarf plant that provides privacy and protection from wind all year round.

One of the features of this type of columnar tree is its fastigiate branches. Fastigiate trees have branches that grow vertically upward. This growth habit gives the skinny Japanese Plum Yew tree an upright, straight and thin appearance. This columnar tree is an excellent choice for planting in small gardens where space is tight.

You can plant this compact evergreen in well-drained soil where it gets some full sun and also shade.

The female varieties of this Japanese yew produce small plum-like fruits. You can use this dwarf variety to accent an area of your backyard or plant them together for protection.

Norway Spruce

Norway Spruce is a great choice for smaller landscapes

The ‘Pumila’ variety of Norway Spruce (Picea abies ‘Pumila’) is a dwarf shrub-like tree that is good for ground cover when landscaping your garden.

This small evergreen tree looks like a bushy cushion when fully grown. It grows to a maximum of 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall and spreads the same distance wide. This Norway spruce variety has attractive green needles and is a great choice for rock gardens or foundation plantings.

You can plant this small evergreen tree in most types of soil and it thrives in cooler climates. Pick an area of your garden where it can enjoy full sun.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Dwarf Alberta Spruce is one of the finest plants for a small yard

The Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca albertiana ‘Conica’) is another type of compact conifer evergreen tree to give your garden color throughout the whole year.

If you are looking for an ornamental small evergreen, this dwarf spruce variety is a great choice. The thick green dense foliage on the tree grows in an A-shape and will grace any garden. Although the dwarf Alberta spruce will eventually grow to 12 ft. (3.6 m) high, it will take about 30 years to reach this height.

This Alberta spruce dwarf variety can also be pruned into fancy shapes or be planted in a container as an accent feature.

Chalet Dwarf Swiss Stone Pine

Pinus cembra ‘Pygmaea’ is a dwarf pine tree cultivar

The Chalet Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra ‘Chalet’) is a decorative slow-growing evergreen type of dwarf tree.

One of the features about this small pine tree for landscaping is its long green pine needles. The Swiss pine dwarf varieties have a columnar shape with dense pine needle leaves. You can use the Chalet Swiss Stone pine as an accent tree to beautify your garden.

In fact, some landscapers describe Swiss Stone Pine trees as some of the most beautiful dwarf pine trees on the market.

This tree grows well in loamy, well-drained soil and enjoys full sun. As with most pine cultivars, this dwarf Swiss pine variety withstands cold winters.

Other dwarf types of Swiss Stone pines include ‘Nana,’ ‘Pygmaea,’ and the ‘Tip Top’ miniature pine evergreen tree.

Green Arrow Weeping Alaska Cedar

The Green Arrow is a narrow evergreen dwarf tree that is ideal for landscaping small gardens.

The Green Arrow Weeping Alaska cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Green Arrow’) is a type of dwarf weeping evergreen tree.

Although the Green Arrow weeping cedar grows up to 20 ft. (6 m), it can still be considered a dwarf variety. This type of cedar tree only measures 1 ft. (30 cm) wide at its base, therefore, it can grace even the smallest of gardens. This is one of the best types of “dwarf” evergreens if you want to provide vertical accents to your landscaping features.

One stunning feature of the Green Arrow cedar is its drooping or weeping branches. The strong vertical tree with its weeping dark green foliage gives the appearance of an arrow shooting up from the ground.

This dwarf evergreen tree grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4-8 with full sun and well-drained soil.

Discover the most beautiful dwarf evergreen shrubs.

Miniature Common Juniper ‘Gold Cone’ (Juniperus communis ‘Gold Cone’)

Juniperus communis ‘Gold Cone’

The ‘Gold Cone’ juniper is a small columnar landscaping tree with dense gold-green foliage. This slow growing juniper tree has an upright, columnar growth pattern which makes it an ideal specimen tree, container tree, or for planting in the front of house. The small evergreen juniper ‘Gold Cone’ tree grows 3 to 5 ft. (1 – 1.5 m) tall and up to 2 ft. (0.6 m) wide.

The low maintenance dwarf juniper tree doesn’t require pruning, tolerates a wide range of soils and is drought tolerant when established.

Grow in full sun in well-drained soil in USDA zones 4 – 8.

Lawson Cypress ‘Minima Aurea’ (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Minima Aurea’)

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Minima Aurea’

The dwarf Lawson cypress cultivar ‘Minima Aurea’ is a small conifer that features attractive golden yellow, soft feather-like sprays. The slow growing small evergreen tree has a pyramidal growth pattern. It grows between 1 and 4 ft. (0.3 – 1.2 m) tall and 2 ft. (0.6 m) wide.

Dwarf Lawson cypress looks great as a specimen tree, foundation planting, or container tree.

Grow in USDA zones 5 – 8 in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil.

Dwarf Eastern White Pine (

Pinus strobus ‘Nana’)

Pinus strobus ‘Nana’

The ‘Nana’ white pine cultivar is a slow-growing small evergreen tree with a dome shape and dense, silver blue-green needle leaves. This small pine tree thrives in full sun and has a growth rate of up to 5” (12 cm) per year. The tree grows between 2 and 7 ft. (2.1 m) tall and up to 10 ft. (3 m) wide.

The dwarf Eastern white pine is generally a low maintenance tree. The small pine tree grows best in full sun in fertile well-drained soil in cool climates in USDA zones 3 – 8. This dwarf tree is not tolerant of air pollution or salt spray.

Grow the ‘Nana’ white pine tree in rock gardens, as a specimen tree or foundation plant.

Discover the best types of small evergreen shrubs to plant in your garden.

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Pine - species and varieties. Growing. Photo - Botanichka

About 100 species of pines grow on our planet. These unusually beautiful sun-loving and long-term trees (less often - shrubs) have long admired people and gave rise to many legends. According to Greek mythology, the god of the wind Boreas, out of jealousy, turned his beloved into a pine tree - a beautiful nymph, her name underlies the botanical name. And according to Chinese beliefs, the pine tree is a magical tree, as it brings happiness and averts misfortune. Therefore, pines are planted near the house as a symbol of well-being and longevity.

Pine needles. © Paul Ilechko

Contents:

Types and varieties of pine

Balkan or Rumeli pine grows in the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor, and is also known in the forest zone of Russia. It is winter-hardy, drought-resistant, unlike many of its relatives, shade-tolerant and not affected by rust, which destroys trees and passes to currants. It is undemanding to the soil, but it grows better on moist, medium-fertile lands.

This tree has a slender trunk, 20-25 m high, which grows by 25 cm per year. At first, the pine tree grows slowly, and then its growth accelerates. The crown is narrow-pyramidal, with long (7-10 cm) fluffy grayish-green needles, collected in bunches of 5 needles. In Moscow, blooms profusely in June. Light brown cones 10-15 cm long adorn the branches from 10-12 years of age. Seeds ripen at the end of September and germinate well.

Balkan Pine or Rumelian Pine © SEWilco


For small plots dwarf form Nana (Nana) with branches starting almost from the ground and covered with dark dense needles was bred.

Mountain pine grows in the Alps, Apennines and Carpathians, where it adorns mountain landscapes. It is winter-hardy, photophilous, but easily tolerates shading, is not affected by pests and diseases. A very hardy plant that is not afraid of cold and dampness, heat and drought, snow blockages. It can grow on sands, moss swamps, stony limestones, dry and wet soils.

This unpretentious pine tree is most often found as a multi-stemmed shrub 10-12 m high, but can grow as a tree. Today, even ground cover creeping forms have been bred. In the conditions of Moscow, it blooms in late May-early June. Cones up to 4 cm long ripen in November. The needles (up to 4 cm) are located in bunches of two needles, dark green, dense.

For small plots and small gardens, there are many decorative mountain pines. They differ in the shape of the crown (from spherical to columnar), height from 1 to 5 m and the color of the needles, which can be bright green, gray-gray, golden and variegated.

Mountain pine © W.Baumgartner

Very picturesque subspecies of mountain pine, which are valuable because they are not only beautiful, but also retain their decorative qualities when propagated by seeds. This is Pumilio (Pumilio) - a multi-stemmed shrub up to 3 m tall and wide, with creeping branches densely pubescent with needles; Mungo - shrub 2 m high, with long and slightly twisted needles, Kobold - shrub up to 1 m high, with a spherical crown.

European cedar pine, or European cedar , grows in the mountains of Western Europe and the Carpathians, rising to a height of 1600 m above sea level. Lives up to 1000 years. This slow-growing pine is shade-tolerant, hardy, and prefers moderately moist clay soils.

The height of the European cedar reaches 23 m. The crown of young trees is narrow-pyramidal, starting almost from the ground, while that of old trees is multi-topped, broadly ovoid. Needles up to 8 cm long, dark green, straight, 5 needles in a bunch. In the open, cones form from the age of 25, in the forest - in 50-60-year-old trees. Young they are purple, then turn brown, grow up to 8 cm. They ripen in the 3rd year after formation and fall in the spring, without opening, full of seeds - very tasty pine nuts.

The following decorative cedar pines are good for small suburban areas.

European Cedar Pine or European Pine or European Cedar © Wikimedia Commons

Glauca . Height 2 m, crown width 1 m, annual growth 5 cm. Very beautiful fluffy branches, dressed in bunches of gray-blue needles up to 8 cm long. This blue pine has a wide conical shape.

Nana . The height is only 1 m with a width of 2 m, the annual growth is up to 10 cm up and up to 15 cm in breadth. The crown is multi-apex, the branches are decorated with bluish-green needles 5 cm long. Purple-violet cones are very effective, which turn yellow-brown when ripe.

Pygmaea . It grows no more than 40 cm - an exquisite decoration of an alpine hill.

Very picturesque pines with an unusual color of needles - golden Aurea (Aurea) and golden-variegated Aurea variegata (Aureavariegata) .

Cedar elfin, or Dwarf pine , grows in Siberia to the east of Transbaikalia, on the coast of Okhotsk, Kamchatka, Sakhalin, the Kuriles. The elfin tree is frost-resistant, as if it hides itself for the winter, lowering its branches to the ground with the onset of cold weather. Undemanding to the soil, photophilous, but does not tolerate the dryness of the earth and air, lives 200-250 years.

It grows as a tree up to 5 m tall or a multi-stemmed shrub reaching 2.5 m, the branches of which spread along the ground, rising above it at the ends. With a bluish tinge, the needles are collected in bunches of 5 pieces, slightly curved and 4-8 cm long. It is very rich in vitamins and essential oil. Dwarf grows slowly, forms cones from the age of 25. They are similar to cedar, but smaller (3-6 cm). Nuts are tasty, healthy, and high-calorie (contain up to 60% oil).

Cedar elfin, or Dwarf pine

Its decorative forms, with graceful crowns, rich coniferous attire and unusual colors, are magnificent in single and group plantings on the lawn, in containers on the balcony, loggia, roof, they are welcome guests of rock gardens, rocky gardens. These plants both decorate and fix rocky slopes.

Of the numerous decorative forms of Siberian dwarf pine for amateur gardening, we recommend the following.

Glauca with branches densely pubescent with long, curved silver-blue needles. The height of the shrub is 1-1.5 m, and the width of the crown reaches 3 m. Young red-violet cones are an additional decor for this luxurious pine.

Draijers Dwarf with a slow growth rate (5-6 cm per year). This is a compact plant with soft blue needles.

Dwarf Blue with very fluffy branches because the tufts of blue-white needles are arranged radially.

Helpful advice. Due to its original appearance and high adaptability to adverse living conditions, Siberian dwarf pine is very good for growing hedges. It turns out wide and impassable.

Scotch pine is an adornment of the middle belt forest. Giant trees reach 50 m in height. Frost-resistant, photophilous, undemanding to soil fertility. The crown of young plants is pyramidal, and with age it becomes broadly oval. By the age of 70, this pine reaches its maximum height.

Needles 4-7 cm long, gray-green, with a pair of needles in a bunch. A decoction of it has healing properties. The cones are small (2.5-5 cm), the nuts in them ripen in September-October (in the second year after flowering). Seedlings of this pine are excellent rootstocks for decorative forms with paired needles.

Scotch pine is a beautiful but large tree. Therefore, it is unlikely that anyone will plant it in the garden. However, you can choose a decorative pine tree of a small size, which will be happy even in a dry, sandy place in the sun. And since pines cannot stand strong air pollution (they begin to dry-top), it will be an ecological barometer for you. Let's get acquainted with low forms and varieties of Scots pine.

Scotch pine © Hello, I am Bruce

Fastigiata - a columnar tree up to 10 m in height and only up to 1 m in width. It has very beautiful silver-blue needles up to 6 cm long. The same height, but wider silver-blue Clauca (Clauca) , which grows up to 5 m, with an annual increase of up to 20 cm in height and up to 10 in width.

Varieties Glauca Compacts and Waterereri at a height of 4 m have the same crown circumference, growing annually by 5-10 cm in length and width.

Unusual looking Nana Hibernica slow-growing pine (annual growth of 5 cm), which at a height of 1 m reaches a width of 2 m. blue needles.

Among the pines with unusual coloring, we note the form Aurea (Aurea) , the young shoots of which are yellow-green, and in winter they become golden yellow. It will go well with pine Argentea Compacta , which grows only up to 2 m and is decorated with long (up to 6 cm) silver-gray needles.

There are also very low pine trees that look like fluffy carpets. For example, a ground cover bush variety Albins (Albyns) . This pine with bluish-gray-green needles with a bush width of 2.5 m grows no more than 30 cm.

How to grow pines?

Planting

Pine seedlings must be no older than 5 years. Mature trees and shrubs are planted in winter with a frozen clod of earth. During normal spring (late April-early May) or early autumn (late August-September) planting, they dig a hole 0.8-1 m deep. On heavy soils, a layer of sand or gravel 20 cm thick is poured onto the bottom for drainage. a mixture of the upper cultivated soil layer, soddy soil and clay or river sand (2:2:1) with the addition of 30-40 g of nitroammophoska, and with acidic soil 200-300 g of slaked lime.

Planted so that the root collar is at ground level. When planted in groups, the distance between plants depends on their size in adulthood and can be from 1.5 to 4 m. plantings in the near-trunk circle make 30-40 g / m2 of full mineral fertilizer. In the future, pine trees do not need additional feeding. Falling needles, which do not need to be removed, will create a thick litter in which organic nutrition will accumulate. His pine is enough for normal development.

Pine trees are drought tolerant and do not require watering. In addition, coniferous litter retains moisture well. The exception is the Balkan (Rumeli) pine, which is moisture-loving, like a spruce, and needs to be watered 2-3 times per season (15-20 liters per tree).

Pruning

Pines do not need pruning, but the growth of trees can be slowed down and the crown thickened by breaking off a third of the young (light) growth with your fingers.

Winterization

Mature pines are hardy, but young and ornamental plants with tender needles can suffer from sunburn in winter and early spring. To prevent this from happening, in autumn their crowns are covered with spruce branches, which are removed only from mid-April.

Frankincense Pine © Chris Hartman

Reproduction

Pines are grown from seed (species) and ornamental forms are grafted. These plants do not propagate by cuttings.

Walnut Pine . It is better to sow the seeds in the spring with preliminary stratification. Its duration for biconiferous species is one month, five-coniferous (cedar) 4-5 months. Sowing, planting and growing seedlings are similar to the recommendations for spruce. But there are also some peculiarities.

For better rooting in the year of sowing in the second half of summer, it is desirable to feed the seedlings with a weak solution of nitrate or boric acid. The seeds of most pine species ripen in winter, at which time they need to be collected. But there is one subtlety here. They ripen in the second and even in the third year after pollination. Cones with such nuts open, and a thickening in the form of a rhombus or a polygonal pyramid forms at the top of the scales.

Helpful advice. It is better to store the seeds of coniferous plants (including pines) in a closed glass jar and in a cool place, then they can be used for sowing next year.

Grafted Pine . For propagation of decorative forms, 4-year-old seedlings of Scotch pine are usually used as a stock, so that the diameter of the central shoot is about 5 mm. The cuttings for the scion are taken from a 1-3-year-old growth, cut into a length of no more than 6 cm. Almost all of the needles are removed, leaving only at the apical bud.

Not only needles are removed from the rootstock, but also lateral buds and shoots that are longer than the cutting.

The best time to graft a pine tree is before bud break, but it can also be done in the first half of July. In the spring, the stalk is grafted onto the shoot of the previous year, and in the summer - the current one.

The technique of grafting and subsequent care is the same as for fir trees.

Scotch pine seedlings © Kenraiz

Diseases and pests of pine

If the pine needles shorten and brighten, a white fluff appears, then one of the varieties of aphids has settled there - pine hermes . To get rid of this pest, in May it is necessary to treat the branches with a solution of actellik or rovikurt.

Does not decorate wood and Pine aphid (grayish). They get rid of it by May spraying with karbofos (30 g per 10 liters of water). After 10 days, the treatment is repeated.

Falling of needles, branches can cause scale insect . It is very difficult to deal with it, since the females are protected by a shield. It is necessary to catch the moment when the larvae come out (May-June), and at this time treat the plants with acarin (30 g per 10 liters of water).

Drying of tops, decrease in growth of branches, fading of needles can be caused by pine root bug . It hibernates on coniferous litter, therefore, in autumn and early spring, the near-stem circle should be sprinkled with dust (25 g per tree). In May, against hatching larvae, actellik should be treated (15 g per 10 liters of water), spending a quarter liter on a tree.

If in May the needles turn red-brown, dry up and fall off, the buds do not start growing, and in the summer the shoots begin to die off, which are covered with thrushing ulcers, then there are signs of cancer. Medicine - processing throughout the season: at the end of April, at the end of May, at the beginning of July and in September. To prepare a working solution, you can use foundationazole or antio (20 g per 10 liters of water). It is advisable to spray a diseased tree during winter thaws (20 g of Karatan per 10 liters of water).

Familiar to us disease Schutte vulgaris on pine is also manifested by spotting of needles. Diseased plants are treated by spraying in July-September with cineb, Bordeaux liquid or colloidal sulfur (200 g per 10 l of water).

Author: Tatyana Dyakova, candidate of agricultural sciences.

The smallest coniferous trees for small suburban areas

Many summer residents love coniferous plants and would like to plant them in their garden. But they do not dare, believing that they are too large and will take up a lot of precious space in a small country house. However, there are many very compact species and varieties of conifers that will comfortably fit in a small area, pleasing the eye and refreshing the air around.


The smallest coniferous trees for small suburban areas

Let's immediately define what we mean by the concept of "the smallest coniferous trees". They are dwarf plants, abnormally short and compact for the species.

Despite the accuracy of this definition, it is not an axiom. So, if a coniferous tree reaches a height of 10 m instead of the prescribed 20 m, you still cannot call it a dwarf. Therefore, dendrologists propose to measure dwarfism relative to human height: real dwarf conifers remain even in adulthood (at 30-50 years old) no higher than human height and no wider than the span of the arms (this applies to prostrate forms).


Tall fir (Abies procera ‘Glauca Prostrata’)

Lately, dwarf conifers have been at the peak of their popularity. True lovers of such plants turn into real collectors, annually replenishing their collections with miniature copies of firs, spruces, pines, larches.


A wide selection of conifers at the exhibition

Despite the rather general definition, dwarf plants are very diverse. Dutch dendrologists, who have succeeded in growing these forms, propose to conditionally subdivide them into the following groups.

Classification of coniferous dwarf cultivars

Despite the fact that this classification is very conditional, it helps today to navigate the purchase of the proposed forms. Having decided what kind of coniferous plants we will look for on sale for our small plot, as with a “married bride”, we will consider their advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages


Miniature copy

Disadvantages

But the shortcomings and difficulties of growing coniferous dwarfs do not stop owners of small summer cottages who want to have them in their garden. Having once taken the rule of planting compact forms of plants, such an owner will be pleased with his plant wealth.


Dwarf conifers and tulips

And the possibilities of using "dwarf wealth" are endless! These are both solitary (single) and group plantings in rocky gardens, containers, flower beds, at the entrance to the house.


Dwarf conifers in rockeries


Dwarf conifers in containers

In a family with small children, dwarf plants are a must. After all, a preschool child cannot perceive tall shrubs and trees, his perception is limited to plants that are the same height as he is. And dwarf forms are like skillfully made toys, which you just want to touch with a small hand.


Mountain pine (Pinus mugo) in rockeries

Dwarf spruce forms are the most common. One of the most popular is the form of Norway spruce (Picea abies 'Little Gem' ), which has a flat-rounded shape, with a nest-like depression on top and reaches a height of 0.5 m at the age of 10 years. Annual growth is 2-3 cm. Shoots are very thin, tightly compressed. The needles are dense, completely covers the shoot.


Picea abies ‘Little Gem’

And here is another popular dwarf, but already spruce Canadian ( Picea glauca ‘Laurin’ ) with a narrow conical shape; at the age of 10 years, it reaches only a height of 0.4 m (annual growth of about 1.5-2 cm).


Picea glauca ‘Laurin’. Photo from vashsad.ua

In addition to cones, among the dwarfs, Canadian spruce also has small balls - Picea glauca ‘Echiniformis’ , reaching a height of 0. 3 m at the age of 10 years and forming a dense ball.


Picea glauca ‘Echiniformis’. Photo from sady-rosii.ru

An interesting spherical shape Picea glauca ‘Alberta Globe’ , reaching a height of only 0.3 m at the age of 10 years. The compact crown itself holds the shape of a hemisphere.


Picea glauca ‘Alberta Globe’

But the nest-like form of spiny spruce ( Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’ ) really exactly resembles a nest - with a flattened, even lower lateral apex, the growth of which is much smaller. Despite the annual growth of 3-4 cm, this form usually does not exceed 1 m in height.


Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’ group

But the smallest baby is Picea abies ‘Maxwellii’. It does not grow taller than 0.6 m, so it is convenient to grow it in a container as a Christmas tree.


Picea abies ‘Maxwellii’

This is a magnificent dwarf form with a narrow-conical dense crown, reaching a height of 1. 2 m at the age of 10 years. Its young light green needles are beautiful, contrasting sharply with the old.


Picea abies ’Will’s Zwerg’

In addition to spruces, there are dwarfs among larches, for example, Larix decidua ‘Compacta’ , ‘Kornik’ , ‘Marta2’ Radek The latter is a dwarf with a spherical crown, usually grown in a standard form and having a height of up to 1 m.


Larix decidua ‘Marta Radek’. Photo from pinuslibrary.ru

Among the firs, this is a dwarf form of Korean fir ( Abies koreana ‘Tundra’ ) and balsam fir ( Abies balsamea ‘Nana’ ).


Abies koreana ‘Tundra’. Photo from the site conifertreasury.org

On a sunny day, such babies will bring their resinous medicinal aroma with phytoncides, and will also delight all household members of the dacha with unusual cones.

Dwarf pines are interesting in their own way, which can be found on sale more and more often. First of all, these are mountain pine forms - Pinus mugo ‘Gnom’ (at the age of 10 years, 1 m high), ‘Mops’ (0.5 m high), ‘Ophir’ (0.5 m high). All of them are quite frost-resistant, “do not burn”, less than other conifers are susceptible to fungal diseases. They are simply magnificent with their spherical crowns and long needles.


Pinus mugo ‘Gnom’. Photo from willowaynurseries.com


Pinus mugo ‘Mops’. Photo from helmers.de

Cultivation features

Most dwarf conifers are photophilous and require a fairly sunny location; in the shade, their lower branches are exposed, and the plant loses its toy shape. But in open places, they often suffer from lack of moisture and spring sunburn. Therefore, dwarf forms of conifers need both timely watering and shading in the spring.

Buying advice for dwarf conifers

  • When choosing a dwarf plant, make sure it is really a dwarf: the Latin name on the label should show the form nana or dwarf (dwarf), prostrata 902),28 (prostrata 902), but most cultivars have individual names, and writing them out before buying is a must!
  • A gardener's trained eye can tell exactly how many centimeters a plant will grow upwards or sideways each year.

This is not the end of our story about dwarf conifers, since the main dwarfs that are more often found on sale are juniper cultivars, thuja, and we are still talking about them.

It is no longer uncommon to find dwarf coniferous trees and shrubs in summer cottages. For a better understanding of the topic, let us explain that dwarf forms include plants whose adult height is less than 3.6 m, or they grow in growth so slowly that they reach maturity after more than a dozen years. Let's talk about these "little ones".

What attracts dwarf conifers

Breeders from different countries have made a lot of efforts to breed as many conifers as possible. Their efforts were not in vain, and now there is an impressive variety of ornamental conifers, among which one can find varieties with regular geometric shapes and bizarre growth anomalies, with needles not only of green shades, but also with yellow, golden, bluish and silver. Such an interesting direction as the selection and breeding of dwarf coniferous species, characterized by miniature size and slow growth rates, did not go unnoticed.

Dwarf variations were found in a large number of coniferous plant species: spruce, pine, juniper, yew, etc. The unusual diminutive size generates interest in such plants, because we are all more accustomed to seeing coniferous giants tens of meters high. It delights in dwarf conifers that, in other respects, except for size, they exactly copy their full-sized relatives. Another advantage of conifers due to their compactness - much less space is required for their planting. Therefore, some gardeners even collect different types of conifers in their dwarf varieties.

Growing nuances

Dwarf conifers appeared in our gardens relatively recently, but quickly fell in love with many gardeners. At the same time, there were certain mistakes in their breeding, associated with a misunderstanding of what place they should be given in the garden. The reason was that under the concept of "dwarf conifers" different species were combined, which differed greatly in growth rates, which often resulted in one dwarf species growing by 2-3 cm during the year, and the other by a couple of tens of centimeters. Naturally, due to such a difference in growth, the originally planned plantings lost their intended outlines over time, and there was a need for new transplants and redevelopments.

Unfortunately, the trend of inaccurate use of concepts continues to this day, both in the literature and among sellers.

The classification of dwarf varieties according to their growth topics, so important for the arrangement of harmonious landscape design, has already been created, but not everyone uses it yet.

Dutch gardeners who dealt with the problem of classifying dwarf conifers suggested subdividing them into :

  • medium and semi-dwarf with an average annual growth of 15-30 cm;
  • dwarfs (dwarf), characterized by an average annual growth of 8-15 cm;
  • mini-dwarfs with a growth of approx. 3-8 cm per year;
  • microdwarfs with an annual growth rate of no more than 3 cm.

    • Tips for buying dwarf conifers

    General advice: first find out everything about the dwarf, then buy and plant. The main sources of information for you will be a sales assistant, the Internet, advice from friends who have experience with dwarf conifers. If the necessary information from these sources is insufficient, then it remains to rely on a visual inspection of the plant and the study of the label. By eye, you can try to determine the growth rate of the past and current year at the conductor, or at the side shoots. DachaDecor.ru also advises to take a closer look at the label. A good label indicates the genus, species, variety, plants - it certainly should be in Latin. Ideally, the nursery in which the plant is grown is also indicated.

    In order to choose the right dwarf coniferous tree for your garden, it is recommended to determine which category from the above classification the seedling you like belongs to. Knowing what crown shape is typical for this species, it will be easier to estimate the parameters of the tree in a few years and, taking this into account, choose a suitable place for it in the landscape of your garden.

    Dwarf conifers: planting and landscaping issues

    Composing a harmonious composition of dwarf conifers is not so easy: you have to take into account not only aesthetic and spatial requirements, but also find the right place for each tree, taking into account its potential size and growth rate. Therefore, it is precisely what the seedling will become in a few years that you need to focus on. Using information about the average annual growth of dwarf conifers planted on the site, you have to calculate what diameter the seedling will be after 5, 10 or even 15 years, how much it will increase in height and width.

    Particular care must be taken when landing mini and micro dwarfs. Their modest size allows them to be included in the composition of a rock garden, rocky garden or hill. In general, dwarf conifers always look harmoniously against a rocky background, miniature green spaces really enliven a harsh rocky landscape. A group of dwarf conifers greatly benefits from an aesthetic aspect if the ground under them is mulched with pine bark.

    Descriptions of some popular coniferous dwarfs

    Below we describe some popular dwarf conifers that can make a wonderful addition to your garden.

    Mountain pine - the record holder for the number of dwarf forms, the most famous varieties are "Gnom", "Mops", "Winter Gold", there are many varieties with a dense crown in the shape of a ball and unique microdwarfs - "Frodo", "Kaktus", "Mini Mini ". Almost all soils are suitable for pine and its dwarf forms.

    Hudsonia balsam fir is also a very interesting dwarf plant, no more than 30 cm high and a crown up to 60 cm in diameter. It grows very slowly, has a pleasant aroma. Ideal solution for small gardens.

    Lawson Cypress 'Minima Aurea' is a very pretty dwarf conifer with bright yellow needles, shaped like a pyramid. Easy to grow, just keep it out of the wind.

    Common juniper 'Compressa' – a spreading dwarf juniper (90 cm x 45 cm), is a dense columnar tree. We recommend learning about varieties of weeping conifers.

    Meyeri scaly juniper is another dwarf juniper with parameters of 90 cm x 60 cm.

    Quite shaggy, but immediately catches the eye. Cool blue tint.

    Sometimes brownish spots appear on mature specimens, which are recommended to be cut off.

    Canadian spruce 'Konica' is quite large for a dwarf form (120 cm x 60 cm). One of the most popular varieties of conifers. Differs in a strict conical shape, which does not lose over time. Needles on new shoots of a pleasant bright green hue.

    Pseudotsuga Menzies 'Fletchery' is not the smallest coniferous dwarf plant (90cm x 150cm).

    Blue-green needles, furrowed bark, flat apex.

    Canadian hemlock "Pendula" is a winter-hardy dwarf conifer, the term "Pendula" in the name indicates that it belongs to weeping forms, therefore it looks especially impressive when its branches hang from the wall.

    Thuja occidentalis “Hearts Midget” – this is a very miniature plant (30 cm x 30 cm). It grows in the form of a dense ball with soft needles. Perfect for a small garden area and will feel good in a not very dense shade.

    Thuja western "Rheingold" - another variety of thuja, but larger (90 cm x 90 cm). The plant looks as if its branches were combed up, due to which the spherical shape was transformed into a conical one. This material will tell about the preparation of conifers for winter.

    Intense golden color of the needles in autumn begins to cast bronze.

    Conifers in landscape design (video)

    There are a lot of dwarf forms of conifers today, breeders are actively developing new varieties that quickly enter the market. Therefore, there is always the opportunity (if you have the appropriate finances, since dwarf conifers are quite expensive) to choose a plant to your taste. As always, we would be interested to know if dwarf conifers grow in your garden and what your experience with them is. We recommend reading the article about fine-scaled larch.

    Coniferous trees will become an exquisite decoration of any garden. If you pick up certain dwarf varieties, you can decorate in this way even a very small area.

    Thuja Danica

    Thuja Danica owes its unusual beauty to a slender trunk and small leaves of bright green color. The plant is used for alleys and hedges. You can plant a thuja in a rock garden, and it will become the color accent of any composition of restrained tones.

    Shrub reaches a height of 80 cm, and the diameter of the crown is about a meter. Danica grows not particularly fast, which is convenient enough for a small area. Its needles do not require special care. An interesting feature: the leaf cover of the bush changes color in the cold season, becoming almost brown.

    Thuja Danica is resistant to frost and grows well on poor soils. It is better to fertilize the soil before planting, and lighten heavy soil with the introduction of drainage materials.

    Ermine Pine

    This species is more common in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, as well as in Japan, Korea and Manchuria. Elfin pine is a shrub with a usually curved trunk and branches creeping along the ground. If the tree is directed upwards, it grows no more than 5 m.

    This pine grows quite slowly and reaches a height of two meters before the age of twenty. She has soft and fluffy needles with small shiny cones, the seeds of which can be eaten. Thanks to the superficial root system, the shrub will easily get used to rocky or sandy soils.

    The plant does not like overheating and standing water. It has high frost resistance. Ephedra is most often planted in rockeries or on a slope to secure it.

    Mountain Suzie Pine

    This is one of the smallest mountain pine varieties. Breeders from Great Britain worked on its creation.

    Susie grows very slowly, by the age of 20 she reaches 30 cm in height with the same crown width. The shoots are strong enough, and the needles are light green, short, with needles collected in bundles. The crown looks a little flattened, it is almost perfectly even at the edges, with small bumps.

    Due to the small annual growth, the plant has become a favorite of designers in small suburban areas. Susie is undemanding to the soil, the main thing is that the soil is well drained. The tree is frost-resistant, loves sunlight, does not need abundant watering.

    An important point: the plant easily tolerates air pollution, which makes it suitable for large cities. Can also grow in the shade. Dwarf pine is often used to create undersized decorative compositions.

    Minute Spruce

    Minute Spruce forms an almost perfectly even spherical crown, in a mature tree it is decorated with miniature cones. Young shoots are bright green, later they darken somewhat. Multi-colored spots of dwarf firs look delightfully along the hedge of a small garden.

    The plant is quite sensitive to frost, so in cold weather it will have to be covered. It does not like waterlogging, and in case of stagnant water, the soil is drained by the introduction of natural material. However, along streams and rivers, this dwarf conifer feels quite good.

    The tree prefers sandy and loamy acidic soils. Grows well in shade and tolerates dry climates.

    Icebreaker Fir

    Icebreaker Fir is a relatively new variety. The crown of the tree grows up to 1.2 m wide and resembles a lush voluminous pillow. At the same time, the height of the conifer is only 0.8 m. Sometimes leading shoots appear on adult trees, which form a multi-stemmed crown.

    The needles of fir are deep green, and silver-white below, soft to the touch. Its beams are twisted in such a way that the lower surface becomes immediately visible to the observer. Such coloring does not go unnoticed by landscape designers: fir is used with pleasure in rockeries and in open areas next to low perennials.

    Wolterdingen larch

    Wolterdingen larch is a nest-shaped dwarf tree. By the age of 10, it reaches 0.4 m in height. The crown diameter is about 0.7 m. The shoots are even, there is almost the same distance between them, which makes the appearance of the tree ideal. At the ends of the branches are dense, slightly twisted needles of a bluish-green hue.

    Larch is planted in rock gardens along with other conifers. With its help, you can zone a site or place a row of trees along a path or path.

    Wolterdingen larch grows well in sunny areas, tolerates the heat of temperate latitudes. For a small garden, this is just a godsend. With easy care, the plant is able to give the territory a special presentability due to its unique decorative qualities.

    Adding an article to a new collection

    Many owners of small summer cottages dream of planting conifers, because they are attractive all year round, and different crown shapes, textures and colors will decorate any garden. Limited space is no reason to abandon this idea. Dwarf coniferous plants will help you.

    Dwarf forms are characterized by very slow growth and compact crown. For example, gray spruce, or Canadian spruce in nature reaches a height of 20-30 m, and its most popular decorative form Conica does not exceed 3-4 m. Dendrologists distinguish several groups of conifers, depending on the size of their annual growth.

    Classification of dwarf coniferous forms

    Knowing the approximate classification, you can imagine how tall the plant will be a few years after planting, and choose the right one for your garden.

    • Fully grown - more than 30 cm per year;
    • Medium and semi-dwarf (semidwarf) - growth from 15 to 30 cm per year;
    • Dwarf (dwarf) - growth from 8 to 15 cm per year;
    • Miniature (mini) - growth from 3 to 8 cm per year;
    • Microscopic (micro) - an increase of less than 1-3 cm per year.

    Benefits of small conifers

    1. They are compact and do not require much space, they are easy to place even in the tiniest garden.
    2. They fit perfectly into the compositions of rocky gardens, from species with different textures and colors of needles, you can create harmonious groups.
    3. Plants stably retain their decorative effect throughout the year.
    4. Many appreciate them as a compact Christmas tree.
    5. Due to their short stature, they are usually completely covered with snow and endure wintering without problems.

    Disadvantages of undersized conifers

    1. Some forms are short-lived, moreover, they are difficult to propagate by cuttings.
    2. A dense crown can provoke the occurrence of diseases, so it is advisable to regularly clean the trees from dry branches and treat them with fungicides.

    The modern assortment of dwarf conifers is very large and is replenished every year. Let's get acquainted with some common forms of spruce, juniper, fir, pine, arborvitae.

    The most popular types and varieties of spruces

    Coniferous mini-class are very popular with gardeners. They are compact, look good in small flower beds, have crowns of various decorative forms.

    Canadian spruce or gray spruce (Picea glauca)

    The most popular compact decorative form of Canadian spruce in our gardens is Conica, it was found at the beginning of the last century in Canada and gave rise to a whole group of dwarf varieties. Conica spruce has a dense, dense, pointed columnar crown with light green soft needles. In a year it grows in height by 6-10 cm, in width - by 3-5 cm, maximum height is 3-4 m. 1.5 m high; Gnom with a conical crown, gray-green needles, growing annually by 3-5 cm and others, often found on sale under the name Conica.

    Form Nana attracts with a wide, rounded crown up to 1-2 m high with numerous, dense, flexible branches and gray-blue needles. Also interesting are the dwarf forms of Echiniformis - a very slow growing plant, with yellow-green needles with a bluish-gray bloom, at the age of 30 years it can be 0.5 m high and about 1 m in diameter and Zuckerhut with bright green, very soft needles, dense , conical crown with a pointed top, 1.5 m high and up to 0.8 m in diameter.

    Prickly spruce (Picea pungens)

    The popular form of Glauca Globosa has a loose crown at a young age, becoming flat-rounded with time, with very densely arranged branches. The height of an adult plant is 1. 5-2 m, the crown diameter is 2-3 m, the annual growth is 8 cm in height, 10 cm in width, the needles are needle-like, dense, slightly crescent-shaped, silver-blue.

    Prickly spruce Glauca Globosa

    Slow growing forms of Moll with a dense, wide conical crown and bluish-white needles and a squat form of Montgomery with gray-blue needles.

    Some semi-dwarf forms of prickly spruce are interesting. Form Baby Blue Eyes with a dense, pyramidal crown and bluish-blue long needles, in adulthood reaches a height of 4-5 m. The young tree has an asymmetric crown, over time it becomes broadly conical, its height at the age of 10 years is about 2 m. This form is especially attractive in spring, when young growths with a straw-yellow color appear against the background of bluish-green needles.

    Prickly spruce Bialobok

    Norway spruce (Picea abies)

    The widespread form of Acrocona with a wide conical crown 2-3 m high and 2-4 m wide is distinguished by ascending and arcuately drooping shoots with dark green needles. Attractive abundantly formed reddish-brown, hanging cones.

    Norway spruce Acrocona

    The miniature form of Lilliput at a young age has a dense, cushion-shaped crown, then becomes cone-shaped, at the age of 10 years it does not exceed 0.6 m.

    Norway spruce Lilliput

    The Little Gem form can be classified as microscopic, its growth is 2-3 cm per year, the shoots rise obliquely upwards and form a cushion-shaped crown with a nest-like depression. The needles are thin, dense, light green.

    Norway spruce Little Gem

    Needles of Norway spruce Little Gem. Photo by the author

    The rounded or nest-shaped crown of the Nidiformis form is formed by fan-shaped, obliquely growing branches, its height is up to 1.2 m, width up to 2.5 m, needles are light green.

    Norway spruce Nidiformis

    A miniature form of Pusch with a dense, rounded crown at the age of 10 years does not exceed 0.3 m in height and 0. 6 m in diameter. Numerous reddish-purple young cones that form at the ends of the shoots look attractive.

    Norway spruce Pusch

    One of the ancient forms of Pygmaea with a rounded crown no more than 1m high and light green needles is common in gardens. Due to the narrow, columnar, dense crown and dwarf size (height no more than 2 m at the age of 30 years), the Will's Zwerg form is recommended as a Christmas tree for small areas.

    Popular form of Pumila Glauca with a flattened, flat-rounded crown. With age, the lower branches droop and lie on the ground. The needles are dense, dark green with a bluish tinge. Plant height not more than 1 m, diameter 4-5 m.

    Norway spruce Pumila Glauca. Photo by the author

    Serbian spruce (Picea omorica)

    Serbian spruce Nana

    The most popular semi-dwarf form of Serbian spruce Nana is 4-5 m high and 3 m in diameter. The crown is dense, broadly columnar, dark green needles.

    Black spruce (Picea mariana)

    Black spruce Nana

    Dwarf form Nana with a rounded crown at the age of 10 years reaches about 0. 3 m in height and 0.8 m in diameter, the needles are thin, silvery green.

    The most popular varieties and types of juniper

    Not only the usual varieties of juniper look attractive, but also forms with different shades of needles, for example, yellow.

    Juniperus horizontalis

    Form Golden Carpet - creeping shrub about 10 cm high, up to 1.2 m in diameter with golden yellow, small needle needles.

    Horizontal Juniper Golden Carpet

    Form Lime Glow with spectacular needles that change color from lime green to lemon yellow, creeping shrub height from 0.3 to 0.6 m, diameter at the age of 10 years 1.2- 2.4 m.

    Horizontal Juniper Lime Glow

    Densely branched shrub Wiltonii with silver-blue needles does not exceed 10 cm in height.

    Cossack juniper (Juniperus sabina)

    Numerous and easily accessible low-growing forms of this type of juniper make it easy to choose the most suitable variety for a small garden: Cupressifolia 0. 5 m high with bluish-green, scaly, appressed needles; Nana up to 0.8 m high and 1.5 m in diameter with scaly dark green needles; Rockery Gem 0.4-0.5 m high, 2-3.5 m in diameter with blue-green needles; Tamariscofolia is about 1 m high and 2 m in diameter with bluish, needle-like needles.

    Common Juniper (Juniperus communis)

    Common Juniper Green Carpet. Photo by the author

    Ground cover form Green Carpet at the age of 10 years does not exceed 10 cm in height, diameter up to 1.3, forms a dense carpet with dark green needles, excellent for rocky gardens, strengthening slopes.

    Pfitzer juniper (Juniperus x pfitzeriana)

    A hybrid species obtained by crossing Chinese and Cossack junipers, represented by several garden forms. Mint Julep is suitable for a small garden with a dense, wavy, spreading crown about 1-1.5 m high and up to 2-3 m in diameter. The needles are green with a bluish tint.

    Pfitzer Juniper Mint Julep. Photo by the author

    The most popular varieties and types of fir

    Fir is not as popular as spruce or juniper. But in terms of decorative characteristics, they are in no way inferior. Her branches grow densely, the needles are soft and fluffy, the crown is well formed. In addition, fir is rich in healing essential oil, so that the air in the area will also heal.

    Balsam fir (Abies balsamea)

    Balsam fir Nana. Photo by the author

    The dwarf form of Nana, up to 0.5 m high, has a rounded crown shape. Spreading, dense branches grow in a horizontal direction and reach 2-2.5 m in diameter. The needles are short, dense, dark green, with white-blue stripes on the underside.

    Smooth fir or subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)

    Smooth fir Arizonica Compacta. Photo by the author

    The popular dwarf form of Arizonica Compacta resembles a silver spruce. A wide-conical regular, dense crown with strong branches reaches a height of 0.8 m by the age of 10, the annual growth of shoots is 3-5 cm, the needles are silver-blue, up to 3 cm long, non-thorny, densely covers the shoots.

    Korean fir (Abies koreana)

    A miniature form of Kohout's Icebreaker fir with a compact, spherical crown at the age of 10 years does not exceed 0.3 m in height and in diameter. The spirally twisted needles are interesting, while the upper light green is not noticeable and the silver-white underside of the needles opens.

    Korean fir Kohout’s Icebreaker

    The compact crown of the Tundra form by the age of 10 reaches no more than 0.4 m in height and 0.6 m in diameter, dark green needles have a light underside.

    Korean fir Tundra. Photo by the author

    The most popular varieties and types of pine

    Due to their durability, beautiful crown shape and minimal care, pines are very often used in gardening and landscape design.

    Weymouth Pine (Pinus strobus)

    Spectacular North American Pine with long, soft needles. For amateurs, compact forms are suitable: Macopin - a shrub 1.5-2.5 m high with a rounded or conical crown and bluish-green needles; Pumila is a dwarf with a rounded crown about 1 m high, annual growth is up to 5 cm, needles up to 10 cm long are silver-green, slightly curved; Radiata is a shrub with a spherical crown, about 1. 5 m high and with a diameter of about 1.5 m, the needles are bluish-green, directed upwards.

    Mountain pine (Pinus mugo)

    There are several low-growing forms of mountain pine suitable for landscaping small gardens: Hesse - cushion-shaped shrub no more than 0.5 in height with dark green needles 7-8 cm long; Gnom - a shrub with a spherical crown, about 2 m high and about 2 m in diameter, dark green needles, 3-4 cm long; Kobold - a shrub with thick branches and a wide crown about 1 m high, bright green needles 2-3.5 cm long; Mini Mops is a tiny shrub with a cushion-shaped crown 0.3-0.4 cm high and about 1 m in diameter, annual growth is 2 cm high, 3 cm wide, the needles are dense, sharp, dark green, the form is sometimes used for vaccinations on the stem; Paul's Dwarf - a dwarf form with a height and diameter of 0.6-0.9m.

    Mountain Pine Mini Mops, grafted form. Photo by the author

    Mountain pine Paul's Dwarf

    The most popular varieties and types of arborvitae

    Thuja have gained well-deserved popularity among amateur gardeners for frost resistance, durability, unpretentiousness to soil composition and valuable decorative qualities that make thuja an indispensable attribute of many garden compositions .

    Western thuja (Thuja ocidentalis)

    Among the many different forms of western thuja, it is easy to find compact plants even for a miniature garden.

    Form Danica with a spherical crown 0.6 m high and 1 m in diameter, scaly needles, dense, soft, dark green, suitable for single and group planting.

    Thuja occidentalis Danica

    Dwarf cushion form Golden Tuffet with thin, flexible, hanging shoots at the age of 10 years does not exceed 0.6 cm, diameter is about 1 m. Interesting golden-orange needles that retain color even in winter.

    Western Thuja Golden Tuffet. Author's photo

    Slow-growing form of Teddy with a spherical crown, at the age of 10 years, a height of about 0.5 m. Blue-green needles become bronze in winter, suitable for container planting.

    Western thuja Teddy

    The list of dwarf forms of western thuja is large: spherical light green Globosa and tiny dark green Globosa Nana, ovate-rounded Hoveyi with light green matte needles and

    Dumosa with a flattened crown, Little Gem flattened crown and ascending shoots and spherical, dense Tiny Tim. The choice is huge, for each garden you can choose the right form.

    Dwarf coniferous crops are at the peak of popularity today, they are planted by owners of six-hundred plots and owners of estates, not limited by the area. It's all about their attractiveness and diversity, because just a few plants allow you to create spectacular, stable compositions at any time of the year.

    How to limit the growth of conifers

    Conifers tolerate pruning well, so if you need to create a compact crown shape, you can resort to instrumental methods. It is preferable to prune young trees under the age of 5-7 years, at which time they tolerate intervention more easily.

    When to prune conifers

    Usually pruning is carried out in the spring before the start of vegetation and the growth of young shoots. The exception is pines, which are recommended to be cut in May - early June, when young growths have appeared, but new needles have not yet formed. The second suitable period for pruning is June-July.

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