Evergreen dwarf trees are excellent privacy protection without getting too big. The small stature of these plants makes them easy to plant; you don't have to fight with a huge root ball or long branches. Dwarf evergreens provide winter habitat for many different birds, and those that produce cones also provide food. There are many types of evergreen dwarf trees to choose from and use in the landscape.
There are dwarf firs, small evergreen pines, miniature cypresses, dwarf ornamental firs, or dwarf weeping trees to pick. Conical pine trees, easily recognizable by their needle-shaped foliage, are evergreen, making them attractive in the domestic landscape because of their year-round beauty. While there are more than 100 types of pine trees, some are better suited to the home landscape than others. Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora) grows well in areas as far north as zone 5 (see USDA hardiness zones), where cold winter temperatures don't fall below -20 degrees F.
The tree can reach mature heights of up to 80 feet with an extension of 40 feet, so it needs a place where it has room to grow. For such a large pine, the Japanese white pine produces unusually small cones that are about 2.5 inches long. The young tree has smooth, gray bark that eventually becomes rough and flakes off, providing natural mulch around the base of the tree and increasing visual interest. It prefers sunny locations and rocky slopes, but grows in most types of well-drained soil.
However, it does not do well in hot and humid regions. The Swiss mountain pine (Pinus uncinata), which makes a surprising statement in the landscape, grows straight and upright, reaching a mature height of up to 65 feet and an extension of 25 to 30 feet. Dwarf varieties are more compact and reach only 8 to 10 feet in height. Cold-resistant up to USDA zone 5, the tree will survive winters in which cold temperatures do not extend below -20 degrees F.
Swiss mountain pine is native to Europe and thrives naturally at high elevations. Still, it will grow at elevations as low as 650 feet above sea level. The bark of the tree is an attractive ashen-gray brown color that develops crevices and scales as it grows. The needles on the leaves of Swiss mountain pine vary in color from dark to forest green and may also have a greyish tint.
The 'Joppi' (Pinus jeffreyi 'Joppi'), a compact version of the Jeffrey pine, adapts well to sunny rock gardens, where it does not reach more than 6 feet in height at maturity. It features puffs of needled foliage that can grow up to 8 inches long. The tree maintains a rounded habit without the need to prune or prune. When grown in a container, it often reaches a maximum of 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
Joppi's foliage produces a beautiful blue-green tint that contrasts with its cinnamon-colored bark. Joppi, one of the most aromatic pine trees, perfumes the nearby air during the summer growing season and produces cones up to 4 inches long that fall in late fall. Like most pine trees, Joppi thrives in sunny locations. It grows as far north as USDA Zone 5, but doesn't care about the hot summer temperatures found in many southern regions; it doesn't tolerate high humidity either.
It prefers sandy or rocky soil that drains well and stays on the drier side. Also called “Jack pine,” this scruffy-looking tree sparks winter interest in perennial flowerbeds and rock gardens, especially when combined with taller varieties of trees and shrubs to serve as a visual backdrop. Uncle Fogy grows on sandy and rocky soils and is extremely cold-resistant; it will survive as far north as Zone 2, where winter temperatures can drop as low as -50 degrees F. One of the longest-lived pine trees under optimal growing conditions The Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) can live up to 700 years, although its expected lifespan is 150 to 300 years.
The tree can reach heights of up to 145 feet with an extension of 60 feet, but is often smaller in size. A large patio is a necessity. As the tree grows, the foliage develops only at the top and ends of its contoured branches, leaving the lower parts of the branches and trunk noticeably bare. The thick trunk of a mature Scots pine can reach up to 5 feet in diameter.
Native to Scotland and Northern Europe, this pine produces blue-green needle-shaped leaves that are up to 2 inches long, and the bark of the tree begins with a slight shade of orange that darkens to intense grayish brown on older shoots at the base of the trunk. Scots pine prefers high elevations, between 3,800 and 8,300 feet above sea level, and will survive to USDA zone 3, with winter temperatures that can reach -40 degrees F. It prefers a sunny location and rocky or sandy soil that doesn't get soaked. The Silveray Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis), which reaches a mature height of up to 30 feet with an extension of 10 feet, is a specimen of semi-dwarf pine that maintains a compact appearance in the landscape without the need to prune it to maintain its shape.
It produces long, soft, silver-gray needles that attract attention and differentiate the tree from other pine species. Grow Silveray as a specimen tree in a rock garden or in groups to form an attractive privacy screen or border. The bright needles practically shine just after sunrise or before sunset when the sun's rays hit at a horizontal angle. This pretty pine needs full sun to thrive and prefers well-drained, slightly dry soil.
It grows as far north as USDA zone 5 and tolerates summer heat up to the occasional 85 to 90 degrees F. Once established, Silveray only needs occasional irrigation, such as during drought conditions. Many of us tend to refer to all conifers as pine trees, which is not illogical considering that the pine family (Pinaceae) is the largest family of conifers and represents approximately ¼ of all trees with cones (the definition of a conifer is a plant that has cones). However, those approximately 200 Pinaceae species include not only pine trees, but also spruces, firs, cedars, hemlock, and larch trees.
Most of the Christmas trees sold in this country are fir or fir trees, although they are often referred to as pine trees. To really be a pine, a conifer must belong to the genus Pinus. Wild pine trees quickly become too big for all but the grandest gardens, as evidenced by the photo of the sugar pine, although among the approximately 100 recognized species of the genus Pinus there are many trees with attractive characteristics. The key to growing pine trees successfully is to choose from the thousands of dwarf pine cultivars.
A cultivar, short for “cultivated variety”, represents a selection that was chosen because of its slower growth rate, its dwarf shape, its unusual color, its habit of crying, etc. It is in the world of cultivars that you can find attractive, resistant and interesting structural options to enhance the beauty of your garden all year round. While the wild species can reach between 80 and 120 feet at maturity, 'Joppi' performs very well in a garden environment. The specimen above has been in the ground for six years, after being planted in a 20-gallon container, and is approximately five feet tall.
The long, stiff needles contrast beautifully with lighter foliage, and their solid structure adds an architectural element. Like Pinus parviflora, the Pinus strobus, or eastern white pine (USDA zone), is a soft pine with five needles and also has elegant attributes. Like Pinus mugo, there are many cultivar options, with a wide range of habits, colors and shapes. The ACS recognizes more than 100 P.
Strobus cultivars, which make this species one of the most suitable conifers for the garden. Here we will recognize two cultivars, very different in size, habit and color. Have any universities or research institutes tried to genetically modify any of these pine trees so that they grow well in zone 9 or 10? I'm allergic to white pine, which Christmas trees should I avoid? I had a service reaction to a new one 2 years ago. Are there varieties that I should avoid, or are there any that are generally confirmed? Thank you for this great article.
I love the look of Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead', but I doubt that I can give it the space it needs. However, I recently bought a Pinus thunbergii “Banshosho” and was wondering if it's a “thug” like Thunderhead. I was told I would measure 3 feet in 10 years, doesn't that sound good? I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect in order to place it correctly. I was also hoping to do minimal or no pruning, not sure if that's a realistic expectation if I'm looking for a 3-foot plant.
About 15 years ago, I saw a fairly large “Banshosho” on the grounds of Porterhowse Farms in Sandy, Oregon. It was huge, about 6 feet high with an extension of 15 feet. At the time, I had a young plant in the garden, and realizing what they do over time convinced me that they would prune my plant with candles every year for the rest of their life. Looking for a replica of a small Christmas tree in your complex? The Alberta dwarf spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica') is a small Christmas tree perfect for you, via Monrovia.
The Alberta dwarf spruce is sometimes referred to as white spruce, according to the National Gardening Association. As an evergreen plant, your garden and driveway are sure to stay shining all year long, writes My Garden Life. The dwarf balsam fir (Abies balsamea 'Nana') is one of the most beautiful dwarf trees native to North America, according to Oregon State University. The balsam fir brightens up your garden with its shiny dark green leaves and its aromatic needles that grow in the form of balloon-shaped clusters, says Big Boy Plants.
Although balsam fir grows slowly, it blooms in the garden all year round, writes Paramount Plants and Gardens. The Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is a dwarf tree that provides an attractive color to your garden. According to Gardener's Path, Japanese maples are native to Asian countries and have more than 1000 varieties. The tree blooms with purple leaves in other seasons, but changes to bright red, orange and yellow during the fall, Moronvia says.
They are easy to maintain and also attract attention thanks to the Wayside Gardens. Like mugos, Austrian pines (USDA zone) are one of the classic “hard” pines of the old world, so called because of their relatively hard wood (although to keep things confusing, all conifers are known in the logging industry as “soft woods”). As the tree grows and reaches maturity, it develops the distinctive conical shape of many evergreen firs. This tall, slender dwarf tree produces bright, dark green needles with purple cones that feed birds and other mammals, according to the Penn State Extension.
If Pinus parviflora cultivars are some of the most elegant pine trees, “Uncle Fogy” clearly has to be one of the most ridiculous. The Alberta dwarf spruce (Picea glauca albertiana 'Conica') is another type of compact perennial conifer that colors your garden all year round. While deciduous trees lose their foliage, dwarf evergreens will beautify your garden with green, silver, and even yellow colors in mid-winter. The loblolly pine is found mainly in swamps and other lowland areas, and is native to the southeastern part of the country.
Also called two-needle pine or walnut pine, the tree grows up to 65 feet tall and its trunk measures approximately 30 inches in diameter. The Pinus mugo 'Mops' (Mugo pine) is an evergreen dwarf tree and adapts to even the smallest garden. In addition, if you have a small garden and don't have much space to plant large trees, planting compact trees won't take up too much space and will be better suited to the design of your small yard landscape. Although the tree is native to North Carolina, it adapts well and thrives in other regions of the world, according to Bonsai Outlet.
A medium-sized tree with a height of 25 to 80 feet, its trunk is very erect and straight, and it has smooth but scaly bark. In addition to their ornamental beauty, small, compact evergreen trees require very little maintenance all year round. .
