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Conifers
ZONE: Varies
TYPE: Woody Perennial
SOIL: Generally: Fertile, Well Drained
LIGHT: Generally: Full sun
GROWTH: Slow to Fast
We are all familiar with the image of a
Christmas Tree, whether it be a Scotch
Pine or a Norway Spruce, it is a conifer. But conifers are not just the commonly
seen trees, they come in all shapes and sizes, colors from yellow to blue (and
of course green), some are variegated and some have a different color on their
branch tips.
If you are considering using conifers in your landscape as trees,
as a bonsai specimen, or as a ground cover for that problem area, the first
thing to do is research the different types with a good book specifically on
conifers.
Choosing the right variety for the right use is the first priority. Some
considerations are to know how large the plant will be at maturity, whether it
will tolerate poor soils, partial shade, or salt spray and runoff from a nearby
highway. Some conifers are very adaptable while others are a touch sensitive.
Growth rate varies as well, many are slow, but there are some that will grow quickly and may fill up their space quite rapidly. Generally conifers have less trouble with pests and diseases than other plants, but those that do attack them must be watched for. There are resistant varieties available and preference should be given to those.
Too often, conifers are only used as foundation
plantings, to be removed when they block the windows of the house. Consideration
should be given to wide-spreading cultivars as opposed to tall cultivars. When
used as a wind block, the upright varieties are best. I have listed some
varieties below with their typical use.
| Picea abies (Norway Spruce) upright, landscape |
| Picea pungens (Colorado Spruce) upright, landscape |
| Pinus aristata (Bristlecone Pine – one of oldest living plant on earth) dwarf, spreading, landscape |
| Pinus cembra (Swiss Stone Pine) narrow, columnar, landscape |
| Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae) upright, pyramidal, landscape |
| Juniperus sabina c.’Variegata’ (Savin juniper c. ‘Variegata) spreading, white streaks, shrub |
| Juniperus squamata (Singleseed juniper) variable dwarf shrub |
| Larix decidua (Common Larch) pyramidal, landscape – deciduous conifer |
| Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) large, pyramidal, landscape or
specimen, very fast growing, thought to be extinct until specimens found in
China in 1941 |
These are only a few, there are very many conifers that can enhance a property or even a small garden, including many true dwarf cultivars. A wonderful type of plant to have, they also provide cover and food for birds and other wildlife. Their cones may be collected and seedlings started, and some types have medicinal uses for their foliage. I