Author: admin

This dwarf Balsam fir grows very slowly into a dense globe that is an ideal addition to a rock garden, container or other small garden spot. Tiny, uniform, dark green needles cover the conifer’s many short branches and, in fall, prominent brown buds on the tips of branches lend added character. Best planted in partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. Mature size: 2’H x 2’W Zone 3

An improved form, Thuja occidentalis ‘Yellow Ribbon’ provides dense, showy, golden yellow foliage throughout the year. Line up a row of these distinctive plants to create a tall, durable hedge that brightens any site, or use one or more as exclamation points in the garden. Hardy and adaptable to many conditions. Mature size: 25’H x 5’W Zone 4

A well-known, flat-topped, nest-type spruce, this broadly rounded, symmetrical plant produces layers of dense, horizontal or slightly ascending branches. Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’ grows very slowly and becomes much wider than tall with a nest-like depression in the center after many years. Refreshing light green. Mature size 4’H x 8’W Zone 3

A beautiful, spreading Picea omorika ‘Kamenz’ has a distinctive two-tone look. Short branches covered with typical Picea omorika needles, green on top and silver beneath, show off both colors at once. With shorter needles and a wider spread than P.o. ‘Pimoko’, the adaptable cultivar complements the form of a bank or slope nicely. Slow-growing and easy, with minimal maintenance. Mature size: 2’H x 4’W Zone 4

The compact, spreading Larix kaempferi ‘Wolterdingen’ provides exceptional seasonal interest for small landscapes and rock gardens. In early spring, soft, new, blue-green needles emerge and continue to decorate the delicate mound through the growing season. In fall, needles change to rich yellow before they fall to show off ornamental, reddish brown branches with scales reminiscent of an armadillo’s armor. Discovered in a park in Wolterdingen, Germany in 1970, by G. Horstmann. Mature size: 4’H x 8’W Zone 3

Unusually uniform branches, covered with short, dark green needles, point up and out on this distinct, nest-style spruce. When young, Picea abies ‘Pumila’ has a more rounded habit than the familiar, flatter types, but it eventually spreads out with age too. New growth appears later in the season than it does on other nest types. Mature size: 4’H x 4’W Zone 3