Category: Specialty Conifers

Superior seasonal color makes Picea glauca ‘Rainbow’s End’^® a brilliant addition to the summer garden. A second flush of growth transforms the light green, conical tree in mid-summer into a beacon of bright lemon yellow. Although similar in size and shape to ‘Conica,’ the extraordinary color of this tree offers a dramatic summer surprise. Found as a mutation at Iseli Nursery in 1978, it appreciates consistent moisture, good nutrition and an occasional blast from the garden hose during summer to increase pest resistance. Mature size: 6’H x 2’W Zone 4

The spreading, vivid yellow foliage of Juniperus horizontalis ‘Gold Strike’ creates a bright, cheery spot in the garden throughout the year. In spring, brilliant new growth freshens up the chartreuse interior foliage and continues the sparkling display through fall, when the look gradually softens with coral tones. The low, somewhat mounded, seedling selection from J.h. ‘Mother Lode’ performs best grown in moist, well-drained soil and protected from scorching sun. Mature size: 6″H x 3’W Zone 3

Berkshire Sparkler Juniper is a low spreading form with dark green foliage through the growing season, changing to a rich plum purple in winter. The needles are arranged in a way that the white undersides are visible, creating a plant that seems to sparkle. Selected by Bob Fincham as a mutated reversion of ‘Berkshire’, it is a colorful ground cover, especially in winter. Plant in well-drained soil. Mature size: 2’H x 6’W Zone 3

Picea pungens ‘Globosa’ is a very well-known dwarf Colorado Blue Spruce, it has an upright, broad form and silvery blue needles that make it virtually indistinguishable from P.p. ‘Montgomery’. The slow-growing, dwarf plant is globe-shaped when young, but will eventually form a leader as it matures and develop an upright, broad shape that is wider than tall. To maintain a globose or spreading habit, prune out upright or vigorous shoots. Mature size: 8’H x 6’W Zone 2

An extreme miniature, Picea abies ‘Jana’ is one of the slowest growing conifers we have in our product line. Fine, very short green needles densely cover this congested form that grows wider than tall. The flattened globe is excellent for containers or alpine and rock gardens, never outgrowing its space. Mature size: 1.5’H x 1.5’W Zone 3

Picea glauca ‘Pixie’ is a tiny Alberta-type selection of Picea glauca with short, dark green needles. Much more dense and compact than P.g. ‘Conica’, it also displays a prominent show of large, round buds that give the tree a decorated look. A petite, narrow accent for rock garden, trough, courtyard or landscape. Mature size: 1.5’H x 6″W Zone 4

Juniperus communis ‘Effusa’ is a low, spreading form that adapts to any garden, even in shady locations. Its small needles grow close to the flexible, reddish brown stems, which show off soft, cinnamon brown tips when new, and mature to bright green as the season progresses. Mature size: 2’H x 10’W Zone 3

Loads of long, super-fine, two-color needles produce an airy, delicate quality, while a profusion of handsome, resinous cones adds to the presence of the large, graceful Pinus x schwerinii ‘Wiethorst’. Discovered in Germany as a witch’s broom on Pinus x schwerinii, a pine hybrid combining strobus and wallichiana, it gets hardiness from the Eastern White Pine and grace and extremely long needles from the Himalayan White Pine. The outstanding, hardy tree will form a dramatic background or add an outstanding accent to the large landscape. Mature size: 20’H x 15’W Zone 4

Picea abies ‘Gold Drift’ adds color to the garden in whatever shape and boundaries the gardener allows it to have. Early spring brings bright lime green new growth. The foliage that is fully exposed to the sun turns a vibrant yellow in late spring and summer. The brilliance continues until winter when the color becomes more subdued. Can be allowed to ramble as a ground-cover, drape over rock walls, or become a garden feature when staked upright. Zone 3

Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Carpet’ almost says it all. “Blue” points to the color of the sharp, overlapping, densely arranged needles. “Carpet” acknowledges the plant’s low, spreading form and might suggest its adaptable nature (it tolerates dry soils). Even “squamata” refers to the scaly bark typical of the species. Together, these features add up to an excellent, ground-covering choice for banks, slopes and other challenging sites. Mature size: 3’H x 12’W Zone 3