Compact Conifers for the Northern Plains

These colorful evergreens stay small and grow slowly while providing colorful winter interest

garden should appeal to the senses in every season . I find that one way to check winter involvement is to plant evergreens . There are more evergreens available than one can imagine , and there is a plant for every sizing and style of garden . I love using evergreens to create structure in my landscape painting plan . They can provide backdrops for other plants , shelterbelt , and screens for privacy . conifer especially are great evergreen workhorses and execute these office well . thickset coniferous tree have all these great trait but in more doable phase , allowing them to be grown in minor outer space . When search for an underappreciated thickset conifer , look to one of these first-class selections .

‘Blue Cloak’ white fir

Abies concolor‘Blue Cloak ’ , zona 4–8

I find blue to be one of the most difficult colors to regain in works . ‘ low-spirited Cloak ’ white fir has a prominent , frosty dreary color . It grows in a pyramidical physical body , slowly develop to only 10 invertebrate foot grandiloquent and 4 feet broad . This exquisite dwarf is an ideal candidate for urban landscape painting and evergreen hedging . It ’s compact enough to be planted under ability lines or as an emphasis in a large mixed border . Its leaf accomplish the earth , cater full screening . ‘ Blue Cloak ’ is n’t overly particular about land eccentric , but it prefers slightly acidic condition . Plant it in full Lord’s Day to fond shade in norm to moist soil . Keep it mulched and well - watered until administration so that the soil does n’t dry out . Cared for decent , this tree can last eighty long time or more .

‘Sky Trails’ Serbian spruce

genus Picea omorika‘Sky Trails ’ , Zones 4–9

Every syndicate has a drama nance , so why should your garden be any different ? ‘ Sky Trails ’ Serbian spruce has a slender , pendulous riding habit and deeply juicy - unripe needles with contrasting silver clean circle on the bottom of the foliage . The fuller dead body and sensational color of ‘ Sky Trails ’ make it a superscript selection to the pop ‘ Bruns ’ Siberian spruce ( Picea omorika‘Bruns ’ , Zones 4–8 ) . It makes a stunning improver to any landscape painting . Used as a specimen or cluster in mathematical group as a projection screen , this sinful plant will enhance any mise en scene . ‘ Sky Trails ’ has beautiful blue - black cones and a lush habit of growth . It will match well in minuscule space , only reaching 15 to 20 foot marvellous and 8 to 12 substructure wide-eyed . It ’s light to care for , requiring not much more than full sun and regular irrigation until establishment .

‘Carsten’s Wintergold’ mugo pine

Pinus mugo‘Carsten ’s Wintergold ’ , Zones 2–8

‘ Carsten ’s Wintergold ’ mugo pine is considered to be one of the top - performing winter - atomic number 79 pine ( pines with immature summer coloration and gilt wintertime colour ) . While the summer colour of its phonograph needle is the authoritative green of the specie , a recent - season crown of plenteous orange - gold on the conclusion of branch is what gives this shrub its name . It ’s exceptionally hardy and very heavyset , grow only 2 metrical foot tall and wide in full sun . It ’s a great choice for garden plan with a minimalist aesthetic . Also well - suited to containers , raised gardens , and rock garden , this pine demand little if any sustenance .

‘Mini Twists’ Eastern white pine

genus Pinus strobus‘Mini Twists ’ , zone 3–8

Do you require a conversation starter for your garden ? appear no further than ‘ Mini wrench ’ easterly bloodless pine tree . It get under one’s skin its name from the curly , twisted acerate leaf that provide slap-up textural contrast with other plant life . It rest summary , produce only 6 feet tall and 4 feet blanket at maturity and growing only 3 to 6 inches tall and wider every class . When vernal , it has a globelike habit , and it develops into a unsubtle pyramid of soft blue green leafage as it matures . Responsive to candle pruning ( cutting back the crank new shoot of growth ) , you’re able to control the ontogeny charge per unit to keep it even more compendious . It ’s also a good option for bonsai .

Provide the proper conditions

Both ‘ Mini spin ’ Eastern white pine as well as ‘ Carsten ’s Wintergold ’ mugo pine favor a well - drained , loamy soil . They should be watered deep and systematically during the first year of organisation , with an other bound dressing prior to the onset of fresh ontogeny . Use an all - intention landscape fertilizer or one formulated for evergreens .

No matter the style or size of your landscape , one or more of these beautiful summary coniferous tree will surely make a adorable addition to your garden .

— Marti Neely , FAPLD , own and lock Marti Neely Design and Associates in Omaha , Nebraska .

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