Deciduous and coniferous trees are always appropriate when decorating your summer cottage. In summer they go well with flowers and lawns, leaving them in the shade, and in winter they save the garden from dullness with their bright colors. They give clean air and aroma due to the content of essential oils. Modern gardeners no longer see their garden without green plants. There is a huge range of coniferous plant species, so there is plenty to choose from.
Evergreen spruce
Coniferous trees called “spruce” look very effective in the garden, both singly and in frequent plantings. Some gardeners use them to build living fences. Spruce nowadays is no longer just a huge crop with dry branches at the bottom and a narrow crown at the top, as we are used to seeing it. The number of thorny trees is regularly replenished with different varieties. In summer cottages spruce trees are most in demand, For example:
- Acrocona. Reaches 3 m high and 4 m wide at maturity;
- Inversa. Barely this variety is up to 2 meters wide and up to 7 meters high;
- Maxwellii. A small tree with a width and height not exceeding 2 meters;
- Nidiformus. A compact tree about 1.5 m wide and high;
- Glauca. Blue spruce.
Fir from the Pine family
The dark green fir needles are very soft. Young animals grow for quite a long time, but at the age of 10 years, development accelerates much more. Fir is a very popular tree, but many cannot answer whether it is a coniferous or deciduous tree. Among gardeners 
The following types of fir are in particular demand:
- Columnar fir;
- Prostrale;
- Nana. The fir reaches half a meter in height and a meter in width, with a flattened crown;
- Argenta. Silvery needles with a white tip;
- Glauca. Blue fir, needles have a waxy coating;
- Veriegata. There are yellow spots on the needles.
Juniper from the Cypress family
Juniper in the list of coniferous plants is famous for its bactericidal and medicinal properties; some varieties have fruits in the form of berries. The plant appeared in the world about 50 million years ago. There are about 80 varieties.
Among the variety of junipers there are both 20 cm dwarfs and 40 meter giants. Each such plant has its own characteristics not only regarding the shape of the crown, but also in the rules for care. The most common varieties found in summer cottages are:
- Gold Cone. About 4 m high, a meter wide, the branches form a narrow conical shape;
- Hibernika. It reaches a height of about 4 m, the crown is a meter in diameter, columnar and very narrow, has blue inedible berries;
- Green Carpet. Dwarf tree up to 50 cm high, one and a half meters in volume;
- Suecica. It reaches a height of up to 3.5 m, a width of up to a meter, and a columnar crown.
Junipers are better plant at a distance from fruit trees, because they are carriers of rust. For the sake of prevention, other crops are separated by tall plants. Areas of branches affected by the disease are either pruned or treated with various fungicides.
Cedar trees
Cedars are most often found in English manor parks and are a large southern tree. by them decorate the front entrance or a large lawn in front of the estate. These trees create an atmosphere of home comfort.
Cedars in their natural form are bulky and tower on mountains. Such species grow up to 60 m in height. No one can say exactly how many types of cedar there are.
Some scientists are convinced that all individuals are the same and recognize only the Livonian breed, others also distinguish Atlas, Himalayan and short-coniferous varieties. The Catalog of Life, which includes all species of plants and animals, describes all varieties except the short-coniferous one.
Cedar has many design varieties, which differ in color and size:
- Glauca. Tree with blue needles;
- Brevaramulosa. Cedar has long and sparse branches;
- Strict. The tree has dense short branches;
- Pendula. Branches falling down;
- Tortuosa. The difference is the twisting branches;
- Nana and Nana Pyramidata. Dwarf trees, the latter variety is distinguished by upward-sloping branches.
Low growing cypress
The evergreen plant resembles a cypress in appearance and grows up to 80 meters in height. Scientists are trying to develop new varieties to please summer residents.
In landscape design, low varieties are often used to create fences, medium-sized trees are planted singly, and dwarf trees are planted in mixborders or rock gardens. Cypress has very soft and fluffy needles. The needles are not prickly at all, they are pleasant to touch.
The most popular are dwarf trees below 4 meters in height. Among them are:
- Ericoides. Head-shaped cypress tree up to 2 m high;
- Nana Gracilis. Round crown, the tree grows up to half a meter;
- Ellwoodii. Pyramidal crown, trunk grows up to 2 meters;
- Minima Aurea. Dwarf plant, with a pyramidal rounded crown;
- Compacta. Small compact tree with dense branches.
Dwarf varieties of cypress do not winter well. They don't freeze under the snow, but they can dry out. Be sure to monitor the density of the snow cover.
Cypress varieties
Cypress in the wild appears to be an evergreen crop with a crown in the shape of a pyramid or cone, the trunk has a very thick bark, and the foliage is pressed against the branches. There are about 30 varieties of cypress trees, about eight of which are highly popular in landscape design. Each variety has its own care conditions and growing rules. The most common varieties:
- Benthamii. Graceful cap and bluish needles;
- Lindleyi. It has large cones and bright green needles;
- ristis. Branches growing downwards, crown in the form of a column;
- Aschersoniana. Low-growing appearance;
- Сompacta. Shrub with bluish needles;
- Сonica. The crown is like a skittle, bluish with a haze of needles that does not tolerate frost;
- Fastigiata. Bluish needles on a stocky tree;
- Glauca. The hat is like a column, the silver color of the needles.
Slender tree - larch
Larch, judging by its name, like linden, is often classified as a deciduous plant. But it belongs to conifers, namely the pine family. This is a fairly tall tree and sheds its needles.
In good growing conditions, the tree can grow to a height of about 55 m and a diameter of up to a meter.
The bark is very thick, covered with grooves of a brownish tint. The branches grow chaotically upward, forming a cone-shaped cap. The needles are very soft, green, and as long as spruce. There are 15 types of wood. Among them are especially popular:
- Weeping;
- Corley. Cushion tree;
- Kornik. Globular larch;
- Blue Dwar. Low-growing tree with blue needles;
- Diana. Grows up to two meters, spherical crown, branches in the form of spirals, green needles with haze;
- Stiff Weeper. Elongated sprouts spread along the soil, needles with a bluish tint;
- Wolterdinger. The tree has a thick, dome-shaped cap, and its development is very slow.
mountain pine
There are approximately 120 species of pine trees known in the world. Pines differ from other conifers by their fragrant needles, which are located in bunches on the branches. The types of pine trees are determined depending on the number of needles.
The tree's roots dry out in air in about 20 minutes. It is better to plant them at the beginning of autumn or spring.
Scientists have bred many miniature trees for the garden. Huge varieties can be found in forests and park areas. And in summer cottages, low-growing species of pine trees look impressive. Green bushes can be planted in rock gardens and mixborders. The most popular varieties of mountain pine are:
- Gnome pine, which grows up to 2 meters in height and crown diameter;
- Columnaris. The bush grows three meters in height and width, it has dense and rather long needles;
- Mops. Due to the branches, the shape of a ball is formed near the crown;
- Mini Mops. Cushion-shaped bush;
- Globosa Viridis. The bush has the shape of an egg, the needles are up to 10 cm long.
Decorative thuja
Small coniferous plants found in many public gardens and parks. Plants are cultivated for decoration. Gardeners note the trees’ resistance to dry weather, frosty periods and rot.
Thuja has thick roots, tall branches that form pyramidal or columnar shapes, dark leaves and small cones that ripen very quickly. Breeders have developed creeping, dwarf and weeping species. Of these, the leader is the western thuja (occidentalis), which grows very quickly, reaching a height of about 8 m and a diameter of about 2 meters. The shrub is evergreen; only the Cloth of Gold variety has orange needles and copper branches in winter. Such specimens are best grown in the shade with neutral soil.
In Europe, thuja appeared and became popular thanks to the French king Francis the First. He loved unique plants and constantly planted them in his garden. He called the thuja the tree of life and planted it in large areas around his estate. Two hundred years later, the plant was cultivated in eastern Europe. In the wild, thuja can grow up to 40 m, so gardeners were sad when growing a tree from seeds and getting huge individuals.
The medium-growing Columna variety creates a dense, narrow crown. It can be seen from afar by its dark green shiny needles, which do not change throughout the seasons. The tree is frost-resistant and does not require maintenance.
The Holmstrup variety is ideal for small gardens: it is small, with a lush conical crown and a rich green color. The variety is resistant to frost and tolerates pruning of branches well. In young specimens they form into a narrow cone, but with age they straighten out. The needles are green and glossy. When caring, you will need constantly moist soil.
Cryptomeria - the national tree of Japan
It is found on mountain slopes, in wild forest areas and in park alleys. Cryptomeria belongs to the conifers, can grow up to 60 m, and the trunk reaches 2 meters in girth.
The needles have a dark or light shade, the branches create a lush, thick head. The needles are sometimes colored red or yellow. In appearance they are shaped like an awl, but they do not prick when touched. They have small brownish bumps. Cryptomeria belongs to the cypress family; there are no varieties of it. The tree’s connections with the east are explained by its different name.
People call the tree “Japanese cedar” among themselves, although they do not have any common properties. The tree is royal in nature, very majestic, so it is difficult to imagine it as a shrub grown in a summer cottage or in an apartment space. But scientists who are creating new varieties have taken care of this. Now there are many dwarf forms of Cryptomeria that do not grow above two meters.
When choosing evergreen decorations for your summer cottage, you need to know the types of existing trees, understand their rate of development and the required care. After all, instead of decorating your garden plot, you may end up with an unnecessary huge tree that will shade all the plants in the circle.
Coniferous plants belong to a very ancient group. Their remains have been found for 300 million years. Conifers (Pinophyta) are woody, vascular and evergreen plants in which seeds are produced in cones. These plants grow wild in all parts of the world. But since they are plants of a fairly warm climate with good air humidity, they mainly grow in a temperate climate zone.
Scientific classification
Domain – Eukaryotes
Kingdom – Plants
Department – Conifers
Woody plants are perennial plants whose trunk and branches form wood.
Vascular - plants that have vessels inside them consisting of cells for transporting water and nutrients.
Evergreens are plants that do not lose their leaves throughout the year. Their leaves change gradually, imperceptibly to our eyes. Some conifers change leaves once a year, and some change leaves every 45 years, such as bristlecone pine, which grows in Colorado and New Mexico.
The division of coniferous plants consists of one class (Pinopsida) gymnosperms. It includes existing plant species and those that have become extinct.
According to one of the classification systems, the coniferous department is divided into four orders: Cordaitaceae (extinct), Vonoskiaceae (extinct), Volciaceae (extinct), and Pine.
Order – Cordaite
In appearance they resembled modern coniferous trees. These were plants with powerful trunks. Their leaves were linear from 20-50 cm or more. The reproductive organs were earrings with female and male cones. Perhaps these plants gave rise to all coniferous trees.
Painting by Zdenek Burian
Zdenek Burian is a Czech artist who painted many paleontological paintings in which he reproduced prehistoric plants, animals and people. In this picture we see an extinct subclass of conifers.
Order – Pine
The pine (coniferous) class includes 6-8 families, 65-70 genera and up to 650 plant species.
It is divided into the following families:
I. Araucariaceae
Araucariaceae - this family includes three genera:
1. Agathis is a large tree with leaf-shaped needles. This genus is distributed in Australia, the islands of the Malay Archipelago, the Philippines, and New Guinea.
2. Araucaria is a tall tree with flat needles. The height can reach up to 90 meters.
Brazilian Araucaria
The cone of the Chilean araucaria weighs up to 1.5 kg.
3. Wollemia is the oldest plant on earth, listed in the Red Book. It was considered extinct until it was discovered by David Noble in Australia in 1994. Its height is 40 meters. Its leaves are flat and up to 8 cm long.
II. Capitothyceae
This family includes three genera:
1. Golovchatotis - grows in Southeast Asia.
2. Amentotaxus is a genus, the peculiarity of which is the presence of dangling earrings in the plant - micro-strobili - cones.
3. Torreya is a genus of small evergreen trees reaching up to 25 m in height.
III. Cypress
Cypress - low creeping or upright growing trees or shrubs. This family is divided into 32 genera and 166 species.
IV. Pine
Pine - this family consists of 11 genera and 252 species.
Here are some of the famous genera.
Pine
I.I. Shishkin. “At the edge of a pine forest” 1882
Spruce is an evergreen tree (with a beautiful crown) up to 96 meters high.
Cedar is an evergreen plant up to 50 meters high.
Larch - representatives of this family of plants annually shed their needles for the winter. This tree species is the most common on Earth. They can reach a height of up to 50 meters under favorable conditions.
Golden larch
Fir is a genus of plants, the peculiarity of which is that the needles are flat, and their cones, like those of cedars, grow upward and fall apart directly on the trees.
Hemlock - common in Asia and North America.
V. Podocarpaceae
Podocarpaceae - grow in the southern hemisphere - mainly in the Australasian part. But some species are also found in the northern hemisphere.
The family includes 20 genera and up to 200 species of trees.
Sciadopitisaceae - today this genus of plants grows only in Japan. This is a tree with a pyramidal crown. Grows in height up to 40 meters. Has unique needles.
VII. Yew
Yew - Plants of this genus are mostly evergreen, but there are some that lose their leaves. This family includes 6 genera and 31 species.
Austrotaxus is the only species of the yew family that grows in the southern hemisphere.
Yew is a slow growing tree or shrub, up to 10 meters high. Bows and spears were made from its wood.
Yew berry
Conifers are the oldest, most beautiful and decorative class of plants.
If you liked this material, share it with your friends on social networks. Thank you!
Sometimes, looking at evergreen coniferous trees, people wonder: why does a person have such a short life on earth? Intelligent creatures that can think, feel and create live on average 70-80 years, and ordinary trees live more than a thousand. Perhaps someday the dream of eternal life will come true, and then people will be able to enjoy the environment to the fullest. Until this time comes, it’s worth getting to know different types of coniferous trees better in order to decorate your summer cottage with them.
It is these evergreens that fit harmoniously into any landscape design. Their strict and sophisticated forms stand out clearly on the green lawn in summer. And in cold weather, they refresh a country house with rich greenery and a pleasant resinous aroma. Many gardeners grow evergreen beauties on their plots, because their diversity is truly impressive. They are tall and dwarf. They are found in the form of a pyramid or cone. Therefore, the unforgettable landscape of coniferous trees remains in the hearts of grateful people forever. Let's take a closer look at the most popular types.
Among the huge number of long-lived conifers, unique specimens are especially impressive: the “Old Tikko” spruce in Sweden (over 9 thousand years old), the “Methuselah” pine in the USA (about 5 thousand years old). In total, there are up to 20 such trees on the planet.
The people's favorite - spruce
There is probably not a person on earth who has not heard about this tree. Many poems and songs have been written about him, paintings and fairy tales have been written. The plant is associated with various holidays, customs, and sometimes with bad omens. Because of this, the plant suffers from excessive cutting, which brings a lot of grief to nature lovers.
Spruce is an evergreen coniferous tree that belongs to the Pine family and can grow to a height of 35 meters. It has a pyramidal or triangular crown shape, ending with a sharp tip. The branches are located along the entire trunk, so it is practically invisible from the side. They grow dark green needles with a glossy shiny coating, which are much shorter than those of pine.
The tree is found almost everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the main component of the Russian taiga, where it grows next to oak, pine, hazel and. There are about 50 species of spruce in nature. Some of them successfully take root on the lawns of country houses. The following types are especially widely used.
The spruce roots are close to the soil surface, so a strong hurricane wind can knock it down. Therefore, the tree should not be planted near residential premises.
Akrokona
This type of spruce is characterized by a wide conical crown with hanging branches. Considered to be slow growing. In 30 years it grows up to 4 meters in height. The diameter of the plant is about 3 m. It prefers shaded places. Spruce tolerates cold temperatures well. In the summer heat it needs watering.
Inverse
The tree has a columnar crown and cascading weeping branches that, like a train, touch the ground. Grows up to a maximum of 8 meters. The diameter of an adult plant is about 2.5 m.
European Maxwelly
Dwarf shrub in the form of a wide cone. It tolerates winter frosts and shaded areas without problems. Grows up to a meter in height. The diameter of an adult bush is 2 m.
Glauka Globoza
The famous spruce stands out for its blue needles. Grows in height up to 2 meters. Used in many countries to decorate landscapes of urban and suburban areas. Due to the fact that the tree can be trimmed, original blue balls are made from it, which delight their fans all year round.
Fir - a tree with purple cones
An evergreen representative of the Pine genus. It differs from its close relatives in the characteristics of its needles:
- softness;
- shine;
- flat shape.
White stripes are visible on the underside of each needle, which gives the plant a festive look. The fir tree is decorated with purple cones, which is its main highlight. It grows slowly for 10 years, after which growth accelerates. Lives about 400 years. Breeders have developed decorative varieties that are used to decorate urban and suburban areas.
Since the needles of the tree have healing properties, growing fir in your summer cottage is a great idea. It helps in the fight against colds, radiculitis and wound healing.
Columnaris
The tree has a straight trunk and a narrow crown, reminiscent of a column. Grows up to 10 meters. The dense branches point upward, giving the tree a majestic character.
Prostrata
This fir is famous for its long branches spread above the ground, which can reach 2.5 meters in length.
Argenta
The variety is characterized by original silver needles, the tips of which are painted whitish. Every spring, shoots of a luminescent yellow color emerge from its buds. This unusual combination creates a stunning view on the site of a country house. And it lasts almost a whole month.
Nana
A dwarf tree that grows only up to 50 cm. The diameter of an adult plant is 1 m. The crown is rounded, slightly flattened. It takes root wonderfully in small areas.
Majestic cedar
Since time immemorial, these trees have been considered a symbol of greatness. In their natural environment, they grow at an altitude of 3 km above sea level and resemble real giants. They grow up to 50 meters. They live for more than two centuries.
Despite its greatness, this is a unique tree because it can decorate any garden landscape. If you plant it at the front entrance, an atmosphere of some kind of celebration is created. The spacious lawns provide the comfort of home.
Some dwarf varieties are used for growing bonsai plants. To create original landscapes, species that vary are widely used:
- needle color;
- length of needles;
- the size of the tree.
When choosing a suitable species, it is advisable to first become acquainted with the plant. The following varieties are used for home cultivation:
Mysterious larch
Many people think that if a tree is called larch, it means it is not a conifer. Actually this is not true. The plant is a representative of the Pine family, but unlike its relatives, it loses its needles in the fall.
Larch grows up to 50 m in height. In this case, the trunk reaches 1 m in diameter. The branches grow in a chaotic manner, with a barely noticeable slope. As a result, a cone-shaped crown is formed. The needles are noticeably flattened, soft to the touch, and bright green in color. In the natural environment there are 14 different varieties. The following types are used for garden design:
This diversity allows you to create magnificent landscapes on the territory of summer cottages.
Majestic pine
Biologists count more than a hundred different varieties of this evergreen plant. Moreover, the distinctive feature is the number of needles on one bunch. The pine tree often grows to a height of 50 meters. The straight trunk is covered with reddish-brown, cracking bark. Long needles are located on the spreading branches of the tree and have a rich aroma. Pine lives for about 600 years and tolerates cold and summer heat well.
Planting a pine tree should be done quickly, since its roots can dry out in a quarter of an hour. Such a plant does not take root in a new territory.
For garden decoration, breeders have created original miniature species:
Without a doubt, such evergreen living decorations are suitable for creating landscape rock gardens or mixborders. In any case, pine can become the calling card of a summer cottage.
Her Majesty - Thuja
An evergreen tree of this type is almost always used to decorate city parks and green areas. Recently, this plant has been widely used to decorate home gardens. It is valued by gardeners for its ability to withstand severe winter frosts, drought and high humidity.
The thuja tree is distinguished by lush branches on which scaly leaves of a dark green color are located. Every year the plant is covered with miniature cones that resemble scattered beads on green fabric. In addition to traditional forms, thujas come in:
- dwarf;
- weeping;
- creeping.
Most often, seedlings called “Occidentalis” are used for garden plot design. The tree can grow up to 7 m in height, and create a crown of about 2 m. Another species - “Cloth of Gold” - has a golden hue of needles. It takes root well in shady areas of the garden.
A medium-sized variety - “Columna” amazes with its needles of dark green coloring with a glossy tint. It does not disappear even in winter, for which it is highly valued by lovers of green spaces. "Columna"
The compact appearance of the thuja tree - "Holmstrup" has a conical shape, despite its height - 3 m. It tolerates cold winters wonderfully, can be pruned and is used as a hedge. Another giant – “Smaragd” – grows to approximately 4 m. The diameter of an adult tree is up to 1.5 m. The needles are juicy, dark green in color with a shiny tint. Such a beauty will surely decorate the garden landscape of greenery lovers.
Having become more familiar with the majestic coniferous trees, it is easy to choose the appropriate option. And let the suburban area turn into a green oasis of joy, where persistent coniferous trees grow.
Conifers in landscape design - video
When choosing types and varieties of coniferous species, one must take into account how they will look, what size they will reach at maturity, not forgetting, of course, about growth rates, color, and habitat requirements. It is important to compare all these characteristics with specific conditions, including the size of the garden area. This is the only way we will be able to create compositions of coniferous plants that are interesting in color, contour and spatial terms.
For the most part, coniferous trees and shrubs are light-loving plants. This means that for healthy growth and development they need enough light, space and a place where they will not suffer from lack of air.
Yews are distinguished by their great adaptability, which develop well in partial shade and even full shade. Young growth of fir, pseudo-hemlock, spruce, hemlock, cryptomeria, thyssolist or Douglas fir, and from pine - Pinus flexilis, P. koraiensis and P. reiss, tolerate shading. For cypress trees, the optimal conditions are partial shade or a place not on the sunny side. Thujas adapt relatively well. The remaining species of coniferous plants grown here prefer a place in the sun, and junipers do not tolerate shading very well.
As for soil conditions, the requirements for them among coniferous species are very different. The most unpretentious in this regard are larch, juniper, pine (with the exception of species with five needles in a bunch) and cypress. These species grow well on sandy-clayey soils, and pine trees even on rocky ones. Cypress trees, junipers, larches, spruces and yews love lime. Juniper also tolerates dry soils well. But cypress trees, on the contrary, require sufficient soil moisture. Spruce trees grow better on moist clay-sandy soils. Fir trees are more demanding of soil quality than spruce trees. They thrive in deep clay-sandy, moderately moist, nutrient-rich soils and, as a rule, do not tolerate high groundwater levels. For other coniferous trees and shrubs, thicker soils are needed, which contain enough nutrients and moderate soil moisture content. In swampy areas, even in shallow standing water, only swamp cypresses grow well.
If we talk about hardening, most conifers are resistant to cold. Fir, cedar, cryptomeria, spruce and more delicate species of certain species should not, however, be planted in cold hollows where they can freeze.
Of the firs, the most hardy and not afraid of frost are Abies balsamea, A. concolor, A. grandis and A. homolepis; from cypress trees - Chamaecyparis nootkatensis and Ch. lawsoniana; from spruce - Picea abies, P. alba, P. asperata, P. omorika and P. pungens; from pines Pinus banksiana, P. cembra and R. race.
Firs need a place more protected from the winds, and cedars develop well only in such places. Due to the fact that variegated coniferous trees, and from thujas - Thuja orientalis, can suffer from solar radiation in winter, the place for them must be chosen taking this point into account.
Coniferous trees also tolerate air pollution differently. Some species generally grow quite well in industrial areas. However, most fir trees cannot tolerate smoky, polluted air at all. Among them, Abies concolor, A. grandis, A. koreana, A. nordmanniana, A. procera, A. veitchii are relatively the most hardened in this regard. Most spruces, pines and cryptomeria cannot tolerate such pollution. Although, in the same conditions, some types of cedars and cypress trees, yews, thujas take root quite well, and among pine trees - dwarf pine, black pine, Scots pine, etc.
Those species that suffer from encroachment by forest animals are those with soft needles, as well as cypress trees, mainly young ones, some junipers (also at a young age), for example, Chinese juniper, Virginian juniper, and in the spring, when the needles bloom, common juniper. The animals also bite the bark of young larch, and from the pine trees they choose those with soft needles. Neither the berry yew nor the western thuja will be protected from them. Other coniferous species do not suffer from animals.
Tree nursery workers are often faced with the fact that many gardeners strive to purchase tall coniferous tree species for their small plots and front gardens, without, however, giving due importance to this point. In most cases, they are simply attracted by the beauty of young plants and seduced by the size of the specimens being sold. Such buyers naively hope that as soon as they plant similar plants in the garden, they will immediately become a decoration of the site. They forget that over time, thujas, cypress trees, spruces, firs, pines and other large species will create an almost impenetrable wall, will interfere with admiring the surrounding landscape, or even completely plunge the garden into permanent shadow.
Tall coniferous tree species
Fir Vetkhova ( Abies veitchii) is a slender tree, reaching 15-20, or even 25 m in height and 4 m in crown diameter. It has thick, shiny, dark green needles with a silvery tint on the underside. Every year this tree grows approximately 70 cm in height and 20 cm in width. It is planted mainly singly in large gardens.
Norway spruce or common spruce ( Picea abies) - a well-known tree 20-25 m high (it can reach 30-35 m), with a narrow pyramidal crown and symmetrical branches located in a horizontal plane. It grows wildly, annually increasing by about 80 cm in height and 30 cm in width. It is used more often in large gardens and parks individually or in group plantings as trimmed hedges.
Serbian spruce, or Balkan spruce ( Picea omorika) is a beautiful, surprisingly slender tree, the crown of which begins to branch strongly from below. It is one of the hardiest conifers, is not at all afraid of frost and can withstand city air well. This spruce reaches 25-35 m in height, but its width at the ground is only 2-3 m. Its annual growth is approximately 50 cm in height and 15-20 cm in crown diameter. Serbian or Balkan spruce is a single-planted plant of exceptional merit, suitable for both large and medium-sized gardens.
Black pine, Austrian ( Pinus nigra austriaca - P.n. ssp. nigra) at first has a cone-shaped, and later an ovoid-shaped crown, reaching 4-8 m in diameter. This tree can reach a height of 20 m, and in exceptional cases, 25 m. Annual growth averages 70 cm in height and 35 cm in crown diameter. Black pine is an excellent tree for large gardens; she loves dry, well-permeable soil, which also contains lime.
Falling larch, or Western European ( Larix decidua), also a very tall tree, rising up to 35 m. Its crown is wide, 4-6 m in diameter, the needles are light green, sometimes even gray-green. This larch grows faster than all other coniferous trees, adding about 80 cm in height and 50 cm in crown diameter per year. Such a tree needs a place in the sun, a lot of free space around and deep, but not too light soil with sufficient water permeability.
One of the varieties of Lawson cypress ( Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Alumii") steel-blue color is a very slender coniferous tree with a cone-shaped dense crown. It reaches a height of about 10 m, and a diameter of 2-3 m. Its annual growth is approximately 30 cm in height and 10 cm in width. This variety is unpretentious, loves a sunny place and is believed to tolerate frost well. It is planted mainly singly or used to create hedges of unusual shapes.
Yew berry, or ordinary, European ( Taxus baccata) is able to tolerate deep shade, although it develops well in full sunlight. This tree is 10-20 m in height with a rounded crown 10-15 m in diameter. It often has a bush-like form and reaches a very respectable age. It also likes calcareous soil that drains water well; it is planted singly or in group compositions, as an undergrowth next to taller trees. Berry yew is suitable for creating hedges, both free-growing and trimmed. Its annual growth in height and diameter is approximately 30 cm.
Thuja occidentalis ( Thuja occidentalis) - a cone-shaped growing coniferous tree with short horizontal branches, reaches 10-15 m in height and 3-4 m in diameter. Its annual growth is about 20-30 cm in height and the same in width. The tree loves a sunny position, is exceptionally frost-resistant and is especially suitable for planting as natural free-growing or trimmed hedges.
Single color fir ( Abies concolor) - a tree 20-30 m in height with a straight trunk and a beautiful cone-shaped crown with a diameter of up to 3-4 m, starting right at the ground. This fir has peculiar, crescent-shaped gray-green needles. The annual growth of the plant is 50 cm in height and about 15 cm in crown diameter. It loves the sun, is very frost-resistant and tolerates a smoky, polluted atmosphere. Single-color fir needs nutritious soil with sufficient water permeability and a place with good sunlight. It is considered an excellent single tree in a big city.
Medium-sized coniferous trees
Coniferous trees of medium size and even very squat ones play a significant role in decorating gardens and parks. Lower-growing species are usually planted near driveways or footpaths, near houses and cottages, as well as in rock gardens and in places where for some reason it is not possible to plant trees of large size.
In recent years, Korean fir (Abies koreana) has become especially popular among gardeners. This slowly growing tree is distinguished by a dense pyramidal crown, and in maturity it is, as a rule, not so much tall as wide, reaching 2-4 m in height and 2-3 m in diameter, although it can be larger - up to 8 m height and 4 m in diameter. Every year the tree rises up by about 30cm and spreads out 15-20cm in width. Korean fir is very prolific. And the young tree produces beautiful, purple-violet cones up to 7 cm long.
Attractive in appearance is the gently pubescent variety of Lawson's cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Ellwoodiif"), which has gray-blue scaly needles and a narrow, pyramidal crown. An adult tree reaches 2-3 m in height and approximately 1 m in crown diameter. This variety of cypress grows slow (annual growth is about 20 cm in height and 5-10 cm in diameter), very unpretentious and is considered by gardeners to be an excellent single plant that can be planted in small gardens.
The slender pea cypress variety Chamaecyparis pisifera "Plumosa Aurea" is distinguished by its striking yellowish-golden needles and wide cone-shaped shape. It reaches 6-8 and even 10 m in height and 2-3, or even 4 m in crown diameter. The annual growth of the tree is on average 25 cm in height and 15 cm in width. This is a very modest, undemanding plant, which, however, loves damp places and sandy soil that drains water well. It should be taken into account that the needles acquire a rich color only when the tree grows in the sun. This type of tree can be placed individually and in group plantings, in the form of hedges.
In recent years, another interesting variety of pea cypress, Ch.p., has gained great popularity. "Boulevard". It grows slowly and forms a cone-shaped, densely branched crown, reaching 2 m in height and 1 m in crown diameter. This is also an undemanding plant that loves well-draining soil and a sunny place. In gardening practice, the tree is placed singly. This cypress tree, distinguished by its rich steel-blue color and soft needles, looks especially good among the lawn.
An attractive common juniper is the variety Juniperus communis "Hibernica", which is distinguished by its slender columnar shape and is one of the coniferous trees suitable for planting in large gardens and parks, as well as in small areas. As a rule, it reaches 3-4 m in height and about 1 m in crown diameter. Its not too prickly and dense needles have a silvery bluish-green color. This variety of common juniper loves sun, sandy, well-permeable soil and looks great in untouched corners of the garden, in and near large rock gardens, as well as in heather thickets. It is planted individually and in small groups.
Picea glauca "Conica" is a slow-growing white spruce plant. In adulthood, the plant can reach 3-4 m in height. It is planted both individually and in groups and, of course, also placed in rock gardens
Juniperus chinensis "Pfitzeriana" is an unpretentious, well-growing and decorative juniper with spreading, slightly arching branches. It is placed mainly singly. Juniper reaches 2 m in height and about 4 m in crown diameter. One of his varieties, J.oh. "Pfitzeriana Aurea" is distinguished by widely spreading branches and gray-green, golden-yellow when blooming, and bronze needles in winter. It reaches about 2-2.5 m in height and has a crown diameter of 6-8, and sometimes 10 m. Over the course of a year, the plant gains a height of only about 20 cm, while its growth in width is up to 40 cm. This frost-resistant variety is one of the most beautiful junipers with a spreading crown, loves soils that drain water well, and sunny ones, in extreme cases. , slightly shaded areas. It is planted as a single plant, as well as in groups with other conifers.
The well-known variety of white spruce Picea glauca "Conica" is distinguished by a symmetrical cone-shaped shape and by the age of thirty reaches a height of 3 m with a diameter of 1 m. The plant grows very slowly (annual growth is 15 cm in height and 5 cm in crown diameter). It is characterized by a dense, compact crown and delicate grass-green needles. The plant is great for small gardens, where the best place for it is in the middle of a grassy area or in a rock garden. However, the tree needs light partial shade. In the sun it suffers from burns.
The quiet area, formed by trees, grasses and perennials, is dominated by three pyramidal junipers Juniperus communis "Hibernica"
Mountain dwarf pine ( Pinus mugo var. pumilio) is one of the small-sized pines most beloved by gardeners. It has a wide rather than high semicircular crown (the plant reaches 1-1.5 m in height and 3 m in width). Annual growth is within 5 cm in height and up to 10 cm in crown diameter. This low-growing pine prefers a place well lit by the sun; It can be planted individually, as well as in group plantings.
Coniferous trees with colored needles
The silver-blue variety of prickly spruce (Picea pungens "Glauca") is most often called silver spruce. Stores sell young plants grown from seedlings, which over the years in our conditions reach 10-20 m in height. Along with them, several varieties propagated by grafting are also bred, for example, Picea pungens "Koster", which has needles of a juicy silver-blue color, P.p. "Moerheimi", characterized by a slender cone-shaped shape and the same silver-blue needles. The annual growth of these varieties is 15-25 cm in height and 10-15 cm in crown diameter.
To decorate the entrance to the house, two pyramidal junipers Juniperus communis "Hibernica" were planted, immediately attracting attention.
Gardeners, especially beginners, should not be distressed when looking at the asymmetrical shape of young scions. Such a plant, as it develops, levels itself out over the course of three or more years and becomes slender. But often it is the unusualness and whimsicality of the form that is highly valued, which is typical for creeping varieties. P.p. "Glauca Pendula" is an example of this.
Among the firs, distinguished by the rich blue color of their needles, gardeners mainly choose silver fir, or the noble Abies procera "Glauca"; This is a powerful plant, reaching 20-30 m in height. In adult scions, long cones, up to 25 cm, appear annually. The annual growth of this tree is usually 30 cm in height and 15 cm in crown diameter.
Chamaecyparis obtusa "Nana Gracilis" reaches 2 m in height when mature. It grows slowly. Often used in rock gardens and for planting in large growing vessels
The color of the bluish needles of the juniper genus is rich and varied. Large, spreading, but not too tall bushes form, for example, varieties of medium juniper Juniperus chinensis "Pfitzeriana", J.ch. "Hetzii", J. squamata "Meyeri" with a compact form and clear gray-blue corners grows much more slowly and needs regular cutting: only then does it look beautiful.
An interesting tree with steel-blue needles is the "Glauca" variety of horizontal juniper (J. horizontalis). Due to its low growth, it is well suited for green covering of the soil surface. This plant also develops successfully in semi-shaded areas, rising above ground level by only 20-30 cm; an adult plant is capable of covering an area of 2-3 m2 with its branches. With its fleshy round cones, beautiful columnar shape and delicate needles from bluish-green to silver-gray, the Virginia juniper variety J. virginiana "Glauca" attracts attention.
Among the yellowish conifers, you can choose extremely picturesque species and varieties for the garden. These include, for example, an interesting cypress tree with hanging branches and golden-yellow needles, known as Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Golden King". In winter, its needles take on a brownish-yellow tone.
On the hill among the alpine plants, low-growing conifers - Pinus mugo var. mughus and Juniperus communis "Depressa"
The most beautiful cypress trees, painted in yellow tones, include Ch. lawsoniana "Lane", which reaches a height of 5 meters or more, as well as varieties of Chinese juniper, for example J. chinensis Tfitzeriana Aurea", J. ch. "Old Gold", J. ch. "Plumosa Aurea", whose needles have many shades - from yellowish to juicy golden yellow.
Among the yews and thujas there are also several representatives with interesting yellow-variegated needles, for example, varieties of yew and western thuja (Taxus baccata "Fastigiata Aurea". Thuja occidentalis "Rheingold").
Conifers for rock gardens and garden vases
It is impossible to imagine rock gardens and the space around them without coniferous plants. For small rocky gardens and mini-rock gardens, which are laid out in tubs and garden vases, for dry walls or to cover the ground, primarily dwarf, low-growing and creeping varieties of various types are used. They are distinguished by their bizarre shapes and outlines, and the variegation of their needles. Dwarf plants are characterized by slow growth. Many similar crops have been developed. In large, monumental rock gardens, taller species and varieties should be placed.
From the wide range of coniferous species suitable for such plantings, we will name a few that are most familiar to gardeners.
Abies balsamea "Nana", or "Hudsonia" is a dwarf variety of Canadian balsam fir, characterized by a squat, nest-like shape. This fir grows slowly, reaching a height of 50-100 cm. Its needles are dark green, short, glossy and thick.
A. concolor "Glauca Compacta" is a very rare dwarf variety, which is characterized by a dense asymmetrical crown shape and striking blue-gray needles. (This crop is suitable for larger rock gardens; it can be planted next to them, as well as placed in the middle of the lawn and in small gardens.
A. koreana - Korean fir in adulthood seems too bulky for a small garden, but nevertheless it is quite suitable for such use. It will take many years before this plant reaches 2-4 m in height. It grows slowly; It often happens that the crown diameter of an old Korean fir is greater than the height of the entire plant. This tree has beautiful, dense, lush green needles on top and white below, and, most importantly, attractive purple cones that appear even on young fir.
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Fletcheri" is a variety of cypress with a columnar or cone-shaped shape. The needles of young trees are lighter gray-green in color. This culture is recommended for rock gardens. It reaches a height of 5 meters or more, which should be taken into account in a timely manner.
Ch. I. "Minima Glauca" is a beautiful dwarf form of cypress with branches resembling shells in their outlines. This variety reaches a height of about one meter and is distinguished by short matte, bluish-green needles with a waxy coating. At first, "Minima Glauca" has a spherical shape, but over the years, changing, it acquires the contours of a cone.
Ch. obtusa "Crippsii" is a striking-looking cypress tree with a slowly growing wide cone-shaped crown and light yellow, sulfur-tinged needles, which sometimes acquire a golden yellow color. Many years pass before the plant reaches three meters in height. This is one of the most beautiful crops among the low-growing, so-called. golden coniferous trees.
Ch. O. "Filicoides" is a slow-growing cypress variety characterized by its straight and even shape; sometimes asymmetrical individuals, similar to bushes, are also found. The branches of this plant resemble fern leaves, and its needles are dark green. Already a young tree looks spectacular and catchy. In a quarter of a century it reaches 2 m in height.
Ch. O. "Lycopodioides" is a compact plant with lush green needles, dense, moss-moss-like, very decorative branches. It often looks like a pyramid. This cypress tree reaches 1.5-2 m in height and 2 m in diameter.
Picea glauca "Alberta Globe" reaches three meters in height. This tree is placed in rock gardens, in groups of lower-growing conifers, or in the foreground of a forested part of the site.
Ch. O. "Nana Gracilis" grows many years after planting to only 80-100 cm in height; The plant is notable for its fresh green needles and branches like small shells.
Ch. O. "Pygmaea" is a spreading spherical plant of dwarf size with small branches arranged in a ladder and almost horizontally. Its needles are initially reddish-brown and later brownish-green and glossy. In winter, the needles take on a reddish-bronze hue. The plant slowly increases in size, reaching 1-2 m in height.
Ch. pisifera "Aurea Nana" is also a dwarf and very slowly growing cypress tree with a cone-shaped crown and juicy yellow needles. It is suitable for small rock gardens and garden vases. Ch. p. "Boulevard" is one of the new varieties; It is notable for its dense pyramidal crown that goes straight up and the rich color of its needles, shimmering in the color of blue steel. This tree grows slowly. The oldest specimens barely reach 2.5 m in height. The plant is very hardy, develops well even in unfavorable atmospheric conditions of industrial cities. Its needles, soft to the touch, take on a beautiful purple hue in winter. In 1934, the Squarrosa variety was developed. However, only in recent years has it become popular among gardeners. "Boulevard" is also suitable for small gardens. Ch. p. "Nana Aureovariegata" reaches a height of barely one meter. This variety has short and delicate branches arranged like a ladder and bent downwards, the ends of which seem to be curled. The needles are very small, matte yellow. The plant is also suitable for small rock gardens. Ch.p. Tilifera Nana" is distinguished by its thread-like branches that hang on all sides and the fresh green color of its needles. It reaches a maximum height of one meter. Ch.p. "Plumosa Compressa" is one of the smallest coniferous plants intended for rock gardens. In height it rises only about 30 cm and has an excellent shape.Its needles are light green, sometimes with blue.
Yews are a very valuable coniferous species. It is the only tree that can tolerate full shade and can act as a barrier to trap dust. It is easier to cut than other conifers to form a crown. Pictured: Taxus baccata "Repandens"
Cotoneaster multiflorus is planted both as a single plant and in a group: it is undemanding and grows well in direct sun and partial shade.
By thoughtfully using decorative tree species, you can create an impressive composition in a small garden, where architecture and greenery will form a single whole.
Cryptomeria japonica is a member of the hardy Japanese Cryptomeria, growing slowly, with an asymmetrical bushy form and fleshy, bluish-green needles that turn reddish-brown in winter. The plant reaches a height of about one meter and is of interest mainly to those who like to collect various curious crops. Cryptomeria japonica requires a protected location or at least light cover during the winter.
Juniperus chinensis "Old Gold" is similar to J.ch. "Pfitzeriana Aurea", from which it differs in a more compact crown and a constant bronze-golden color of the needles, which does not change even in winter. Over the years, the diameter and height of this plant become approximately the same - within one meter.
J. communis "Compressa" is a slow-growing, dwarf-sized variety of common juniper, which grows only 2-5 cm in height per year. It has thick, seemingly compacted branches and delicate, light bluish-greenish needles. This is a remarkable and rare plant, suitable for small rock gardens, the care of which requires special experience. In more severe conditions and in unprotected places, it needs winter cover with spruce branches. J.c. var. depressa has a flat, creeping shape and reaches a height of 50-60 cm. This plant has short and wide green needles with a yellowish or brownish tint; in winter they turn bronze. This is a natural, uncultivated juniper native to the mountainous regions of North America. It is one of the best carpet conifers, suitable for landscaping large areas in sunlit areas. J.c. "Depressa Aurea" is similar to the previous plant, but its needles remain a rich golden-yellow color until the beginning of summer and only later acquire a light yellow tint. J.c. "Depressa Aureospicata" is especially suitable for planting in rock gardens. Its young needles are light yellow in color. J.c. "Hibernica" is known and popular among gardeners. This is an evenly growing juniper with bluish-green needles, reaching 4 m in height. At J.c. "Hornibrookii" creeping trunk. Over time, this juniper reaches 2 m in width, but its height, even in an adult specimen, is usually no more than 30-50 cm. Dark brown, glossy branches of different lengths usually lie on the ground, only their tips rise slightly upward. The needles are light green, with silvery-white stripes, dense, and acquire a brownish tint in winter. The plant has the ability to cover large stones of rock gardens or hillsides with a thick carpet.
J. horizontalis "Douglasii" is a beautiful creeping juniper, only 30 cm tall, valued for its slow growth. Only a very old plant reaches 2-3 m in crown diameter. Its needles are the color of steel blue, which in the fall acquire a purple tint and a bluish-green waxy coating. This plant is planted in cemeteries.
J. sabina "Cupressifolia" is a low-growing, slow-growing crop with a creeping trunk, developing mainly in width. It rises in height by about 60 cm. The needles are dark green. Used mainly to decorate lawns and slopes. A beautiful tamarisk-leaved variety of creeping juniper with bluish-green needles - J.s. Tamariscifolia". It is also short in stature (up to 60 cm) and is distinguished by widely spaced branches.
J. squamata "Meyeri" is a slow-growing creeping juniper with upturned branch tips and very showy bright bluish-white needles. It reaches a height of 2 m.
J. virginiana "Globosa", or "Nana Compacta", is a low shrub reaching a meter in height. The plant is distinguished by its spherical shape and densely branched crown. Its needles, greenish-gray above and green below, turn pale purple-green in winter. Variety J.v. "Skyrocket", although not one of the short ones (up to 5 m in height), nevertheless deserves attention due to its extremely slender appearance and columnar shape. With a height of 2 m, it has a diameter of only 30 cm. Its branches are closely adjacent to each other. The needles are bluish-gray. This juniper is especially good among heather thickets and where we would like to break the monotonous monotony of growing conifers and other plants.
Picea abies "Echiniformis" - dwarf spruce with delicate dense branches, light yellow-green needles; it resembles a pillow lying on the ground. A very beautiful variety for a rock garden, for planting near it and among the lawn. It reaches a height of approximately 60 cm. R.a. "Maxwellii" is distinguished by its density, spherical appearance and light green needles. Its height is about a meter. R.a. "Nidiformis" is a cushion-shaped dwarf spruce with a nest-like depression in the middle. Well suited for rock gardens. Its height is up to 60-100 cm. R.a. "Pumila Glauca" is a mostly wide-growing dwarf plant with a dark green crown. Height within 80 cm.
P. glauca "Conica" is a dwarf spruce with a lovely cone shape and soft light green needles. It grows slowly, reaches 2 m in height, and is attractive for its spectacular decorative appearance.
P. omorika "Nana" is a dwarf form of the very famous Serbian spruce, characterized by a cone-shaped shape with a wide base, dense branches and a compact overall appearance. This plant often has a crown diameter greater than its height. Over the years it reaches 1.5-3 m in height. The needles on its branches are arranged in a radial manner, thanks to which their bluish color underneath is clearly visible.
P. pungens "Glauca Compacta" is a spectacular dwarf form of "silver spruce" 1-1.5 m high with dense branches and beautiful blue needles. Individuals grown from cuttings grow very slowly and have an extremely compact appearance.
P.p. "Glauca Globosa" is a beautiful dwarf form of spruce with lush blue needles and a spherical crown contour. An adult plant is usually no more than one meter in height.
Pinus cembra - European cedar, one of the most beautiful European pines with a picturesque narrow cone-shaped crown and very dense needles of dark green color on the front side and bluish-white on the back side of the needles. Spruce adapts better if it is planted in good, moderately moist soil. Suitable for use in more severe environmental conditions. She likes to have enough free space around her. The tree reaches a height of 10-20 m, but despite this it is often planted in large rock gardens.
P. densiflora "Umbraculifera" grows very slowly, is a low tree most often with a wide, asymmetrical, umbrella-shaped crown and horizontally located branches. Its needles are soft and have a striking light bluish-green hue. This is a very hardy variety, which reaches about 2 m in height in 30 years.
R. tido is an elfin tree of almost shrubby forms with branches that often creep along the ground. This plant looks best in natural groups in the garden or in large rock gardens. Height - up to 3-4 m. P.m. van pumilio grows wider than tall and is one of the favorite conifers used by gardeners in rock gardens. Reaches one meter in height.
P. pumila "Glauca" is a low-growing shrubby pine, similar to dwarf pine, but related to European cedar. It reaches a height of 1-1.5 m and is distinguished by bluish-green needles. The tree grows slowly, is unpretentious in terms of living conditions, but loves moist soils. The plant is suitable for rock gardens and for planting on slopes.
P. sfrobus "Nana" is a dwarf form of the famous Weymouth pine, characterized by a dense and wide crown. The plant is up to 1.5-2 m high, with bluish-green, relatively short needles. This is an undemanding and frost-resistant variety that can be planted singly and in small gardens.
Taxus baccata "Compacts" is a slow-growing yew crop with a compact oval or cone shape with raised branches and dark green needles. Suitable for small rock gardens.
T. cuspidata "Nana" is a dwarf yew with a beautiful dense crown shape and juicy dark green needles. Reaches 1 m in height and 3 m in crown diameter.
T. x media "Hicksii" is distinguished by a narrow, even crown and light green needles. Grows to a height of 1.5-3 m; Suitable for planting in both sunny and shaded areas.
Thuja occidentalis "Rheingold" is a slow-growing thuja with a spherical crown and golden-orange needles. It reaches a height of approximately 1.5 m. Thus. Tittle Gem" is a dwarf variety with a dense, wide rather than high crown and juicy green needles. Thus, "Recurva Nana" is distinguished by a dense spherical or cone-shaped crown with a wide base and green, and in winter - brown needles. Ends branches are slightly curved.An adult plant reaches 2 m in height.
T. orientalis "Aurea Nana" is a slow-growing thuja with a spherical crown and yellow-green needles. Suitable for small rock gardens.