Rare Conifer Evergreen Trees
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedars, Lawson Cypress, Giant Redwoods & Others
Nov 27, 2007
Plant hunters, propagators,and geneticists have developed rare and unusual conifers. Because of this there is a perfect plant for any site.
To a landscape designer, conifers - especially the dwarf varieties - offer great choices for specimen planting to make the garden special. Mutation is not a favored term when it comes to people. We think of a science fiction thriller, but when it comes to plants it’s a good thing. Genetic mutation in the plant kingdom happens all the time for a variety of reasons - bacterial or fungal infection - and some horticulturists even radiate seeds in the microwave to alter genetics. All these things can produce offspring that grow differently than that of the parent stock - and hence a new variety of plant is born.
Some favorite genetic plant mutations to make your garden special are as follows:
- Cedrus atlantica Glauca Pendula (Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar) is great for a backdrop for a waterfall, or where an interesting specimen is desired. Blue - needled branches grow out and then flow downward. Bamboo stakes should be used to tie the main leader up to a desired height as subsequent growth will weep downward.
- Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Gold Shower (Golden Weeping Lawson Cypress) is a beautiful small growing evergreen tree that grows in a broad conical form with branch ends that weep. Not only is this plant uniquely shaped but the brilliant golden yellow coloration which does not fade during the summer makes this specimen a top conifer selection. Use this as a backdrop screening plant or a foreground specimen.
- Picea pungens Glauca Globosa(Dwarf Bush Globe Blue Spruce) is a bush variety of the Colorado Blue Spruce with extremely blue needles. Growing only 4 to 6 inches per year makes this one a good choice for a wide planter around pool areas or in front yard foreground planters. Because it has such an outstanding blue color which is fairly rare in the plant kingdom, it is especially nice with companion plants of contrasting foliage colors. A beautiful combination of plants are the Picea arranged with the Rose Glow Red Barberry and the Sunset Gold, Coleonema (Breath of Heaven).
- Sequoiadendron giganteum Pendulum (Weeping Giant Redwood) is one of the favorite plants of the plant collector, due to its bizarre growth habit. This mutation is nothing like its parent which is the Giant Redwood seen at Calaveras Big Tree National Park in California. The first few years of growth one might mistake this plant for an Italian Cypress, but as time progresses the unusual habit starts to develop. Think of a Afghan Dog with its weeping trusses of hair that cover its body and you’ll get an idea - but better yet - just google Sequoiadendron giganteum Pendulum. Plant this plant where you want a interesting focal plant. For a interesting effect, plant 3 to 7 on a mound spaced with uneven distances apart and spot boulders and floodlights around them.
- Cupressus sempervirens Swane's Golden (Golden Italian Cypress) is a great specimen accent plant where a narrow formal plant is desired. Unlike its green counterpart, this nice clone keeps a nice tight form and doesn’t flop out like the green form. Also, look for a variety called Tiny Tower, which is a tight growing green form, diminutive in size compared to the full size version.
The copyright of the article Rare Conifer Evergreen Trees in Landscaping is owned by Rod Whitlow. Permission to republish Rare Conifer Evergreen Trees in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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