5 Eye Catching Conifers for Your Garden

Although completely underused in Pacific Northwest gardens, conifers are extremely popular plants in the east and in areas with colder, more continental climates. They add structure, foundation and year round interest to the landscape. The purpose of this post is to showcase the qualities of five completely different, interesting and eye-catching conifers. If your garden is dull, drab and boring at this time of year, maybe its time to plant a few of these evergreens:

Daub's Frosted Chinese Juniper

'Daub’s Frosted' Chinese Juniper

Juniperus chinensis ‘Daubs Frosted’
Golden yellow frosted foliage tips create a striking contrast with the pendulous, blue-green mature foliage. A good selection for mass plantings or a ground cover for hot-dry banks. Evergreen. Fairly fast growing to 15 inches in height and 5ft wide. Best planted in full to part sun. Hardy in zones 4-9

'Spiraliter Falcata' Japanese Cryptomeria

Spiraliter Falcata Japanese Cryptomeria
Cryptomeria japonica ‘Spiraliter Falcata’
A slow growing dwarf conifer with extremely twisted foliage. Green colour is held throughout the year. A unique collectors item. Grows to 3ft tall and wide. Evergreen. Hardy in zones 6-9

Blue Dwarf Alberta Spruce

'Blue Dwarf' Alberta Spruce
Picea albertiana conica ‘Blue Dwarf’
This is an improved variety of the classic slow-growing alberta spruce with striking silvery-blue foliage. A standout for any garden. Outstanding in containers, rock gardens, or in a landscape singly or in groups. Very slow growing, usually about an inch or so per year. Decorate with white lights at Christmas for a classic look! Grows to a maximum of 5-7 feet tall and to 1.5ft wide in many years. Hardy in zones 2-8

Silver Show Korean Fir

‘Silver Show’ Korean Fir
Abies koreana ‘Silver Show’
This outstanding conifer is a known for its upward and back curving needles that reveal a slivery-white underside. It’s a small, very slow growing tree (approximately 5 inches per year growth) that will eventually reach 20ft. Plant it in full sun to show it off!. Well drained soil is recommended. HArdy to zone 5.

'4EverGoldy' Gold Cedar

‘4Ever Goldy’ Gold Cedar
Thuja plicata ‘4EverGoldy’
This compact member of the cedar or arborvitae genus of plants grows quickly into a stunning display of evergreen, golden-yellow foliage. Unique red stems during fall and winter add further interest. Great orange fall foliage colour too!. Prefers to be planted in sun to part shade in any average garden soil. Will grow into a large tree (60+ feet) over its lifespan, so either keep it pruned or give it space.



Art’s Nursery carries a wide variety of conifers and other plants for all 4 seasons of the year. Add further winter interest by using plants with interesting bark, berries and flowers the bloom in winter like witchhazels, hellebores and heathers. For more information about designing winter gardens, call 604.882.1201 or visit us in person.

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Art's Nursery

6 Darling Dwarf Conifers For Your Garden

Conifers never seem to get the respect they deserve here in the Metro Vancouver area.
If and when you ever get a chance to visit the mega-nurseries in Oregon you will be amazed at the literally millions of conifers they grow - and I wonder, where do they all go?

Conifers just never seem to be top of mind here. Well, its our goal to change that. Here are six gorgeous dwarf conifers that are just begging to find a space in a pot, a trough, a rock garden or even a model railroad landscape.

Just one more thing. Remember that 'dwarf' may not mean 'stays small'. Depending on the plant, it may mean 'extremely slow growing'. The difference may be inconsequential, but we're 'just saying...' :)

Japanese Cedar Mushroom

Japanese Cedar 'Mushroom'
Cryptomeria japonica 'Mushroom'
This variety of Japanese Cedar is a dwarf mounding shrub with soft, loose branching. Foliage is made up of 1 inch long gray-green needles that are brownish when young and turn bronze-purple in the winter. Will reach 2-3 feet in height and 3ft wide at maturity. Does best in sun to part shade. Hardy to zone 5.

Pinus sylvestris 'Woltings Gold'

Woltings Gold Scotch Pine
Pinus sylvestris 'Woltings Gold'
This dwarf Scotch Pine features golden yellow foliage and fits perfectly into the dwarf conifer garden. It grows to a maximum 5-6ft and 2-3ft in spread. Grows best in full to part sun and drier soils. Hardy in zones 3-6

Wissel's Saguaro Port Orford Cedar

'Wissel's Saguaro' Port Orford Cedar
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Wissels Saguaro'
While not really a dwarf, Wissels Saguaro is slow growing giving it the opportunity to live in miniature gardens for a number of years before its size starts to manifest itself. It's a very narrow upright conifer with congested blue-green foliage. The occasional arm-like branch will shoot off in some random direction giving it an appearance similar to a saguaro cactus. Quite unique in appearance. Will grow up to 30ft in height over many years. Best grown in full sun. Hardy to zone 5.

Golden Tuffet Arborvitae

'Golden Tuffet' Eastern Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Tuffet'
This evergreen conifer has a dwarf spreading growth habit and interesting braids of orange to yellow scaly foliage. Branches spray outward to form a golden pillow of foliage. Will trun a deep orange to purple colour in winter. Will reach 18 inches high and spreads 2-3 feet in width. Best grown in sun to light shade. Hardy to zone 4.

Wilma Goldcrest Monterey Cypress

'Wilma Goldcrest' Monterey Cypress
Cupressus macrocarpa 'Wilma Goldcrest'
This colourful conifer is a dwarf tree with a tight columnar growth habit. Foliage is bright yellow to lime green in colour. Will grow 5-6ft in height and 1-2ft wide in 10 years. Best grown in full sun in an area with some winter protection. Hardy to zone 6.






Blue Gem Podocarp

 Blue Gem Podocarp
Podocarpus alpinus 'Blue Gem'
This rare and unique unique tiny-leaved conifer features blue-green foliage that begins in a red to pink tinge. Semi-spreading growth habit. Will reach 2-3 ft in height and several feet across in time. Excellent as bonsai and in rock gardens. Best grown in sun or light shade. While  hardy in zones 7-10 this plant is best given some winter protection to get it through our normal winters. A native of Australia and Tasmania.





Art's Nursery carries a wide and diverse selection of dwarf and full size conifers for your next landscape job or your home garden. Come give a dwarf conifer a try. Start small, build a rock garden or plant up an alpine trough - well help you choose hte plants and get you off to a good start!

Here are a few links to get you started:
Rock Gardens for Small Spaces
How to make a Rock Garden
How to Build a Rock Garden