Landscaping with Dwarf Conifers

Why Dwarf Conifers?

Most of us think of flowering plants when we envision a garden or home landscape. And not just flowering plants as they are defined by botanists, which includes trees such as maples and oaks, but specifically plants with showy flowers: roses, lilacs, lavender, poppies and the like.

Approximately 20% of the U.S. population gardens, perhaps a little more if we include those who limit their gardening to food crops. Yet 65% of U.S. residents own homes, which means that some 45% of the population, or 148 million people, have yards, gardens or terraces and don’t, themselves, garden. If you are one of those people and you are wondering whether to plant petunias or poppies, lobelia or lavender, take a step back and think about beginning with structural plants that add interest all year long: dwarf conifers.

Conifers have gotten a bad rap for decades. Before dwarf selections were available, most conifers simply got too big for any but the grandest and largest gardens. Unfortunately, developers and landscapers often didn’t check the growth rate before they planted that cute little tree next to the house, which eventually towered over the roof, way out of proportion and shutting out all light, even in winter. Then there was the fashion in the 1970s of planting beds of nothing but conifers, generally crowded together and left unmanaged and unpruned. It’s no wonder that some people shudder when they hear the word. Others, unaware of the vast array of colors, shapes, textures and sizes available, can only think of Christmas trees.

Conifer Sizes and Growth Rates

Approach designing your yard or garden the way that you approach decorating your house: first comes the structure, then the furniture, then the knick-knacks, pillows and other decorations. Conifers represent the structure, perhaps some of the furniture. Flowers represent the decorations. It’s also similar to getting dressed; you put on your clothes and then accessorize with scarves or ties or jewelry. Again, those accessories are the flowers.

For the purposes of this discussion, when we say ‘conifers’ we mean dwarf conifers, which are selections that are slower growing than the wild plants that we find in nature. The ACS has identified four ‘sizes’ (really growth rates) of conifers. The most useful are those that are designated dwarf, which grow 1-6”/year, and will be roughly 1’ – 5’ after ten years. Remember, that is 10 years from the time that the plant was started; you will likely be buying a tree that is already several years old. Woody plants (those with trunks and bark) never stop growing, but their growth rates vary widely, and most will slow down as they mature. Arboretums and family estates must think about planting for the ages, but since we can’t control what happens to our gardens when we move away or pass on, it is generally most useful to think in terms of growth over a few decades when selecting individual trees.

What Makes Dwarf Conifers Good Landscape Choices?

• They are structural
• They add year-round interest
• They are available in a wide variety of colors
• They are available in a wide variety of shapes
• Their new foliage and cones can be as decorative as flowers
• They require little care once established
• They provide habitat

Structure

Woody plants help define spaces in your garden. Hedges function as walls, and overhanging tree limbs can serve as a 'roof', providing shade and shelter. Individual shrubs or trees can provide ‘punctuation’, serve as a backdrop for showier specimens, and add texture and visual interest.

Year-Round Interest

Most (but not all) conifers are evergreen, which means that they will soldier on through the autumn and winter with green needles, providing color, texture and in some cases, privacy, while most of the landscape is bare. Whether you live in Minneapolis or Miami, Seattle or Sedona, some mix of evergreen and deciduous plantings provides year-round appeal and interest. Pairing deciduous trees that color dramatically in the autumn (such as maples) with blue-needled conifers can create breathtaking contrast.

Wide Variety of Colors

Conifers come in practically every shade of green imaginable, from pale gray green to bright chartreuse to rich emerald or earthy olive and finally the darkest, deep green. There are also many blue-needled conifers, with tones ranging from powder blue to silvery, and sometimes even with a teal cast. Some conifers appear almost gray, especially in sunlight. The showiest conifers have golden or yellow needles.

Wide Variety of Shapes

There is a conifer for almost any shape you desire. Conifers can be narrow and upright, broad and spreading, ground-hugging, bun-shaped, weeping and everything in between. Study your garden and decide what shape, or mix of shapes, you want.

View the ACS's list of conifers shapes

You can use our search feature to get ideas. Go to our home page and look for the 'Advanced Search' button. This feature will allow you to search for conifers by shape, color and size.

Conifer New Foliage and Cones Can Be as Decorative as Flowers

We all relish the arrival of spring flowers after what always seems like a long winter (although it won't seem so dreary if you have enough conifers in your garden!) You don't have to give up spring interest if you plant dwarf conifers, though. Click through the gallery to view an array of fabulous spring growth and cones. You won't be disappointed.