Pinus mugo 'Winter Sun' / Winter Sun mugo pine

Pinus mugo 'Winter Sun' is an dwarf, upright, globose selection of mugo pine with uniform branching and species-typical foliage than turns bright gold in late fall into winter with the onset of colder temperatures. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 28 inches (70 cm) tall and 60 inches (1.5 m) wide, an annual growth rate of 2 to 3 inches (5 - 7.5 cm), more outward than up.

This cultivar originated as a seedling selected in the late 1980s by Yamina Rare Plant Nursery, Monbulk, Victoria, Australia. In Europe, this conifer is often marketed on the German commercial name, Wintersonne™.

Pinus mugo 'Winter Sun' in a private garden in Petaluma, California. Photo taken in early winter.
Photo by David Olszyk
Pinus mugo 'Winter Sun' — a closeup of foliage detail.
Photo by David Olszyk
Pinus mugo 'Winter Sun' — a young plant growing in a private garden.
Photo by Connie Ayers

Comments

Connie Ayers

I bought a mugo “Wintersonne” ,which is pyramidal in shape like in the picture of this Winter Sun. But the write up claims it is globose in shape and grows wider than it is tall.
So does anyone know which it is?

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David Olszyk

Hi Connie, these all start out dwarf and globose, then, if left free-range will grow into their natural habit with age. If you want, you can keep it small forever by candle pruning.

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Web Editor

That is my tree in the photo above and it's the only one that I've ever seen. Can anyone else weigh in?

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