Shrub/Tree Picea pungens f. glauca 'Montgomery' [Montgomery Colorado Blue Spruce] 'Montgomery' is a dwarf cultivar that forms a dense, silvery-blue, broad cone to mound. Some drought tolerance. Cost of most glaucous forms is high because they are produced by grafting and then intensively pruned to shape in nursery rows. Must be used with restraint because the strong blue color does not combine well with other plantings in the landscape. Some susceptibility to Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid (Adelges cooleyi).
Shrub Pinus mugo 'Aurea' [Golden Dwarf Mugo Pine] 'Aurea' is a semi-dwarf cultivar with bright green needles that turn a bright golden-yellow in the winter. Best coloration in full sun. Pruning annually can help maintain dwarf habit (don't pinch or cut past candles). Can be disfigured by scale insects.
Shrub Pinus mugo 'Valley Cushion' [Dwarf Mugo Pine] 'Valley Cushion' is a very slow-growing (approximately 1.5" a year) dwarf cultivar that is excellent for rock gardens and bonsai. Can be disfigured by scale insects.
Shrub Pinus mugo var. pumilio [Dwarf Mountain Pine] The Pinus mugo var. pumilio dwarf shrub is found in the wild in the mountains of eastern and central Europe. The shrub can spread up to 10' wide but typically stays short in height, 3'-5' at maturity. Avoid planting in poorly-drained wet soils.
Shrub Pinus nigra 'Hornibrookiana' [Dwarf Austrian Pine] 'Hornbrookiana' is a compact and mounded dwarf cultivar. Tolerates city conditions. Tolerates clay, dry, and alkaline soils, and heat. May be badly damaged by sapsuckers. Sphaeropsis tip blight is a more serious problem. Pine foliar nematode (transmitted by a beetle) can also be problematic.
Shrub Pinus sylvestris 'Hillside Creeper' [Creeping Scotch Pine] 'Hillside Creeper' is a low-growing, spreading evergreen that can be used as a groundcover. Tolerant of fairly dry soils, but not a good specimen in shade or on wet soils.
Shrub Spiraea japonica 'Little Princess' [Little Princess Spirea] Grows larger and faster than species
Shrub Taxus × media 'Everlow' [Everlow Anglojap Yew] 'Everlow' is a very low-growing and wide spreading yew this is resistant to winter burn. Withstands nearly any amount of pruning. Black vine weevil can be a problem, but this is rare. Newly planted yews do not perform well in poorly drained soils. Perhaps overused in the urban landscape. Can be severely damaged by deer. Dioecious.
Shrub Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Midget' [Dwarf Eastern Arborvitae] 'Hetz Midget' is a dense, compact, globe-shaped dwarf cultivar. Bagworms can be a problem. Subject to several other insect pests, all of which usually can be controlled with timely spraying. Deer may feed on foliage. Winter color can be poor.