Plants

Picea abies 'Nidiformis'

[Bird's Nest Spruce]

'Nidiformis' is a commonly available dwarf cultivar that is flat, compact, and dense. Many times there is a depression or "nest" in the center of the plant. Slight mite susceptibility in hot, dry sites. Some susceptibility to borers.

Picea abies 'Pumila'

[Dwarf Norway Spruce]

'Pumila' is a dwarf cultivar with a dense, flattend, globular form. The upper branches reach upward, while the lower branches spread outward. Slight mite susceptibility in hot, dry sites. Some susceptibility to borers.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor'

[Tor Birchleaf Spirea]

Spiraea japonica 'Little Princess'

[Little Princess Spirea]

Grows larger and faster than species