Content
- The best conifer species for the garden
- The most beautiful conifer species for large and small gardens
- Overview: Recommended conifer species
- Dwarf Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea, Nana ')
- Korea fir (Abies koreana)
- Araucaria (Araucaria araucana)
- Lawson's cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)
- Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica, Fastigiata ')
- Juniper (Juniperus)
- Yew (Taxus)
- Tree of Life (Thuja)
- Tips
The yew is a popular hedge plant
The best conifer species for the garden
Conifers can be used in the garden for a variety of purposes. Many trees and shrubs - such as tree of life or books - are wonderful for cutting hedges, others revive the garden by their unusual growth habit and colored needles. A large garden receives structure through the design and division of the individual garden rooms by different conifers - as well as an impressive solitaire.
The most beautiful conifer species for large and small gardens
Coniferous trees have a very different appearance and are therefore very versatile. There are large and small trees, shrubs, but also covering the ground and climbing trees. In contrast to deciduous trees, coniferous plants offer several advantages: they are (with few exceptions, such as the European larch) evergreen, often very fast growing and cut friendly.
Overview: Recommended conifer species
In the following overview we have compiled the most beautiful native and foreign softwood species for you, suitable for both small and large gardens. Many of the woody plants score by their interesting appearance, such as a particular growth habit or an unusual needle color.
Dwarf Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea, Nana ')
'Nana' is a dwarf variety of North American balsam fir and, even in old age, grows no more than 0.8 meters high and up to a meter wide. It grows compact, roundish to hemispherical and has numerous, dense branches and twigs. It is especially suitable for stone and heath gardens, but can also be planted in perennial borders. The soil should be acid to neutral, as well as fresh and rather moist - the variety is sensitive to drought.
Korea fir (Abies koreana)
This comparatively weakly awake species only grows to a height of about 10 or 15 meters, but is often grafted on low-growth substrates and therefore remains small. Recommended for small gardens is the variety 'Blue Whistle'. which grows shrubby and forms about one meter high and up to two meters wide "pillow". Abies koreana prefers a sunny to half shady site with acid to neutral, loamy-humus-rich soil.
Araucaria (Araucaria araucana)
The Araucaria comes originally from Chile and Argentina and has a very peculiarly primeval appearance. In his homeland, this interesting tree can grow between 20 and 30 meters, with us it can hardly reach eight meters. The Araucaria is ideal for a solitary position in a protected, winter-mild location. It needs a lot of sun and a deep, nutrient-rich and fresh soil.
Lawson's cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)
Mock cypresses are ideal as solitary, group or hedge plants. There are many different species and varieties, for which Lawson's cypress is only intended as a representative example. In its natural location, this species is between 20 and 50 meters high and retains a narrow conical crown with short, protruding branches until old age. In this country rather special, smaller lasting breeding forms are planted. Recommended are for example:
The very cut compatible species is sensitive to heat and drought. False cypresses require a deep and moist soil and a cool and humid, but still sunny to partially shaded location.
Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica, Fastigiata ')
The columnar willow Arizona cypress is a good substitute for the Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervivens) as it is more robust and winter hardy. Due to its low growth height - the tightly upright growing tree is only between six and eight meters high - it is also very suitable for smaller gardens. The wood is very cut friendly and is therefore suitable for a shape cut as well as for a pot culture. Plant the Arizona cypress in a sunny spot with moist, nutrient rich and calcareous soil.
Juniper (Juniperus)
The juniper is a very variable species, which grows as a multi-stemmed shrub, up to 15 meters high, columnar or conical tree or as groundcover. At home is the common juniper (J. communis), which usually grows upright shrubby and is very adaptable. Also rather upright and typically forming a conical crown is the Chinese juniper (J. chinensis), which is easy to cultivate and can grow to be many centuries old. As a soil-covering plant very popular is the creeping juniper (J. horizontalis), which is only up to about half a meter high and is very heat tolerant. The various juniper species are very suitable for solitary or group plantings, for example in the heather garden or together with roses, grasses, gray-lipped perennials or summer flowers.
Yew (Taxus)
The yew has been used for centuries in the plants of the Renaissance, Baroque and cottage gardens primarily as a hedge plant or cut into fascinating sculptures. No other species of coniferous wood has yew tree characteristics that are important to a gardener: It is very durable, robust, adaptable, shade-compatible and has a high resistance to the root pressure of other trees.
Tree of Life (Thuja)
The tree of life, of which there are different species and numerous, very variable species, can be used as a hedge plant, as a sight or windbreak. Dwarf forms are suitable for stone and heath gardens as well as discounts. Particularly fast growing and suitable for high hedges is the giant tree of life (Thuja plicata), which can reach up to 15 meters and more.
Tips
If you have a large garden and are looking for a very special wood, you plant a sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) or a sequoia (Sequoia sempervirens). These species are considered the most powerful trees on earth, but only from an age of about 500 to 600 years.