Dwarf Conifers That Can Take the Heat

These evergreens won’t melt in the heat of our southeastern summers

Amid all the lush tropicality of the plant we develop in the Southeast , sometimes I hunger something a bit more button-down . Think Scandinavian : efficient , solidly build , and design to stand impregnable through the spare times of wintertime — in other word , something cone-bearing . Dwarf conifers may be unadorned with flowers , but they have gorgeous profiles , graceful texture , steadfast ghost of green and blue , and even touches of gold .

There ’s no relief for a dwarf conifer when that is what your garden heart desire . However , many a southern warmheartedness has been broken by the traditional nanus selections of spruce ( Piceaspp . and cvs . , Zones 2–8 ) , fir ( Abiesspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) , and yews ( Taxusspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–8 ) . zona 8 in Portland , Oregon , is not the same as Zone 8 in Portland , Alabama , come July . northerly species of conifers melt faster here than Frosty on a sunny day . But all is not suffer . The conifer division is a prominent one , and heat - adapt species are out there ; you just have to live what to look for .

I ’m rosy to know better gardener than myself , so I turned to Mary Griggs , a Charlotte - country plant enthusiast extraordinaire , for her experience - based passport . Knowing her Passion of Christ for plant , I challenge her to pick her top three midget conifer for the Southeast .

‘Split Rock’ hinoki cypress (Chaemacyparis obtusa‘Split Rock’, Zones 4–8b)

Mary says , “ The reason I Iove it is the colouring — such a gorgeous blue roll , and it take hold too . This plant life is just plainly pretty . ” I ’d add that it ’s a great size , grow about 6 feet tall by 6 feet wide , and it does n’t grow painfully slowly to get there .

‘Tiny Kurls’ Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus‘Tiny Kurls’, Zones 3–8b)

Mary says , “ It ’s native ! But with voluminous pastime . And the size is just right again , perchance 4 to 6 feet tall by 4 feet all-embracing . And even if it end up on the grandiloquent end , it ’s so easy to curb the height of dwarf true pine . You just bump off the candles in spring and you ’re done . ”

Whipcord Western cedar (Thuja plicata‘Whipcord’, Zones 5–8)

Mary suppose , “ It ’s just so different ! What else looks like this ? That grain ! And I actually prefer it in pots over in the flat coat . ” This true cedar will grow 4 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide .

make out that westerly cedars do n’t value summertime heat , I iron out Mary on her choice of the whipcord Western cedar in special and dwarf conifers in general . Her response : “ I think the most authoritative thing is drainage . If you ca n’t plant on a slope ; you ’ve got to constitute high . And when you implant richly , you ’ve got to water it . For the first two years , put a old bag or a soaker hose on it . After that , you ’re good . ” As I walked her garden , I noticed that while her conifers were sited for good morning and midday sun , they were n’t inevitably in full sunlight . I conceive that ’s an reward for most dwarf conifer in our summer — turf out ground - cover junipers ( Juniperusspp . and cvs . , Zones 2–9 ) .

If dwarf conifers are on your indirect request list , it ’s crucial to get specific . Find the names of cultivar that are thriving in regional public or private garden , and seek those out . It ’s always a good thought to buy from Southern greenhouse that originate their own plants . A nursery wo n’t go on to mature plants that do n’t hack it .

Mary summed it up , “ You do a little research , and then you take heed to the plant . ” vocalize like an invitation to try new things to me .

— Paula Gross is the former adjunct director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

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