This fabulous blue conifer is one of the most popular. It is very easily trained into shapes, twists, arches, and is easily espeliared. While it may take a couple of years to become fully established, it can grow up to 6-8 inches a year.
Conifers
Cedrus deodara 'Snowsprite'
This upright pyramid shaped tree has softly draping branches with whitish new growth. It is one that tends to outgrow what the books say, ours is currently 15 feet tall, with the base spreading about 7 feet wide. It tolerates both full sun and part shade.
Cedrus deodara 'White Imp'
Its offers a great whitish to light green color, with a mounding habit. This deodar is special as it can tolerate large amounts to shade. Rarely, these plants can develop a leader, which can easily be cut out.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Baldwin's Variegated'
Probably Kimberly's favorite variegated plant, it has soft yellow and green foliage with no two exactly the same. It is a slow growing plant, needing part shade to balance the sun needed to maintain the yellow, while enough shade to prevent sun-scorch.
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Lemon yellow'
This bright yellow Sawara Cypress has thread-like weeping foliage. It handles full sun and will grow two to three feet high and two feet high.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Cristata'
Defintely a plant for the collector. This tree grows upright with a very irregular structure. The needles as grow with cockscombs fasciations that look like coralheads. It is a fairly fastigiate tree, ours is 12 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. We have nicknamed this cultivar as the "Chernobyl' of the cryptomeria.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Rasen'
This very odd plant is a great find for collectors. It grows very loosely in an upright direction. Its tiny leaf-like needles curl around themselves giving the branches a slight twist as well. Its bizarre shape gives it the "so ugly its cute" look. It is a fast grower, up to 20 inches a year. Full sun.
Cunninghama lanceolota Glauca
The China fir takes approximately three years to become established, growing only 2-4 inches a year. Once established, it becomes a very fast grower, up to three feet a year. It is a great silver blue color with pendulous branches. This tree likes water and will tolerate areas with somewhat poor drainage.
Juniperis rigida Pendula
This fast growing cultivar of the Temple Juniper has elegantly weeping foliage. The branches on this full sun tree both weep while the tip head often grow upward. It maintains a silver to medium green in the Spring and Summer, while turning a rusty green in the Winter.
Picea abies 'Cincinata'
This dark green upright tree has short pendulous branches. The short, thick needles provide a nice complement to longer needles trees like the P. wallichiana. It grows about one foot a year, and in your grandchild's lifetime, could grow 100 foot tall and 20 feet wide.
Picea orientalis 'Skylands'
The yellow color holds year-round, particularly contrasting with the green during the summer months. It grows into a perfect pyamidal shape, a great highlight for any garden. This tree does not need any yearly pruning.
Pinus mugo 'Sherwood Compact'
As collectors, we enjoy trying mugos, but the caveat emptor being that they are very difficult to keep alive for extended periods. They need good drainage, lots of water, but are on the edge of their heat tolerance here in Georgia.
Pinus nigra "Oregon Green'
This Austrian Pine has dark green, short, dense needles. A fast grower that likes full sun, it has a fairly open, layered structure. Candeling will help to make this tree a little more dense. Expect it to grow at least 8 inches a year.
Pinus parviflora 'Ogon janome'
A rare variegated short-needled Japanese white pine with a pyramidal habit. It is a slow growing pine that can be tempermental. With care, this tree can be a true treasure. This plant is on the edge of its heat-tolerance here in Georgia.
Pinus strobus 'Torulosa'
This is probably Kimberly's favorite conifer. The silver blue needles spiral loosely around themselves, giving the tree a slight twist. It grows well in full sun and maintains its color year-round. A medium grower, it has a very slight pyramidal shape.
Pinus sylvestris 'Bonna'
The bluest form of Scotch pine available, its large needles are a powder blue. To maintain a full look, it should be pruned, or candled in the spring. It is a fast grower and adds a great contrast to the garden.
Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead'
One of our absolute favorites, everyone needs a 'Thunderhead'! With its teddy bear-like branches, it provides a dense wide tree. It is versitile, can be used as either a specimen or as a backdrop to a maple or a yellow conifer. It grows incredibly well and has bright white candles in the spring. They are easily transplanted when young, and we are currently experimenting with moving a couple of large specimens.
Pinus wallichiana 'Frosty'
A bushy cousin to 'Zebrina', this wonderfully variegated pine has gracefully weeping long needles. A slow to medium grower, this semi-dwarf Himalayan pine grows about 6-8 inches a year, to a top height of about 12 feet. It handles full sun and does well in part shade, too. Some needles are white and green, others are yellow and green.
Taxodium distichum 'Peve Minaret'
This true dwarf of the Bald Cypress is different as it grows a thick trunk similar to a bonsai, deceptive of its age. It is a fairly new cultivar, light yellow green leaves in the spring, which after turning rust in autumn, will fall. As a new plant, we're not really sure of its characteristics, but will grow a few inches a year, and handles full sun.
Thuja orientalis 'Morgan'
This upright arborvitae maintains its dense foliage inn our hot Georgia summers. Once established is reasonably drought tolerant. This cultivar is so soft you could hug it!
Thuja orientalis 'Weedom'
Per Buckholtz nursery, it is a dwarf evergreen conifer with a compact pyramidal form. Looks pruned, but does so naturally. Foliage in sprays of bright gold. Prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil. 6' tall x 3' wide in 10 years. Ours is in a full sun area.