Dwarf Varieties
ABIES procera BLAUE HEXE
Another of the forms produced after being found as a witches broom on another cultivar . Very dense growth of blue short needles on this very slow growing low bun shaped dwarf . With age it will slowly increase in height but not outgrow its position . 5 years 10cm. high by 30cm. wide .
CEDRUS atlantica UWE
A very dwarf and slow growing variety that grows flat on the ground . Pale light blue needles densely clothe this ideal container or small rockery subject . Like all dwarf and densely foliaged forms of Conifers , an occasional removal of dead interior foliage to stop the chance of fungal attack is beneficial . Possible size in 5 years , 30cm. in diameter by 5cm. high.
CEDRUS brevifolia KENWITH
Great miniature form of the Cypriot Cedar . Clothed in green short needles this dwarf upright tree like form with multiple leader growths is a superb addition to any rockery , or alternatively , would be ideal to grow in a red-maroon coloured pot . Maybe up to 90cm. high by 60cm. wide in 10 years.
CEDRUS deodara BLUE BALL
Stunning very dwarf form of the Himalayan Cedar . This rare little beauty has grey-blue needle foliage very densely arranged on its many short branches . With age the final shape becomes rounded but probably no more than 90cm. in diameter . Choice selection for rockery or container culture .
CEDRUS deodara BLUE DWARF
Another slow growing and very dense form of the Himalayan Cedar with grey-blue needle foliage . With age this selection becomes roughly upright and conical in outline . Like all the forms of true Cedars , prefers a bright sunny position to perform best . Similar in looks when young to C.d. Blue Ball . In 5 years could be 25cm. wide by 30cm. high .
CEDRUS deodara FORTH DWARF
A selection with many small branches that are heavily clothed in short grey-green needle foliage . Haphazard in shape when young but eventually maturing to a small dense and pyramidal imitation of the parent species . Tip pruning of the central leader will restrict height if desired . 5 years 90cm. high .
CEDRUS deodara GOLD NUGGET
A very dense and slow growing ground cover variety with small needle foliage coloured bright yellow-gold . Performs best in a garden situation if mulched with coarse bark or gravel to keep the foliage dryer , thus negating the chance of any fungal attack . Often grafted on short standards like C.a. Uwe , to allow free air movement over its foliage thereby keeping it dryer . 5 years can see it up to 60cm. across .
CEDRUS deodara HOLLANDIA
A small and eventually unevenly conical grower , that as a young plant has rich green needles that age to grey-green over time . It is best staked as a small specimen to develop a central leader and encourage an upright growth habit . If wanted , can be left without staking to form a low bun shape . 5 years growth should see it about 60cm. by 60cm.
CEDRUS deodara SCOTT
Creamy-grey needle colour on this slow growing very dense low and spreading selection . A good ground cover choice for smaller areas . Probably the best dwarfer growing selection of the Himalayan Cedar that is not a miniature . If desired this form can be staked upright to create a mounding effect . 5 years 1mtr. wide .
CEDRUS libani GREEN KNIGHT
A superb dwarf and robust form of the Cedar of Lebanon . Small very dark green needles thickly cover the branches of this irregularly growing , when young , specimen . With maturity the overall form becomes more pyramidal . 5 years should see plants about 30cm. high by 20cm. wide .
CUPRESSUS glabra WHITE DELITE
Creamy-white foliage on a very dense and slow growing form of the Arizona Cypress. Pyramidal in outline and a very hardy drought tolerant selection suitable for small rockeries. Best grown in full sun positions as it is resstant to foliage sunburn. Could be up to 30cm high by 20cm wide in 5 years.
PICEA abies LITTLE GEM
Superb truly dwarf Norway Spruce that is extremely easy to grow in containers or the open rockery garden . Globose in shape when young and eventually low mounded with a fairly flattened top . Deep green foliage densely arranged on the many branchlets will handle part or full sun exposure . 5 years should develop to about 60cm. wide by 25cm. high .
PICEA abies MANX
Very dwarf and slow growing Norway Spruce witches broom form found on a plant of Picea abies Rydal . It will develop into a ball shaped specimen with short dark green needles and is highlighted in new spring growth that emerges red and holds this colour for some weeks before fading back to green . A very rare selection that in 5 years might perhaps be 10cm. around .
PICEA abies PUSCH
An irregular flattened slow growing bun shaped plant that was derived from a witches broom selection . Needle foliage is short , green and densely arranged on the numerous twiggy branchlets that at a young age nearly all carry at their ends , miniature bright red cones . 5 years 30cm. wide by 20cm. high .
PICEA abies TOMPA
A superb dwarf and very neatly pyramidal plant with very densely held dark green needle like foliage . Many sturdy upright pointing branches on this tough little rockery or terrific container plant that is a real must have . The form normally is so neat it looks as if it was sheared . Up to 30cm. high by 30cm. wide at the base.
PICEA abies VERMONT GOLD
Low growing spreading selection . Eye catching yellow-gold very densely arranged short needle type foliage, this colour intensifies when in new growth . Filtered but bright shady position is the best along with afternoon shade as this plant can foliage burn until well established . 5 years growing should see it about 60cm. wide by 20cm. high .
PICEA engelmannii SQUAW DELIGHT
Very tight growing compact dwarf form that grows in a low bun shape . Foliage colour is a light grey-blue on short needle like foliage . An extremely hardy little plant with , like most in this family , a distinct and pleasing foliage colour . Good small rockery or pot subject . 5 years probably 30cm. wide by 20cm. high .
PICEA mariorika MACHALA
This plant is a hybrid type formed by a cross of P.mariana and P. omorika . This selected small and compact slow growing cultivar has short blue-grey needle foliage heavily covering its many branchlets . Overall shape is a flattened globose spreading , quite appealing variety . Like nearly all Spruce , best in full sun in good draining soils . 5 years about 30cm. high by 45cm. wide .
PICEA omorika PIMOKO
A flattened globular shaped very hardy dwarf form of the Serbian Spruce . Needle foliage is bright silvery-blue and is densely held on the many small branchlets . This witches broom form can look superb in a glazed maroon-red container or in a rock garden . 5 years about 30cm. high by 40cm. wide .
PICEA orientalis BABY XMAS
One of if not the dwarfest form of Oriental Spruce currently available . Short dark green shiny needle foliage is a dense covering to the many stubby branches this appealing plant has . As a young specimen for many years it is a very neat rounded ball shape . Eventually becomes pyramidal . 5 years about 20cm. around .
PICEA orientalis GOLD DROP
Another very dense ball shaped selection that slowly becomes pyramidal in outline . The small needle foliage is a lime-green colour that becomes bright golden-yellow in spring new growth for several weeks . Like the preceding form would be a good choice for a red or blue glazed container . 5 years 20cm. around .
PICEA pungens BLUE PEARL
A flattened globular bun shaped dwarf . Clothed in bright light blue needles , that like most Blue Spruces in this family , is quite eye appealing . A very suitable selection for smaller rockeries or container culture . Like so many of the dwarf and miniature forms on this list it started life as a witches broom find . In 5 years should be able to reach 25cm. wide by 10cm. high .
PICEA pungens BOB’S BEAUTY
Bright blue form of the Colorado Spruce . Although not the dwarfest form in this family it is certainly up with the best in needle colour . A low tidy bun shape in habit that like most dwarf Conifers can look superb in a suitably colour contrasting pot or in a small rockery planting . 5 years probably 25cm. wide by 10cm. high .
PICEA pungens EARLY CONES
Slow growing and densely mounding blue-grey needle foliaged form of the Colorado Spruce. Shape is twice as wide as high. Needles are thin and short. The outstanding feature of this selection is the abundance of small cones set on the end of the branches. Five years 25cm high by 60cm wide.
PICEA pungens PORCUPINE
An extremely densely foliaged dwarf bun shaped very slow growing ideal small rockery or pot specimen . Needle foliage is grey-blue and short . This specimen like many other miniature forms will always be in short supply due to its growth rate making it slow to reach saleable size . Pricing of miniature forms will reflect their age to selling size . 5 years possibly 15cm. wide by 3cm. high .
PICEA pungens ST. MARYS
A very eye catching and appealing dwarf low growing mound . The needle foliage is very densely arranged on the many small branchlets and is of a brilliant bright blue colour . Probably at its best in full sun in an area with good drainage . 5 years should see a plant 45cm. wide and 10cm. high .
PICEA sitchensis TENAS
A dense ,bushy slow growing dwarf form of the Sitka Spruce , native to north-west U.S.A. . Prickly needle type foliage is a silvery-blue colour and held tightly on the numerous branchlets . Overall shape is a broad slightly conical appearance . Superb container or rockery plant . 5 years can be 30cm. high by 25cm.wide .
PICEA smithiana BALLARAT
Superb dwarf witches broom form of the Himalayan Spruce , that will be happy to grow in a container or small rockery . The foliage consists of grey-green longish needles . This selection ends up a rounded and bushy , dense , clumpy and hardy specimen . 5 years should attain 30cm. high by 30cm. wide .
PICEA smithiana SKARDU
Little known about the origins of this selection apart from Skardu being an area in northern Pakistan ? or thereabouts where Picea smithiana is a native to . Probably a witches broom find , this cultivar is a dwarf slow and low spreading mounding plant with dense green needle foliage . 5 years around 75cm. wide by 15cm. high .
PINUS longaeva SHERWOOD COMPACT
A dwarf cultivar of the oldest living species of pine , that is about 5,000 years old . It becomes a broadly pyramidal shape as it matures from its juvenile tight bun shape . Needle foliage is a bluish-green and fairly dense . A good small rockery talking point . 5 years 40cm. high by 30cm. wide .
PINUS mugo BREVIFOLIA
Very short dark green needle type foliage on an upright and dense growing selection . Sometimes called P.m. Kissen but this form is not similar . Slow growing with an overall narrow pyramidal out line . Slow and small enough to be listed as a dwarf . Suitable in rockeries and for use in Bonsai . 5 years up to 30cm. high by 20cm. wide .
PINUS parviflora ADCOCK’S DWARF
This plant like other Japanese White Pine selections is suitable for planting in rockeries or containers and is a choice form for use in Bonsai . The needle foliage on this variety is short and grey-blue in colour and heavily covers the many branches . Annual growth rate is ample to make this plant a dense and bushy grower . Probably can reach 45cm. high by 45cm. wide in 5 years in average garden conditions .
PINUS parviflora HAGOROMO
A variety that forms a very rounded ball shaped and dense , pleasing plant . Needle foliage is a blue-grey colour , short and prolifically clothes the numerous stubby branches . A noticeable interest of this form is the production of many small cones throughout . Like most cultivars of this family , unless otherwise noted , is at its best in a full sun position . 5 years can see it attain 30cm. around
PINUS parviflora TANIMA NO UKI
If grown in a situation that suits it , a light shaded area filtered from hot direct sun , this slow growing dense pyramidal form is spectacular .Longish foliage needles are blue variegated with white and new seasons growth candles are pinkish-red and the fresh needles are at first white . 5 years 30cm. high by 20cm. wide .
PINUS strobus MINI TWISTER
A very dense and bushy selection of American White Pine with silver-grey twisted and curled needle foliage . A striking rockery addition that always draws comment . Initial growth shape is tightly globular and with age becomes more pyramidal . A much sought after plant by collectors for container or garden planting . Expected growth in average conditions should be about 30cm. high by 30cm. wide , in 5 years .
PINUS thunbergia EMERY’S DWARF
Dark green long needle foliage on this Japanese Black Pine that is a very dense and compact , slow growing flattened bun shaped specimen . Very hardy in full sun positions and most well drained soils of any quality . A good reliable selection for rockeries , pots and Bonsai . 5 years should see it 30cm. high by 45cm. wide .
PSEUDOTSUGA menziesii SCOTSDALE
A very tight growing witches broom selection with noticeably blue needle foliage . Plant shape is a low bun and overall this selection is extremely rare and appealing . The original witches broom was approximately a 60cm. round ball of deep blue . Sadly it grew on a golf course and eventually swallowed a ball and then became savaged by a hacker with a 9 iron trying to retrieve said ball . 5 years 30cm. wide by 15cm. high .
SCIADOPITYS verticillata THE DWARF
Rounded and ball shaped for many years when young and eventually becoming neatly conical , this Japanese Umbrella Pine will always be in short supply due to a scarcity of available grafting understocks . The needle type foliage is a golden-yellow and the plant is very dense . 5 years about a 45cm. ball .