 BLUE CONIFERS FOR
WINTER COLOUR
Autumn is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness - it is also a great time for buying and planting evergreen trees and shrubs! Evergreens can offer so much to the gardener - structure, form and year round interest. Perhaps best of all, they each have a personality of their own. These plants are long-lived and as you get to know them you'll be amazed just how much character they have. You don't need expansive acres to enjoy conifers either. Many conifers are ideally suited to smaller gardens or even pots, making them accessible for patio or balcony gardeners, or people who have to move house frequently.
So what to plant? If you want to establish structure and foliage in the garden all year round, then perhaps now is the time to look at planting some evergreens, or spicing things up with a selection from the blue conifers. The bluish or 'glaucus' foliage of these looks great alongside the green leaves of other plants, adding a colour dimension that can be enjoyed whatever the season.
If space is limited, or there is a particular area that needs a new theme, then why not make a selection from the smaller conifers? Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' is a great choice: slow-growing and compact, it is ideal for borders, pots and raised areas. It forms a dense, rounded mound of blue foliage and over time will achieve a height and spread of 40cm and 1m respectively. Another little star is Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa', a close relative of the Colorado Spruce. Ideal for small gardens, rockeries, or in pots, this conifer grows in a low rounded, shape sometimes producing an upright stem. It has short, attractive, blue grey needles that help to earn it a central place in this selection.
For a bigger blue conifer, perhaps for use as a specimen plant to stand alone or as part of a small group, think about Pinus parviflora 'Glauca'. This is a medium-sized variant of the Japanese White Pine. Its twisted branches and bluish foliage provide interesting and attractive shapes and colour all year round. Scaly, purplish brown bark adds an additional texture to the garden. Again slow growing, this tree will reach a height of 10 - 12m and a spread of 5- 7m over the course of time.
Each of these conifers is very undemanding as a garden plant. Once established they require no maintenance and are not prone to problems. In terms of soil requirements, each prefers soils with reasonable drainage. Junipers are tolerant of dry, chalky or sandy soils, whilst Pinus and Picea don't like it if soils dry out too much.
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