Dwarf Conifers for the Garden-- Part 1
Linda Anson

Of all the evergreens available to us here in Virginia, perhaps the least understood group are the conifers. We often think of conifers as those large, majestic specimens we see in photographs of the forests of our northern states and Canada. And, indeed, most conifers are particularly happy in the colder climes, with their southernmost zone being Zone 7. Fortunately, we here in central Virginia with our Zone 6b and Zone 7 conditions, can experiment with of a number of conifers. Equally fortunate, there are now available a number of cultivars whose size permits the incorporation of conifers into even the smallest of gardens.

This week we will begin by reviewing some of the less well known conifers such as the true cedars, the Japanese cedar, the plum yew, and Russian arborvitae (Microbiota). In Part 2 we'll consider some select pines and spruces, the false cypress, and discuss the plight of the Canadian hemlock. The cultivars that will be described are usually readily available through Virginia's garden centers or wholesale nurseries. There are many other cultivars, of course, which may be available through mail order, but which have not been acclimated to Virginia. We will not be discussing the many junipers and arborvitae that grow so well here, and are real workhorses in our gardens. Nor will we discuss yews, which are not true conifers but are often grouped with them because of the similar needles.

Of the "true" cedars, the three that seem to do better in our region are the Atlas Cedar, Cedrus atlantica, and the Deodar Cedar, Cedrus deodara, (zones 6/7-8/9) and the Lebanon Cedar, Cedrus libani.(zones 5-7)

• Although the most popular of the Atlas cedars is the blue form 'Glauca', it can reach 60'+ and would be too big for most of our gardens. A beautiful specimen to try, however, in the right location is the weeping form, 'Glauca Pendula', which can be trained across a wall, its blue-needled branches cascading like water. With careful training, pruning and staking, it's definitely a conversation piece. It tends to grow quickly while young, then slows down. It prefers a well-drained, moist deep, loamy soil; sun or partial shade; and needs shelter from strong winds. A good example is at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond.
• The Deodar cedar reaches 30-70' high at maturity, and there are no dwarf forms readily available at this time. You can see them around Richmond on some of the larger properties, such as Maymont. If you have the space, it's a beauty with its silvery blue or gray green 1.5" needles and graceful pendulous branching.
• Of the Lebanon cedars, 'Nana' is a graceful dwarf form with a mature height of about 10'. It grows slowly, and demands a sunny, dry and pollution-free location, and good deep, well-drained loam.

While the above true cedars fall in the Pinaceae (Pine) family, the Japanese Cedar, Crytomeria japonica, is not a cedar at all, falling into the Taxodiaceae family. It is a lovely, graceful, pyramidal tree, with a medium growth rate, zones 5/6-8.

• Yoshino' will reach 30-40' and serves well for screening as well as for a specimen.
• A smaller cultivar is 'Elegans', 9-15' tall, rather bushy, with soft, feathery 1/2" to 1' needles, green in the summer turning brownish red in winter. Cryptomeria is easy to grow, preferring a sunny, protected location, but will tolerate light shade, and a rich, deep permeable acid soil with abundant moisture.

The Japanese Plum Yew, Cephalotaxus harringtonia, is said to show amazing heat tolerance, with zones given as 5/6 to 9. It grows slowly, requires most well-drained soil, but once established will tolerate drought. It prefers shade, though will tolerate full sun, and is considered deer-proof. Dirr* considers it to be a good replacement for yews in the south. The needles are a lustrous dark green throughout the year, unless sited in sunny, windswept locations. There are two cultivars to consider:

• 'Duke Gardens' typically reaches 2-3 '(5') in height and spreads to 3-4 (5') in width.
• 'Fastigiata' is a columnar form reaching 10' in height and 6-8' in width. The 2' long needles are black-green and arranged in a bottlebrush-like fashion, providing an unusual textural quality.

Russian arborvitae or Siberian cypress (Microbiota decussata, of the Cupressaceae - cypress- family) is a spreading evergreen ground cover that may do well in our cooler outlying areas. It grows about 12" high, spreads "indefinitely", and the foliage is soft-textured and arching, bright green in summer and bronzy purple in winter. Some shade is acceptable, and well-drained moist soil seems to be a must. It suffers in serious heat and in heavy soils. I've seen this growing in a friend's partly shaded yard in Williamsburg, and it's gorgeous, worth trying in the right location.

*Cultural requirements based on Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, by Michael Dirr, revised 1998