Three Best Conifers for All Seasons
Fall brings colorful foliage, pumpkins, bonfires and then there is the raking of leaves, re-mulching, and lawn care. It is a great time to see where your garden needs some evergreen interest added. Planting a couple of well-chosen conifers will give the landscape four season color that you can be proud of. Here are our picks of the Three Best Conifers for All Seasons.
Black Dragon Cryptomeria
For a unique upright evergreen to use in foundation plantings, we love Black Dragon Cryptomeria. Growing slowly to 6-8’ tall and only 3-4’ wide at maturity, it fits perfectly into corner plantings or will soften large expanses of windowless walls. It works great as a single specimen as well.
Black Dragon Cryptomeria
Thoweii Hinoki Cypress
Hinoki Cypress can’t be beat for versatility in shape and size. There are dozens of varieties on the market from true dwarf reaching 2-3’ at maturity to some which grow to 12’ or more. Know what you are buying and choose the Hinoki that fits your landscape need. One of our favorites is a dwarf form called Thoweil. It’s small, deep green foliage and naturally sculpted upright habit of growth (3-4’t x 2’ wide) makes a perfect container plant!
Thoweii Dwarf Hinoki Cypress
Prostrate Beauty Deodar Cedar
If you need a weeping/groundcover evergreen use the Prostrate Beauty Deodar Cedar. It’s blue green needle-like draping foliage adds feathery texture to rigid plantings. Prostrate Beauty can also be used on large hillsides. Combine it with several boulders to create a more interesting soil retention landscape application.
Prostrate Beauty Deoar Cedar
Some of the best landscapes use several types of conifers throughout the typical Japanese holly/ boxwood/ azalea line up. Playing these highly textural plants off of all the little round green leaves in our southern landscape makes it a delight any time of the year. The foliage colors of emerald, bronze, gold, or blue stand out during any season. They pair well with lush summer blooms and complete a fall foliage scene as well. This Fall consider adding a conifer to your garden.