Conifers in the Garden

Conifers are widely misused in the garden. They are used as functional pieces, placed without thought, typically, and not forgiving when overcrowded. Conifers are diverse in appearance, with various shapes from narrow, pyramidal, round and spreading; fine to bold texture of dark to light green, chartreuse, grey, blue and golden foliage; and size ranging from miniature at one foot to a large tree, and everywhere in between. They cannot simply be called evergreens, since all conifers are not evergreen such as the Bald Cypress (Taxodium) and Larch (Larix). The word conifer is derived from the Latin meaning “to bear cones.” They rely on the wind for pollination and do not produce a “fruit” like flowering plants do. Instead, they are what we’ll call seed-bearing cones.
Having a presence in the garden in every season, the deciduous conifers have a beautiful structure, interesting fall color and handsome weeping varieties with snow. The evergreen conifers provide shadows and bones of a garden in all seasons. They are exceptional when herbaceous and deciduous plant material has gone dormant, and are a beautiful backdrop for flowering shrubs and perennials in spring and summer by adding shape and weight to the garden. They do well in appropriately sized containers throughout the year.
New varieties come out over the years. Some may be an improved variety for disease, some may provide brighter green foliage throughout growing season, and some are marketable to sell at retail stores with minimal trialing of the plant of size, habit and disease resistance. I’ll mention some oldies but goodies such as the Alaskan Weeping Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’), growing approximately 25 feet tall and 12 feet wide, and making a great focal point in the garden with its weeping foliage of arching branches. The classic Dwarf Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’) is a beautifully dense, green, broadly pyramidal tree. It is a very reliable variety, maturing to about 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide, growing only 3-6 inches per year. Other tried and true (but perhaps not as popular) conifers include the Plum Yews such as Duke Gardens (Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Duke Gardens’), growing in a vase shape of 4 feet tall and approximately 6 feet wide, with a very graceful fine needle texture of a lustrous dark green color. It is notably tolerant of the shade. Baby Blue Sawara Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Baby Blue’) is a beautiful, densely grey-blue foliage evergreen, being somewhat rounded when young and growing to conical shape of 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It is best kept natural, as its shape will maintain a tight conical appearance and does not need trimming when appropriately placed.
Books upon books have been written on conifers, and there’s a conifer society promoting the use and education of conifers for gardeners, arboretums, students, teachers, landscape professionals, nurserymen and women, the public and so on. I’ve only touched lightly on the use of this wonderful group of plants, and mentioned only a few that might be what you are looking for in your garden. In the months ahead, including spring of next year, we will be carrying various conifers from teeny tiny to very large. Stop by Cape Shore Gardens at 1028 Rt. 9 S., Cape May Court House to see which conifers may be best for your garden, or ask us about special orders for next spring! For more information, call (609) 465-5161.
Written by Lauren Popper, horticulturist at Cape Shore Gardens and graduate of Temple University’s School of Environmental Design.