Dwarf Blue Colorado spruce with other conifers

Abies koreana ‘Silberlocke’ at Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Some properties can not accommodate the enormous size of tall evergreen trees. In the world of conifers, a select number of genetically dwarf species and varieties are better fits for small spaces. Most evergreens are sun lovers and require a well-drained soil. Mulching around trees and shrubs also benefits to conserve soil moisture and keep roots cool.

Here is a collection of conifers that you should try in your landscape/garden. Mr. Duane Ridnour at Beaver Creek Nursery in Knoxville, TN and Michael Balogh, owner of Mountain Meadows Nursery in Weaverville, NC, assisted in developing this list. Any list is never complete and additional numbers of excellent dwarf conifers could be added.

‘Silberlocke’ Korean fir (Abies koreana) -best grafted on Abies firma rootstock in clay soils

Shrub selections of Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara)  -two selections: ‘Feelin’ Blue’ – spreading evergreen with bluish-green needles; ‘Divinely Blue’  -dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Zones 6 (with protection) – 9)

Shrub selections of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) – ‘Gyokuri’ – 18 feet high intermediate form or ‘Elegans Nana’ (compact shrub form).

‘Sester’s Blue’ Colorado spruce (Picea pungens var. glauca) is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form; retains its silvery blue needle foliage color through the winter (zones 3-7).

Shrub selections of Bosnian pine (Pinus leucodermis), formerly P. heldreichi, comprises a number of excellent dwarf selections (USDA hardiness zones 4-8); thrives at home in dry limestone soils. Dwarf selections include ‘Compact Gem’, ‘Irish Bell’, and ‘Schmidtii’.

‘Bergman’ Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora ‘Bergman’) is a compact upright shrub or small tree with slightly twisted blue-green needles.

‘Thunderhead’ Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’)  is an 8-10 feet high shrub with superior disease and insect resistance.

‘DeGroot Spire’ Eastern Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘DeGroot Spire’) grows about one-third the size of popular cultivar Emerald®.

‘Roger’s Aurea’ Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata ‘Rogers Aurea’) grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide with bright golden foliage (zones 5-9).

‘Van den Akker’ Alaskan cedar (Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Van den Akker’)  is a narrow vertical form that grows less than half the height of the species.

Most conifers listed here are available for regional nurseries specializing in dwarf conifers. Many large west coast U.S. nurseries ship to independent garden centers across the country.