dwarf conifers

Cryptomeria japonica 'Champagne'

A Toast to Champagne

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Champagne’ is a lovely, but little-known selection of Japanese cedar. This gem was discovered by David Parks of Camellia Forest Nursery at the now defunct, Yadkin Valley Nursery in Yadkinville, NC, as a dwarf sport of Cryptomeria ‘Knaptonensis’. It was later named by Brie Arthur, and introduce by Camellia Forest Nursery. Our 9

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Pinus thunbergii 'Banshosho'

Watch for Banshoshos in the Garden

Looking lovely in the gardens this month is the dwarf Japanese black pine, Pinus thunbergii ‘Banshosho’. Our five year old plant is now 2′ tall x 4′ wide. Most catalogs list this Japanese selection as maturing at 3′ tall x 5′ wide, but based on the growth rate we’re seeing, that seems to be quite

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Siberian Summer

Looking great in the garden despite our high temperatures is the Siberian native, Microbiota decussata. While the species typically struggles in our climate, the cultivar ‘Prides’ has been outstanding. Microbiota is essentially a groundcover juniper replacement for shade. For us, it matures with a 4′ wide spread, after 10 years. We have found that it

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Garden Shots

Here’s an early June shot from the garden. The conifer in front left is Picea abies ‘Glauca Pendula Oxtail’. The weeping conifer in the distance is Cupressus glabra ‘Raywood’s Weeping’. The bright shrub in the distance is Ligustrum lucidum ‘Marble Magic’. Delve more into the world of woody ornamentals during the upcoming Southeastern Plant Symposium

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Plants, Plants, and more Plants – Southeastern Plant Symposium

Just over a month remains before the 2023 Southeastern Plant Symposium kicks off in Raleigh, NC. This joint symposium between the JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden will be held on June 16, 17 at Raleigh’s North Raleigh Hilton Hotel. We’ve got thirteen of the world’s top speakers, as our 2023 symposium focuses

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Van Hoey Who?

Platycladus orientalis ‘Van Hoey Smith’ is looking absolutely fabulous in our garden this winter. This fascinating selection of Oriental arborvitae, Platycladus orientalis was named after the late Dutch conifer guru, Dick van Hoey Smith (1921-2010), by an American nurseryman, who reportedly received these cuttings, unlabeled, from Dick. Some conifer folks think this is actually an

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Pinus in the Garden: Smaller is better

Here are a couple of dwarf pines in garden that are looking particularly great in mid-winter. The first is PInus strobus ‘Mini Twists’ is a dwarf seed-grown selection of our native white pine that matures at 6′ tall x 4′ wide. This is a 2005 introduction from Vermont conifer specialist, Greg Williams. Good drainage is

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A Little Bit of Norway

Looking great in the garden now is a dwarf witches broom selection of Norway spruce, Picea abies ‘Hereny’. Discovered by Hungary’s Józsa Miklós, and first published in 2010, it reportedly matures at 2′ tall in 20 years. Our 4 year old specimen has already reached that size, so we expect our warm summers will make

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