Conifers - Twombly Nursery - juniper, hemlocks, spruce trees, fake cypress, abies, shrubs

Twombly Nursery: The Gardeners Resource - Specializing in rare and unusual plants

We have now partnered with garden professionals across the country to offer over 6,000 products ideal for the home gardener!

Trees & Shrubs: Conifers

C O N I F E R S I Z E C H A R T
The following guide has been published by The American Conifer Society to assist in selecting and comparing plants. Sizes may vary depending on growing conditions and geographical location.
Category	Symbol	Growth/year	10-15 year size
Miniature	M	less than 3"	2-3'
Dwarf	D	3-6"	3-6'
Intermediate	I	6-12"	6-15'
Large	L	12"+	15'+

A B I E S

Abies is a large genus of plants native to the colder regions of the Northern Hemispere. They prefer a rich, moisture retentive soil -- yet well drained -- where the summers don't get too hot. For that reason they are popular in the Northeast & Pacific Northwest. Slow growing in cultivation, generally conial in shape, with flat needles and a white band below. Best planted in a sunny location with a little afternoon shade if possible.

C H A M A E C Y P A R I S

Chamaecyparis (known as fake cypress) is a large genus of plants with many interesting and exciting cultivars available. They grow best in moist, well drained soil in a sunny location with C. obtusa tolerating some shade. A cool, humid planting area protected from drying winds is the best location. Chamaecyparis are generally pyramidal or columnar with pendulous branches at the tips. They can be soft of stiff in texture with colors ranging from light green, blue green and deep dark green to many shades of yellow or gold. This wide variety makes them a valuable addition to the landscape. They can be used as specimen plants or as accents in a border planting.

J U N I P E R U S

Junipers are one of the most widely used landscaping plants because of their great versatility. The growth habits vary so greatly that Junipers can fill many gardening situations. They thrive in well-drained soil (on the sandy side) in full to part sun (they become ratty looking in too much shade). Add to this salt tolerence and pollution resistance and their usefulness expands in relation to their toughness. Shapes and colors run the gamut from ground hugging varieties to useful narrow columnars and from velvety, dark green to yellow and all shades in between. Their landscape use is unlimited with newer, smaller selections replacing some of the older, more cumbersome plants.

P I C E A

Picea (spruces) represent one of the more interesting and larger groups of conifers. A multitude of cultivars are available with a variety of shapes, sizes and colors to choose from. Generally tall, symmetrical and conical, they can have a royal or formal look to them. Spruces prefer a somewhat moist soil, but well drained, in a sunny location. They become dense and compact as they age and provide strong outlines in the landscape. While textural characteristics do not vary greatly, branching habits and coloration add to the wonderful nature of spruces.

P I N U S

The genus Pinus probably offers the greatest diversity of needled evergreens. They range from slow growing dwarfs to majestic trees. Pines are thought to be more tolerant of different soil and climate conditions than other conifers/evergreens. Species are distinguished by the number of needles grouped together on the branch. 2,3 and 5 needle bundles change the appearance and texture of the pine, thus enhancing their value in the landscape.

T S U G A

Tsugas (Hemlocks) are considered one of the more graceful and elegant of the large evergreen conifers. Cultivars range from ground cover types to weepers and upright selections. They tolerate many soil types (on the acidic side) with good draining and sufficient moisture, part shade-- but do not take to salt, pollution or severe winds. T.canadensis is the most common species with many worthwhile cultivars. They can be strong growers but also tolerate heavy hand pruning. This allows them to be used in foundation plantings.

Cutural notes
Wooly Adelgids and Fiorinia Scale on Hemlocks can be controlled if caught at the early stages of infestation. During March, after it warms up but before the new growth starts, spray the entire plant with dormant oil. It needs to dry 2-3 hours before the temperature drops below 32 degrees. A second application may be needed and can be applied in June to early July at a 1oz. dormant oil to 1 gal. of water ratio. The spreading rate is approximately 3.5 oz. per gal. of water on your applicator. It is important to get as close to 100% coverage as possible. This means you'll need to spray up, under the needles. Dormant oil is organic and safe to use.

Twombly Nursery
163 Barn Hill Road, Monroe, CT 06468
Tel: 203.261.2133 Fax: 203.261.9230
Email: info@twomblynursery.com

Copyright � 2003 Twombly Nursery All rights reserved.
Web site developed by Innovative Internet Marketing Solutions