Coniferous trees can be used in the garden for a variety of purposes. Many trees and shrubs - such as arborvitae or boxwood - are wonderfully suitable for cut hedges, while others enliven the garden with their unusual growth habit and colorful needles. A large garden receives structure through the design and division of the individual garden spaces using various conifers - as well as an impressive solitaire.
Which species of conifers are suitable for gardens?
Recommended conifer species for gardens include dwarf balsam fir (Abies balsamea 'Nana'), Korean fir (Abies koreana), araucaria (Araucaria araucana), Lawson's false cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica 'Fastigiata'), juniper (Juniperus), yew (Taxus) and arborvitae (Thuja). These species are versatile and offer interesting growth forms or needle colors.
The most beautiful conifer species for large and small gardens
Coniferous trees have a very different appearance and are therefore very versatile. There are large and small trees, shrubs, but also ground-covering and climbing trees. In contrast to deciduous trees, coniferous trees offer a number of advantages: They are evergreen (with a few exceptions, such as the European larch), often very fast-growing and easy to cut.
Overview: Recommended conifer species
In the following overview we have put together the most beautiful native and foreign coniferous species for you, which are suitable for both small and large gardens. Many of the trees impress with their interesting appearance, such as a special growth habit or an unusual needle color.
Dwarf balsam fir (Abies balsamea 'Nana')
'Nana' is a dwarf variety of the balsam fir that comes from North America and, even when old, barely grows to more than 0.8 meters high and up to one meter wide. It grows compact, rounded to hemispherical and has numerous, densely packed branches and twigs. It is particularly suitable for rock and heather gardens, but can also be planted in perennial borders. The soil should be acidic to neutral, fresh and rather moist - the variety is sensitive to drought.
Korea fir (Abies koreana)
This comparatively weak-growing species only grows to a height of around 10 or 15 meters, but is often grafted onto weak-growing rootstocks and therefore remains small. The ‘Blue Pfiff’ variety is recommended for small gardens. which grows as a broad shrub and forms “pillows” about one meter high and up to two meters wide. Abies koreana prefers a sunny to partially shaded location with acidic to neutral, loamy-humus soil.
Araucaria (Araucaria araucana)
Araucaria originally comes from Chile and Argentina and has a very peculiar, primeval appearance. In its homeland, this interesting tree can grow to a height of between 20 and 30 meters, but here it barely reaches eight meters. The araucaria is ideal for a solitary position in a protected, mild winter location. It needs a lot of sun and deep, nutrient-rich and fresh soil.
Lawson's Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)
Mock cypresses are ideal as solitary, group or hedge plants. There are numerous different species and varieties, of which Lawson's false cypress is only intended to be a representative example. In its natural habitat, this species grows to a height of between 20 and 50 meters and retains a narrow, conical crown with short, protruding branches well into old age. In this country, special, smaller cultivars are planted. For example, we recommend:
- ‘Alumnigold’: yellow-green needles, narrow conical growth, height up to 10 meters
- ‘Dart’s Blue Ribbon’: deep blue-green needles, narrow columnar growth, height up to 10 meters
- 'Ellwoodii': steel blue needles, conical growth, height up to four meters
- 'Golden Wonder': golden yellow needles, conical, loose growth, height up to seven meters
- 'Minima Glauca': blue-green needles, flattened, spherical growth, maximum height of two meters
The species tolerates cutting very well and is sensitive to heat and dryness. Cypresses require deep and moist soil as well as a cool and humid, but still sunny to partially shaded location.
Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica 'Fastigiata')
The columnar Arizona cypress is a good replacement for the Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervivens) as it is more robust and hardy. Due to its low height - the tightly upright growing tree is only between six and eight meters high - it is also very suitable for smaller gardens. The tree is very easy to cut and is therefore suitable for topiary and pot cultivation. Plant the Arizona cypress in a sunny location with moist, nutrient-rich and calcareous soil.
Juniper (Juniperus)
The juniper is a very variable species that grows as a multi-stemmed shrub, as a columnar or conical tree up to 15 meters high, or as a ground cover. Our home is the common juniper (J. communis), which usually grows upright to shrubby and is very adaptable. The Chinese juniper (J.) also grows more upright and typically forms a conical crown.chinensis), which is easy to cultivate and can live for many centuries. The creeping juniper (J. horizontalis) is very popular as a ground-covering plant. It only grows to about half a meter high and is very heat-tolerant. The various types of juniper are very suitable for solitary or group planting, for example in heath gardens or together with roses, grasses, gray-leaved perennials or summer flowers.
Yew (Taxus)
The yew has been used for centuries in Renaissance, Baroque and cottage gardens, primarily as a hedge plant or cut into fascinating sculptures. No other type of coniferous wood has the properties of the yew that are important for a gardener: it is very long-lasting, robust, adaptable, shade-tolerant and has a high level of resistance to the root pressure of other trees.
Tree of Life (Thuja)
The tree of life, of which there are different species and numerous, very variable varieties, can be used as a hedge plant, as a privacy or windbreak. Dwarf forms are suitable for rock and heather gardens as well as borders. The giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata), which can reach heights of up to 15 meters and more, is particularly fast-growing and suitable for high hedges.
Tip
If you have a sufficiently large garden and are looking for a very special tree, plant a sequoia tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum) or a coast sequoia tree (Sequoia sempervirens). These species are considered the mightiest trees on earth, but only when they are around 500 to 600 years old.
