Conifers can be used in the garden for a variety of purposes. Many trees and shrubs - such as arborvitae or boxwood - are ideal for cut hedges, while others liven up the garden with their unusual growth habit and colored needles. A large garden is given structure through the design and division of the individual garden spaces with various coniferous trees - as well as an impressive solitaire.
The yew is a popular hedge plant
The most beautiful species of conifers for large and small gardens
Conifers 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, conifers offer a number of advantages: They are (with a few exceptions, such as the European larch) evergreen, often grow very quickly and are 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 score with their interesting appearance, such as a special growth habit or an unusual color of the needles.
Dwarf Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea 'Nana')
'Nana' is a dwarf variety of balsam fir from North America and, even when old, hardly grows to more than 0.8 meters in height and up to one meter in width. It grows compact, rounded to hemispherical and has numerous, dense branches and twigs. It is particularly suitable for rock and heather gardens, but can also be planted in herbaceous borders. The soil should be acidic to neutral, also fresh and rather moist - the variety is sensitive to drought.
Korean fir (Abies koreana)
This comparatively slow-growing species only grows to a height of around 10 or 15 metres, but is often grafted onto slow-growing rootstock and therefore remains small. The 'Blauer Pfiff' variety is recommended for small gardens. which grows as a broad shrub and forms "cushions" about one meter high and up to two meters wide. Abies koreana prefers a sunny to half-shady location with acidic to neutral, loamy-humic soil.
Araucaria (Araucaria araucana)
The Araucaria originally comes from Chile and Argentina and has a very peculiar primeval appearance. In its homeland, this interesting tree can reach a height of between 20 and 30 meters, but here it hardly reaches eight meters. The Araucaria is ideal for a solitary position in a sheltered location with a mild winter. It needs a lot of sun and deep, nutrient-rich and fresh soil.
Lawson's cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)
False cypresses are ideal as solitary, group or hedge plants. There are many different species and cultivars, of which Lawson's cypress is only used as 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 into old age. In this country, rather special, smaller cultivars are planted. For example, we recommend:
- 'Alumnigold': yellow-green needles, narrow, conical habit, up to 10 meters high
- 'Dart's Blue Ribbon': deep blue-green needles, narrow, columnar growth, up to 10 meters high
- 'Ellwoodii': steel-blue needles, conical growth, up to four meters high
- 'Golden Wonder': golden yellow needles, conical, loose growth, up to seven meters high
- 'Minima Glauca': blue-green needles, flattened spherical growth, maximum height of two meters
The species, which tolerates pruning very well, is sensitive to heat and drought. False cypresses need deep and moist soil as well as a cool and humid, but sunny to partially shaded location.
Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica 'Fastigiata')
The columnar Arizona cypress is a good substitute for the Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervivens) because it is more robust and hardy. Due to its low stature - the taut, upright tree only grows between six and eight meters high - it is also very suitable for smaller gardens. The wood is very pruning-friendly and is therefore suitable for a topiary as well as for a bucket culture. Plant the Arizona cypress in a sunny location with moist, nutrient-rich and chalky soil.
Juniper (Juniperus)
The juniper is a very variable species that grows as a multi-stemmed shrub, as a columnar or cone-shaped tree up to 15 meters tall, or as a ground cover. Native to us is the common juniper (J. communis), which usually grows upright to shrubby and is very adaptable. The Chinese juniper (J. chinensis) also grows more upright and typically forms a conical crown. It 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 up to about half a meter high and is very heat-tolerant. The various juniper species are very well suited for solitary or group plantings, for example in heather gardens or together with roses, grasses, gray-leaved perennials or summer flowers.
Yew (taxus)
The yew tree 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 softwood has the properties of yew that are important for a gardener: it is very durable, robust, adaptable, tolerates shade 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 types and numerous, very variable varieties, can be used as a hedge plant, as a screen or as a windbreak. Dwarf forms are suitable for rock and heather gardens as well as borders. The giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata), which can reach up to 15 meters and more, is particularly fast-growing and suitable for high hedges.
tips
If you have a large garden and are looking for a very special tree, plant a sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) or a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). These species are considered to be the mightiest trees on earth, but only from an age of around 500 to 600 years.