Which conifers can be planted in the garden and which need a lot of space? Here you will find some of the most popular types of conifers - from the native larch to the exotic primeval sequoia.
Evergreen plants are an asset to any garden, especially in winter. We give you an insight into popular conifer species for small and large gardens. In this article you will also find out which varieties are particularly suitable as fast-growing hedges.
If you plant coniferous trees in your garden, you are doing birds a big favour. Some species are specifically reliant on coniferous forests or single conifers. For example, the coal tit, the siskin, the goldcrest as well as spotted woodpeckers and nuthatches love coniferous and mixed forests. Coniferous trees are an important habitat not only for birds, but also for numerous insects and beetles. Coniferous trees thus provide shelter and food for the birds.
Conifer species for small gardens
If you only have a small garden, you have to consciously choose the plants that should decorate the garden. Planting small conifers and, above all, small-bred varieties of these trees is a good idea so that you can also look out into the green in winter. A few conifers have prevailed here over the years, which are characterized by particularly compact growth.
Nordmann Fir 'Borshomi'
The Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) is probably the most popular Christmas tree nowadays. This is also due to their dense, lush green needle dress, but mainly to the rounded needles that do not sting. Varieties such as 'Borshomi' are characterized by a beautiful, pyramidal growth. The needles of the Nordmann fir are green above and silvery-white below. A he althy development of the Nordmann fir succeeds in the sun or in the sun in a single stand or in large tubs. Ideally, the soil is as deep as possible, rich in nutrients and always slightly moist. The trees feel very comfortable as individual plants or in tubs, although the tub slows down growth. When young, the plants grow sluggishly, but after 20years already a height of about 5 meters and a width of up to 3 meters. However, younger and smaller specimens are ideal for small gardens.
Compressa juniper
The common juniper (Juniperus communis) is a good choice for small gardens as an evergreen shrub or small tree with its narrow, conical crown. The 'Compressa' variety grows very densely and slowly. It only grows about a meter tall. The pointed needles are only about 6 millimeters long and are juicy green with a lighter band on top. The trunk is covered with a gray to red-brown bark. 'Compressa' has very few site requirements and thrives on almost any soil that is not too moist. A sunny location is preferred. The dark blue juniper berries of other varieties are used in large parts of Europe. You can also use the berries to make a variety of schnapps, such as the famous gin.
But beware: juniper is considered slightly poisonous and can irritate the skin.
Dwarf Balsam Fir 'Nana'
The dwarf balsam fir of the 'Nana' variety (Abies balsamea 'Nana') descends from the larger, North American balsam fir and only grows about one meter high. On the other hand, their spherical growth allows them to grow up to two meters wide. The dense branches, which also make it the ideal container plant, round off the overall picture of the plant. Although the plant is quite undemanding and absolutely frost hardy, it is sensitive to drought - so a good water supply is a must. It thrives best in slightly acidic soil. Another advantage is the extraordinary shade tolerance. The coloring of the male cones ranges from bluish and green to red and purple to orange. Female cones, on the other hand, are slightly larger and gray-brown in color.
Tip: Fir trees often take a very long time before they become sexually mature and form their ornamental, upright cones. The balsam fir, for example, only forms cones for the first time after 15 to 20 years in order to reproduce.
Conifer species for large gardens
If you have more space, you can also think about larger coniferous species. Here the variation is at least as great and ranges from old, native varieties to less common varieties.
Scots pine 'Watereri'
The Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is, next to the spruce, the most intensively cultivated conifer in forests. Scots pines of the 'Watereri' variety grow to around 4 to 6 meters in height and are therefore ideal for medium-sized gardens. It is exceptionally undemanding and also grows on nutrient-poor sandy soils or in dry locations, only a lot of light is important. Pines grow very loosely, which can cause problems when there is strong competition. Especially the proximity to Buchen is unsuitable. The diamond-shaped, flat Scots pine cones with small, light brown needles form curved scales. The red-yellow to fox-red bark in the upper area of the pine trees, which flakes off with age, is striking. In the lower part, the pine forms plate or scale cork, which leads to the well-known structure of the trunks.
Blue Spruce 'Edith'
The blue spruce 'Edith' (Picea pungens 'Edith') is a spruce variety that has been cultivated here for a long time. Edith will be around 3.5 to 5 meters tall when fully grown. The blue spruce variety loves a sunny and moist location. The copper-brown, smooth bark of the young spruce is striking. Later it turns gray-brown and flakes. The spruce needles have an intense blue tint, which makes them an eye-catcher in any garden.
Yew 'Fastigiata'
The European yew (Taxus baccata) is the only yew species native to Europe. The slow-growing plants can be up to 1000 years old and are therefore also considered to be the oldest tree species in Europe. The 'Fastigiata' variety only grows to a maximum of 7 meters high and up to 3 meters wide. It is one of the pillar yews. It is ideal for large gardens with sunny to shady, sheltered locations. Yews like nutrient-rich, chalky soils but are very tolerant of other conditions. The yew bears red fruits, which are eaten by birds and spread further via the excrement. Yew trees have no cones on their evergreen, soft needles. The needles are lighter colored on the underside than on the upper side. Caution: All parts of the yew tree (except for the red flesh of the seeds) are poisonous.
Larch 'Globus'
The European larch (Larix decidua) is the only deciduous conifer native to Germany. The special thing about it is that it loses its needles in winter. Similar to deciduous trees, the larch needles turn golden and fall off. The 'Globus' variety grows about 2.5 to 3 meters high and is therefore suitable for medium-sized gardens. The larches form 15 to 30 mm long, soft needles that are light green when they sprout and turn dark green with age. These are arranged in rosette-like clusters along the branches. Larches can be grown as single plants in sunny locations or as high hedges in community. Because of their deep root system, deep, nutrient-rich soil is best.
Tip: Most conifers prefer a moist, humus-rich and nutrient-rich location. When planting, you can use ready-made compost or a high-quality potting soil such as our Plantura organic universal soil if your garden soil does not have these properties by itself. Since many conifers have very extensive roots, the potting soil should be mixed in over a large area around the planting hole.
Fast Growing Conifers
Some tree species grow significantly faster than others. While our native Scots pine grows a whopping 40 cm in the first few years, there are a few species of conifers that grow even faster. This is particularly practical if you want to have an evergreen privacy screen for the garden.
Sequoia
One of the particularly fast-growing conifers is the primeval sequoia (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), which originates in East Asia. Hence the trivial name "Chinese redwood". Under ideal conditions, the young tree grows up to 100 cm per year, when it is older it grows a whopping 30 to 60 cm per year. With a growth height of up to 40 meters, the undemanding plant is easily suitable for large gardens in hot locations in the city. Sunny to lightly shaded locations and moist soil are ideal. Sandy or drier locations are also tolerated, but the annual growth is lower there. The primeval sequoia forms light green, soft needles up to two centimeters long, which turn yellow to orange in autumn and finally fall off. Dwarf forms that only grow a maximum of four meters high are very well suited for medium-sized gardens.
Sickle Pine 'Glauca'
The Japanese cedar 'Glauca' (Cryptomeria japonica 'Glauca') is one of the smaller conifers with a maximum growth height of 20 metres. The fir, originally from Japan, grows up to 8 meters wide and forms a conical crown. With a growth of 80 cm per year, it is particularly fast-growing when young. The thick, reddish or olive-brown, soft bark is striking. The needles, which are just 6 to 12 mm long, change color in winter and are shed from the tree after 3 to 5 years. The cone-shaped cones are only about 3 cm long. Sickle firs can be planted individually in sunny locations in the garden and, because of their growth, can be well planted under by other plants (e.g. rhododendron or hibiscus). The soil should be deep and well watered for the roots.
Brabant Tree of Life
"Trees of Life" (Thuja) can be found in many gardens. They are particularly suitable as fast-growing hedge plants because they are easy to cut and because of their dense, vigorous growth. The spherical crown of the 'Brabant' variety consists of a large number of scaly leaves and grows to a maximum of 20 meters high and 6 meters wide when left free and without pruning. Sunny to shaded locations are particularly suitable, although wind-exposed locations are not a problem. The tree of life adapts well to the given soil conditions and is largely undemanding. However, a good water supply is important. The originally green species was changed through targeted breeding, which is why there are now different colored varieties. The color of the conical cones depends on the sex of the plant: male cones are reddish, while female cones are light green to light brown in color. Attention: All parts of the thuja plant are poisonous.
Tip - conifers in pots: Most conifers grow very tall, but there are some that can also be planted well in pots and are even smaller there because of the limited space stay. Dwarf variants of classic conifers, such as the dwarf pine 'Compact Gem' (Pinus heldreichii 'Compact Gem') or the dwarf fir 'Nana' (Abiesbalsamea ' Nana'), are well suited. The Korean fir 'Molli' (Abies koreana 'Molli') or the dwarf spruce 'Sugar Loaf' (Picea glauca 'Sugar Loaf') are also excellent. The culture ofIn addition to growth reduction and unique ornamental value, conifers in pots have another major advantage: You already have a sustainable, pretty Christmas tree in a pot!