Plants in family pinaceae
Abies procera
This plant is a popular choice for Christmas trees, known for its distinct branches with open spaces and smooth, silvery-gray bark. It has gray-green or bright blue-gray leaves and is native to western Oregon, Washington, and northwest California.
Pseudolarix amabilis
Pseudolarix amabilis, known as the golden larch, is a deciduous conifer native to eastern China. It can grow up to 130 feet tall, with bright green leaves that turn a stunning golden yellow in autumn. The tree's cones resemble small globe artichokes and disintegrate to release winged seeds. It is an ornamental tree suitable for parks and large gardens, tolerant of summer heat and humidity. The golden larch is slow-growing when young but accelerates over time, making it a long-term investment for landscape beauty.
Tsuga canadensis
Tsuga canadensis, or Canadian Hemlock, is a dense, compact conifer with a weeping form. It features bright white new growth that matures to light green, creating a striking visual contrast. This multi-trunked specimen can grow to 6 feet tall and wide over 20 years. It requires protection from full afternoon sun and develops into a large mass of weeping branches, making it a unique addition to shaded garden areas.
Pinus nigra
Pinus nigra, or Austrian Pine, is a fast-growing tree reaching heights of 40-50 feet with a spread of 25-35 feet. Known for its long, dark green needles, this tree is both cold and drought-tolerant. It serves as an effective windbreak and noise barrier due to its dense foliage. The tree's adaptability to various soil types and minimal pruning needs make it a versatile choice for large landscapes.
Pinus thunbergii
Native to Japan, this vigorous tree can grow up to 25 feet tall with a spread of 20-35 feet. It is tolerant of poor conditions and often has white pines grafted onto black pine rootstock. The tree is hearty and disease-free.
Picea pungens 'Baby Blue'
Picea pungens 'Baby Blue' is a striking evergreen tree with silvery blue needles and a classic pyramidal shape. It is highly cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as -40°F, and grows at a moderate rate of 9-12 inches per year. At maturity, it can reach heights of 15-20 feet with a width of 6-10 feet. This spruce thrives in full sun and requires well-drained soil, making it a resilient choice for a variety of climates. Its unique color and form make it a popular choice for ornamental planting and living Christmas trees.
Picea glauca 'Conica'
An evergreen landscape fixture, this plant has dense needle foliage with a blueish-green tint and a naturally pyramidal growth habit. It reaches a maximum height of 6-8 feet and a width of 4-5 feet, growing slowly. Ideal for topiaries and container gardens, it thrives in USDA Zones 3-8, withstanding temperatures between -40°F and -30°F. It prefers full sun to part shade and rich soil with good drainage, benefiting from high-nitrogen acidic fertilizer in early spring and early summer.
Pinus strobus
Pinus strobus, or Eastern white pine, is a majestic evergreen tree native to eastern North America. It features long, soft needles that are bluish-green to silver-green, providing a soft, feathery appearance. This fast-growing tree can reach heights of 80 feet and is known for its elegant, symmetrical shape. It provides food and shelter for birds and thrives in full sun with moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. The Eastern white pine is long-lived, with a pyramidal form when young that matures to horizontal branching, making it a stately addition to large landscapes.
Nothotsuga longibracteata
Nothotsuga longibracteata is an endangered Chinese conifer that thrives in hot, humid summers with high rainfall. It can grow up to 15 feet tall in 9 years and matures at 90 feet. This plant features brown fissured bark and reddish-purple cones, making it a unique addition to gardens.
Pinus taeda
Pinus taeda, commonly known as loblolly pine, is a tall coniferous evergreen native to the Southeastern United States. It can grow between 60 to 80 feet in height with a spread of 25 to 35 feet. The tree is characterized by its cinnamon brown bark and dark green needles, which are 2 to 4 inches long. It produces reddish-brown pine cones in early fall, providing food for wildlife like squirrels and chipmunks. This fast-growing tree is highly valued for lumber and pulpwood and is the official state tree of Arkansas.
Cedrus deodara
The large, fast-growing evergreen tree native to the Himalayas is known for its pyramidal form and light grayish-green needles. It can reach heights of 40-50 feet and widths of 30 feet. This tree is drought-tolerant, acts as a natural insect repellent, and requires minimal maintenance. It thrives in USDA zones 7-9, preferring full sun and well-draining soil.
Picea abies
A fast-growing evergreen, this plant can grow 2 to 3 feet per year and reach a mature height of up to 65 feet. It is cold hardy, drought-tolerant, supports local wildlife, and can live for hundreds of years.
Pinus palustris
The Pinus palustris, commonly known as the longleaf pine, is a slow-growing evergreen conifer notable for its impressive height, reaching up to 100 feet, and its long lifespan of over 300 years. It features green needle-like leaves that can grow up to 20 inches long and produces the largest pine cones among southern pines. The tree is characterized by its scaled, cinnamon-brown bark and a self-pruning nature. It is fire-resistant and typically matures to a height of 60 to 80 feet with a canopy spread of 30 to 40 feet.
Picea pungens
Picea pungens, commonly known as the Colorado blue spruce, is a classic Christmas tree with a greenish-blueish-silvery color. It is cold hardy, drought tolerant, and unattractive to deer, making it a popular choice for windbreaks and bird-friendly gardens. This tree is native to the Rocky Mountains and thrives in full sun.
Picea pungens 'Slenderina Pendula'
Picea pungens 'Slenderina Pendula' is a distinctive evergreen with powder-blue needles and weeping branches that cascade down from a central leader. This cultivar is extremely cold-tolerant and deer-resistant, thriving in well-drained soil and full sun. It can tolerate periodic drought once established, making it a resilient choice for gardens in colder climates. Its unique form and striking color make it a standout feature in any landscape.
Picea omorika
Picea omorika, also known as the Serbian spruce, is a slender, pyramidal evergreen with dark green needles and silvery undersides. It produces striking purple cones that mature to a cinnamon hue. This tree is adaptable to various conditions, including urban environments, and is deer resistant. It is threatened in its native regions of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Tsuga canadensis 'Stewarts Gem'
Tsuga canadensis 'Stewarts Gem' is a dwarf conifer introduced in 1984, known for its tight growth and black green foliage. It adds a unique touch to rock gardens, growing less than 1 inch of new growth per year. This plant is well-suited for both sun and light shade environments.
Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead'
Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead' is a dense, upright pine with dark gray bark and small cones. It thrives in coastal environments and is resistant to urban pollution, making it a robust garden specimen.
Picea albertiana
Picea albertiana is a native evergreen known for its natural pyramidal shape and dark green needles with a bluish-gray tint. This long-lived tree, which can survive for centuries, is extremely cold hardy and resistant to deer. It is ideal for use as a windbreak or privacy screen due to its dense foliage. Additionally, it tolerates road salt and drought, making it a robust choice for challenging environments.
Picea omorika 'Nana'
Picea omorika 'Nana' is a compact evergreen shrub with two-toned needles, green on top and silvery-blue underneath. It is mounded when young and becomes pyramidal with age, making it a hardy and durable choice for urban environments. This deer-resistant shrub requires well-drained soil and at least four hours of direct sunlight.
Picea glauca 'Densata'
Picea glauca 'Densata' is an evergreen tree native to South Dakota, featuring a symmetrical pyramidal shape and icy blue-green needles. It is drought-tolerant after the first year and easy to plant and care for.
Pinus strobus 'Tiny Kurls'
Pinus strobus 'Tiny Kurls' is a small pine tree with twisted blue-green foliage, growing 3 to 6 feet tall. Its pyramidal shape and resistance to deer and rabbits make it a hardy choice for various landscapes, thriving in USDA zones 3-9.
Pinus koraiensis
Pinus koraiensis, or Korean pine, is a hardy tree growing 30-50 feet tall with a pyramidal to rounded canopy. It features blue-green needles held for three years and produces six-inch cones with edible pine nuts. This tree is wind resistant, cold hardy, and adaptable to clay soils, making it a versatile choice for various landscapes. It provides shelter for birds and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. Pinus koraiensis is a valuable addition to gardens for its ornamental and practical benefits.
Picea schrenkiana
Picea schrenkiana is a majestic conifer with a narrow, pyramidal shape and long, purple-brown cones. Known for its longevity, it can live over 1,000 years. This tree prefers well-drained soil and full sun, requiring supplemental water during dry periods. Its level branches and pendulous branchlets add to its striking appearance.
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca', commonly known as the Blue Atlas Cedar, is an evergreen tree with bluish-green needles and a strong pyramidal form when young. As it matures, it develops a flat-topped shape and can serve as an effective windbreak or privacy screen. This tree is highly heat-tolerant, waterwise once established, and resistant to both deer and diseases. It requires full sun and well-drained soil, making it a robust choice for various landscapes.
Picea koraiensis
Picea koraiensis is a conical evergreen tree with pale celadon-green new growth and purple cones that age to brown. It is cold-hardy and suitable for USDA Zone 5, providing shelter and seeds for birds. This tree is also valued for its use in furniture-making and carving, adding both beauty and utility to landscapes.
Picea pungens 'Fat Albert'
Picea pungens 'Fat Albert' is a blue-green evergreen with a pyramidal form. It is low-maintenance and provides year-round interest, serving as a windbreak and shelter for songbirds.
Picea abies 'Little Gem'
Picea abies 'Little Gem' is a dwarf evergreen conifer with a compact, flat-topped globe form and rich green needles. It provides excellent shelter for birds and requires no pruning. This slow-growing plant prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil and is ideal for sunny or partially shaded gardens.