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Conifers for Gardeners

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If you are looking for a conifer to plant in your yard, this tour shows example of evergreens from small shrubs to large trees that grow well in this area and are available for purchase locally.
Conifers for Gardeners
1Picea engelmannii 'Bush’s Lace' (Engelmann Spruce)

Another unusual specimen plant, more graceful than Picea glauca 'Pendula'. A selection of a native species.

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2Juniperus scopulorum 'Woodward' (Rocky Mountain Juniper)

A Plant Select® promotion, single leader will not break in heavy snows, a bit more gray in the winter than other cultivars.

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3Picea glauca 'Pendula' (Weeping White Spruce)

A Plant Select® promotion. A very hardy specimen tree where an unusual focal point is needed. Best not planted in very hot and dry locations.

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4Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa Pine)

A classic native pine, very drought and heat tolerant. Will get 50-100 feet tall over time. Note many examples in this border.

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5Pinus aristata (Bristlecone Pine)

A beautiful native pine; best in well-drained soil and doesn't like too much heat. Note the many specimens in this border.

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6Taxus × media 'Hicksii' (Hick's Yew)

One of the best yews for Colorado; provide with some winter shade to prevent burning.

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7Picea pungens 'Dove' (Blue Spruce)

A nicely shaped dwarf blue spruce wih very short needles. Can be difficult to find in the trade.

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8Hesperocyparis glabra 'Raywood’s Weeping' (Arizona Cypress)

A wonderful specimen for that special spot. Stays narrow and has been very hardy.

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9Pinus edulis 'Farmy' (Pinyon Pine)

A Plant Select® promotion; a good substitute for mugo pine in hot and dry locations.

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10Pinus edulis 'Penasco' (Pinyon Pine)

A good substitute for mugo pine in hot and dry locations.

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11Pinus edulis 'Trinidad' (Pinyon Pine)

A Plant Select® promotion, could be a good substitute for mugo pine in hot and dry locations.

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12Picea abies 'Perry’s Gold' (Norway Spruce)

An unusual form of Norway spruce with bright gold new growth in the spring. Best with some shade to keep it from burning.

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13Hesperocyparis bakeri (Baker's Cypress)

Possibly the best cypress for Colorado. Will not break in heavy snows like Arizona cypress, and a bit hardier, possibly okay to -40 occasionally.

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14Picea abies 'Cupressina' (Fastigiate Norway Spruce)

A very narrow form of Norway spruce, much in demand these days in smaller yards. It will eventually get quite tall, 20-30 feet, but only about 4-6 feet wide.

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15Tsuga canadensis 'Gentsch White' (Eastern Hemlock)

Rarely seen in Colorado; hemlocks do best in more humid climates.

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16Picea abies 'Pusch' (Norway Spruce)

An unusual dwarf form of the narrow spruce for a cool but sunny location. It is unusual in that it produces cones on the ends of some of its branches. Cones are bright reddish-pink in spring.

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17Juniperus scopulorum 'Pendula' (Weeping Rocky Mt. Juniper)

An older but still very beautiful and graceful cultivar; can be difficult to find in the trade.

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18Pinus sylvestris 'Fastigiata' (Scots Pine)

A very narrow form of Scots pine, much in demand these days in smaller yards. While it has beautiful bark, it can be brittle in heavy wet snows. Many specimens were lost in the March 2003 blizzard.

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