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For the Love of Cones

14 years ago

Hi Folks -

I am looking for suggestions for cultivars that would do well in my N.C. USDA Zone 7a garden that have wonderful cone characteristics as one of their features. This can take the form of interestingly colored cones, very large cones or cultivars known to produce a profusion of cones.

I have the following:

Picea abies 'Acrocona'

Picea abies 'Pusch'

Pinus koraiensis 'Anna' (On the way, actually. Purported to have quite large cones.)

Needless to say, I'm lacking a bit in the cone prominence department. Any help would be much appreciated.

PlantMarker

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Comments (9)

firefightergardener
14 years ago
If you can get away with Abies koreana, it has some of the most numerous and beautiful cones around. Usually shades of purple/blue initially, maturing to a green/brown. Many of the dwarves cone prolifically from an early age.

Another obvious suggestion is Pinus parviflora cultivars. Most produce masses of cones at an early age as well and they have great looking, small cones that almost look like toys of fakes.
plantmarker
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks. Abies koreana, unless grafted onto Abies firma and placed in an appropriate microclimate in the yard, doesn't have much of a chance. With those parameters, success still is a crapshoot for me.

PlantMarker
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
can you do concolor???

{{gwi:206104}}

what about bicolor.. whose new name i can not remember ... Picea jezoensis 'Howell's Dwarf' aka Picea bicolor 'HD'
{{gwi:685498}}
{{gwi:685499}}
{{gwi:685500}}
{{gwi:685501}}

i have no clue if for your zone
ken
plantmarker
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the photos, Ken.

Is P.j. 'Howell's Dwarf' be the same one listed by Gee as Picea bicolor 'Howell's Tigertail'? Has the controversy concluded? If so, what is the winning name?

PlantMarker
pineresin
14 years ago
For large cones, Pinus ayacahuite. Cones up to 25cm long known in zone 7 (can be even longer in warmer areas).

Resin

Here is a link that might be useful: Article with photos of one in z7 PA (pdf file)
gardener365
14 years ago
Yes Plantmarker it has been resolved. Clement says:

Picea bicolor "Dwarf Tigertail" or "Howell's Dwarf Tigertail" are a cultivar of Picea jezoensis,
however Picea bicolor "Prostrata" are well a cultivar of Picea bicolor !

-------
Furthermore on the naming procedures... It's now Picea alcoquiana and not Picea bicolor.

FIX YOUR TAGS PEOPLE!

Dax
botann
14 years ago
Dax, what kind of tag would I put on this cone? ;-)
Resin may have to resolve this.
{{gwi:685502}}
I was over at a friend's house and she casually mentioned "Have you seen this cone yet?"
I have seen a lot of cones in my life, but none like this one.
gardener365
14 years ago
Me no smart enough!

Dax
pineresin
14 years ago
Sugar Pine with a deformed (split) cone rachis. I've got a similar cone of Pinus ayacahuite (tho' just two tips, not three). Possibly caused by insect infestation.

Resin

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