Didn't see the following on your list :
Juniperus virginia - Eastern Red Cedar
Pinus taeda - Loblolly Pine

Thanks, scotjute. Those are the two most conifers in our area. We have hundreds of Loblollies and several dozen Red Cedars on our property. I must have forgotten to list them because I could not comprehend planting either tree in this area when they grow so wild here. Since Pinus elliotti and Pinus taeda basically dominate the entire landscape from East Texas to Virginia, and Juniperus virginiana dominates the fields between the Pine forests, perhaps I will reframe my list so that it only includes non-native and uncommon conifers.

You can get a lot of those from forestfarm.

Thuja koraiensis is now Platycladus orientalis.

Dax

Thuja orientalis are Platycladus !
Not t. koraiensis.
Clement

There are quite a few Pinus and Podocarpus I would add..not to mention, Agathis (growing well in Tifton, GA for example), many Callitris, Widdringtonia schwarzii and nodiflora, Calocedrus rupestris, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides Pseudotaxus chienii, many more Junipers, some other Cupressus (eg. C. lusitanica, C. cashmeriana, C. torulosa, C. tonkinensis)...Picea morrisonicola, Picea martinezii, P. chihuahuana, Cephalotaxus wilsoniana, C.lanceolata...and more i will think of later. Good list though...

Salicaceae, I saw quite a few of the ones you mentioned above at Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah a few weeks ago when I visited. They have a really exceptional collection. It is rather striking how different the vegetation and climate can be between cities in the coastal plain and those in the Piedmont. The vegetation of Atlanta, for example, looks much more similar to that of Raleigh, Charlotte, or even Asheville than it does cities in the coastal plain of Georgia that are much closer, like Savannah and Tifton. It was a tough call whether or not to include the zone 8/9 conifers you mentioned and lose so many of those firs and spruces from my list. Like I said though, the list is tentative. I will just have to make a list for the coastal plain and one for the Piedmont once I obtain more information and feedback!

Forrest

Be sure to check out Tom Cox's excellent book, Landscaping with Conifers and Ginkgo for the Southeast. Lots of good ideas and information there!

Forrest,

I have nothing to add except, as the mother of three that are also in their 20's, to wish you nothing but the best as your adult life unfolds....

Please keep us updated,
Barbara

Dax said: "Thuja koraiensis is now Platycladus orientalis."

Clément said: "Thuja orientalis are Platycladus !
Not t. koraiensis."

Other words for this from me:
-Thuja orientalis is renamed in Platycladus orientalis.

-Thuja koraiensis is a separate species and has nothing to do with Platycladus orientalis.

My brother and I did something similar at our mom's house although it's only 3/4 of an acre with several large oak trees and Loblolly Pine trees. Because of beetles and hurricanes, most of pine trees have died. We've mostly replaced them with bald cypress and montezuma cypress trees known for their "hurricane proof". Montezuma cypress sure have impressive fast growth. After a few years, you go "wow, they are tall now". Imagine that after 10 years...

I love going to my college every year to look around the arboretum. When I graduated from there in 2000, they didn't have much. Now, it's much bigger. It'd take all day to explore. Pretty neat.

Here is a link that might be useful: SFA Garden

Thank you Sara and Barbara for the kind wishes. I do consider myself very fortunate that my love of conifers and trees started at a such a young age, Looking back it is really amusing how this hobby came about.

A little over ten years ago I decided that I was going to find a Christmas tree that could grow in my area, and not just some boring Leyland Cypress or Red Cedar, but a beautiful, Balsam or Fraser Fir-like tree. Ten years later, there are now dozens of trees planted across my parents' property, and my study of conifers evolved far beyond a desire for a Christmas tree.

The thought that I could one day walk with my grandchildren amongst sixty or seventy year old Dawn Redwoods, Cryptomerias, Coastal Redwoods, and Momi Firs is one prospect worth staying healthy for.

Forrest

I've spent the last several years in the center of Oklahoma trying to do basically the same thing...on a smaller scale. I wanted to grow more exotic conifers in our hot humid environment. And of course by unfortunate concidence the last two summers were record beaters. But what I found in time were several key facts:

1) There is no doubt many conifers will adapt to our heat if planted as younger 2-4 year old grafts that cannot adapt when bought in as healthy 5-10 year old trees from the north. Even when planted in the fall to give them the maximum time to settle in before the heat of the next summer, the shock in many many cases is just too great on the older stock.

2) Mother nature will always win. Even if you plant younger stock and micro-climate off of other objects and trees, the stress that will accumulate year after year on a plant eventually will shorten its life. So even if you get a tree to survive for quite a while, do not expect a tree whose natural climate is zone 5 with maybe a few summer days in the 90's, to suddenly be willing to live in a climate that consistently has 20-40 100 + degree days with high humidity and continued heat even during the nightime hours every year.

3) Pine wilt is still a major killer of the south and midwest pines of virtually every varietal other than some of the basic native trees. So while it is beautiful to see a lot of the other pine varietals, with no end in sight for a real preventative cure, most all exotic pines will succumb as they begin to mature. Time and stress will vary when it will happen, but it will happen.

Now having said all that I still reglarly push the envelope to try and see what I can grow in the heat. I have enjoyed some welcome successes and a lot of disappointing burned up losses. Also know that I drip irrigate everything. Deep watering is a must in our harsh heat.

This year has been a very welcome relief for us in Oklahoma. We had a real long spring for the first time in years and we also completely caught up on our rain ( 33" so far in a climate that averages 16" ). So my gardens are really enjoying themselves so far this year. But let me share a few trees I definately recommend you take off your list unless you just want to push the limits in your area and are willing to lose them in the process.......

Even if you grow some of the exotic pines you will truly struggle from the start with Korean pines, umbrella pines, and Japanese black and red pines. I have tried these trees many times and they have failed in almost every case.

I saw you have already planted Cryptomeria japonica. I will be surprised if they survive. I have not found any variety that didn't burn up for me.

Virtually all Abies and most Picea abies really struggle in high heat. I have been successful in a few cases with younger stock being grown in dappled or semi-shaded areas.....primarily getting them out of the extreme afternoon sun. Needle burn is very common. As in all these varietals, there are exception varietals and successful individual cases. I'm just stating in general these struggle.

Lastly, a lot of Tsuga and the False Cypress burn up easily. So do your research on varietals from the local extension offices and other nursery resources to see if they can give you a list of varietals that stand a better chance in your area.

Conversly, I have had great success with almost all cedars. You may have some sunburn issues on some fo the more exotic colored varietals, but for the most part they are great in the heat. As stated earlier, Artizona Cypress is also a great performer. I know you said you didn't want native pines, but Loblollies and Ponderosa really take the heat well. If nothing else you might consider them for filler trees helping to create shade and hot wind deflection. I've also had many successes with Taxus, Taxodium, Sequoia, Juniperus, and Cephalotaxus.

About the only Picea I've had consistent good luck with is Picea pungens, but mostly when planted very young, and many times in positions where they escape the late afternoon sun. But Hoopsii, Backeri, and Fat Albert are pretty solid performers in the heat. Most of my other more exotic varietals are in dappled sun or half day sun locations.

There are many varietals on your list I have not grown so I cannot speak to. But I hope some of that info helps.

mark

Good luck with your efforts.I would not only check on Tom Coxs and John Ruters new book but why not see what
Tom is up to at Cox Arboretum.His contact numbers are listed in the American Conifer Society directory and his name includes an asterix implying his willingness to schedule visits to his fine facility.I hope you will consider doing this.......you'll have much to talk about.Doug

Mark, are you growing A. firma? Surely it will do ok for you, it seems bulletproof here and we're pretty close in summer temps, it seems to thrive in wet soil. Interesting to see the UAH website below. I am growing or trying to grow, everything young of course, and no, many won't make it:

Abies firma
Abies pinsapo glauca on firma
Abies pinsapo aurea on firma
Abies recurvata
Abies koreana silberlocke on firma
Abies koreana aurea on firma
Abies pindrow
Abies procera on firma

Cupressus torulosa
Cupressus ovensii
Cupressus cashmeriana

Chamaecyparis obtusa var formosana potted
Cunninghamia Samurai
Araucaria angustifolia
Psuedostuga sinensis
Larix kaempferi
Nageia nagi
Podocarpus
Keteleeria potted
Tsuga transplant
Cathaya
Cryptomeria
Cedrus
Platycladus
Thuja
Agathis robusta potted

Picea abies pendula reflexa
Picea abies
Picea smithiana
Picea omorika
Picea omorika pendula bruns
Picea orientalis
Picea torano

Sequoia semp. soquel
Metasequoia
Taxodium
Taiwania

Here is a link that might be useful: UAHuntsville Tree Planting Program

This post was edited by fairfield8619 on Mon, Jun 24, 13 at 11:09

Curently this is the list of all the conifers and Japanese maples I have in the ground. They have all been there for 2-3 years or more ( through both record heat waves ) and all are strong at this point. About half are full sun and half are in half day sun. Japanese maples are in mostly shade.

Abies lasiocarpa ‘Prickly Pete’
Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'
Acer palmatum 'Butterfly'
Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen'
Acer palmatum dissectum 'Red Select'
Acer palmatum 'Katsura'
Acer palmatum 'Orangeola'
Acer palmatum 'Sango-Kaku'
Acer palmatum Tsuma Gaki
Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Toyama Nishiki'
Acer palmatum 'Viridis'
Cedrus atlantica 'Hillier's H.B.'
Cedrus brevifolia 'Kenwith'
Cedrus deodara 'Albospica'
Cedrus deodara 'Aurea'
Cedrus deodara 'Blue Ball'
Cedrus deodara 'Cream Puff'
Cedrus deodara 'Deep Cove'
Cedrus deodara 'Feelin' Blue'
Cedrus deodara 'Golden Cascade'
Cedrus deodara 'Lime Glow'
Cedrus deodara 'Monkinn' P. P. A. F. ( Feelin Sunny )
Cedrus deodara 'Sander's Blue'
Cedrus deodara 'Silver Mist'
Cedrus deodara 'Snow Sprite'
Cedrus libani var. atlantica 'Aurea'
Cedrus libani var. atlantica 'Glauca'
Chamaecyparis pisifera filifera 'Aurea'
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'King's Gold'
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'White Pygmy
Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Pyramid'
Cupressus cashmeriana
Cupressus nootkatensis 'Glauca Pendula'
Cupressus sempervirens 'Glauca'
Ginkgo biloba 'Beijing Gold'
Ginkgo biloba 'Fastigiata'
Ginkgo biloba 'Fastigiata Blagon'
Ginkgo biloba 'Marieken'
Ginkgo biloba 'Sunstream'
Juniperus chinensis sargentii 'Shimpaku'
Juniperus chinensis 'Saybrook Gold'
Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific'
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Limeglow’
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Mother Lode’
Juniperus pfitzeriana (x) ’Daub’s Frosted’
Juniperus pfitzeriana (x) 'Gold Lace'
Juniperus pfitzeriana (x) 'Sea Of Gold'
Juniperus scopulorum 'Medora'
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Rug'
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Carpet'
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
Juniperus squamata 'Holger'
Juniperus squamata 'Star Dust'
Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Ogon'
Picea abies ‘Cuppressina'
Picea abies 'Acrocona'
Picea abies 'Aurea'
Picea abies 'Pendula'
Picea abies 'Summer Daze'
Picea bicolor 'Howell's Dwarf'
Picea glauca 'Pendula'
Picea omorika 'Berliners Weeping'
Picea omorika 'Bruns'
Picea omorika 'Nana'
Picea omorika 'Peve´ Tijn'
Picea omorika 'Westerstede'
Picea orientalis 'Skylands'
Picea pungens 'Bakeri'
Picea pungens 'Copeland'
Picea pungens 'Fat Albert'
Picea pungens 'Globosa'
Picea pungens 'Hoopsii'
Picea pungens 'Maigold'
Picea pungens 'Mrs Cessarini'
Picea pungens 'R. H. Montgomery'
Picea pungens 'Spring Blast'
Picea pungens 'The Blues'
Picea pungens 'Waldbrunn'
Picea pungens 'Wendy'
Pinus bungeana 'Rowe Arboretum'
Pinus koraiensis 'Tabuliformis'
Pinus leucodermis ''Compact Gem'
Pinus leucodermis 'Zwerg Schneverdingen'
Pinus mugo 'Pumilio'
Pinus mugo 'Slowmound'
Pinus strobus 'Sea Urchin'
Pinus strobus 'Tiny Kurls'
Pinus sylvestris 'Fastigiata'
Pinus sylvestris 'Gold Coin'
Pinus taeda
Sequoidendron giganteum 'Pendula'
Taxodium distichum
Taxodium distichum 'Peve´ Minaret'

Along with these I have a few companion trees -

Cercidiphyllum japonica 'Morioka Weeping' ( Katsura )
Cercis canadensis ‘Silver Cloud’
Cercis canadensis 'Rising Sun'
Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls'
Cercis canadensis 'Merlot' P.P.A.F.
Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak' ( Smoke Tree )
Magnolia x 'Ann'
Magnolia x soulangiana 'Jurmag1' P.P.A.F. ( Black Tulip )
Parrotia persica
Pistacia chinensis
Prunus cerasifera 'Cipriozam' ( Purple Plum )
Prunus persica 'Bonfire' ( Peach )
Prunus x cv. 'Snofozam' ( Weeping Cherry )
Quercus x warei 'Nadler' ( Kindred Spirit Oak )
Styrax japonicus ' Emerald Pagoda '

This fall I will add some new trials -

Abies lasiocarpa Cork Bark
Acer palmatum Higasa yama
Acer palmatum Katsura
Acer palmatum Murusaki Kiyohime
Oxydendrum arboreum 'Sourwood'
Picea pungens 'Bi-Color'
Picea abies 'Perrys Gold'

Fairfield, you have an impressive range of conifer species in your yard. I have always been more interested in species than cultivars. I would really love to know where you acquired some of these, like your Araucaria angustifolia, Cathaya, Keteleeria, Picea torano and Taiwania. I would make a road trip to Louisiana in a heartbeat for some Cajun food and conifers!

Mark, how much annual rainfall do you receive where you are? It looks like zone 7a includes areas receiving anywhere from 20 inches of rainfall in western counties of Oklahoma like Harmon and Roger Mills to nearly 50 inches in eastern counties like Delaware and Adair. I don't know how humid the summer nights are in the eastern portion of your state, but It seems like those rainfall differences would have a huge impact on a person's ability to grow many of the spruces that you mentioned.

Forrest

I'm in north Oklahoma City which is dead center Oklahoma. We are the bridge between the arid west and the green east of the state.

We average around 37 inches of rainfall a year. In the first of the last two blazing years we had 30 inches in 2011, and in the second heat wave year we had 29" in 2012. So coming into this year we were several inches down, and averaging much higher than normal temperatures. So far this year we've had one of the wettest years in many and we are at 32 inches already. The west half of the state however hasn't been so lucky and are still listed in the highest "extreme" drought category.

Our summers are hot and humid. This year we're typically sitting at about 60+ %.

So if you were talking about someone growing conifers in a true rural setting around me without the aid of irrigation, they would have great difficulty growing the typical popular varietals....spruces especially.

mark

Forrest, here's the sources if I remember correctly:

Araucaria angustifolia- a plant from Yucca Do planted, then seeds from Chileflora and B& T seeds, I think I have about 6 or 7 seedlings, squirrels really got a bunch
Cathaya- Fairweather Gardens
Keteleeria- Far reaches Farm
Picea torano - Oriental Garden Supply
Taiwania- Camellia Forest

I have an small lots import permit but have never had to use it... yet. I probably won't attempt seeds agian without using it though now- too risky.
All the Picea and Abies, except A. Firma, are of course experiments. The larix seem to be doing well, especially one, oddly the one that gets the least water. They came from Northern Trading Co really cheap and bareroot- $8.00, at least no problems with the roots!
The spanish firs are doing good too although the golden one is really just lime green. Time will tell. I need to concentrate on the foolproof stuff- cedrus, taxodium Metasequoia etc.
The tsuga is about 7 ft tall from a seedling picked up near Asheville 5in tall carried for a week in a cooler. It does surprisingly well so far, moved last fall.

Hi Forrest,

I have seedlings of two of the lower elevations spruces from Mexico as well as Picea torano seedlings. I can probably "fix you up" this Fall after they become dormant.

Johnny

I am exactly under the Capricorn tropic in Sao Paulo (Brazil) highlands (altitude 700 m) where the hot season is very rainy and the cold season is extremely dry and not too cold.
Most of the conifers listed above, with the exception of abies and piceas, suceed very well here. One species missing in the lists that grows very fast here is cupressus macrocarpa, I think it will suceed in Atlanta, too.

For my area I get just cold enough it tests this varietal a lot but if I lived in Atlanta I would definitely grow a lot of Cupressus cashmeriana. To me it is one of the most beautiful conifers on the planet.

mark

I meant to post these pictures a few weeks ago while this thread was more current. These are from my recent travels to some of the botanical gardens in Georgia. The conifers at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens are so crowded that it's hard to get good pictures, and the State Botanical Garden doesn't really have much of a collection of conifers. Armstrong Atlantic has an impressive collection. I was only able to stay for a brief time and could not find the Keteleeria and Taiwania on campus. Specialty Ornamentals has a great collection. That's where I'll be doing most of my shopping from now on. The owner has two Cupressus cashmeriana growing well. I only saw one. It is about ten feet tall and is growing in an exposed location.

The Earth Goddess at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Pseudotsuga sinensis var. wilsoniana on the left and Araucaria angustifolia on the right ABG

Taiwania cryptomerioides ABG

Taxodium mucronatum holding its leaves in December

Cupressus lusiticana 'Glauca Pendula' ABG

Cryptomeria japonica 'Jindai Sugi' ABG

Pinus kwangtungensis ABG

The Canopy Walk ABG

Pseudolarix amabilis Armstrong Atlantic State University

Calocedrus macrolepis AASU

Araucaria bidwillii AASU

Beautiful Cedrus deodara I came across in Madison, GA

Cryptomeria japonica at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Abies firma SBGG

Tsuga Canadensis 'Pendula'

Keteleeria davidiana at Specialty Ornamentals

Quercus gilva on my property. Obviously not a conifer, but this oak has had the most impressive growth of any plant I've grown. I planted it as a six inch twig in either 2007 or 2008. Does anyone happen to know anything about this tree?

Quercus gilva leaves

Taiwania cryptomerioides. I didn't take this picture. This is just so beautiful and it's my favorite tree.

Feel free to download and use these pictures for whatever you like.

Thanks,
Forrest

Here's another Georgia site you might want to visit:

Lockerly Arboretum

I have lots of photos from AASU, including their Keteleerias - they have K. davidiana, K. evelyniana and K. fortunei. I will try to post those.

I'd love to see those pictures, Jason. You posted some pictures of rare conifers in Watkinsville, GA last fall. I wish I had messaged you about some spots to visit before I drove up there last week.
Thanks, Arauquoia. I am thinking about driving out to Lockerly Arboretum tomorrow. If anyone has any pictures from the JC Raulston Arboretum, could you please post some conifer pictures here?

Thanks,
Forrest

Forrest I grow most of those conifers you list i'm always
looking for rare conifers I have that new conifer book
some good info in it.

Hey Forrest,

Im very glad about reading about your hobby! I am sure that you love trees and understand their intangible value. Such as I do.

Im a 26 year old mexican man, who lives in central mexican highlands (7600 ft). The weather where I live is temperate (Max 88°F, Min 32°F), with 40 inches of rainfall.
My conifer collection is not nearly as big as yours, but I will try to increase it:

Abies religiosa
Abies guatemalensis
Araucaria heterophylla
Calocedrus decurrens
Cedrus deodara
Cupressus lindleyi
Cupressus macrocarpa
Cupressus sempervirens
Pinus ayacahuite
Pinus devoniana
Pinus greggii
Pinus pseudostrobus
Pseudotsuga macrolepis

I have planted other trees, fruit trees, and tropical trees:
Acer saccharum
Acer rubrum
Casuarina equisetifolia
Cedrela odorata
Citrus limon (lemon)
Citrus sinensis (orange)
Delonix regia
Eriobotrya japonica (loquat)
Fraxinus uhdei
Fraxinus americana
Ficus carica (fig)
Grevillea robusta
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Malus domestica (apple)
Persea americana (avocado)
Pithecellobium dulce
Platanus occidentalis
Prunus persica (peach)
Psidium guajava (guava)
Quercus rubra
Quercus virginiana
Washingtonia robusta (mexican fan palm)

Cactus: Agave americana, Agave cupreata, Agave tequilana, Opuntia vulgaris

My country harbors the largest pine species, you should come and have some if you are interested.

Im interested in getting at least a Picea, probably P. chihuahuana from northern Mexico.

I have to encourage you to continue with this beautiful activity and i hope to read from you another time.

For me planting is a symbolic activity, and its my favorite gift to the ones I love. I hope to see them in some years as you do!

Finally, I want to share this quote with you:

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.
E. Trueblood.

Hi Marco,

I can send you seed of Picea chihuahuana but potted seedlings/plants would be much more convienent if you can find a local source. Picea maximartinezii would probably be another very rare spruce for your location.

Do you care to give a more precise location of where you live? Many of the rare Pinus species in Mexico are located on isolated individual mountains.

Johnny

Hi Johnny,

Thanks for reading. I would be really thankful If you send me seeds from P.chihuahuana and/or P. maximartinezii. Seedlings are virtually impossible to get where I live. I live in Morelia, Michoacán which is central and western México. Very close to this area, in the Abies religiosa forest monarch butterflies come in winter. Showing my gratitude i could send you some Abies religiosa seeds if you are interested let me know. Thanks!

Marco

Hi Marco,

Send me a private email to jgw@ellijay.com and I'll get back to you with information about a few other conifers that are probably suitable for your area. I have several conifer related questions for you!

Johnny

Que tal Marco,

Ponte en contacto conmigo, tengo algunas semillas de tu interes. Saludos

For the original poster cephalotaxus does fine all the way down into south central texas, but only in shade. My "duke gardens" has grown beautifully for almost ten years, albeit slowly. A fastigata cultivar i planted in a sunnier spot never thrived.

Marco - i am growing a lot of maximartinezii, no seeds left but this winter i could send seedlings. Any chance of getting pinus nelsonii seeds? Pinus culiminicola? I will (and do) collect seeds of any native conifer in texas, let me know if you are interested in anything. Texas is a big state but I love a road trip. Aside from conifers i also collect agave and yucca. I am planning a big bend trip, Guadalupe mountains, and Davis mountains expeditions for late summer early fall collections, maybe rock springs and glass mountains for pinus remota.

ospreynn: gracias! i already sent you a message!

winterfell: At the moment I don´t have those seeds, but i will try to get them. I have seeds for P. pseudostrobus, P, devoniana, P. greggii, A. religiosa. I could also send small agave seedlings such as A. cupreata, A. americana, A. tequilana. I hope to read from you soon.

My "duke gardens" has grown beautifully for almost ten years, albeit slowly.

That was one of the most agonizingly slow conifers I've ever grown.

A few pictures from my Nashville, TN area yard. There are some others as well. Metasequoia, Cryptomeria, Tsuga canadensis, Thuja green giant, etc that I missed while walking around the yard.

Here is a link that might be useful: some of my garden conifers (and maples)

Hello Marco

I'm interested in Mexican conifer seeds please can
you Email me from my page.

cannot speak to heat tolerant conifers sad to say but i thought i would speak up for the surprising adaptability of Mexican conifers (Mexican oaks as well) to seemingly very different climates and localities. i have had gratifying success growing a number of species (likely mostly from areas with a summer rainfall maximum) here in the summer cool and dry (winter very wet) pacific north west (oregon coast)---including pinus montizumae, p. patula, p. pseudostrobus, p. estevezii,, cupressus montana, c. guadalupensis, and podocarpus matudae---.wonderful trees that once established seem to do well with little or no additional care.

MarcoMX please contact me I'm interested in a bis religiosa for a monarch protection area. Please message me !

Since you go to NC to purchase conifers two of my favorite places are Appledorn's in Ashville and Mountain Meadows in Weaverville. They are worth the drive because both specialize in conifers only.As far as online I use Conifer Kingdom and Western Evergreen. I have driven to Ames Iowa to purchase plants at Evergreen Gardens but she now ships.

123cococo, do they gave the abis religiosa?

I don't know but they are very nice and you can call them.

123cococo thank you so much I will appreciate that

Thank you so much for posting this. I live right next door to GA in Alabama, zone 7B, about 500 feet elevation, and would love to plant some of these. I have already purchased some spruce that will be going in the ground in a few weeks (I have found at least 7 or 8 picea pungens varieties in yards of local folks near me. hopefully mine will do fine at my new place). Of the list you have provided, what would be a few you would recommend trying to start with?