Looking for tall, narrow, graceful, blue conifer

12 years ago

I've got a Pinus Strobus about to bite the dust here (the summer was too much for it) and will likely replace it with something narrow and blue.

I'd like something graceful (like a deodar), but I'm in a region of the country where I'm not sure what my options are. We have hot, dry summers and cold winters.

Here's what I'm looking for:

1) At least one foot of vertical growth per year

2) Ability to handle clay soils (it's on a hillside, so drainage will be okay)

3) Narrow profile

4) Blue

5) graceful foliage

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Comments (13)

firefightergardener
12 years ago
Isn't this Picea glauca 'Pendula'? I *think* it will tolerate your conditions and as for it's description, this is it, to a tee.

There are almost no cedar cultviars that I am aware of that will be quite that narrow. I have an Cedrus libani var. atlantica 'Granny Louise' that is very narrow but I wouldn't call it graceful.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Granny Louise'
johnplace
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Will. I just planted a Picea Glauca pendula in another part of the yard. I'm looking for something more blue, I guess. Also, it can have a wider profile than that one. Aren't there a couple of blue deciduous conifers that might work? I'm drawing a blank..
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So ssmdgardener, about this little area of yours...what would you say the drainage is like now? Is it still a bit sunk, is it level, or is it now higher than the surrounding areas? If it's higher, my advice would be to go ahead and plant the blue arrows in the clay. Three trees in some kind of triangle seems about right. Another clay-friendly option would be a narrow columnar yew such as taxus x media 'beanpole'. If it is flat, with decent drainage, then I would suggest creating a mound or raised bed of better-draining soil on top rather than mixing it in with the clay. I think this strategy has more merit than amending because it emulates nature, where in most areas you will see a layer of organically rich, loose soil on top and the soil gets more compacted the deeper you dig. If you do this, I think you can pick from a wide range of conifer species, and the blue arrows should work fine also. If it is still somewhat sunken and mucky, I think you should not plant conifers there unless you can bring the level of clay soil even higher. I have had good luck so far with Fine Line Buckthorn(rhamnus frangula 'Ron Williams') in a mucky spot in my own yard. This is a plant that looks a lot like a conifer during the growing season, and while it won't give you winter color, it does have a nice sculptural look in winter, as you can see in this photo:
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Thanks so much for the info! Much appreciated. Can you tell what cultivar of the Serbian spruce this one is? I had read the spread on them is around 20', and these were hardly 10' wide and they are probably 35-40' tall. I've seen some beautiful cultivars on websites. I've also seen this described as both a slow-growing and a fast-growing tree? What would it be in the Northwest? Would large speciments transplant ok (15' tall or so)? Has anyone seen one that size at a nursery in the Seattle area? In the past, I've been disappointed with the trees I have special ordered through a nursery, so I prefer to see it in person or mail order through a reputable seller. Any suggestions? Here is a closeup of it: The mountain hemlock is pretty slow growing, isn't it? I am guessing a large one would cost me a small fortune based on the prices I've seen for 2-3' tall ones at local nurseries? Thanks!
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I may check to see how much they cost in 24 inch box size and see if the extra money will be worth cutting a few years off the wait wait for privacy.. ===>>> there MIGHT BE some faulty logic there .. it is said.. that the larger the transplant ... the harder to transplant.. and the longer to get established and get moving to specs .. as compared to a smaller transplant.. that barely knows it transplanted.. and takes off ... wait for it.. like a sky rocket.. and outgrows the larger transplant in a 5 year period ... not to mention.. the 'box' itself indicates a ball and burlap digging.. which can be a risk .... [a box is really hard burlap] .... the point is that a mature specimen is dug out of a field ,... if you insist... how about an experiment for us ... lets say you need 6 ... buy 3 big.. and 3 smaller ... and take the history in pix.. and every year.. report back.. and prove this theory.. right or wrong ... in other words.. you speak of the cost/benefit ratio as to buying larger ... and i am suggesting the cost for larger ... may actually be a negative to vigor... and faster result.. in a 3 to 5 year period .... [with the caveat, of course.. that i am not familiar with CA at all] .. might be the smaller .... your posts frustrate me ... on some level ... because we are talking about conifers/trees... and with trees we talk about decades of life .... but you want instant gratification ... and that dichotomy .. well.. frustrates me ... i wish you all the luck in the world .... but make the right choice for the long haul .... and i think you will end up happier .... ken ps: in my z5 MI ... for whats its worth ... i have gotten rid of all my upright tall juniper.. if not for snow/ice load [of which .. that is not an issue with you] ... and juniper tip blight .... call your county extension office and find out if that is an issue in your county [ask for odds, rather than possibility] ... if so ... i would tell you to skip juniper, in this application ...
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haloperidol
12 years ago
Cedrus deodara hardiness zones 7-9. A bad winter in zone 6 could damage the tree. Cedrus deodara 'Karl Fuchs' is blue, supposed to have a improved cold hardiness (zone 6-9) and be narrower than the species, but I wouldn't consider it extremely narrow. How about Picea pungens 'The Blues'? It can be trained/staked vertically to be narow. Also, Pseudotsuga menziesii 'Graceful Grace' staked, trimmed.....probably not blue enough.
That Cedrus atlantica 'Granny Louise' that Will mentioned is hard to find! I've been looking for awhile.

Patrick
johnplace
Original Author
12 years ago
Ooh, Karl Fuchs looks very nice. I need to do some reading about this one.
coniferjoy
12 years ago
Will, to me it looks that the 'Granny Louis' is nothing else then a Cedrus libani 'Fastigiata' which is renamed for a commercial goal, after all it's maybe not that hard to get...
pineresin
12 years ago
Also worth thinking about some of the blue cultivars of Abies concolor.

Resin
dcsteg
12 years ago
John,

Congratulations to you and the Cardinals on the series.

Just a suggestion. Should do well in St. Louis.

Dave

Juniperus scopulorum 'Tolleson's Weeping Blue'. Taken over a year ago. A good foot taller now.

{{gwi:759925}}
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
isnt the clay soil irrelevant.. with PROPER planting techniques???

ken
whaas_5a
12 years ago
I'd vote for 'Bush's Lace'.

I do not offer congrats on the Cards, lol. Almost worst than the Yanks now. I'm sure you understand where I'm coming from.
haloperidol
12 years ago
Thanks Coniferjoy. Cedrus libani 'Fastigiata' didn't even cross my mind. Is that the same as whats sold under the made Cedrus atlantica 'Fastigiata'?

Oh yeah I forgot about Picea engelmannii 'Bush's Lace'.
Whats wrong with the Yankees?
johnplace
Original Author
12 years ago
Great suggestions guys! That pic of Tolleson's Weeping Blue is awesome.

I have a Bush's Lace coming from Bloom River in a few weeks, but it is going in a different spot.

Ken, I figured the clay soil still mattered unless the entire eventual root mass was bermed up in good soil... Am I wrong? I will do a small berm to keep the initial root ball from getting water logged.

As far as the Cards go, we do love our baseball here in Saint Louis. It's part of the culture here, passed from parent to child. We have been blessed to have winners in almost every decade, supported by an organization that cares about winning. Even if you hate the Cards, you have to admit that those late innings in game 6 were some of the most exciting baseball ever! Wow, what a game that was!
jth97381
12 years ago
Cedrus atlantica 'Granny Louise' was found by Evans Farms, Oregon. It was in a field planted with seedlings of Cedrus atlantica and selected for its narrow habbit and very short Blue needles. Not sure how similar it looks to 'Fastigiata', but Im sure its not the same plant.
gardener365
12 years ago
Cedrus deodara 'Eisregen' is most narrow of the hardy ones I think, I won't swear to it though.

Dax

Looking for tall, narrow, graceful, blue conifer

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