"I know it will get too big for my garden, probably within 15 yrs"

Doubt it, not in zone 5! It'll be dead of cold within a few years, unless you get an exceptional run of mild winters.

Resin

Dan-

I have seen those in a nursery around here(Central Michigan)and have not picked it up due to its eventual size, even if it survived here(big if). But you are right, the 'Gold Riders' do have a stunning golden glow - enough to induce a zone denial spell. I'll bet if they had been tagged at $7.50 I would have one in my yard also.

My guilty pleasure are a couple of dwarf Cedrus deodaras. One is 'Pygmy'- purcahased last year and 'Divinely Blue'- purchased this spring. 'Pygmy' is not looking that great after this past winter and I am thinking of bringing it inside. 'Divinely Blue' was just planted this spring and is in a more protected spot so I am hoping for the best.

shannon

Hi Resin and Shannon,thanks for the responses. Yep, definately zone pushing a bit with this plant. Although, I have seen 'Gold Rider' listed as hardier than other Leylands. It made it through -17 degrees F (-27.22 C) last winter and looked great. Shannon, I'm curious to hear how your 'Divinely Blue' does. Let us know how it does. Thanks, Dan

is the GUILTY part .. the fact that you eventually expect it to die ....????

but you are going to relish it until then ????

guilty perhaps that it is a total waste of money ... but brings such joy ... not that 7.50 is all that much .. lol

the reason i ask .. is i am trying to figure out what it all means to me.. i feel guilty everyday .. for taking food from the children's mouths in buying so many conifers ... i guess .. that means the whole collection is a guilty pleasure ...

oh well .... lol

ken

Cupressus macrocarpa has a cold hardiness threshold of: -20 C or -4 F, and Cupressus nootkatensis has a cold hardiness threshold of: -40 C or -40 F.

Source: ÂConifer Cold HardinessÂ; Francine J. Bigras and Stephen J. Colombo (Eds.). ISBN: 0-7923-6636-0; 2001 Kluwer Academic Pulishers, Netherlands.

This hybrid may be hardier than we suppose according to the literature, but many "environmental" factors need to be further understood before a person 'levels out the math.'

See discussion at this link:
my excerpt

Dax

Hi Ken, I guess the guilty part is that I've been trying to stick with dwarf and mini conifers and this is about as opposite to that goal as you can get :) Without pruning it will get too big for my yard eventually. I guess the hardiness issue is another possible thing I'm guilty of. My very non-scientific method of Zone pushing is that if I see a conifer that I want, listed as zone 5 more than once,(in this case Coenosium and Stanley and Son's) I'll give it a try. Either way I will relish it until it gets too big or dies. As for feeling guilty about your conifers, I'm sure your kids appreciate a Dad that is happy and has a hobby that keeps him at home, spending more time with the family, I know my kids do :) Dan

it really is beautiful.

"Source: ÂConifer Cold HardinessÂ; Francine J. Bigras and Stephen J. Colombo (Eds.). "

Sounds an interesting book . . . was thinking I'd like to get it . . . .

.

.

.

. . . until I saw the price!

well ... if guilt is size.. just dig it up every year.. and bonsai its roots [which digging it up will do ... ergo.. reduce the growth rate ....

if there is a will.. there is always a way ... lol ...

ken

Hey Dan, I have 3 guilty pleasures guarding my back door against all challengers. These 3 always bring a smile to my face as I venture out the back door.

Front to back: Picea pungens 'St. Mary's Broom'

Pinus mugo 'Zundert'

Pinus strobus 'Horsford'

If I venture out the front door my lone sentry, or guilty pleasure ,is always standing at attention although always looking a little tired. Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Green Aarow'

Dave.

{{gwi:838543}}



{{gwi:838544}}

Hi Dave,
Where did you get your Picea pungens 'St. Mary'? Via mail order?

Your plant looks like mine, which I believe is really P. p. 'Globosa', rather than P. p. 'St. Mary', due to its growth form/habit.

All of the other 'St. Mary' that I have seen, in person or in pictures, look like the plant at the link below.

The plant has always been higher in the center and very low/flat at the edges.

Bob, at Coenosium, also says that 'St. Mary' also has many buds that don't push in the spring, and my plant has never had this happen.

I went on a tour this past summer in Iowa, and one of the gardens we toured had a 'St. Mary' and it looked exactly like the plant in the picture, only a little smaller (and younger), but the form was the same.

My plant has been in the ground since 2003 and is at least 20" across. Everything I have read about 'St. Mary' says it should take 15 to 20 years to get to this size. How old is your plant and has it grown very fast?
Thanks,
Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:838541}}

Actually I have both and there is a distinct difference between them. The needles are more steel blue than the 'Globosa'. The Globe tends to be flat and the Broom tends to have an upright growth habit. I have had this one for 10 years and it has doubled in size. I would guess this conifer to be 15 years old. Here's another photo from a different angle with upright growth more visible. This was purchased from a friend in the nursery business and not a mail order.

Dave

{{gwi:838545}}

Okay, yes, that's 'St. Mary'. I'll post a pic of my 'St. Mary' tomorrow and get your opinion.
Thanks,
Mike

Hi Resin,

I'll just have to read it for you!

It's sort of encouraging at times and could give the grower a few more digits to work with.

Dax

Dan,
Sorry, I don't mean to hijack your thread.

Dave,
Here is a pic of my 'St Mary's Broom' planted on 9-2-02.

Here is a pic of my 'St Mary's Broom' today. The plant measures 24" x 26". I'm pretty sure this is 'Globosa' rather than 'St. Mary's Broom' since the center of the plant has a depression in it and it just does not look like 'St. Mary's Broom'. And from what I have read, 'St. Mary's Broom' should not grow this fast.

Here is a shot of the plant from the side:

Your opinion?
Thanks,
Mike

Hi Mike,

It's nice to see a graft grow up!

Here are some 'Saint Mary's' - I hope this helps.

The US National Arboretum:

And this is how I always thought this plant would look like (very dense). Bickelhaupt Arboretum:

The Harper Collection:

Dax

Hi Dax,
Thanks for the photos. The plant in the photo from the US National arboretum looks somewhat like my plant.

My 'St. Mary's Broom' is one of my guilty pleasures, also.

I may dig my plant out next spring and move it somewhere else where it can get bigger. I had not planned on the plant growing so large, so fast and it will be growing into the Pinus parviflora right next to it by the end of the season next year.
Mike

I grow 'St. Mary's Broom' and I dont feel guilty about it at all!

Since no one has posted Picea p.'Globosa' I will post mine as a comparison to the St. Mary's Broom' that I have also. I know most of us are familiar with this conifer as most nursery's have it for sale. If you are a dwarf collector sooner or later you will have one.

Mike I think you are right. You are growing a 'Globosa'. Never the less it is still a keeper. I never had a Picea pungens cultivar that wasn't a keeper. Beautiful conifers.

Dave
{{gwi:838551}}

Dave,
Thanks. Yes, I will keep the plant, since the blue is so intense. I am going to try and get a 'St. Mary's Broom' to put in its place since my 'Globosa' is soon out of room to grow.
Thanks,
Mike

There is a nursery in Chaska, MN that has a couple of Picea pungens 'Globosa' on standards and the plants are approx. 3' across with standards 4" thick. Huge, beautiful plants.
Mike