Tall narrow conifer

johnwi

16 years ago

On a trip to Tuscany, I fell in love with the Italian Cypress, but I know I can't grow it here in Wisconsin

What is the best that I can do to approximate it in my climate? (Madison is really closer to zone 5a than 4b).

John

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Comments (10)

conifers
16 years ago
Thuja occ. 'Malonyana' or 'Malonyana Aurea'
Juniperus virginiana 'Blue Arrow'

There you have Green, Yellow, and Blue.

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: Monrovia's Blue Arrow which looks more like Italian Cypress
flattie
16 years ago
Possibly Juniperus scopulorum "Skyrocket" might be worth a shot. Probably needs a drier site in WI.
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Ken, the yellow weeper is 'Boyko's Sundown'. Some are more golden then others, this one I hand picked because it had such great bright splotches. It also seemed fairly narrow which is good considering it's spot! As for the property line, this is probably the best aspect of my piece of earth, it's both vague *and* heavily forested. I am next to a corner lot(their backyard extends to my left side yard) and there is a greenbelt behind me for about 150 yards. It has been designated native habitat by the county and thus without serious zoning changes can never be developed. Most of the large, existing trees on my property are huge already. There are hundreds of doug-firs exceeding 50' and many well over 100' tall with the only thing visible to the gardener or visitor are the elephant trunks shooting upwards. A few of my younger doug-firs out front are about 10-15 years old and still have limbs to the ground. These are what I mean I will slowly trim up, exposing new spaces for conifers that take some shade or part shade. Dougs grow like *crazy* here, so in 15-20 years I'll be surrounded skyward by plants exceeding 150' at which point the only problem will be trees dumping branches and needles in storms and the occasional large tree coming down(a scary thing indeed). Long term, many of the plants that it becomes apparent will be much too big to stay will end up in the local botanical garden which I am helping to design. Almost 100 acres of space, over half undeveloped so there should be plenty of space for these trees to settle in for the long haul. We've worked out a nominal trade/price of about $5 cash/$10 trade per year per plant. Not a lot of money, but that's not the point anyways. Finally, I *welcome* the day I run out of space. It'll be good on my back, budget and nice to know I have a 'complete' garden, with plants that are really nice to have around. Two or three years, I'd guess! -Will
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This would be a good question for the design forum. If you have a very traditional symetical house then planting two soilders (two conifers)on each side of the front door may look ok as long as they do not get too tall. I agree with the designer - slow growing is better. Do you want two - say - 8-10ft conifers on either side of your front door. Eventually junipers will grow large and crowd the entrance. Large planting next to the front door may not always give you a "Welcome to my home feeling" If they are not planted properly which they will eventually crowd the entry. And trying to prune them to the right size works for a few years. If you have a house that is not symetical like a you designer is getting off easy by planing two of the same type of plants on either side of the front door. Landscape Designs do not always need symetry to look good, balance is just as important. The plum yews are an interesting choices, I would prefer something that grows slow and will never grow taller than the doorway - Sometning like a Hinoki cypress - CHamaecyparis obtusa Nana - You will never feel overcrowed. They are also more intesting to look at than junipers. Mike
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years ago
An exact replication of the habit/form of an Italian cypress may be difficult to duplicate, but you should be able to get a similar appearance from:

Chamaecyparis (Xanthocyparis) nootkatensis 'Green Arrow', 'Van den Akker' or 'Strictly Weeping'
Picea omorika 'Bruns Pendula'
Picea glauca 'Pendula'
Taxus x media 'Bean Pole'

and I'm sure there's more.....
mrgpag SW OH Z5/6
16 years ago
John, if you're in or near Madison, take a trip down Hwy 14 south past Oregon to Stonewall Nursery - they specialize in unique conifers - and see what they have to offer or suggest. The place is about a half mile south of County Rd. A and on the right(west) side of the highway. Neat place, great selection, but can be a tad pricey. On the other hand, they have material probably unknown to most retail nurseries in southern WI so it's sort of a wash regarding price.

Marshall

Here is a link that might be useful: Stonewall Nursery
Embothrium
16 years ago
The most similar would be a columnar juniper cultivar.
schmoo
16 years ago
Keep your eyes open for Junip. virg. Taylor. VERY new, VERY hardy (Nebraska origin) and almost perfect sub. for Italian Cypress (habit wise)
conifers
16 years ago
'Taylor' is a light almost sky-blue selection. Definitely of interest. It is somewhat pyramidal however, fyi whereas the Monrovia selection is a column. The 'Malonyana's' are reported to have an 18" across base when 20 feet tall. Much more narrow, much more in appearance to Italian Cypress but foliage lacks big-time. Hence the Junipers.

Dax
johnwi
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you all for your great ideas. I'll consider them this winter and purchase one of them in the spring. Right now I am leaning toward the Thuja occidentalis 'Malonyona'. I'll definitely check out Stonewall Nursery and online vendors.

Does anyone have any recommendations for ordering conifers online?
flattie
16 years ago
You can't go wrong with Forest Farm. They have plants you will not find anywhere else. www.forestfarm.com
treelover3
16 years ago
It will be difficult for you to find T. o. 'Malonyana'.

I don't know of any vendors that are currently offering this plant. You might try emailing Bob Fincham at Coenosium Gardens to see if he has any for sale. Use Google to search for Coenosium Gardens.

Porterhowse Farms is no longer selling plants via mail order and that would have been your best bet for obtaining this cultivar.

While the Junipers will be the most similar in appearance to an Italian Cypress, once they get larger, snow loads and any site except full, all-day sun will prevent them from looking similar for very long.
Mike

Tall narrow conifer

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