It will harden and hold its form. You can stake/wire it when the new leader and branches are supple (first year's growth). I have one that was trained in a big arch. To avoid the trunk being lost in the foliage, you can prune this plant heavily for form. Mine wanted its middle to hang down lower than its 'head' so I pruned it so that it makes a graceful arch and thinned it out considerably. Place it so that you can see the best view from the spot where it is viewed most frequently. These are fun trees. Not sure if you are looking at Pinus strobus 'Pendular' or 'Angel Falls'. 'Angel Falls' is much slimmer and more demure. I have one of those, as well. Less vigorous a grower.

'Angel Falls' is the more elegant of the two, but I'd go with 'Pendula' if I were going to engage in training, which I haven't. The idea of it seems like an enjoyable endeavor to me.

they get big, if you want to maintain a serpentine look in the long run there thould be about a half a bend or less in every more than 6 feet of tree. All those bends in there wont even be noticable in 4 years or less, theyll be covered by branches and needles. ironically just today i did see a nice 25-30' serpentine looking weeping white pine. I am a fan of this tree, for sure.

Wow! I'd love to see a photo of that 25-30' tree if you ever happen to pass by again. I've found surprisingly few photos of serpentine trained WWP online, which was partly why I thought it might be likely to lose its serpentine look over time. This one had about a turn every 2 feet up the trunk (3 turns total), so maybe it wouldn't keep.

To those who asked, it was Pendula, not Angel Falls. Maybe I should pass on it... Buy howdy, it was neat, though. I don't know... Pete, you think even if I pruned back the center as Sara suggests, I'd still be likely to lose the form as it grows? I understand it's the type of tree that sort of does what it wants, but this trunk looks to be pretty well formed, about a 2" diameter. So the more I think about it, it seems like it would just be a matter of keeping that section of tree clear enough to be visible... I keep wishing I had taken a picture.

if you want to know hardiness.. you have to tell us where you are.. bulletproof in my cold z5 ...

i would not pay the high premium for a large corkscrew version of this.. i would start small.. and train my own.. to about 8 feet.. then let is weep back down ...

ken

You can prune out as much as you want! I'll try to get my act together and take a photo of mine. You definitely want to keep the trunk visible.

I'm in zone 5b, by the way. Indiana. It should be fine here - I've seen them around. Just not one with a serpentine trunk.

Gods honest truth ... as a hardcore collector ... i would NEVER buy A CORKSCREW plant.. nor a poodle plant ... lol ...

but i will respect your decision ... should it make your toes curl ...

i hope you have a spot at least 10 feet from the house ...

ken

Haha! I have many spots way more than ten feet from the house! And while I'm not at all a collector of conifers I'm a collector of many many other things (and plants). I get it, and have considered your perspective already. And it's another thing that gives me pause - I get it...

Pinus strobus 'Pendula' at Hidden Lakes in Michigan. Not quite 25 feet and I'm not sure if multiple plants are in there.

tj

Sara, I might disagree with you about trimming your White Pine (it's sacrosanct), but you sure have a cool place and I've got a severe case of California garden envy. The White Pine and yucca (?) combo is eye catching.

Tj's first picture from Hidden Lakes looks like a mythical beast.

:-) some people HATE the fact that I interplant conifers and succulents all over the garden. I have a big Agave collection...there are always envelopes to push...

Ah, yes, Agave. Keep pushing! :)

I had a small agave collection and bigger yucca collection in northern Il.

kept some covered with plexi-glass tents during winters,,,alas,,,I got tired of pushing

ron

Mine are hardy here - others use succulents that are borderline and cover. I'm too lazy and hate the look of yards of white in winter.

Sara, does your conifer collection require summer irrigation?

I think the tension between soft and spiky is excellent!

Yes pretty much everything requires summer irrigation - I mostly use drip. Many pines do well here, also Cedrus are naturals, many Cupressus, Juniperus, etc, too. And I do more envelope-pushing with Agathis and Podocarpus! I love the soft/spiky thing, too, but it does upset some people. However, if you walk in a pine forest in Mexico, there are Agaves and Yuccas all over, so it's found in nature, too.