PUSHING THE BORDERS

Not something I would have expected to raise here, but over the last few years conifers seem to have made a bit of a come back OK so mainly pines, starting with Wollemia pines.

Kew has this nice little section of stone pines


Pinus pinea (Stone pine)

I would happily have a group of these if I had more space.

I could post countless pictures of Bonsai plants, but non would be mine and I have no chance of managing one myself, so it was with great interest that I found this pinus parviflora masami at savill gardens planted in one of the alpine beds. I quite fancy a few small ones in a rockery of some form.


pinus-parviflora-masami

So is anyone else into any of this group?

Pines and conifers really set the scene for a mediterranean style of garden.

I regularly use Pencil cypress or Juniper Skyrocket when you want a similar style of plant on a smaller scale. Likewise Stone Pines where space permits work beautifully or you could use Mugo Pines to with great effect.

I really like Pinus Wallichiana for a more textural effect.

Not the same look as typical conifers but I'm liking some of the selections of Ginkgo biloba at the minute. I've got a couple of small varieties, 'Mariken' and 'Everton Broom', I'd like to try some of the variegated types and some of the varieties with more unusual leaves too.
Had I more space I'd grow some of the big needled ones like Pinus wallichiana or the Mexican P. patula.

I planted a few in front of our conservatory quite a few years ago now, I mixed them up with some heathers, winter and summer flowering, and some Japanese maples, the heathers give colour all year round and once spring arrives the acers look stunning in all their different colours. It takes up the whole view of my garden from the living room, as it is on a slope, and looks great all year round.
Here's a few shots from different angles.

Works for me! Looks very good well done.

Looks great Mark, as you say good all year round interest.

There seems to be a shape and size for almost every location. It's also good to know that you can get ones which are so slow they grow about 30cm in 10 years perfect fr the small space.

Cheers Charlie.

Yes Chris, some of them have hardly budged in 10 years, they weren't meant to but you can never trust a plant label :lol: