For many, the word conifer conjures an image of imposing hedges, but there are also some slow-growing species that can add useful structure
WORDS MATTHEW POTTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS JASON INGRAM
Conifers are a huge part of the plant world and have been a feature of our gardens for centuries. The number of cultivars in different genera run into the thousands, with many exhibiting smaller and slower-growing habits, making them ideal for modern gardens. There is no shortage of magnificent conifers suitable for rolling parkland and arboreta, but the diversity of ‘well-behaved’ species and cultivars is also extensive, once you look closely.
Perhaps driven by the pest and disease issues affecting Buxus recently, there’s been a sharp focus on other small-leaved evergreens that are good for clipping. Podocarpus is probably my number one box alternative. It can take close clipping, doesn’t grow too fast and, usefully, regenerates from old wood. The straight species P. nivalis is perfect for the purist gardener, offering 12 months of calm green, while P. ‘Young Rusty’ flushes a deep wine red in the winter months, and is a wonderful foil for winter-flowering plants, or the buff-gold of dormant grasses. Podocarpus ‘Guardsman’ rages a vibrant fiery red in spring, as the temperatures start to recover after winter. Podocarps also have vibrant new growth and bear fruit similar to yew.
Unlike some conifers, pines never really fell out of favour. The smaller pine cultivars can easily create low, cushion-like mounds, or small trees whose proportions are easy to manage. Miniature cones and attractive bark also add to the appeal. The tactile, almost fuzzy, effect of Pinus strobus ‘Sea Urchin’ makes cute mossy domes of evergreen perfection – picture-perfect for a pot, or as a repeated evergreen accent. Like many small conifers, it originated from a witches’ broom (a congested genetic variant that exhibits a more compact form than the parent plant). Similarly, P. strobus ‘Green Twist’ has an irresistible curled, slightly twisted needle, which makes for a spectacular, textured, interesting hummock.
Perhaps better known are mountain pines, Pinus mugo, which have been used to great effect as evergreen mounds by designers Chris Beardshaw and Matt Keightley at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in recent years. Known for their cold tolerance, these mountain pines seldom grow with any apical dominance, s
