Conifers To Love

Wildlife-friendly trees offer varying silhouettes and year-round appeal.

1 Norway spruce

PICEA ABIES, ZONES 3 TO 8 This well-known spruce has a pyramidal shape with shiny dark green foliage. It prefers full sun and moist soil, but it does tolerate most garden soils. The aptly named weeping variety adds a rustic, organic element when draped over fences or walls, or when grown in a rock garden.

Why we love it:

For years, Norway spruce has been a favorite tree for large landscapes. But now many dwarf varieties are available, and they’re perfect for smaller-scale home gardens.

2 Common juniper

JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS,

ZONES 2 TO 6

If you’re in the market for a small-space evergreen, look no further than the dwarf varieties of common juniper. They need full sun, adjust to poor soil and require minimal maintenance once they are established. Some members of this species max out around 15 feet high.

Why we love it:

Common juniper serves as a secure roosting and nesting site for many bird species. Fruit-eating fliers like waxwings enjoy the berrylike cones in fall.

3 Bald cypress

TAXODIUM DISTICHUM, ZONES 4 TO 11

You’re likely to find large varieties of this tree (which is deciduous but bears cones) in the swamps of the eastern U.S. It needs full sun and acidic soil to thrive, growing best in moist, deep soil with good drainage. Slow-growing species include Secrest, which reaches just 6 feet.

Why we love it:

If you’ve got a soggy spot that collects water, this moisture-lover is the tree for you.

4 Mugo pine

PINUS MUGO, ZONES 2 TO 7