Evergreen conifers have always been a staple for yearround interest and structure in the landscape. Undemanding, reliable and ever-present, these shrubs and trees are nonetheless special. The group's smorgasbord of colors, textures, sizes and shapes leave us spoiled for choice when it comes time to add conifers to the garden. How can one narrow the options?
Lately I've been thinking about conifers in terms of their foliage type. At first, this may seem too broad of a feature. Foliage: there's evergreen, applying to the vast majority of conifers; and there's deciduous, which can be found on a handful of coniferous trees, including larch (Larix) and dawn redwood (Metasequoia). Conifers do not offer the wide assortment of leaf shape that deciduous shrubs and trees do, so can we really use this detail to help sort our choices? Yes, if we take a closer look and distinguish between conifers' two leaf types: needles-such that you find on pines, firs and spruces-and scale-like foliage. In this article I'll highlight the beauty of the latter and offer some excellent garden candidates with this unique type of leaf.
GENERAL CARE
Conifers with scaly foliage are mostly found in the Cupressaceae, or cypress family. Genera include juniper (Juniperus), false cypress (Chamaecyparis), arborvitae and false cedar (Thuja), cypress (Cupressus) and more. While the leaves can be needle-like on young plants, and certain varieties retain that characteristic throughout their lifespan, with maturity most develop flat foliage with a surface reminiscent of the scales of a fish.
This story is from the March - April 2024 edition of Horticulture.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March - April 2024 edition of Horticulture.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
RIBWORT PLANTAIN
Before you call it a weed, consider its many talents
JARED BARNES - Propagating gardeners
JARED BARNES is an award-winning professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. He also hosts The Plantastic Podcast and publishes a weekly e-newsletter called plant ed, both of which can be found at his website, https://www.meristemhorticulture.com. At home, he gardens with wife Karen and daughter Magnolia.
FILMS WITH FLOWERS
Relax with an uplifting garden-themed movie
TOTAL TOMATO GROWING GUIDE
Niki Jabbour's advice for making the most of this grow-at-home favorite
HANGDOG NO MORE
I'M A CURIOUS and impetuous guy. Good at thinking but terrible at remembering. And dammit if I'm not impatient.
LOOKING AHEAD
A colorful, fruitful summer follows winter's well-used days
NEW PLANTS
Pollinator Favorites
PLANTS from PIECES
ALL ABOUT PROPAGATION BY STEM, LEAF & ROOT CUTTINGS
FULL SUN FOLIAGE
IT'S A BIT MORE CHALLENGING THAN IN THE SHADE, BUT WE CAN FIND DELIGHTFUL LEAVES TO EMBELLISH SUNNY SPACES
CHANGE OF PLANS
HOW TO PLAN A GARDEN RENOVATION THAT WORKS WITH THE SITE AND ITS ECOLOGY