Paul's Conifer Collection

Master gardener Paul James displays his collection of conifers in a raised bed. At home there are evergreen conifers such as pines, spruces, falsecypresses, hemlocks and junipers, as well as a few deciduous conifers, such as the gingko.

Some have interesting growth habits, like the weeping, prostrate or slow-growing forms. Several dwarf selections produce just a quarter-inch of new growth a year, and in some cases they reach only eight inches or so at maturity. Because many conifers are new, unusual or rare plants, not much may be known about them, such as their ability to maintain their color or their growth rate or hardiness. "They can be a bit of a challenge to grow, but that's part of the fun," says Paul.

To get an idea about the growing conditions like the amount of light exposure each plant needs, Paul grows most of his conifers in pots during their first year in his garden (figure A). Therefore, he can move them around during that first growing season until he determines the right planting spot.

When his conifers are ready for planting in the ground, Paul fluffs the mulch, using a rake to tease and break up the mulch layer to help water to better percolate through it. Then he removes last year's mulch from the nearby paths and tosses it into the adjacent beds around existing plants. When that task is complete, he adds a fresh layer of mulch to the paths.

Highlights from Paul's falsecypress collection

There are several falsecypresses, or Chamaecyparis, in Paul's conifer collection. Most falsecypresses are hardy to USDA Zone 4, even Zone 3 with some selections. The farther south you go, the more shade you should give them, especially in the afternoon.

Larger forms of falsecypress make great trees in the garden. Among Paul's favorites are Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (figure B), a weeping beauty native to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, and Chamaecyparis obtusa, better known as the Hinoki falsecypress (figure C), which hails from Japan.

More unusual selections of falsecypress include 'Lemon Twist' (figure D), 'Rashamiba' (figure E), 'Chabo Yadori' (figure F) and 'Minima Aurea' (figure G).