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13 Captivating Conifers

By: Lynn Coulter

Explore different varieties of firs, spruce trees, junipers, pines, cypresses and cedars through the lens of Jan LeCocq.

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Photo: Chicago Botanic Garden/ChicagoBotanic.org

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Branch Out With Beautiful Conifers

If your landscape or garden needs a sense of structure, and you want plants with wonderful textures, shapes and colors, consider conifer trees. These are plants with seed-filled cones and needles or spiny foliage. Some of these evergreen tree types shed their needles in winter, but most don’t.

You can find conifers in a wide range of sizes. Some have a pyramidal shape, like trimmed, traditional Christmas trees, while others are low-growing and have flat forms. Pine trees are among the most common conifers in the United States, and blue pine trees, including different varieties of spruces, junipers and cedars, are especially popular and beautiful. Cypress trees and shrubs are also popular conifers, although they’re in a different genus or botanical group. Keep going to find the best conifer for your landscape.

Types of Conifers

Photo: Image courtesy of courtesy Janice LeCocq

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'Blue Star' Juniper

With dense, silver-blue needles, this striking juniper is a stellar addition to borders and rock gardens.

Types of Conifers

Photo: Image courtesy of courtesy Janice LeCocq

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'Thunderhead' Black Pine

A compact version of the favorite bonsai plant, Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead' shows off dense green needles and silver buds. The dwarf Japanese black pine's irregular growth habit promises no two trees are the same.

Types of Conifers

Photo: Image courtesy of courtesy Janice LeCocq

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'Fat Albert' Colorado Blue Spruce

Named after Bill Cosby's jolly cartoon character, this hardy evergreen is favored for its pyramid shape and long, branches full of silvery-blue needles.

Types of Conifers

Photo: Image courtesy of courtesy Janice LeCocq

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Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’ is a beautiful weeping cedar with icy blue needles. Weeping Blue Atlas grows slowly to 10' tall and 15' wide and prefers full sun.

Types of Conifers

Photo: Image courtesy of courtesy Janice LeCocq

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'Zebrina' Himalayan Pine

Also known as the Zabrina Bhutan pine, Pinus wallichiana 'Zebrina' is known for its feathery, green foliage with yellow bands. The dwarf Himalayan pine grows to 6' and 4' wide in ten years.

Types of Conifers

Photo: Image courtesy of courtesy Janice LeCocq

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'Bush's Lace' Engelmann Spruce

Known for the "skirt" that forms around this spruce's base, 'Bush's Lace' is outfitted with slender, powdery blue needles that weep over time.

Types of Conifers

Photo: Image courtesy of courtesy Janice LeCocq

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'Blue Chip' Juniper

Known as creeping juniper, 'Blue Chip' is a low-growing, spreading juniper with spiky, blue foliage. 'Blue Chip' will not tolerate wet soil.

Types of Conifers

Photo: Image courtesy of courtesy Janice LeCocq

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'Horstmann' Spanish Fir

Abies pinsapo 'Hortsmann' is a compact, dwarf fir that forms a round ball of silvery needles. This pretty Spanish fir prefers full sun in well-drained soil for best color.

Types of Conifers

Photo: Image courtesy of courtesy Janice LeCocq

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'Blue Pyramid' Cypress

Growing slowly to a beautiful pyramid shape, Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Pyramid' has delicate, threadlike, blue-gray foliage and makes an excellent accent in the landscape.

Types of Conifers

Photo: Image courtesy of courtesy Janice LeCocq

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'Pusch' Norway Spruce

Picea abies 'Pusch' is a dwarf, slow-growing Norway Spruce that produces tiny, bright red cones in the spring that brown as they age. Perfect for rock gardens, 'Pusch' thrives in full sun or part shade.

Far left: Violacea Prostrate white fir. Lower right: "Poulsen' Arnoldiana fir. Behind rock: 'Horstmann's' Silberlocke Korean fir

Photo: Image courtesy of Jan LeCocq

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A Trio of Firs

Far left: 'Violacea Prostrate' white fir. Lower right: 'Poulsen' arnoldiana fir. Behind rock: 'Horstmann's Silberlocke' Korean fir

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