Pines Firs and Spruce

Picea abies, commonly known as the Norway spruce, is a prominent coniferous tree native to Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. Recognisable by its tall, symmetrical shape and dense, evergreen foliage, it often reaches heights of 35–55 metres, with some specimens growing even taller under optimal conditions. The Norway spruce is widely planted in Europe and North America, not only for ornamental and landscaping purposes but also for timber production, given its straight grain and versatility. Its wood, known as "whitewood," is prized in the construction industry and is also used in the manufacture of paper and musical instruments.

The tree's bark is brown to reddish and scaly, becoming rougher as it ages. Its branches grow in horizontal layers, with pendulous branchlets giving the tree a slightly weeping appearance. Needles are dark green, pointed, and around 1–2 cm in length. Cones are one of its defining features, typically measuring 10–18 cm, with a cylindrical shape and rounded, overlapping scales that turn brown as they mature.

Picea abies is hardy, thriving in a range of climates and soil types, though it prefers well-drained, acidic soils and benefits from full sun. In colder climates, it is often cultivated as a Christmas tree due to its classic conical form and appealing fragrance. However, it requires ample space for its expansive root system, making it unsuitable for small gardens.

Ecologically, the Norway spruce plays an essential role in forest ecosystems, providing habitat and food for various wildlife species. 

Juniperus communis 'Greenmantle' is a low-growing, spreading cultivar of the common juniper, valued for its dense, evergreen foliage and adaptability in a variety of landscapes. This dwarf groundcover juniper forms a dense mat, typically reaching only 6 to 12 inches in height but spreading up to 4 to 5 feet wide, making it ideal for erosion control on slopes, rock gardens, and as a ground cover in larger garden beds.

The 'Greenmantle' cultivar showcases soft-textured, needle-like foliage that varies in color from vibrant green to bluish-green, depending on the season and light exposure. Unlike many other juniper cultivars, which can develop sharp, spiny foliage, 'Greenmantle' is relatively soft to the touch. This attribute makes it particularly suitable for use in spaces where people may frequently walk or touch the plant.

Known for its resilience, Juniperus communis 'Greenmantle', tolerating cold winters and hot summers with ease. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil but is highly adaptable to various soil types, including sandy or rocky terrain. Once established, it exhibits excellent drought tolerance, requiring minimal watering and making it an ideal choice for low-maintenance and xeriscape gardens.

Another distinguishing feature of 'Greenmantle' is its ability to grow in poor soil conditions where other plants may struggle, allowing it to thrive in challenging locations. This cultivar also offers ecological benefits; it provides shelter for small wildlife and birds and is resistant to deer, which often avoid junipers due to their aromatic foliage.

Overall, *Juniperus communis* 'Greenmantle' is a versatile and hardy plant with an attractive, low-maintenance appeal, offering ground coverage and year-round color in a variety of landscapes. Its durability and dense growth habit make it a practical yet attractive choice for enhancing garden structure and texture.

The Juniperus horizontalis 'Icee Blue', often referred to simply as the Icee Blue juniper, is a low-growing, spreading evergreen shrub prized for its vibrant, frosty-blue foliage. This hardy, resilient juniper is well-suited to various landscaping applications, especially as a ground cover or in rock gardens, thanks to its dense, creeping growth habit.

Reaching a mature height of around 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) and spreading up to 1.5-2 metres (5-7 feet), the Icee Blue forms a thick, carpet-like mat that suppresses weeds and provides excellent coverage. The foliage boasts a silvery-blue hue throughout most of the year, turning a purplish-blue in the colder winter months, adding seasonal interest to the garden. This colour transformation makes it particularly popular in ornamental landscapes, where it creates striking contrast against darker foliage plants or brightly coloured flowers.

Juniperus horizontalis 'Icee Blue' is well-known for its hardiness and tolerance of poor soil conditions, making it a practical choice for challenging environments. It thrives in full sun but tolerates light shade, and it prefers well-drained soil, though it can endure dry conditions once established. Its resilience to cold weather and wind exposure is an added benefit, making it suitable for gardens across the UK, including coastal areas.

Low-maintenance by nature, the Icee Blue juniper requires little care once established. Occasional pruning can help maintain its shape and control its spread, but it generally grows uniformly and resists disease well. Its salt tolerance also makes it a reliable option for areas near roads or pathways treated with de-icing salt. Overall, Juniperus horizontalis 'Icee Blue' is a versatile, visually appealing, and low-effort shrub that adds year-round colour and texture to a variety of garden settings.

The Metasequoia glyptostroboides, commonly known as the dawn redwood, is a deciduous conifer belonging to the family Cupressaceae. It is one of only three species of redwood trees and is renowned for its prehistoric origins, often referred to as a "living fossil." 

This remarkable tree can grow to impressive heights of up to 40 metres (130 feet) with a conical shape. The bark is reddish-brown, fibrous, and peels off in long strips, giving it a distinctive appearance. The leaves are needle-like, arranged oppositely on the branches, and turn a rich bronze or golden-brown before falling in the autumn. This seasonal shedding of leaves distinguishes the dawn redwood from its evergreen relatives.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides thrives in temperate climates and prefers moist, well-drained soils, often found near rivers and wetlands. Its growth rate is rapid, making it a popular choice for ornamental planting in parks and gardens worldwide. Despite its prehistoric lineage, the dawn redwood has adapted well to cultivation and can withstand urban conditions, including pollution and compacted soils.

The tree's history is fascinating, as it was once thought to be extinct and only known through fossil records until its rediscovery in the 1940s. Since then, efforts have been made to propagate and preserve this species, ensuring its survival and increasing its presence in both natural and managed landscapes.

Picea glauca 'Sander's Blue', commonly known as 'Sander's Blue' White Spruce, is a stunning dwarf conifer prized for its vibrant blue-green needles that add a colorful accent to any garden space. This cultivar exhibits a compact, pyramidal form, making it an excellent choice for smaller landscapes or as a focal point in a larger garden arrangement.

Typically reaching an ultimate height of 10 to 12 feet, with a spread of 4 to 5 feet, 'Sander's Blue' White Spruce grows slowly, which makes it manageable and suitable for residential gardens without the worry of overwhelming the space. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained, moist soil. Hardy and adaptable, this spruce tolerates cold climates well, making it a versatile choice for various garden zones.

Gardeners often use 'Sander's Blue' as a specimen plant due to its distinctive color and structured form. It also fits beautifully into rock gardens, urban gardens, and even as part of a conifer collection, where its unique hue can be fully appreciated against contrasting greenery.

Thuja occidentalis 'Aurea' is a slow-growing evergreen conifer with a stunning golden-yellow foliage. It is commonly known as Golden Arborvitae and is a popular choice for gardeners looking to add color to their landscapes. This variety of Thuja is a cultivar of the native American Arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis.

The Golden Arborvitae has a narrow and upright habit, which makes it ideal for tight spaces or as a vertical accent in garden beds. It grows to a height of up to 15 feet and a width of up to 5 feet, making it a perfect choice for hedges or screens. The foliage is soft and feathery, with a fine texture, and its color is most intense in full sun.

The Golden Arborvitae is a low-maintenance plant that prefers well-drained soils and full sun exposure. It is drought tolerant once established and can withstand cold temperatures and wind. It requires occasional pruning to maintain its shape, and it responds well to shearing.

Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales' is a particularly notable cultivar of the creeping juniper species. As a ground-covering coniferous shrub, it's prized for its compact, prostrate growth habit, enabling it to blanket an area with its dense, feathery branches.

The foliage of this cultivar is a distinctive blue-green color throughout the spring and summer, which serves as a lovely contrast in most gardens. As temperatures drop in autumn and winter, the foliage undergoes a captivating transformation, adopting a purplish hue that provides visual interest during the colder months when many other plants are dormant.

One of the main appeals of the 'Prince of Wales' is its hardiness. Not only is it tolerant of a variety of soil types, but it also thrives in both full sun and partial shade. Additionally, it demonstrates impressive drought resistance, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping or for regions with occasional water shortages.

Beyond its ornamental attributes, Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales' is frequently employed in landscapes to prevent soil erosion, thanks to its spreading nature. Its low-growing, expansive coverage also makes it an effective weed suppressor, reducing the need for frequent maintenance.

In essence, this juniper cultivar brings beauty, resilience, and practicality to gardens and landscapes, offering both aesthetic charm and functional benefits.

Juniperus squamata 'Holger' is a distinct cultivar of the flaky juniper, recognized for its ornamental appeal and adaptability. This evergreen conifer showcases a unique blend of blue-green and yellow foliage, presenting a striking visual contrast. Specifically, the new growth typically emerges in a bright, golden-yellow hue, gradually transitioning to a more muted blue-green as the needles mature.

This slow-growing juniper boasts a compact and spreading habit, making it a favorite for a range of garden applications. Given its low-profile growth, 'Holger' is an ideal candidate for rock gardens, ground covers, and even containers. The texture and color of its needles add year-round interest to the landscape.

Moreover, Juniperus squamata 'Holger' is celebrated for its resilience. It's notably drought-tolerant once established, allowing it to thrive in various conditions, especially in regions with water restrictions. This cultivar also requires minimal maintenance, further enhancing its appeal to gardeners of all experience levels.

Additionally, 'Holger' exhibits resistance to common pests and diseases that might afflict other garden plants, ensuring its place as a hardy and dependable garden specimen. Overall, its combination of visual charm and sturdiness makes it a coveted choice for diverse horticultural applications.

A Unique Ground-Hugging Evergreen for Your Garden

A striking evergreen plant with a distinctive ground-hugging growth habit that will elevate the beauty and serenity of your garden. This compact Korean Fir cultivar is an excellent addition to any British tree nursery collection, as it brings a touch of the exotic to your garden while being hardy and adaptable to the UK climate.

Key Features:

1. Unique Growth Habit: The 'Green Carpet' is characterized by its low, spreading growth pattern that gives it the appearance of a lush, green carpet. This slow-growing evergreen has a mature height of 30-50cm (12-20 inches) with a spread of 1-2 meters (3-6 feet), making it an ideal choice for small gardens, rockeries, or as a ground cover plant.

2. Attractive Foliage: This eye-catching cultivar boasts dense, deep-green, needle-like leaves with a silvery-blue underside. The foliage contrasts beautifully with the reddish-brown bark, providing year-round interest in the garden.

3. Cones: Abies koreana 'Green Carpet' produces small, violet-blue cones that add another layer of ornamental interest. As the tree matures, these cones gradually turn brown and can persist on the branches for several years.

4. Hardy and Low-Maintenance: This adaptable plant is hardy in the UK, withstanding temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F). It thrives in well-draining, slightly acidic soil, and prefers a sunny or partially shaded location. The 'Green Carpet' requires minimal maintenance, only needing occasional pruning to maintain its shape and remove any dead branches.

5. Wildlife Attraction: The dense foliage and cones of the 'Green Carpet' provide shelter and food for various birds and small mammals, contributing to your garden's biodiversity and creating a welcoming habitat for wildlife.

Bring the exquisite charm of the Abies koreana 'Green Carpet' to your British tree nursery and let this low-growing Korean Fir become the verdant centerpiece of your garden. The unique form and captivating features of this evergreen plant are sure to delight gardeners and nature enthusiasts alike.