![]() If you want a conifer that is subtle but has an arresting presence, ‘Snow’ false cypress ( Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Snow’, Zones 4–8) is one worth trying. Partial shade and moist, well-drained soil are best. Deer will nibble on its bright white tips, so offer it some sort of protection. Its moderate size (6 feet tall and 4 feet wide, growing 3 to 4 inches per year) is nothing special, but the bright green-and-white foliage is strong yet delicate. It makes an impressive focal point and looks equally good integrated with other low-growing conifers and perennials. I sometimes find mounded shapes difficult to work with because of their loose habit, but the bold presence of variegated elkhorn cedar ( Thujopsis dolabrata ‘Nana Variegata’, Zones 5–7) lends itself to a variety of uses. Deer like to graze most yews, so take the proper precautions. Emerald Spreader™ does not like root competition, so it usually does best when planted in dense shade under trees with deep root systems, like tulip poplars ( Liriodendron tulipifera, Zones 4–9). It can be used as a billowy ground cover (quickly reaching its maximum size of 3 feet tall and 9 feet wide) and helps add depth, texture, and contrast to the garden floor. Its small, dense, dark green needles and low, spreading habit set Emerald Spreader™ apart. ![]() This prostrate grower is far handsomer than those yews commonly used for hedging. Not all medium-size, mounding conifers will grow in the shade, but some do.ĭon’t confuse Emerald Spreader™ Japanese yew ( Taxus cuspidata* ‘Monloo’, Zones 5–7) with those overgrown blobs flanking foundations across the country. These shrubs can have a loose branching structure or a creeping growth pattern, but either way, they fill in the middle ground between taller trees and the ground layer. Mounding forms fill in gaps Variegated elkhorn cedar ( Thujopsis dolabrata ‘Nana Variegata’)Ĭonifers with a mounding habit usually have a fluffy texture, adding softness to the garden. Here are some conifers that have proven to be standouts in the shade. Surprisingly, even a couple of reported sun lovers perform better in some degree of shade. Many variegated conifers will burn out in the afternoon sun, and they appreciate shady conditions to keep their striking colors brilliant. The site had more shade and many more tree roots than I had originally thought.įortunately, dwarf conifers tend to be shade tolerant because they push their new growth earlier in the spring (before the deciduous trees really leaf out) and need less photosynthesis to remain happy. But spring brought some problems I hadn’t considered. ![]() Because going south for the winter wasn’t part of the plan, I decided to invest in some conifers to jazz up the view. It snowed endlessly that year, and the white fence enclosing my new garden stared back at me accusingly, begging for a better solution. I didn’t think about winter, and when it hit, I wasn’t happy. ![]() I brought along a few truckloads of my favorite perennials and happily plunked them into the backyard, creating an instant garden that I could see from our living-room window. Several years ago, my husband and I relocated from Connecticut to the shores of Lake Ontario. ![]()
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