Conifers ~ Beauty, Structure & Habitat
Cypress, arborvitae, fir, juniper, hemlock, pine, spruce. These are the giants that provide verticality, structure, texture and habitat in the garden. Even with a space as small as The Big Little Garden (.25 acres), conifers play a huge role. Sporting four-season visual interest, these evergreens help to define the property and supply vital habitat for beneficial wildlife. Once you begin to design with conifers and appreciate their varied shapes, textures and colors, you’ll never look at them the same way again.
The top photo shows six different conifers. Four of them were planted on the same day in August 2020, after we removed an ailing Colorado Blue Spruce, which left behind a massive and gaping hole in our back border. I’ll be adding more layers of native shrubs and perennials in 2021 to create dense habitat for widlife.
Conifers, left to right at top (more images below). ‘N’ denotes ‘native to US’
“Conifer: a tree that bears cones and needle-like or scale-like leaves that are typically evergreen. Conifers are of major importance as the source of softwood, and also supply resins and turpentine.
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Thuja ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae (barely visible on the left edge of image, planted in 2012 (N)
Pinus parviflora,‘Fukuzumi’, low and sprawling, left front, planted 2020
Abies concolor candicans, blue fir, center (N), planted 2020
Pinus strobus ‘Golden Candles), small, front right (N), planted 2020
Pinus nigra ‘Oregon Green’ Austrian pine, right back, planted 2020
Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Gold Mop’, right front, planted in 2013
Habitat for wildlife:
My garden and landscape represents over 25 years of planting evolution with an emphasis on supporting our native wildlife. Conifers are frequently overlooked by many in this regard. But, they are well-recognized as the perfect habitat for birds. Dense foliage of native arborvitae and pines offer quick escape from predators as well as protection from harsh weather. Conifers are also outstanding hosts for caterpillars upon which adult birds and their young thrive.
4 season color and texture:
Long after flower blooms fade, conifers continue to support color in the landscape with their beautiful shades of green, blue, white and yellow. Many sport new cones in spring (hence the name ‘conifer’) in shades of pink, purple and red.
Just run your fingers through the supple, soft needles of Eastern white pine and the short, buttery needle clusters of a fir and you’ll be hooked.
Examples of more conifers that I’ve planted in my own garden and in my clients’ gardens in NH and MA below:
Other lovely conifers in client gardens that were already on site
