EVERGREENS (CONIFERS)
ARBORVITAE, TECHNEY
(Thuja occidentalis ‘Techney’)
Height: 20’, Width: 15’.
Full sun to full shade.
A medium growing broad based arborvitae known as the hardiest
of the cold-weather arborvitae cultivars.
Dark green foliage responds well to shearing, and makes
excellent hedges.
Resistant to winterburn.
Will grow in most soils, but avoid wet heavy soils and highly
alkaline conditions.
Growing zones 3 to 7.
CEDAR,
WHITE (Thuja occidentalis)
Height: 40’, Width:20’-30’.
Full sun to part shade.
Also known as
American Arborvitae. A
fast growing native evergreen with soft, flat, bright green foliage.
Easily shaped by shearing, can be used singly as a specimen
or hedged. Can suffer
damage from deer browsing.
Best on well drained soils, but once established can tolerate
drier conditions as well as damp (not water logged) soils.
Growing zones 3 to 7.
FIR,
BALSAM (Abies balsamea)
Height: 50’-70’, Width: 20’-25’.
Full sun to part shade.
A native tree with a distinctly pyramidal shape that is often
used for Christmas trees.
Foliage is soft, fragrant, and dark green.
A medium grower which performs best on well drained soils,
but will tolerate slightly wetter conditions.
Growing zones 3 to 5.
LARCH,
AMERICAN (Larix laricina)
Height: 40’-60’, Width: 15’-25’.
Full sun. More commonly known as
Tamarack. A fast
growing native deciduous conifer with soft and slender 1” needles.
The needles turn an outstanding gold in late fall and drop
after all other trees have shed their leaves.
Prefers deep, moist soils, and can tolerate boggy conditions.
Growing zones 2 to 5.
LARCH,
SIBERIAN (Larix sibirica)
Height: 40’-60’, Width: 20’-30’.
Full sun. A
slower growing, more dense tree than American Larch.
Needles are 1 ½” long, soft, medium green, and turn a
yellow-gold color in fall before dropping.
The foliage drops earlier than the American Larch.
Prefers moist, rich, cool soils and will tolerate wet
conditions. Growing
zones 2 to 5.
PINE
SCOTCH (Pinus sylvestris) Height: 30’-50’, Width:
20’-40’. Full sun.
A slow to medium growing tree often used for Christmas trees.
Short, stiff 2”-3” stiff bluish green needles occur in pairs.
Will grow in variety of soils as long as they are well
drained. Growing zones
3a to 7.
PINE,
RED (Pinus resinosa)
Height: 50’-70’, Width: 40’.
Full sun. A
medium growing native pine capable of growing on tough sites.
Needles are 5”-6” long, medium to dark green in clusters of
2. Prefers well drained
soils and will perform well on sandy, gravelly acid soils.
A better choice than White Pine in areas where it will be exposed to
winter winds.
Growing zones 2 to 5.
PINE,
WHITE (Pinus strobes) Height: 60’-80’, Width:25’-40’.
Full sun to part shade.
A fast growing native pine with
2” to 4” long medium green needles.
A handsome and ornamental specimen, it performs best when
afforded some winter protection from winds.
Prefers well drained soils, but is adaptable.
Deer prefer to browse the new growth, so avoid planting or protect
if deer are present.
Growing zones 3 to 7.
SPRUCE,
BLACK HILLS (Picea glauca ‘Densata’) Height: 30’-40’, Width:
20’-25’. Full sun.
A slower growing subspecies of White Spruce.
Short dark green needles, compact dense form and medium
growing tree for specimen, screens, and windbreaks.
Best on well drained soils, but it will grow on dry soils
once established. Growing zones 3 to 6.
SPRUCE,
COLORADO (Picea pungens)
Height: 40’-60’, Width: 15’-25’.
Full sun. Often
called ‘Blue Spruce’, the needle color can vary from medium green to
silvery blue. A medium
growing tree with 1 ¼” long, stiff needles.
Prone to needlecast disease if not planted in areas with good
air circulation. Prefers
well drained soils.
Growing zones 3 to 7.
SPRUCE, FAT ALBERT (Picea Pungens 'Fat
Albert') Height: 15', Width: 8'-10'. Full sun. A
semi-dwarf variety of Colorado blue spruce with extremely blue
foliage. Slow growing with a strong central leader and well
balanced form, this grafted evergreen is perfect for specimen
planting or in smaller areas where a full sized spruce is too large.
Best in well drained soils and in areas with good air circulation.
Growing zones 3 to 7.
SPRUCE,
NORWAY (Picea abies)
Height: 60’-80’, Width: 25’-35’.
Full sun. A rapid
growing large evergreen with short medium-dark green needles.
An excellent choice for large areas and windbreaks.
Performs best on well drained soils, but will grow on dry
soils once established.
Growing zones 2 to 6.
SPRUCE,
WHITE (Picea glauca)
Height: 50’-70’, Width: 20’-30’.
Full sun. A
native evergreen with a
moderately fast growth rate, and short medium green needles.
The parent tree of Black
Hills spruce, this is an excellent choice for specimen and
windbreaks. Best in well
drained soils, but will grow on dry soils once established.
Growing zones 2 to 6.