Mugo pines (Pinus mugo) aren’t flashy, however these low-maintenance evergreens provide up dependable texture and shade within the panorama with little assist from the gardener.
The truth is, relying on the place you reside, you may not even want to fret about watering or fertilizing them in any respect.
Whereas your roses are flowering and fading, your bushes are dropping their leaves in fall, and your backyard is roofed in snow, your mugo pines are trying as beautiful as ever.
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In our information to rising mugo pines, we talk about tips on how to domesticate these versatile evergreens in your panorama. And they’re accessible in much more styles and sizes than most gardeners notice.
So whether or not you want an evergreen floor cowl for a dry spot, otherwise you need a tall, pyramidal choice to anchor your backyard, there’s a mugo pine on the market that may make it occur.
All of them develop in a variety of climates and might reside for many years.
On this information, we’ll introduce 23 of the very best choices whether or not you need to brighten up a spot in your small yard backyard, accent an enormous, naked grassy space, or fill within the hell strip in entrance of a strip mall.
Right here’s the record:
Remember as you head out to buy these crops that they’re generally listed as “mugho” pines.
They may even be offered beneath a generic species identify, however the specifics of the form and dimension would possibly range, so make sure you learn the grower’s description.
For instance, Nature Hills Nursery sells a specimen that grows to 5 toes tall and 10 toes broad, which isn’t typical of the species.
Mugo Pine
There’s nothing incorrect with that, you simply need to be certain you recognize what you’re planting.
It additionally helps to know if the plant you might be deciding on is a P. mugo subspecies. There are three subspecies of P. mugo, these are mugo, uncinata, and rotunda.
P. mugo subsp. mugo are shrubby and develop to about 20 toes tall over the course of about 10 years, P. mugo subsp. uncinata are extra tree-like and attain as much as 60 toes or extra over 20 years.
P. mugo subsp. rotunda is a pure hybrid between the 2. We’ll let you recognize if any of those slot in these teams.
True dwarf varieties, P. mugo var. pumilio are a part of the mugo subspecies.
Except in any other case specified, these crops thrive in Zones 2 to eight.
Let’s discover 23 of the very best varieties to develop in your panorama.
1. Alpenglow
Numerous gardeners admire the slow-growing nature of mugo pines, however if you happen to’re a little bit impatient like I’m, ‘Alpenglow’ is a little more vigorous.
This cultivar can attain its mature dimension of eight toes tall and 10 toes broad in seven or eight years.
The mounding shrub is densely coated in half-inch needles and has a number of wonderful branching.
It retains its deep inexperienced coloring all through the winter. It’s one of many extra standard choices for coaching bonsai due to its wonderful development.
‘Alpenglow’ can also be standard as a result of it naturally has a flat prime form with rounded sides, making it appear to be you spent hours pruning while you have been truly sitting on the patio in your favourite lounge chair.
2. Aurea
P. mugo var. pumilio ‘Aurea’ is a semi-dwarf sort that options lengthy, gentle inexperienced and yellow needles. Within the winter, they transition to vibrant golden-yellow.
Whereas ‘Aurea’ can tolerate a partial solar location, the coloration is finest in full solar. It grows to about three toes tall and 4 toes broad.
The dense shrub, generally known as golden dwarf, matures over about ten years and gives an ongoing show that shifts with the seasons, with a lovely oval form.
My one notice is that ‘Aurea’ can burn within the winter if it’s uncovered to excessive solar and wind.
If that occurs, the plant will drop the burned needles and can put out new development. Or you may prune off the broken parts your self.
3. Blue
‘Blue’ is a medium-sized shrub that matures to about eight toes tall and broad.
The 2-inch-long needles are distinctly blue-green, displaying extra blue within the winter and turning into greener in the summertime months.
The needles are held upright and are loosely packed, giving the plant an open form.
4. Carsten’s Wintergold
If you happen to’re searching for a dwarf possibility with golden needles, ‘Carsten’s Wintergold’ is the only option.
The needles of this var. pumilio cultivar are inexperienced with a touch of yellow throughout the summer season earlier than altering to golden-yellow within the fall.
The colder your local weather, the extra intense the coloration. It may well develop fortunately in Zones 2 to eight, however the shade in hotter areas isn’t fairly as stellar.
The needles are comparatively quick and develop in dense clusters on a plant that’s about two toes tall and broad at maturity. It takes about 10 years to attain its full dimension, nevertheless it’s well worth the wait.
‘Carsten’s Wintergold’ nabbed the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Backyard Benefit in 2012.
‘Carsten’s Wintergold’
I can’t think about why you wouldn’t need one. Maple Ridge Nursery has crops accessible in one- and three-gallon containers.
5. Corley’s Mat
One of the prostrate choices on the market, P. mugo var. pumilio ‘Corley’s Mat’ can stretch as much as 4 toes broad however sometimes grows solely 18 inches or so tall.
It has medium inexperienced needles that hold their shade all 12 months spherical and it’s extraordinarily compact, with the needles so thick you may’t see the bottom or stems beneath.
It’s a troublesome, adaptable possibility for rock gardens or wherever you want a dependable floor cowl.
6. Donna’s Mini
Whoever named this cultivar wasn’t kidding after they known as it “mini.”
This var. pumilio cultivar solely grows to about 10 inches tall and 18 inches broad at maturity.
It has darkish inexperienced needles which can be extraordinarily quick, masking the mounded shrub from prime to backside. It appears to be like like some odd deep sea creature hanging out in your backyard.
7. Dwarf
Earlier than I sing the praises of dwarf mugo pines, a narrative. My grandma had a dwarf mugo that wasn’t. It grew simply as massive because the species plant, a lot to her dismay.
From then on, she would by no means purchase a plant that claimed to be “dwarf.” She believed from that time ahead that any plant labelled “dwarf” was a liar and would ultimately develop into full-sized.
Now, she’s not totally incorrect in the case of mugo pines.
They typically was once mislabeled and unsuspecting customers can be confronted with an enormous plant a couple of years later that they weren’t in any respect ready for.
Today, the labeling is a bit higher, however double-check that the plant is labeled as “pumilio” or “mops.” If it’s simply labeled as “dwarf,” be like my grandma and train excessive skepticism.
The true dwarf selection. P. mugo var. pumilio is a marvel. It grows steadily over a decade or so to about 5 toes tall and ten toes broad at most, although normally nearer to 5 toes broad.
The true dwarf selection maintains a lovely mounding development behavior with none pruning, and dense darkish inexperienced needles that add texture to the backyard.
The Royal Horticultural Society agrees, giving it the Award of Backyard Benefit in 1993.
Dwarf Mugo Pine
On this case, grandma is incorrect. Dwarf crops do exist and you will discover yours at Nature Hills Nursery.
8. Enci
‘Enci’ has mushy, lengthy needles that cowl the four-foot-tall and six-foot-wide mounding shrub.
It has impressively dense development, each with tightly clustered needles and the close-growing branches.
You’ll be able to’t even see the construction beneath for all of the needles. It’s not fairly as cold-hardy or warmth tolerant because the species plant and is finest cultivated in Zones 3 to 7.
9. Fastigiata
‘Fastigiata’ is the proper selection in case your bushes endure from breakage beneath heavy snow masses within the winter.
The upright, blue-green needles are held carefully collectively so the branches don’t construct up with snow as simply as many different cultivars.
At 20 to 25 toes tall and 6 to eight toes broad, this massive possibility has an upright, columnar or pyramidal form, which isn’t frequent amongst mugo pines.
‘Fastigiata’
There’s additionally a model with yellow needles known as ‘Aurea Fastigiata.’ Discover one in your backyard at Quick Rising Bushes.
10. Gallica
You aren’t going to search out this cultivar at each backyard retailer, however if you’d like a mugo with an upright, pyramidal form, that is one other of the uncommon few.
P. mugo subsp. uncinata ‘Gallica’ has a number of upright branches on a shrub that’s partially open, rising to fifteen toes tall and 10 to fifteen toes broad.
The darkish inexperienced needles hold their shade all through the winter and throughout the summer season warmth.
11. Gnome
‘Gnome’ lives as much as its identify as a real dwarf rising simply 18 inches tall and three toes broad.
It has quick needles clustered carefully collectively on a finely branched mound with a distinctly flat prime.
Sometimes, you’ll discover it grafted onto a regular to create a topiary-like look with a protracted trunk and a rounded cover.
This cultivar requires virtually no pruning to keep up the form, so it’s excellent if you’d like that traditional topiary look with out the fixed pruning.
12. Gold Spire
You virtually don’t want an outline to check this mugo pine.
‘Gold Spire’ is tall and slim with a columnar form. It reaches 15 toes tall and 10 toes broad with darkish inexperienced foliage.
Within the spring, the brand new candles of needles are deep golden earlier than maturing to darkish inexperienced.
13. Golden Mound
‘Golden Mound’ has stiff, upright, golden-green needles on a plant that grows about three toes tall and 4 toes broad over 10 years.
The needles are golden throughout the winter and greener in the summertime.
Whereas the colour is actually engaging, the attractive mounding form makes it an additional engaging possibility for the backyard.
14. Inexperienced Candle
You know the way I discussed that mugo pines aren’t the star of the backyard present? Properly ‘Inexperienced Candle’ begs to vary. Within the spring, the plant is positively smothered in flowers.
On the base of the tan coloured candles are clusters of inexperienced male pollen cones that ultimately flip brown. It makes for a hanging accent towards the darkish inexperienced leaves.
It has globe-like development behavior when younger, however because it matures it takes on a distinctly broad pyramidal form, reaching about 5 toes tall and broad.
15. Humpy
At 18 inches tall and two toes broad, ‘Humpy’ is one petite P. mugo var. pumilio cultivar. It has proportionally quick needles with thick, dense development.
The terminal buds tackle a white resinous coating within the winter, which, when mixed with the darkish inexperienced needles, creates a huge impact on a small plant.
‘Humpty’ earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Backyard Benefit in 2012.
16. Mini Mini
This teeny tiny plant is so small that it has to have two “minis” in its identify! This cultivar originated from a witches’-broom development on ‘Valley Cushion’ within the Eighties.
‘Mini Mini’ solely grows to about eight inches tall and broad, or barely wider. The leaves are proportionally small, which makes the plant appear to be a fuzzy ball of inexperienced velvet.
It’s excellent within the backyard, containers, or as a tiny bonsai.
17. Mughus
Mughus is a pure variation that was found reasonably than cultivated.
Generally listed as subspecies mugo or mughus, and generally known as P. mugo var. mughus or var. mugo these names confer with the identical plant.
This selection can attain 10 toes tall and 15 toes broad when mature, although they typically keep about half that dimension, with a mounded form.
Mughus
It makes an excellent hedge or can act as a low backdrop or filler for a dry space. You could find crops accessible at Planting Tree.
18. Ophir
Whereas mounding shapes are the commonest amongst mugo pines, there are a couple of which can be really rounded or globose. P. mugo var. pumilio ‘Ophir’ is one such cultivar.
It has a spherical form with a barely flattened prime and pale yellow-green needles that flip deep golden within the winter.
It grows simply three toes tall and broad in soils that vary from clay to sandy, and acidic to alkaline. It’s additionally extraordinarily drought-tolerant.
It ought to come as no shock, then, that ‘Ophir’ was given the Award of Backyard Benefit in 2012 by the Royal Horticultural Society.
19. Slowmound
Because the identify suggests, this cultivar has a spherical, mounded form.
At 4 toes tall and 6 toes broad at most, it’s a compact possibility that works properly as a specimen or in teams.
The needles are darkish inexperienced and densely packed, and it’ll maintain its shade in warmth or chilly.
‘Slowmound’
‘Slowmound’ lives as much as its identify as a gradual grower that takes 10 or extra years to succeed in its full dimension. It’s additionally lengthy lived, so you may take pleasure in it for many years to return.
You could find ‘Slowmound’ accessible at Planting Tree.
20. Sunshine
‘Sunshine’ isn’t tremendous frequent, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly value searching for. It’s a P. mugo var. pumilio cultivar that grows three toes tall and broad.
The lengthy needles have distinct bands of inexperienced and yellow.
From a distance, the plant appears to be like prefer it has a inexperienced base with yellow edges, however up shut, it appears to be like like a inexperienced and yellow porcupine exploded everywhere in the shrub.
‘Sunshine’
The colour is extra distinct in full solar and throughout the winter months, and it’ll maintain its coloring all 12 months.
You don’t have to look excessive and low. We’ve discovered it for you in a selection of one- or three-gallon containers at Maple Ridge Nursery.
21. Tannenbaum
‘Tannenbaum’ really has the proper Christmas tree form. It grows slowly to about 12 toes tall and 10 toes broad with a pyramidal form.
It’s the proper dimension for placing that star or angel on prime.
The evergreen blue-green needles are densely packed, excellent for hanging ornaments or including texture to the backyard panorama.
‘Tannenbaum’
Buy this mugo subspecies cultivar at Quick Rising Bushes. Then, collect the chums round to sing the praises of lovely ‘Tannenbaum.’
22. White Bud
I feel ‘White Bud’ is tremendous cool.
It’s uncommon and stands out from different P. mugo var. pumilio cultivars in that the ideas of the rising branches, referred to as the terminal buds, develop a white, waxy coating throughout chilly climate.
This coloration provides a vibrant accent to the lengthy, darkish inexperienced needles.
It’s a real dwarf cultivar that stays beneath three toes excessive and 4 toes broad with a rounded to mounding behavior.
23. Yellow Level
A preferred possibility for bonsai, ‘Yellow Level’ has medium inexperienced needles tipped in yellow, and the yellow solely intensifies throughout the winter.
The coloration is gradual reasonably than abrupt, as it may be on some cultivars, with the yellow fading into the inexperienced on the base.
It has a rounded form at three toes tall and broad with thick, dense development.
Make Room for Extra Mugo Pines
Mugo pines are gloriously long-lived, slow-growing, extraordinarily low-maintenance, and difficult as will be.
They aren’t simply medium to massive shrubs, both. You could find tall bushes, itty bitty balls, and beautiful floor covers.
There’s so much to like on this record. Are one or two of them calling your identify? Tell us which is your favourite. Or possibly you’ve got one that you just love that we missed? Give us the small print within the feedback part under.
And for extra details about rising pines in your panorama, take a look at these guides subsequent: