Pinus cembra 'Glauca Nana' - Dwarf Blue Swiss Stone Pine

This lush and full evergreen is conical, slow growing, and densely branched to the ground; smooth dark grey bark becomes fissured with age; needles are bluish white on the inner sides which adds a colorful character

Height: 12 feet. Spread: 6 feet. Sun: full sun. Hardiness zone: 3a.

Ornamental features

Dwarf Blue Swiss Stone Pine is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its rigidly columnar form. It has attractive silvery blue foliage with green undersides. The needles are highly ornamental and remain silvery blue throughout the winter.

Landscape

Dwarf Blue Swiss Stone Pine is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Recommended for: Accent, Vertical Accent, Mass Planting, Hedges/Screening, General Garden Use.

Planting and growing

Dwarf Blue Swiss Stone Pine will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.