Pinus koraiensis 'Morris Blue' - Morris Blue Korean Pine

This variety is a slow growing, narrowly pyramidal pine, displaying elegant, long bluish-green needles; an impressive landscape or garden accent

Height: 15 feet. Spread: 7 feet. Sun: full sun. Hardiness zone: 3b.

Ornamental features

Morris Blue Korean Pine is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has silvery blue-variegated rich green foliage. The large needles remain green throughout the winter. The shaggy gray bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape

Morris Blue Korean Pine is a dense evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree. 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, General Garden Use.

Planting and growing

Morris Blue Korean Pine will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 120 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree 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 not particular as to soil type or pH. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.