Sciadopitys verticillata 'Green Star' - Green Star Japanese Umbrella Pine

A compact, slow growing evergreen with a distinctive upright pyramidal shape and short green needles that are blunt on the ends making the plant look quite sturdy; a fine choice as an evergreen accent in the garden

Height: 10 feet. Spread: 4 feet. Sun: full sun. Hardiness zone: 4a.

Ornamental features

Green Star Umbrella Pine has forest green evergreen foliage which emerges chartreuse in spring on a dwarf conifer with a pyramidal habit of growth. The needles remain forest green throughout the winter.

Landscape

Green Star Umbrella Pine is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with 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 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: Mass Planting, Hedges/Screening, Rock/Alpine Gardens, General Garden Use, Container Planting.

Planting and growing

Green Star Umbrella Pine will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 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 for 60 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.