Aucuba and Cephalotaxus

The Atlanta Botanical Garden boasts a good variety of conifers for both sun and shade .  Jamie Blackburn, a curator of horticulture at the garden, shared some of his thoughts about conifers that are well suited for the shade.  One that may be familiar to some  is Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Prostrata,’  the prostrate Japanese plum yew,  an effective groundcover. (It is also reported to be deer resistant but experience tells us that results may vary depending on how hungry the deer are)    If  you want a more upright plum yew, like a Christmas tree, look for seedlings that have a central leader, as these are more likely to form a pyramidal shape as they mature.  The  upright fastigiate cultivar of this species  is typically  much more narrow than it is tall.   Some shade tolerant conifers on display at ABG, although not widely available,  are worth seeking out.  These include Torreya grandis,  Taxus chinensis, Chinese yew, and Tsuga chinensis, Chinese hemlock, which is resistant to the wooly adelgid, a devastating insect that attacks our eastern native hemlock Tsuga canadensis.  There are cultivars of Tsuga canadensis that appear resistant to the adelgid  like ‘Gentsch White,’ a rounded compact plant whose branches have  silvery tips; it grows 4’ tall and wide, perfect for smaller shade gardens or containers. 

Thuja koraiensis 'Glauca Prostrata' and lilies

Below is a list of additional  conifers that tolerate shade. 

Podocarpus lawrencii- Mountian plum pine as it has been called grows only 12 to 18inches tall.

Thuja koriensis ‘Glauca Prostrata’- Korean arborvitae is low growing with silvery blue foliage. 

Thujopsis dolobrata ‘Nana’- Hiba dwarf arborvitae has  a shrubby rounded habit and shiny foliage.   It grows 3 to 4’ tall and wide. 

Torreya nucifera- Japanese Torreya grows 20 to 30’ tall and 8 to 12’ wide. 

Tsuga yunnanensis-Yunnan hemlock grows 30 to 40’ tall and 18 to 25’wide, forming a graceful pyramidal shape. 

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata'

 

 

Sources: 

GardenHood, 353 Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30312, 404-880-9848

www.gardenhoodatlanta.com

McMahan’s Nursery, 5727 Cleveland Hwy.,Clermont, GA 30527, 770-983-3666

www.mcmahansnursery.com

 Scottsdale Farms, 15639 Birmingham Hwy(Hwy 372), Alpharetta, GA 30004, 770-777-5875

www.scottsdalefarms.com

Tsuga canadensis

Woodlanders Inc., 1128 Colleton Ave. SE
Aiken, SC 29801-4728, 803-648-7522

www.woodlanders.net

Yucca Do Nursery, P.O.  Box 1039, Giddings, TX 78942, 979-542-8811

www.yuccado.com

If you like the look of Japanese cedar,  Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’ but don’t have the space or need for a tree that grows 40 to 50’ tall and 10’ across there are a number of  selections  to consider that act more like shrubs and take up a lot less space.  These include  Cryptomeria japonica ‘Globosa Nana’ which forms a tidy globe  and grows 6 to 8’ tall by 4 to 8’ wide; and Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis ‘Black Dragon,’ with irregular pyramidal  growth it matures at 10 to 12’ tall but only 3 to 4’ wide.  A true dwarf form that needs light shade so the white tipped foliage won’t burn , Cryptomeria japonica ‘Knaptonensis’ grows 6’ tall by 7’ wide in 20 years. With dark green foliage  Cryptomeria japonica ‘Gyokruyu’ starts out as a mound but eventually forms a central leader and matures at about 8’ tall and 6’ wide.  I have seen it paired with the ornamental grass Nassella tenuissima and Chrysanthemum pacificum.

Another conifer that appeals to me for its flat sprays of elegant fan-like foliage is Chameacyparis obtusa, Hinoki cypress.  There are numerous cultivars for gardens that are “space challenged”  including ‘Nana Gracilis’ which has an irregular globose habit growing 3 to 5’ tall and 4’ wide  in ten years.  For sunshine year around  ‘Nana Lutea’ has lemon-gold foliage provided you plant it in full sun.  In part shade it turns more of a green gold.   C. obtusa ‘Meroke Twin’ has more of a narrow upright habit with new growth that starts out lemon yellow before fading to green.  A dwarf  selection that grows very slowly with  beautiful cupped fans of foliage is Chameacyparis obtusa ‘Kosteri.’  Hinoki cypress are well suited for growing in pots on their own or in the garden  with other conifers or Japanese maples like the  Coral bark maple, Acer palmatum ‘Sangu Kaku’ with brilliant red winter stems and yellow foliage in autumn.

Picea pungens ‘Compacta,’ dwarf  blue spruce, has a broad upright habit and grows 5 to 6’ tall in ten years.  Its striking blue-gray foliage provides welcome color in the winter landscape especially when it is combined  with other conifers with dark green foliage.

Conifers and in particular dwarf conifers should be included when you design your garden or add to it.  They provide effective evergreen anchors, accents or focal points.  For the best effect don’t isolate them, instead combine them with  ornamental grasses, broadleaf evergreens or spring blooming shrubs and bulbs  for a landscape that offers four seasons of beauty.

For more information about conifers the State Botanical Gardens in Athens is offering a Garden Design Seminar and Workshop: Gardener’s Guide to Conifers, Februray 15, 9am-3pm register at www.uga.edu/~botgarden/educationalevents.html