“Resinous Exudations”

Longing to write about this tree for some time, I find it timely to discuss the possibilities of a unique dwarf conifer. Now that the holidays are behind us what could be planted into our outdoor containers other than using the proverbial dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’)? As a garden center owner I am always astounded as to the number of DAS (dwarf Alberta spruce) we sell as an industry. Known to be problematic, a condominium for spider mites, water hogs and eager for full sun, most seem to be planted in containers far too small for their root systems and forced into cramped, unlit surroundings. Allow me to introduce a substitute… Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata).

Years ago, studying at Rutgers University, I had a plant identification class where I learned this tree for the first time. Pinus aristata is a five-needle type conifer (leaves borne 5 together) with an extremely slow growing habit. Bluish-green needles adorn a most picturesque character both in its adolescence and more mature years. The bark of a Bristlecone morphs from a smooth grey-green when it’s young to a more fissured, rust color as it matures. The needles are aromatic, but it’s the white dots commonly found along the needles that have always intrigued me. Resinous exudations (secreting a viscous marking through its pores) are markings that look like tiny sugar crystals sitting along the needles that many confuse as insect or fungal issues. These, in fact, are natural occurrences that quickly help to identify what type of tree you are looking at. Tolerant to dry soils, they make a great container plant for those who are remiss in their watering habits. While Bristlecone can obtain heights of 20-40 feet and are documented as one of the oldest living plants on earth, this dwarf conifer could survive in a planter almost indefinitely. Three to five foot plants can take the better part of 20 years to achieve. Native to the Southwestern United States, Pinus aristata has often been referred to as a Foxtail pine because of the bushy effect of its foliage.

As with any great plant this also has a few cultivars to be on the lookout for. ‘Sherwood Compacta’ is a plant I have, as a pair, welcoming guests as they approach our walkway. Even slower growing than the species, ‘Sherwood Compacta’ is a handsome, perfect little pyramid. Complete with small purple cones in the spring, it has “tightly packed tufts of medium-long, green needles with white undersides” (Iseli Nursery). Found and named by the late Oregon nurseryman Andy Sherwood, ‘Sherwood Compacta’ is a cultivar that can survive years in a contained area. ‘Formal Form’ is another Great Basin Bristlecone Pine that has a more narrow, uniform shape, which is larger than ‘Sherwood Compacta’ and smaller than ‘Blue Heron’. The needles are 1.5 inches long and radiate, as do the others, around the ascending branches. All are long-lived plants.

Speaking of longevity, as previously mentioned, Bristlecone’s are among the oldest living plants in the world. One such plant, “Methuselah”, is aptly named after Methuselah, the longest-lived person in the Bible. The tree is located in the “Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of eastern California, however, it’s precise location is undisclosed by the U.S. Forest Service to protect the tree from vandalism” ( Methuselah Walk. U.S. Forest Service/ Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association). Core samples were taken in 1957 and estimated the tree to be 4,789 years old then. It is the oldest known individual tree in the world and non-clonal organism still alive. Its estimated germination is 2832 BC! Considering that Bristlecone’s may only obtain an inch or so in diameter in the course of a century, you can appreciate the perseverance of such a tree. To clarify any confusion, the fore mentioned tree is categorized as Pinus longaeva. Pinus aristata, longaeva and balfouriana are all closely related species of Bristlecone pine. Cold temperatures, dry soils, high winds and shorter growing seasons all contribute to the stagnation of a Bristlecone’s development. As a result, the wood is quite dense and resinous creating a natural barrier for insects and fungi to penetrate.

Suitable for rock gardens, bonsai work, an entrance piece to a garden or an outstanding container plant, Pinus aristata can have many uses. Tolerant to dry soils, less likely to be invaded by spider mites and a slow grower are all reasons to consider this over the more pedestrian dwarf Alberta spruce. Not to mention the neat white spots you can stump your friends with when they think an insect is invading your tree. You know better!

Name Dropping

High above the clouds, sitting here at 36,000 feet I became inspired to write about my next article. My semi-annual trek across the country, in search of next year’s nursery stock, has me reminiscing about the colorful nomenclature often associated with the plants you purchase. And the need to understand some Latin and directing that specific vocabulary into everyday usage should not be seen as elitist, but rather as a more clear understanding of what it is you really want in your own garden. Let me explain!

Most of us know that the road to understanding the plant kingdom can be a bit daunting. Our high school science classes taught us all the order of living things. Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species are words that may conjure up feelings of not being prepared for your scantron test. Remember those? Fortunately, to communicate, really communicate, at your independent garden centers you really only need to learn the last two. Genus and species, for most, are enough to narrow down the search. Take it one step further and you can get into cultivars. Why is this important? Because all blue spruce are not created equal! Understanding the “big three”, genus, species and cultivar brings you to a level of appreciation and understanding their differences. The individual generic (genus) or specific epithet (species name) is really not confusing once you break it down. Google a plant search for blue spruce cultivars and you’ll see what I mean. The name Picea pungens will keep coming up, reinforcing the genus and species. But what about all those names in single quotations? The colorful names of people and places, where did they come from?

Too many to ever list all of them, let’s talk about a few of the most popular. Picea pungens ‘Fat Albert’ was named, as you would imagine, after Bill Cosby’s cartoon character. Found in 1976 by Iseli Nursery in Oregon, ‘Fat Albert’ was chosen because it is “the fattest, bluest, most perfect BIG blue spruce grown”. Another popular plant that adorns many homes in New Jersey is Nellie Stevens holly (Ilex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’). Who was Nellie Stevens? She was a school teacher and principal whose seed collection was almost lost forever. “Miss Nellie” as she was “affectionately called” collected seed in 1900 from the National Arboretum. Later it was found that the heritage of that collection was English holly (Ilex aquifolium) and Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta). Her seed collection was almost cut down in their later years, but was saved because of collaboration between Eunice Parsons Highley, Nellie Steven’s niece and Mr. and Mrs. Van Lennep. Mr. Van Lennep named the holly for Nellie Stevens and in 1967, some 25 years after Nellie Stevens death, her holly was registered with the American Holly society. The very popular, broadleaf, evergreen, southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’) was chosen by Ray Bracken, a nurseryman whose locution was “if I do nothing else in my lifetime but leave the world a good tree, I’ve done something”. His magnolia was selected not only for its cold hardiness, -22 degrees Fahrenheit, but also for its fungal resistance, huge flowers and shade tolerance. Not to mention the fuzzy-brown undersides of the leaves. One of the most popular harbingers of spring, witchhazel, also has a famed name. Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ was selected by the Arnold Arboretum for its unique combination of fragrance of flowers and cold hardiness. Finally, someone in our own backyard discovered ‘Carol Mackie’ Daphne. Carol Mackie has been described as an amateur horticulturist who may very well have found the quintessential plant. In 1962 this past resident of New Jersey found a lovely variegated daphne with fragrant pale-pink flowers. Soon after, Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie’ became elevated to rock star status.

Understanding the “big three” leads you to asking better questions. Knowing that “cool cultivars” have been chosen for specific reasons should leave you asking the question… does the perfect plant exist. The answer is yes! If you want a bright blue spruce with a smaller habit suitable for a foundation planting, chances are it exists. There are reasons certain plants were selected and became marketable cultivars. They may have been selected for their prominent color markings, heavier flower production, glossier leaves, thicker stems or a more narrow habit. The point being, as your appreciation for plant material increases you can begin to select plants and take advantage of what others have found for you. Your garden, in turn, will begin to take on characteristics very specific to your own likings.

Not Just Dull, Green Pyramids

Often I find myself making comparisons between plants and wine. Being passionate about both has me always being inquisitive and never knowing it all. Having a deep appreciation for a subject matter leads to more interesting conversation, while strengthening relationships with others who share your interests. Enjoying wine can simply mean liking the taste of what you’re drinking. However, appreciating wine goes a bit further. It understands the ‘terroir’, a French word used as a collective term to describe the growing conditions of a vineyard, specifically the soil, climate, drainage, slope and topography to name a few. It is to understand the subtle nuances that make up this wonderful food, eclipsing the idea that one bottle of cabernet sauvignon is like any other bottle of cabernet sauvignon. Those who know wine can tell you that it is this ‘terroir’ that encompasses unmistakable attributes and characteristics which define certain regions of the world. That said, cabernet from Paso Robles tastes differently than that of Bordeaux. I enjoy both!

The same holds true with plant material. There are those whom I speak with in retail that simply want a dull, green pyramid dumped at the corner of their house, happy to have a plant that simply fills the space. Then there are those who I come across that ask more insightful questions. Questions about a trees bark, leaf or needle color markings and the development of cones all lead to longer conversation and an almost certain kinship. So what about those cones that seems to spark interest? Can they really be that interesting? And for that matter, can a conifer really flower?

The word conifer is derived from the Latin words, conus and ferre, meaning to bear cones. While all plants within this group do bear cones, not all do it with such flare. “Beginning as a tight cluster of female flowers, the cone develops to provide a receptacle, to nurture the growing seeds after fertilization” (Gardening with Conifers, Adrian Bloom). Male flowers may also grow in the shape of a cone; however, academically these remain flowers. Typically, the flowers and cones develop in the spring with cedars being an exception. Conifers that develop male and female flowers on the same tree are monoecious while those that develop them on different plants are dioecious. Male flowers can be as brightly colored as a male peacock pheasant. It is these brightly colored images on conifers that help pull me through the doldrums of winter.

Some of the more spectacular markings to look forward to this spring appear on Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis). Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’, a yellow form in our front yard, will develop red flowers this spring and an abundance of narrow cones. It is this explosion of red color backed with yellows and greens that I wait for every spring. Abies koreana ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’ is a conifer unlike any other. The recurved foliage of this tree has silver, white and blue markings. And while this alone would be enough to entice even the most experienced gardener, arguably the cones are even more impressive. Often described as violet-purple, these can be as long as 3 inches and as wide as one. Abies procera ‘Glauca Prostrata’ is another tree that develops beautiful crimson-red flowers in the spring. If you are unfamiliar with this tree in a garden consider the parent plant Abies procera (Noble fir) as your next cut Christmas tree. With gorgeous blue-green foliage, this is sure to outlast any other cut tree. Another botanical wonder worth mentioning is Picea abies ‘Acrocona’. Aptly named, ‘Acrocona’ means with terminal cones. Dripping with tons of cones held at its tips, this Norway spruce has phenomenal early spring markings. Screaming, raspberry red, male and female flowers develop, occurring on even the youngest of trees. Yet another harbinger of spring is Abies alba ‘Holden Arboretum’. This dwarf, silver fir has impressed me in recent years with its honey-green cones. The parent plant is capable of producing cones almost a half a foot by two inches wide.

When I first started in horticulture I thought the botanical nomenclature was difficult. Words like Metasequoia glyptostroboides don’t exactly roll off your tongue at first.

Going forward, trying to memorize grapes and regions has been an equally daunting task. Blessed with a loving family, a job that I truly love and a hobby, oenology, that I am eager to understand more of has me more than fulfilled. My cup has runnith over!

A Colorful Conifer

When I was a child growing up there was nothing like the anticipation of Christmas day. Waiting, not so patiently, for the day to arrive and hopefully open the gift that I had asked for. One of the benefits of gardening is that with every season there is a new gift to wait patiently for. Perhaps the most anticipated gifts are those of spring. Maybe it’s because of the low temperatures we have just endured or because of winters shorter days and longer nights. But now that spring is finally here, we again have the explosion of color and the unfolding textures providing us with a heightened sense for the outdoors.

Picea orientalis (Oriental Spruce) has for a long time been underused and under appreciated. Native to the Caucasus and Northeast Turkey, this majestic beauty was introduced in 1827. So why is it taking so long for the public to grasp its beauty? A strikingly beautiful conifer, orientalis offers a dense, narrow, pyramid form with glossy, dark green foliage. The needles are short, closely packed together and have somewhat of a blunt tip to them. Cultivated specimens often reach heights of 50-60 feet; however native trees have reached heights of more than 100 feet. Male flowers are a showy red and the fruiting cones, produced in abundance in May, are a bright rose-pink to red digressing to a tannish-brown. More notable, however, is its landscape value. Having a more narrow habit makes it suitable for smaller properties offering an incredible range of versatility. Used more appropriately as a screen than Picea abies (Norway spruce), it can also be useful as a specimen or shade tree when a coniferous evergreen is desired. Picea orientalis is virtually pest free, not succumbing as readily to the problems of spider mite, spruce gall aphid, and borer that Norway spruce will almost certainly get. Orientalis prefers moist, well-drained soil, as do most conifers, and is more tolerant of arid conditions than most other spruce. However, it is not classified as drought tolerant. Full sun and protection from strong winter winds are two other keys to its success. With so much versatility it’s almost greedy to ask more from this tree.

As with most plants there are cultivars available that can enhance already attractive attributes. This tree is no exception. Two personal favorites are Picea orientalis ‘Aureospicata’ and “Skylands”. Picea o. “Aureospicata” has me waiting all winter for three short weeks. Early in the spring “Aureospicata’s” new growth emerges at the tip of the branches in bright yellow. From a distance it looks as though there are tiny canaries perched on every branch. This phenomenon happens at the end of April to early May and is truly a gardener’s treat. By early summer all of the yellow tips will fade and mature to a dark green. “Skylands” is another gem that has been sought out for its pronounced yellow markings. A beautiful contrast of yellow exterior needles and dark green interior foliage create year round enjoyment. Both cultivars develop slowly at first, but given the opportunity finish nicely with a full, pyramidal outline.

If your intention is to run a hedge line of spruce down your property line to distance yourself from your neighbors then consider Picea orientalis as a solution. Its overall presence will be more narrow, thus enabling you to plant them slightly closer. However, this does not mean that placing them 5 feet apart is the answer. Often I see proverbial hedge lines of Norway spruce, Douglas fir, blue spruce and hemlock planted five feet from one another. This not only lacks creativeness, but it is an unhealthy solution to your problem. Poor air circulation, root development problems and light penetration will quickly point out the error of your ways. There are many conifers that can offer you the privacy you’re after. Some may be more fiscally challenging to put on your property at first, but given the choice of planting it right the first time or planting the area twice, go with the earlier. Hopefully your decision will be to go with a conifer that offers purplish-red cones and yellow new growth.