Dwarf Pine Trees: Information on a Japanese Variety

Plant taxonomy classifies Japanese dwarf pine tree as Pinus parviflora 'Arnold Arboretum Dwarf' (the part of the name in single quotes is, as usual, the cultivar name).

These dwarf pine trees are classified as evergreen conifers.

Bizon Nursery (the source for the dwarf pine tree that I'm growing) says of the plant that "A ten year old tree is 3 feet tall and under 2 feet wide." The needles are blue-green in color, the branching pattern dense. This is an artistic tree that deserves a background that will highlight its interesting form.

These dwarf pine trees can be grown in zones 4-8.

Grow these dwarf pine trees in full sun and in a well-drained soil.

This slow-growing dwarf tree is effective in foundation plantings, entrance plantings, or in any other design where it is critical to have plants that won't outgrow the space allotted to them.

This specimen should need little pruning. But you can prune it lightly to shape it as desired. As with any plant, prune off any dead branches.

Sometimes, less is more -- and slow is good. For instance, when installing a plant in a small space, you need reasonable assurance that it won't quickly spike out of control, necessitating its removal after a short period. Thus the popularity of slow-growing dwarf pine trees.

The dwarfs discussed in this article are slow-growing white pines suitable for use in small spaces. While some white pines are towering giants (for example, eastern white pine trees) that dominate a landscape and can be quite messy, this variety of Pinus parviflora pays heed to the old Japanese proverb, "the nail that sticks out gets pounded down." Keeping a low profile at all times, Japanese dwarf pine trees make a statement not with their size, but with their elegance.