Conifers have been around for over 270 million years. They too belong to the group of shrubs and trees, just like deciduous trees. As a rule, confusion is hardly possible due to the distinctive foliage. They are evergreen with a few exceptions. For many people, conifers stand for winter, Christmas and coziness. For many years, these coniferous trees have found their way into the home garden. They are available in different variations.
conifer species
Conifers are usually evergreen with a few exceptions such as the larch (Latrix). For this reason, they are often used as hedge plants in the garden. They grow easily, are easy to care for and adaptable. However, it should be borne in mind that various types of conifers can reach heights of up to 30 meters and higher.
notice: Especially with very tall conifers and hedges, the distance to the neighboring property must be maintained in order to avoid later disputes. Information about this is provided by the regulatory offices of the cities and municipalities.
Spruces (Picea)
There are about 50 different types. The hardy shallow roots can reach a height of between 30 and 70 meters and live up to 500 years. It grows like a shrub with a cone-shaped crown and a trunk diameter of up to one meter. The bark is slightly scaly and colored red to brown. The evergreen round needles can reach a length between 2 and 5 centimeters. They are very sharp and sting. Appearing cones are initially greenish in color, later brown and 10 to 15 centimeters long. Compared to the fir, these hang down on the branches. There are a few things to keep in mind when planting:
- sunny location
- Soil: rich in humus, sandy-loamy, nutritious, moist and permeable
- cut not necessary
- Growth height up to 3000 cm
- Growth width 100 to 300 cm
- annual growth 25 to 40 cm
Blue spruce (Picea pungens)
The magnificent ornamental tree is also very often referred to as the blue fir. It has a pyramidal habit. A special eye-catcher are the steel-blue, square and prickly needles. These are densely packed on tiered branches. Spike-shaped yellow flowers appear in early April to late April. Yellow-brown cones develop from this. The blue spruce is particularly suitable as a solitary plant, then it is also branched down to the ground.
Serbian spruce (Picea omorika)
The growth of these spruces is compact, dense and narrow. The regular branches are directed upwards in a crescent shape. Dark green, shiny needles 8 to 18 millimeters long are firmly attached to the branches. There are white stripes underneath. The cones, which are 5 centimeters in size, are initially violet and later reddish-brown in colour. Serbian spruce is suitable as a hedge plant, also as a solitary plant.
Source: Iifar, Picea omorika seed cones, Edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
Yew family (Taxaceae)
There are over 80 species. Yews are evergreens and all their plant parts are poisonous. They can reach heights of up to 15 meters and very old will. The needle-shaped, flattened and flexible leaves are alternate on the branches. They are lighter in color on the underside. The bark is scaly to fibrous and reddish brown. The trees are undemanding and easy to care for:
- Use singly or as a hedge
- sunny to partially shaded place
- Soil: slightly calcareous, rich in nutrients
- Growth height 200 to 1500 cm
- Growth width 70 to 800 cm
- annual growth 20 to 30 cm
- hardy
- cut compatible and malleable
- when planting hedges, 3 plants per meter
Yew (Taxa baccata)
The evergreen yew can be grown as a tree or shrub. The crown is broadly spherical to rounded and the branches reach to the ground. The growth is bushy, upright and densely branched. Young specimens grow from one trunk, older ones can have multiple trunks. The needles are soft, very flexible and up to 3 cm long. The upper side is dark green, slightly lighter underneath. The berries that appear are actually red, fleshy seeds. All plant parts are highly toxic.
Taxus baccata Fastigiata, columnar yew
Cypress family (Cupressaceae)
Growth can vary from species to species. It ranges from small, flat-lying to large, upright shrubs. The branches are horizontal with mostly drooping shoot tips. Young plants have needle-shaped leaves and with age they become more scale-like. They are green to dark green and lie close to the branches. The cones are up to 8 centimeters in size and are often brown in colour. Dark blue to black berry cones develop from this.
- sunny to partially shaded location
- Soil: fresh, dry, moderately nutritious, well drained, slightly acidic
- Growth height up to 1200 cm
- Growth width 200 to 600 cm
- annual growth 15 to 30 cm
- hardy and undemanding
- when planting hedges, 2 to 3 plants per meter
- cut compatible
Common juniper (Juniperus communis)
He is also as heather juniper known, evergreen and grows as a shrub or small tree. The crown is narrow and conical. There is a continuous leading drive. The needles are always arranged in whorls of three around the branch. They are up to 2 cm long, stiff, blue and sting. The cones are initially greenish. They take three years to mature and then turn black. You are as juniper berries known. There are several species and varieties with different colors.
Tree of Life (Thuja)
The tree of life is mainly used as a hedge plant. The conifers have arching ascending branches with a conical crown. Scale-shaped leaves are tightly attached to the shoots. They are dark green in the wild species. Breeding has produced different ones colored species. The cones have a conical shape. Male cones are reddish and female cones are light green to light brown. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
False cypress (Chamaecyparis)
They are closely related to the "true cypress" and are evergreen. Their growth is slender and conical. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Due to their dense growth, they are used as hedge plants. However, they are also suitable as a single plant or for container culture. There are also different colorful types.
Pines (Pinus)
In the garden are mainly dwarf forms used. The branches are irregularly shaped and covered with blue-green needles. The Blattstand is two needles. The crown is broad and umbrella-shaped. Imposing candle-like, light yellow flowers then appear in April/May. Brown cones then develop from this. Pines are best suited for single planting. It is important
- full sun location
- Soil: rich in nutrients, moist, permeable
- no heavy cutting measures
- Growth height 1000 to 3500 cm
- Growth width 700 to 1500 cm
- annual growth 15 to 40 cm
- hardy
Dwarf Pine (Pinus mugo pumilio)
The coniferous trees have a cushion-shaped to flat spherical growth. The dwarf pine can reach a height of up to 150 cm. It is very slow-growing, with an annual increase of between 5 and 7 centimeters. Ovoid to spherical cones appear. This species is versatile, but also excellent for a Culture in the bucket suitable.
Dwarf Pine, Mountain Pine, Pinus mugo
Silvery pine (Pinus sylvestris)
It is also known as the shrub forest pine. The growth form is semi-circular, then more umbrella-like in old age and can reach a height and width of up to 600 centimetres. it is very slow growing with an annual increase of 10 to 12 centimeters. The needles are very short and colored blue-grey to steel blue. These hardy conifers should be planted individually.
Fir (Abies)
There are around 50 species of fir trees. They have a columnar trunk with a cone-shaped crown. The short branches are attached in several tiers. The bark is smooth and often gray to silver. Fir trees are evergreen, deep-rooted and can reach heights of up to 70 meters. The flat, needle-shaped leaves are flexible and stand flat on the branch. There are two white wax strips on the underside. However, cones only appear on the topmost branches. They are initially greenish, later reddish brown and 10 to 15 centimeters long and 5 centimeters wide. When planting, note the following:
- sunny to partially shaded location
- Soil: rich in humus, slightly acidic, permeable to water, evenly moist
- no cutting measures necessary
- Growth height 1000 to 2500 cm
- Growth width 800 to 1500 cm
- annual growth 10 to 40 cm
- hardy
Korean fir (Abies koreana)
The growth is conical with a straight trunk to the top. The branch structure is there bushy and the side branches are horizontal. They are covered with dense, shiny, blunt-ended needles up to 1 cm long. The upper side is dark green, silvery underneath. The bark is shiny olive brown to black in color. The blue-violet cones appear at a growth height of less than 150 cm. They stand upright on the branches from September through to winter.
Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana)
These conifers are also known as the Caucasus fir. They have a pyramidal habit with spreading branches down to the ground and a dense needle dress. The needles are arranged in a brush-like manner on the branches. The top is green and there are two silvery-white stripes underneath. The Nordmann fir is particularly suitable for solitary planting.
Larch (Latrix)
This deciduous Coniferous trees can reach heights of between 10 and 40 meters. They have a cone-shaped habit. The bark is gray to brown and scaly. Light green, soft needles up to 3 centimeters long stand together in dense clusters like a rosette. Their ends are flattened. Pink to red flowers appear in April. Light brown, egg-shaped cones then develop from this. In the fall, however, the needles are then shed. When planting, please note:
- sunny location
- Soil: moist, deep, fresh, loamy
- pH slightly acidic to slightly alkaline
- no cut
- Growth height 1500 to 4000 cm
- Growth width 700 to 1500 cm
- annual growth 25 to 50 cm
European larch (Larix decidua)
It can grow up to 35 meters tall with a straight trunk and conical crown. The branches are horizontal, sometimes slightly overhanging and covered with light green 1 to 3 centimeter soft needles. A golden yellow coloration occurs in autumn. The larch is suitable for single use but also for high hedges.
