Dwarf conifers for alpine traughs

My husband has loads of big stone traughs which he very unimaginatively fills with sempervivums. Now I don't mind sempervivums at all as he has some very interesting varieties, but NOT in every traugh!

He has asked me to get some dwarf conifers, so suggestions please as to what and where to buy (on line if possible).

about 10 years ago I bought about 25 "Dwarf" conifers for �£5 - job lot clearance, there height now ranges from 6 inch to 6 foot, I am looking for something that will really stay small and compact.
thanks
JAnet

 

If you look for ones with 'nana' in their name they will tend to be small. This site should give you some ideas:
http://www.webmachine.co.uk/robertsnurseries/verydwarf_p1.htm
Happy hunting!

 

Thanks Liz

 

Sorry, but even ones with nana in the name do not always stay that way. If you want genuine dwarf conifers you have to be prepared to pay for them. Because they are slow growing they often take a long time to reach sale size and are thus more expensive than ordinary baby forms of bigger trees. I can recommend a nursery in Calver Derbyshire, Fir Croft. His conifers are reasonably priced and true dwarf ones. sadly he does not do mail order and you would need to check on opening times for a visit. http://www.alpineplantcentre.co.uk/garden.htm
PS Would also interest your husband as the owner has one of the national collections of Sempervivums and Jovibabrba, over 800 of them.

[ 31. March 2006, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: Palustris ]

 

I have seen baby conifers in Roders rockery which are fantastic. Occasionally you see them there for aprox. �£100 but they are beautiful. I am looking for smaller stock at smaller price!

I think if I go to Calver I will only come back with more sempervivums, but will give it a try thanks.

 

I will post a picture of a dwarf (hah) conifer planted in one of my rock garden areas. The label said 18 inches in 10 years. It is now 5 years old and almost 5 feet tall.
We are hoping to go on April 8th on our way to the Alpine Garden Show in Chesterfield.

 

why not try those hebes that look like conifers?? There are at least a couple of them - Hebe cupressoides is one. Can't find a good link just now - but I got some from Crocus earlier this year. Worth a shot??
got one - http://www.joycreek.com/268-022D4.htm

[ 31. March 2006, 06:44 PM: Message edited by: dendrobium ]

 

Yes, some of those hebes are pretty- but I had a golden one that grew about 3' tall as well.
All the Roberts Nursery 'very dwarf' plants will not grow to more than 75cm in 10 years and are recommended for troughs.

 

I do have some hebes, but they need more sun than what I can offer, so conifers better. I have looked at a few on line sellers and starting prices are �£17.50 - just for a small thing!

 

I have not been to Fircroft yet this season so I do not know what his prices are, but I can tell you that the conifers I bought last year ranged in price from �£4.50 to �£7. He did have one rather rare cultivar at the price you quote.

 

Yes, It's the grafted ones, rarer as Palustris says, that are pricey. Roberts have a set price of �£5.75 but postage is expensive, usually the way with mail order, and mine were beautifully packed.
I had an email from them some time ago about size:

Size quoted is approx. height/spread at ten years of
age. Plants supplied are 2 to 3 years old.
Recommend you select from 'Very Dwarf' section of catalogue. Delivered size
of plants in this category range from 6 to 20 cm.
If you want further advice please get in touch.

Perhaps you could browse on-line then maybe find a nursery near you where you could look for selected varieties. The trouble with the tiny ones is they are often slow growing too, so either you pay a lot for an older specimen or you buy little ones and wait.....