Conifers have very different silhouettes and dimensions from one species and even from one variety to another, which is what makes their richness. The dwarf shapes fit more easily into our small gardens. Those with bluish foliage are ideal for very contemporary compositions and blend perfectly with terrace decorations. Especially since they are rather less vigorous than the forms with green foliage.
Plants with strong garden character
Conifers have very different silhouettes, textures and dimensions from one species and even from one variety to another, which is what makes their charm. Their regular and compact silhouettes bring a very architectural touch to the garden. Their bluish foliage is perfect for very contemporary compositions and terrace decorations. These small trees do very well in shaded areas, which they light up with their unusual color. The intensity of the blue of the foliage changes with the sunshine and the seasons. The color is generally brighter in spring in the young shoots, then it evolves during the season to glaucous, silver or purple depending on the variety.
Traditionally, the blue dwarf conifers were intended for planting in rockery, near a staircase or border. But they are also excellent evergreen shrubs for small gardens, especially in the city. Pyramidal or round shapes can be used as topiaries and integrated into boxwood borders to punctuate the corners or enhance them with a decorative element. Varieties with a spreading habit can be used as ground cover on semi-shaded slopes or be planted along the edges of perennial beds.
For an ever-present balcony
The very slow growth in needle species reduces maintenance and allows pot culture. The small blue conifers go very well with seasonal plantings, their structured appearance gives body and durability to the composition. Associate spring bulbs (snowdrop, crocus, narcissus, hyacinths) shrubs with variegated foliage and seasonal flowers. In summer, the fantasy of blue Nemesia ('Blue Bird' for example) or lobelias gives a little suppleness to the somewhat solemn rigidity of these conifers.
Plan bins of 30 cm side and more, imperatively installed in mid-shade and especially away from any reflective wall, to avoid the needles toasting in hot and very sunny weather. Most bluish varieties have an excellent resistance to air pollution.
Play with golden foliage
Dwarf conifers with bluish foliage are beautifully highlighted with grasses with golden foliage, perennials with yellow flowers or bluish foliage. Opt especially for evergreen forms to obtain this beautiful contrasting association all year round.
For a bright and luminous atmosphere, associate blue dwarf conifers with these perennials with golden foliage:
Polemonium 'Brise d'Anjou', a charming clump of variegated foliage, illuminated with blue flowers in spring. Acorus gramineus 'Ogon', a beautiful golden herbaceous foliage that stands out in mid-shade, forming a beautiful compact clump. This plant will be accompanied in fresh soils by various golden sedges such as Carex elata 'Aurea' (or 'Bowles Golden'), of great finesse and bright gold in spring. Carex hachijoensis 'Evergold' is smaller (10 cm high), but it can form a beautiful border with a blue juniper. Still in the field of ornamental herbs, Millium effusum 'Aureum' is without doubt one of the lightest, to be recommended with pyramidal conifers in a shady exposure. The pale green almost yellow foliage of some small cypress euphorbias (Euphorbia cyparissias) is also of great interest.
Some non-persistent perennials also make good companions for blue dwarf conifers. This is the case of : Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea', a true golden carpet, which disappears in winter, but is irreplaceable in summer, even in very shady situations. It should be recommended with flat, spreading conifers, to create a contrasting border. Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', a graceful grass with a very bright and dense foliage, is a perfect match for blue conifers in the shape of a ball or pyramid. If you want an irresistible, but rather invasive ground cover, opt for the variegated foliage of Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegata'. It works wonders with the fastidious blue conifers.
You can also work in monochrome, playing with bluish and silvery tones for a very chic effect. Then punctuate the scene with a few bright red spots (poppies for example) to liven it up in the summer.
Among the blue perennials, use as ground cover: Acaena, Dianthus arenarius and fescues (Festuca glauca and Festuca amethystina). To complete the combination, Eryngium amethystinum thistle (beware, it stings!), the opulent Hosta sieboldiana 'Bressingham Blue' and Thalictrum delavayi will give excellent results depending on the type of soil.
Don't hesitate to compose a nice contrast with a small bush with golden yellow flowers, such as Cytisus praecox or Genista hispanica, perfect with spreading or pyramidal conifers, while forsythias will marry wonderfully with fastidious blue conifers.
For a permanent color effect, combine small blue conifers with variegated charcoals (Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' or 'Emerald n' Gold').
They grow by themselves
A well aerated soil, filtering in winter, but rich and staying cool in summer is the basis for success. Blue conifers fear stagnant moisture and excessive drought. A strong supply of organic matter at the time of planting is therefore recommended. Always add 20% manure and algae fertilizer to the original soil. The excessive presence of limestone is poorly tolerated by dwarf blue firs, while junipers or false cypresses accept it without problem.
Full sun is tolerated in a garden in a well aerated situation, otherwise half shade is ideal, with a preference for planting in the east, as the soil should not warm up too quickly in case of frost. Blue dwarf conifers fear drying winds.
Growth is very slow for all dwarf firs, usually less than 10 cm per year, but the speed of growth increases with age. The fastidious forms grow faster as well as the lining conifers. But in general, the blue varieties are rather lazy.
Planting distances: for small species, leave at least 1 m between each plant, unless you wish to form small groups (very aesthetic in the middle of a heather carpet). In this case, a distance of 50 to 60 cm is sufficient. For spreading forms and large conifers, it is important to know the adult dimensions before planting and to plan for future spreading.
No specific size is mandatory. Dwarf conifers naturally take a very compact form. It is however necessary to intervene in the case where the plant forms two arrows (main shoot), in order to keep only one, which will ensure a pyramidal shape. In the spread out forms, it is advised to prune the vertical shoots which form, in order to respect the tapering silhouette, very original of these varieties.
Advices of nurseryman
Do not hesitate to shower the foliage of the blue dwarf conifers with cool water every evening of heat wave. At planting time, soak the root ball well in water so that it becomes completely soaked. This is one of the secrets of a good recovery in any season.
