9 Cool Variegated Conifers

Expand your evergreen palette with one of these outstanding choices

Anyvariegated plantcreates an extra spatter of color and drama , andvariegated conifersare no exclusion . Although once think of as appearing sickly or pathologic , variegated conifer are steadily gain grip in dwelling gardens . They make excellentfocal points , lead year - daily round people of colour , texture , and structure . As a bonus , they commonly grow more slowly than the straight species , making them more compact and easy to manipulate .

Learn more : Colorful Conifers for Year - Round Interest

‘Gelbbunt’ Korean fir offers a shining mix of gold and silver

Name : genus Abies koreana‘Gelbbunt ’

Zones:4–8

Size:5 to 6 feet improbable and 2 to 3 feet wide-cut in 10 years

Conditions : Full Dominicus to fond shade ; plenteous , consistently moist , well - drained soil

Native range : Korea

‘ Gelbbunt ’ is slow growing and on an irregular basis work , with generous amounts of yellow variegation randomly commix into its average immature foliage with silver undersides . As a colored bonus , it periodically bring about indigo - colored cones . employ it as an interesting stand - alone specimen , or combine it with raging colors in the repeated layer . It appreciates being produce out of verbatim sunlight , or at least protect from live afternoon sun . await a maturation rate of approximately 4 to 6 inches per year .

‘Niemetz’ Colorado spruce steals the show in spring

Name : Picea pungens‘Niemetz ’

Zones:3–8

Size:8 feet magniloquent and 3 feet wide in 10 year

condition : Full sun ; well - drain stain

aboriginal range : Central Rocky Mountains

True variegate forms of Colorado spruce are available , but they are extremely hard to line up and have a tendency to revert back to their original color . There are some excellent cultivars , however , that provide great natural spring color before changing back to their usual blue or green . Semi - dwarf ‘ Niemetz’—with unbelievable white unexampled growth that change to powdery blue by midsummer — is one of my favorites . slow growing than the species and often temporary in shape , it makes a sensational specimen .

‘Albospica’ Eastern hemlock has highlights that last all year

Name : Tsuga canadensis‘Albospica ’

Zones:4–7

Size:12 feet tall and 8 foot all-encompassing in 10 years

Conditions : Partial shade ; systematically moist , well - drained soil

Native reach : Eastern North America

arrant white waterfall - like unexampled growth cascading across dark gullible needle from previous seasons stool for dramatic contrast . Although ‘ Albospica ’ can grow in full sunshine , its brilliant Modern growth seems to last longer when it is plant in lite subtlety or in a daub with dawning Dominicus and afternoon shade . Even in winter , the white frosted baksheesh will remain . Although it in the main has a globelike substance abuse , eventually it will make a leader , which is gentle to prune out if necessary .

‘Sparkling Arrow’ Alaskan yellow cedar is an eye-catching vertical accent

Name : Cupressus nootkatensis‘Sparkling pointer ’

Zones:5–8

Size:8 to 15 feet tall and 1 to 2½ feet wide in 10 years

variegated conifers

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

experimental condition : Full sun to partial specter ; well - drained land

Native range : Northwestern sea-coast of North America

This fun of ‘ Green Arrow ’ is a definite conversation piece . It has a minute , vertical habit with spectacular , weeping branch and foliage . The near white variegation has a beautiful effervescent burden , but it can burn in winter when the tree is untried , specially in northern gardens . As it get older , it appears to outgrow this possible trouble . It raise more slowly than ‘ Green Arrow ’ , benefit between 6 and 12 inches per year .

‘Gelbbunt’ Korean fir

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

‘Dream Joy’ juniper’s new growth stays bright from spring through fall

Name : Juniperus squamata‘Dream Joy ’

Size:2 foot tall and 4 foundation wide in 10 year

Native range : China and the Himalayas

This bush has seasonal variegation with staying power . In spring , pale raw growth shines against gray - green older foliage , and these contrast color outride strong throughout the growing season . Over the track of winter , the peak tone down to match the rest of the plant until the next spring show begins . The plant develop 4 to 6 column inch per year , spreading horizontally without reach much height . A new juniper cultivar with even more dramatic diversification , ‘ Floreant ’ ( J. squamata‘Floreant ’ , Zones 4–8 ) may be harder to find , but it is worth the hunting . It forms a heavyset , tardily - growing , steely blue roll with lots of creamy yellow patch .

Here are some tips for caring for variegated conifers.

Snow in the Valley Japanese white pine is compact and showy

Name : Pinus parviflora‘Tanima no yuki ’

Zones:4b–7

Size:3 feet tall and 4 feet spacious in 10 years

‘Niemetz’ Colorado spruce

condition : fond shadiness ; fertile , well - drained soil

Native stove : Japan and Korea

More colorful than many perennials , this dwarf Japanese clean true pine is well-chosen to show off 365 daylight a year . In spring , vestal white needles unfold from pink taper , later darken to green at the theme with white frosted tips . It has an attractive maverick mounding substance abuse and grows only 3 to 4 inches per yr , making it a just conniption for smaller spaces .

‘Sunshine’ mugo pine shines in the late season

Name : Pinus mugo‘Sunshine ’

Zones:3–7

Size:2 foundation grandiloquent and wide in 10 years

‘Albospica’ Eastern hemlock

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

Native grasp : Mountains of Central and Southern Europe

Finally , a flying lizard ’s eye mugo pine ! ‘ sunniness ’ forms a goodly earth that grows about 3 inches per yr and is improbable to require any shaping . Its variegation is subdued early on in the season , then in late summertime the Au - band rings form on its acerate leaf ; these persist to provide interest throughout the wintertime month . Very hardy , it is even near in Zone 3 .

‘Golden Candles’ Eastern white pine is a brighter version of an iconic native species

Name : Pinus strobus‘Golden Candles ’

Size:8 groundwork tall and 4 feet wide in 10 geezerhood

Native range : Northeastern North America

‘ Golden Candles ’ is surely one of the most esthetically pleasing golden pines in recent storage . New ontogeny is lemon yellow yellow , changing to average green and leave behind lots of gold frosting , especially on the ends of the new outgrowth . Throughout the season the color evolve into gold , lime , and green . Even the bark is colorful when the tree is young , a pleasing compounding of orange and gullible . This slowly - growing cultivar will become a majestic tree with time . anticipate it to turn about 12 inch per year once it is established .

‘Silver Seedling’ Oriental spruce is a shimmering standout

Name : Picea orientalis‘Silver Seedling ’

Zones:5–7

Size:4 invertebrate foot grandiloquent and 2 infantry wide in 10 years

‘Sparkling Arrow’ Alaskan yellow cedar

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

consideration : Full sun to partial shade ; moist , well - drained soil

aboriginal stove : Southern Russia and northeasterly Turkey

Few conifer give a coherent white draw over their needles like this selection . ‘ Silver Seedling ’ is slow produce and will eventually take a conic form . Although sometimes falsely referred to as ‘ Sulphur Flush ’ , this looker is worth seeking out even if it is mislabled . To protect it from burning , especially in northern climate , give it break of day sun and good afternoon nuance .

Darren Heimbecker is the beginner , designer , and heading horticulturist at Whistling Gardens in Wilsonville , Ontario .

Photos , except where noted : Carol Collins

example : Elara Tanguy

‘Dream Joy’ juniper

Sources

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Snow in the Valley Japanese white pine

Photo: Joshua McCullough

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