Colorful Evergreens in the Landscape: Blue Evergreens
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| Blue Evergreens in the Landscape |
Are
you looking to add permanent vibrant color to your landscape? Well
look no further. In the previous segment I discussed the implementation
of colorful golden evergreens into the backbone or foundation of the
landscape. There are also several varieties of blue evergreens that
can act as a stand alone piece or complement the golden evergreens in
your garden. These varieties are hardy in a number of areas including
USDA hardiness zones 2-8.
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| Cedrus atlantica glauca 'Pendula' (Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar) |
The
first in our series is among the most popular of the blue evergreens.
Known for its graceful pendulous silvery-blue branches, Weeping Blue
Atlas Cedar (Cedrus Atlantica 'Glauca Pendula') is an outstanding
specimen. Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar
is hardy to USDA Zones 6-8, prefers an acidic-slightly to alkaline
well-drained loam soil and location in full sun (6-8 hours sunlight). They
are tolerant of many soil types but will not fare well in soils with
poor drainage such as clay. These magnificent trees can be trained as
an upright or spiral trunk and can be maintained at a desired size
through selective pruning. Depending
on the structure of your tree it can reach a height of 10-15 feet and a
width of 8-10 feet across and would be difficult to transplant once
established. Be sure to give it room to grow. As your tree matures its
cascading branches will drape down to the ground giving your tree grace
and charm.
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| Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' |
Belonging
to the same genus, Upright Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca')
is the upright larger form of blue cedar. Reaching to a height of
40-80 feet this pyramidal evergreen is a wonderful stand alone piece.
This specimen enjoys a moist, well-drained acidic-slightly alkaline soil
in full sun and is hardy to USDA zones 6-8. Majestic in every way,
Cedrus atlantica is one of the true cedars named after its native area,
the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco. Blue Atlas Cedar rapidly
grows upright over its first ten years then spreads to a width of 10-15
feet in the landscape. Give it plenty of room preferably on its own
berm and allow this showpiece to shine.
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| Picea pungens 'Montgomery' (Globe Blue Spruce) |
For
a smaller area in the garden add some blue by incorporating Picea
pungens 'Montgomery' or Montgomery Globe Spruce. Dwarf in stature, this
globe-shaped evergreen exhibits compact bright blue needles on a
flat-topped and densely branched shrub. This specimen is excellent in
tight spaces since it only reaches a height and width of 2-3 feet.
Globe spruce prefers to be grown in a moist, well-drained acidic soil
and is hardy in zones 2-8. Use this beauty as a focal point in the
garden. It serves nicely as a foundation planting or as an accent in an
evergreen-perennial garden.
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| Picea pungens 'Fat Albert' |
Used as an anchor in a foundation planting or as a privacy screen, Colorado Blue Spruce 'Fat Albert' is definitely a beauty. 'Fat
Albert' is a slow grower, reaching to a height and width of 10-15 feet
and gets its name from its wider appearance. It is hardy in USDA zones
2-7 and prefers full sun and a moist but well-drained acidic
soil. Avoid planting this tree in a heavy clay soil as the roots will
suffer from poor drainage. Also it is very important that this tree
receive "full" sunlight meaning 6 or more hours of daylight daily in
order to thrive and prevent fungal disease. Give it this tree plenty
of space to grow and it will provide color and structural interest to
your landscape. Picea pungens 'Hoopsi' is a narrower pyramidal form of
this tree growing to a height of 15-18 feet.
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| Picea pungens 'Bakeri' |
Next
is a more compact form of blue spuce-Picea pungens 'Bakeri' or Bakeri
Spruce. 'Bakeri' spruce is hardy to USDA zones 2-7 and stays
more pyramidal at a height of 15-18 feet and width of 6-8 feet.
This blue-green spruce prefers to be grown in full sun in a slightly
acidic, well-drained soil. This beauty also has a wide variety of uses
such as a focal point in a foundation planting or as an accent tree in
an informal garden.
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| Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' |
For a little blue
along the perimeter of your garden try Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'.
Juniperus 'Blue Star' exhibits bright silver-blue foliage on low
branching needles and grows to a maximum height of 2-3 feet making it an
excellent foreground planting. This welcome member is hardy to USDA
zones 4-8 and prefers to be grown in full sun in a semi-moist well
drained slightly-acidic soil. Once established this evergreen requires
minimal watering. Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' works well as a mass
planting, rock garden plant, seacoast planting or as an accent in a
perennial border.
Next
time you are looking to add some everlasting color and interesting
texture to your landscape try adding a little bit of blue. Complement
the blue color of these fabulous evergreens with a little bit of gold,
burgundy, purple or yellow. The mixture of cool and warm colors will
create a dramatic impact in your garden that will bring much enjoyment
to your landscape.
