Conifers

The following are just some of our captivating quirky conifers.come out to the farm and see our full selection and how we’ve sited them in our display beds so they become “gotta-haves”! Just remember that they are all in limited quantities so come get ’em while they’re still here! Also remember that they may not all be available at the same time or in the size indicated on the website.

To help you figure out what size these little babies will get to be, I’ve included what the American Conifer Society classifies them as. The classifications are as follows:
MINIATURE
grows less than 1” per year and less than 1’ in 10-15 years
DWARF
grows 1-6” per year and 1-6’ in 10-15 years
INTERMEDIATE
grows 6-12” per year and 6-15’ in 10-15 years
LARGE
grows 12” per year and more than 15’ in 10-15 years

Obviously, their true growth rate will also depend on their individual growing conditions. If I’ve managed to inspire you to become a certified conifer crazy, consider joining the American Conifer Society..for more info contact them at www.conifersociety.org.

A few more things: in order to comply with legal requirements, we’ve changed our container size descriptions. The old 1 gallon pot is a #1, 2 gallon is a #2, etc. See our Pot Size Table for exact pot capacities.

Also, because we sell larger, more mature plants, WE ARE UNABLE TO SHIP PLANTS, so please come visit us our farm!

Now, here are the stars of our show.!!!

Plant
Growth Habit
Price
Abies koreana ‘Horstmann Silberlocke’
Intermediate, upright broad
#1
#6
#10
$25.00
$175.00
$200.00
Abies koreana SilberlockeO.K., this one’s a REAL stunner and one of my very favorites (watch out top ten!). It is a MUST for the collector and has a 3-D quality that is almost indescribable. needles recurving to display the silver white underside. What texture!!! Sun to part shade.
Abies procera ‘La Graciosa’
Dwarf, mounding
21-24”
$95.00
A mounding Noble Fir that is graceful, distinctive, and slow-growing (original plant is 4’ h x 5’ w after 21 years!).
Buxus ‘Chicagoland Green’
2-3’ ht
#1
#2
#3
$13.95
$24.00
$32.00
This Boxwood was developed by the Chicago Botanic Garden and is one of the very BEST for our area! A dwarf broadleaf evergreen, likes bright to partial shade and is reputedly deer resistant!
Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Kosteri’
Dwarf, upright broad shape
#5
$70.00
A very neat form of Dwarf Hinoki Cypress with light green, downward cupped foliage. Forms an irregular pyramid with age. I would site all forms of Chamaecyparus in partial sun to light shade, away from drying winds, and provide adequate moisture (but not wet feet!!)
Chamaecyparus obtusa ‘Repens’
Dwarf, spreading shape
#1
$19.95
Chamaecyparus obtusa RepensA spreading form with grass-green, dense and layered foliage that mounds with age.
Chamaecyparus obtusa ‘Templehof’
Dwarf, conical shape
#3
$45.00
Green, somewhat netted foliage that forms a conical upright plant with age.
Chamaecyparus pisifera ‘Boulevard’
Intermediate, upright broad shape
#3
$45.00
A really striking plant with blue and silver foliage that has an incredible texture. Forms a full pyramid.
Chamaecyparus pisifera ‘Mops’
Dwarf, globe shaped
#2
#3
$35.00
$40.00
Chamaecyparus pisifera MopsOne of my very favorites with brilliant gold, threadlike foliage that forms a graceful mound..looks great next to ponds!
NewChamaecyparis thyoides ‘Heatherbun’
Intermediate, globe shaped
#3
$35.00
Chamaecyparis  ‘Heatherbun’This baby has feathery foliage that is heathery green in summer, turning plum color in winter…the texture can’t be beat! Can be sheared; likes moisture (not wet!) and partial sun to bright shade.
Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa Variegated’
Intermediate, Upright broad shape
#6
$75.00
A striking upright grower with creamy yellow variegation splashed on its dark green foliage. Makes a great screen or specimen plant. Sun to part sun.
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Limeglow’
Dwarf, spreading form
#3
$30.00
Chartreuse foliage really stands out on this vase-shaped spreader. Very easy plant that fits in almost anywhere!
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Mother Lode’
Dwarf, Prostrate form
#1
#2
$13.95
$22.95
A ground hugger that looks great cascading over walks or as a groundcover, it has bright yellow foliage in summer turning a burgundy plum color in winter. Another Contrary favorite!
Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’
On standard
#1
#6 on Standard
$13.95
$140.00
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'A real focal point with its blue, star-like foliage grafted on a standard..sells out quickly!
NewJuniperus squatmata ‘Holger’
Dwarf, spreading
#1
#3
#3 Bonsai
$12.95
$35.00
$49.00
This great spreading blue Juniper has lemon yellow new foliage that ages to blue…colors compliment each other and are very eye-catching!
NewJuniperus chinensis ‘Procumbens Nana Compacta’
Dwarf, spreading
#3 bonsai
#4 on Standard
$52.00
$75.00
This compact and dense form of the Garden Juniper is a great addition to any conifer collection!
Larix deciduas ‘Lanarck’
Dwarf
#1
$25.00
An adorable dwarf Larch. For those of you who have not had any experience with this genus, a Larch is a deciduous conifer meaning that it bears cones but loses its needles for the winter! All Larches have gorgeous fall color (intense glowing yellow) and are tolerant of heavy, moist soils. They will grow in full sun or light shade and are very low care. Ya know that one of these babies are going to end up on my next top ten list!
Metasequoia glyp. ‘Gold Rush’
Large, Upright broad form
#1
$40.00
This Dawn Redwood is the 2006 Conifer Society Conifer of the year! It is also a deciduous conifer and has intense feathery yellow foliage. Full to part sun. A great specimen!
NewPicea abies ‘Acrocona’
Dwarf, upright
#6
$140.00
We have an awesome specimen of this one in a display bed…she looks like she’s keeping watch over the rest of the plants! This is a slow-grower that takes on a very pendulous form. In the spring she gets purple-red cones at the ends of her branch tips—quite striking! A nice dark green the rest of the year too!
NewPicea abies ‘Frohburg’
Dwarf to intermediate, weeping
#6
$140.00
This Norway Spruce is a narrow weeper with a full spreading “skirt”—perfect for limited space landscapes (think by a pond where we put ours!!!) 
Picea abies ‘Little Gem’  
On Standard
#3 on Standard
$90.00
Picea abies Little GemThis looks almost like a living rock with its tiny needles and dense habit. It’s grafted on a standard so it will give some height to an area without overgrowing its space.
NewPicea abies ‘nidiformis’
Dwarf, spreading
#1
#2
#3
$12.95
$22.95
$30.00
Picea abies ‘nidiformis’This Bird’s Nest Spruce has light green needles and a dense horizontal habit and flat top—perfect as a foundation planting or with deciduous or perennial plants!
Picea bicolor ‘Howell’s Dwarf Tigertail’
Large, Upright broad shape
#6
$135.00
A distinctive bicolor with bright silver blue on the undersides of the needles and green on top, with the upper needle surfaces tinted yellow. It also has rose purple buds which can be trimmed if you want it to grow into a flat topped bush; otherwise, it will develop into a pyramidal tree. Sun to part sun.
NewPicea glauca ‘Conica’
Dwarf, upright narrow form
#7
$95.00
Picea glauca ‘Conica’This Dwarf Alberta Spruce has fine, dense, grass green foliage that matures to a bluish green. Stays nice and neat and great for vertical accents!
Picea mariana ‘Nana’
Dwarf
#1
$12.95
Picea mariana 'Nana'A very dwarf blue needled Spruce. Cute! This slow grower has blue foliage that turns grayish in the winter…another one that’s a MUST for texture!
NewPicea omorika
Large, upright
#10
$100.00
Picea omorikaThis Serbian Spruce makes a real statement with blue-green needles that have white undersides giving it a bi-color appearance. The branches sweep upward and it is perfect as a specimen tree or living fence (give it room!).
Picea omorika ‘Pendula’
Large, weeping
3-4’
$150.00
Picea PendulaA great weeper that just gets more magnificent with age!
NewPicea pungens
Large, upright
#10
$110.00
This Colorado Spruce has bluish needles and will get quite large (40-50’) at maturity!
NewPicea pungens ‘Fastigiata’
Large, narrow upright
36”B &B
$110.00
This evergreen forms a narrow conical shape at maturity and has intense blue needles with vertical branchlets—perfect for more narrow spaces!
NewPicea pungens ‘Fat Albert’
Intermediate to large, upright broad grower
#10
$150.00
Picea pungens ‘Fat Albert’Now THIS is a BLUE blue spruce! A plant that ALWAYS gets noticed on our display berm, he is a great grower and always looks nice! A chubby, more compact and pyramidal form, I HIGHLY recommend this one! 
NewPicea pungens ‘Globosa’
Dwarf, on standard
30” B&B on standard
$150.00
Picea pungens ‘Globosa’This Globe Spruce has a dense form and excellent blue color; as it is on a standard it is wider than high at maturity (gets about 4-5’ wide eventually).
Picea pungens ‘Procumbens’
Intermediate, Prostrate form
#6
$145.00
A very blue, dramatic, undulating groundcover.impressive!
Picea pungens ‘St. Mary’s Broom’
Dwarf, Globe shaped
#3
$85.00
One of my favorites (of course!) with very steel blue, longish needles that forms a globose shape and never outgrows its space!
Pinus aristata
Dwarf, upright grower
3’
$200.00
This Bristlecone Pine is known as a living fossil.oldest living tree is 4500+ years old! Very rare and slow growing, it has dark green needles with flecks of resin on them.very distinctive. I do a background check on anyone who wants to adopt one of mine! Full to part sun.
NewPinus densiflora ‘Globosa’
Dwarf, globe-shaped
#3
$80.00
This Japanese Red Pine has dark green, short, thick needles and an egg-shaped habit.
NewPinus densiflora ‘Low Glow’
Dwarf, globe-shaped
#3
$80.00
This one has lighter green needles with an almost chartreuse cast to them, and a mounded habit…nice!
Pinus densiflora ‘Occulis Draconis’
Intermediate
3’
4’
$95.00
$150.00
Pinus densiflora Occulis DraconisThis is my absolute FAVORITE conifer. Come see ours in the display bed at the farm and you’ll see why! This Dragon’s Eye Red Pine has yellow rings on its needles. Extremely distinctive and gorgeous in all seasons!
NewPinus densiflora ‘Umbraculifera’
Intermediate, globe shaped on standard
30” B&B on standard
$150.00
This Tabletop Tanyosho Pine forms an umbrella of green needles (like a textured mushroom) and has orange bark as it ages—always awesome!
Pinus flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’
Large, Upright narrow shape
#7
4’
$140.00
$150.00
Pinus flexilis 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid'Striking bluish green needles, soft texture, and a uniform pyramidal tree make this a great specimen choice..come see ours in the display bed at the farm (looks astounding with ‘Occulis Draconis’!)
NewPinus leucodermis ‘Lakeview’
Intermediate, upright narrow
#7
$130.00
This Bosnian Pine has dark green foliage and a narrow growth habit (8-10’ wide at maturity) making it a perfect fit for tighter areas! A slowish grower and good salt tolerance too!
Pinus mugo ‘Mitsch Mini’
Miniature, Globe shaped
#1
$25.00
This tiny gem is a must for the collector..it has tiny short needles that twist slightly and frosty silver buds. A doll!
Pinus mugo ‘Moppet’
Miniature, Globe shaped
#1
$25.00
A tiny little gem growing only 1” per year, it has a compact form (obviously!) and prominent winter buds.
Pinus mugo ‘Pumilo’
Dwarf
#5
$46.00
Pinus mugo 'Pumilo'A bright green dwarf with showy candles in late spring. Great mounded shape and a perfect foundation plant.
Pinus mugo ‘Slowmound’
Dwarf, Globe shaped
#6
$65.00
An outstanding dark green dense mound that is a true dwarf and is compact enough to plant in confined areas.
NewPinus nigra ‘Arnold’s Sentinel’
Intermediate, upright narrow
5’ B&B
$160.00
This columnar Austrian Pine has dark green needles, a dense habit, and is perfect for a narrow windbreak or visual screen. Only is 7’ wide after 25+ years!
NewPinus nigra ‘Helga’
Dwarf, globe shaped
#3
$75.00
This is a rounded form with bright green needles and white buds.
NewPinus nigra ‘Hornibrookiana’
Dwarf, globe shaped
30” B&B
$140.00
A slow grower with long, stiff, dark green needles with white needle sheaths.
NewPinus nigra ‘Nishiki Tsucasa’
Dwarf
#2 bonsai
$70.00
A perfect Bonsai specimen as it exhibits cork bark at a young age. Prune as to expose as much of the interesting bark as possible!  VERY limited!
Pinus parviflora ‘Glauca Brevifolia’
Large, Upright broad shape
#6
$175.00
A very showy Japanese White Pine with upcurved bluish needles and persistent cones.
Pinus parviflora ‘Glauca Nana’
Dwarf, Upright broad shape
#1
$22.95
This pine has bluish short needles that also tuft along the stem to give it a very unusual appearance. Its main branches also grow in an irregular manner and the older needles are dropped each year to give it an open appearance. Rare!
NewPinus strobus ‘Bennett Clumpleaf’
Intermediate, upright broad
#3
$85.00
This RARE white pine has dark green needles “clumped” together and silvery smooth bark. Reminds you of a Sciadopitys!
Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’
Dwarf, Globe shaped
#6
$125.00
An outstanding dwarf Eastern White Pine with a compact, rounded form-looks like an adorable fluffball! Perfect foundation plant; full sun to part shade.
Pinus strobus ‘Fastigiata’
Intermediate, upright narrow
3-4’
$125.00
A columnar Eastern White Pine with soft blue needles and ascending branches. Great for screen or hedge! Sun to part shade.
NewPinus strobus ‘Horsford’s Dwarf’
Dwarf, globe shaped
30” B&B on standard
$125.00
A bun-shaped globe that is grafted on a low standard!
Pinus strobus ‘Pendula’
Intermediate, weeping
3-4’
$140.00
I love this plant! We have two lovely ones at the entrance to one of our display beds at the farm and although they are young they are already quite the gatekeepers! It’s a weeping, graceful, long-needled pine that has smooth grey bark and will be a real focal point.
NewPinus strobus ‘Torulosa’
Intermediate, upright narrow
4’ B&B
$150.00
Come see ours three in our display beds and you’ll see why there’s a waiting list for this one! Very narrow habit and AWESOMELY twisted and contorted needles make this a “gotta-have” (but also a “gettit quick”)!
NewPinus sylvestris ‘Fastigiata’
Intermediate, upright narrow
5’ B&B
$160.00
This columnar pine has blue green needles and is great for tight areas!
NewPinus sylvestris ‘Hillside Creeper’
Dwarf  to Intermediate, spreading
36” B&B on standard
$150.00
This Scot’s Pine is a prostrate cascader, has bluish green foliage, and is a great alternative for a creeping Juniper! The graft is very low and will not be noticeable in a year or so after planting.  
Pinus sylvestris ‘Inverleith’
Large
#2
$70.00
A variegated pine with creamy white variegation. The original is in the Royal Botanical Garden in Scotland. Grows over 1’ per year, partial shade.
Pinus thunbergiana ‘Thunderhead’
Large, upright broad form
#3
$72.00
An eye-catching Japanese Black Pine that may grow as wide as it is tall, it has brilliant white candles that contrast well with its dark green needles. Forms a billowy, cloud-like shape!
Pinus virginiana ‘Wate’s Golden’
Intermediate
#1
#6
$25.00
$150.00
One of the best Pines for the winter landscape. As the temperature gets colder, the needles become an intense shade of glowing yellow. A real wow-getter! Needles are a bright green in the summer. Plant has a windswept look. Full to part sun.
NewPseudolarix amabilis
Large, upright broad
#7
$110.00
This deciduous conifer is slow growing, has light green foliage that turns a dazzling golden yellow in fall, and has silvery bark. It will eventually get quite large but takes a long time to get there!
Pseudotsuga ‘Emerald Twister’
Large, upright broad shape
5-6’
#6
$140.00
$225.00
A living sculpture and a really unique “gotta-have”, this baby has twisting, undulating branches that practically dance in the landscape! A Douglas Fir that is like no other..full sun to part shade.
Pseudotsuga ‘Graceful Grace’
Large, weeping
#6
$135.00
Pseudotsuga Graceful GraceA lovely weeping Douglas Fir with long dark green needles that radiate outwards towards the stem giving her a full appearance. An excellent specimen!
Taxus baccata ‘Amersforte’
Intermediate, Upright broad shape
#1
$48.00
A truly distinctive Yew that is a real collector’s plant, it has stiff, outward spreading branches and oval flattened needles. You really wouldn’t guess it was a Yew! Full sun to part shade.
NewTaxus cuspidata ‘Dwarf Bright Gold
Dwarf/Intermediate, upright broad
#3
#6
$50.00
$100.00
This unusual Yew has an arching growth habit wider than tall) and soft yellow needles with bright green along the length. Very unusual variegation and needs bright shade or morning sun only!
Taxus cuspidata ‘Nana Aurescens’
Dwarf, Spreading form
#1
$28.95
Taxus cuspidata Nana AurescensA low spreading plant whose new growth is an eye-catching orangey yellow. Second year growth is dark green for a great contrast!
Thuja occidentalis ‘Danica’
Dwarf
#3
$29.95
A great Arborvitae from Denmark with dark green very textured needles. Full to part sun.
Thuja occidentalis ‘Golden Globe’
Dwarf
#3
$28.95
This plant forms a uniform oval shape and has a soft golden yellow color.
Thuja occidentalis ‘Hetz Midget’
Dwarf, Globe shaped
#3
$30.00
Thuja occidentalis Hetz MidgetA slow growing conifer with a dense globe habit. It has soft green foliage that grows in vertical layers. Great as an accent with perennials!
Thuja occidentalis ‘Mr. Bowling Ball’
Dwarf, Globe shaped
#6
$60.00
Worth having for its cool name alone, it has soft silvery-green almost lacy foliage and a perfect spherical habit. Great as contrast to other shades of conifers.
Thuja occidentalis ‘Pendula’
Intermediate, weeping
#6
$110.00
With a moss green color and a graceful, undulating habit, unstaked it will become a broad mound with outreaching branched; staked, it becomes a unique living sculpture.
NewThuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’
Dwarf, globe shaped
#3
$30.00
Thuja RheingoldThis soft conifer has orange yellow foliage that turns a deep copper orange in the winter. Nice texture! Responds well to shearing; likes bright to partial shade.
Thuja occidentalis ‘Technito’
6’ ht x 30” w
#3
$40.00
A dark green, very dense form of pyramidal Arborvitae which doesn’t require shearing and maintains its color through the winter.
NewThuja occidentalis ‘Yellow Ribbon’
Large, upright narrow
#7 (4’)
$90.00
This is one of my very FAVORITE Conifers, and if you come out and see the AWESOME specimens in the display bed you’ll know why! They looks like big golden sentries that are watching over our display plants—no burning or browning ever! They are so fabulous that people driving by stop to make comments on them! We always sell out fast too (wonder why!).
Thuja plicata ‘Whipcord’
Dwarf, Globe shaped
#3
#6
$40.00 $68.00
An extremely unusual plant with thick glossy “tendrils” that are multi-branching and form a mounding waterfall..foliage is green in summer and bronze in winter. A must for the collector of the unusual!
Thuja plicata ‘Zebrina’
Intermediate
3-4’
$60.00
A slowish grower, this plant has bright yellow variegation and is striking and versatile in the landscape.
Tsuga canadensis
30’ht x 18’w
#5
$70.00
Tsuga canadensisThis Hemlock is native to the United States and has pyramidal growth with drooping branches and can easily be sheared. Shade to partial shade is best.
Tsuga canadensis ‘Gentsch White’
Dwarf, Globe shaped
#6
$105.00
Creamy white tips are especially intense in fall and winter-annual shearing is advised to promote white new growth. Shade to partial shade.

 

Top of Page

Home | Plants | Farm & Nursery | Ponds & Water Gardens | Landscaping Services | Specialty Gardens | Seminars

Contrary Mary’s Plants and Designs
2735 Route 52
Minooka, IL 60447
Ponds and Water Gardens
(815) 577-7800
Perennials, Shrubs, and Trees
(815) 521-9535