I'm looking for a pine to plant near an in-ground hot tub, bright shade, morning sun, Pacific Northwest. A tree that can be easily pruned and trained and holds it's needles. If anyone could help it would be very much appreciated. I would say excessive needle drop would be the trait I'm trying to avoid most. What about P. strobus or wallichiana? Thank You
Both P. strobus & wallichiana are vigourous trees and not appropriate where space is a concern or pruning is required. Needle drop volume is related to rate of growth & foliage density. A fast growing tree will drop more needles than a slow growing tree....a dense tree more than a sparse tree, etc. Even pines that hold their needles for 3+ years still loose one year's worth a needles every year. What size of tree did you want? How dense a tree are you looking for? If you like the look of the white pines, I would look at their cultivars for a smaller, slower growing tree that will look better with less maintenance. Simon
Thank You Simon I figured that needle drop was directly connected to the rate of growth of an pine. I do like the look of the white pines and the tree will be used for screening to a degree. The tree will be kept to a height of 15-20'. Any other suggestions? Stephen
Morning sun only will result in a gaunt specimen. Otherwise you could use P. strobus nana or one of the many cultivars of P. parviflora. Pines generally require full sun and produce a carpet of needles. They also drip resin and shed cones (unless not producing them, of course). Shade-tolerant shrubby evergreens are probably what you need. Broadleaf evergreens like Aucuba japonica Buxus sempervirens Camellia japonica Camellia williamsii Elaeagnus Fatsia japonica Ilex altaclerensis Ligustrum Mahonia aquifolium Osmanthus decorus Osmanthus heterophyllus Rhododendron are more cheerful than coniferous evergreens but if you are set on conifers two that might do are Cephalotaxus Taxus These don't look like white pines but do grow in the shade.
Thank you Ron I thought that pines made need more sun. Gaunt is not the look I'm after. The area has an Asian feel to it so I may switch gears and look at some bamboo varieties. Thank you for the other suggestions. I did consider Taxus.
3 varieties I'm thinking of are: Yushania maculata Pseudosasa japonica 'Tsutsumiana' Phyllostachys aurea 'Flavecens Inversa'
Temperate Bamboos (Timber Press) says it might be hardy to -18C/0F and also says "As with Y. anceps this can spread at the roots and it can need control in most gardens. A relatively new introduction, this striking plant has proved to be wind resistant and could turn out to be more hardy than stated." Since it's grassy and has bluish culms it might produce a similar general impression to what you hoped to get with a white pine.
