I'm running out of premium, full sun spots for conifers. I'm aware some of these might be of borderline hardiness, so no need to mention that. The Cupressus funebris, I suspect, came from the Cox Arboretum so might be an extra hardy clone and would have seen at least single digits F. As for Picea smithiana, it comes from a similar niche as A. pindrow which was once rated as zone 8 hardy but is clearly hardier than that. There was one in Oxford, PA for at least 15 years from the late 1990s to 2012, and it would have seen < 0F / < -18C at least a few times. Mine were totally undamaged by the 'polar vortex' winters...not a proverbial scratch. Abies vejarii, firma grafted Abies squamata, firma grafted Picea smithiana Cupressus funebris
I'd rate Abies squamata the most shade tolerant, then A. vejarii, then Picea smithiana, and last Cupressus funebris as the least shade tolerant.
