I live in the Dunbar area of Vancouver. Challenge is to find a suitable tree for an east facing atrium area which needs privacy. The perfect tree would be columnar, evergreen, maximum canopy spread of 10 ft (3 m), and not messy. If not evergreen, then a tree that holds its leaves most of the year. The previous occupant was a Norway spruce which had to be removed as it was too large and encroached on the house. I would welcome any advice on suitable candidates for this spot!! Many thanks.
Under glass? What's your idea of messy, within this context? Wollemia is not fully cold hardy, drops large pieces instead of lots of little bits so could check both those last two boxes. However, expect to pay hundreds of dollars for a specimen even only a few feet high if you choose that kind. The species is also endangered by water molds in its wild habitat, suggesting that a cultivated setting should provide freedom from puddling and splashing. Wollemia nobilis (Wollemia pine) description (conifers.org)
It is proving substantially hardier than was ever expected (and helped by climate change, of course); outdoor specimens in Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the far west of Germany, as well as France and UK (north to Edinburgh at least) – from your own link, "it has been found hardy to Zone 7 in the U.S." - that would include Vancouver. Fairly sure the price has come down, too, at least in Europe; it is even appearing in out-of-the-way civic public plantings in places (cost-limited local authorities, e.g. here) where high prices would be out of the question. Dropping whole twigs rather than lots of small leaves could be an advantage; everything drops something, and if it is easier to pick up a few twigs rather than hundreds of loose leaves, that may be preferable - that will depend on the individual of course! Water moulds a fair point, though I've not yet heard of any significant mortality in cultivated specimens. Granted it's in a sheltered location, but here's one outdoors in Utrecht, Netherlands; also gives a good idea of the columnar shape and narrow spread fitting the request.
Thank you, Michael F. and Ron B., for your thoughtful suggestions and information - this is a great start for us. The atrium site is not covered by glass: the house is 'C' shaped with the open bit facing east. Regarding 'messy'... we had a tree that dropped enormous (and an enormous number of) cones. It was a case of the wrong tree for the spot... a smaller tree with smaller cones would be fine. Thanks again... I'll see if other suggestions arise and take everything into consideration.
USDA 7 is average annual minimum temperatures between 0- and 10-degrees F. So, some years in USDA 7 locations go below 0. A level of cold Wollemia is not likely to do well with. And also, colder than would be expected in Vancouver. Prices of locally presented Wollemia I have seen continue the established pattern; with I think them costing in fact more as time goes by.
