When it comes to miniature, or dwarf, conifers, many of them have a difficult time holding a conical "tree" form, instead forming mounding or sprawling growth characteristics.
One tree, in particular that I have come to really enjoy is the Devinely Blue Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara "Devinely Blue"). With it's attractive blue-grey foliage and graceful, conical, yet compact tree form, this specimen is a nice addition in smaller landscape beds or larger planting boxes. It can provide nice contrast, or blend in with the surrounding vegetation just as easily.
I love this tree when paired with Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus "Nigrescens"), Golden Variegated Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'), Little Bunny Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny'), Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi "Massachusetts"), and/or a nice light gray boulder or three.
Some of its characteristics:
- Evergreen Conifer
- Size: 6' tall by 3' wide (although I have seen a few pictures where they have gotten larger)
- Growth Rate: 3-6" per year
- Prefers full sun
- USDA Zones 6-9
- Prefers acidic soils
- Tolerant of colder temperatures and snow loads
Expect to pay in the neighborhood of $100 for a 3-4 foot tree.
On a side note, this can be a confusing tree to research and locate. Some sites/nurseries have this listed as a mounding cultivar, while others have it as more upright. You will see heights ranging from 2 to 6 feet and widths of 3 to 6 feet. Be careful when selecting it and ask questions if it doesn't seem right. All the actual trees I have used and experienced have been upright and conical, with no prostrate characteristics.
Perhaps this is one of those plants that can be found in either form and I have only experienced the one. Bizon Nursery, here in the Willamette Valley has a nice selection of them and is a trustworthy and reputable grower of plants. They also have this tree as more upright.
http://www.bizonnursery.com/material.html?0=1315601&1=Cedrus+deodara+Devinely+Blue
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