FOXHOLLOW GARDEN - and some colourful conifer gems

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Foxhollow Garden is a garden devoted to the collecting, growing, and propagation of mainly dwarf and ornamental conifers, with an emphasis on those varieties that are nowadays classed as true minis (growing no more than 3 cms per year approx). Although the garden is predominantly a plant collection and more recently a display garden to try and promote the wider use of conifers, we do like to include many other types of plants, especially those that we think associate well with dwarf conifers, like ornamental grasses, heathers, Japanese maples plus many other trees and shrubs, and of course some perennials, although many of these can sometimes be difficult to place.
Below is a selection of photos from Foxhollow showing the different colours, forms and textures of conifers concentrating mainly on those varieties that would generally be classed under the mini category, and would also be very suitable planted into rock, scree, or trough gardens.

Picea abies ‘Zillertal’

Pinus sylvestris ‘Avon Heath no.2’ – very new indeed, not a mini but reasonably slow growing, and only recently discovered by me as one of two new witches’ brooms on normal scots pines, as the name suggests found on Avon Heath between Christchurch and Ringwood, Hampshire.

Picea glauca ‘Tiny’

Chamaecyparis pisifera ’Spaan’s Cannonball’ – the yellow-golden tips
of this true mini intensify as autumn progresses

Pinus uncinata ‘Kostelnicek’

Picea pungens ‘Gloria’ – This really is a great little blue spruce, intoduced by the late great Don Hatch, and named after his wife.

Abies lasiocarpa ‘Duflon’

Pieris japonica ‘Minuta’ – I know! not a conifer, but included here because it is one of those dwarf plants that works extremely well with other miniature conifers.

Thuja occidentalis ‘Teddy’ – very soft juvenile foliage,and yes, this is a conifer that needs to be cuddled just like a real teddy!

Pinus sylvestris ‘Trollguld’ – not a mini, but again reasonably slow growing, and fairly unique for a Scots pine to stay gold all year, not just in winter. Found and introduced by Brita Johansson, Vargon, Sweden.

Abies procera ‘Robenek’

Pseudotsuga menziesii ‘Hvozdany’ – a nice compact Douglas fir introduction from the Czech Republic.

Abies balsamea ‘94018’ – no name for this plant yet, just a coded number, but very nice just the same.

Pinus strobus ‘Sea Urchin’ – one of the best strobus cultivars, and should be in every collection

And just to finish off my blog, a couple of pics to show the overall effect that can be achieved in using predominantly conifers, grasses, and heathers for year round colour, form, and texture in the garden. To me, an unbeatable combination.

• 20 Sep, 2009
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