Sciadopity's Hardiness?

Does anyone up near my way (Chicago) have success with Sciadopity (Umbrella Pine)....

I have heard from nursery freinds that they are hardy to zone 5b in a protected area. But I would think that when we have one of those more like zone 4 winters, it would be toast. I saw several for sale earlier this summer and was tempted....

I've seen them up north at Bickelhaupt in Iowa, but I never see them around here. It's not just winter hardiness at issue here.

Guy S.

I bet as far as hardiness goes, you would be ok in the city and if it is sheltered, even better. They look cool in photos as I have never seen one in person. I think they are iffy for us non-city folk. Are you going starting to get into conifer other than Ginkgos?

Bill

Yeah, I've got a pretty good confier collection started. Of course I'm going for the oddball types. I ordered a yellow umbrella pine today. I'll give it a whirl. I saw one in the suburbs this spring and he did have it sheltered but has had it for a few years. Very cool tree.

I don't think it is the temperature that is so much of the issue. It's the winter sun and dry air. Much like Dwarf Alberta Spruce: cold hardy into zone 3, but grows in zone 4 MN only in right micro climates.

After most of my 3 ft Sciadopitys broke off 15 years ago, I still have a single horizontal branch alive. And we don't get the snow we use to here anymore. It grows on a gravelly north hillside, protected from winter sun. Very easy to tell if we had a rainy year. The "needles" can grow almost twice as long as usual. The usual being the abnomally short length. They really like moisture. Gravel . . . bad.

Rick

Dirr says Zone 5 to 7, "not quite hardy at the Morton Arboretum". We've had several growing in our gardens for about 10 years - we're located in a very cold Z6a. They always generate comments from visitors. Now a "yellow" one, that would be intriguing - where did you find yours? Lots of gold conifers here but a yellow Sciadopitys sounds like something unique for our wish list.

I got it from exclusivegardener.com. it's called 'ossorios gold'

they have a lot of unusual stuff. website is a little wacky as i think they're new. i got a variegated ginkgo from them this summer and it arrived very healthy and beautiful.

This message was edited Sep 9, 2006 8:50 AM

dybbuk, whoa...a "little wacky" is an understatement! Nice selection of plant material but they desperately need to find a proofreader for their site - Silver "Fur" and graphing (vs. grafting) were just a couple of the numerous errors that jumped out at me.

I wonder if Guy would be interested in a couple of the oak varieties. They have some interesting stuff Dybbuk. Thanks

Bill

Good luck, I'd definitely try them in sheltered Chicago! You should have pretty good success if given the right spot. At any rate, 'Wintergreen' will grow better than any other.

Dax