dwarf conifers

Do you know a source for dwarf conifers? I have been to local nurseries without finding enough selection. Found one comprehensive guide on the internet, but it is wholesale only and not organized by type or shade-tolerance.. What am I missing? One nursery said if I found what I want they might order it.

I want a cone-shaped specimen plant that deer dont care for and will stay short and grow in about 3/4 shade. Zone 5.

sounds like dwarf alberta spruce if you don't mind brown.

Conifer and shade are not very compatible.

You might try going to PlantPiles, under common name type yew and take a look. Most of them are shade tolerant.

Also, type in a common name, like fir or spruce, then on the line 'cultivar' type in dwarf and take a look.

I like the big ones.

Hi Ballyshannon, it is hard to give advice for this as there are literly hundreds of so called dwarf conifers, from my own experience of deer, and right now I am doing battle with a stag that eats, rubs and runs at my shrubs etc just because it is his way of showing his manhood off to the ladies and also get rid of the velvet that covers his antlers, the other problem you might face is that some so called dwarf conifers, after several years, turn out to be anything but dwarf, so what I would sugesest you do is go to your local librery and search out a book/s of all the dirrerent types, there are books just for your very subject, that way, you will see the pictures, the texture and the shapes, it should also give you info like finnal hight, shade/sun and soil requirements, then you will be able to draw up a list of your favourites and start your search from there, you still have time to do this as, the best time to plant connifers is end of summer once the heat is out the sun and the soil is still warmish, or, in spring once the soil starts to warm up, if you plant inbetween these times, like in summer, you stand a greater chance of them dehydrating and turning brown, once this happens, these are goners as most wont green up again, for the first few years, you might be best to make a cage around them useing chicken wire onto 3/4 canes or whatever you prefere as the deer will just love the challenge or strutting their stuff and useing these lovely little coniffers as target practice, but as you search for your choice, you would be able to get the soil well prepared for them, hope this helps you, Weenel.

Ballyshanon, if you have deer, your conifers are going to be eaten unless they have really, really prickly needles or taste extremely nasty. Also, there are not many dwarf conifers that will take shade, except maybe hemlock - and the deer will eat that. As a deer-proof alternative I suggest using box (Buxus). Box is evergreen, slow-growing, shade-tolerant and there are a number of dwarf varieties. If you get one that is not dwarf, you can use hedge clippers to shape it into a cone.

Like the idea that June sugested, you dont have to stick to cone shapes, ball shapes and egg shaped will also do the trick if it is shape/features you wish, also some Holly's can be kept shaped and like the box, need only one cut per year, the deer dont normally eat either, my prob with the STAG/BUCK only, is introduction of new shapes and some foliage, the chalenge of knocking them out his way/territory when he is out to impress the younger stags/bucks and ofcourse he thinks it's a turn on for the girls, but actually, they normally just graze away at the roses etc and ignore him, we had a surprise 2 nights ago in front of our window when 2 bucks went head to head, husband and I were amazed at this, till morning we found all our garden light fittings pulled out and trampled on, I have Rhododendrons about 10/15 feet high and wide, ferns under them, these guys charged into these and shook their heads, came upright with piles of shrub and fern wrapped around the antlers, seems it is a warning to the apponent as to how big and strong they are, just wish they chose somewhere else to demonstarate, good luck, WeeNel.

Wow, I am so impressed. This was my first post, and I'm pleased that you all took time to answer.

Weenel, I have long been discouraged by my tiny local library and the disinterest of the staff, and more or less stopped requesting anything between working several jobs. But there is a new system in MA whereby I can request books online and name the library where I want to pick them up. I ordered two WHOLE BOOKS of dwarf conifers! I wouldnt have thought of looking for such specific books without your post. . Maybe the electronic age isnt all bad.

Also, I found a site at Rugers U. which rates everthing in sight for deer resistance. You can check "trees, seldom severely damaged", and it throws out a list of trees. It says blue spruce are pretty good at escaping deer, by the way. When I get the books I will check them for dwarf-ness and shade tolerance.

Box to me seems a great comedown, but it is evergreen and I put it on the list. I am not really looking for that suburban look, as I am out in the country.

Thank you all for doing this. (I'm afraid I do mind brown.)

Good for you, doing your research on all the plants that you may like, it is hard for me to tell you any plants that are deer proof as I have them here in Scotland, it seems to be the male (bucks) that cause the most damage by rubbing their antlers on the branches and shrubs, I was told to grow anythind with thorns, prickles and horrid smells, yeh right, I have stood at my window and watched the dear, does, and bucks, run their mouth up the stems of Rugosa Roses and believe me you cant get more thorn on a plant than that, they dont respect anything they take a fancy to, I have found the best for me is to protect the shrubs/trees etc for the first couple of years with 3 stakes and chicken wire, once the plants have a good root systen, they do withstand a bit chewing from the deer, you will need to watch out with the Dwarf stuff as it is at the right hight for them, hope all works out well for you, take your time and enjoy the gardening, Weenel/

In defense of box: it doesn't have to look suburban. If you don't clip the bush, it develops a natural shape. Some box reach the size of small trees, while others are naturally compact and twiggy. In a country setting, I grew Buxus x 'Green Mountain' in a mixed shrub and perennial bed, and used it as a support for a small clematis vine. But I understand completely that a conifer would be your first choice, and I hope you can find one that fits your criteria.

Agree with dale_a_gardener, 3/4 shade is usually not "agreeable" with conifers. However, some of the Cryptomerias and Chamaecyparis will tolerate shade and you might want to do a search on these and see if there's something that might be appropriate for your spot.

A perfect "cone-shaped" conifer I love is Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone' http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/60725/ and stays relatively short - 4'-6'. However, it really requires full sun to look its best.