Digging deeperPlant Library

Other Names:  Mugho Pine, Swiss Mountain Pine

Description:

A rugged and hardy strongly oval large shrub or small tree, wide spreading and dense, excellent for form and texture in home landscapes, allow enough room for its full mature size; needs full sun

Ornamental Features

Big Tuna Mugo Pine is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has dark green evergreen foliage. The needles remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Big Tuna Mugo Pine is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Big Tuna Mugo Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

Big Tuna Mugo Pine will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Nursery Notes

Drought tolerant after establishment (3-5 years)