Digging deeperPlant Library

Other Names:  Mugho Pine, Swiss Mountain Pine

Description:

A choice dwarf and slow growing evergreen for smaller gardens, with shiny dark green needles and a mounded bun-like shape; extremely hardy, tough and adaptable, requires full sun, but doesn't require pruning to remain compact

Ornamental Features

Sherwood Compact Mugo Pine is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental globe-shaped form. It has dark green evergreen foliage. The needles remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Sherwood Compact Mugo Pine is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

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.

Sherwood Compact Mugo Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Sherwood Compact Mugo Pine will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 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)