American Nurseryman -Jan 2012

Keteleeria davidiana Picea chihuahuana Pinus pseudostrobus Conifers Continued from page 15 with pendulous foliage that deserves more use while the Arizona cypress selection C arizonica var glabra Chaparral receives positive comments from all who see it Numerous junipers thrive throughout the Southeast Juniperus formosana is an upright grower with weeping branches that does well in zones 7 to 8a Keteleerias are fi r relatives from southern China and northern Vietnam K davidiana is rare in the Southeast but it is well worth the effort if you want a tree that looks like a fi r and thrives in the lower South Another nice species is K evelyniana which has performed well in south Georgia and north Florida Spruces are not good plants for the lower South The only spruce to survive in my trials has been Picea chihuahuana from Mexico At Cox Arboretum in Canton Ga USDA Zone 7a P morrisonicola P omorika and P orientalis have all grown well Pinus pseudostrobus from Mexico is an excellent fi ve needled pine that has grown well in south Georgia I have also been pleasantly surprised by the growth of certain P armandii and P wallichiana selections Taiwania cryptomeroides while not a plant with great commercial potential makes a fantastic specimen conifer for large gardens and public spaces On the commercial side Thuja Green Giant performs exceptionally well throughout the South and holds up well in the heat of south Georgia with none of the disease problems destroying the Leyland cypresses Interest in conifers for Southern landscapes is increasing Research is being conducted at The University of Georgia Tifton Campus and the Center for Applied Nursery Research in Dearing Ga to bring new introductions to market in the near future Information in this article was presented at the 2010 meeting of the IPPS Southern Region at Raleigh N C John M Ruter Ph D is Allan Armitage Professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia Tifton His co authored book on conifers for Southeastern landscapes is slated to be published in Spring 2013 by the University Press of Florida He can be reached at ruter@ uga edu See page 18 for conifer growing factors to consider 16 JANUARY 2012 American Nurseryman www amerinursery com