Japanese umbrella pine
Closeup of George’s Japanese umbrella pine needles.
* Common name: Japanese umbrella pine
* Botanical name: Sciadopitys verticillata
* What it is: An eye-grabbing evergreen specimen with large, rounded, shiny green needles and a broad pyramidal habit. Not a true pine.
* Size: Very slow-growing to about 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide in 15 years. Can double that in another 20 years.
* Where to use: Look for a prime spot with northwestern wind protection and out of the hottest afternoon sun. A southeast house corner is one good spot. A water garden or patio corner are other possibilities.
* Care: Does best in rich, moist, acidic soil. Water weekly in a drought, especially in early years. Annual spring scattering of Holly-tone or similar acidifying, granular organic fertilizer is helpful. Heavy pruning not needed… just a little thinning to eliminate crossing branches and guide young growth in first few years.
* Great partner: Edge with golden variegated Japanese forestgrass, dwarf golden hosta or barrenwort ‘Frohnleiten’ or ‘Neosulphureum.’
A baby Japanese umbrella pine.
A mature Japanese umbrella pine — at leastd 25-30 years old.