Pinus densiflora Alice Verkade - Japanese Red Pine

Pinus densiflora 'Alice Verkade' is a dwarf form of the Japanese Red Pine, inhabited by a very "zen" spirit. This small conifer forms a beautiful round and dense tuft of upright branches. In spring, its dark green needle-like foliage brightens up with lighter, very decorative young shoots. Its attractive habit is easily maintained through pruning, and its modest growth allows it to fit in small gardens or, in pots, on the terrace or balcony. This hardy variety withstands wind and thrives in ordinary, rather moist soil and sunny exposure. It is sensitive to summer drought.

Pinus densiflora, also known as Japanese Red Pine or Japanese Umbrella Pine, is a plant from the pine family native to forests in northeastern China, Korea, and Japan. In its natural environment, this species can exceed 30 metres (98 feet 5 inches) in height and has a variable habit, a naturally twisted form, and often several trunks covered in red bark. Appreciated for its wood in Japan, this species also shelters the cultivation of matsutake, a highly fragrant mushroom, under its foliage.

The 'Alice Verkade' variety distinguishes itself from the wild species by its reduced size, and its particularly compact round habit which can be accentuated through pruning in autumn. Its growth is very slow, so that ultimately it will not exceed 1.5 metres (4 feet 11 inches) in all directions. Its branches with red bark are upright, ascending, and very tight. They are covered with fine needles, 10cm (3.9 in) long, grouped in pairs and arranged in dense brushes. They are a very bright light green in spring, and a dark and vibrant green for the rest of the year.

The Japanese Red Pine 'Alice Verkade' will find its place in the smallest gardens, isolated, in a rockery, or at the back of a bed. It will form a magnificent focal point that enhances the balcony or terrace. It works wonders in a Japanese garden, and goes well with large stones, the geometric lines of swimming pools, and masonry works. It can be associated with complementary grasses or dwarf conifers with a prostrate habit (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'), globose (Picea abies 'Little Gem'), or columnar (Juniperus communis 'Sentinel'). The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of blooms. These plants with their reassuring permanence structurally define a bed, mark pathways, border the terrace, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. The key is to play with volumes and colours.