Pinus mugo Gnom - Dwarf Mountain Pine

The  Pinus mugo 'Gnom' is a compact form of mountain pine with a wider than tall pyramidal habit. Slow-growing, it can reach a height of 3m (9 ft 10 in) at maturity. Very hardy and not demanding in terms of soil, wind-resistant, it is a plant for full sun, or possibly light shade. This variety is suitable for container cultivation, provided it is pruned a little to control its growth, as well as for large rockeries. 

The Pinus mugo, also known as mountain pine, is an evergreen conifer of the Pine family. It is an endemic species of European mountains. It is found at subalpine level, avoiding summer heat, from the Spanish sierras, through the high Alpine and Pyrenean massifs, to the Balkans. It only descends to an altitude of 200m (656 ft 2 in) in Central Europe. In the wild, it slowly reaches 3 to 4 meters (9 feet 10 inches to 13 feet 1 inches) in all directions, adopting a windswept silhouette that reflects its habitat. It is a very hardy species, well adapted to mountain climates. It is also called "pin couché" due to its very knotty wood and its often creeping branches.
The 'Gnom' variety is quite old, as it was selected in 1890, following a sowing carried out in a Dutch nursery. It has since become a classic among conifers cultivated in nurseries. This 'Gnom' mountain pine grows slowly to form a more or less swollen and rounded pyramid at the base. In 10 years, it reaches about 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) in height and 2m (6 ft 7 in) in width, and at maturity (30 or 40 years), up to 3m (9 ft 10 in) in height and 4m (13 ft 1 in) in width. The foliage is dark green, the needles are grouped in pairs and measure about 5 to 8cm (2 to 3.1 in), and the branches are dense, forming a very compact mass of vegetation. Female cones measure 2 to 6cm (0.8 to 2.4 in) and are erect at the ends of branches. This pine adapts to many types of soils, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, and from moist to moderately dry. It prefers full sun, but can tolerate light shade. Very cold resistant (-30°C) as well as wind resistant, it is not afraid of snow either. 

The 'Gnom' mountain pine will find its place in all gardens, urban or rural, even the smallest ones, planted alone, in a bed or in a rockery. It can also be used in a large pot on the terrace or balcony. In this case, after the first few years, it will be advisable to lightly prune it every year to refine its shape and limit its growth. 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 with low and spreading dwarf conifers, such as the Juniperus horizontalis 'Icee Blue' with its blue foliage, or with graphically shaped foliage, such as the Chamaecyparis obtusa Gold Drop which deploys its feathery green-yellow branches on multiple levels. Columnar conifers will also provide contrast in terms of shape, and even colour, such as the Taxus baccata 'Ivory Tower' with its yellow and then cream foliage in winter.