Pinus mugo Golden Glow - Dwarf Mountain Pine

Pinus mugo 'Golden Glow' is a compact and rounded form of the mountain pine, with very bright golden foliage, remarkable from autumn to spring. Its short and ascending branches are densely covered with bright green needles throughout the year. Due to its modest growth and very slow growth, it is well suited for a small garden, will liven up a rockery or make a statement in a container on the terrace. It is a very hardy small conifer, not demanding, and does not require pruning. It thrives in well-drained but moist soil, and a sunny exposure. It is not suitable for hot and dry climates.

Pinus mugo, also known as the mountain pine, or mountain pine, is an evergreen conifer of the pine family endemic to the mountains of Europe. It is found at the subalpine level, avoiding the summer heat, from the Spanish sierras, through the high Alpine and Pyrenean massifs, to the Balkans. It only descends to an altitude of 200m (656ft) in Central Europe. In the wild, it slowly reaches 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) in all directions, adopting a wind-swept silhouette that reflects its habitat. It is a very hardy species, well adapted to the mountain climate.

The 'Golden Glow' variety distinguishes itself from the wild species by its reduced size, its very compact rounded bushy habit, and its magnificent foliage, golden and then intense green, particularly dense. Its growth is slow, around 10cm (4in) per year. A 10-year-old specimen will not exceed 1 metre (3 feet) in height and 80cm (32in) in width at the base. Ultimately, it will reach a height of 1.50 metres (5 feet). Its branches are covered with fine needles, 4 to 5cm (2in) long, grouped in pairs and arranged in brushes. The young shoots emerge in spring from light brown and resinous buds. On its trunk, the bark is grey-brown, while it shows a green and shiny, then black, colour on the branches.

The 'Golden Glow' mountain pine will find its place in a small garden, either as a stand-alone or in a rockery. It can also be used in a large pot on the terrace or balcony. It works wonders in a Japanese garden and goes well with large stones, geometric lines of pools, and masonry works. It can be combined 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.