Pinus schwerinii Wiethorst

The Pinus schwerinii Wiethorst is a lovely dwarf form of a hybrid between the Himalayan Pine and the Weymouth Pine. This conifer slowly forms a fairly wide, compact pyramid, covered in dense and almost velvety bright green-blue foliage, slightly tinged with grey, made up of long pendulous needles. Its growth is adorned with very long cones, often clustered in bunches, even on young plants. It can be planted as a standalone specimen in a large rock garden or in the center of a flower bed.

The Pinus (x) schwerinii is a spontaneous interspecific hybrid, discovered near Berlin in Germany. It is the result of cross-breeding between the weeping Himalayan Pine (Pinus wallichiana) (from the Himalayas, Afghanistan, and Bhutan) and the giant and cool-loving Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) (from the eastern part of North America). It is an evergreen conifer of the pine family that combines the unusual and majestic habit of its first parent with the hardiness of the second.

The Wiethorst form of Pinus schwerinii, with very slow growth, does not exceed 3m (9 ft 10 in) in height and 2.50m (8 ft 2 in) in width at maturity, around the age of 20, without pruning. It stands out with its curious and picturesque habit, in the shape of a pyramid, supported by branches that grow somewhat irregularly if not pruned. Its foliage is surprising, dense, and magnificent, composed of fine, pendulous needles measuring 8cm (3.1 in) long. Their colour is a mix of green and blue, with silver-blue reflections. They are grouped in fives, forming dense tufts that create 'skirts' all along the branches. The numerous thin and cylindrical cones, of a beautiful light green colour, appear at the ends of the branches, even on young plants. Measuring up to 20cm (7.9 in) long, they seem somewhat disproportionate in relation to the size of the pine.

The Wiethorst pine is a picturesque and endearing small tree, deserving of a prominent spot, when planted as a standalone specimen in a small garden. This very hardy conifer adapts to any type of soil, well-drained but moist, in an open and sunny location. Since it appreciates coolness and goes well with large stones or geometric lines, it can be planted near a water feature or along a stream. It can be associated with low-growing conifers with a prostrate habit (Juniperus squamata), globose habit (Picea abies Little Gem), or columnar habit (Juniperus communis 'Sentinel'). The graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of forms, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of flowers. These living plants, with their reassuring permanence, structurally define a flower bed for a long time, mark pathways, and line the terrace. The key is to play with volumes and colours.