Pinus strobus Green Twist - Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus 'Green Twist' is a dwarf form of the Weymouth pine, notable for its "twisted" needles. Its spherical habit, dense branches and its large bluish needles, here undulated, give it an unparalleled texture and graphic appearance.  With high ornamental value, this reduced-size Weymouth pine can be planted in any garden, even the smallest ones, where it thrives quietly in rather sunny conditions, whether in rockeries, flower beds or large pots. Highly hardy, it has modest requirements for well-drained and not too chalky soil, and once established, it is resistant to drought.

Pinus strobus, also known as the Eastern White Pine, Weymouth Pine or Lord's Pine, is a coniferous tree from the Pinaceae family, native to the eastern part of North America, up to Newfoundland Island in Canada. Its majesty has made it the official emblem tree of the Ontario state. This forest king is indeed a monumental tree, a gigantic pyramidal Christmas tree reaching 90m (295ft) in height in its natural habitat, but currently hardly exceeding 45m (148ft) in height due to the destruction of its habitat and extensive exploitation. It is a highly hardy species, often planted for reforestation in forests, or as an ornamental tree in large parks. The bark of this bush is smooth, greenish-grey on young subjects, becoming brownish-grey and fissured over time. The lower part of the tree, when mature, shows a whitened bark, hence the vernacular name 'white pine'.

The variety 'Green Twist' is characterized by its reduced size, rounded and dense bushy habit. Its growth is moderate, so that after 10 years, it does not exceed 1m (3ft) in height. It grows 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) per year. Its branches are densely covered with shiny, thin, soft and flexible, undulated needles, measuring 7 to 12cm (3 to 5in) in length. They are grouped in fives and arranged in tufts, radially disposed around the branches. Their lower surface has two bands of silver stomata (plant respiration cells), giving them bluish to silvery reflections. An evergreen bush, it is decorative throughout the year with its graphic habit and the fluffy greenish-blue mass it eventually forms over time.

The 'Green Twist' Weymouth Pine fits well in a contemporary garden with graphic plants as well as in a Japanese garden, but it should not be limited to these uses, as pines, with their undemanding nature, are interesting in all gardens, of any size, bringing a permanent structure of quality, with shimmering reflections and captivating textures. In small spaces, it stands out when planted alone, elegantly animating a rockery or a flower bed. Planted in a large container, it becomes a subject that enhances a balcony or terrace. It harmonizes very well with other small-sized conifers with colourful foliage, such as the fabulous Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa' with its young foliage of an unreal blue, turning silvery afterwards, or Platycladus orientalis 'Aurea Nana', a golden Oriental Arborvitae with a highly structured habit that contrasts both in colour and foliage appearance. The astonishing Abies koreana 'Kohout's Icebreaker'® with its short and bushy foliage, even more curly than that of our miniature pine, is also a very good companion.