Pinus strobus Horsford - Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus 'Horsford' is a miniature form of the Weymouth pine, forming an adorable small and compact ball, covered with bright lime green needle-like foliage. Its fine and feathery texture, as well as its very small size, make it a remarkable conifer for small spaces, rockeries, borders, or pots on the terrace. Its growth is exceptionally slow. It is a variety that is not demanding in terms of well-drained, not too chalky soil, and is very hardy. It prefers sunny situations that enhance the beauty of its foliage.

Pinus strobus, also known as white pine, Weymouth pine or Lord's pine, is a conifer of the pine family, native to eastern North America, up to Newfoundland Island in Canada. This king of the forest is a monumental tree, a gigantic pyramidal Christmas tree reaching 90m (295ft) in height in its natural environment, but currently only reaching 45m (148ft) in height due to the destruction of its habitat and extensive exploitation. It is a very hardy species, often planted for reforestation in forests, or as an ornamental tree in large parks.

The 'Horsford' variety of this species is distinguished by its very small size, its very compact globose habit, and its very fine foliage. Its growth is very slow, around 2cm (1in) per year, so that at 15 years, it will not exceed 30cm (12in) in all directions. It is a many-stemmed bush, with branches emerging from the base, covered with lime green, soft and flexible needles, 5 to 6cm (2in) long. They are grouped in fives on the branches and form tufts almost as dense as pompoms. Their lower surface has two silver stomatal bands (respiration cells in plants). The bark of this shrub is smooth, greenish-grey on young specimens, becoming greyish-brown and fissured over time. The lower part of the tree, when mature, shows a whitened bark, hence the vernacular name "white pine". This variety does not produce cones in the early years.

The 'Horsford' Dwarf White Pine will find its place in all gardens, even the smallest ones, as it is undemanding and adapts to a wide variety of soils, except for very chalky soils, as well as to various climates. In small spaces, it will look good as a border in front of shrubs or perennials, and will also elegantly animate a rockery or a bed. It will of course make a magnificent subject in a pot that will enhance the balcony or terrace, and will work wonders in a Japanese garden. It goes well with large stones, the geometric lines of swimming pools, and masonry works. It can be associated with complementary grasses or prostrate (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'), globose (Picea abies 'Little Gem'), or columnar (Juniperus communis 'Sentinel') dwarf conifers. 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 to the waltz of blooms. These plants with their reassuring permanence structurally mark a bed, line the pathways, border the terrace, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. The key is to play with volumes and colours.