Conifers give a garden structure that lasts all year. Our range leans towards the unusual: Japanese cedars such as the twisted Cryptomeria 'Rasen' and golden 'Kyara Gold', the Japanese umbrella pine, Sciadopitys verticillata, the weeping deodar cedar and the giant redwood, Sequoiadendron giganteum.
For more height and permanence, browse our full range of garden trees, or see evergreen plants for year-round cover.
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Conifers are cone-bearing trees and shrubs. Most are evergreen, with needles or small, scale-like leaves, which makes them some of the most dependable plants for winter structure. They range from slow, compact shrubs to some of the largest trees on earth, so the right choice depends on the space you have.
Our collection focuses on characterful species: four cultivars of the Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica, the Japanese umbrella pine, the weeping deodar cedar, the Bhutan pine, Pinus wallichiana, the hiba, Thujopsis dolabrata, and the giant redwood.
For small gardens and large pots, choose the slow-growing Cryptomeria 'Kyara Gold' or the Japanese umbrella pine. For a statement specimen with room to grow, the giant redwood and Bhutan pine become magnificent large trees over time.
See our full range of garden trees, plants for screening and privacy and architectural plants for more ideas.
Most conifers are evergreen and keep their foliage all year, which is why they are so useful for winter structure. A few, such as larch, the dawn redwood and the swamp cypress, are deciduous and drop their needles in autumn.
Every conifer in this collection is evergreen. Some, such as Cryptomeria japonica, take on bronze tints in cold weather before turning green again in spring.
Choose slow-growing conifers that stay in scale for many years. Cryptomeria japonica 'Kyara Gold' reaches around 3m in 10 years, and the Japanese umbrella pine, Sciadopitys verticillata, grows slowly to between 3 and 8m.
Avoid the giant redwood and the Bhutan pine in a small space, as both become large trees. For more compact ideas, see our plants for pots and patios.
Yes. Slow-growing conifers such as Cryptomeria 'Kyara Gold' and Sciadopitys verticillata make excellent pot plants for several years. Use a large container with drainage holes and a loam-based compost, and water regularly, as pots dry out much faster than the open ground.
Move them up to a bigger pot every few years, or plant them out once they outgrow the container.
Almost all of our conifers are rated RHS H5 or H6, which means they tolerate winter lows of around -10 to -20°C and are hardy across most of the UK.
The exception is Podocarpus henkelii, rated H3, which needs a sheltered spot in milder areas or winter protection elsewhere. Browse our hardy exotics for more plants that suit UK winters.
Early autumn and spring are ideal, when the soil is moist and warm enough for new roots to establish. Container-grown conifers can be planted at any time of year, as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged and they are watered well through dry spells.
Plant at the same depth as the pot, firm in gently and water thoroughly. Keep watering through the first two summers.
When the rest of the garden dies back for winter, conifers hold their shape and colour. Their needles and scale-like leaves come in deep greens, blue-greens, silver and gold, and many, like the Japanese cedar, take on warm bronze tones in cold weather. This collection brings together characterful conifers, from twisted and crested Japanese cedar cultivars to the Japanese umbrella pine, the weeping deodar cedar and the giant redwood.
Not every conifer becomes a giant. Slow growers such as Cryptomeria japonica 'Kyara Gold' and the Japanese umbrella pine stay in scale for many years, and make striking specimens in a large pot by a door or on a patio. Check the expected size on each plant before you buy, and save the giant redwood and Bhutan pine for gardens with room to let them grow.
Most conifers prefer full sun or light shade and a soil that drains well but does not dry out. Give them space to develop their natural shape, away from walls and other large plants, so that the lower branches keep their foliage. The hiba, Thujopsis dolabrata, is one of the better choices for a shadier spot.
Water deeply and regularly through the first two summers while the roots establish, especially for plants in pots. A layer of mulch helps hold moisture in the soil. Trim lightly, if at all, as most conifers will not regrow from old, bare wood.
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