Verdoni Dwarf Hinoki in Duluth, Ga

This lovely dwarf conifer (actually one of two) at the doorway of one of our customers is perfectly situated and sited.

The plant, a Verdoni Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Verdoni'), gets good sun most of the day and is well attended (watered whenever the drought restrictions allow).

We have found that these plants do best in our area when protected from the strong afternoon sun and when they are "brush" pruned regularly. By brush pruning we mean, reaching into the interior of the plant where browning or dieback occurs and merely brushing it off with your hand. It can be cut out using pruners as well but we find that more time consuming and no great advantage.

The Verdoni generally maintains this small shape (3 to 4 feet in height) as it is a fairly slow grower.

Wates Golden Pine -- A Yellow Pine

While the first time we encountered this yellow needled pine (Pinus virginiaina 'Wates Golden') , it was in Oregon and the yellow color far more pronounced, we have since planted several in the North Georgia suburbs and found them to be equally lovely if not as yellow.

Our experience is that the pine does not show its golden color until fall and often not the first year it is planted.

This specimen receives lots of afternoon sun. Others with more shade do not, as would be expected, seem to be as brilliant.