Plant Database

Other Names:  Mugho Pine, Swiss Mountain Pine

Description:

A smaller version of the species with a dense, upright habit of growth, notably more compact and slower growing than the species, rugged and hardy, excellent for form, texture and color detail in home gardens but will grow quite large; needs full sun

Ornamental Features

Compact Mugo Pine is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its broadly spreading habit of growth. It has dark green evergreen foliage. The needles remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Compact Mugo Pine is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Compact Mugo Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

Compact Mugo Pine will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.