‘Blue Shag’ Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’ – North American Native Plant

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Coniferous Evergreen Tree – North American Native Plant

Height at Maturity: maybe 4′ in 10 years

Width at Maturity: maybe 4′ in 10 years

Spacing: Best as a specimen

Growth Habit / Form: Globe to Rounded Pyramid with age

Growth Rate: Slow

Flower Color: NA

Flower Size: NA

Flowering Period: NA

Flower Type: NA

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Blue Green

Fragrant Foliage: Yes

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained to Dry when established

Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention, Birds

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Dry Soil (when established), Insect

Description

One of those shrubs that will not only add an amazing touch to your landscape, but also one that folks just have to reach out and touch. ‘Blue Shag’ is a slow-growing dwarf Eastern White Pine with a mounded pyramidal form and symmetrically spaced branches densely clothed in tufts of crowded but soft-looking blue-green needles. Though it only adds about 4 inches in size per year, Blue Shag is a rare beauty that over time will become a focal point in the garden, so make sure to pick just the right spot to plant it, and be careful not to overcrowd it with other large growing shrubs or trees. We suggest leaving at least a 7 to 8 foot sunny space for it to grow. Consider surrounding it with low spreading groundcovers such as mat-forming junipers, sedums and ice plant.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 6 to 7 feet tall and equally as wide over time, the Blue Shag Eastern White Pine is ideal for use as a focal point specimen in the sunny garden. A fine addition to conifer gardens, Asian theme gardens and the Xeriscape (low water needs).

Suggested Spacing: Best as a specimen

Growing Preferences

Though drought tolerant when established, the Blue Shag Eastern White Pine grows best in a moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun, but will tolerate some light afternoon shade. As with so many other ornamental shrubs and trees, a constantly soggy soil can cause problems with the roots. Does not require pruning however can be trimmed annually in late winter to maintain a smaller plant or for very interesting topiary forms or bonsai.

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