‘Hillside Creeper’ Scotch Pine

Pinus sylvestris ‘Hillside Creeper‘

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 2a-7b (East); 2a-8b (West) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Coniferous Evergreen Tree

Height at Maturity: 1.5-2′

Width at Maturity: 6-8′

Spacing: Use as specimen or space 6′ for mass planting or 10′ or more for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Prostrate Spreading

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast, 12″ or more per year

Foliage Color: Green or Blue-green turning Brilliant Golden-Yellow in winter!

Fragrant Foliage: Yes

Sun Needs: Full Sun to Mostly Sun; Will appreciate some filtered sun in the midafternoon in Zone 8

Water Needs: Average, low when established

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Moist But Well Drained – does not tolerate standing water or constantly wet soil

Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold (-50F), Deer, Drought (when established)

Description

A very rugged, hardy and attractive Scotch Pine with an unusual ground-hugging and spreading habit, ‘Hillside Creeper’ is a fast grower adding 12 inches in width or more in width per year. Height is a different story. Growing low to the ground, it will slowly begin to mound in layers upon itself reaching maybe 2 feet at most over the long term. Another unusual thing about this pine is how the medium-green to blue-green needles turn to an attractive and showy golden-yellow during the winter. Easy to grow and maintain, Hillside Creeping makes for a fine specimen in landscape borders and on hillsides, hence its name. Its branches flow around rocks, garden ornaments or other plants. An an occasional pruning can be done to guide the branches where you want them to go. If you have a creative eye, the central stem can be staked to create a central mound for a “wave-like” look.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing to only 2 feet tall and spreading 6 to 8 feet wide, the Hillside Creeper Sylvester Pine is ideal for use as a specimen or in groupings in sunny landscape borders or on hillsides, embankments or slopes. If space will allow, it makes for a fine groundcover accent in home foundation plantings. A fine selection for conifer gardens, Asian gardens and rock gardens, where its branches will meander around boulders and other garden ornaments.

Suggested Spacing: 5 to 6 feet apart for a solid groundcover; 12 feet apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

The Hillside Creeper Scotch Pine is easy to grow in a damp to moist but well-drained soil of average fertility. As with so many other conifers, constantly soggy or wet soils can be problematic; leading to root rot or other harmful plant diseases. So make sure to plant this one in well-drained soil, whether in the ground or in pots. It grows best in full to mostly sun. Does not like climates with very hot and humid summers. Prefers cooler climates. Once established, water needs are quite low when growing in the ground. In pots, soil moisture will need to be monitored more closely, especially during summer. When the top two inches of soil is dry, provide water.

Plant as you would a Mugo Pine….

How To Plant a Mugo Pine

How To Prune Pines

Plant Long & Prosper!

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