Pinus mugo 'Compacta'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus MOO-go com-PAK-tah
- Description
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The dwarf mugo pine, a slow-growing woody shrub in the Pinaceae (pine) family, is native to the mountain areas of central and southern Europe. It grows 3 to 4 feet high and 2 to 4 feet wide.
It does best in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil; however, it is adaptable to poor, clay, and sandy soils. It has a shallow root system, making transplanting hassle-free. Propagate dwarf mugo pine by grafting, root cutting, or seed.
Use grafted plants for true dwarf forms. To maintain the dwarf condition, prune the new shoots when the needles are half their measured length. For a more dense plant, the candles can be sheared back halfway.
The dwarf mugo pine has many landscape uses: bordering a patio, pond or walkway; mass planted in a woodland, meadow, or naturalized areas; on a slope or bank adjacent to a river; as a low hedge; in rock gardens, small spaces, or in a container.
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This shrub is susceptible to wind damage. Pine sawfly larvae cause chewing damage. Pine needle scale causes subtle long-term damage if untreated.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Patio Room
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- mugo
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Inconspicuous flower open in May on mature plants.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Short, needle-like foliage
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- Broken into plates on larger specimens.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- In the spring, vertical stems with miniature needles (candles)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
