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Swiss Mountain Pine Pinus mugo 'Mops'

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Swiss Mountain Pine:

Phonetic Spelling
PY-nus MOO-go maaps
Description

The dwarf mountain pine is a slow-growing, woody, needled evergreen shrub in the Pinaceae (pine) family. It grows 3 to 4 feet high and 2.5 to 3 feet wide.

It prefers full sun with well-drained loamy soil but can tolerate partial shade and is adaptable to other soil types and ranges of pH. It prefers cool summer climates and is tolerant of urban conditions. Pruning annually in late winter will help to retain its compact size. Spring pruning will thicken the plant and also assist in maintaining a dwarf form.

Its needles are very short and may turn yellow in winter for added interest.

The dwarf mountain pine has many landscape uses: bordering a patio, pool, or walkway; mass planted in a naturalized area; in rock or winter gardens; as an accent in the lawn, small spaces, or in a container.  

Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  It is susceptible to wind damage, pine needle scale, and sawflies. Moths and borers are a lesser issue. It is somewhat susceptible to tip blight, rusts, and rots.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

 

 

More information on Pinus mugo.

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Tags:
#evergreen#small spaces#drought tolerant#low maintenance#winter interest#mass planting#air pollution tolerant#deer resistant#rock garden#poolside planting#naturalized area#walkway planting#urban conditions tolerant#clay soils tolerant#yellow needles#wind damage prone#lawn planting#container plant#patio#accent
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#small spaces#drought tolerant#low maintenance#winter interest#mass planting#air pollution tolerant#deer resistant#rock garden#poolside planting#naturalized area#walkway planting#urban conditions tolerant#clay soils tolerant#yellow needles#wind damage prone#lawn planting#container plant#patio#accent
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pinus
    Species:
    mugo
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Dense
    Mounding
    Multi-stemmed
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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 Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    1" to 2" long needles grow in bundles of two, may yellow in winter
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Bark Description:
    Scaly bark
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Multi-stemmed
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Lawn
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Urban Conditions