Mugo Pine

Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo)

Also called the "Swiss Mountain Pine" or the "Mountain Pine," this species is recognizable by its tendency to branch freely near the ground and form a low, irregular, spreading bush or small tree. It has a round or broad pyramidal form growing from 4 to 10 feet tall. It has become an important low-growing pine for landscape use.

The needles are rigid 1 to 2 inches long colored medium to dark green. They may become yellow green in the winter. Needles of this two-needle Pine are held on the tree for more than four years making this one of the more dense Pines suitable for a screen planting. Most other Pines are not suited for screens since they lose their inner needles and lower branches as they grow older. The cones are 1 to 2 inches long and stand erect. They mature to a gray black color and often there will be clusters of 3 to 4 cones at time.

Mugo pines grow best in sun or partial shade in moist loam. It performs remarkably well on soils with a high pH (but prefers acidic soil) and is fairly well adapted to urban sites. The Mugo Pine is native to the mountain areas of central and southern Europe from Spain to the Balkans.

When selecting a Mugo Pine to grow into a tree, choose one with a central leader; if looking for a more dwarf type Mugo Pine choose among the many compact selections. This is an excellent rock garden or foundation plant because of its compact and low growing form. Plant size and density can be controlled by pinching the elongating candles just before or as the needles begin emerging but this is usually not needed on Mugo Pine since growth is very dense

Mugo Pine Choices
The cultivars of this tree offer a tremendous variation in size so be sure to get the size information from the nursery selling the tree. Compacta has a rounded form growing only three feet tall. Gnome will grow to about 12 feet tall. Hesse is a dwarf growing only to 2 1/2 to six feet tall but the spread is very broad. Pumilo has a prostrate form.

Mugo Pine Two Gallon

by Clifton's Nursery

  • Shipped as a potted 2 gallon plant in its original soil and container.
  • A slow growing, shrubby pine which grows to about 3 feet tall and wide.
  • Its dense mounded form makes it very useful in rock gardens, mass plantings, foundation plantings, or as a container plant.
  • Mulch around the roots if using in an extremely hot spot in your garden.
  • Rich, moist soil best. Hardy to USDA zone 2.

A slow growing, shrubby pine which grows to about 3 feet tall and wide. Its dense mounded form makes it very useful in rock gardens, mass plantings, foundation plantings, or as a container plant. Prune annually to maintain dense, dwarf, appearance. Mulch around the roots if using in an extremely hot spot in your garden. Rich, moist soil best. Hardy to USDA zone 2.

Mugo Pine tree 2 foot Bareroot

by Mugo Pine

Mugo Pine tree 2 foot Bareroot The Mugho Pine tree, Pinus mugo mughus, is also called the dwarf mountain pine. This evergreen is a dwarf conifer that has branching, upright stems evenly covered in 2-inch-long needles of a deep, dark true green. Because of its low growth the mugho pine can be used at the front of a border or anywhere you want to grow it. Mugho pines do not need any special soil. In the wild it often grows in slightly rocky areas with shallow topsoil. Mature Height 2 - 3 feet high ] Mature Spread 5 - 6 feet wide Soil Type Sandy, Clay, Loam Moisture Widely Adaptable Mature Form Small, Spreading Growth Rate Slow Sun Exposure Full Sun - Partial Sun Zones 3-7 If your ground can be dug you can plant these right now, if not you need to plant them in a pot and you them outside and let nature take care of them until you can dig the ground, or raise them inside the house and than transplant outside after the last frost. But, slowly do it start putting the pot outside in the shade and slowly move it to full or part sun and than trasplant it in the ground. I do not ship out of the United States. I do combine shipping if you order more than one item and I can combine them in the same box, I will refund you the difference in the shipping that you pay. This will save you alot in shipping.

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