a pic is worth a thousand more words ...

conifers are trees .. frankly.. they never stop growing ...

choosing something with a slow annual growth rate.. means it will fit in your rather small space.. for a long time ..

you will probably want something in the MINI annual growth rate at the link below ... they will usually not be found locally.. and need be mail ordered ...

if you are really interested in such.. i am sure our friends can make a list for you ...

it is IMPERATIVE... that we know where you are ...

ken

link

SE WI Miwaukee county

Agree, dwarf hemlock. All cultivars can be sheared if needed.

Dax

Zaph, something I often think works well is the globe arborvitaes, in your case one of the dwarfish varieties, planted close enough that the grow together. Never need pruning, provide an attractive yet neutral background. Just a thought.

+oM

Whaas - The area is going to get a bit of a overhaul so the surrounding area is not set in stone. As an experiment I ordered three crambe cordifolia and thought I'd put them in the area.

Cryptomeria japonica 'Knaptonensis' is pretty awesome, and can take shade and sheering well. In fact, both increase the amount of white foliage

sc , can cryptomeria survive in wis. ?

ron

Plantlust says zone 5a.

Ron, not sure. I was thinking since these are foundation plantings, they will likely be sheltered (micro climate). Also, the OP currently has boxwod surviving there. Although they could be some sort of cold hardy variety like 'Green Mountain'.

I've only tried one Cryptomeria japonica and it didn't make it through its first winter...and it was an average winter.

tj

Tj -Did you buy locally or order?

Good question. LOL I have about 70 conifers in my yard from various sources and the one I tried was circa 2010 and was a one gallon plant. Best guess would be Stanley & Sons, but that's just a guess.

tj

Zaphod, do you know the species and/or cultivar of boxwood you currently have? That might help you decide if the area is truely a z6 microclimate or not... Usually foundation plantings gain 1/2 a zone or more, assuming they aren't getting it with prevailing winds

There are many zone 4 and 5 boxwood cultivars. You just have to place them out of winter wind and they are fine.

Cryptomeria will not work anywhere in WI unless you truly have a unique microclimate alongside the lake. Even then not a risk I'd take for a foundation planting. I tried one as it was a free gift. Microclimate up against a structure and it died after one of the warmest winters on record for WI.

I saw a dwarf cultivar of some sort sandwiched between other conifers at the Chicago Botanical that looked somewhat beat up and they are zone 6A.

Well...that answers that. Guess you better no try Cryptomeria! Hopefully mine survives its first winter. I'm in 6b, but February was the coldest on record in the Boston area. Luckily we have had 4+ feet of snow cover since mid-january

sc77- Don't be alarmed with a reddish brown plant when the snow melts. Give it time to green up.

tj