see link: https://conifersociety.org/conifers/learn/conifer-sizes-growth-rates/

dwarf are defined as an annual growth rate of 1 to 6 inches..

six inches is a bit aggressive.. and under the ten year estimate.. that makes a plant 5 feet tall.. and 10 feet in 20 ... that isnt that small ...

if space is really at a premium.. you ought to be looking at mini's ... or at least insuring you are on the smaller side of the dwarf's annual growth rate ...

long time ago.. there was a pic of some collector.. maybe at a condo.. where he had about 100 minis in the entry way of his front door.. ive looked for the pic online.. but never found it ... i must have seen it in some old book .. i wonder if it was in the old van hoey books??

ken

space - right now, the intended new conifer plants I am looking are are not for in ground - but pots. The pots are about 22-24 high, and the dwarfs I suppose growth spec is anywhere from 12-24-36 inches.

I plan to place them by the mudroom door, side of garage, etc, etc. Decorative pieces.

Maybe down the road, I will carve out some lawn, but I'm looking at dwarfs. I can't even think of a spot where I would carve out some lawn.

I have zero clue on conifers. I'm on Conifer Kings Site. Then I filter to Dwarf.

Then I browse the listings. I look at listed specs. I then -google image search- some of the ones I'm considering just to see how it looks (in mature size) to get a better idea of how it looks vs the --marketing pictures-.

I have a collection of dwarf conifers that I grow in containers. I have a Pusch also, several Japanese white pines, a couple of cryptomerias but mostly dwarf Hinokis.

These can grow happily in a container of suitable size for a number of years before requiring repotting and root pruning.......as long as you use a very durable and high quality potting media. Something like Al's 5-1-1 or gritty mix.

Important to keep in mind that the only factor involved in determining a "dwarf" cultivar is rate of growth. If they live long enough, they can certainly exceed listed sizes. Growing them in a container is a natural dwarfing process as well (think Bonsai) so slows growth even more. But unless you practice actual bonsai with these conifers, they will outgrow even a generously large container eventually.

The book ”Small Conifers for Small Gardens” by Robert Fincham might be a place to start to get ideas.

tj

Best dwarf conifers to grow in containers

I think Kingdom also has filter miniature

ron

also the ACS site

CK has been my primary source but discovered Broken Arrow. Sigh

The things we do for our crazy hobbies. It's about 3 hrs one way, so 6 hrs just on a round trip.

Their 1st day of the season opening is tomorrow

I was enchanted hearing about miniatures years ago, but I have wild rabbits > 1 bite > 1 decade worth of growth is gone.

I tossed up the idea of grafting miniatures on a branch of a compatible species at (human) eye level > oh wow, you should read the comments!

Anyway, that's how I arrived at dwarfs!

I have…well, zero plants grown year round in pots. My spouse dabbles in this, and we have a small number of house plants, but the whole thing is somewhat foreign to me. Do you have to move them around to ensure they’re getting optimal sun? BTW, I’m only referring to conifers grown in pots.

Location and therefore climate has a lot to do with how successfully one can grow conifers long term in a container. I'm not sure I would recommend that practice for those in colder zones. Exposure of the rootball - the most cold vulnerable portion of the plant - to freezing winter temps can be very risky in those in USDA zones 6 and below.

I rarely move my containerized conifers around - too heavy - but they are sited to maximize whatever light requirements they prefer.

I have also acquired my collection locally, never used mail order. But then I am surrounded by a selection of excellent retail nurseries, most of which order in directly from suppliers like Iseli and Stanley and Sons. IMO, Conifer Kingdom is hugely overpriced!!

go to your library , you can order any book to see for 2 weeks ( I got those cool conifer encyclopedias from England )

ask for Designing with conifers by Richard Bitner,,,small but nice section on pots & troughs

ron