Islprim

I agree, Primo Arborvitae would be an ideal choice. Unfortunately, this is what my current one looks like after three years. However, the site is unprotected and browsing is easy for Odocoileus virginianus. The site I’m looking at is much more protected and maybe I should reconsider. I’m still not sure about the hardiness of this dwarf Thuja.

Pixie Dust! I have one that’s been in my front yard - full west sun - for over 10 years & it’s great. It looks so bright each year with the little ”stars” of new growth - the prettiest of the dwarf spruces IMO. I don’t think it’s at 3’ yet. I have it as a trio of Jean’s Dilly & another which name escapes me just now. I don’t find a recent pic of them but I’ll try for one for you later today when rain lets up a bit.

KW, does your Pixie Dust suffer winter burn, or is that a continental climate thing?

maackia - no burn and it’s not in a protected spot. It gets hot, hot summer afternoon sun & we do have ice storms & freezes here in Vancouver WA. We also have freezing winds. Pixie is the fattest one on left. It’s flush with new green growth - all the stars have opened. I measured it & it’s barely 3’ tall & @ 2’ across base & has been in since @2015. The one in foreground is the Jean’s Dilly & it’s been in since @ 2018. I’ll dig out my plant tags in a bit to confirm what I’m saying & the names. I’m not sure about the shortest one. I do wish I had spaced them a bit more apart. I have a couple more pics I’ll post. This grouping is on the edge of my yard.

Thinking about the winter burn - that’s what this might be & I’ve seen it in past years too. But, this is the only evidence left & since it didn’t kill the plant, the brown was covered with new growth.

The trio. Pixie fattest & in the back. Note - we removed our turf last summer. The border plants including the 3 mini spruces stayed put as did the Crimson Queen & Spaan’s shore pine next to my house. All the foreground plants are new or were transplanted.

Pretty sure this one is Jean’s Dilly

How have I made it to my 68th year without ever seeing Juniperus communis 'Hibernica'?! It's so odd that I've never seen it in arboreta or commerce. It may not be the best choice for this particular site, but if I run across one I'm buying it!

KW, beautiful plants! It is safe to say 'Jean's Dilly' has stayed the narrowest of the grouping?

Yes! I have dug out my tags & pics & sorted my info. Jean’s Dilly was planted June, 2019. It is the taller one in left of Pixie in my first pic in last post. It is as tall as Pixie but easily less than half as wide. It came from Iseli Nursery in Oregon. Tag says growth rate 2-4” per year. I wonder if that rate would be slower in your cold winter area.

The shortest of the 3 is Waconda Dwarf/ Picea glauca conica. It was also planted June, 2019. Tag says slow growing to 2.5’ in 10 years.

Pixie Dust was planted in 2014

Looking at your space & my plant size, Jean’s Dilly does seem the best choice for width.

I believe I have been sold on Jean’s Dilly. Well, that could change tomorrow, but the stars seem to be aligning.

But isn’t it fun to research and plan when a specific plant shape / type is needed for a specific area in our private landscape? I love dwarf conifers.

Abies koreana ’Wiki’

Pinus sylvestris 'Green Penguin' like you mentioned, but also maybe ‘Moseri’

Abies fraseri ’Fastigiata’

Not a conifer, but Acer platanoides 'Curly Lampost' might work well.

maackia, your site may be too cold, but I just planted a fastigiate Japanese plum yew -- looks like a good fit if it could take the cold (the pic below is a stock image). PS -- You're the same age as me!

I should’ve added in my original post that to the left of the steps and above the Picea ’Formanek’ is a picture window. Whatever I plant in this spot needs to be low & slow.

Chad - I wasn’t aware there was a fastigiate form of Fraser Fir. It could work, but I’d prefer more density to screen the side of steps. It’s also interesting you mention P. sylvestris ’Moseri, which has the added benefit of turning gold in winter. Mine is now about twelve years old and quite nice. It’s a bit too wide for this spot, but it’s a really nice and very slow growing conifer.

Ben- I wish I could grow Japanese Plum-Yew! Unfotrunately, lack of cold hardiness would make it a short-timer. Sixty-eight ain’t great for the body, but I’m having more fun in the garden than I ever did. :)

I found Jean’s Dilly at a local nursery, which ultimately made this decision easy. Thank you all.

He looks perfect in that spot! A nice little exclamation point in that garden bed. Thanks for sharing with us maackia!