code: 5043
This dwarf mugo sports tiny, uniformly straight, rich green needles,
a very neat habit and extremely slow growth. Needles are held radially, spreading out from the center on each of many, short, well-clothed branches. Terminal buds are very showy, and the tight globose plant will not outgrow even the smallest garden space.
Hardy to -50°F
Maximum Elevation: 8,000 ft.
Culture
Grow in moist, well-drained loams in full sun. Grows well in sandy soils, but is also somewhat tolerant of clays. Avoid poorly-drained wet soils. Plants prefer cool summer climates. Plants are generally tolerant of urban conditions. Prune annually in late winter to retain compact size. Unpruned plants may outgrow designated planting spaces as they mature.
Pruning of this slow-growing form is rarely needed.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Pinus mugo, commonly called mugo pine or Swiss mountain pine, is a variable species that is most often seen as a bushy, multi-stemmed shrub or broad-rounded small tree to 15-20’ tall. Mature plants typically exhibit a dense habit, usually growing wider than tall. Mugo pine is also seen in more prostrate forms as well as in taller trees that will grow to as much as 80’. It is native to the mountains of central and southern Europe from Spain to the Balkans. It features bright green needles (to 1-3” long) in bundles of two, oval to conical dull brown female cones (to 2 1/2” long) and scaly brown-gray bark.
‘Teeny’ is an extremely dwarf cultivar that may be the smallest form of mugo pine available in commerce today. This is a dense, globose form that typically grows 1” per year, typically maturing over 10 years to only 10-12” tall and as wide. It features unusually short, medium to dark green needles (to 1” long) in bundles of two.
Problems
Pines are generally difficult to grow well in the St. Louis area because of soil and climate. Mugo pine is susceptible to tip blight, rusts and rots. Pine needle scale and sawflies can be serious problems in some areas. Moths and borers may appear.
Garden Uses
Dwarf evergreen for rock gardens. Also appropriate for foundation plantings.
Information:
Mature Size (generic) : SHRUB (2-4′)
USDA Hardiness Zone : 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Water Needs : Moderate
Light Needs : Full Sun
Growth Rate : Slow
Mature Height : 2-3 ft. (Grows 1-2 inches per year)
Mature Width : 2-3 ft.
Name : Teeny’ Mugho Pine
