Other Names:  Mugho Pine, Swiss Mountain Pine

Description:

An extremely hardy and adaptable evergreen, this is actually a highly variable species, almost no two are alike, ranging from small garden detail shrubs to tall, wide trees; many specific cultivars are available, needs full sun

Ornamental Features

Mugo Pine is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It has dark green evergreen foliage. The needles remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Mugo Pine is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a high maintenance tree that will require regular care and upkeep. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Mugo Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts

Planting & Growing

Mugo Pine will grow to be about 7 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America.