Miniature conifer

[Philip Walker]

Would any one have an idea of the name of this.I've had it for approx 10 years,possibly bought from White Cottage Alpines.I've included a photo of its trough to give an idea of its size.The name I have a vague memory of is Picea abies 'Gregoryana'.

[ArdfearnAli]

Looks similar to what I grow as Picea abies little gem. It has the same young golden green growth and form and from memory I think gregoriana is more blue green in colour.

Alasdair

[johnw]

No I don't think it's 'Little Gem'.  I probably sold thousands of them over the years and they'd be very squat at that age and you'd never see the trunk, at least as they are propagated in Canada.  They developed a serious problem, suddenly a whole segment would go brown & the nursery stopped propagating one of their best sellers.  The older needles look too bright and shiny.  Here's a photo of one that arrived here in Nova Scotia sometime in the 70's, likely from Mitsch in Oregon or Alpenglow in BC.

That Gregoryana group is a nightmare to sort, there's a very old one here called 'Gregoryana Parsonii' and as best as I remember you can only distinguish them in old age. GP is an undlating mound under a foot - looks like a cloud. Could be one of them, the colour on the old foliage looks kind of right - if so and to keep your sanity be happy with simply 'Gregoryana'. ; )

Photo Picea abies 'Little Gem' and I have to say it looks nothing like 'Little Gem' in its first 25 years.

johnw

[johnw]

Having just consulted Humphrey Welch's book I think the 'Parsonii' here is in fact 'Gregoryana' as it is very compact given it is 30 odd years old. HW says 'Gregoryana Parsonii' is a misnomer.  In any event it sits in a scree atop a wall.

Here is the wall - 'Little Gem' (25 yo) in the centre and 'Gregoryana' far end.  These may help down the road in determining what you have.

I have to say I had not seen the later in some years and am surprised it is headed somewhat upwards. Ken tells me someone set the bbq on that end of the wall and burnt the far side off the conifer!

Dwarf conifers, heuchera and snowdrops - the minefields - I shouldn't wade in.

johnw

[Philip Walker]

John and Ali,thanks.