Showy Winter Cones

We’ve talked about plants with winter flowers or interesting berries but now I want to elaborate on some plants with winter pine cones.

Using conifers with decorative pine cones is a more subtle winter interest than bright red berries, or blossoming flowers, but it is just one more way to maintain interest in the garden year round. There are also a variety of pine cone crafts you can make with your pine cones to keep you in touch with your garden even during the winter months when less time is spent outdoors!

Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) – A large conifer, this tree is pyramidal in shape and has beautiful silvery-green colored foliage. Cones mature in October and grow to about 3″ long. An evergreen tree. The Atlas cedar is hardy in zones 7-9 and will grow 60′ tall and 40′ wide.

The Early-Coning Spruce (Picea abies ‘Acrocona’) – This spruce produces showy cones at a much younger age than many other spruces. It is a slow-growing semi-pendulous branched tree with a pleasing silhouette in the garden. Hardy in zones 3-8. This spruce has cones that are much larger then you would expect to see on a small tree/large shrub. Evergreen foliage provides year-round interest. At ten years this spruce had only grown to a height of 5-10′. In the spring this spruce has bright purple cones that are a focal point of interest as well.

Dwarf Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra ‘Nana’) – Maturing at only 8-12′ this pine stays a manageable size in the garden. Hardy zones 3-8a it is a slow-growing tree with a wide pyramidal growth habit. The cones are bright brown, 3″ long, and will remain on the tree for up to 2 years after maturing.

Dwarf Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobes ‘Coney Island’) – A dwarf form of the eastern white pine, this cultivar produces cones in abundance at an early age. You won’t have to wait decades to enjoy the beauty of pine cones with this hardy evergreen. Dense, rounded growth of long, blue-green needles make this pine an exciting addition to any garden landscape. The dwarf white pine will grow to 5-7′ and be hardy to zone 3.

Slash Pine (Pinus elliotti ‘Slash’) – A native of Florida, this large pine tree can take the summer humidity and flourishes in zones 7-10. Growing 80-100′ at maturity this evergreen produces a yearly crop of 7-10″ pine cones. It is a tree often grown commercially for logging purposes, as well as being used in large landscape themes. A very common tree, and for good reason. Where other pines (like the black pine described below) may grow sickly in the hot, humid summers, this pine thrives.

Austrian or Black Pine (Pinus nigra) – The Black pine or Austrian pine is a large, handsome tree that will grow over 40′ with a 20-30′ spread so be sure to give it plenty of room. Hardy in zones 5-9, hot humid summers may cause this pine some setbacks. In the winter you’ll have not only interest from the mature pine cones, but also the silvery buds of the new pine cones emerging for the following year.

Whatever climate you live in there is a conifer with decorative pine cones right for you and your garden situation. Enjoy these beautiful evergreens not only for their winter foliage color, but for the subtle interest they bring through beautiful, showy and useful cones as well.

See all the ways you can use plants in the garden to create winter interest.