Common Name: dwarf mountain pine
Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Pinaceae
Zone: 3 to 7
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Description: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Leaf: Evergreen
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Dry Soil
Culture
Pruning of this slow-growing cultivar 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.
Genus name comes from the Latin name for pines.
Mugo is reportedly an ancient Tyrolean name with an unknown definition.
‘Allen’ is a dwarf cultivar with a dense, rounded form. It typically grows to 24" tall by 18" wide over the first 10 years, eventually maturing to 36" tall.
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.
Uses
Dwarf evergreen for rock gardens. Also appropriate for foundation plantings.