Tip Top Dwarf Columnar Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus Cembra) – 5 Gallon Pot

Other Names:  Arolla Pine, Swiss Pine, Austrian Stone Pine

‘Tip Top’ is a rare dwarf columnar version of the Swiss Stone Pine that slowly grows up to 20 feet tall and 6 to 7 feet wide at maturity, adding 7 to 8 inches in height per year. Its dense columnar form, combined with attractive, soft, silver-blue needles make it an excellent choice as a specimen tree in smaller garden spaces or containers. Being that Swiss Stone Pines are native to central Europe, from the Alps to the Carpathians, they are cold hardy to USDA Zone 3 where temperatures can drop to -40F, and heat hardy to Zone 7b. Some sources say Zone 8 but we’d rather be safe than sorry. If you’re in Zone 8 and would like to try this pine we suggest providing some filtered sun or shade during the mid afternoon hours. A very hardy and attractive coniferous evergreen, Tip Top is easy to grow and exceptionally low maintenance and we’ve seen no problems with insects or disease. No pruning necessary to keep its dense and narrow form.

Growing up to 20 feet tall and 6 to 7 feet wide at maturity, the ‘Tip Top’ Swiss Stone Pine is ideal for use as a vertical accent in smaller garden spaces where it has a small footprint, or in pots, planters and other containers. It grows tall enough to be considered a candidate for a privacy screen but it will take some patience as the tree only adds 6 to 8 inches in height per year. A fine addition to rock gardens, conifer gardens and Asian theme gardens.

Suggested Spacing:  Best as a specimen