Pinus x schwerinii

Pinus x schwerinii is a hybrid between the Himalayan Pine and the Weymouth Pine, discovered in 1905. Its growth is slow, and its size remains moderate without pruning. It stands out for its curious and picturesque habit, supported by branches with irregular growth. Its foliage is surprising, dense and magnificent, composed of long, slender and pendulous needles, green-blue to silver-blue, giving it a soft and feathery appearance. Still little known, it deserves to be given space, by planting it as a solitary specimen in a large garden or park. This very hardy species adapts to any well-drained but moist soil and prefers an open and sunny exposure.

Pinus x schwerinii is a spontaneous interspecific hybrid, discovered near Berlin, Germany. It is the result of a cross-breeding between Pinus wallichiana with weeping needles (Himalaya, Afghanistan, Bhutan), and Pinus strobus, a gigantic tree that thrives in cooler climates (Eastern North America). It is an evergreen conifer of the Pinaceae family that combines the unusual and majestic habit of its first parent with the robustness of the second. This tree has a conical and wide, irregular shape, a bit gangly, and will reach 10m (33ft) in height and about 4m (13ft) in width after many years of cultivation.

Its foliage is composed of long, pendulous needles, measuring 10 to 12cm (4 to 5in). They have a mix of green and blue colour, with silvery-blue reflections. They are grouped in clusters of 5, forming dense tufts that create 'skirts' along the branches. Even young specimens produce numerous slender and cylindrical cones, which are a beautiful light green.

Easy to grow in moist soil and not picky about soil type, Pinus x schwerinii is a picturesque small tree, underused in our gardens. It will find its place in a large property, where it will stand out as a solitary specimen. As it appreciates coolness and goes well with large stones or geometric lines, it can be planted near a water feature or along a stream. It can be associated with low-growing conifers with a prostrate habit (Juniperus squamata), globose shape (Picea abies 'Little Gem'), or columnar form (Juniperus communis 'Sentinel'). The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which favours the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of flowers. These living plants, with their reassuring permanence, structurally define a flower bed, mark pathways, and border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. The key is to play with volumes and colours.