Golden Acre Home & Garden Centre's Plant Library

Other Names:  Mugho Pine, Swiss Mountain Pine

Description:

A striking dwarf cultivar with a dense, rounded form that features yellowish needles which emerge an attractive yellow in spring and turn gold in winter; a relatively trouble-free plant, foliage may burn in winter; great for rock gardens

Ornamental Features

Golden Mugo Pine is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its decidedly oval form. It has attractive lime green evergreen foliage which emerges yellow in spring. The needles are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding gold in the fall, which persists throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Golden Mugo Pine is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a shapely oval form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Golden Mugo Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Golden Mugo Pine will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.