Silver Whispers Swiss Stone Pine
Pinus cembra 'Silver Whispers'
Height: 12 feet
Spread: 6 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3a
Other Names: Arolla Pine
Description:
A near perfect hardy evergreen for spatially challenged landscapes; exceptional form is densely packed with white striped dark green needles that produce a silvery effect; further accented with long violet blue cones
Ornamental Features
Silver Whispers Swiss Stone Pine is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its rigidly columnar form. It has attractive dark green foliage with white stripes. The needles are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. The plum purple fruits are held in cones in mid spring.
Landscape Attributes
Silver Whispers Swiss Stone Pine is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. 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.
Silver Whispers Swiss Stone Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Vertical Accent
- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing
Silver Whispers Swiss Stone Pine will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 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. 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.
