Chamaecyparis, Fir, Hemlock and Microbiota
We all know and love the beautiful spruce, pines, arborvitae, yews and junipers that grace our landscapes, but there are also other evergreens that shouldn't be overlooked.

Chamaecyparis Also known by the common name False cypress, Chamaecyparis (pronounced kam-ee-sip-a-ris) isn't used very often in our landscapes, though there are  some nice shrub-form varieties that are hardy. Chamaecyparis foliage looks similar to arborvitae but is much lighter weight, giving it a more graceful appearance. The plant prefers rich, moist, well-drained, neutral to acid soil and full sun. The variety 'Heather Bun' will tolerate more moisture than most other evergreens.

Fir Probably best known as cut Christmas trees, there are several varieties of tree-form firs that grow well in our area. Concolor firs make beautiful alternatives to Colorado spruce in the landscape. They seldom are bothered by any kind of insect or disease problem. Grouped with the firs is an imposter, the Douglas fir. It is actually not even in the same genus. There are several beautiful specimens of Douglas fir growing on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. Plant developers are working on new cultivars of Fraser fir that will perform better in our climate and in the urban landscape. Properly sited, they are gorgeous, but both Douglas and Fraser firs are easily stressed by city conditions. Firs need well-drained soil that is slightly acid. Like spruce, they are very shallow-rooted and sensitive to being planted too deep. They also do best where there isn't much root competition. Firs are a good choice as an alternative to spruce or pines when the site is semi-shady.

Hemlock Native to our area, hemlocks are beautifully graceful evergreens. They have  short, flat needles that are green on their upper side and very pale light green on the underside giving them a distinctive appearance. To grow happy and healthy, hemlocks require cool, moist, well-drained, acid soil. Sometimes that is difficult to provide in the urban landscape, but there are some very beautiful specimens growing in the Twin City area. Hemlocks are the most shade tolerant evergreen tree. Bachman's offers a tree hemlock and a spreading shrub. If you have the right site for a hemlock, there is no evergreen that is more stately, graceful and beautiful.  Hemlocks also make great formal clipped hedges.

Microbiota A beautiful, graceful plant with soft, light foliage that resembles arborvitae, Microbiota is another little-used evergreen for our climate. This is a plant that even the landscape industry knows very little about at this time, but it offers unique beauty that makes it worth trying. It is being tested and grown in a number of conditions to determine its preferences. Microbiota prefers well-drained, moist soil. It will not do well planted in heavy soils or where there is a lot of root competition. A semi-shady or sunny location is perfect. Microbiota is native to Siberia and is sometimes called Russian Arborvitae.

Miscellaneous Evergreen Varieties
Balsam Fir Abies balsamea 50' tall x 20-25' wide; dark green foliage; very symmetrical plant; shiny needles; will not tolerate pollution; hardy to Zone 3.
Concolor Fir Abies concolor 30-50' tall x 15-30' wide; blue-green foliage; dense upright with pyramidal form; will not tolerate clay soil; slow growing; also known as White Fir; hardy to Zone 3.
Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii 40-50' tall x 15-20' wide; dark green foliage; loose, upright pyramidal form; shiny needles; hardy to Zone 4.
Fraser Fir Abies fraseri 30-40' tall x 15-20' wide; blue-green foliage; pyramidal shape; stiff, horizontal branching; hardy to Zone 4.
Canada Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 70' tall x 20-25' wide; green foliage; graceful, pyramidal form; soft, glossy dark green needles that are lighter on the underside; intolerant of windy or dry sites; hardy to Zone 4.
Cole's Prostrate Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 'Cole's Prostrate' 24" tall x 5' wide; green foliage; weeping, prostrate form of hemlock; prefers light shade; hardy to Zone 4.
Emerald Fountain Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 'Monler' 6-10' tall x 2-3' wide; green foliage; dense, columnar habit; hardy to Zone 4.
Weeping Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 'Pendula' 10-15' tall x 6-8' wide; green foliage; broad, upright habit with weeping branches; prefers a protected site; hardy to Zone 4.
Northern Pride Microbiota Microbiota decussata 'Northern Pride' 12" tall x 6' wide; green foliage; flat-growing with arborvitae-like foliage; prefers light shade; hardy to
 Zone 2.
Kings Gold Chamaecyparis Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Kings Gold' 12" tall x 3' wide; golden-yellow foliage; fine, thread-like foliage with gold tips; hardy to Zone 4.
Heather Bun Chamaecyparis Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Heather Bun' 3' tall x 3' wide; blue-green foliage; young foliage is plum-colored; foliage soft to the touch; winter color is an intense plum; hardy to Zone 3.

Additional Bachman's Information Sheets
Caring for Newly Planted Plants
Pruning Evergreens
Evergreen Trees — Evergreen Shrubs
The Right Evergreen for the Right Site
Understanding Your Soil
Acidifying Soil — Soil pH
Evergreen Problems: Insects
Evergreen Problems: Diseases
Evergreen Problems: Cultural and Environmental

©Bachman's 2007