Pinus mugo 'SHERWOOD COMPACT' dwarf mountain pine

The name of this dwarf pine may, in the first instant, bring a little bit of drama or even mystery for it sounds as if linked with the Sherwood Forest. Unfortunately it is way beyond reality and you will definitely fail looking for traces of this pine following Robin Hood's footsteps leading to a sunny thicket where Marian would wait for him. She was possibly hidden behind a hazelnut coppice, or a cherry laurel bush, but definitely not anywhere near this beautiful conifer which received its name from its founder. His name was Andy Sherwood and he discovered this beautiful dwarf pine in 1950's in Oregon, USA, and called it Sherwood Compact.

It grows extremely slowly into almost cushion-like, mound-forming shrub that in full maturity will not exceed 1m tall and will only be a little wider. Annual growth is anything between 7 to 12 cm and the needles are very short, stiff, dark green, and possibly with golden tips in winter. Sherwood Compact remains dense and bushy all life long and is suitable for the smallest of gardens. It will look especially great in large rockeries or Mediterranean-style landscapes where prostrate and low growing habits are typical. It will benefit from being mixed with other plants of entirely different shapes (columnar, conical, etc.), offering them beautiful undergrowth as a companion plant.

Pines can be kept smaller by reducing the size of new shoots in mid spring, however, Humpy grows so slowly that you will be happy for every centimeter. They need full sun and well-drained soil that will not be too alkaline. No fertilizing required. Fully hardy to about -40°C (USDA zone 3).

Last update 15-11-2016