20 Best Dwarf Conifers to Grow

ANNA'S MAGIC BALL® Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)

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Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide

Arborvitae is a common landscape tree or shrub that occurs in a wide range of shapes, colors and sizes. Anna’s Magic Ball® has bright golden needles and a compact rounded habit, needing little or no pruning to keep its symmetrical globe shape. This variety is useful in small spaces, containers, mass plantings, or as a bright focal point in a winter garden. Learn more about growing arbovitae trees and shrubs.

'DANICA' Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)

Zones: 3-7
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Compact rounded habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide

A versatile landscape plant, arborvitae comes in a number of dwarf varieties. ‘Danica’ has a slow growth rate, symmetrical globe shape, and shiny emerald-green foliage that turns blue-green in winter. Add color, soft texture and structure to a winter border, mass in the landscape, or use as edging along a pathway or border.

PANCAKE™ Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Concesarini')

Zones: 3-7
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Low spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 2 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide

Named for the flattened pancake-like shape, this arborvitae has a low spreading habit and finely textured sage-green foliage that shifts to blue in fall and winter. Use this dwarf shrub as a ground cover along a slope to help stem erosion, or as a background plant in a rock garden or winter landscape.

TATER TOT® Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)

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Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall, 2 to 4 feet wide

Tater Tot® is a hardy arborvitae with aromatic feathery green foliage and a dense, globe-shaped habit. This versatile shrub adds fine texture and structure to foundation plantings and mixed borders. Use as hedging, in mass plantings, or as a background element. Plants are shade tolerant and need little or no pruning.

‘GLOBOSA NANA’ Dwarf Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)

Zones: 6-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 4 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide

Native to Japan and China, Japanese cedar is an ornamental evergreen tree with a pyramidal or conical shape, soft needles, and aromatic reddish-brown bark. ‘Globosa Nana’ is a dwarf variety with a dense rounded shape and elegant weeping branches. The blue-green foliage acquires bronze highlights during colder winter months. Use in a foundation planting, mixed border, or winter garden.

‘GOLDEN MOP’ False Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera)

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding weeping habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 5 feet tall, 4 feet wide

This cypress relative is native to China, Japan, and parts of the US, preferring temperate climates. ‘Golden Mop’ is named for its bright gold coloring and weeping mop-like growth habit. Plant in small gardens to brighten up a winter landscape, in a rockery, or as a landscape accent in an Asian-style garden. Learn more about how to grow false cypress shrubs and trees.

‘NANA GRACILIS’ Dwarf Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Pyramidal habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 6 feet tall, 2 to 4 feet wide

Native to Japan, hinoki cypress is characterized by deep green foliage, layered texture, and an upright pyramidal habit. ‘Nana Gracilis’ is a popular dwarf variety, with a slow growth rate, dark green foliage, and vertical shell-like sprays that lend depth and texture to the landscape. Use as a focal point in a rock garden or Asian landscape.

‘NANA' Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)

Zones: 3-6
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Low spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 2 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide

Balsam fir is native to North America, with aromatic foliage and a pyramidal habit that makes it a popular Christmas tree. ‘Nana’ has a low spreading habit with elegant horizontal branching and short dark green needles. This hardy low-maintenance variety is suitable for a rock garden or mixed border.

‘BLAUER ESKIMO' Korean Fir (Abies koreana)

Zones: 4-7
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Compact rounded habit
Height/Spread: 12 to 24 inches tall, 10 to 12 inches wide

Korean fir is an evergreen tree with an upright conical habit, dense branching and short dark green needles with a silvery underside. ‘Blauer Eskimo’ has a uniform globe shape, stubby branches, and flat blue-green needles. The miniature size makes this variety suitable as a unique rock garden specimen, or showcased in an alpine trough.

‘BLUE STAR' Juniper (Abies koreana)

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall, 2 to 4 feet wide

Juniper is a common landscape plant that comes in a wide array of sizes, shapes and colors. One of the most popular dwarf varieties, ‘Blue Star’ is revered for the beautiful silvery-blue needles and dense growth habit. This versatile variety can be used in a rock garden, container, mass planting, or along a slope for erosion control. Learn more about how to grow juniper shrubs and trees.

MONTANA MOSS® Juniper (Juniperus chinensis)

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Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Low spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 4 feet tall, 3 to 5 feet wide

This popular landscape tree or shrub occurs in a number of dwarf varieties and forms. Montana Moss® has a low spreading growth habit and finely textured blue-green needles that resemble moss. The foliage pairs well with most other colors, with a size and shape that is versatile in a foundation planting, winter landscape, as edging, or a ground cover.

TORTUGA® Juniper (Juniperus communis)

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Zones: 2-7
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Low spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide

This exceptionally cold-hardy juniper is highly adapted to northern climates, and is resistant to deer and drought. Plants have a dense spreading growth habit and emerald-green needles that make a soft backdrop to other landscape plants. Use as a ground cover or edging, in foundation plantings, or mixed borders.

'Nana' Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 7 feet tall, 2 to 10 feet wide

Native to eastern North America, this hardy pine can reach up to 80 feet tall, with long, slender needles that occur in bundles. ‘Nana’ is a dwarf type with soft silvery blue-green needles on dense shrubby plants, producing just 2 to 5 inches of new growth per year. The spreading habit is useful in borders, as hedging, or massed along a slope for erosion control.

DWARF MUGO PINE (Pinus mugo)

Zones: 2-7
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Dense spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 5 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide

Mugo pine is one of the best conifers for small spaces, with a dense shrubby habit and long, slender dark green needles. The attractive tan new growth is produced on upright stems, resembling candelabras. This slow-growing conifer is versatile in a rock garden, Asian-style landscape, or foundation planting. Mugo pine can be trained as a bonsai specimen.

'NIDIFORMIS' Bird Nest Spruce (Picea abies)

Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Mounding spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 5 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide

Also known as Norway spruce, this small evergreen shrub has a flat top and dip in the center that resembles a bird’s nest. ‘Nidiformis’ has dense horizontal branching and short light green needles. The spreading habit is useful in foundation plantings, as hedging, or a showy specimen.

'CONICA' Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca)

Zones: 2-6
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Pyramidal habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 8 feet tall, 4 to 6 feet wide

Alberta spruce has a classic Christmas tree shape and dense, bright green needles. ‘Conica’ is a popular dwarf variety, with a perfectly symmetrical shape and fine, light green needles that turn blue-green as they mature. Plants are slow growing, with just 4 inches of new growth per year. Use as a stand-alone specimen, in rock gardens, or foundation plantings.

'GLOBOSA' Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)

Zones: 2-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Globe-shaped habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 5 feet tall, 4 to 6 feet wide

Also known as Colorado spruce, this hardy native conifer is grown for the pale blue needles and pyramidal growth habit. ‘Globosa’ is a dwarf globe-shaped variety with dense upright branching and powder blue needles that are most intensely colored in spring. Plants are suitable in a rock garden, or as a showy specimen.

'LITTLE GEM' Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

Zones: 2-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Dense mounding habit
Height/Spread: 10 to 18 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide

Norway spruce is a large evergreen tree with a pyramidal habit that is native to mountainous regions in Europe. ‘Little Gem’ has a dense growth habit and bright green new growth in spring that matures to darker green. Plants need no pruning to retain their rounded shape. This petite variety is one of the best conifers for containers. Use in a formal landscape, rock garden, or mass planting.

'WHIPCORD' Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)

Zones: 5-7
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding weeping habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 5 feet tall and wide

Native to forests of the Pacific Northwest, this tall conifer has a pyramidal habit, reddish brown bark, and scale-like leaves. The unique appearance of ‘Whipcord’ is characterized by a mop-like growth habit, with slender drooping branches that resemble whips or cords. The green foliage acquires bronze highlights in winter. Add fine texture and background color to a rock garden, use as hedging, or as a captivating focal point.

STONEHENGE DARK DRUID® Yew (Taxus x media)

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Zones: 4-7
Exposure: Full sun to full shade
Habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 4 feet tall, 3 feet wide

Yew is a hardy tree or shrub that is commonly used as formal hedging and topiaries. Stonehenge Dark Druid® is a dwarf variety with ferny dark green foliage and a compact mounding habit. Yew is tolerant of a range of light conditions, from full sun to full shade, making it a versatile landscape plant. Use as hedging, in a shade border, or foundation planting. Makes a good substitute for boxwood.