Conifers : Summary

This table gives information typically used in the specification of conifers. It is important to realise that plants are variable and growth varies between species and seasons. For this reason the details within the table give general, accepted dimensions and terms for the specification of conifers but there are always well grown and health plants which are exceptions. A knowledge of the product and the methods of its productions are important in specifying plants.

Values shown in bold type indicate the more typical for the range.




AGE/CONDITION or x TRANSPLANTED

OVERALL HEIGHT

GIRTH

ROOT PROTECTION

SIZE OF CONTAINER

HABIT

NOTES

 

in cms

RC = root collar (mm)
SD = stem dia. (mm)
G = girth (cm)

B = bagged (bareroot)
Ce = cell grown
RB = rootball
C = container

MIN SIZE/RANGE given in LITRES unless otherwise indicated

 

Root collar measures only
apply for seed raised
trees up to 60 cm height

1+0 or 1/0

 

10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30,

RC: 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5

B

 

 

Forestry seedlings
e.g. Pinus sylvestris ,
Pinus
nigra, Picea abies,
Picea sitchensis,
Tsuga heterophylla

1+0 or 1/0

 

10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30,

RC: 2, 3, 4,

C

100, 125, or 235 cc.

 

Forestry seedling grown
in Japanese Paper pots,

1+0 or 1/0

 

10-20, 20-40,
40-60, 60-90

RC: 3, 4, 6, 8

Ce

50, 100, 200cc

 

Forestry seedlings:
e.g. Pinus nigra,
Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies ,
Picea
sitchensis

1+0= or 1/0=

 

10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30,

RC: 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5

B

 

 

Forestry seedlings:
Not so commonly grown

1u1

 

25-30, 30-40,

RC: 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5

B

 

 

Forestry seedlings:
Not so commonly grown

2+0 or 2/0

 

30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80

RC: 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5

B

 

 

Forestry seedlings:
Not so commonly grown

2u2

30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80

RC: 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5

B

 

 

Forestry seedlings:
Not so commonly grown

1+1 or 1/1

 

25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80

RC: 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5

B

 

 

Forestry transplants:
e.g. Pinus sylvestris,
Pinus
nigra, Picea abies,
Picea
sitchensis,
Tsuga
heterophylla

1+2 or 1/2

 

25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80

 

B

 

 

Forestry transplants:
e.g. Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra, Picea abies, Picea sitchensis, Tsuga heterophylla

2+1 or 2/1

 

30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80

RC: 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5

B

 

 

Forestry transplants: Not so commonly grown

2+2 or 2/2

30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80

RC: 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5

B

 

 

Forestry transplants: Not so commonly grown

2 - 4 x

Height or spread: 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-125,

 

RB (3x girth at the root collar)

 

Bushy;

Dwarf/bushy types e.g. Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis', Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star', Picea glauca ' Alberta Globe',
Pinus mugo pumilio

4 - 6 x

Height or spread: 125-150, 150-175, 175-200, above 200 in 50 cm. Steps.

 

RB (3x girth at the root collar)

 

Bushy;

Dwarf/bushy types: e.g. Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis', Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star', Picea glauca ' Alberta Globe', Pinus mugo pumilio

2 - 4 x

Height: 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-125

 

RB (3x girth at the root collar)

 

Branched;

Prostrate: medium/vigorous : e.g. Juniperus horizontalis cvs., Juniperus x media 'Pfitzeriana'

2 - 4 x

Height: 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-125

 

RB (3x girth at the root collar)

 

Leader and Laterals; Single Leader (furnished to base);

Upright growing: medium: e.g. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii'
Pinus mugo, Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold',
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'

4 - 6 x

Height: 125-150, 150-175, 175-200, 200-225, 225-250, 250-275, 275-300

 

RB (3x girth at the root collar)

 

Leader and Laterals; Single Leader (furnished to base);

Upright growing: medium: e.g.Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii'
Pinus mugo, Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold',
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'

2 - 4 x

Height: 60-80, 80-100, 100-125, 125-150

 

RB (3x girth at the root collar)

 

Leader and Laterals; Single Leader (furnished to base);

Upright growing: vigorous: e.g. Cedrus libani; Chamaecyparis lawsoniana; x Cupressocyparis leylandii; Thuja plicata + cvs.

4 - 6 x

Height: 150-175, 175-200, 200-250, 250-300, 300-350, 350-400

 

RB (3x girth at the root collar)

 

Leader and Laterals; Single Leader (furnished to base);

Upright growing: vigorous: e.g. Cedrus libani; Chamaecyparis lawsoniana; x Cupressocyparis leylandii; Thuja plicata + cvs.

 

Height and Spread:
15-20, 20-30, 30-40

 

C

0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.5, 10, 15

Branched; Bushy;

Dwarf/prostrate types: e.g.
Chamaecyparis spp. (dia), Juniperus spp. (dia), Picea spp, Tsuga spp. (dia)

 

Height and Spread:
20-30, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70

 

C

0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.5, 10, 15

Leader and Laterals; Single Leader (furnished to base);

Upright growing: Medium and vigorous types: e.g. Abies spp., Cedrus spp., Chamaecyparis spp, .x Cupressocyparis spp., Juniperus spp.

 

 

G:

18-20; 20-25; 25-30; 30-35; 35-40; 40-45; 45-50; 50-60

RB (3x girth at 1 metre)

 

 

Limited number of Semi Mature conifers grown in Standard form: e.g. Pinus spp.

 

Other Details

Where appropriate other criteria can be specified. The following are examples:

Criterion Qualification Notes
Origin/Provenance British grown Refer to Part 1. Note that British grown is not reliably British provenance or origin
  British provenance  
  Local provenance  
Shape Cone
Sphere
Spiral
Columns
Other shapes
More detailed information on the other criteria necessary for the specification of these shapes (girth measures, branch lengths, root condition, size of container, etc.) can be obtained from the specialists who supply these conifers. Taxus spp.