Conifers and relatives (cycads, <i>Ginkgo</i> and <i>Gnetum</i>) - Growing, Propagation, Identification, Appreciation and more! Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:50:07 +0000 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:50:07 +0000 UBC Botanical Garden Forums https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/gymnosperms-incl-conifers.154/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:57:52 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/one-more-shade-tolerance-question.105470/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/one-more-shade-tolerance-question.105470/ invalid@example.com (davidrt28) davidrt28 Abies alba
Abies vejarii on firma (I know this shouldn't be very hardy, but the guy whose tree the scions came from in North Georgia [US ] said it has survived around 0F)

There is a slight preference based on how well the soil in each location drains, but I'll see what the shade tolerance difference is first.]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:25:16 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/more-cupressus-confusion.105457/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/more-cupressus-confusion.105457/ invalid@example.com (davidrt28) davidrt28
https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/cupressus/cupressus-himalaica/

The taxon is evidently tolerant of a wide range of conditions, as demonstrated by a beautifully columnar 7 m specimen in the JC Raulston Arboretum, planted in 1996 (labelled C. darjeelingensis). As C. corneyana, shapely young trees have been seen growing well at Glenwhan Garden in Dumfries & Galloway, at Bedgebury Pinetum in...

more Cupressus confusion]]> 1 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:15:53 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/id-request-does-this-look-good-for-c-funebris.104845/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/id-request-does-this-look-good-for-c-funebris.104845/ invalid@example.com (davidrt28) davidrt28 And thus will hopefully prove to be a particular hardy form of this species. If it dies, it dies. I lost a supposed 'hardier' form of some weeping cypress that Cistus was selling in the 2000s. Bless their heart, but Cistus overestimated the hardiness of many of their offerings. If this one has really grown in North Georgia for a while, it has certainly seen and survived single digits...

ID request - does this look good for C. funebris?]]> 8 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:00:53 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/question-for-resin-about-history-of-larch-forestry-in-the-uk.105411/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/question-for-resin-about-history-of-larch-forestry-in-the-uk.105411/ invalid@example.com (davidrt28) davidrt28 I am picking your brain about something very arcane.
Larix occidentalis is the largest growing larch. Why did the UK choose the summer-rainfall preferring Japanese larch for plantations? Seems like the western US one would have been at least as adaptable? Other western US conifers do great in the UK.]]> 4 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 01:02:31 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/another-id-request.105445/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/another-id-request.105445/ invalid@example.com (davidrt28) davidrt28
Are you able to tell if it is C. obtusa or C. pisifera? My badly educated guess leans towards the latter, only because that's the only tree form I've ever seen being sold in the US, and because there used to be some large P. pisifera (labeled as such) at University of Delaware; alas, they were cut down years ago for a new cluster of academic buildings.


View attachment 261166 View attachment 261167]]> 2 Mon, 10 Nov 2025 13:23:16 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/mixed-genus-grafting.105381/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/mixed-genus-grafting.105381/ invalid@example.com (davidrt28) davidrt28
Could, for example, a larch be grafted onto a pine? I'm tempted to try...

mixed genus grafting]]> 2 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 02:09:00 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/variable-glaucousness-of-cunninghamia.105372/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/variable-glaucousness-of-cunninghamia.105372/ invalid@example.com (davidrt28) davidrt28
when moved into full sun, one got bluer
when moved into partial shade, one got greener

I don't see a name for, or even allusion to, this phenomena, in the literature I have. I can assure you this isn't my imagination run wild.

Is there a name for it and is it discussed in any formal or scientific texts on conifers?]]> 1 Sun, 02 Nov 2025 16:52:32 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/ginkgo-cultivar.105370/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/ginkgo-cultivar.105370/ invalid@example.com (AlainK) AlainK They grow more urpright than the plain species and the internodes are shorter I think.

I don't think they're 'Menhir" because the branches are not so upwaed. Maybe 'Obelisk" ?
Any idea ?

I gathered fruit (very stinky). Had a 2 to 3 success with the ones I gathered last autumn from a female tree of the plain species.

View attachment 260806 View attachment 260807]]> 2 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 23:28:34 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/possible-for-smallish-pine-seedling-to-already-show-weeping-needles.105253/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/possible-for-smallish-pine-seedling-to-already-show-weeping-needles.105253/ invalid@example.com (davidrt28) davidrt28
possible for smallish pine seedling to already show weeping needles?]]> 3 Mon, 21 Jul 2025 17:28:25 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/normal-for-seedling-pinaceae-needles-to-not-match-type.105248/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/normal-for-seedling-pinaceae-needles-to-not-match-type.105248/ invalid@example.com (davidrt28) davidrt28 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larix_gmelinii_var._principis-rupprechtii
Conifer.org says up 30mm without...

Normal for seedling Pinaceae needles to not match type?]]> 1 Fri, 09 May 2025 19:32:25 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/is-this-fungus-or-die-back-dwarf-cryptomeria.105152/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/is-this-fungus-or-die-back-dwarf-cryptomeria.105152/ invalid@example.com (Nancy W) Nancy W
I have a really large and old dwarf cryptomeria and I'm concerned about the developing dead spots. I inherited it when I purchased my home. Any idea on what I should do here?

Thank you!
Nancy]]> Sat, 08 Mar 2025 21:22:47 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/help-identify-this%E2%80%A6.105043/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/help-identify-this%E2%80%A6.105043/ invalid@example.com (Dave Rekib) Dave Rekib
They’re much smaller than the male pollen cones that blow down in the spring. Are they the immature form?

For reference, I photographed these on a piece of paper towel.

They are a bit bigger than a piece of...

Help identify this…]]> 3 Mon, 03 Mar 2025 04:08:24 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/5-needled-stumper.104986/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/5-needled-stumper.104986/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton By memory
P sylvestris
& nigra have 2 needles?


P strobus perhaps?

thanks]]> 2 Sun, 12 Jan 2025 23:00:34 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/a-pine-to-steal-your-heart.104987/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/a-pine-to-steal-your-heart.104987/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton
Thanks]]> Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:11:49 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/young-brandan-cedars-turning-brown-is-it-water-issue.104959/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/young-brandan-cedars-turning-brown-is-it-water-issue.104959/ invalid@example.com (Barry Van Paassen) Barry Van Paassen Hello everyone, I’m new to this site and I have a problem with my Brandan Cedars. We are in Kitimat BC and I bought Brandan cedars from a grocery store in May, the cedars were in a pot and it looked like the trees were dug up out of the ground with most of its root removed. The issue I’m having is they are all starting to turn brown and not sure how long these trees were in the pot before I was able to plant them in the ground. Kitimat usually receives rain every day sometimes just a...

Young Brandan Cedars turning brown - is it water issue?]]> 4 Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:58:50 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/wollemia-wollemi-pine-seeds-seedlings.94526/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/wollemia-wollemi-pine-seeds-seedlings.94526/ invalid@example.com (str0bilus) str0bilus
I am local to Vancouver and like to grow beautiful and unusual conifers and other gymnosperms, including starting from seed. I would love to add Wollemia to my collection. It seems like they were being sold and cultivated in North America several years ago but now I am unable to find any sources, except for B'z Greenhouse, which has very limited supply.

Does anyone on the Pacific West Coast have a reproductive Wollemia? Or know of a reliable source of seeds or seedlings? Thanks so...

Wollemia (Wollemi Pine) seeds/seedlings]]> 8 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 07:49:29 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/bizarre-pinus.104937/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/bizarre-pinus.104937/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton Thanks]]> 4 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 06:48:03 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-parviflora-perhaps.104942/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-parviflora-perhaps.104942/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton Too young for fruit I suspect
Thanks]]> 3 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 01:57:09 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-possibly.104915/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-possibly.104915/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton The apical buds indicate a pine?
thanks]]> 2 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 01:56:00 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/dwarf-abies.104914/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/dwarf-abies.104914/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton Thanks]]> 2 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 01:55:02 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/chamaecyparis.104912/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/chamaecyparis.104912/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton Thanks]]> 2 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:55:27 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-id-please.104908/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-id-please.104908/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton I have the privilege of becoming curator of Australia’s largest cool climate private estate.
Most of Mayfield Garden is less than 25 years and most of the plants aren’t labelled
Much of the dwarf conifer garden has me stumped.
Hoping I can get some help with the forthcoming plants.
i can take more photo’s if required.
thanks]]> 2 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:54:06 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-id-2.104909/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-id-2.104909/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton 1 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:53:22 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-3-please.104910/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-3-please.104910/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton thanks]]> 1 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:52:30 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-4-please.104911/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pinus-4-please.104911/ invalid@example.com (Puddleton) Puddleton Thanks]]> 1