Dwarf Types of the Mugo Pine

Varieties and Geography

• "Valley Cushion," "Aurea," "Paul's Dwarf" and "Mops" are dwarf mugo pine cultivars able to withstand USDA zone 2 climates, which feature winters with temperatures as awfully cold as minus 50 degrees F. "Sherwood Compact," "Slowmound" and "White Bud" have similar cold tolerance. Zone 3 is the coldest zone to locate dwarf forms of the mugo pine such as "Teeny" and "Gordon Bentham."

Size

• Mugo pine cultivars such as Paul's Dwarf, Sherwood Compact and Valley Cushion grow to sizes between 24 and 36 inches. Mops is a bit larger with some growing to 4 feet tall. The Teeny dwarf mugo pine is as small as 6 inches and usually does not exceed 12 inches. Gordon Bentham is even smaller, developing to a mature height in the 3 to 6 inch range.

Features and Growth Rates

• Mops is a slow grower, gaining only 1 or 2 inches each year until reaching mature size. It has dark-green needles and a compact, round shape. Teeny grows even slower at a rate of an inch every year. Its needles are only about 1 inch long. Gordon Bentham takes up to 10 years to grow to 6 inches high. Aurea in 10 years' time get to 3 feet high. Its best feature is the plant's golden-yellow needle color in winter. A dense form resembling a globe describes Paul's Dwarf, Sherwood Compact and Valley Cushion. These dwarf mugo pines grow 2 to 3 inches in a year.

Uses and Growing Conditions

• The small, compact forms of these dwarf mugo pines make them a good fit in rock gardens. Plant them in close proximity to foundations, as they do tolerate some shade. Evergreen borders and group plantings are other potential dwarf mugo pine uses. These plants usually grow despite urban pollution. Organically rich soils, such as clay or a sandy loam, support their growth. Pruning them during the spring months makes them thicker.