Dwarf Conifer Mini Twists Pine Adds Texture to the Garden

'Mini Twists' eastern white pine is a dwarf conifer with interesting evergreen foliage. This tiny pine's blue-green needles twist and curl, creating great visual texture. Its slow, even growth makes it easy to incorporate in a foundation bed or mixed border.  

Common name: 'Mini Twists' eastern white pine

Botanical name: Pinus strobus 'Mini Twists'

Exposure: Full sun

Foliage: Soft, flexible needles bear distinctive curves. Their color is a medium bluish green. Evergreen.

Habit: 'Mini Twists' white pine has a globose, or round, shape, especially when young. Its slow growth rate qualifies it as a dwarf conifer. (Explore more dwarf conifers here.) With optimal conditions, in 10 years it can reach up to five feet tall. It may take on a more triangular shape with time.

Origin: Pinus strobus, or eastern white pine, is a large tree native across much of eastern North America. According to the American Conifer Society, 'Mini Twists' originated in a seedling selected in Vermont by nurseryman Greg Williams, in approximately 2005. Its parents are two other eastern white pine cultivars: 'Horsham' and 'Torulosa'. Washington conifer specialists Coenosium Gardens named and introduced 'Mini Twists' to the trade.

How to grow it: Plant 'Mini Twists' pine in full sun and moderately moist, well-drained soil. Because it is slow growing and naturally compact, it should not require pruning. However, it can be candle pruned for even denser growth or to control the shape. To candle prune a pine, pinch the new growth tips back by about half while they are still bright in color and flexible in spring, before their needles expand. At this stage the new growth looks like a candle, hence the name. (Watch a video about candle pruning here.) 'Mini Twists' is hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8.