This Dwarf Conifer Has Soft and Beautiful Blue Needles
Read about ‘Blue Ball’ Korean pine
Grow 'Blue Ball' Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis 'Blue Ball') for its gorgeous blue-green needles, which outline its loosely globular shape. This is a dwarf conifer whose slow growth rate and undemanding nature should earn it a spot in foundation beds, mixed borders, rock gardens or any other suitable site where it can be admired year-round but especially in the winter.
Common name: 'Blue Ball' Korean pine
Botanical name: Pinus koraiensis 'Blue Ball'
Exposure: Full sun
Foliage: 'Blue Ball' Korean pine's needles are its best feature. They are long and flexible, creating a fine texture that contrasts with the shrub's chunky shape and stiff branches. The needles on this dwarf conifer are a unique blue-green, leaning more toward blue.
Size and habit: This slow-growing dwarf conifer may stand just over a foot tall after 10 years of growth. It has stiff, short, curving branches that create an irregular globe shape. It adds about an inch of growth in all directions each year.
Origin: The species Pinus koraiensis is native to eastern Asia. The cultivar 'Blue Ball' was discovered growing as a witch's broom on a P. k. 'Silveray' at a German nursery in the early 2000s, according to the American Conifer Society.
How to grow it: Site 'Blue Ball' Korean pine in full sun and any soil that drains well. With its compact size, slow growth and appealing natural shape, it does not require pruning or candling. Make sure it receives consistent water while it is getting established in the garden, including during its first fall. Evergreens should always be well hydrated going into winter. Once established, Korean pines are fairly drought tolerant. USDA Zones 3–8.
Related: Tempted to pair 'Blue Ball' Korean pine with hellebores? Learn whether they're a good match here, plus alternative ideas: "What to Plant With Hellebores."
