Mini Garden Tree Set: Fernspray Gold Hinoki, Blue Star Juniper & Gold Mop Cypress

Colorful and cute! The trees in this set are outdoor trees and come in 2 1/4" pots as shown. They can be planted in full sun with good-draining soil. Let them dry out a bit in between watering sessions if they are grown in a container, to avoid over-watering.

The Blue Star Juniper can tolerate a little more sun and drier soil than the other two Cypress, but never let the soil dry out completely. Protect these trees from extremes while they are young - they are baby trees.

• As a group, hardy to zone 5 / -20F
• * the Juniper and Threadbranch are hard to -30F
• As a group, Heat hardy zones 8

• Winter Maintenance: Clean out the dead leaves inside the shrubs when you see it. Called 'conifer dieback.'

• Full sun - avoid that hot, summer afternoon sun while they are little
• Let container soil dry out to barely damp in between watering

• All are outdoor plants
• Come in 2 1/4" pots

From left to right: 

A favorite. This dainty looking Hinoki cypress is just a gem to grow and will last for years in your miniature garden. The foliage is a rich emerald green just the summer months, and they blushes in an array of amber colors in the cold months. The branches arch out in a whimsical way from the center of the tree, and it looks like a full-sized tree in miniature when the bottom branches are trimmed away to show some of the trunk. One of my favorite Hinokis.

Shear gently in late winter to keep it bushy. If you want more of a canopy, shear it every other year.

• full sun
• regular water, damp soil
• excellent for bonsai or miniature gardening

• growth: less than 3" per year
• zone 4 to 8, hardy to -20 F
• heat zones 8 to 1 
  
  
• comes in a 2 1/4" pot

Blue Star Dwarf Juniper - Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'

The blue-green foliage of the Blue Star Juniper stands out in any kind of garden, but it's particularly valuable when used as a miniature garden tree or shrub. Its branches are very pronounced and gives the scene a majestic look - but in miniature.

The colorful Blue Star Juniper can be paired with other gray-greens, silvers, creams, pinks and light greens for a charming display. 

• Growth: 3 to 6"/yr
• Cold Zones 4 - 9 or hardy to -30 to -20
• Heat Zones 9 - 1

• Full sun
• Regular water until established 
• Let dry out to barely damp in between to avoid over watering if in a container

• An outdoor plant
• Comes in a 2 1/4" pot

Golden Mop Threadbranch Cypress - Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Golden Mop'

Great color for the miniature garden. The finely textured foliage of this threadbranch cypress develops vibrant gold growth in spring and retains its brilliance through the seasons - even where challenged by heat and humidity. Best color in full sun.

• well-behaved
• best color in full sun
• vibrant yellow color in sun, turns greener in the shade

• globe shape
• 3" to 6" per year, slower in the colder states

• zone 4 - 8 or hardy to -30F
• heat zone 8 - 1

• comes in a 2 1/4” pot
• an outdoor plant