Making a Conifer Garden with Wakefield Arboretum, The American Conifer Society and Iseli

Making a Conifer Garden with Wakefield Arboretum, The American Conifer Society and Iseli

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The leaves are falling in New England, sadly, this year with little show. I am not sure what environmental factors make for a dull leaf season, but they must be something like the ones we had this year. I have yet to be stopped in my tracks at the fire orange-red show of a sugar maple or other deciduous tree – as is typical this time of year. Subsequently, I’ve been thinking of how to add a bit more interest in my landscape by leaning into evergreens and by cultivating a conifer garden.

I am increasingly interested in growing a conifer garden; these are my current resources and inspiration.

The Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum

A visit to the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum in Milton, MA gave me an excellent local reference for a successful conifer garden in New England.

The main hours – also known as the Davenport Estate (as listed on the National Register) is on Brush Hill Road in Milton. You can

A white house with green shutters and a porch is surrounded by lush greenery, including tall pine trees and evergreen shrubs. The sunlit scene offers inspiration through its serene and inviting atmosphere.
The conifer garden at the Davenport Estate (as listed on the National Register) on Brush Hill Road in Milton. Known locally as the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum.
A lush garden filled with Iseli Evergreen shrubs and trees is highlighted by the sunlight. The foliage displays different shades of green, offering evergreen inspiration. In the background, deciduous trees have leaves in shades of yellow, indicating the autumn season.
The conifer garden is relatively new to the Arboretum – historically, this place is primarily known for it is huge selection (originally over 600 varieties) of kousa Dogwood. Polly Wakefield was experimenting with breeding them – primarily to t increase hardiness and fruit size.
Lush garden with a variety of green foliage and evergreen plants next to a house. Tall and short plants intermingle, creating a dense, vibrant landscape under a bright sky.
A dwarf ginko is at the front of the conifer garden that flanks the mansion house on the arboretum property.
A person stands on a grassy pathway, drawing Evergreen Inspiration from the lush greenery and various trees surrounding a light-colored house with dark shutters. The scene is idyllic, with sunlight filtering through the branches, capturing Iseli Evergreen's natural charm.
Wakefield Arboretum conifer garden in the fall.
Dense foliage of the juniper bush, an Iseli Evergreen inspiration, is laden with clusters of blue berries amidst the vibrant green needles.
Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’ had an impressive number of beautiful juniper berries.
A variety of Iseli Evergreen shrubs and plants adorn the space in front of a window with dark shutters on a light-paneled house exterior.
A conifer garden is best when texture, color and size, and shape are in contrast.
A small garden offers Evergreen Inspiration with a variety of plants and conifers, including spruce and pine. Two informational signs label different species. A gray wooden building graces the background, adding to this serene Iseli Evergreen oasis.
Golden midget Serbian Spruce, and Tom Thumb Oriental Spruce, among others in the Confier Garden at the Polly Wakefield Arboretum in Milton, MA.

Iseli Nursery

Iseli Nursery is nationally renowned for its stunning collection of coniferous trees and shrubs and evergreen plants. It is THE nursery for conifers – even if you live on the opposite side of the country (as I do) from their Oregon location. Their extensive catalog (over 175 pages) is entire of ideas and plants.

I have never ordered from them directly (and they are a wholesale-only nursery); however, their products can be found in a few of my local nurseries.  Perusing their catalog is wildly inspiring, and finding just the right rare thing always sets me on plant-hunting adventures that lead to something more than just a new plant in the garden.

I thought I would share with you my favorites – these will all work in my own zone 5, there are however other fantastic options for warmer climates.

favorite evergreens from iseli nursery
Picea sitchensis ‘Papoose’, Picea abies ‘Acrocona’, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Spiralis’, Berberis thunbergii “Golden torch’. all images from islei nursery.
picea abies rubra spicata
New growth on the Picea abies ‘Rubra Spicata’ is bright red!
favorite conifers from islei nursery
Tsuga diversifolia ‘Gracilis’, Tsuga Canadensis ‘Albospicata’, Larix decidua ‘Varied Directions’, Pinus contorta ‘Taylor’s Sunburst
favorite iseli conifers picea orientalis aureo spicata
Picea orientalis ‘Aureospicata’, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Goldilocks’, Abies koreana ‘Starker’s dwarf’, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana gracilis’

All my top choices have great color (namely bright yellows and chartreuse or blue — or in the case of a few – bright red new growth), touch-ability (I love soft conifers), and plant interesting shape (I can find good use for blobs as well as cones, columns and balls. And sometimes it is a very special trait – like the natural swirl of the Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Spiralis’ – it is very pretty!.

The American Conifer Society

If you cannot find Iseli plants at a nearby nursery – you might consider joining The American Conifer Society. Through membership, you’ll be able to purchase rare plants and access other enthusiasts who share seeds and resources.

Adrian Bloom and his Foggy Bottom Conifer Garden

I’ve had Arian Bloom’s Gardening with Conifers book for years, but recently, I was able to buy a copy of his latest book Foggy Bottom at Wakefield arboretum. It is about his own UK-based conifer garden. The book is not released in the USA; if you want a copy you will have to order it from a UK retailer.

What do you like in evergreens and conifers?  Do you have a favorite unique variety?



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