(Revised 10 Feb 2011)
The beauty of conifers is not showy to the point of static like the annuals. To me, they have the wholesome, stately and subtle elegance that sets them apart from perennials and maples (of course in the eyes of the beholder). For people who have not played with conifers, all conifers may look more or less the same to them. Growing conifers can be addictive. There is a world of its own in conifers.

The size, growth rate and hardiness of conifers can vary widely depending on local conditions. Therefore any information you derive from books and internet should be digested with care and judgment call based on your own experience.

Unfortunately, I got busy and neglected my little collection for many years until recently. The few that are left are either in odd and miserable shapes, or overcrowded by other plants. I am trying to salvage the few that are left, and acquire more gradually; essentially start from square one. Since I am no longer a ‘real’ conifer collector, the use of conifers in my garden is more towards using them as part of my garden composition elements. That is enough fun for me (for now).

I have organized the photos of my little conifer collection into the following sub-pages, and you can navigate to them via the menu listed in the sidebar to the right:
Abies, Cedrus, Chamaecyparis, Cryptomeria, Juniperus, Larix, Metasequoia, Picea, Pinus, Pseudotsuga, Taxus, Thuja and Tsuga.

A weeping limber pine says welcome at the front entrance

Pinus flexilis 'Pendula'

Many conifers has amazing colours especially in their new growth each season. I treasure these displays as much as the prettiest flowers in the garden. Some of them have beautiful permanent variegation. Some of them turn on their golden colours in winter.

A Chamaecyparis with striking white variegation

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Baldwin's Variegated'

A Cryptomeria showing its bright white foliage

Cryptomeria japonica 'Knaptenensis'

A Pine with golden winter colour

Pinus sylvestris 'Wolting's Gold' in December

Even in plain colours of green or blue, they are four season beauties in my garden, and require much less maintenance effort than the perennials.

A Picea with graceful foliage

Picea omorika x breweriana

A Picea with blue foliage

Picea pungens 'Glauca Montgomery'?

Please note that the identification of conifers and the labeling of them by nurseries are big problems. I have learned that it is futile to be 100% correct (even for the most serious collectors). I do need to provide an ID for each of my plant, for record keeping and for new acquisition, and would like to correct mis-identification as far as practicable. If you notice any names that need to be corrected, please let me know (even if I disagree with you).

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- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe