2015 Collectors’ Conifer of the Year

American Conifer Society announces the 2015 Collectors’ Conifers of the Year

For the past 10 years, the American Conifer Society has chosen a plant or three that members can purchase along with a special plant tag for their gardens. Many of the selections chosen over the years are just now being cultivated in quantities such that they are available in the retail marketplace. These are usually very special plants for those of us with “Conifer Addiction.”

This year, three conifers have been chosen.

As you may remember, the conifer I purchased from the ACS 2014 Collectors’ Conifer of the Year selections didn’t make it. It died within a month. As there was no option for a replacement plant from the grower I considered my purchase a hefty donation to the society. It probably wouldn’t have mattered if they did send me a second plant as I’ve leared that the root stock wasn’t hearty enough for the heat and dry wind of my Virginia Zone 7a summer this year. I unfortunately added my Abies koreana ‘Kohouts Icebreaker’ to my “Plants That Died” collection on Plants Map.

Not to be beaten with only one try, I’m going in again! Here are the plants chosen this year that are available for purchase with shipping in February of 2015:

1. Pinus cembra ‘Herman’

2. Pinus parviflora ‘Tanima-no-yuki’

3. Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Schirrmanns Nordlicht’

Since I already have a beautiful North Light Dawn Redwood (that’s what I call it because I don’t speak German) and I have several Pinus parviflora in my yard already, I think I’m going to purchase “Herman” and find a special spot and hope the weather cooperates this year!

If you are into conifers or are in conehead training like me, consider joining the American Conifer Society. Their quarterly magaine alone is worth the membership fee.