Pinus strobus Mary Butler - Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus 'Mary Butler' is a truly dwarf form of the Weymouth pine, with a rounded and compact habit, in the shape of a globe. It does not exceed 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) in all directions in 10 years. Its large needles with a bluish and silvery sheen, very soft, give it an incomparable texture and a graphic aspect. Slow-growing and very small in size, this pine can be planted in any garden, even the smallest ones, where it thrives in rather sunny situations, in rockeries as well as borders or pots. Hardy and not very demanding in terms of well-drained and not too chalky soil, it is quite resistant to drought once established.

Pinus strobus, also known as Eastern white pine, Weymouth pine or Lord's pine, is a coniferous tree of the Pinaceae family, native to the eastern part of North America, as far as Newfoundland Island in Canada. Its majesty has made it the official emblem tree of the Ontario province. This forest king is indeed a monumental tree, a gigantic pyramidal Christmas tree reaching 90m (295ft) in height in its natural environment, but currently barely surpassing 45m (148ft) in height due to the destruction of its habitat and extensive exploitation. It is a very hardy species, often planted for reforestation in forests, or as an ornamental tree in large parks. The bark of this shrub is smooth, greenish-grey on young specimens, becoming brownish-grey and fissured over time. The lower part of the tree, when mature, shows a whitened bark, hence the vernacular name 'white pine'.

The 'Mary Butler' variety is characterized by its very small size and rounded, compact habit. Its growth is very slow. Its branches are densely covered with shiny, slender, soft and flexible needles, measuring 7 to 12cm (3 to 5in) in length. They are grouped in fives and arranged in tufts, radially around the branches. Their lower surface has two bands of silver stomata (plant breathing cells), which give them a bluish to silvery sheen. An evergreen shrub, it is decorative all year round due to its graphic habit and the green-blue, tousled mass it eventually forms over time.

The 'Mary Butler' Pine is at home in a contemporary garden as well as in a Japanese garden, but it should not be limited to this use, as pines, being easy to grow, are interesting in all gardens, of any size, bringing a permanent structure of quality, with shimmering reflections and captivating textures. In smaller spaces, it elegantly animates a rockery or border. Planted in a pot, it becomes a feature that enhances a balcony or terrace. It can be associated with other conifers with coloured foliage and different forms to create double contrasts, such as prostrate conifers like Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip', globose ones like Picea abies 'Little Gem', or columnar ones like Juniperus communis 'Sentinel'. It can also be combined with small complementary grasses, such as Fescues.