Pinus strobus Secrest - Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus 'Secrest' is a dwarf form of the Weymouth pine. Its widely conical habit and its large blue-tinged needles give it an inimitable texture and graphic appearance. Initially rounded in the early years of its life, it then takes on a conical shape. When mature, cylindrical female cones appear, tapered and green, ripening to brown. Of great ornamental value, this slow-growing and compact Weymouth pine can be planted in all gardens, even the smallest, where it thrives quietly in a rather sunny position, whether in a rockery, a flower bed or a large pot. Very hardy, not very demanding in well-drained and not too chalky soil, it is resistant to drought once established.

Pinus strobus, also known as Eastern white pine, Weymouth pine or Lord's pine, is a conifer of the Pinaceae family, native to eastern North America, up to Newfoundland Island in Canada. Its majesty has made it the official emblem tree of the province of Ontario. 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 exceeding 45m (148ft) in height due to habitat destruction 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 bush is smooth, greenish-grey on young subjects, becoming greyish-brown and fissured over time. The lower part of the tree, when mature, shows a whitened bark, hence the vernacular name 'white pine'.

The 'Secrest' variety is characterized by its compact size, its rounded bushy habit, then more upright, taking on a conical shape over the years. Its growth is slow, so that after a few decades, it does not exceed 2m (7ft) in height and 1.50m (5ft) in width. It grows 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in) per year. Its branches are densely covered with shiny, thin, 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), giving them a blue to silver sheen. When mature, cylindrical tapered female cones appear, green and ripening to brown. Evergreen bush, it is decorative all year round with its graphic habit and the fluffy green-blue mass it eventually forms over time.

The 'Secrest' Weymouth pine is at home in a contemporary garden with graphic plants 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 small spaces, it stands out as a solitary plant and elegantly animates a rockery or a flower bed. In a large container, it becomes a subject that enhances a balcony or terrace. It can be associated with other conifers with colourful foliage and an upright shape to create double contrasts, such as the Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Elwood's Gold' or the charming Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold' with its foliage changing colour throughout the year. It also pairs well with the surprising Japanese maple 'Shishigashira' with its bonsai-like appearance, its tender green foliage crisped and turning scarlet in autumn. To enhance this Japanese style, nothing beats a Chinese "Azalea", the Rhododendron luteum, with its fragrant yellow flowers and superb autumnal colours, or a beautiful Japanese Camellia 'Nobilissima' with its white winter flowering and yellow heart.