Arborist Guys, Advice Sought (1 Viewer)

[Ditkaless Wonders]

I am looking for a coniferous tree.  I would like a dwarf variety. no more than 15 feet upon full maturity, but getting to maturity fairly quickly.   I need it to tolerate full sun and the temperatures encountered in Aurora Colorado.  I would massively prefer it not have the more typical, pyramidal shape of most conifers, but perhaps more tend to resemble the cloud shapes of several of the classic bonsai.

Whatcha got?

 

[Dark Matter]

coloradotrees.org

Utah Juniper and Tanyosho Pine look to have the characteristics you have in mind.

 

[steelerfan1]

not sure if he's a professional, but rumor has it Otis knows trees....  

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

not sure if he's a professional, but rumor has it Otis knows trees....  

Do we have some sort of Bat Signal to attract him?  Perhaps a Potato Icon I can place in th etitle.

coloradotrees.org

Utah Juniper and Tanyosho Pine look to have the characteristics you have in mind.

Thank you.  Looking now. 

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

I think that Tanyosho Pine is going to be the ticket.  Maybe a Bristlecone.  Area I have planned may be a little too wet.  I may have to raise a bit of a mound to compensate, but that is not a deal breaker. 

 

[BoltBacker]

not sure if he's a professional, but rumor has it Otis knows trees....  

No, but I think he probably has a guy with a doctorate in horticulture on salary with full benefits to mow his lawn. So he knows a guy....

 

[McGarnicle]

In my experience, you won't find dwarf/shorter varieties that grow quickly. And as a result, those varieties are very expensive if you want a decent sized specimen. I planted a Bosnian pine 4 years ago that was 3 feet tall and now it's maybe 4.5 feet tall. It's one of my favorites nonetheless.

Firs are a good compromise imo. I think there's one that tops out around 15' with a moderate growth rate -- Frasier maybe? And they come in some interesting silvery/blue colors.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

In my experience, you won't find dwarf/shorter varieties that grow quickly. And as a result, those varieties are very expensive if you want a decent sized specimen. I planted a Bosnian pine 4 years ago that was 3 feet tall and now it's maybe 4.5 feet tall. It's one of my favorites nonetheless.

Firs are a good compromise imo. I think there's one that tops out around 15' with a moderate growth rate -- Frasier maybe? And they come in some interesting silvery/blue colors.

I check that out as well.  What I don't want, since it will be between two houses, and as close as 15 feet to each, is a tree which could become problematic in 15 years.  Needles in gutters, falling danger to window in etreme high winds or bid snow, like we get here.

 

[McGarnicle]

Bosnian pine gets my vote if you can find a big enough specimen that you can afford. Size won't be an issue and it's the nicest ornamental pine there is imo.