Sunshine Mugo Pine
Pinus mugo ‘Sunshine’
Other Names: Dwarf Variegated Mountain Pine
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 2a-7b in hot-summer climates; 2a-8b in cool-summer climates Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Coniferous Evergreen Shrub
Height at Maturity: 2.5-3′ in 10 years
Width at Maturity: 2-5-3′ in 10 years
Spacing: 7′ or more for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Broad Globose Mound
Growth Rate: Slow; 4-6″ per year
Flower Color: Creamy Yellow candles
Flower Size: NA
Flowering Period: NA
Flower Type: NA
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Gold and Green
Fragrant Foliage: Yes
Berries: No
Berry Color: NA
Sun Needs: Full Sun, Morning Shade with Afternoon Sun
Water Needs: Very Low when established
Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy, Silty
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained to Dry when established
Soil pH: 4.0 – 7.5 (Acid to Moderately Alkaline)
Maintenance / Care: Very Low
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-50F), Deer, Disease, Drought (when established), Dry Soil (when established), Insect, Rabbit, Salt Air, Salt Soil
Description
A rare and showy gem discovered and introduced by Wiel Linnsen of Libo Nursery in the Netherlands, the Sunshine Mugo Pine is a variegated selection sporting whorls of emerald green needles with prominent yellow bands similar to dragon eye pines. The variegation is most intense during spring but holds well and is sunburn resistant through the seasons. Fairly vigorous for a mugo pine, you can expect Sunshine to reach maybe 2 to 3 feet in height and width in 10 years with no pruning. That said, the vertical “candles” that emerge at the tips of every stem, which become the new branches, can be pruned by up to 50 percent of their length to maintain a smaller, more dense shrub. You’ll find detailed but simple Mugo Pine pruning tips here. Providing very unique color, texture and form in the landscape, Sunshine Mugo Pine is an excellent accent or grouping in rock gardens, home foundation plantings and landscape borders, and is the perfect compliment to ornamental grasses and Japanese maples and other small trees.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing in a rounded mound to about 2 to 3 feet tall and equally as wide, the Sunshine Mugo Pine is ideal for use as a specimen or in groupings in sunny landscape borders and home foundation plantings. A very nice companion for small trees such as the Japanese Maple and Crape Myrtle, to mention a few, and is an excellent choice for containers and bonsai. A fine addition to conifer gardens, rock gardens and the Xeriscape (low water need) gardens.
Spacing: 5 feet apart for spaced groupings
Growing Preferences
The Sunshine Mugo Pine is easy to grow in most any moist but well drained soil of average to low fertility and full to mostly sun. We suggest at least 7 hours of direct sunlight per day. Exceptionally drought tolerant when established, mugo pines grow well in sandy soils and are tolerant of well-draining clay soils. It does not like wet feet so make sure you choose a planting site that has very well drained soil. Salt air tolerant so great for coastal gardens. Does not require pruning however can be its candles can be trimmed annually by up to 50% of their height to maintain a smaller plant.
Helpful Articles
Click on the link below to find helpful planting and care advice from our experts.
How To Plant & Care For Mugo Pine
How To Prune Junipers & Other Conifers
How To Measure Square Feet of A Planting Area
Plant Long & Prosper!
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