Austrian Pine 'Bambino'

Austrian Pine 'Bambino' (Pinus nigra 'Bambino') is a perfectly even green ball on a stem. The crown is so dense that the stiff, glossy dark green needles hide the branches completely, while grafting onto a low 30-40 cm standard lifts the ball above the ground.

Plant it where you want a neat evergreen accent and have very little room: by the entrance, in a rockery, in a large container on the terrace or at the front of a border. Unlike columnar Austrian pines such as 'Green Tower', it grows outwards rather than upwards and keeps its shape without pruning.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: This is a grafted form: the height of the standard stays exactly as bought, and only the green ball on top grows denser and wider over the years.
• Hardiness: Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
• Light: It loves full sun - that is where the crown keeps its dense ball shape, while in shade it thins out.
• Soil: It grows best in deep, moderately moist, well-drained soil, and takes heavy clay in its stride.
• Watering: Moderate watering is enough, and once established it will ride out a short dry spell.
• Care: It needs no pruning at all - just glance over the shoots now and then for Sphaeropsis (Diplodia) tip blight and needle rusts.
• Landscape use: A specimen by the entrance, and equally at home in a rockery, a container or at the front of a shrub border.