Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’ – A Compact, Upright Pine with Stunning Blue-Green Foliage
Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’, commonly known as Blue Shag Eastern White Pine, is a visually striking, dwarf conifer that adds a soft, silvery-blue hue to the garden. This variety of Pinus strobus is celebrated for its compact, rounded shape and its vibrant, blue-green needles that create a unique and elegant presence. ‘Blue Shag’ grows to a height of 100/150cm, making it an ideal choice for smaller gardens, containers, or rock gardens. Its dense, soft foliage and slow growth make it a perfect choice for adding structure, texture, and year-round interest to any landscape.
Why Grow Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’?
Stunning Blue-Green Foliage – The soft, silvery-blue needles of Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’ create a striking visual contrast in the garden, adding a cool, calm aesthetic that complements other plants and flowers. Its unique color provides year-round interest, making it a focal point in the landscape.
Compact & Dwarf Habit – Growing to a height of 100/150cm, ‘Blue Shag’ has a neat, rounded form that makes it perfect for smaller spaces, containers, or low-maintenance borders. Its compact size ensures that it fits well into tighter spaces without taking over the garden.
Slow-Growing & Low Maintenance – As a slow-growing pine, ‘Blue Shag’ requires minimal care and is well-suited for gardeners of all experience levels. Its slow growth also ensures it maintains its compact, rounded shape with little pruning needed.
Evergreen Appeal – The evergreen nature of this pine ensures that it retains its attractive foliage throughout the year, providing texture and interest in all seasons, from the cooler months of winter to the bright, lively spring.
Hardy & Versatile – Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’ is hardy and adaptable, thriving in a variety of soil conditions, including poor or sandy soils. It is drought-tolerant once established and can tolerate cold climates, making it a reliable choice for a wide range of gardens.
Planting & Care Guide
Position: Prefers full sun to partial shade, with the best colour and growth achieved in a sunny location. It can tolerate some shade but will not achieve the same vibrancy in low-light conditions.
Soil: Best suited to well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil. While it is adaptable to a variety of soil types, it grows best in slightly sandy or loamy soils with good drainage.
Watering: Water regularly when newly planted, ensuring the soil stays moist but not waterlogged. Once established, ‘Blue Shag’ is drought-tolerant and prefers to dry out between watering sessions, making it relatively low-maintenance.
Maintenance:
- Prune lightly to shape the tree and remove any dead or damaged branches, though ‘Blue Shag’ generally maintains a tidy form on its own.
- Mulch around the base to retain moisture and protect the roots, particularly during dry spells.
- If growing in a container, ensure that the pot has good drainage and consider repotting as needed to avoid root crowding.
Perfect Plant Combinations
Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’ pairs beautifully with other conifers, such as dwarf spruce or juniper, to create a textured, evergreen backdrop in garden borders or rock gardens. Its unique blue-green hue contrasts nicely with the vibrant colours of flowering perennials like Sedum, Echinacea, or Lavender, making it a perfect addition to any mixed border. For a more dramatic effect, combine with bright flowering shrubs like Azaleas or Rhododendrons, where the cool tones of the pine enhance the vibrancy of the blooms. Its compact size also makes it ideal for container plantings, where it can be combined with seasonal flowers for an ever-changing display.
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
