Conifer Comparison Chart     Western Maine Nurseries - Conifers and Woody Ornamentals - Since 1923 The chart below lists  various attributes of the conifers grown here at Western Maine Nurseries. Certain qualities will be desirable for Christmas tree stock and may not be as important in nursery and landscape or timber applications (and vice versa). Characteristics such as maximum height and growth rates will obviously be effected by site and climate. Needle retention is greatly  dependent upon post-harvest care, and disease resistance can vary  depending upon the seed source. With this in mind, please use this  guide as a general reference and feel free to call us with specific  questions regarding the species most appropriate for your individual situation. 800-447-4745. Legend ZONE 2 ZONE 3 ZONE 4 ZONE 5 To help determine your zone, use the maps our Hardiness Zones page. —SPECIES MAX. HEIGHT SITE PREFERENCE NEEDLE RETENTION SHEARING EASE GROWTH RATE DISEASE RESISTANCE COMMENTS/ USAGE ARBORVITAE———— American 60' Moist soils — Excellent Very good Very good Excellent hedge, deer favorite Dark American 30' Moist soils — Excellent Very good Very good Holds  winter color Emerald Green 20' Moist soils — Excellent Good Very good Heat tolerant, very hardy, excellent color FIR——————— Balsam 75' Moist, well-drained soils Very good Very good Very good Good Excellent  aroma, subject to spring frosts Canaan 50' Moist, well-drained soils Very good Good Excellent Very good Late flushing, tolerates heavier soils Concolor 140' Well-drained, medium soil Excellent Very good Fair Very good Nice citrus  aroma, subject to spring frosts Corkbark 60' Medium,  well-drained soils Very good Fair Poor Very good Requires little shearing, beautiful foliage Douglas 200' Well-drained soil Excellent Excellent Very good Fair Requires good air drainage, good timber tree Fraser 60' Well-drained loam Excellent Very good Very good Good Excellent wholesale tree, more site specific than most Korean 60' Moist, well-rained soil Good Good Good Very good Beautiful  foliage, tends to cone early Nikko 130' Moist, medium soil Good Good Good Very good Tolerates  heavier soils, beautiful foliage HEMLOCK——————— Canadian 80' Moist soil, part shade — Excellent Very good Good Shade tolerant, excellent hedge or specimen tree Western 175' Moist soil, part shade — Very good Excellent Very good Shows resistance to hemlock woolley adelgid, not cold-hardy PINE——————— Austrian 90' Rich, light  loam Very good Fair Very good Fair Good urban specimen, salt & CO2 resistance Mugho 20' Soil adaptable — Good Poor Very good Dwarf, compact ornamental Norway Red 80' Medium-light soils Good Very good Excellent Good Timber tree, gravel pit reclamation Scotch 60' Extremely adaptable Excellent Fair Very good Poor Disease-prone, tends to grow crooked stems White 100' Medium-light soils Excellent Very good Excellent Good Excellent  timber or specimen tree SPRUCE——————— Black Spruce 40' Moist locations — — Fair Very good Timber/reforestation tree, uniform taper Black  Hills 70' Moist, medium soils Fair Good Fair Good Somewhat shade tolerant Colorado Blue 90' Medium,  well-drained soils Good Very good Fair Good Popular  ornamental, avoid planting near Douglas Fir Meyer 60' Medium-light soils Excellent Very good Fair Very good Slow starter but catches up, extremely hardy Norway 100' Soil adaptable Poor Good Excellent Good Fast growing, good windbreak or specimen tree Serbian 100' Moist, well-drained soil Fair Good Good Very good Similar to Colorado Blue Spruce in appearance White 90' Well-drained loamy soils Poor Good Good Good Strong post-harvest aroma, good timber tree YEW——————— Taxus 40' Medium soils — Very good Good Very good Excellent  ornamental, tolerates shade, deer favorite [Home] [About Us] [Catalog] [Special Services] [News] [Plant Information] Copyright 2005 by Western Maine Nurseries; 4 Nursery Lane; P O Box 250; Fryeburg, ME 04037 Tel. 800-447-4745 Fax. 207-935-2043 Questions or comments regarding the site? Please e-mail webmaster@wmnurseries.com