PINUS PARVIFLORA 'TANIMA NO YUKI'

I remember the first time I saw this plant. I was visiting Mike Kristic near Dover, Pennsylvania in the late 1970's. He had a few growing in containers and one larger plant in the ground. He had gotten it from Fred Bergman, Feasterville, Pennsylvania, a few years earlier. Mike didn't have any available for sale at the time but I was able to order one for the following spring.

I was pleased when I was able to add it to my collection. It is very slow growing but the colors are outstanding. The white variegation is always present in varying degrees throughout the seasons. But in the spring, the new growth has white foliage and pink tipped buds. The pink lasts for a few weeks as it eventually fades but while it is there, it is very striking. Most of the white stays on the foliage throughout the year.

I have seen several spellings of this plant's name and I believe the spelling above to be the correct spelling. I believe it is Japanese for "Snow in the Valley".

I have always kept my plants in partial shade but I am now trying a few in the full sun. I seem to get only a slight tip burn in the full sun but the white seems more intense with some shade.

Most years 'Tanima No Yuki'  grows 1-2" (< 1cm) but other times a plant may produce shoots of 3-4" (@2 cm).

Coenosium Gardens has been offering this plant for sale since 1979.

 This particular plant is about 12 years old and has stayed nice and tight while taking up little space in the garden.

 The white foliage surrounding new shoots is very attractive throughout the summer.

 This close-up picture shows some of the pink still present in the newly forming buds.