Dwarf Conifer Collection

Dwarf Conifer Collection (includes the Jacobson Conifer Collection)

Conifers, botanically known as gymnosperms, belong to a taxonomic plant class which produces seeds without a protective ovule casing (pine cones); ie: “naked seed”. Many of us relate the word conifer to the large softwoods with needles that stay green throughout the year, such as pines, cedars, spruces, and firs. Though these gymnosperms make up a large percentage of the taxonomic class, some gymnosperms behave like a deciduous tree, dropping their needles in the fall; ie: deciduous conifer. Examples of deciduous conifers are bald cypress, ginkgo, larch, and dawn redwood. Conifers do not bear flowers. Instead, they have cones that are made up of a whorl of scales, displaying the bare seed and allowing for easy seed dispersal.

A prominent and sought after collection of the Iowa Arboretum is the Dwarf Conifer Collection. While this collection was established in 1982, it expanded with an iconic arboretum landmark, the Jones Memorial Gazebo, in 1991. In 2005, several species were added to the collection to honor past Board Member Craig Jacobson of Marshalltown, forming a new collection element as the Jacobson Conifer Collection.

Dwarf, intermediate, and even large conifers with cultivar designation, are represented in this stunning collection. Particularly fine established specimens include weeping white pine (Pinus strobus ‘Pendula’), dwarf Norway spruce on a standard (Picea abies ‘Little Gem’), compact concolor fir (Abies concolor ‘Compacta’), and weeping white spruce (Picea glauca ‘Pendula’). The path to the east of the dwarf conifer collection flows into the alpine collection.

*This page was last updated July 5, 2019.