Hillside Creeper Scots Pine

When it comes to striking and attractive groundcover, the Hillside Creeper Scots Pine is in a class of its own. This vigorous and easy pine forms a ground-hugging mat of branches, only rising more than a foot tall when it is quite mature. It grows around 8 inches a year into a green carpet 8 feet or more across, looking fabulous on a bank or slope, or topping a wall. Let it creep between boulders, or cascade over rocks. The many short, upright stems are densely covered in short, stiff needles that are rich green with a bluish overtone, becoming lighter green in winter. A great choice for colder regions, and completely tolerant of heavy snow cover. Rarely if ever develops cones. For a very different way to cover the ground, this beautiful plant is a whole class above the usual suspects.

• Ground-hugging mat of horizontal branches with short vertical shoots
• Covers 8 to 10 feet while just a foot or so tall
• Rich-green needles with a hint of blue, turning lighter green in winter
• An easy plant to grow, even in an urban garden
• Excellent cold resistance and ideal for cooler zones

The Hillside Creeper Scots Pine grows best out in full sun, and should be planted in well-drained soil. It is happy in acidic soils, and grows well in poor, sandy soils as well. Certainly hardy in zones 3 and 4, but less suitable for areas with hot, humid summers. Deer don’t bother with it and it is generally free of any pest or disease problems, and easy to grow. Tolerates urban conditions too, and is vigorous and reliable. Trimming isn’t necessarily or desirable, just let it grow as it chooses for a great natural look.