Pinus mugo

Common Names

Mugo Pine, Swiss Mountain Pine, Mountain Pine, Dwarf Mugo Pine, Mugho Pine, Creeping Pine, Bog Pine, Mugo Pines, Dwarf Mountain Pine

Summary

Mugo pine is an evergreen conifer native to Europe, often forming a dense shrub or small tree with a slow-growing, compact habit and a dense, rounded to pyramidal silhouette. Foliage consists of two needles per fascicle, dark green and 1–2 inches long, persisting year-round and contributing to a textured, evergreen presence.

Growing best in full sun to partial shade, it prefers moist, well-drained soils and tolerates a wide range of soil types, including clay or sandy soils, with a pH range of 4.5–7.5. Drought-tolerant once established and hardy in USDA zones 2–7, it benefits from light pruning of new candles to maintain density, and propagation can be by seeds, grafts, or rooted cuttings. Common landscape uses include foundation plantings, hedges, embankments, rock or alpine gardens, and containers or specimen plantings; pests such as pine sawfly and pine needle scale may occur, with Diplodia tip blight as a potential disease.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

18-240 inches

Spread

15-30 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 2-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun or partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained soil, preferably loamy or sandy-loam; moderately fertile, slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.5–7) with excellent drainage; avoid heavy clay.

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH

4.5-7.5, slightly acidic to neutral, tolerates a wide range including alkaline

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green, evergreen foliage with dark green needles, with occasional bright green, yellow or gold, or blue-tinted forms in various varieties

Fall Foliage Color

Dark green; evergreen; no fall color change.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

Slow growth

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Grafting

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts other pollinators, Attracts birds