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Growth Rate
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- Speed: Slow to moderate grower.
- Mature Growth: Reaches 6-12 inches in height and spreads 4-6 feet wide, forming a low, spreading groundcover.
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Colorful leaves
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Flowering
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No |
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Ornamental Berries
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Disease resistant
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Yes |
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Cold Tolerant
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Yes |
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Heat Tolerant
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Yes |
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Drought Tolerant
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Yes |
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Deer Resistant
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Yes |
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Edible
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No |
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Wildlife Attraction
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- Attracts: Birds may be attracted to the small, berry-like cones produced by the plant.
- Wildlife Resistant: Deer-resistant and generally unbothered by other wildlife.
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Self-pollinating
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Seasonality
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- Foliage Season: Evergreen; provides year-round color and texture in the landscape.
- Winter Interest: Foliage remains vibrant throughout the winter, offering seasonal interest.
- Flowering Season: Not typically grown for its flowers, which are insignificant.
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
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Ideal For
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- Groundcover
- Rock gardens
- Erosion control on slopes
- Xeriscaping (drought-tolerant gardens)
- Bonsai
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Leaf Description
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- Color: Bluish-green, needle-like foliage.
- Form: Dense, scale-like foliage grows tightly on spreading branches, forming a soft, mat-like appearance.
- Winter Interest: The foliage may take on a slightly purplish tint during winter, adding subtle seasonal interest.
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Flower Description
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- Color: Small, inconspicuous yellowish flowers.
- Form: Tiny flowers appear in spring but are not ornamental.
- Bloom Time: Spring.
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Planting Instructions
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- Planting Time: Best planted in spring or fall when temperatures are cooler.
- Soil Requirements: Prefers well-drained soil and is adaptable to sandy, rocky, or poor soils. Thrives in acidic to neutral soil pH.
- Planting Depth: Plant at the same depth as in the nursery container, ensuring the root ball is level with the soil surface.
- Spacing: Space plants 4-6 feet apart to allow for their mature spread when used as groundcover.
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Pruning & Maintenance
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- Timing: Prune in early spring to control size or shape, if needed.
- Method: Minimal pruning is required. Prune back any overgrowth or dead branches to maintain a tidy appearance and shape.
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Water Needs
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- Watering Frequency: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. Once established, Nana is drought-tolerant and requires minimal watering.
- Soil Moisture: Prefers well-drained soil and does not tolerate waterlogged conditions. Mulching can help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
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Light Needs
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- Thrives in full sun for the best foliage color and growth. It can tolerate light shade but may lose some of its compact form in less light.
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Harvesting
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Female plants produce small, berry-like blue seed cones about ¼ inch wide.
Cones appear in late summer to fall and may persist through winter.
Fruits are ornamental only—not edible and mildly toxic if ingested.
Birds occasionally eat the cones and help with seed dispersal.
Propagation is best done via semi-hardwood cuttings, as seeds do not produce true-to-type plants.
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Fertilizing
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- Fertilization Time: Fertilize in early spring to support new growth.
- Fertilizer Type: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or an acidic fertilizer suitable for evergreens.
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Additional Care Tips
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- Mulching: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Keep mulch away from the crown to prevent rot.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, Nana is highly drought-tolerant and thrives in dry conditions, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping or low-water gardens.
- Pests and Diseases: Generally pest-free, but may occasionally experience spider mites or fungal diseases if grown in overly wet conditions.
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Pollination
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Pollinated by wind. Nana produces small, berry-like cones after pollination, which are ornamental and may attract birds. |
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Companion Plants
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- Creeping Thyme
- Sedum
- Lavender
- Ornamental Grasses
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