The dwarf mugo pine, a slow-growing woody shrub in the Pinaceae (pine) family, is native to the mountain areas of central and southern Europe. It grows 3 to 4 feet high and 2 to 4 feet wide. It does best in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil; however, it is adaptable to poor, clay, and sandy soils. It has a shallow root system, making transplanting hassle-free. Propagate dwarf mugo pine by grafting, root cutting, or seed. Use grafted plants for true dwarf forms. To maintain the dwarf condition, prune the new shoots when the needles are half their measured length. For a more dense plant, the candles can be sheared back halfway. The dwarf mugo pine has many landscape uses: bordering a patio, pond or walkway; mass planted in a woodland, meadow, or naturalized areas; on a slope or bank adjacent to a river; as a low hedge; in rock gardens, small spaces, or in a container. Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : This shrub is susceptible to wind damage. Pine sawfly larvae cause chewing damage. Pine needle scale causes subtle long-term damage if untreated. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Pinus mugo .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.