February Shrub of the Month-Mugo Pine
Native to the mountains of Central and Southern Europe, the mugo pine (Pinus mugo) has been confusing (and frustrating) homeowners and newbie gardeners for years. In the wild, the mugo pine can grow 80’ tall AND wide. In the aisle of your local nursery or garden center, the mature sizes can typically range from cute little 4’ high specimens to 15’ tall and wide monsters that eventually try to eat the garage you unintentionally planted it too close to when you brought its huggable 1-gallon-sized pot home.
Check out our arborist friend, Dan Billman at his recent Zoo Walk-About Class in the top photo above-now imagine that same plant as 2′ high specimen planted next to your foundation! This is why plant names are important.
So, we come back to that word, RESEARCH, which is key to a happy relationship between not only you and your garden, but also between you and your partner, who told you not to buy it in the first place because it might get too big. There are a zillion cultivars of mugo pine out there. Some exhibit the classic green needles (found in bundles of two) with a rounded, bushy shape; others have golden-tipped needles or a more flat-topped habit. This is one shrub you really shouldn’t bring home without a garden spot in mind.
Mugos can have issues with scale (see pics), rust, borers, sawflies, and rot. Placement that reduces these issues can help, such as super well-drained soil, full sun, and plenty of air circulation. Rock gardens are a favorite home for mugos. They can also do well in containers with ample drainage, making them commonly found as bonsai specimens.
Pine needle scale can be seen as the white residue on the needles in the photos above.
What I love about this plant;
-Great winter interest.
-Low maintenance.
-Zillions of cultivars to choose from.
What’s not so great;
– Can get large. BEWARE of the vague plant tag, especially at big-box stores. Look for a botanical name under or near the common name. Any mugo for sale should have a cultivar name (found in single quotes like ‘Paul’s Dwarf’)-Research, research, RESEARCH the cultivar names to check for size, and then remember that mugos, although charming, sadly, cannot read.
-Slow growing, which can be a pro or con.
-Problems with scale, rust, borers, sawflies, and rot. Take garden placement into consideration and keep an eye out to catch issues early.
-Comments or questions? Email Garden-Lou at gardenloustl@gmail.com
Words and photos by Jo Batzer
© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com-2026, All rights reserved.
