I chose Pinus mugo (Dave's Choice) as plant of the month for many reasons. In today's hectic world with many people working two jobs and constantly on the go, the group of conifers that fit into the dwarf or smaller size is becoming increasingly popular. They are not only smaller in stature as the name implies, but have many other redeeming qualities such as different textures, colors, weeping forms, pyramidal, broad etc. that require less maintenance and fit into both the smaller and larger home landscapes we have today. Swiss Mountain Pine, or perhaps more commonly known as Mugo Pine, to most of us are native to the mountains of central and southern Europe and can vary greatly in size. Typically, they fall into the range of 5' to 25' with many dwarf cultivars in the nursery trade today growing less than an inch a year. A typical plant usually has a dense shrubby growth habit that is multi-stemmed. They grow best in a deep, well drained soil but are tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. Mugo prefers full sun but will tolerate a little light shade and can easily be candled to control the size. They are hardy and do best in hardiness zones 3 to 7. They have bright green needles that are 1" to 2" in length and are held in fascicles of two. They are easily transplanted with little or no shock of being moved.

The story of Dave's Choice Mugo Pine began at the Bickelhaupt Arboretum in the summer of 1995. I was working in the Heartland Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers and just happened to notice a genetic mutation known as a "witches broom" growing in a Pinus mugo 'Mops.' I contacted Justin "Chub" Harper, who was serving on the Arboretum board of directors at the time, and was very instrumental in starting the Heartland Collection in 1990. We made plans to graft this new broom in the winter of 1995-96. Chub came up with the name "Dave's Choice" from my first name and how I kept saying in my first phone conversation with him after finding the broom how it was such a "choice broom;" hence the name "Dave's Choice" originated.

The broom was sent to and grafted that year by three friends of the arboretum: Randy Dykstra of Fulton, IL, Joe Stupka of Pulaski, PA and Dennis Hermson of Farley, IA. - all three are very talented grafters known throughout the country. Chub donated one of the original grafts to the Arboretum in the spring of 2001. Through my personal observations this plant has grown at a very slow growth rate and would be considered "miniature" in size by the American Conifer Society standards. When the plant was planted at the arboretum it was six years old. It is now 12 years old and is 9"h x 15"w in size. It is high grafted at about 30" giving it a very majestic look. Its miniature size makes it an excellent choice for the rock garden, home landscape or as a unique addition to the unusual collector's plant collection.

I encourage you to come to the Bickelhaupt Arboretum and view Dave's Choice Mugo Pine. You can find it in the nationally recognized Heartland Collection just north of the Visitor's Center in bed C.