Conifer Collection

Cones and new growth  |  March through May

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens' Conifer Collection is a nationally recognized treasure, celebrated for its diversity, beauty, and educational value. In April 2014, it was officially inducted into the American Conifer Society Reference Garden program, designating it as “a dedicated garden that highlights the beauty, diversity, and utility of conifers in the landscape” (conifersociety.org). The collection serves as a living classroom, helping gardeners and the public explore how different conifer species and cultivars grow and how to use them effectively in a variety of landscapes.

​

Featuring nearly 200 varieties—including dwarf, intermediate, and large specimens—66 of which are true species, the collection reflects decades of careful cultivation. Many species were donated in the 1990s by long-time volunteer and supporter Peter Schick, and thirty-seven of these species appear on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List, forming the Rare Conifer Collection. Thanks to support from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, the North Forest section of the collection was expanded and improved in 2021, enhancing visitor access and improving drainage and soil conditions.

​

The collection also highlights California natives alongside rare exotics from New Zealand, Tasmania, Brazil, Morocco, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Taiwan, South Africa, and other regions. These trees provide structural interest, wind protection, and a dramatic backdrop for cultivated gardens, while offering winter appeal in the Perennial Garden when herbaceous plants are dormant.

​

Visitors encounter a remarkable variety of forms and textures, from graceful weeping specimens to vibrant golden winter foliage and striking blue-coned varieties, making the Conifer Collection a resource for inspiration, education, and year-round beauty.

Conifer Plant List

MCBG Plant Bed Map