Mulberry Creek Herb Farm: Catalog/Mulberry Miniatures

Mulberry Miniatures

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Welcome to Mark’s dream section. The smaller the plant is, the more he likes it. "I find these miniatures, so often overlooked and even walked on, absolutely fascinating. Why? Possibly as I mature in my plant tastes, the subtle details of these noble, slow growers are just as exciting as their substantial, bold, splashy counterparts. Certainly it has to do with no matter how many varieties I find, there are, literally, always room for more. And there's the fact that they are just darn cute, like the tiny doll furniture, that make you yearn to be just their size. I suppose I like the contrast with this weird world and my own sacred space, where everything is child-like perfection for my boys and me. No war, no hunger, and no weeds! Creating authentic miniature worlds, transport the artists and lucky participants."

We hope you enjoy these selections as much as we have reveled in collecting them.

DWARF CONIFER- Hinoki Cypress, Kosteri

Chameocyparis obtusa 'Kosteri'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 3' X 4' wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

Dwarf form of “Hinoki Cypress” with olive-green foliage that cups downward forming an irregular pyramid with age. Self pruning “Alberta Spruce” shape

DWARF CONIFER- Hinoki Cypress, Mariesii

Chameocyparis obtusa 'Mariesii'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

Short thin creamy variegated foliage form irregular globe shapes. One of Mark’s favorite dwarfs for its unusual foliage. With bottom pruning, it makes a great mini tree.

DWARF CONIFER- Hinoki Cypress, Meroke Twin

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Meroke Twin'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 3' x 2' wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Flowers: No
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

You will enjoy watching the foliage mature from bright yellow, to gold and dark green in the center of this cone-shaped mini tree.

DWARF CONIFER- Hinoki Cypress, Nana Gracilis

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 3' x 3'. wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Flowers: No
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

For the first 5 years, use this ancient variety as a miniature garden, emerald green, glossy, broadly cone-shaped Christmas tree. In its lifetime, growing an inch or two a year, it will graduate to a larger space.

DWARF CONIFER- Hinoki Cypress, Reisii Dwarf

Chameocyparis obtusa 'Reisii Dwarf'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

One of the best dwarf conifers for creating a grove a trees. Upright and narrow growing with its fine texture, it forms “self-bonsai-ing” clumps of bright green foliage.

DWARF CONIFER- Juniper, Dwarf Japanese

Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 6in. x 24in. wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Flowers: No
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Container, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Topiary

Whether you need a trained dark green, coarse needled tree specimen or a tough evergreen to cascade over rocks, this miniature fills many needs. Popular bonsai plant sold for twice is amount. Get it now, get it cheap!

DWARF CONIFER- Sawara Cypress, Baby Blue

Chameocyparis pisifera 'Baby Blue'

Cold Tolerance: Zone Zone 5-9
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Shade
Height: 5 x3 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

This 5 x 3', half-sized ""Boulevard Cypress"" forms a blue, coned-shaped bonsai or stands in as ""Blue Spruce"" in mini-forests. As it matures, I enjoy its silvery winter foliage in the door swags we assemble.

DWARF CONIFER- Sawara Cypress, Cream Ball

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Cream Ball'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Shade
Height: 3' x 3' wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Flowers: No
Common Uses:Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Topiary

New for 2009
Not exactly the color of new fallen snow, but it is not hard to imagine a winterscape with this soft, creamy-white tipped, neat, rounded ball from Canada.

DWARF CONIFER- Sawara Cypress, Juniper Leaf

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Juniperioides'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Shade
Height: 3'x 3' wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Flowers: No
Common Uses:Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Topiary

You'll notice golden yellow foliage in early Summer eventually settling into a blue green hue by fall. Although dwarf (slow growing to 3 feet), it is an upright globe, just right for a tidy, well cared for railroad set-up...

DWARF CONIFER- White Cedar, Meth Dwarf

Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Meth Dwarf'

Cold Tolerance: Zone Zone 4-9
Light: Full Sun
Height: 6 x3 Feet
Water: Normal- Wet
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

I raid this plant as it matures to a 6 x 3', Alberta Spruce shaped specimen when we make holiday door swags because of its plum edged, green foliage and most importantly, soft texture. Try this easy bonsai alone or better yet, create another mini-forest candidate when planted with at least 2 other cedars.

DWARF CONIFER- White Cedar, Little Jamie

Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Little Jamie

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 4in. x 18in. wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Any Soil
Common Uses:Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden

Create a forest of ""tall,"" narrow, grey-green foliage turning plume-purple colored in winter. Great miniature for tight spaces between railroad buildings or a miniature windbreak.

DWARF CONIFER- White Cedar, Top Point

Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Top Point'

Tired of ""Alberta Spruce"" christmas trees? This true dwarf form adapts to average, moist soils and offers bright green needled leaves.

Dymondia, Mini Gazania

Dymondia margaretae

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7a 7b 8a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Sun
Height: 3in. groundcover
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Early Summer to Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bedding Plant, Borders, Butterfly, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Walk About

If you can overwinter it, this is a colorful, coarse textured, groundcover with 4 inch wide rosettes of blue-grey foliage and silvery undersides. Or consider it an annual with 1/2"" yellow daisies, most of the summer.

Edelweiss

Leontopodium alpinum

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 2in. x 3
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy
Flowers: Early Spring to Middle Spring
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Borders, Butterfly, Miniature/Faery Garden

Mark, having been born in Bavaria, Germany & now growing alpines, is obligated to grow this legendary ethereal, for which many a mountain climber died to bring these into cultivation. Too bad! These are rather short lived perennials, however, they usually self-sow the next generation before they perish. Great wooly white tufts. They appriciate well drained soil with plenty of air, naturally.

ELFIN HERB

Cuphea hyssopifolia

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b
Flowers: Early Fall to Early Summer to Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses:Bonsai, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary

Years ago Ben asked Mark, "What da name of dat pretty flower?" He told Ben who responded as any 3 year old would, "Why?" "Because," Mark said,"fairies like to use the flowers as pretty little hats and then elves, who like to play tricks, fly by and snatch the flowers right off the fairies' head and get them to chase the Elfin."

These are very easy plants to grow, thriving in full shade to partial sun. As well suited to mixed containers as bedding plants. After one growing season, you can create an amazing bonsai tree by simply removing the lower leaves. Faerie nice!

Elfin Herb, 5 in. Assorted

Cuphea hyssopifolia `Alba'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Shade to Shade or Full Sun
Height: 12in. x 12
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Early Fall to Early Summer to Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses:Baskets, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade, Topiary

A radiant white version of other Elfin Herbs; Leaves are slightly darker and more narrow, and the entire plant is more compact. Tolerates both sun and shade better than ôPurple.ö Try it in a magical moon garden.P.S. Surely a faerie folk lengend by now.

Elfin Herb,Assorted Colors

Cuphea hyssopifolia 'Baby Pink'

As promised in 2003, here is a delicate ""pink"" version of the popular miniature tropicals that railroaders and faerie gardners admire. Like all of the ""Elfin Herbs"", it can grow as well in full shade or partial sun. However, flower color and quantity is better with at least some direct sun during the day. Great houseplant under some fluorescent lights for year round flowering!

Elm, Jacqueline Hillier

Ulmus carpinifolius 'Jacqueline Hillier'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 2' x 5' tall
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Topiary

Elm, Mini Frosty

Ulmus parvifolia 'Frosty'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 3' x 3'
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Topiary

Elm, Mini Hokkaido

Ulmus parvifolia 'Hokkaido'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 18in. x 9
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: No
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Topiary

In 10 years, this elm tree will attain a maximum of 18 inches and be covered in 1/8"" leaves. In only a couple of years, it will already appear as a natural bonsai tree. As a houseplant or in warm climates, it is evergreen, or if grown cold, will be deciduous. Hardy down to 0 degrees F.

Elm, Mini Kimmie

Ulmus parvifolia 'Kimmie'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 3' x 6'
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Topiary

Ephedra, Joint Fir

Ephedra refeliana

Cold Tolerance: Zone 11 5a 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun Only
Height: 3in. x 6
Soil: Sandy Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Middle Spring
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Medicinal, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

Sorry, but there is no buzz, or sinus relief from this dwarfed version. Instead you will enjoy its miniature ""Wild Horestail-like"" pipes, stacked on top of one another, with summertime red berries smothered in btween. Needs great drainage in winter.

Erigeron-Fleabane, Tiny

Erigeron scopalinus

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 3/4in. x 12in. wide
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy
Flowers: Early Spring to Early Winter to Late Winter to Middle Fall
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

We suggest you plant this ""Bellium/ Mini Daisy since it is strikingly similar in appearance, yet it blooms in the Fall, during mild Winters and Spring, which if the ""off season"" for ""Bellium."" That combination allows you to enjoy the white daisies nearly year round.

Erodium, Charm

Erodium chamaedryoides 'Charm'

Cold Tolerance: Zone b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 5in. x 8in.
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Container, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Walk About

As this is the largest of our Erodiums and most free blooming, it is easier to see the resemblance to perennial geraniums, its distant cousins. In this catalog where big isn't neccesarily better, there's still room for this in a railroad landscape, larger container or the edge of a perennial border.